Friday, October 9, 2015

Homemade for Hosting - Bottle Topper Ideas

So many have parties during the holiday and it's always nice to remember a hostess gift for our friends and family that invite us into their homes (and clean for days to get it ready!)  These cute bottle toppers designed by Cris McCarthy (the best mom in the world) will make remembering to say "Thank you" a breeze.  Whether hanging on a bottle of wine or a bottle of cider or a nice bottle of lotion, these tags bring a special touch to your special friend or family member.

If you tend to bring a homemade holiday food instead of a beverage, just cut the tags down to 5 x 3 and make a tag instead!

For these tags, you score a 7 x 3 piece of cardstock at 2" on the long side.  The tops are punched with a 1 3/8 Circle Punch and the corners done with the AMAZING Curvy Corner Trio Punch. This punch is one of my favorite products by far - it's so versatile and lightweight!

For the red tags, you will stamp the tree from Peaceful Pines in Mossy Meadow on the music note Home for Christmas DSP.  You will ink it once, stamp on one sheet, and then stamp on the 2nd sheet so you end up with a light and dark tree.   You punch it out using the Peaceful Pines framelits and the Big Shot and attach to the tag using adhesive. Stamp the To/From from Oh, What Fun and the saying from Peaceful Pines.  That sentiment is up on dimensions and the ends are punched with the Triple Banner Punch (another crafting lifesaver - see how they are so even.....)  :)  Add your star button on one and your medium metal rimmed pearl on the other.


For the Cucumber Crush bottle topper, you will use the scrap from the music DSP.  You put that on your cardstock with adhesive.  Stamp "oh, what fun" in Mossy Meadow ink and do the banner ends with the Triple Banner Punch.  Layer with dimensionals and add a metal rimmed pearl (a great use for the biggest size!)  Stamp the to/from stamp from Festival of Trees and you are ready for holiday hostess gifts!


Supplies:
  • Cardstock: Real Red, Cucumber Crush, Very Vanilla, Home for Christmas DSP
  • Ink: Mossy Meadow
  • Stamps: Oh, What Fun, Peaceful Pines, Festival of Trees
  • Accessories: Curvy Corner Trio Punch, Triple Banner Punch, 1 3/8 Circle Punch, Metal Rimmed Pearl, Home for the Holidays Star button, Big Shot, Magnetic Platform & Cutting Mats, Perfect Pines Framelits, Dimensionals, Glue dot,
You can purchase all these items at my Online Store.

Some of my favorite items are on sale this week.  Check out the deals HERE and use hostess code AT66TQKF at checkout.

 
Fast fuse and White Accents are two essentials for your everday crafting in my opinion.  And those sequins are awesome when paired with our new Fine Tip Glue Pen.
 
 
Stampin’ Up! is doing a new charitable campaign this month and you can help!  For every subscriber that is active for the October Paper Pumpkin, Stampin’ Up! will donate $1 to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF). So each person that is signed up for the October kit means $1 for the foundation!  For any new subscribers that sign up by October 10th, they will donate $2.  While the kit will not be pink on the inside, the box that comes in October will be in a limited edition pink box (won’t the other red boxes be jealous!)  These kits come with a photopolymer (completely clear) stamp set, ink spot, and instructions with the kit pieces.  You also get a clear block if you are a first time subscriber and the cost is $19.95 plus tax (already includes shipping). You can sign up via the link below or email me if you have any questions. 
Have a craftastic day,
Stacy

Thursday, October 8, 2015

Christmas in October Tags - Part 2

Today's post is another set of tags I did recently for a holiday workshop.  Did you know that you can host your own private classes?  For this class, we did the three tags below for free after walking through the holiday catalog and showing other samples using materials in it.  Those in attendance really enjoyed the projects and it helped them with a cute homemade touch for some of their holiday gift giving.

The tags all feature the Home for Christmas DSP which has really grown on me.  So many images to use or cut out to create fun and simple cards and projects.

 


Bottle Topper Instructions: Score a 6 1/2 x 2 1/2 piece of Real Red cardstock at 2" on the long side.  Punch the two corners using the Curvy Corner Trio Punch.  Punch out a hole using the 1 3/8 Circle Punch.  Run the 4 x 2 piece of Home for Christmas DSP through the Triple Banner Punch & attach to the Real Red tag at the score line using adhesive.  Stamp the Saying on a big piece of Very Vanilla and punch out using the 2 1/2 Circle Punch once dry.  Layer on the tag using dimensionals.  Stamp To/From in Real Red ink on the bottom of the tag.
 
