December 30 - Just Priceless Page

I'm filling up my album for the girls quickly this week! :)

Today's page is an example of how you can use a mistake to your advantage by just making the best of it. When I make a mistake or something doesn't go as planned on a page or card and I have to figure out a way to cover it up I usually end up liking it even more and today's page is no different.

The 1-1/2" stripes of patterned paper were put on the right side and I was going to zig zag stitch each one on the right side of the strip of paper. I got the pink one done fine but then on the green one my machine decided to un-thread without me realizing it so I had just holes down the whole strip and it looked pretty silly. So I covered it up with Chocolate Chip grosgrain ribbon. Well I liked how it looked on the green strip so I decided to do it on all of the strips of paper and love how it turned out. To me it looks better than I think it would have had I just kept stitching them with white thread.

Yay for mistakes and mess-ups!
As usual all supplies used are Stampin' Up! with most of them being sneak peeks of the new Sale-A-Bration and Occasions mini catalogs that will be available on January 5th.

Occasions Mini:
Sweet Pea Paper Stack
Chocolate Chip Epoxy Brads
Stitched Felt Flowers

2009/2010 Idea Book & Catalog:
Jumble Alphabet Stamp Set
Priceless Stamp Set
Chocolate Chip cardstock, ink and grosgrain ribbon

* also used sewing machine with white thread and a bunch of different zig zag stitches.

December 28 - a&n Scrapbook Page

Somebody stop me - I am on a roll! Last night I sat down at my desk to do this page, got the paper picked out then couldn't do a thing with it. So I went back downstairs and did something else. Over the years I've found that if the mojo isn't there it just isn't there. It's nothing I can force out of me. :) I just have to wait until an idea strikes. And fortunately I didn't have to wait long - when I went back up tonight (I was going to make a card!) I started playing around with the page again and managed to finish it.

All supplies are Stampin' Up! and again most of them are from the new Sale-A-Bration and Occasion Mini Catalogs available January 5th. I got my Sale-A-Bration catalog in the mail today so they should be hitting your mailbox shortly if you haven't already gotten a copy. Or if you need one just let me know.

One thing I absolutely love from the Occasions mini catalog are the Chat Room rubons. Yeah, yeah - I know they are supposed to be for cards but has that ever stopped me from using it on a scrapbook page? NO WAY! :) I wanted to set the photo apart and add a little bit of journaling to the page too so I thought I would kill two birds with one stone - so I cut apart the different words and sayings from the Chat Room rubons and placed them around my girls in the photo. I used the white rubons because the background was dark, but the rubons also include a sheet in Chocolate Chip so if my photo would have had a light background I could have used those. Then in between each "saying" to separate them out a bit I drew a quick little heart with my white Signo pen.

For my butterflies (made with the new Beautiful Wings Sizzix Embosslet) I folded them in half with the insides together and put a Stampin' Dimensional under each wing. Then attached it to my page in the middle with an epoxy brad. The dimensionals on the wings gave them a fun 3D look.

That's it for tonight ~ hope you had a fantastic Monday and are enjoying the final days of 2009!

{ holly }

Supplies:

Sweet Pea Designer Series Paper Stack (Occasions mini catalog) - Item #117161

Chat Room Rubons (Occasions mini catalog) - Item #117199

Beautiful Wings Sizzix Embosslet (Occasions mini catalog) - Item #118138

Pretty In Pink Epoxy Brads (Occasions mini catalog) - Item #117271

Vintage Labels Stamp Set (Sale-A-Bration mini catalog) - Item #118392

Scallop Trim Border Punch (Sale-A-Bration mini catalog) - Item #118402

Jumble Alphabet Stamp Set (for "a" and "n") - Item #115119

Schoolbook Serif Alphabet Stamp Set (for "&") - Item #113510

Curly Label Punch - Item #112208

Wide Oval Punch - Item #112082

White Signo Pen - Item #105021

Soft Suede Designer Series Paper (Polka Dots) - Item #115688

Soft Suede, Pretty in Pink, Very Vanilla & So Saffron cardstocks

Soft Suede ink - Item #115657

Stampin' Dimensionals - Item #104430

December 27 - Polka Dot Birthday Card

Today was time to work on some cards for my January card night. All 6 cards will be using spankin' new sets from the new Sale-A-Bration mini catalog and the new Occasions mini catalog that both take effect January 5th. This is just one of the 6 cards we will be making during January's card night which will be held on Thursday, January 14th. Want to come? Just let me know!

And since it is the start of a new year I'm going to change the card night rules up just a bit - in 2010 you will no longer have to pay the $8 supply fee AND place a $25 order. You can come to card night and make the 6 cards without having to place an order your only cost will be the supply fee. Or if you'd rather place an order with a minimum of $25 you no longer will have to pay the supply fee. There will also be a goodie option available if you'd still like the free goodie bag that comes with the orders without having to place an order. With no goodie bag your supply fee will be the normal $8, and if you'd like to get the goodie bag without placing an order you can pay a $12 supply fee (instead of the $8) which will include the same bag of goodies that people placing an order will receive. And during Sale-A-Bration the goodie bags should be STOCKED FULL! Confused yet? I hope not! But if you are PLEASE let me know and I'll try to explain it. :)

And now - on to the card! This one uses the new Vintage Labels set that is one of the free sets included in the Sale-A-Bration mini catalog. Definitely one of my new favorites! It also uses the new polka dots Sizzix embossing folder which makes it SO easy to add some fun texture to your cards and projects.

Oh! And one last quick thing that I'll get into more detail in a later post - all stamp sets in the new Sale-A-Bration and Occasions mini catalog are also now available as CLEAR STAMPS! :)

Supplies:
Vintage Labels Stamp Set (Sale-A-Bration mini catalog) - Item #118392
Certainly Celery cardstock - Item #105125
Bermuda Bay cardstock - Item #115317
Very Vanilla cardstock - Item #101650
Brushed Silver cardstock - Item #100712
Soft Suede cardstock - Item #115318
Silver Embossing Powder - Item #109131
Soft Suede Polka Dot Ribbon - Item #115612
Chocolate Chip ink - Item #100908
Perfect Polka Dots Embossing Folder (Occasions mini catalog) - Item #117335
Small Heart Punch (Occasions mini catalog) - Item #117193
Stampin' Dimensionals - Item #104430

December 26 - Friends Page

My New Year's Resolution (OK, one of them!) is to KEEP THIS BLOG UPDATED! And look - I'm even starting early! :)

If you've been following this blog or even just checking it every once in a while you know that during the past year I've kind of shifted from scrapbooking to cards. Cards were a great distraction for a while (quick & easy) but my heart really does belong to scrapbooking.

I'm a storyteller and the best way for me to tell a story is through a scrapbook page. Even if I don't have a lot of words I love letting the photos tell the story. And during the past few weeks it has been KILLING me not to go up to my little room and whip out a few pages. I've taken some fun pictures the past year that I've done basically nothing with yet so I have a lot of scrapbooking ammo for the next few months while I work on getting caught up. So from this point on I'll be having many more scrapbooking pages mixed in with the card ideas I post.

