Ok, ok - I just had to make one more sample for you which features SALE-A-BRATION products....late in the night I decided this { I need to sleep more but when the creative juices strike,  well, you know exactly what I mean}... :)

Carouse through a HallMark store and through the gift wrap aisle, see the gift tag 'toppers' - you know the decorative tags that just stick on the front of a bag or on a wrapped parcel?  They are more for " decoration " than for tags.
Anyways....they were all cute in one way or another, but I was thinking, for that price - we sooooo could to-ta-lly do ones ourselves!!!!

So there I am last night - grabbed  the last of my ICE CREAM PARLOR paper - a pretty fun collection in the SAB catty - get it as your free gift when you make a minimum $60 purchase!

[LAST DAY is TODAY for this promotion - so click on the catalogues to the right and place your order if you want to take advantage of this, you have till 2 am Eastern Canada time - due to the time zones - we have a slight difference in our favour!]

1. So ....I had paper - I had buttons and I had ribbon - all co-ordinating, hmmmm....then it struck me to use my  ORNAMENT PUNCH to create a VASE, 
2. use my BUTTONS as FLOWERS, 
3. and use the RIBBON as a GIFT BAG HANDLE and then I was  done in no time!!!                      Well, by 'no' time, I may mean " 30 mins" as I made some very tiny details!

Ta da!  I give you my GIFT TAG/TOPPER!  

It's a little gift bag itself, ha ha!  Ain't it cute! 

CLICK on picture for a closer view.  

Here is what I did:

•  CUT 2 SQUAREs { Ice Cream Parlor Designer Paper}, any size = GIFT BAG
•  CREATE PHOTO CORNERS FROM STRIPS OF SCRAPS - experiment - make it interesting.  
•   USE the ORNAMENT PUNCH {and co-ordinating paper}. TRIM POINT and INSTANT VASE! 
• ATTACH TO BACKGROUND PAPER AND PLAN OUT 'FLOWERS'
•  PIERCE PAPER and STITCH 'STEMS'  -  OPTIONAL - could 'draw' stitches with marker!  
•  a FLOWER BUTTON - on STEMS{secure with a knot, and move on to the next button}.
•  attach a RIBBON HANDLE to 'back side' with MINI GLUE DOTS
• PUNCH 2 strips of WHISPER WHITE using a SCALLOP BORDER PUNCH [ one each for tag's front and back top edge] - adhere
•  TISSUE PAPER, is sandwiched between squares to mimic 'gift wrap'!
•  LEAVE BACK BLANK - for writing message or attaching to a gift bag.

AND THAT'S IT!  

Mine is going on my ' TAG TREE' for now....I am quite chatty today, but this really is a quick project and especially if you omit the stitching, and tiny details. 

CONTACT ME IF YOU'D LIKE TO PLACE AN ORDER TODAY 

- REMEMBER, ITS SALE-A-BRATION which is OVER tonight,

 THE OCCASIONS MINI CATALOGUE IS STILL IN EFFECT TIL APRIL 30 - 2011.

Bye- bye!

  

Aerodynamically,

 the bumblebee shouldn't be able to fly, 

but the bumblebee doesn't know that 

so it goes on flying anyway.

Stamping is one easy sport - with a minimum of supplies, you can do the most remarkable creations - the sport comes in the trying, and the learning you acquire over time....sooner or later, you will create more fantastic projects than you ever thought you would!  But even the most naive efforts look wonderful in their own right - there is a beauty in the hand-made, and a special feeling that dwells there. Make time to create - you will be greatly rewarded for it!

If I can help you in any way, large or small, to start you on your way, I'd be pleased to!

Thanks for reading my blog! 

 Beverly :)

As a last nod towards SALE-A-BRATION 2011 -  I have a few projects to show you which demonstrate some SAB and Occasions Mini Catalogue products.

TAKE A SPIN Stamp Set Card

featuring: Game Spinner Hands, Designer Paper ' Sweet Stitches ', Pom Pom Trim

There are 4 different Spin stamps to choose from including 2 Birthday themes!

Some one special who you'd like to remember?

Here are 2 cards then which are jubilant and fresh! Use colour, in a pretty way or a playful manner.  See? Its hard to resist feeling happy when you receive a card like these!

