See the box stuffed with new ribbon, stamp sets, punches....want to see what's in there? Everything in that box is new and exciting and I just can't wait to start playing with it. But first, I want to invite you to come see all these new products that are featured in the new 2015 Occasions Mini catalog. Plus--and this is really fantastic- Sale-a-bration starts the beginning of January this year! So come to the debut and see products from the new mini (a bit of a misnomer--it's huge!) and see the Freebies you can get too.

You need a reservation to attend--there are 2 sessions on January 4th (1-2:30PM and 3:30-5PM). See  new products and do a FREE Make & Take. The event is FREE but you need to reserve your space...so call 410 836 8016 or email [email protected] right now! Be the first to see the new awesome products!

OK, for a moment, let's assume you have all your gifts purchased and they are just stting around in boxes and bags ready for wrapping. Let's also assume that you love giving gifts that look as awesome in the giving as they actual gift looks.

The Stampin'Up! Gift Box Punch board is truly the answer to your needs. Take a look at the gifts in the picture---do they not look professionally  wrapped? Nope, just me and the punch board and a package of the Under the Tree Designer paper...making the boxes is very quick. I made these in less than an hour (and I had 2 phone calls in that time).

If you havn't gotten your board  yet, the info below explains what you need to make your packages look just like this. The board makes 15 different sizes. All the directions are printed right on the front of the board so you don't have to worry about--where did I put those instructions. If you have the board, you have the instructions. 

Plus look at the tags--pretty, right? New Note Tag punch and the Tree Punch--that produces those cool tags....I used the scrap designer paper from making the boxes and created matching or coordinating tags. If I keep this up I'll be going in to the gift wrapping business.

Go ahead get your supplies right now while you still have time and make your gift receivers drool over the wrapping--that's before they check out that awesome gift you are giving them.  Don't you just love getting a gift that is beautifully  wrapped and has a matching tag. It's so easy that it's almost like cheating.

There are some other gift-wrapping supplies in the Holiday Mini you should review too before placing your order on my online store so you are fully ready! Then let the  wrapping begin!

Under The Tree Specialty Designer Series Paper
$12.95

Note Tag Punch
$16.95

Tree Punch
$16.95

Gift Box Punch Board
$19.95

 

Still want to make hand-stamped Christmas cards but time is running out? (yes, I am in the same boat--always). Here's a wonderfully colorful and quick card that will fill the bill--creating your own card and getting them done before it's too late! Try this one....it doesn't take very much time and it does look awesome:

Here are the dimensions:
8 1/2 X 5 1/2, score the 8 1/2 side at 4 1/4 Very Vanilla Cardstock  (#101650)
5 1/8 X 3 7/8 Brushed Gold Cardstock (#102935)
5 X 3 3/4 Very Vanilla Cardstock

Here are the supplies:
Beauty of the Season stamp set (#135779)
Black Stazon Ink Pad (#101406)
Markers: Real Red (#100052), Crumb Cake (#120967)), Pumpkin Pie(#105115)
Versamark Ink Pad (#102283)
Good Greetings Stamp Set: Merry Christmas (#135017)*
Gold embossing powder (#109129) + Heat Gun (#129053)*
*Running really short on time: substitute the above 3 lines with Stazon Black Ink
Multipurpose Adhesive glue (#110755), Dimensionals (#104430)
Very Vanilla Envelopes (#107300)

Here are the directions:
1. On 5 X 3 3/4 Vanilla cardstock stamp cardinal in Stazon ink (& Merry Christmas if you are short on time)
    a. Greeting alternative: stamp Merry Christmas in Versamark, sprinkle with gold embossing powder, heat with heat gun.
2. Color cardinal with Real Red marker, branch with Crumb Cake, Berries with Pumpkin Pie
3. Adhere this layer to Brushed Gold layer with dimensionals; adhere this combo to card  front.

So, this one should be relatively easy to make. If you need any help, email me at [email protected].  Wow your friends this Christmas and send them these beautiful hand-stamped greeting cards. This design is created to maximize the Wow factor and minimize the time required to create them.  Imagine your friends opening the envelope and their eyes popping out when they see what you have created.  (I highly recommend that you sign the back of the card with something like "Hand-stamped especially for you by "your name.")  Then just sit back and wait for the postman to deliver the cards and your phone (or email) starts to buzz!

Enjoy!

Good Morning, Stampers,

I know you are busy around the holidays so I thought I'd give you a time-saving tip about using your thinlets. Sometimes I have a bit of difficulty getting cardstock out of the thinlet like these:

If you find getting the cardstock out of the thinlet a bit tedious especially with smaller pieces, try these tips for releasing the cardstock after it is cut:

1. Before putting the thinlet/cardstock through the Big Shot, place a piece of wax paper between the thinlet and the cardstock.  You will still most likely need to use your paper piercer to poke through the holes in the thinlet to release the cut cardstock, but the waxed paper will help slide it out. Very narrow images may need a tiny boost with the tip of your paper piercer between the cardstock and the thinlet--very gently follow the thinlet groove --this will also assist in lifting out the smaller pieces.

(Important hint: make sure you clean out the wax paper  between cuts so that it does not build up and decrease the cutting capability of hte thinlet).

2. Place a piece of dryer sheet between the thinlet and the cardstock. (don't forget to clean out any dryer sheet between cuts)

One other hint for getting sharp cuts with thinlets---use your magnetic platform to keep everything in one place and run the thinlet back and forth in the Big Shot 2-3 times especially when using the thinker Glimmer paper. Before trying to remove the thinlet from the cut cardstock/glimmer paper, turn it over and look at the back side--is the image completely cut through the cardstock/glimmer paper? If not, run it back through the Big Shot another time or two until you see a nice clean image on the backside. Then use one of the above helpful hints to remove the cut piece.

Hope these hints will decrease your prep time and increase your partying time over the holidays!

Enjoy!