Christmas Countdown Calendar

I hope you enjoyed the Stampin' Addicts Holiday Mini Blog Hop as much as I did.  So many fabulous ideas for the new stamps and other goodies available starting September 1.  I promised to give you a closer look at the Countdown to Christmas Calendar today and here it is:

First of all, thank you for all the nice comments on the calendar.  It was the project I was most excited about. It was one of those projects that I set aside and then picked it up again the next day and liked it even more.  Do you ever do that with projects?  It's a much better feeling than picking it up the next day and NOT liking it.

This picture gives you a little perspective on the size of the calendar.  I knew I wanted to make a small calendar and originally envisioned using a chipboard coaster.  But by a happy coincidence, these metal CD cases were in the same box as my chipboard coasters.  And that is was a light bulb moment.  Stampin' Up had these on the Clearance Rack a year or so ago.  I bought a bunch then, but darn if I don't regret not buying more now that I've discovered this fun use for them. 

One of the brilliant things about using the CD case for it is the ability to store the extra numbers inside the case. What's that?  How are those numbers sticking to the case?

Magnets of course.  You can use any kind of magnet on these, but for economy sake, I used a roll of adhesive magnet strip that you can get at any craft store and cut small pieces to put on the back of each number tag.

I attached the ribbon hanger with glue dots to the inside of the box.  When the box is closed, it holds the ribbon in place too.

I will be offering this as a project at my Christmas Card (and Gift) Crank on November18 and 19 if you want to make one of your own. I know I will be making several as gifts this year.

Colors: Cherry Cobbler, Garden Green, Early Espresso, and Whisper White.  Stamps: 25 and Counting. Punches: Petite Pennant (Tree), Postage Stamp, 1" Square.  Big Shot: Sizzlet Billboard Decorative Strip Alphabet, Scallop Squares Duos.  Accessories: Frostwood Lodge Designer Series Paper, Cherry Cobbler Scallop Dot Ribbon, Garden Green Button, Cherry Cobbler Baker's Twine, Cherry Cobbler Brads.  Other: CD Tin and Magnets.

Stampin' Addicts Holiday Mini Blog Hop!

Welcome to stop 16 on the Stampin' Addicts' Holiday Mini Blog Hop!  I'm so excited to be back in the line up!  If you hopped on over from Betty's Kitty Stamp, I hope you enjoyed her fabulous projects with the new Big Shot die.  But if you are just starting here, don't worry, all the blogs are hooked together in one big loop so you won't miss a thing.

I get to share with you today some projects with the stamp set 25 and Counting.  This fun set features a number from 1-25 incorporated into Christmas-themed images on each stamp -- hence the name.  Its is perfect for all kinds of holiday projects but I am just going to share three with you today:

One of the most obvious use for this set is an Advent or Countdown to Christmas calendar.  The catalog features a beautiful 12x12 calendar, but I wanted to make something a little smaller.  This one was made from a metal CD case.  It is the perfect size for a child's room or maybe your desk at work.  And since the case opens up, you have a place to store all those numbers when they aren't being used.  Fun stuff!  It also features the Frostwood Lodge Paper and the new 1" square punch which coordinates perfectly with the stamp set.  I'll have more information about how I made this cutie on Monday so be sure to come back.

Here I used the stamps to adorn 25 boxes (made with our exclusive Candy Wrapper Big Shot Die).  Each box has some kind of treat in it and my boys will get to open one every day from December 1 - December 25.  Still a count down to the Holiday, but this time your loved one gets a little something for each day.  If you didn't want to put a treat in it, you could also put a slip of paper with a Holiday Activity on it that you could do each day.   It would also work really well for the 12 Days of Christmas.  I had a really, really hard time getting a great picture of these so I hope you can at least get the idea.  I'll share more details and some close up pictures on Wednesday of next week.

And last, but certainly not least, Bingo Cards!  I read this idea somewhere on the 'net but I couldn't find it again so kudos to who suggested it.  The images on each of these stamps are less than 1" square so they fit perfectly in the Bingo Card Background Stamp.  And the fun thing about this, is you can call out the numbers like traditional bingo B-2 or O-21.  My oldest has already asked if we can play Bingo this Christmas.

Thanks for stopping by and be sure to come back Monday and Wednesday for a closer look at the projects.  Now you can hop on over to Trina's Stamp and Whiskers to see one of my favorite stamp sets from the Holiday Mini: Fun and Festive or hop on  over to Stampin' Addicts for a complete list of participating blogs and to chat it up! Happy Hopping!

Holiday Mini Sneak Peeks: Spice Cake Product Suite

Really not trying to rush us through the last month of summer, but I love Fall!  I love that first crisp morning and pumpkins and falling leaves and I could go on all day.

And this year, Stampin' Up's fall suite in the Holiday Mini is adding to my excitement for the season.  It's called Spice Cake and it is just as yummy as it sounds.  Featuring the most beautiful Designer Series Paper ever, a beautiful leaf stamp set as well as fabric and buttons, it is just perfect for Fall or anytime really.  And if digital crafting is more you speed, the paper will be available as a digital download too.  Here is your sneak peek:

Colors: Soft Suede, More Mustard, and Very Vanilla. Stamps: Gently Falling and Fabulous Phrases. Punches: Small Oval and 2-1/2" Circle.  Accessories: Spice Cake Designer Series Paper, Soft Suede Taffeta Ribbon, Log Cabin Smooch Spritz.