PRESTO DESIGNER SERIES PAPER *reg catalogue 

I inked over the embossed Presto Paper with Melon Mambo Ink and a sponge, then quickly swiped off the ink with a tissue to reveal the beautiful foliage pattern once more - very elegant. 

3 punched circles as an accent!

Speaking of accents, look at this....

This is our NEW FUN FLOWERS Big Shot die in our Stampin' Up! collection - fab isn't it?

To make this colourful version - I've used the FREE patterned paper from the SAB selection - ICE CREAM PARLOUR PAPER and QUICK ACCENTS PACK! 

It has ribbon and buttons to match - also Free! 

Check out this - the ELIZABETH stamp is sold as a single stamp - $11.95 - beautiful!

As a Father's Day Card, you wonder?

Certainly, when you combine it with a NEWSPAPER PRINT - a Designer Series Paper in the Mini Catalogue called " FIRST EDITION "

The paper is black and white - but here I have sponged it with Bashful Blue ink! 

Now who in the devil is this?  

Why its our ever-so-popular 2-STEP OWL PUNCH - so popular, that it is on back-order right now!

But to add some more CUTENESS - it is paired with the BUTTON, BUTTON Stamp Set - see page 34 of your Occasions Mini Catalogue.  There are 17 buttons to play with - 17 !!!  

Buttons are a running theme right now - we also have the new Embosslits, SWEET BUTTONS also in the mini that moi is dying to get! It matches this button stamp set - sweet!  I've seen people using these button designs as 'flower' posies....awww.

Check out OWL up close!

That is also our NEW SCALLOP CIRCLE PUNCH - Larger than the newer 2-1/2 inch CIRCLE PUNCH - so more layering ladies :) 

Now find the time... make a variety of cards to put in your card "bank", and you'll have them when you need them!  OXOX

Well - there is my little tour of the Occasions Mini 2011 - which IS STILL IN EFFECT till the end of APRIL!  But sadly, SALE-A-BRATION is OVER TODAY at midnight!  The 'freebie frenzy' over for another year!  

WANT DELICIOUS COLOURS FOR SPRING?  Choose some of the colours FEATURED here - MELON MAMBO,  DAFFODIL DELIGHT, TANGERINE TANGO, MARINA MIST, BASHFUL BLUE, and pair with Neutrals CHOCOLATE CHIP, WHISPER WHITE. 

It's a DVD/CD SLEEVE ! 

Excellent DIY Project - for my Stampin' Up! Friends or YOU if you are new to rubberstamping and or die-cutting!  Excellent Gift Idea - Storage Solutions - FUN TIME! 

I have a student in the family who has some educational DVDs which come in flimsy paper covers and sometimes un-attractive cases. So....I thought it would be a cool project to make some DVD sleeves that they can leave out on their desk and maybe they'll even be happy when they look at their homework - ok, I can dream!

Now you can also make your own sleeves for home-made DVDs .....or how about these for Weddings?  Any gift involving a DVD or CD would certainly benefit from this project - so here is how we do it!!!!

INSTRUCTIONS

Supplies:  cardstock 8.5x11   cardstock scraps   pattern/designer paper 

punch of choice ( here we use Beautiful Butterflies Big SHot Die and 1-3/4 in. and 1/2 in. Circle Punches)

adhesive

SLEEVE:  CUT your cardstock for the sleeve at 5.5 x 10 inches

SCORE in the middle at 5 inch mark - short side

TURN the cardstock 1/4 turn and SCORE 1/4 in along both long sides

TRIM OFF the 1/4 border to the 5 inch mark on one half, both sides.

FOLD and SCORE the remaining 1/4 in "tabs" on the opposite side toward center

FOLD at the 5 inch mark (half-way) and adhere the folded 1/4 in tabs to the opposite side. 

PUNCH 1/2 circles with your large punch - do one side, and then the other if cardstock is thick (can do this step ahead of time before gluing together as well). 

Decorate your sleeve! 

all views of cardstock cut, scored and folding....5-1/2 x 10 inch, folded in half at the 5 inch mark.

Score the long sides a 1/4 inch and cut off one pair to the half-way mark, leaving the other pair as tabs to glue the sleeve together (allows for room to slide the DVD/CD in and out)

Folded and Glued!   Now Decorate it!

ideA+s = 

-  a large Monogram Initial (Sans Serif Die Set), with a Woodgrain background with our large STAMPIN' UP! Background Stamps- great for a guy! Or make it feminine with ribbon tied to the initial and a delicate print from the selection of Background Stamps! 

- emboss the paper before you start using one of our Textured Impressions Folders!

- add a Chipboard Accent

- stamp, stamp, stamp - thousands of images!

- need lots?.. churn them out with our MY DIGITAL STUDIO software program to help you!

MY VERSION - STAMPIN' UP! SUPPLIES

Colours I am working with are Delightful Daffodil and Tempting Turquoise, Whisper White and multi-coloured pattern.

Dies I used: Bigz Die, Beautiful Butterflies - a Shelli Signature product; a 1-3/4 and 1 inch Circle Punches,

Other: bone folder, adhesive

Another round of 'What's This' today!  Tomorrow I will reveal what it really is - and a tutorial on how to make one!

See you soon!

Look closely at your receipts lately.  

Did you receive anything FREE?

6 DAYS LEFT of SALE-A-BRATION!!!   

FREE - FANTASTIC & UNIQUE SALE-A-BRATION PRODUCTS! ! !


SALE-A-BRATION BROCHURE

Contact Me - I will be Pleased to Place Your Order - Thank You!!

CS25H

Inside Greeting ' Happy Easter '

Hello, today I am entering a challenge!  I have not entered one here before, but over at Creative-Sketches there is a challenge today called CS25H Holidays and Celebrations and I have chosen to make an Easter Card for a friend!



To do this, I have chosen my INSPIRED BY NATURE stamp - using the floral image (it's a double-mounted stamp - opposite side has grass!) because it feels like Spring to me and I wanted my card to not be over-the-top Easter, but something more simplier and relaxed.

I have made the focal piece using our SCALLOP CIRCLE Bigz Die (the scallop red circle) and then layered it with Pumpkin Pie and Whisper White cardstock, followed naturally,  nestled in the center,  my stamped image!

My ribbon is a thin strip of paper cardstock (Whisper White )  run through our Crimper tool, and sponged ever-so-gently with PEACH PARFAIT ink.

The two tiny tags (say that 10 times!) tied on are made with our MEDIUM JEWELLERY TAG punch - and decorated with co-ordinating stamps, TINY TAGS and one little sequin for good luck, lol.

My Easter Greeting is on the inside - stamped in a row - kinda different, but simple too.

I also had fun trying a new thing - using GLUE DOTS and GLITTER!  How cool!  I found this idea from my friend Dee over in Australia, and another fantastic Stampin' Up! Demo!!

So head on over to check out Creative-Sketch's online site for more ideas - or if you have time, to try a challenge!

Here are the rest of my BABY SHOWER GIFT BASKET pictures that I wish to share.  I can't say enough, how much fun it was to make this :)  Some beautiful hats, mitty's, and socks make up the gift (as well as a tucked in package of scrapbooking bits)....but the creative options we have for packaging is what makes this feel like you really are part of the experience.

Sadly, it was late at night by the time I wrapped it up, so my pictures of the basket before it was wrapped did not turn out so well. Our indoor lighting requires my camera to use its flash - which always creates poor photos for blogging.

But I did manage a couple featuring the basket tags shown here along with the wrapped results and I am sure you can see some of why I enjoyed the whole process!

TWIN TAGS 4 TWIN GIRLS

Features Stampin' Up!'s Two Tags and Big Beautiful Butterflies Big Shot Dies

plus retired stamp set, Cute as a Bug

The dollar store penny candy jar decorated with another butterfly

from the same die, and Three Flowers Punch.  I really felt that the design looked 

good 'off-set' - just a little different :)

Here's the side view showing how we filled the jar with baby socks! Since I took off the 

large stickers and labels from the socks, I made little circle tags with our 1" circle punch to 

show the sizes as we included 2 different sizes.

Of course, had to do the inside lid!  Same Cute as a Bug set! 

Now here is another nifty thing - I coated the cardstock with a protective top coat of artist's medium gloss - that way, Mom can wipe the jar lid to keep things clean! 

Here is the basket and the jar - all ready to go! 

Butterflies decorate the basket handle inside, and so it was natural to use a butterfly as my outside tag! 

It reads " Expecting Love" 

I hope you have a chance to make someone a gift basket AND with some humble items to create your DYI packaging - your gift assemble can look really top notch!  

Hi - I am going to start with this close-up shot of the way in which I tied our BABY SHOWER BASKET in clear cellophane wrap - straight from the dollar store!   This is where simple materials come together and make a beautiful one-of-a-kind gift that will leave your  Mom-to-Be gushing over such thoughtfullness! 

I tied my cellophane up and around the basket handle with some regular scotch tape. Then I wrapped some white sheer ribbon around and around in a loose fashion and stapled it closed.  I created a "flower" accent with a STAMPIN' UP! crocheted white Fleurette topped by a flower button and bead. This was attached  to the pink ribbon which I had stitched together to form its own flowery shape. I created the pink ribbon flower with a series of loops - just back and forth, one loop after another until I finished the roll of ribbon. I absolutely had no instructions - I just looped away!  Besides,it was a short roll, lol!  

All of the ribbon, the cellophane and the basket itself came from the Dollar Store! Can't be simplier than that!

Tomorrow I will go into the basket creation!  Ta for now!

          My aim is to put down on paper what I see and what I feel in the best           and simplest way. 

                                                                                              -  Ernest Hemingway 

The  SPRING IS BLOSSOMING PROMOTION  APRIL 1 - 30TH!!!

SNEEK PEEKS FOR OUR UPCOMING CATALOGUE  

YOU CAN ORDER THESE EXCITING - NEW PRODUCTS  WHICH WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE AGAIN UNTIL JULY 1rst!

ORDER IN 2 WAYS: 

• Place a minimum $25 order

Contact Me to get the Preferred Prices which is only available through your friendly, neighbourhood demonstrator! 

• Host a $460* workshop and get the Four Frames Set and Paisley Petals Designer Series Paper for FREE 

*before tax and shipping, thank you.


What is more is that The FOUR FRAMES Stamp Set co-ordinates with our new DECORATIVE LABEL PUNCH - which means layering !!!! }  And the PAISLEY PETALS cardstock is absolutely beautiful - gorgeous colours including Old Olive, Not Quite Navy, River Rock, Tangerine Tango, Baja Breeze, Cherry Cobbler (although Bravo Burgandy is just as close), Always Artichoke.....and for all those colours - it works, really, really well!  

To see a just lovely card made with Paisley Petals  and the Four Frames set using the Decorative Label Punch- CLICK ON  " PROJECT OF THE MONTH"  at the TOP of this BLOG!  Beautiful - stunning project !!! 

Four Frames Stamp Set  Wood 123440 $25.95   Clear 123442 $19.95 Canadian
Paisley Petals Designer Series Paper  122367  $12.50 Canadian
DECORATIVE LABEL PUNCH 120907 $23.95 CDN  

This is really terrific news because I have been patiently waiting for the day when we had more, easy, convenient method to LAYER!  So together - the frames set and the punch - whoo-wee!

Here is our  order info for - and if anyone was quick to notice- the BABY BLOSSOMS stamp set in the Occasions Mini Catalogue  also has a co-ordinating stamp - aaaahhh! 

BOOK A WORKSHOP WITH ME - OR CONTACT ME TO PLACE YOUR ORDER AND GET STARTED THIS APRIL WITH SOME EXCITING PROJECTS !

For orders over $100 earn a FREE Classic Ink Pad from moi!

Yes helloooo to all out in craft-cyber world!

I feel really accomplished this week!  I have finished a set of gift bags for a baby shower AND a nice card in
SQUASH BOOK style - both are ready to fly out the door!!!

In order to decorate the squash booklet, I created my very own "Sakura Flower" using our Stampin' Up!'s FLORAL ISLAND BIGZ DIE.  Its one of a few select flower dies that I own, and its the same for my punches - so to create a flower, I had to borrow inspiration from my friend Maria Vanderform.  Maria specializes in many flower punch art creations, and seems to start by thinking of what she wants to create - then matching idea to tool!

So....I thought the same thing!  I looked up some flowers and chose the SAKURA Flower which is adored on a national level in Japan!  It can also be referred to as the Cherry Blossom Flower. The trees are stunning when in full bloom - and its hard for the eye to take in all the beauty of a grouping of trees, its awesome!

However, my flower is only a stylized ideal of the actual flower - meaning I took some liberties!  So here it is!

Sorry for the hint of pink through out the photo, but the camera read my flower as 'red' and its actually

 ROSE RED which goes nicely with the softer PINK accents and the GARDEN GREEN cardstock. 

The patterned paper is part of a 8x8" Cardstock Pad from Stampin' Up! - they come out with a new one every year featuring several colours cardstock. 

I will do a tutorial on the creation of the flower soon.

Meanwhile, I will show you the size of the SQUASH BOOK! 

Inside of the ' Front '

....beginning to ' OPEN ' !!!

Build-A-Brad  customize your brads!

  

The 1rst extended section ...

Look at its length!!!!  3 pages were joined together - lots of creative journalling or adding pictures! 

You could also use this for a card where many, many signatures are involved - right? 

I have to say - it's FUN to open these!!!   Brings out the kid in you!

And close 'er back up again! 

Well, I hope I've inspired you now! 

Have a great week-end! 

Don't forget SALE-A-BRATION is still ON !!!  Get in on the FREE products 

from STAMPIN' UP!

Ahhh, my storage issues continue.  

I wish I could go into my craft room and it would magically 

extend it's walls each and every time I need more storage, but alas, that is not going to happen.

So I dream up my own solutions. I think I have a natural compulsion to cover up things - so the two things go hand in hand, my recycling jars, tins, boxes, etc. and more craft supplies finding their way into my craft room! 

I also am not a fan of 'too' matchy-match components, which is why I decorate my craft room trying to balance purchasing items from collections, and found objects like the tin above. 

Anyways, I made a rough effort by sanding the edges of the paper I glued to the tins, there are 2 of them, and adding plain twine as an accent - my 'bow'.  I also just cut out the scallop trim from a packaging -it was pretty packaging - so why not! 

I recommend using STICKY TAPE for most of this project. 

TIP - use an old nail file to sand the tin (just a smidge) so the glue can BITE into the surface. The fat wide foam cosmetic nail files work great - the coarse side. Save your nice Sanding Blocks for cardstock. 

CLICK ON PICS FOR LARGE VIEW

SUPPLIES = STAMPIN' UP!  Patterned Paper: So Saffron and Bermuda Bay(lid) and Basic Gray (body)

Sticky Tape, Sanding Block

Good Morning!


As I promised, here are two more examples of FAT PAGES that were part of my swap!  These are really fun to make because it allows you  such freedom to play with your embellishments ... whereas with a card, you might have to worry about proportion, balance, etc.; here you can just mish-mash your ideas with good results!


Our swap this time has the theme of 'About Me' . 


I found this a bit harder than I imagined - finding what I wanted to say about myself took 2 tries. But I was happy in the end, and here it is. 


Click on pictures to enlarge....

Sorry - pic is a bit hard to see the details.....but this is the COVER.

I incorporated "gathered" ribbon, and several pieces of cardstock involving orange and green, and a hint of pink!  I added a natural fiber for the left edge where my friend can add holes to bind it with other pages. 

But it meant I needed to add 'About Me" details, so I added a couple of sections - so technically, its a little FAT PAGE booklet.  

So I went from pics of myself as a child about to devour her birthday cake to my 'grown' self shown on vacation!  A few comments about my childhood and a small list of my characteristics now-a-days nearly finishes my effort, but....

...just had to add a little philosophical sentiment on the back!! 

It reads: 

Said the butterfly, "one needs sunshine, freedom, and a little flower" 

and I added " and friends like you!"  

I also wanted to use a DVD Case to send it in - perfect size for a 4x4 inch project!  I bought a tin DVD case from HMV for $2.49 and wrapped my Fat Page in the canvas fabric and ribbon I included as a RAK; and decorated the case with a plain textured cardstock.  That way my friend can choose to use the case to keep the Fat Page in or for some other purpose, and decorate it herself. 

OK - enough about mine. ...on to my friend's FAT PAGE!

Sofia has sent me this little 'jewel' with co-ordinating cardstock in black, white and red!  She regularly uses folding techniques very well and here is no exception....

I have altered the area where her family photo was included, for privacy sake, so just imagine a photo there which would make for a very nice-looking Fat Page cover!  

Now below is the back and shows the folded layer which can be untied, opened and reveals...

....details regarding her "About Me"  (also shown altered)  - how nifty!

Well, I am really excited about our Fat Pages and I hope to have more soon to create a lovely collection - and I find this is especially nice to create a collection for as many friends and family as you can talk to participate - they are just 'fun'!

Hope it inspires you to create your own FAT PAGE !!!!