Tonight after I got all of the Christmas toys cleaned up and put away I finally had a chance to hole up in my room for a few hours and get back into the swing of the scrapbooking thing and BOY DID IT FEEL GOOD! I've really missed it so much! Of course it also helped that I had a bunch of cool new supplies to play with too. Stampin' Up!'s Occasions Mini Catalog that comes out on January 5th has so many cute new things in it that will help you make the coolest scrapbook pages and cards. Almost everything on this scrapbook page is from the new Occasions Mini Catalog - if you want a copy be sure to let me know. (And there are a few Sale-A-Bration items thrown in too - if you're thinking "what on earth is Sale-A-Bration?" it's a promotion with exclusive products and stamp sets that you can earn for FREE with every $50 order! Just contact me with any questions!) Until tomorrow...

Supplies:
Vintage Vogue Stamp Set (2010 Occasions Mini) - Item #117690

Chocolate Chip Ink - Item #100908

Chocolate Chip 12"x12" Cardstock - Item #107102

Sweet Pea Designer Series Paper Stack (2010 Occasions Mini) - Item #117161

Welcome Neighbor Designer Series Paper Pack (2010 Sale-A-Bration Catalog) - Item #118401

Sweet Pea Stitched Felt (2010 Occasions Mini) - Item #117266

Scallop Trim Border Punch (2010 Sale-A-Bration Catalog) - Item #118402

Scallop Trim Corner Punch (2010 Occasions Mini) - Item #118870

Chocolate Chip Stampin' Write Marker - Item #100071

Corner Rounder Punch - Item #109047

Small Heart Punch (2010 Occasions Mini) - Item #117193

Stampin' Dimensionals - Item #104430

and my sewing machine with some white thread. :)

{ holly }

November 18 - Simple Birthday Card

Just in case you haven't noticed, I'm a sucker for simple cards! And what I love about the Circle Circus Stamp Set is that it allows you to make simple cards without much skill! It is absolutely one of my favorite sets in the catalog and I use it a ton.

This one is just simple craft cardstock, circles and birthday sentiment are stamped in black and I used the flower buttons from the catalog to put in the middle. With the colors this could easily be a "guy" birthday card even with those flower buttons and the rhinestones in the middle!

Have a VERY happy Wednesday everyone! November card night is tomorrow night so let me know if you'd like to attend - I have WONDERFUL cards planned, it will be a lot of fun! :)

~ holly

November 1 - Transparency Card

Oooooh watch out! I have a new favorite! :)

These transparencies for cards from the Stampin' Up! catalog have been sitting in a box on my scrap desk for MONTHS. I kept thinking "I'll use them some day" and just haven't done it - until tonight. And now I'm in love.

There are 8 total (2 each of 4 designs) and fit A2 sized cards and they are only $5.95 which I think is a great deal since they are so fun to work with.

I had so much fun layering on top and underneath these (I attached them with super tape at the top to make a transparency "flap" over the front). And from now on I'm just going to be posting the supplies for my projects instead of the detailed instructions as well - most of my projects are pretty simple and I think the instructions are pretty much a given, but if you wonder how I did something and can't figure it out please just send me an email and I will try my hardest to get back to you in a timely manner on how I did it.

See you again tomorrow - hope you had a fantastic weekend! :)

Holly

Ingredients:

Transparency overlays

Gray Ribbon

Modern Label Punch

Hello Again Stamp Set

Frames with a Flourish Stamp Set (retired but images now in My Digital Studio)

Black ink

Designer Series Paper (Polka Dots)

October 24 - October Card Night Info!

Oh yes - it's time for October's Card Night!

OCTOBER SPECIAL - NO $8 SUPPLY COST!

This month Card Night will be held on Thursday, October 29th from 6pm to 8pm. If you would like to attend this month please call or email me to let me know you will be coming so I have enough supplies cut.
Just to recap for those of you who are new to my mailing list and may not be aware of how it works:

What: Make 6 pre-designed and pre-cut cards (2 of the cards are shown in the photo on the right), each card includes a matching envelope. Snacks and drinks are provided during the event.

Where: My house, directions are provided when you sign up.

When: Thursday, October 29th from 6-8pm

How Much: FREE and a $25 Stampin' Up! order

Extra Bonus: I combine all orders and use the hostess benefits earned that night to get goodies that I split up with everyone who placed an order. So with your order you will receive a FREE goodie bag with a variety of Stampin' Up! embellishments, stamps, paper, etc. - the goodies are different every month.

To Sign Up: Call me or email me at holly.vandyne@gmail.com to reserve your spot. Hope to see you there!

Holly

September 21 - My Digital Studio

It is completely embarrassing how long it has been since I've posted on the blog and I feel so badly about that! Since my last post kids have started school, I got a new job as the librarian/art teacher there among many other crazy things going on here!

However...today I came home to a UPS package with my new copy of Stampin' Up!'s new "My Digital Studio" and I installed it faster than you could say Digital Scrapbooking. I played around for a little bit with it and was surprised at how easy it was to use. Not to mention all of the fun elements, paper, stamps and everything else that it is.

Now I love digital scrapbooking, I just don't do it very often because I really love physically working with paper, ink. stamps, etc. But this was SO fun and I am glad I have a few different ways to scrapbook/make cards now (yes, it has cards you can make too!)

Well, here is my first attempt at using My Digital Studio and I am now in love. :) This page took me about 15-20 minutes to make. The program comes with a ton of stuff to use with it and I think it is a fantastic deal for the $79 price. I will be having a class/overview of the program in October and will post the date and details as soon as I have them worked out, or if you just can't wait let me know and I can give you a personal lesson. I will also be offering digital workshops as well so if that is something you think you'd be interested in trying just let me know and I'll get you on the schedule. The program is available for purchase October 1st, if you'd like to be one of the first to get it be sure to place your order with me before that date so I can get it entered first thing October 1st.

I have also added many new card images to my new Stampin' Up! project gallery on my personal website here: http://www.hollystamps.com/ - just click on Gallery. I'm going to try to add more cards soon as soon as I can get them scanned and I plan to try and post some hybrid projects using this program and some real products combined soon. Hope you have a FANTASTIC week! :)

July Card Night

It's that time of the month again - time to immerse yourself in CARD MAKING FUN by joining me for July's Card Night!

This month Card Night will be held on Thursday, July 23rd from 6pm to 8pm. If you would like to attend this month please call or email me to let me know you will be coming so I have enough supplies cut.

Just to recap for those of you who are new to my mailing list and may not be aware of how it works:

What: Make 6 pre-designed and pre-cut cards (all 6 you will be making this month are shown above), each card includes a matching envelope. I also provide snacks and drinks during the event.

Where: My house, directions are provided when you sign up.

When: Thursday July 23 from 6-8pm

How Much: $8 and a $25 Stampin' Up! order

Extra Bonus: I combine all orders and use the hostess benefits earned that night to get goodies that I split up with everyone who placed an order. So with your order you will receive a FREE goodie bag with a variety of Stampin' Up! embellishments, stamps, paper, etc. - the goodies are different every month.

To Sign Up: Call me or email me at holly.vandyne@gmail.com to reserve your spot.

Hope to see you there!

Holly

July 7 - Hello Card

Earlier this spring I got an email asking if I would stamp some samples for some new stamp sets for the upcoming Stampin' Up! convention in Utah in August and of course, I jumped at the chance! Of the 4 sets I got sent the "Hello Again" set was definitely my favorite.