Remember last week, I promised one more card based on the sketch challenge?  Here it is.  Last week I was on a big Soft Suede kick.  Especially when I discovered how cool the Log Cabin Smooch Spritz looks on it.  You can't tell from the picture, but it gives it just a hint of coppery shimmer.  The Gently Falling set is designed for two-step stamping.  Six outline stamps are complimented by six "filler" stamps in all of the common leaf shapes plus an acorn and a maple seed pod.  I have a thing for leaf stamps, and I adore this one.

Colors: Pool Party, Soft Suede, More Mustard, River Rock.  Big Shot: Scallop Square Duo, Alphabet Simple Letters. Punch: 2-3/8" Scallop Circle.  Accessories: Spice Cake Designer Series Paper, Fabric and Buttons, 1/8" Very Vanilla Taffeta Ribbon.

I love to create banners, but I hate to take pictures of them.  They never look as good in the picture as they do in real life.  So you'll have to use your imagination a bit.  This also features the Spice Cake Designer Series Paper as well as the matching fabric and buttons.  I made this to hang in the entry way to my house, but it has already been requested as a buffet project for September.

Colors: Pool Party, Soft Suede, Very Vanilla.  Stamps: Delightful Dozen. Punches: Postage Stamp and 1" Square Punch.  Accessories: Spice Cake Designer Series Paper, Very Vanilla Seam Binding.

I mentioned before that this paper was really good for anytime and here's the card that proves it.  Anyone who knows me, knows that I love paisleys.  And when I saw this paper I just wanted to hoard it and pet it and call it George.  But I made myself cut into it.  (I can order another package of paper after all.)  I thought it was pretty enough that it didn't need too much so I kept it very simple.  But did you notice the 1" square punch?  Finally we have one and it layers perfectly with the postage stamp punch too.

The Spice Cake Product suite will be available to order starting September 1 when the Holiday Mini begins.  I know you will love it as much as I do.

Holiday Mini Sneak Peeks: Fun and Festive

The Holiday Mini doesn't start until September 1.  But one of the perks of being a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator is the opportunity to pre-order new items and get to play with them a whole month before everyone else.  (And that's just one of the many perks).

My order arrived last week and I promised to provide some sneak peeks.  I'm hoping to do this once a week for the rest of the month.  This week's sneak peek is the Fun and Festive set.  The set features three stamps, one for each upcoming holiday: Halloween, Christmas and Valentines.  I knew when I saw it, I'd have to have it.

Colors: Pumpkin Pie, Lucky Limeade, Perfect Plum, Daffodil Delight, Whisper White and Basic Black.  Stamps: Fun and Festive. Tools: Many Marvelous Markers, and Small Oval Punch. Accessories:  Basic Black 1/2" Scallop Dot Ribbon, Dazzling Details, and Crystal Effects.  Tutorial for Pull-Up Candy Bar Holder from splitcoaststampers.com.

If you love sparkle, but hate glitter (don't forget what Ellen DeGeneres says about glitter), you will love the other new product featured on this project: Dazzling Details - an iridescent glitter glue.   All the bling with none of the mess.  After I colored the image, I added a layer just over the colored areas to give it lots of sparkle (I know it's a little hard to tell from the picture).

And isn't this Candy Bar Holder a great Halloween treat?  This may  be a project for my Spooktacular Buffet in October.  If you are a class regular or want to be, let me know and I'll add it to the lineup.

Colors: Garden Green, Cherry Cobbler and Whisper White. Stamps: Festive and Fun.  Tools: Spritzer and Marker. Accessories: Frostwood Lodge Designer Series Paper, Cherry Cobbler Seam Binding Ribbon, Garden Green Button, and Crystal Effects. 

The Christmas image says, "Have a Holly Jolly Christmas."  Tell me that song is not running through your head right now!  This time, instead of sparkle, I wanted shine so I just put a layer of Crystal Effects over just where I colored.  That is one of my favorite techniques, but sometimes I have a little trouble being patient enough for it to dry.

Colors: Cherry Cobbler, Regal Rose, Very Vanilla, Pink Pirouette, Pretty in Pink.  Stamps: Fun and Festive.  Big Shot: Perfect Polka Dots Embossing Folder.  Tools: Markers, Paper Piercer and Mat Pack.  Accessories: Dazzling Details, brads.

I know, Valentines is still six months away.  Seems a little silly to be showing you a card this early.  But I love this stamp.  It's so cute.  I also used it in a swap I am doing so I'll have another card using this same stamp set to show you in a few weeks.  Again, I just added just a touch of Dazzling Details to this one too. 

I've been so drawn to these line art images lately. I know some of my customers HATE to color images.  But I have always found it a bit therapeutic to color.  It takes me back to my childhood days of coloring books and crayons.  I used to beg my mom to buy me markers and the thicker-paged books.  Simpler times.   Now I have my very own set of markers and can stamp all the images I want to color anytime I want.  Heaven, I tell you!