Pistachio Berry Basket

This basket was inspired by one in Stampin Success, the magazine Stampin Up sends out to demonstrators. I really like the stamping on the basket. It gives it some depth while still allowing the stronger cardstock to create a sturdier basket.

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Stamps: Crazy about You
Paper: Pistachio Pudding, Whisper White
Ink: Pistachio Pudding, Crisp Cantaloupe
Accessories: Berry Basket Die, Note Tag Punch, Baked Brown Sugar Baker's Twine

Strawberry Easter Basket--No Fooling!

This cute basket is made with the Stampin Up Berry Basket Die. It goes together VERY quickly--always a nice quality--and makes a great Easter basket, gift basket, or storage container.

At Stamp Club in March, we made cardstock strawberries to fill our baskets, because they're so cute! I looked on Pinterest for the strawberry template and used this one. I printed it on white cardstock, then traced it onto Real Red for the strawberries. It's a very simple shape to cut. Don't let it scare you off! Then emboss with the Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder, score, and adhere together. The template provides a "leaf," but I cut them out with one of the Flower Fair Framelits instead. Thread Pistachio Pudding baker's twine through the top of the strawberry "petals," then through the "leaf," and pull tight. Tie in a bow. You could put something small inside the strawberry if you wanted to, but we didn't.

Here's another view of the basket:

I'll be featuring more Berry Baskets in the next several days so you can be as excited about this die as I am! Happy Spring!

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Stamps: Crazy About You, One Tag Fits All, Pictogram Punches       
Paper: Baked Brown Sugar, Soft Sky, Whisper White, Kraft Gift Wrap (Clearance Rack), Real Red, Wild Wasabi   
Ink: Real Red, Baked Brown Sugar, Soft Sky   
Accessories: Berry Basket Bigz Die, Note Tag Punch, Flower Fair Framelits (leaf), Itty Bitty Accents Punch Pack (flower), Baker’s Twine in Baked Brown Sugar and Pistachio Pudding, Soft Sky Seam Binding

Vellum Butterflies

Tonight is Stamp Club! Among other things, we'll be making this:

And come on, who doesn't love butterflies??? This card uses the Sheer Perfection Designer Vellum Stack, which is available this month only as a Sale-a-bration bonus! You can choose it for free with your $50 purchase.

We will be coloring with Stampin' Write Markers to make all the vivid colors. I can't wait!

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Stamps: Gorgeous Grunge
Paper: Whisper White, Basic Gray, Sheer Perfection Designer Vellum (SAB)
Ink: Smoky Slate, Stampin Write Markers
Accessories: Square Framelits, Basic Gray Baker's Twine

Big things come in small packages

I posted this sweet little box on my Facebook page, but forgot to share it here. The Tiny Treat Boxes are 2 inches on all sides--perfect for a jewelry gift or to fill with candy. At $6.95 for 25, you can't go wrong!

I like to decorate these with whatever pretty things are hanging around my desk--bits and pieces that I can't bear to throw away but don't have a plan for. This one uses the Best Year Ever DSP from Sale-a-bration, the Bow Builder Punch, Gold Sequin Trim, Calypso Coral Pompom Trim, and some Coastal Cabana Thick Baker's Twine.

Irresistible Baby--with a pompom!

Another sample with the Irresistibly Yours Designer Series Paper, available only during Sale-a-bration. I sponged Pistachio Pudding in an ombre effect, then used the One Tag Fits All set to create the tag.

The pompom was so fun to make! I used Pistachio Pudding Thick Baker's Twine and the Whisper White and Wild Wasabi Cotton Twines from the Painted Blooms pack. The pompom adds a lot of texture, and I think that makes for a fun card!

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Stamps: One Tag Fits All
Paper: Pistachio Pudding, Whisper White, Irresistibly Yours DSP (SAB), So Saffron
Ink: Memento Black, Pistachio Pudding, Pistachio Pudding Marker
Accessories: Pistachio Pudding Thick Baker's Twine, Painted Blooms Cotton Twine, sponge

Mini treat bags for cake day!

