Wood Rose Hamburger Box

A couple of weeks back, I showed a project I made with the Hamburger Box die on The Stamp Review Crew Blog Hop.  Today I have another one for you:

Colors: Crumb Cake, Whisper White, Coral Calypso, Crisp Cantaloupe, and Pear Pizzazz.  Stamps: Hardwood and Perfect Pennants.  Big Shot: Hamburger Box Bigz XL and Spiral Flower Originals. Punch: Fun Flower.  Accessories: Tea Lace Doilies, Coral Calypso Seam Binding Ribbon.  

I haven't had a chance to use the Spiral Cut Flower die in the past few months.  Here I cut two of them out: one out of Coral Calypso and one out of Crisp Cantaloupe.  Then I wound them up together (after breaking up the paper fibers with a bone folder) to make a single rose monochromatic rose.  it was still missing something, so I added some leaves by punching just a section of the Fun Flower punch.

This is just one of the projects being offered at my August Stampin' Buffet.  It would be perfect to fill with a little treat for your child's teacher for Back to School or really, it works for so many occasions.  Sign up to come to my class today!

This is also a great time to mention that starting on Friday, August 1, Stampin' Up! is offering a special on the Big Shot. If you purchase one during the month of August, you can choose from one of 5 different stamp set/framelit bundles absolutely free! And if you already own a Big Shot, you can still purchase the bundles (not offered in the current catalog) at a 15% savings.   I will have more details on this offer next week.  

New Fry Box Bigz L Die

The new catalog features both a new hamburger box die and a new french fry box die.  I knew I wanted to get one of these for my customers to try out at my All-You-Can-Stamp Buffet, but I debated back and forth over which one to choose.   Finally, I picked the fry box:

Colors: Bermuda Bay and Tangelo Twist.  Stamps: Work of Art and Regarding Dahlias.  Big Shot: Fry Box Bigz L.  Punches: Banner and Hexagon.  Accessories: Bermuda Bay 1-1/4" Striped Grosgrain Ribbon.

So glad I picked this die.  It is so simple to put together and so cute! It was very popular at the class with lots of people making several for their coworkers or neighbors.  Love projects like that! I probably will still get the Hamburger Box die eventually, but for now, this will do.

Don't forget that Friday is the Stampin' Addict New Catalog Blog Hop.  You won't want to miss this one.  We'll see you then!

Getting back to my "Jobby!"

Around here, we lovingly refer to my Stampin' Up! business as my "Jobby."  It's not really just a hobby, but it definitely more than just a job too.  However, for the past several months, a lot of energy that I previously spent on my jobby has instead been spent on politics.  I've been a district co-captain for a citizen initiative here in Utah to change the way candidates for office get elected.  I don't want to turn this into a political discussion because who wants to mix stamping with politics?  One is beautiful, and one just plain isn't.  All that is really important to know is that is winding down as a compromise makes it's way through the State Legislature and I can start to feel my life going back to what it was before.

This whole thing was kind of a test for me to see if I was ready to give up my jobby and go back to the career I left shortly after my first son came along.  The answer actually surprised me.  I really, really missed being creative and spending time making beautiful things.  I ♥ my jobby and I am so excited to get back to it on a more regular basis!

And to kick that off, I am actually going to play along in the Fab Friday Challenge for this week.  It's been a goal of mine to play in more challenges but I just never seem to get around to it.  Well, fortunately, a project I made for stamp club last week fits perfectly with this color challenge:

Colors: Bermuda Bay, Strawberry Slush, Basic Black, Whisper White and Crushed Curry.  Stamps: Starburst Sayings.  Big Shot: Starburst Framelits.  Punch: Banner and Envelope Punch Board. Accessories: Kaleidoscope Designer Series Paper.

The basic directions for this box were found on Pinterest but when I went back to find the right person to credit, I found a million of these boxes in many different sizes.  For this box,  I started with an 8" square paper and then using the punched and scored on each side at 3" and 5".  (Instead of lining up the box with the previous score line when you rotate the paper, each side was scored at 3" and 5".)  And to hold the box shut, I made a belly band and used the Starburst Sayings Stamp Set and Framelit bundle to make the tag for the front.  And I just can't stop using that banner punch to make little accent pieces.  Everyone needs this punch!

Here is a side view of the box too:

Hopefully I will have lots of new things to show you over the next several weeks.  Come back Friday to see another Stampin' Addict Blog Hop featuring the Hidden Treasures Stampin' Up! has given us over the past several months (items not featured in any catalog).  And then next Monday is a bonus edition of The Stamp Review Crew featuring Happy Congratulations from the Occasions Catalog.  See you back here then!