So here is a quick cute little card made with that set and one of the new In Colors - Crushed Curry!

Hello Card

Ingredients:

• Craft Cardstock (cut 3-3/4" x 7-1/2")
• Close to Cocoa ink
• "Hello Again" stamp set
• Large Oval Punch
• Scalloped Oval Punch
• Close to Cocoa Stampin' Write Marker
• White and Crushed Curry cardstock
• Scalloped border punch
• Crushed Curry Polka Dotted ribbon
• Silver brads
• Button Bouquet

Instructions:

1. Fold your kraft cardstock in half to make a square card.
2. Cut your scalloped border from your white cardstock and adhere it to the bottom of your card.
3. Stamp 3 flowers in Close to Cocoa across the center of the card.
4. Adhere your yellow polka dotted ribbon across the bottom over the bottom of the stems and overlapping your scalloped border.
5. Put brads in the center of the first and third flowers. Adhere a yellow flower button to the center of the middle flower.
6. Stamp the HELLO greeting stamp in Close to Cocoa on white and punch it out with your large oval punch.
7. Punch the scalloped oval punch with Crushed Curry cardstock. Layer them together and adhere.
8. Draw Close to Cocoa dots with your Close to Cocoa pen around your white oval then add it to the top of your card.
   

Stampin' Up! Deal of the Week

Yay! Another Deal of the Week and I've been eyeing this bag FOREVER! What a fun and stylish way to travel with your Big Shot!

The Sizzix Big Shot Doctor's Bag (#113474) is on sale this week only for $49.99. It retails for $69.95 so that is quite a deal. Be sure to let me know if you'd like to take advantage of this week's Deal of the Week before Monday morning!

Getting the Doctor's Bag would also qualify you for my Big Shot (or $100 in dies) giveaway - the details are in the post below.

Deal of the Week & Win A Sizzix BigShot!

The new 2009/2010 catalog is now available - if I have not delivered a copy of it yet to you please let me know if you would like one. They are $5. There are so many new and fabulous items in it, you may find something you just can't live without! So during the FIRST TWO WEEKS in July any order of $50 of merchandise from the new catalog will get you an entry to win a Sizzix Big-Shot or $100 worth of Sizzix dies from the new catalog! Spend $100 & you will get 2 entries and so on!

For an entry single orders of $50 or more (before shipping and taxes) must be placed online through my website or with me between July 1st and July 15th to qualify for the drawing. US orders only. This promotion is only valid with orders placed through me and if you are a winner the BigShot will be delivered to you by the end of July from me.

---

This is one of my favorite tools! To order online just visit http://hollyvandyne.stampinup.net or email me your order today!

Check back on Monday July 6th for a new Deal of the Week!

June 16 - June Card Night!

Wow - the month sure did get away from me already! I need a Holly clone. Do they sell those? :)

It's that time of the month again - time to immerse yourself in CARD MAKING FUN by joining me for June's Card Night!

This month Card Night will be held on Thursday, June 18th from 6pm to 8pm. If you would like to attend this month please call or email me to let me know you will be coming so I have enough supplies cut.

Just to recap for those of you who are new to my mailing list and may not be aware of how it works:

What: Make 6 pre-designed and pre-cut cards (one of which is shown to the right), each card includes a matching envelope. I also provide snacks and drinks during the event.

Where: My house, directions are provided when you sign up.

When: Thursday June 18 from 6-8pm

How Much: $8 and a $25 Stampin' Up! order

Extra Bonus: I combine all orders and use the hostess benefits earned that night to get goodies that I split up with everyone who placed an order. So with your order you will receive a FREE goodie bag with a variety of Stampin' Up! embellishments, stamps, paper, etc. - the goodies are different every month and this month we may be getting EXTRA goodies if the sales for the night reach $250!

To Sign Up: Call me or email me at holly.vandyne@gmail.com to reserve your spot.

Hope to see you there!

Holly

May 28 - Window Frame Class

I'm teaching a class tonight at The Scrapbooking Cafe that I am VERY excited about! The class is called the Fancy Frame class but it is kind of a window like frame. This is the sample for the class, but attendees are bringing whatever photos they want on their frame and then we are going to customize theirs to match their photos, etc. So if you don't have princesses it is OK! :)

These frames are from Fancy Pants Designs and are SO fun because there is no back to them. So wherever you decide to hang your frame it will match your room since your wall color will show through as the background for your artwork. (See the hardwood floor showing through the sample?)

So if you aren't doing anything tonight and feel like taking a completely FUN and inspiring class give the store a call and sign up! The phone number is 419-524-2233. Hope to see you there!

May 25 - Heart to Heart Card

Got a not-so-new set lately that I am so in love with. Frames With A Flourish. The "Last Chance List" comes out June 1st which is less than a week away now and I hope this set isn't on the list since I just got it - but I'm sure loving it anyway!

This is a VERY easy and quick card that we did for the Card Night I hosted in May - it would make a great engagement, wedding, or bridal shower card! I'm having a bridal shower for my cousin in a few weeks and think I will use this one to give her with her gift.

Heart to Heart Card

Ingredients:

• "Frames with a Flourish" stamp set
• "Priceless" stamp set (heart)
• "Sweet Little Sentiments" hostess stamp set
  
• Kraft cardstock
• Whisper White Cardstock
• Stampin' Dimensionals
• Basic Black Ink

Instructions:

1. Fold your Kraft cardstock in half.
2. On the front stamp your square frame in the center of your card with Basic Black ink.
3. Then stamp your flourish on the top and bottom of the frame also in Basic Black ink.
4. Stamp your heart with Basic Black on Whisper White cardstock and cut it out leaving a border around it.
5. Adhere it to the center of your frame at an angle with Stampin' Dimensionals.
6. Stamp your sentiment in the bottom right hand corner of the card.
   

May 22 - Summer Love Pendant

Oh so much has been going on lately! May is always a completely hectic month in our family - school's ending, 2 birthdays, anniversary, etc. as you can tell by my lack of blog posts. But I am excited to let you in on a little project I've been working on - a new website. I'm definitely keeping this blog, but I just needed more room. The site is http://www.hollystamps.com and is a work in progress (if a link doesn't work I haven't finished that page yet). But I'm hoping to have it all finished up this weekend.

Today's project is a fun and easy one! My mom and aunt LOVE finding jewelry at garage sales, auctions, flea markets, etc. And while I'm not a big fan of jewelry I do love to comb through their "leftovers" in their garage sales to see what I can do with it. My mom had given me this big turquoise pendant. It was a little large for me to wear so I've had it in my drawer forever, but I recently got the "Summer Love" Rubons from the Stampin' Up! Occasions Mini Catalog and knew this necklace wouldn't be complete without a little rubon love.

In fact this is SO simple I don't think I even need to post the directions or supply list! I just used the pendant and the "Summer Love" rubons. :) Have a GREAT holiday weekend and be sure to check out my new site if you get a chance!

May 2 - Super Simple Glitter Polka Dots

Oh, how I LOVE polka dots!
And finding ways to make things easier.
So that is what today's project is all about (so turn yourself around - sorry, it brought back some Hokey Pokey memories!)

So I've had the Stampin' Up! Fine Glitter for quite some time now but I don't use it much. It can get messy and with 2 little girls this house is usually messy enough! But I really wanted to make some fun glittery polka dots and figured I could do them easily by just using mini glue dots. They came out great and I'm so excited about this card! Since there is no glue there is very little mess and I made these polka dots in about a minute.