Two more nephews with birthdays! They all grow up so fast! Both these boys (12 & 13) received movie gift cards, as you can see. The mini treat bags are so easy to put together, and they're the perfect size to hold a gift card!

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Stamps: Age Awareness
Paper: Kraft gift wrap (clearance rack), Coastal Cabana, Marina Mist
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories: baker's twine

Cantaloupe Mini Treat Bag

One of my very favorite items from the Occasions Catalog is the Mini Treat Bag Thinlits set! I love having an easy way to make treat holders, and this one has so many other great bits and pieces!

This mini bag holds a notecard, a "fun size" pack of treats, a gift card, or whatever else you can think of! And what a great way to use up some of that paper stash! It takes 2 pieces of 6 x 12 inch paper--I've used Designer Series Paper, cardstock, and wrapping paper. It's super easy to put together, and I think you'll use this set a LOT!

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Paper: Crisp Cantaloupe DSP (In Color Stack 2013-15), Crisp Cantaloupe, Baked Brown Sugar, Stacked with Love DSP   
Accessories: Mini Treat Bag Framelit set, Baked Brown Sugar Twine, Sweetheart Punch, Venetian Crochet Trim

Shake it up for Valentine's Day!

I love cards that have movement! Shaker cards are so easy with Washi tape, and this card from January's Stamp Club makes a great Valentine!

We used a sheet of printed paper from the Stacked with Love DSP stack, then punched a lovely bunch of confetti using the Confetti Hearts Border Punch. Push your confetti into a little pile to make it easier to contain it while you apply the Window Sheet. We live in the high desert, so it's really important here to use the Embossing Buddy on the Window Sheet, before applying it to the card. Really, really important. Because static is the enemy of a good shaker card, my friend!

Attach the Window Sheet to the card with super cute Washi Tape (Stacked with Love here), making sure to burnish it really well. My clubbers, dear friends that they are, all said, "Why can't you just say 'rub it really hard?' "  Because I needed the instructions to fit on one page, that's why!

After the Window Sheet is secure (burnish it one more time, just to make me feel better, mkay?), add your finishing touches. I love the new set You Plus Me--so many great ways to show affection, and not just for Valentine's Day! We stamped the medallion image in Calypso Coral and die cut it with a Starburst framelit. Love the white border!

So drag out your Washi tape and make a fun shaker card this week! 

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Stamps: You Plus Me  
Paper: Stacked with Love DSP, Whisper White, Crisp Cantaloupe, Calypso Coral, Real Red, Basic Black, and Gold Foil   
Ink: Calypso Coral, Memento Black   
Accessories: Starburst Framelits, Gift Card holder framelits (banner), Stacked with Love Washi Tape, Window Sheets, Embossing Buddy, Confetti Hearts Border Punch, rhinestones

Fine Feathered Monday

Four Feathers is such an easy set to work with, and the matching framelits make it even simpler. Just choose your color scheme, stamp, and die cut. You can't go wrong with this one!

Today is your last day to get the special bundle pricing and save 15%. Only $20.25 for the clear mount set Four Feathers and the Feathers Framelits dies (137630). Woodmount set and framelits (137629) is just $22.75.

The set and framelits are carrying over to the Occasions Catalog, but the Feather Framelits are available only while supplies last.

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Stamps: Four Feathers
Paper: Whisper White, Cherry Cobbler, Basic Gray, Basic Black, Back to Black DSP
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Cherry Cobbler, Basic Gray
Accessories: Basic Black Baker's Twine, 1/8" Basic Black ribbon, Feathers Framelits

Christmas Gift Box

I thought I had already shared this, but apparently not! I made this box with the Gift Box Punch Board.  We have used so many of these little boxes this Christmas gift season! This size will hold a gift card, but what I mainly use them for is giving jewelry!

If it looks confusing, don't worry. It's easy! There is a video to watch if written instructions aren't your thing.

The board has the instructions right on it, along with measurements for many sizes of boxes. After I cut my cardstock to 8 x 8, I used the Stripes Mask and Real Red ink to sponge on the pattern. I think it makes the box extra cute! The Punch Board is made with a great little "clasp" punch built right in, to make your flaps all secure.

The tag (you know I love tags!) is made with a piece of Trim the Tree DSP Stack paper, the stamp set Merry Everything, and the new Note Tag Punch. Baked Brown Sugar Thick Twine adds a nice little accent.


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Stamps: Merry Everything
Paper: Real Red, Trim the Tree DSP Stack, Crumb Cake
Ink: Real Red
Accessories: Gift Box Punch Board, PL Corner Rounder, Dots and Stripes Masks, Baked Brown Sugar Thick Twine

Bits & pieces--acetate butterfly tag gets a new life

My desk is getting awfully cluttered up, so it must be time for a few Bits & Pieces projects! Bits & Pieces projects are created from the little extras that I can't bear to throw away, but I don't really have a specific idea in mind. 

Remember the acetate tag from my Blendabilities Club meeting in August? Well, I decided to turn it into a card! I cut a piece of Whisper White to 5 1/4 x 4 and stamped the Hardwood background in Wisteria Wonder, to match the butterflies. After mounting that layer to a white card base, I used a few dimensionals to add the tag, as well as a couple tiny glue dots to manage the baker's twine.

What have you got on your creating table that needs a new life? Link up your Bits & Pieces projects here--I'd love to visit your blog or gallery to see them!

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Stamps: Alphabet Rotary, Kinda Eclectic, Hardwood
Paper: Whisper White, Wisteria Wonder, Smoky Slate
Ink: Smoky Slate, Wisteria Wonder, Wisteria Wonder Blendabilities
Accessories: Window Sheets (acetate), Elegant Butterfly Punch, Bitty Butterfly Punch, pearls, Deco Labels Framelits, Wisteria Wonder baker's twine

Autumn at Home

We made this card, inspired by one in Stampin' Up!'s monthly magazine for demonstrators, at Club last week. I LOVE this photopolymer Home for the Holidays set! ;It's so versatile, which is important to me, and it's FUN. Click here to see it.

To make it even more fun, you can get it at a discount if you also buy . . . drum roll please . . . the matching framelits!!! See the bundle by clicking here.

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Stamps: Holiday Home   
Paper: Baked Brown Sugar, Naturals Cream, Very Vanilla, Crushed Curry, Pumpkin Pie, Whisper White    
Ink: Early Espresso, Pumpkin Pie, So Saffron, Blendabilities in Crumb Cake Assortment and Skin Tone Asssortment   
Accessories: Homemade Holiday Framelits, Large Polka Dot, Argyle, and Decorative Dots embossing folders, Baked Brown Sugar Thick Twine

What's your angle?

This card (CASED from Stampin' Up!) was our quick-and-easy card at Club in September. No layers--just simple stamping, but it still has a great feel to it. We used the triangle stamp from the photopolymer set Dotty Angles at an angle (of course!) across the top, then stamped it again to move the pattern lower on the card. The sentiment is from Fabulous Four, one of my favorite sets from the main catalog. We colored rhinestones with the Coastal Cabana Blendabilites, tied on some Coastal Cabana thick baker's twine, and the card was done! The fact that it was done in Boise State colors may or may not be coincidental.

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Stamps: Dotty Angles, Fabulous Four
Paper : Naturals White
Ink: Tangerine Tango, Bermuda Bay, Coastal Cabana Blendabilities
Accessories: Coastal Cabana Thick Baker's Twine, Rhinestones, PL corner rounder

Seeing Stars from the Autumn Card Buffet!

Click here to check out the Autumn Card Buffet!

I think this is my favorite card from next month's Card Buffet! It features some products from the new (live today!) Holiday Catalog, such as the Star Confetti Punch and the Lucky Stars Embossing Folder. This makes a great card for a birthday, a love note, or an encouraging note for a friend.

Check out the other options and join me for my Autumn Card Buffet!

Work of Art notecard

Sometimes you just need a quick and easy card! I like to have cards like this on hand because they work for birthdays, thank yous, or little notes. After I stamped it, the card seemed unfinished to me, so I added a little doodling and some baker's twine.