Halloween Gable Box

When I was looking for one more treat box for my Spooktacular Buffet, Janine Tinklenberg posted one on her blog that was perfect.  My version looks like this:

Colors: Basic Black, Pumpkin Pie and Crushed Curry.  Stamps:Halloween Bash.  Punches: Decorative Label and Large Oval.  Accessories: Witch's Brew Designer Series Paper, Iridescent Ice Embossing Powder, Pumpkin Pie Chevron Ribbon and Basic Black 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon.

These little boxes are so cute a pretty easy to make from half a sheet of card stock.  Dawn Olchefske has a video tutorial on how to create this boxes on her blog.   They would make great little favor boxes for any occasion.

Bat Candy Bar Holder

Halloween is still six weeks away, but my Spooktacular Stampin' Buffet is only two weeks away!  This is always my most popular class of the year because my customers ♥ Halloween.  It's always a bit of a challenge to come up with some new and different kind of treat holder for this class, but I think this one turned out so cute:

Colors: Basic Black, Pumpkin Pie, Whisper White, Summer Starfruit.  Stamps: Halloween Bash.  Big Shot: Labels Collection Framelits.  Punches: Decorative Label, Elegant Butterfly, Modern Label, 2-1/2", 1-3/4", 1/2" Circles, & Circle from Itty Bitty Shape Punch Pack.  Accessories: Witch's Brew Designer Series Paper, Basic Black Chevron Ribbon, Brights Glimmer Brads.

When you take the belly band off and open it up it looks like this:

Belinda Tubby has a video tutorial on how to make these on YouTube.  I changed it up just a bit by using the Elegant Butterfly punch to make the ears and the Modern Label punch to make the feet.  For those that prefer written directions instead of a video here are the basics:

• Start with a piece of black card stock 7-1/2" x 6-1/2"
• Place it on the Simply Scored Board the long way and score at 2-1/2" and 5".
• Turn the card stock the other way and score at 1" from the edge to the first score line and from the second score line to the other edge. (So there is no score line in the middle).
• Cut the 1" x 2-1/2" corners away along the score lines.  
• Use the 2-1/2" Circle punch to make a template for the head.  (Punch a circle out and then trace it onto the top section to make the rounded head.)
• To make the wings, start about 1/2" in from at the top corner and use the 2-1/2" circle punch to punch the first notch.  Move down to the end of that notch and punch in about 3/4" from the edge.
• Switch to the 1-3/4" circle punch and start at the bottom at the score line and punch about 1/2" in from the bottom.  Then use the 1-3/4" circle punch to notch the corner and make it look like a bat's wing.
• Repeat on the other side. 
• Use the top half of the butterfly punch to make the ears (cut it in half to make two) and glue to the top
• Use the 1/2" circle and the small circle from the Itty Bitty Punch to make the eyes.
• Use the modern label punch for the feet.  Cut one in half and glue them to the bottom. 
• Attach the candy bar to the center and add a belly band.

You can check out all the projects for my Halloween class here: Spooktacular Stampin' Buffet.  All project orders need to be in by Tuesday, September 24 so I can have them all cut and ready to go.

Chevron Box

Today I promised more details on this box I shared on the Stampin' Addict New Color Blog Hop on Monday

Colors: Strawberry Slush, Smoky Slate and Whisper White.  Stamps: Chalk Talk.  Big Shot: Chalk Talk Framelits and Chevron Textured Embossing Folder.  Accessories: Simply Scored, Smoky Slate Chevron Ribbon, Cellophane Bag, Rhinestone Jewels.

To make the box: Start with a piece of 8-1/2" x 5-1/2" piece of card stock.  Put it on your Simply Scored the long way and score at 1-1/4", 4", 5-1/4", & 8".  Turn the card stock the other way and score at 1-1/4".  Cut a tab away from the bottom corner (where the 8" vertical line and the 1-1/4" horizontal line intersect) and then notch the top of that same section about 1/2" inch.  Fold along all the score lines.  Next take your Chevron Embossing folder an line it up with the 1-1/4" score horizontal line (so that the bottom of the box isn't embossed) and with the 5-1/4" vertical line.  Run it through the Big Shot to emboss the box.  Now turn the card stock and line up the embossing folder with the edge of where you embossed before, getting the patterns to match up as closely as you can, and run it through to emboss the other side.  Finally, cut along the top edge of the box following the chevron patter to make a large "pinked" pattern on the top of the box.  Here is what it looks without the bag and tag with it:

For the Tag:  The new Chalk Talk Bundle makes the tag so easy.  I just stamped the largest image in Smoky Slate and then ran it through with the matching framelit.  Then I stamped it again in Strawberry Slush and cut out the word "something" and used a dimensional to pop it up over the same banner on the original image.  I also added the rhinestones to the corners to add just a touch of sparkle to it.

We will be making a simplified version of this at my All-You-Can-Stamp-Buffet tomorrow and next Friday.  If you would like to come next Friday, please let me know by next Wednesday!

Hoppy Easter!

This is just a crazy busy week at my house.  My youngest son is getting baptized on Saturday so we have all kinds of company coming in from out of town.  And of course we all get to celebrate Easter together with our special friends and family which is just an added bonus.  But that leaves me to prepare a few special meals and of course have my house company ready.  So I have been AWOL for the past few days.  I hope by the middle of next week to be back to regular posting.

But I have an Easter project to share so I knew I had to make the time to post today.  A week or so ago, Stampin' Up! posted the most adorable Bunny Box on the company blog.  I knew it would be the perfect project for my club last week, so I made my own version of it:

Colors: Naturals Ivory, Coral Calypso, Bashful Blue, Basic Black and Crumb Cake.  Stamps: Itty Bitty Banners.  Big Shot: Ovals Collection Framelits.  Punches: Large and Small Oval, Cupcake Builder.  Accessories: Designer Printed Brad, Coral Calypso Baker's Twine, and Tea for Two Designer Series Paper.

I made the body using the middle-sized Oval Framelit for the body of the bunny and then the smallest one for the feet and ears.  The inside of the ears and paws were made with the Large Oval Punch and the egg with the small oval punch.  I just love how the little nose and whiskers turned out.

My club ladies loved it and most of them ended up buying the Oval Framelits so they could recreate them for their friends and grandchildren.  Here's a picture of the back so you can see that it really is a box:

The box on the back was made with a 5" x 8-1/2" piece of card stock placed in the simply scored the long was and scored at 2-1/2", 4", 5-1/2" and 8.  Turn the card stock the other way and score at 1-1/2" and then assemble as a box.

I hope you and your families enjoy a lovely holiday weekend together.  I know I am looking forward to it!

Valentine Treat Purse

A few years ago, when Stampin' Up! first offered the Big Shot Movers and Shapers Die (which they have since retired), my upline gave me a cute little Valentines Purse with a heart window cut into it that used that die.  When I was thinking of a second treat holder to offer at my Valentines Class, I was thinking about that purse and how Framelits would make it even easier.  So that is how I came up with this:

Colors: Primrose Petal, Whisper White.  Stamps: You are Loved.  Big Shot: Striped Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Hearts Collection Framelits and Two Tags Bigz Die.  Punches: Small Heart and Itty Bitty Shapes Punch Pack. Accessories: Window Sheets, White StazOn Ink, Designer Builder Brads, Delicate Details Lace Tape, Primrose Petal Stitched Satin, Mini Brads.  

Directions:

1) Start with a piece of card stock 6"x 11".  Score the long way at 5" and 6" then turn the other way and scored at 1" and 5".  Cut notches along the middle score lines so the box will fold and assemble properly.

2) Cut the heart-shaped window out of the front of the box using the Hearts Collection Framelits. Just line up the framelit and run it through (It was so much easier than how I remember using the Movers and Shapers die to make windows in boxes before).

3) Use a Textured Impressions Embossing Folder to add texture to your box.  Here I used the Striped folder.  I placed it on the front and ran it through and then turned it over and did the back. (The sides and the bottom are not embossed so you don't have to worry about lining it up exactly).

4) Cut a piece of Window Sheet large enough to cover the window in your box (mine was 3-1/2" x 3-3/4").  I stamped my window with White StazOn Ink.  Use Glue Dots to adhere the Window Sheet to the inside of your box.

5) Fold along all the score lines and assemble the purse using strong adhesive like Sticky Strip along the sides.  For the handle, I used a piece of card stock 3/4" x 8-1/2" and attached it to the purse using silver mini brads.

6) Embellish and fill your box as desired.  Here I used some of the fun Delicate Details Lace and Designer Builder Brad from the Spring Catalog and then filled it with Kisses.  

You could always switch out the heart for any of the other fun Framelit shapes that we have to make you box for any other occasion too.  The possibilities could be endless.

Valentines Two Tags Basket

Today I am sharing the details of the little treat basket I offered at my class last weekend:

Colors: Real Red and Whisper White.  Stamps: Take a Ticket. Big Shot: Scalloped Heart of Hearts Embosslit and Two Tags Bigz Die.  Accessories: Polka Dot Parade Designer Series Paper, Organza and Real Red Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon, Silver Basics Designer Buttons.

I just love the way these turned out. I found the idea for these on Pinterest last year.  I chased the idea down and I think the original credit for these goes to Lisa Curcio.  But if you want to make one for yourself, Julie Davison has a tutorial on her blog that is easy to download and follow.  I know I am going to make a few more up to give to some neighbors and my boys' school teachers and then maybe I'll design one for Easter too.