Little Tag Instructions:  Run the 1 x 3 piece of DSP through the triple banner punch (making sure the music words are facing the right way!)  Layer on the 1 3/4 x 2 3/4 piece of Mossy Meadow cardstock using adhesive.  Layer the circle from the Bottle Topper on the tag as shown.  Stamp To/From on the 1 3/4 x 1/2 piece of Very Vanilla in Real Red ink.  Layer on the tag using adhesive.  Add the big Mossy Meadow and Very Vanilla Home for Christmas Enamel Dots to the tag.
Santa Tag Instructions: Run the 4 1/2 x 2 piece of Real Red cardstock through the Triple Banner punch.  Stamp the To/From in Real Red ink.  Layer the strip of Pool Party DSP on the top of the tag using adhesive.  Loop the ribbon and attach to the top of the tag with a staple (or adhesive if you don't like the staple look).  Layer on the red striped paper using adhesive.  Cut out the santa using your scissors and layer on the tag using dimensionals.

Supplies:
  • Stamp set: Cozy Christmas
  • Cardstock/DSP: Very Vanilla, Real Red, Mossy Meadow and Home for Christmas DSP
  • Ink: Real Red
  • Accessories: 2 1/2 Circle Punch, 1 3/8 Circle Punch, Triple Banner Punch, Curvy Corner Trio Punch, Home for Holidays Enamel Dots, Very Vanilla Striped Satin Ribbon, Handheld Stapler, Scissors, Adhesive, and Dimensionals 
You can purchase all these items at my Online Store.

Some of my favorite items are on sale this week.  Check out the deals HERE and use hostess code AT66TQKF at checkout.

 
Fast fuse and White Accents are two essentials for your everday crafting in my opinion.  And those sequins are awesome when paired with our new Fine Tip Glue Pen.
 
 
Stampin’ Up! is doing a new charitable campaign this month and you can help!  For every subscriber that is active for the October Paper Pumpkin, Stampin’ Up! will donate $1 to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF). So each person that is signed up for the October kit means $1 for the foundation!  For any new subscribers that sign up by October 10th, they will donate $2.  While the kit will not be pink on the inside, the box that comes in October will be in a limited edition pink box (won’t the other red boxes be jealous!)  These kits come with a photopolymer (completely clear) stamp set, ink spot, and instructions with the kit pieces.  You also get a clear block if you are a first time subscriber and the cost is $19.95 plus tax (already includes shipping). You can sign up via the link below or email me if you have any questions. 
Have a craftastic day,
Stacy

Wednesday, October 7, 2015

Christmas in October Tags - Part 1

Christmas time always sneaks up on us.  We buy a bunch of stuff, assume we can get it all made and then end up at a superchain in our sweatpants right before Christmas looking for tags that won't tear and smear when we put them on our gifts

Not this year, I say.  Stampin' Up! has made tag making easy for the holidays and you can create things that will last year over year if you can remember where you put them.  :)

Today's collection of tags is for our Christmas in October camps this month.  They are all easy to make and use a variety of supplies only so our attendees can figure out which products they want to create with the most.  All the stamping is done with Mossy Meadow ink.  These tags were designed by my mom and fellow demonstrator, Cris McCarthy.

Tag 1: This tag utilizes a 2 1/2 circle of the Home for Christmas DSP mounted on Real Red cardstock.  The top is punched using the Curvy Corner Trio Punch and threaded with the 1/8 Striped Garden Green ribbon.  The saying is from the To You and Yours Too stamp set up on dimensionals with the ends hand cut into banner ends.


Tag 2: This tag has a tree cut from Pear Pizzazz using the Peaceful Pints Framelits and stamp set.  The To/From is from Festival of Trees.  The tree is mounted up on dimensionals.  Cute and easy, right?


Tag 3: This tag is also a 2 1/2 circle of Home for Christmas DSP mounted on the Real Red cardstock.  The corners of this tag are punched using the Curvy Corner Trio Punch.  Tip: When using this punch, make sure you punch one side and then turn it over before punching the other side - that will give you the same punch on both sides!  The tag has a Home for Christmas button threaded with Gold Cord and the stamping is done again with To You and Yours and Festival of Trees.


Tag 4:  Attendees are making two of these tags using the Festival of Trees stamp set and the Triple Banner punch.  The top is done using the Ornate Tag Topper punch and threaded with Real Red and Garden Green 1/8 Striped ribbon.


Tag 5: This tag is awesome and quick!  Just put down several pieces of our Season of Cheer washi tap at an angle.  Stamp the To/From from the Oh, What Fun stamp set.  The top is punched with two of the Curvy Corner Trio Punch options and threaded with the Cherry Cobbler Thick Baker's Twine.  The stamping is done on Pear Pizazz and punched out with the Decorative Label Punch.  Then a Home for Christmas Enamel Dot finishes this one off.