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Stamps: Work of Art
Paper: Whisper White Notecards
Ink: Blackberry Bliss, Tangelo Twist, Hello Honey,  Coastal Cabana, Black
Accessories: Project Life Journaling Pens, Baker's Twine

Acetate butterfly and Blendabilities

Please check out my upcoming Card Buffet projects by clicking here!

One last project from the August Stamp Club! We made this cute gift tag with an acetate window colored with Wisteria Wonder Blendabilities. It looks ok in this picture.

Check out this picture, taken outside:

Is that cool or what??? It's a pretty simple tag, but I loved the way the butterfly turned out. One tip: color the acetate completely on the first pass, or let it dry and THEN add more color. Otherwise, the Blendas just move the color around. We also used Blendas on the pearls.

The tag is made of two Deco Label framelits cut from Wisteria Wonder cardstock. The dots and butterfly stamps are from Kinda Eclectic, and the "Thanks" is stamped with my favorite Alphabet Rotary stamp! What luxury! Any word (or phrase) I want!

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To view or purchase the products used on this project, click the links below:


Product List

Kinda Eclectic Clear-Mount Stamp Set [135350] $19.95	Alphabet Rotary Stamp [133769] $14.95	Wisteria Wonder 8-1/2 X 11 Card Stock [122922] $6.95	Smoky Slate Classic Stampin' Pad [131179] $5.95
Wisteria Wonder Classic Stampin' Pad [126985] $5.95	Stampin' Blendabilities™ Markers Wisteria Wonder Assortment [131002] $11.95	Medium Window Sheets [114323] $4.95	Basic Pearls Jewel Accents [119247] $4.95
Deco Labels Collection Framelits Dies [130102] $24.95	Elegant Butterfly Punch [127526] $15.95	Bitty Butterfly Punch [129406] $15.95

Project: Birthday!

Project Life by Stampin' Up! I love the pieces for cardmaking--they make it easy (just like memory keeping) to pull together a great project with very little extra needed. Here, a stamp from Four You and a few flowers with sequins are all that's needed for a fun birthday card! What are you doing with your Project Life by Stampin' Up!?

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Stamps: Four You
Paper: Pool Party, Basic Black
Ink: Pool Party
Accessories: Thick Baker's Twine, Gold Sequin Trim, Itty Bitty Accents Punch pack, Everyday Adventure Project Life by Stampin' Up!

Baked Brown Sugar Birthday

A fun and simple birthday card using the photopolymer set Endless Birthday Wishes! This is a great set--one of my favorites! Lots and lots of words to use, for all occasions. At just $13.95, it's a really great value!

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Stamps: Endless Birthday Wishes
Paper: Baked Brown Sugar, Pacific Point, Crushed Curry, Whisper White
Ink: Memento Black, Baked Brown Sugar, Crushed Curry
Accessories: Large Polka Dot embossing folder, Crushed Curry Baker's Twine

Simple Love

Need a simple wedding or anniversary card??? This was a quick card that still does the job. Gold is "back in," which is great, because if I stick with what I like, eventually "fashion" agrees with me periodically. :-)

The Large Polka Dot embossing folder is becoming a favorite, and of course the Little Letters Thinlits are *awesome*! Add a little gold baker's twine, and the card is ready to go!

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Paper: Whisper White, Gold Foil
Accessories: Large Polka Dot emb folder, Little Letters Thinlits, Gold Baker's Twine

Summer Sunshine for PPA 211

Yellow is my very very favorite color, so I couldn't resist the color challenge over at Paper Pals Arts, PPA 211. I combined 2 sets for this card--Kinda Eclectic and Ray of Sunshine. The Large Polka Dot folder and a few sequins helped add some texture. Here is the inside:

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Stamps: Kinda Eclectic, Ray of Sunshine
Paper: Night of Navy, Crushed Curry, Whisper White
Ink: Hello Honey, Night of Navy
Accessories: Large Polka Dot embossing folder, Gold Sequins, Crushed Curry Baker's Twine, Circles Collection Framelits, Starburst Framelits