And continuing with the featured color - this week I played around with BORDERING BLUE. Now I've looked at the color in my cardstock pack at least a hundred times and never thought twice about it. But then I was playing with the Bella Birds pack of Designer Series paper and fell in LOVE with Bordering Blue. So here it is!

And HAPPY NATIONAL SCRAPBOOK DAY! I'll be cropping at the Scrapbooking Cafe all day so I have to start packing and finish up this post. Don't forget to preserve some memories today, even if it just means getting some photos on a memory card. :)

Ingredients:

• Bordering Blue, Whisper White and Pink Pirouette cardstock
• Bordering Blue and Kiwi Kiss ink
• "Petal Pizazz" and "Sweet Little Sentiments" (hostess) stamp sets
  
• White Signo Pen
• Kiwi Kiss Ribbon
• Jumbo Pewter Eyelet
• Small Glue Dots
• Fine Supernova Glitter (Olive)
  
• Stampin' Dimensionals
• Large Tag Punch

Instructions:

1. Take your card with Bordering Blue cardstock and stamp your small sentiment stamp around the edges with Bordering Blue ink.
2. On Whisper White cardstock stamp your large flower image with Kiwi Kiss ink. Cut it out. Also stamp a leaf and cut it out.
   
3. Take small glue dots and place them around the green part of your flower for your polka dots then sprinkle your glitter on top of them. It will stick well. Tap off the remaining portion of your glitter.
4. Stamp your stem directly on the card with Kiwi Kiss.
5. Add Stampin' Dimensionals to the back of the flower and the leaf and add them to your card.
6. Punch a large tag shape from Pink Pirouette cardstock and outline the edges with your white signo pen.
7. Stamp your greeting again in Kiwi Kiss on Whisper White cardstock and cut out each word. You may need to stamp it a few times to get all of the words cut out with ample room around each one. Once the words are cut out adhere them to the tag.
8. Using your Crop-A-Dile add your jumbo brad to the top of the tag.
9. Tie on your Kiwi Kiss ribbon and add the tag to the card with Stampin' Dimensionals.
   

April 24 - For You Card

First let me start by saying I got some emails requesting that yesterday's card be made for May's Card Night and I just have to say - you all read my mind. We will be making yesterday's "Thank You" card at May's Card Night. :)

Today is another card using PINK PASSION - I'm loving this pink, let me tell you. It also uses one of my favorite stamp sets from the new Occasions Mini Catalog - Great Friend. All supplies are Stampin' Up!

Ingredients:

• "Great Friend" Stamp Set (Occasions Mini)
• Whisper White, Gable Green, Pink Passion and Tempting Turquoise cardstock
• Tempting Turquoise and Basic Black ink
• Stampin' Up! Large Polka Dot Texture Plate for the Sizzix
• White Signo Pen
• Clip from Clips Assortment
• Cherry Blossom Embosslit for Sizzix
• Trio Flower Punch
• Pearl from Pretties Kit
• Scalloped Border punch

Instructions:

1. Cut your Pink Passion cardstock and run the front of the card through your Sizzix with the embossing plate. Punch the right side of the front with Scalloped Border punch.
2. Cut a 2" strip of Tempting Turquoise cardstock and punch one side of that also with the scalloped border punch. Adhere this to the right side of the INSIDE of the card.
3. Adhere a strip of Tempting Turquoise ribbon to the right side of the front of the card leaving a small border near the seam of pink.
4. Using your white Signo pen dot along this pink edge.
5. Cut and emboss a cherry blossom flower from Gable Green cardstock with your embosslet.
6. Punch a small white flower with your Trio Flower punch and adhere it to the center of your Gable Green cherry blossom flower, then add a small pearl in the center of the white flower.
7. Using your Tempting Turquoise ink stamp the curly label stamp on Whisper White cardstock, then with Basic Black ink stamp the "For You" greeting stamp. Cut this label out and adhere it to the bottom right side of the front of your card.
8. Overlap at the bottom with your Gable Green cherry blossom flower and clip that on from the side with the silver clip.
   

April 23 - Thank You Mini Flowers Card

Yep, it has been WAY too long since I've blogged and I apologize for that. My youngest daughter Natalie has had 2 surgeries since my last post so I've been busy being "mom" instead of "blogging paper crafter". The great news is that we got the all clear yesterday at the dr., no more surgeries are required and we couldn't be happier! So I'm getting back to blogging (and caught up on email, etc.) so thanks for your patience!

I was working on some cards tonight and thought that I almost always seem to tend to stick with the same colors or color schemes with projects I make so I'm going to try to go out of the box with the blog here to inspire me to use each of the colors in different ways. I've been a SU! demo for almost 2 years now and there are quite a few colors that I've never even used. So each week I'll be posting projects with a certain color used - I'm going to try to post at least 2 projects each week with that color. So to start it all off this week (even though it is almost over) I'm going to start with some PINK PASSION from the Bold Brights Color Collection. I love bright pink and black together and love how this card turned out! I also used some goodies from the new Occasions Mini Catalog here too (Oval All set and Scalloped Oval punch). I have another post ready to go for tomorrow also featuring PINK PASSION so be sure to check back!

Ingredients (all Stampin' Up!):

• "Oval All" Stamp Set (Occasions Mini Catalog)
• Scalloped Oval Punch (Occasions Mini catalog)
• Large Oval Punch
• Basic Black, Whisper White and Pink Passion Cardstock
• Kiwi Kiss striped ribbon
• White Signo Pen
• Basic Black ink
  
• Corner Rounder Punch
  
• Scalloped Border Punch
• Trio Flower Punch (thanks Beth!)
• Silver Brads from Hodgepodge Hardware kit

Instructions:

1. Cut your card from Basic Black Cardstock and fold in half.
2. Take your PINK PASSION cardstock and cut a 2" strip then scallop punch one edge. Adhere it towards the bottom of your card with a little of the black showing through the bottom. With your white Signo pen dot around the scalloped border on your black.
3. Cut your Kiwi Kiss ribbon and adhere it right above your PINK PASSION strip.
4. Stamp your Oval stamp on Whisper White cardstock and punch it out with your scalloped oval punch. Then stamp the SAME image again on PINK PASSION cardstock and cut the middle oval out with your large oval punch. Layer these together and adhere together.
   
5. Punch white and pink cardstock with your Trio Flower punch a few times and scatter these on the top portion of the card (on the black cardstock) - adhere each with a silver brad.
6. Take a small white flower and adhere it to the top of your scalloped oval you just created with a silver brad. Adhere this scalloped punched image over your ribbon on the right side.
7. Use your corner rounder punch to round the bottom corners.
   

April 3 - Spring Gable Box

This project post is over at the HybridChick.com again for today - it has the complete instructions and supply list for this project! VERY fun project to make and would be a quick and easy place setting or gift box.

Just a few quick things since I neglected the blog for the past few days...

Welcome Erin!!!
I'm SO excited that Erin has signed up with me as a Stampin' Up! demonstrator. She's a super sweet person and I'm so happy to be working with her! She has a fantastic blog too - you can check it out here. So welcome Erin!!!