Most of the products on these tags are in the Holiday catalog.  You can buy product from my online store HERE.

Some of my favorite items are on sale this week.  Check out the deals HERE and use hostess code AT66TQKF at checkout.

 
Fast fuse and White Accents are two essentials for your everday crafting in my opinion.  And those sequins are awesome when paired with our new Fine Tip Glue Pen.
 
 
Stampin’ Up! is doing a new charitable campaign this month and you can help!  For every subscriber that is active for the October Paper Pumpkin, Stampin’ Up! will donate $1 to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF). So each person that is signed up for the October kit means $1 for the foundation!  For any new subscribers that sign up by October 10th, they will donate $2.  While the kit will not be pink on the inside, the box that comes in October will be in a limited edition pink box (won’t the other red boxes be jealous!)  These kits come with a photopolymer (completely clear) stamp set, ink spot, and instructions with the kit pieces.  You also get a clear block if you are a first time subscriber and the cost is $19.95 plus tax (already includes shipping). You can sign up via the link below or email me if you have any questions. 
Come back tomorrow when I share part 2 of my tags which I did for a holiday workshop last weekend using a small set of supplies. 

Have a craftastic day,
Stacy

Thursday, September 24, 2015

Paper Pumpkin - Wickedly Versatile

Each month when my Paper Pumpkin box comes in the mail, I'm excited to sit down and create with it. I like décor.  I like cards.  I like projects that work for my kids.  I like things that work for holidays.  I like mini books. I am willing to try anything which is why Paper Pumpkin is such a good fit for my creative stylings.

This month there was a fair amount of concern over the project and I can see why that could be.  I read some excited reviews and some that had more terrible than treat to them.  The September 2015 Paper Pumpkin kit is called Wickedly Sweet Treat.  The project for this month's kit is a witch's broom that holds a treat.  Is that for everyone?  No.  But take a look at the stamp set - it has fall leaves, sentiments, and works for all holiday crafting plus more.  I really love the stamp set - always love thank you stamps and fall images.  I also LOVE creating for Halloween and was happy to see a way to use these supplies to make a quick and easy candy for Callie's class too.


I came up with nine projects using the supplies and stamps from the kit.  I did have to add some additional papers (Whisper White, Elegant Eggplant, Cajun Craze, and Kraft) and a few other punches and supplies.  Let's take a look at this versatile kit.

Project One - Witch's Broom Treat Bag

This is the project with instructions in the kit.  I stamped the tag upside down when I did this so watch it so that the hole is towards the top.  Then I did it again....  So I tore out the "Eat me if you dare" saying and added it to the first tag on dimensionals to cover up my first mistake.  That Cajun Craze Thick Baker's Twine is awesome - wish we sold that in a roll!

 
Project Two: Placeholder
 
I liked the idea of using these for placeholders for Thanksgiving for table settings.  Usually we do something more whimsical (i.e. homemade with my 5 year old) but I liked the idea of putting names on tags with the truly thankful sentiment.  My husband is one of the best blessings I have in life and it just felt natural to put his name on this project!
 
 
 
 
Project Three: Tea Light Holder

This is one of my favorites.  Take a pint size mason jar and adhere the long fringe piece to the top of the mason jar.  I tore off the 4 strips that were extra vs overlapping them but that's your call.  Then put some tear and tape adhesive on the bottom of the jar in a circle.  Attach each end of the fringe to it to create the bowl look.  Then I cut a 2 1/2 circle from Kraft cardstock (you could also cut up the bag I you wanted) and put one on the bottom to cover the ends and the other in the top.  Then tie the twine and taffeta around it and make a tag.  I stamped that pumpkin on the Kraft cardstock and cut it out and put it on the tag with a dimensional.  It's fun and I can't wait to color one of them with Pumpkin Pie ink and create a pumpkin for Halloween for my table.



Project Four: Christmas Bag
In this project, I cut off the fringe from the top of the bag.  I added a piece of Season of Cheer DSP to the front of the bag.  Then I took a small strip in the center of the tag and used the To/From in the set to make the Christmas Tag (everyone needs a to/from stamp).  It's tied off with a piece of Cherry Cobbler Thick Baker's Twine.  Ho Ho Holidays!


Project Five: Autumn Love Note

This card is not my favorite but I always like to share successes and not so successes since there are elements on this card that might work on another application!  I love that the stamps in this set are all about 3/4 inch so you can put them in a strip like this.  I also wanted to put that small raffia bow on the leaves but one didn't look right and six looked like too many.  Maybe you can find a way to fix this!  :)


Project Six: Framed Thank You

I love this one.  I took the straws and cut them up.  Then I flattened them and put Tear and Tape behind them so they could be stacked for a frame.  I stamped the saying in the middle and put the frame around it.  I also stamped some leaves and cut them out and attached them to the frame.  The card is 4 1/4 x 4.


Project Seven: Smartie Treat

This is super quick project and one I'm doing for Callie's school, assuming there is a party!  It's simply two Smarties in our 1 x 8 goodie bag.  I took the purple tag and folded it in half and stapled it to the top of the bag.  Then I stamped a witch hat on a small piece of white and added it to the goodie bag using a dimensional.  Quick and simple and great for little people.


Project Eight: Happy Haunting Card

I used two of the fringe pieces I cut off the mason jar to create paper ribbons and also added one to the bottom of the row of hats.  I paired this with Elegant Eggplant and Happy Haunting DSP.  I used
the 2 1/2 Circle punch again because I tried to stick with the same set of additional supplies on the table.


Project Nine: Happy Mini Book

So it's really hard to describe how this was made but I will be showing this at my Paper Pumpkin Open House for the September kit.  It's all about folds and Tear and Tape Adhesive.  You can put photos on the tags, on the inserts in the paper bag pages or on the back flap where you can put three photos alone.  A few things to mention here about the kit and this project....
  • You can ink up just Happy in the Happy Haunting stamp using a marker to make it more versatile than just Halloween.
  • You can punch shapes out of the patterned tags like I did on the circle below.
  • You can use the raffia on the tags instead of wrapping or tying bows.
  • You can cut the bottom of the white tags off and use them for pullies on inserts for the envelopes
  • The stamps in this set (Truly Thankful and You're So Sweet) aren't just for holidays.  They made me think of my kids and this is the album I'm going to put our Fall Harvest pictures in so I can stamp leaves and pumpkins where needed once the pictures are in it.




I hope you found something you like using these samples.  I'm still working on a date for my open house for the Wickedly Sweet Treat kit but you can leave me a comment and tell me which project you enjoyed the most.
http://mypumpkinchallenge.blogspot.com/2015/10/my-pumpkin-challenge-1015-sweet-harvest.html
 
Click the header above to view other great samples here using this kit from other demonstrators!





Stampin’ Up! is doing a new charitable campaign this month and you can help!  For every subscriber that is active for the October Paper Pumpkin, Stampin’ Up! will donate $1 to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF). So each person that is signed up for the October kit means $1 for the foundation!  For any new subscribers that sign up by October 10th, they will donate $2.  While the kit will not be pink on the inside, the box that comes in October will be in a limited edition pink box (won’t the other red boxes be jealous!)  These kits come with a photopolymer (completely clear) stamp set, ink spot, and instructions with the kit pieces.  You also get a clear block if you are a first time subscriber and the cost is $19.95 plus tax (already includes shipping). You can sign up via the link below or email me if you have any questions. 
Have a craftastic day,
Stacy

Wednesday, September 16, 2015

Christmas Stamp a Stack - Tis the Season for Red

This is the final stamp a stack option created by my lovely mother (and fellow demonstrator), Cris.  As mentioned during my last two posts, a stamp a stack is where you pick the card you want to make and I cut all the pieces.  I put them together in a bag and you come to my house to stamp them all.  Then you assemble one and either take the rest home to complete or complete them here.  The cost does not include adhesives so you provide the adhesive and dimensionals to assemble the cards.

This card stack is $14 and you get a kit of 8 cards.  You are stamping the "Tis the Season" in Memento Tuxedo Black ink and punching it out.  Then you are laying al the other pieces together with a combo of adhesive, dimensionals, and Tear and Tape adhesive.  It's a fun card and is a great way to use up the pieces of Real Red envelope paper that you have leftover after cutting an 8 x 8 piece for a envelope.  I think you'll adore making this card!

 

If you are interested in making this card, please leave me a comment to arrange payment and a time to stamp the cards or email me at stacy @ acrophile.net.  You have until 9/30 to select your kits!
 
 
There are some great, and I mean great, products on sale this week for our weekly specials.  You can order them via my online store.  Please enter hostess code 7RUSMFHU upon checkout.
 


 
I can't wait to see what everyone makes!

We make things that are pretty.  We make things because they make us feel good.  We give because we like others to feel good too.  Stampin' Up! has always been a company that wants to make a difference.  A difference in the lives of it's demonstrators, customers, and also those that need help like the children and families of Ronald McDonald House Charities and those fighting breast cancer.  For the October Paper Pumpkin subscribers, Stampin' Up! will be donating $1 for every current subscriber that is shipped an October Paper Pumpkin box.  If you aren't a current subscriber and sign up as a new subscriber, