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October 2016

DIY Quickest Easy Cheap Gift Bag

I just created the DIY Quickest Easy Cheap Gift Bag ever! Take a look at this! Isn't she cute?

Gift bag from a lunch bag
Quickest Easy Cheap Gift Bag


I used plain brown lunch  bags for this little cutie....so I opened up one and put another one inside. There's actually quite a bit of room in there--I put in a winter scarf--so you can use these for just about any small gift.

I'm going to give you the step by step--and there aren't many steps--and then I'll give you the list of supplies you'll need to create this gift bag--and you can do tons of them in a very short time...great for the office, girlfriends, kids parties...and the list goes on!

Here we go:

1. Open one bag and place another one inside and open it up. Using scissors, cut about 3/4" strips from the top to about 1/3 of the way down. Place your gift inside.

2. With an 18"piece of Real Red stitched edge ribbon tie a bow right below the cut strips.

3. Cut a 2 X 5" piece of Crumb Cake cardstock and using the fringe scissors, cut up the long side to about 1/2"of the other long side...these are the bangs--adhere under the ribbon edge using Tear & Tape. (Note: you can use your bone folder to give a little curl to the fringed part.)

4. Punch two 1 1/2"circles from Whisper White cardstock; punch two 1" circles from Basic Black cardstock. Glue the black circles onto the white circles using multipurpose liquid glue--glue these onto the bag as eyes.

5. Using the 1 3/4"circle punch, move a piece of red cardstock up into the punch about halfway-punch. Toss this punched piece. Move the punch up about 1/2" so you see a moon shape and punch. Adhere this "smile" to the bag under the eyes using liquid glue.

Your unique gift wrapping is completed!

Now here are the few supplies you'll need to recreate this cute gift bag.

 

 


DIY Inexpensive Quick & Easy Christmas Treats for Dogs

As the holidays draw nearer we can get started on our DIY Quick & Easy Christmas Treats for Dogs. Yes, you heard me! Check this out!

DIY Dog Christmas Treat
Wouldn't this be a great little stocking stuffer and treat for your "best friend?"  How cute is this....and the best part is that it can be done in just a few minutes using the Stampin'Up! 2 X 8 cello bags.

Here's another idea...why not whip up a dozen or so and deliver them to your vet...have them put in a small basket on the reception desk and sell them to pet owners.....the vet can use the proceeds to offset the many pro bono acts of kindness they do every year.

Here are the step by step directions for this little treat and the supplies are listed below.

1. Fill the 2 X 8 cello bag with the small doggie treats (I purchased mine at my favorite non-Stampin'Up! store--the Dollar Tree).

2. Using the Layering Circle Framelits (the 2 1/2 scalloped one) cut one from Gold Glimmer paper and one from Vanilla cardstock.

3. Place a strip of Tear & Tape at the top and bottom of the Vanilla circle...see picture below.   Tape on back of back tag

4. Place a strip of Tear & Tape to the back bottom of the gold glimmer circle.

Remove the tape covering on the bottom of the Vanilla circle and adhere this to the back top of the cello bag. Remove the backing of the top piece of tape on the Vanilla circle and adhere the top back of the Gold Glimmer circle (now the 2 circles are attached at the top only.  Uncover the bottom tape on the Gold Glimmer and adhere to the front top of the cello bag. (Now you have "clothespinned"  the cello bag with the 2 scalloped circles).

5. Stamp the cute puppy (Stampin' Up! Bella and friends) in Archival Black ink on Very Vanilla cardstock. Using your Aqua Painter and Cajun Craze reinker, color the puppy. Color the heart and the collar with Real Red and Cucumber Crush Stampin' Write markers (By the way, you can get the Real Red marker and the Crumb Cake marker from the Stampin'Up! Holiday mini catalog as a pair right now.)

Cut out the colored image using the 2 3/16 plain circle framelit and adhere to the center of the Gold Glimmer scalloped circle using Glue dots.

Cut a piece of Real Red cardstock 2 1/4 X 3/4. Cut a piece of Very Vanilla cardstock 1/2 X 2". Stamp Merry Wishes (Oh What Fun stamp set by Stampin' Up!) in Cucumber Crush Classic ink. Adhere the stamped piece to the center of the Red Label cardstock with Stampin' Dimensionals.

Punch a 1/8" hole at the bottom of the gold glimmer circle and the top of the Red label. Using a 10" piece of red twine, loop through the top of the red label, bring both ends of the twine from back to front of the gold circle and tie in a bow. DIY Dog Christmas Treat Tag

Now your treat is complete and your doggie will love you for such a great Christmas treat!