Vendor Blender Tomorrow
I will have a table at a vendor blender tomorrow at the Loudonville library - if you live nearby or want to check it out please do, I would love to see you! My trusty little sidekick Audrey will be there with me so I'm excited to get some mommy/daughter time with her. I'll have some prizes, cards for sale, etc. It's going on from 9am - 3pm.

April Card Night Details
April card nights are Tuesday, April 14 & Thursday, April 16 from 6-8pm at my house. Please email me or call to RSVP. The nights are filling up fast, so please give me a call soon if you'd like to come. I'll post the details again and a picture of this months cards this weekend.

Have a FABULOUS weekend! :)

March 30 - Clear Hybrid Album

About a month ago I was asked by the owner of The Digi Chick if I would be interested in being a designer for a new blog they were starting for hybrid scrappers (for those of you not familiar with the term hybrid - it is mixing digital and paper scrapbooking).

It's been a while since I did anything digital and I wasn't sure if it was something I wanted to get back into but the site is SO cute and I really DO love hybrid scrapbooking so I couldn't resist. So today was my first project for it which is why the instructions aren't on this blog - but you can see them in full on The Hybrid Chick blog here - http://www.thehybridchick.com

Enjoy!

PS - FREE SHIPPING on any Stampin' Up! orders placed over phone or email through me today (March 30) or tomorrow (March 31)!

March 20 - Adorable 8x8 Page

Today's project is a Make n' Take that we will be doing at Joan's Stampin' Up! workshop tomorrow so I won't be posting the instructions to it until later this weekend so check back if you would like to see how to make this page. We're making this 8"x8" page and a gift card holder at the workshop, I will post the gift card holder next week.

I absolutely love doing workshops - I love showing people new fun ways to use their stamps and other supplies. If you are interested in hosting a workshop just let me know by clicking on the image on the top right side of this blog. Your guests will get to make 2 projects of your choosing (scrapbook page, card, etc.) and I send all of your invitations out for you - all you have to do is give me your guest list with addresses. And the hostess benefits you receive are AMAZING!

I also have a few other fun things I do at the workshops to increase your benefits as a hostess. So all you have to do is pick your date, give me your guest list, and sit back and enjoy picking out your free goodies! :) It can't get any easier than that.

March 16 - Best Wishes Card

Today is my mother-in-law Jill's birthday. :) We had a family dinner at our house last night for her and I made her this card. Some of the products used are from the new Stampin' Up! Occasions Mini Catalog that is available on April 1st. The scalloped oval punch is quickly becoming one of my new favorites - you know how I love my punches! :)

Best Wishes Card

Ingredients:

• Oval All Stamp Set
• Scalloped Oval Punch, Large Oval Punch
• Forever Flowers Wheel
  
• Cardstock: Baja Breeze, Sahara Sand, Kraft and Parisian Breeze Specialty Designer Series Paper
• Chocolate Chip Ribbon
• Ink: Chocolate Chip
• White Signo Pen
• Pearl
• Scalloped Edge Punch (Fiskars)
• Stampin' Dimensionals

Instructions:

1. Score and fold your card from Baja Breeze cardstock. Using your scalloped edge punch, punch along the bottom of the front of the card.
2. Cut a 5 1/2" x 2" strip of patterned paper and adhere it to the inside bottom of your card so it will show through to the front.
3. Stamp your Best Wishes oval on Sahara Sand and punch it out using the large oval punch. Punch a scalloped oval from Kraft cardstock and adhere one on top of the other. Add a pearl under the sentiment.
   
4. Adhere a strip of your ribbon across the front of the card and using that as a guide, roll your flowers wheel with Chocolate Chip ink. Color in the "dots" from your wheel stamped image with your white Signo pen.
5. Adhere your oval sentiment shape with dimensionals in the middle of the card.
   

March 9 - Enjoy The Day Card

I absolutely love the look of simple classic looking cards. On March 21st they are having a Card Camp at the Scrapbooking Cafe and I told them I would make a few cards for it. If you love making cards I would definitely recommend signing up - I've seen some of the cards you will be making and they are amazing!
On this card the scalloped edge is the part of the card that flips up.

Enjoy The Day Card

Ingredients:

• Black Cardstock (Bazzill)
• Patterned paper (Pink Paislee)
• Stamps (Daisy Bucket Designs)
• Border Punch (Fiskars)
• Rhinestones (KaiserCraft)
• Versamark Ink Pad
• Silver Embossing Powder (Stampin' Up!)
• Heat Gun

Instructions:

1. Put a 2" strip of the patterned paper on the inside bottom of the card.
2. Cut about a half inch off of the bottom of the front flap of the card and punch the edge with the scalloped edge punch.
3. Ink your stamps with Versamark ink and stamp your images. Sprinkle the silver embossing powder over top, then tap off the excess powder.
4. Heat image with your heat gun.
5. Add rhinestones to the center of you flower and two on the sides.
   

March 8 - Scallop Thank You Card

Oh am I LOVING my Sizzix Big Shot!
I've never been much of a die cut person - I've been scrapbooking for over 12 years now and die cuts were THE thing when I started way back then so I got tired of them fast being as how they were about the only embellishments available. I don't own and have never wanted to own a Cricut. So when Stampin' Up! announced that they were going to be carrying the Sizzix Big Shot in their catalog now I thought - "What on earth are they thinking?" LOL

But look at me now. I have a Big Shot, have been collecting dies and am having a grand old time using it! Silly me. :)

Scallop Thank You Card

Ingredients:

• "Short & Sweet" Stamp Set (Stampin' Up!)
• Large Scallop Card die (Sizzix)
• Flowers Decorative Strip Die (Stampin' Up!)
• Cherry Blossom Embosslit Die (Stampin' Up!)
• Delicate Dots Designer Series Paper (Stampin' Up! - Sale-A-Bration)
• Baja Breeze and Whisper White Cardstock (Stampin' Up!)
• White Signo Pen (Stampin' Up!)
• Scallop Edge Punch (Stampin' Up!)
• Rhinestones (KaiserCraft)
• Corner Rounder (Stampin' Up!)

Instructions:

1. Cut your large scallop card shape from your patterned paper. Score down the center and fold.
2. Punch two strips (one Baja Breeze and one Whisper White) with your scalloped edge punch and layer on top of each other on the left side of your card. Using your white Signo pen draw dots on the top Baja Breeze scalloped strip on the scalloped edge.
   
3. Using your Flowers decorative strip die cut from Baha Breeze and adhere that to the right of your scalloped strips you just added. Add rhinestones in the center of the flowers.
   
4. Using your embosslit die cut and emboss 3 cherry blossom shapes from your Whisper White cardstock. Adhere these on the empty area of your card. Add a rhinestone in the center of each flower.
   
5. Using small strips of Baja Breeze stamp your "thank you" sentiment in Baja Breeze ink and round the corners. Add white Signo pen dots under the words and tuck one side of each under each of your flowers and adhere them.
   

March 7 - Crazy Girls Page

I have been on a card making (and card posting) frenzy lately - but that doesn't mean I've totally abandoned my first love (scrapbooking!)

Have I ever mentioned on here how much I love FELT? And all of the felt scrapbooking supplies the manufacturers have been coming out with just get me all flustered! I LOVE THEM! The swirly frame and the title letters on today's project are all made out of felt and I can't quit rubbing my fingers over them. Jenn has been ordering quite a bit for the Scrapbooking Cafe so if you're a local reader you can find these felt goodies there.

Crazy Girls Page

Ingredients:

• Background Patterned Paper (Making Memories)
• Orange Polka Dot Patterned Paper (Fancy Pants Designs)
• Felt Letters (Making Memories)
• Felt Frame (Prima)
• Rhinestones (KaiserCraft)
• Cardstock - Basic Black and Kiwi Kiss (Stampin' Up!)
• Black Micron Pen (Sakura)
  

Instructions:

1. Mount the photo you want inside your felt frame onto your orange polka dotted paper.
2. The felt frame is self adhesive but don't peel off the backing just yet. Add a little of your regular adhesive to the backing and lay it out on the orange paper and over your photo how you want it. You will be taking this back off in a minute so keep that in mind when applying your adhesive - you don't want much on it, just enough to hold it. Trim the orange paper around the frame so that the enclosed parts of the frame still have the orange paper showing through inside. Take the frame back off.
3. Mat your other photo with a simple black cardstock mat and lay it out on your page with your orange shape and your frame. Make sure you have it all where you want it before you adhere everything down.
4. Adhere your bottom photo first, then your orange shape, then peel the backing off of your felt frame and start laying that down where you had originally had it when you cut the orange sheet out. The felt has a little bit of give so if it goes off course you can force or stretch it a bit to get it to go where you want it to go.
5. Add your title letters and your flowers on the outside of the frame.
6. Add your rhinestones to the outer edge of the frame.
7. Write your journaling on kiwi kiss cardstock and cut out the words. Mount them on black cardstock and adhere them to your page.
   

March 5 - Layering Your Wheels

The title of today's project kind of sounds like we're having car shop class, right? :)
Thank goodness that's not the case - this is MUCH MORE FUN (although I'm not sure my husband would agree with me)

If you've been to any of my card clubs/workshops, etc. you know how much I ADORE Stampin' Up!'s wheels. I'm all about things being easy to use and things that allow you to make FAST but super-cute things. And one of those things are the wheels that Stampin' Up carries. Today's project is a very quick one - probably took me 5 minutes to decorate this envelope at the MOST.

Layering Your Wheels

Ingredients:

• Dotted Lines Jumbo Wheel
• Spot On Jumbo Wheel
• It's Beautiful Jumbo Wheel
• Wheel Guide
  
• Inks: Kiwi Kiss, Baja Breeze and Close to Cocoa
• Envelope
• Label sticker
• Black pen

Instructions:

1. Lay your envelope out on your workspace front side facing up with the flap OUT.
   
2. Taking your Dotted Lines jumbo wheel run it over your Kiwi Kiss ink pad and line your wheel guide up next to the top of the envelope so you can wheel stamp over the back flap. Run your Dotted Lines wheel over the flap. The jumbo wheels are wide enough so they will cover most if not all of the flap of just about any sized envelope.
3. Line your wheel guide up with the first set of foam feet along the flap fold so your wheel will be running over the center of your envelope front. Re-ink your jumbo wheel with Kiwi Kiss and run your wheel over this area as well.
   
4. Repeat the second and third steps again - this time with the Spot on Wheel with your Baja Breeze ink pad.
5. Repeat the second and third steps again - this time with the It's Beautiful Wheel and your Close to Cocoa ink pad.
6. Add a sticky label over the center where the "TO:" address would be to give you an area to write your address.
   

March 2 - Card Club for March

It's Card Club time again!
For March we will be making 6 or more cards (the photo shows 6 that we are making) that all include matching envelopes.

If you don't remember how this club works it is $8 and a $25 order due that night. I put all of the orders together in one large order and split up all of the hostess benefits so that everyone gets a FREE bag of goodies! I have refreshments that night and you just go around to the different card stations and make one of each card until you've finished.

Last month I had many more people participate than I had expected to sign up so I have split it up into two nights during the same week this month. So this month we will be having card club night on Tuesday, March 10th and Thursday, March 12th from 6-8pm both nights. Just be sure to let me know which night you will be attending (email me at holly.vandyne@gmail.com or call me). If you are coming please bring your scissors and adhesive. I will also have kits available if you're not local but would still like to participate - everything in the kit will be pre-stamped and cut so you'll just have to assemble it - email me or leave a comment here if you'd like one.

WANT TO COME TO CARD CLUB FREE FOR A MONTH?
If you book a Stampin' Up! workshop with me (catalog workshop or in-home workshop) in which you invite over 10 people (or have over $150 in orders for a catalog workshop) you will get to come to the Card Club night for the month of your workshop absolutely free! I waive the $8 fee and I cover the $25 amount of your order for that month so you get to make the cards AND get the hostess goodie bag that month for FREE! If you'd like to book a workshop and get a card night on the house please just send me an e-mail at holly.vandyne@gmail.com or leave a comment here.

WANT TO COME TO CARD CLUB FREE FOR 3 MONTHS?
If you have been considering becoming a demonstrator or could just use a little extra money every month, then this is the PERFECT opportunity for you to take the plunge and get in on the action! As a special offer during February and March Stampin' Up! is offering 15% off of the starter kit (regularly $199 now only $169 and HAS ALMOST $400 WORTH OF STAMPING SUPPLIES INCLUDED!) Plus as an added incentive during these two months you will also receive an ADDITIONAL RETAIL STAMP SET (a value up to $47.95) to add to your starter kit. And if that wasn't enough as an additional incentive I will be adding a coupon for 3 free months attendance to Card Club night if you are local, or 3 months kits FREE if you are not local. And you can choose the months! Becoming a Stampin' Up! demonstrator has been one of the funnest things I have done - I love it so much, and I'm sure you would too. And I will be here to help you every step of the way. If you're interested in finding out more information on becoming a demonstrator please just let me know. :)

Be sure to let me know if you'd like to attend Card Club this month - again the dates are Tuesday, March 10th and Thursday, March 12th. The dates are filling up quickly - I'm trying to keep each night to 6 or 7 people so if we have more than that I will open up a third night during that same week. Below is a photo of the goodie bag each attendee received last month - each included 4 stamps, designer series paper, ribbon, felt flowers, scalloped note cards with matching envelopes, mini clips, and buttons! The more people we have attend the larger the goodie bags get so be sure to sign up today!

February 21 - Funky Picture Frame

Today's project is a super-simple one. It's so simple I don't even need a project list or directions. I was at Target last week and they had an AMAZING 75% off clearance area in the back of the store. I found this picture frame on sale for $4.99! At first I thought - what on earth will I do with it? But I love anything unconventional, especially picture frames.

I found this photo of just Natalie's face that fit perfectly in it. Sometimes I look at it and love it, other times I look at it and think it is a little creepy. HA HA. But I just added a retired Stampin' Up! rub-on to it so it wouldn't be too plain and done! I'm still in the midst of cleaning and re-organizing my scrap room, but it is almost done and this frame is now on my CLEAN scrap desk. Hope you have a great weekend - everyone here in the house is sick except for me so I'm a little tired, but plan on cranking out some projects tonight and tomorrow to post this upcoming week.

And to my card club ladies - the orders arrive here via UPS on Tuesday and I'll have the goodie bags assembled and ready to deliver to you on Wednesday. :)

February 13 - Sweet Baby Page

I'm SO sorry that I fell behind on the blog again! Amanda - this post is for you girl. :) ha ha
Lots of stuff happened, Natalie had to go to the hospital after sticking one of my pearls from my Pretties Kit up her nose (UGH). I had way more people than I expected sign up for Card Club Night so that took up quite a big chunk of my time as well. So now I'm playing catch up again.

I also had to remove one of my January posts and I apologize for that but it was a good reason - CARDS magazine emailed and is going to use it in their July 2009 issue so I'm way excited. It's the first card I've ever had published! On July 1st they said I can add it back so the picture and instructions will be added back at that time.

I'm also embarking on a big project this weekend - SCRAPROOM MAKEOVER! It's needed it for a while and the ceiling leaked a week or so ago when all the snow melted so I'm going to take everything out of it, let Chad repaint the ceiling and then re-arrange and organize the whole thing. I'm SO excited. I'll post before and after pictures as soon as I get it done.

OK enough about things not related to today's project. Now I think I've mentioned before that I like to "mix it up" sometimes and do different sized pages - and this is one of those times. This is my sweet little baby neice Jocelyn. SU! has an art contest for demos every month and I've never entered before, so decided I may as well try. Not sure yet if I've won or not but I do love how the page turned out. :)

Sweet Baby Page

Ingredients (all supplies used are Stampin' Up!):

• "Nursery Necessities" Stamp Set
• "Lovely Labels" Stamp Set
• "Short Order" Alphabet Stamp Set
• SU! Exclusive Sizzix Top Notes Die
• Jumbo Eyelets
• Scalloped Border Punch
• Large Star Punch
• Scalloped Circle Punch
• Cardstock: Pink Pirouette, Kraft, Whisper White, Close to Cocoa
• Ink: Pink Pirouette, Close to Cocoa
• Close to Cocoa Stampin' Write Marker
• Silver Elastic Cord
• Stampin' Dimensionals
• Medium flower from Pretties Kit
• Round bookplate from Hodgepodge Hardware
• Crop-a-Dile

Instructions:

1. Using your Baby stamp from your Lovely Labels set stamp it on white cardstock with Close to Cocoa. Cut or punch out that circle. Using your scalloped circle punch, punch one shape from extra kraft cardstock. Adhere your Baby circle on top and add Dimensionals on the bottom.
2. On your kraft background cardstock take your little sentiment stamps and stamp them around the page as a border. The pink ink shows up very light on the kraft so it is hard to see in this scan, but I alternate between the pink and Close to Cocoa inks around the page.
3. Punch 2 7" scalloped borders. Lay your 5"x7" photo onto your white cardstock and trim to a smaller rectangle. Adhere your photo and your scalloped borders on each side. Mat this white cardstock onto Close to Cocoa cardstock and trim that as well leaving a small border. Adhere this to your page towards the bottom but not covering your border.
4. Cut your Top Notes shapes (3) from your Pink Pirouette cardstock. Line them up on your background of kraft cardstock and trim the sides of the two that go off the page. Take the center (full) shape and add your "Baby" scalloped circle in the middle. Stamp your "SWEET" above that circle you added. Add your jumbo pewter eyelets where the pink shapes meet when lined up. Add Dimensionals to the back then cut some ribbon or silver cording. Thread both ends through both shapes where you will tie them but don't tie them yet. Adhere the shapes down with the dimensionals so they will stretch the page, THEN tie the bows.
5. Stamp your stars then punch them out (3). Add one each to the half pink shapes on the right and left sides.
6. Use your last star and make a small collage on the bottom right corner of your photo with the bookplate, a flower, and a scrap of Pink Pirouette cardstock. Write your caption on kraft under your bookplate.

January 28 - Beautiful Thing Card

...and back to our regularly scheduled programming!
My friend Jenn has gotten me COMPLETELY hooked on making cards lately. I just love the fact that I can sit down to create without having to pick out photos, etc. and if I don't love it then I just won't use it! And let me tell you - before today's project came into my brain I made one UGLY card. Ha ha! Obviously I'm NOT going to post it here, you'll all laugh at me. :)
But I do love how today's project came out so it made up for the ugly beginning of my time in the scrap room. We all need to get warmed up sometimes, right?
And can I just say that I love snow days sometimes? It gives me the perfect time to go create without feeling guilty about not getting other stuff done. (Yes, I did the dishes first).
And one last thing - I'm so happy that I've had so much interest in the Card Club Night (last post), we're going to have SO much fun making cards!!! There is still room if anyone else would like to sign up.

Beautiful Thing Card

Ingredients:

• Whisper White & Kraft Cardstock (Stampin' Up!)
  
• "A Beautiful Thing" Stamp Set (Stampin' Up!)
• Pretty In Pink, Certainly Celery, Close to Cocoa and Baja Breeze ink (Stampin' Up!)
• Stampin' Dimensionals (Stampin' Up!)
• Close to Cocoa Stampin' Write Marker (Stampin' Up!)
• Small blue rhinestones (KaiserCraft)

Instructions:

1. Using your solid flower stamp from the set stamp random images around the front of the card before it is folded. Stamp some in "Pretty in Pink" and some in "Certainly Celery" ink.
2. Using the detail stamp of the same size stamp over the solid flowers using "Close to Cocoa" ink.
3. Using the 4-flower small stamp ink the FIRST flower with Baja Breeze ink and stamp it on white cardstock. Do this for as many pink flowers as you have stamped on your card that you can see the center dot on. Cut these small blue flowers out in a small circle. Add a small rhinestone in the center of each.
4. Cut a Stampin' Dimensional in 4 even pieces and add them to the back of these small flowers. Adhere them to the center of your pink flowers.
5. Stamp your sentiment stamp on kraft cardstock with "Close to Cocoa" ink. Cut it out and draw a small line border around the rectangle with your Close to Cocoa Stampin' Write marker. Add two dimensionals and adhere it to the front of your card.

Have a great snowy Wednesday (if it is snowy where you are!) If not, I'm totally jealous! :)

Card Club Night!

If you love cards then this is the night for you! Once each month I will be having a card club night where you can come and make 6 cards for $8 and a $25 Stampin' Up! order. There is no monthly commitment, you can come every month or every other month or whenever you would like. I just need you to RSVP for your spot no later than a week before we meet so I will have enough supplies. SPECIAL - anyone who attends the card night in February will get a new Spring/Summer Catalog & Idea Book that night for FREE.

The 4 cards shown above are 4 of the cards we will be making in February.

And ready for the best part? Everyone who attends each month that has 5 or more attendees will get a hostess goodie package with a variety of stamp(s) from the earned hostess set and embellishments from the catalog. I will take the hostess benefits for each night and split them up among the attendees so that everyone will share the benefits! And we'll have more goodies in February and March due to Sale-A-Bration ( although if you place a $50 or more order on card night during Sale-a-Bration you will get your complete earned SAB choice - it will not be included in the goodie bags )

Our first card club night will be Tuesday, Feb. 10th and every second Tuesday of the month every month after that from 6pm to 8pm at my house. There will be refreshments as well. To RSVP or if you have any questions you can email me at holly.vandyne@gmail.com.
Can't make it a night and still want to participate please just contact me to let me know and I'll pre-stamp your cards for you. RSVP must be made by Feb 3rd.

January 18 - Clear Embossed Card

**EDITED TO ADD**
I apologize for having to remove this day's project - it has been chosen to appear in the July 2009 issue of CARDS magazine. I will add it back as soon as the issue is out in stores. Thank you!

I had SO much fun making today's card. Those WONDERFUL ladies from The Scrapbooking Cafe were so sweet and gave me a Sizzix Big Shot for Christmas that I have not had my hand off of since I got it. I can't even begin to tell you how much I love this thing and everything you can do with it. Then on Friday I got my new Spring/Summer Catalog and Idea Book from Stampin' Up! and am SO excited about all of the new Sizzix dies, embossing plates, etc. they now have - I am in SO much trouble. Hope you're all enjoying your weekend!

January 14 - ENJOY Treat Box

I LOVE these clear treat boxes from Pageframe Designs! There are 3 in each package and they come unassembled but they are super-fun to put together. I was going to do 3 for The Scrapbooking Cafe's Project Weekly feature this week but I managed to punch an accidental hole in the side of one of them while I was putting it together with the eyelets, so I didn't use the one I messed up for the feature. But then I thought - I can't waste this box! LOL So I just played around with it and came up with this. I covered up my mistake hole with the big flower and pearl so no one knows it is even there (unless you look inside the box I guess!) :) If you don't get the Project Weekly email and want to see how the others turned out you can see them posted in the Pageframe Designs gallery on their website (linked above).

"ENJOY" Treat Box

Ingredients:

• Clear Box: Pageframe Designs
• White Eyelets
• Crop-A-Dile
• "Enjoy Stamp" Lovely Labels Stamp Set, SU!
• Mini Flower Stamp: Priceless Set, SU!
  
• Ink: Stampin' Up! (Chocolate Chip, Kiwi Kiss)
  
• Cardstock: Stampin' Up! (Kraft, Whisper White)
• Patterned Paper: SU!
  
• Scalloped Punch: SU!
• Stampin' Dimensionals: SU!
  
• Green Rhinestones: KaiserCraft
• Flower and Pearls: Pretties Kit (SU!)
• Peanuts

Instructions:

1. Peel off the protective coating from the box lid and the box (both sides). Fold the creases inside and punch your hole for your eyelet where the tabs meet up on the lid on each side. Insert your eyelet and crimp together with your Crop-A-Dile on each of the 4 tabs to hold the box lid together.
2. Stamp your ENJOY image in Chocolate Chip ink on kraft cardstock and cut it out. Stamp the same image with Kiwi Kiss ink on Whisper White cardstock and cut out only the ENJOY sentiment. Adhere it on top of your craft image. Add Stampin' Dimensionals to the back. Add two small rhinestones on the stamped swirls.
   
3. Punch a scalloped circle shape out of matching patterned paper and adhere your ENJOY square to the top of that. Add more dimensionals on the back of the scalloped circle and adhere it to the top of your box lid.
4. Fold in your creases for your box and crimp an eyelet in the center of the tab to hold the box together.
5. Take a large flower from your Pretties Kit and stamp your small flower image from your Priceless set in Kiwi Kiss ink all over the flower. Add a small green rhinestone in the center of one of the stamped flowers on each of the big petals. With a large glue dot adhere it to the front of your box. Adhere a large flat backed pearl from the same kit in the center.
6. Add your treat to the inside of your box and you're finished! :)
   

January 11 - Sweet Little Feet Page

This past week was wonderful! Why? Because I became an aunt again to a beautiful sweet baby girl. It was not hard to get some amazing pictures of her since she was so beautiful (yes, I'm biased - but she really is!). I did this page this weekend of her sweet little foot. It's a simple page but I really didn't want to take away from the photo so I didn't put a whole lot on it.

Sweet Little Feet Page

Ingredients:

• Background patterned paper (Making Memories)
• Teal Patterned paper (Basic Grey)
• Kraft Cardstock (SU!)
• White Signo Pen (SU!)
• Scalloped Edge Punch (SU!)
• Mini Letter Stickers (Making Memories)
• Bookplates (SU!)
• Sticker Lace (Creative Imaginations)
• Pearls (Kaisercraft)

Instructions:

1. Adhere your 5x7 photo to your teal patterned paper in the top left corner leaving about a half inch on the left side and top. Trim the right side and bottom of the paper leaving about 2-1/2" on the bottom and the right side. Scallop punch the right side and the bottom, then adhere this to your kraft cardstock. Trim this to have 1/2" on the left and top, 2-1/2" on the right side and about 1" on the bottom.
2. Add your sticker lace on the right side of your photo half overlapping the photo and the other half on the patterned paper. Add your pearls down the side over the sticker lace.
3. With your white Signo pen add a dot on each scallop. You can also write your photo caption on the bottom inch of the craft under your photo.
4. Adhere this kraft with photo along the left side vine border of the patterned paper.
5. On the right side add your title with the small letter stickers then add your bookplates over each word.
   

January 10 - Clear Valentine Card

It is honestly downright embarrassing how long it has been since I've posted a project on this blog and I do apologize. I'm all about getting caught up and back on track this new year. :)
I've had some health issues that have made it very frustrating to work with my hands, which is partly to blame for my absence in December. I'm learning to adjust and deal with it. I've done a ton of projects today since we're snowed in so I have a lot of things to post during the coming weeks.

I absolutely LOVE Valentines Day and clear cards so I decided to do both with today's project. The girls at the Scrapbooking Cafe were sweet enough to get me a Sizzix Big Shot for Christmas so I've been using the heck out of the Stampin' Up! Top Notes die.

Clear Valentine Card

Ingredients:

• Clear Card (Pageframe Designs)
• Priceless Stamp Set - Heart (SU!)
• Short & Sweet Stamp Set - Love You (SU!)
  
• Big fabric flower (Stampin' Up!, Pretties Kit)
• Silver Bookplate (Stampin' Up!, Hodgepodge Hardware)
• Whisper White and Riding Hood Red and Pink Pirouette Cardstock (SU!)
• Riding Hood Red and Versamark ink (SU!)
• White Signo Pen (SU!)
• Sizzix Top Notes Die (SU!)
• Silver Embossing Powder (SU!)
• Stampin' Dimensionals (SU!)
  

Instructions:

1. Peel your protective coating off of your clear card
2. Cut the same shape on your Sizzix with your Whisper White and Riding Hood Red cardstock. Trim your white shape around the perferations on the edges to make it slightly smaller than your red shape. Adhere them together, white on top. Adhere this shape to the inside of your clear card.
3. Stamp your heart with Versamark ink on the Pink Pirouette cardstock. Sprinkle your silver embossing powder on it and heat emboss the image. Cut the heart out and put some Stampin' Dimensionals on the back. Adhere it to the front of the flower. Adhere the entire flower with heart on the front of your card covering most of your shape inside. This is where you can write or sign your card inside without having it show through because the flower will cover it.
4. Stamp your "Love You" image in Riding Hood Red at an angle at the bottom of the white shape inside of the card.
5. Line up your bookplate on the front with the card closed so that it will line up with the greeting inside of it and poke holes in the side of the bookplate where the holes are with sharp scissors. Insert your brads and cut off the ends of them before you spread out the prongs. This way they won't show through the front of the clear card.
6. Dot around the 3 open sides of the front of your card with your white Signo pen.