Here are the supplies you'll need. Use the Shop Now button at the top of the page to order what you need:


DIY Shiniest Easy Christmas Card You've Ever Created with the Holly folder

This is the DIY shiniest easy Christmas card you've ever created using Stampin'Up! new Holly folder.  There's no embossing powder, no heating and almost, no gluing!  Sound too good to be true? Take a look at this. It's a bit difficult to get all the shine in the photo...so I took several shots from different angles to help you get a good image of what this looks like...

 

Window sheet card - completed
DIY shiniest easy quick Christmas card

Window sheet card - close up

 

Window sheet card - just through folder
Just through the folder



Here's a picture with a bit of shadow to try to enhance the visual of the impression and the shine:

 

Window sheet card - shadowed
Shadowed to see the embossing & shine

Now do you want to know the secret?  It's very simple and it's so easy you will wonder why we didn't do this before! It's also a very quick card so you can make many of them in s very short time!

The secret to all that shine (without embossing it) is the Stampin'Up! Window sheets! That's right...they shine like crazy and you can dry emboss them using the Stampin'Up! Textures Embossing Folders...you can use any of the folders and get the same effect.

Since we're working on our Christmas cards right now, I used the new Holly folder on this one since it's my favorite Christmas folder.

I'm going to give you the step by step directions to create this little beauty and then I'll give you the supply list to create it yourself!

Here we go:

1. Cut a piece of Cucumber Crush cardstock at 4 1/4 X 11, score the long side at 5 1/2". This is your card base.

2. Cut a piece of Cucumber Crush cardstock 5 3/8 X 4 1/8; Cut a window sheet the same size. Note: you cut the window sheets using the same Stampin' Trimmer as you use with the cardstock. Adhere the window sheet to the cardstock using 4 glue dots--one in each corner.

3. Place the cardstock/window sheet in the Holly embossing folder and run through the Big Shot.  Now isn't that just magic--look how well the image is impressed on the window sheet--and look at all that shine!

4. Adhere the embossed piece for the card base front using multipurpose liquid glue.

5. Stamp "Tis the Season (Oh What Fun stamp set) in Cucumber Crush Classic Ink on Whisper White cardstock. Using the Tags and Labels framelit that fits nicely around this verse, cut out using the Big Shot.  Cut the next size larger from Cherry Cobbler cardstock--adhere these together using liquid glue. Add 2 Cherry Cobbler enamel dots to the holly of the verse. Adhere this unit to the card front using glue dots.

Your shiniest easy quick Christmas card is completed! Isn't that awesome!  Try it out--use different folders--you'll be amazed!

Here's the supply list. Use the Shop Now button at the top of the page to order your supplies:

 

DIY fall turkey treat box favor

I just had a fun idea to create a DIY fall turkey treat box favor--you can use this for small gifts during the fall holidays or use it for a wonderfully fun place card at your Thanksgiving dinner! Here's a couple of views.. Turkey tiny treat box - side view Turkey tiny tret box - front view

The base of this cutie is the Stampin'Up! Tiny Treat boxes--those marvelous see through acetate boxes--they don't require any adhesive--they just fold together and are a 2" cube...the ways you can use these are endless....I'm planning a Christmas gift using them but I can't share that yet! Maybe later after I hand them out.

The turkey tail is wonderfully simple and tons of fun because every one you create will be different--we use the watercolor paper with the Stampin'Write markers and our trusty Aqua Painter...I can't wait to share with you how this is done! 

Below are the step by step directions followed by the list of supplies you'll need for this project.

1. Using the maple leaf die (Leaflet thinlets) cut a leaf from watercolor paper. Turkey tiny treat box - cutting with framelit

2. Using the Cajun Craze Stampin'Write marker, start coloring in broad strokes the outer edge of the leaf.  Following this, using the Pumpkin Pie marker and finally the Crushed Curry markers, complete the coloring of the leaf--you don't need to color every space--see the picture below. 10-18-16 turkey tiny treat box - begin coloring with marker Turkey tiny treat box - markered Turkey tiny treat box - blending with aquapainter


3. With the AquaPainter (I used the one with the largest brush), start at the outer edge of the leaf and pull the color down so that the colors bleed into each other (this is why we don't need to color all the surface--the water will blend and bleed the color over the entire surface).

Note: if you want extra color in some area--add a bit more with your marker and blend again with the Aquapainter until you are satisfied with the look. Turkey tiny treat box - completely blended

4. Add 3 gold Metallic enamel dots to the leaf.

5. Using the same framelit, cut a maple leaf from Cajun Craze cardstock and glue to the back of the colored leaf using liquid multipurpose liquid glue. 

6. Fold together a Tiny Treat box. Cut a piece of Designer paper 2 X 8"long and score at 2, 4, and 6".  (I used the Moroccan nights which is part of the sale until the end of October--buy 3 designer papers and get one free....here's the brochure  Download B3G1DSP_Flyer_NA ) Turkey tiny treat box - box with designer paper

7. Using glue dots attach the designer paper to the box starting at the front. under the bottom, and the back. Take a narrow pencil and curl the  2"piece remaining--see the picture above.

8. Using liquid glue attach the maple leaf to the back of the box...stuff the box with your goodies (I use chocolate--what else)! Then tie a piece of Kraft rope trim under the bottom, up the sides and tie a bow on top.

9. Hand draw a turkey neck/head on Crumb Cake cardstock, cut with paper snips--leave a small square tab at the base of the neck. Lay this over another piece of Crumb Cake cardstock, trace and cut out. Glue these together. Draw eyes with Basic Black marker. Hand cut a small heart from Cherry Cobbler cardstock, fold the heart in half and using glue dots attach the "wattle" under the turkey's chin. (Does a turkey have a chin?). Turkey tiny treat box - hand-drawn head & wattle

10. Using liquid glue on the 2 flaps at the base of the neck--adhere the head to the box front.

Your turkey is completed! Enjoy

Now, here's the supply list. You can use the Shop Now button at the top of the page to order your supplies:


How to Use the Stampin'Up! new Cable Knit Dynamic Textured Impressions Embossing Folder

If you have devoured the Stampin'Up! Holiday Mini catalog then you've seen the new Cable Knit Dynamic Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, right? Dynamic---what does that mean? Well, this little beauty makes an impression (dry embossing) in the cardstock that is about twice as deep as the regular textured impressions embossing folders. It gives a vey distinct and intense impression. Because of it's thickness, you need to know how to use it so that you don't damage your folder or your Big Shot!

Here's the folder we are talking about  and a piece of cardstock we'll talk about below: 10-14-16 Cable Knit Folder and cardstock

Here's a card we created  using this folder--gorgeous, right? 10-14-16 Cable Knit folder Card

I'm going to give you the step by step process to use with this folder.  I cut a piece of Real Red cardstock 4 1/8 X 5 3/8:

Center this cardstock in the folder--note which direction you want the cable to run--you can see how I placed the cardstock to get the cable to run vertically. Since this is a 6 X 6 folder, you can have the cable running in either direction for your own  card design--that's a terrific advantage for the 6 X 6 folders. 10-14-16 cardstock in folder

Now, here's how your sandwich is made for this folder--Big Shot, Big Shot Platform,  folder with cardstock inside, one standard cutting pad on top. Note: there is NOT a standard cutting pad underneath the folder....this would add too much thickness and possibly damage your machine and/or your folder. Be sure to place the folder with the open edges out and the folder spine going into the machine first. 10-14-16 One cutting pad on top 10-14-16 Cranking through big shot

Here's your final product---gorgeous! 10-14-16 embossed cardstock

It's a very simple process but you want to remember the directions above--use only one standard cutting pad on top and make sure the folder spine goes through the Big Shot first.

Let me know if you have any problems!

Here's the supply list for the card shown above. You can use the Shop Now button above to order the supplies you need today.


Tips & Hints for How to Use the Floral Affection textured impressions embossing folder

If you are like me, when you use the smaller Stampin'Up! textured impressions embossing folders, you tend to get some  tiny crinkles in your cardstock. Today I'm going to give you some tips & hints and show you how I minimize those crinkles.

This is the new Floral Affection folder we'll be using today: 10-11-16 Affection folder

Here's a recent card we made in class using the Floral Affection folder: 10-11-16 Affection Folder card

Pretty, right? It's not perfect but we've minimized the little crinkles so they are hardly noticeable.

Now let's get on with the tips and tricks--here's the equipment you'll need...the Big Shot, the Big Shot Platform and 2 standard cutting pads 10-11-16 Equipment

Cut a piece of thick Whisper White cardstock 2 1/2 X 4 1/4: 10-11-16 Cardstock in folder

Center this in the Floral Affection Folder....notice the black arrow I've markered on the folder? 10-11-16 Cardstock in folder

Arrange your sandwich as follows--Big Shot, Big Shot Platform, standard cutting pad, folder with cardstock enclosed with the arrowed edge pointed toward the Big Shot roller, and the second standard cutting pad. 10-11-16 Rolling through the Big Shot

Hint: ROLL VERY SLOWLY--so crank your sandwich through the Big Shot--go slowly

Here's the final product---note, it is not perfect but we have significantly minimized the crinkles that normally  occur when we use the standard Whisper White cardstock and crank through at our normal rate. 10-11-16 Completed

Give it a try and let me know if you have found any other terrific tips or tricks that will help us use our folders better.

Here are the supplies I used for creating this card. You can use the Shop Now button at the top of the page to order what you need today.


Another stamping tools organization tip

Monday we talked about a couple of really great time-saving tips for organizing our stamping tools.  Today I have another one for you.

Have you ever been ready to place an order and can't remember if you have a Stampin'Up! punch. Or have you wanted to know if that new stamp set  you want to purchase will coordinate with one of the punches in your stash?  Well, one of Sandi's Stampers, Jackie Silvestri is using a really great system that will help you track your punches, help you determine if it coordinates with a stamp set and, best of all, it is portable--so it can come with you to class or you can keep it near your catalog for easy reference.

Here it is...she purchased a package of the plastic sleeves that kids use to protect their sports cards (e.g. baseball cards). She cut a piece of cardstock that slips into the sleeve and uses her punch to punch out the image from the cardstock. Now tuck this piece of cardstock in the card sleeve. Some of these come with a hole already punched in the upper corner--some don't.  If yours doesn't,  punch a hole in the upper corner and store these on a 3"diameter key ring.

Here's what one looks like.... 10-7-16 washi punch

And, here's another one... 10-7-17 blossoms punch

Now if you are trying to see if the stamp fits inside the punched image--just h0ld the  punched cardstock over the stamped image and see how it fits.

If you are getting ready to purchase a punch and can't remember if you ordered it previously--scan through the cards on your key ring and you can tell at a glance whether or not you have it!

Isn't this a great organizational too! And, it's quite inexpensive...it will save you tons of time!

If you have a great organizational tool that you'd like to share--email it to me with a picture or two--I'd love to see what you are doing.


Easy organization of stamping supplies...and more!

Each time we coordinate a card swap I hear several complaints about how much trouble it is to know which stamp sets are current and can be used for the swap. I also did a quick survey a few weeks ago and one of the recurrent topics was how to be more organized with stamping supplies. Well, I have a great suggestion for you to keep you current and to help you be more organized.

BTW, if you follow me on Pinterest--http://www.Pinterest.com/sandihartka you'll see that I have a new board for organizing craft rooms and craft supplies--check it out after you check out my current organizing tip.

OK, back to our topic. I'd like to say that this tip was my idea--but I'm better and finding good ideas than generating them! LOL. This idea comes from Angie Gittles--one of Sandi's Stampers.  She explained her very simple system of tracking her current stamp sets---she purchased an inexpensive pack of colored dots from the office supply store and puts a colored dot at the bottom of the stamp case spine...check out the picture below.

Now, this doesn't have to be an overwhelming chore even if you have 200 stamp sets on hand. You only need your current catalog--turn to the index and look for the first stamp set on your shelf...if it's there....just go to the next stamp set and look it up. If it's not there, put a dot on the case.  10-4-16 organizing crafts supplies

How simple is that?

Now, you can do this with all of your stamping tools! You can put dots on your embossing folders, your framelit packs, your punches and your ink pads--you can even put them on your Stampin'Write markers!

If you have shelves for your cardstock--put a dot next to the color if it is retired.  If you don't have shelving--here's a great storage hint (this one comes from Diane Flayhart)--purchase a pack of the WIDE page protectors from the office supply store. These are designed to hold up to 40-50 pages of copy paper and will hold a full pack of your Stampin'Up! cardstock. So put the colored dot on the sheet protectors.

Now aren't these two ideas simple and inexpensive? And how nice will it be next time we organize a swap and all you need to do is check out the stamps and tools that don't have a dot and you are ready to participate!

Speaking of SWAPS--our next SWAP is due to me by noon on Halloween (10/31/16 at noon). The only rule is all current Stampin'Up products must be used. You can provide the recipe if you want. Just send 10 card fronts to me and you are IN!  My address is 313 Esther Drive, Forest Hill, MD 21050. Swaps will not be returned or swapped if they don't meet the current Stampin'Up! products rule. It's not too late--you still have nearly 30 days...email me if you are not currently signed up to let me know you want to participate--I will be making a little thank you gift for you ([email protected])

 Do you have a really cool supply/tool organization tip that you'd like to share with our stampers? Email it to me with a picture of what you are doing--we all need help with our limited space and getting our supplies in a ready state so when we have a few minutes--weáre ready to stamp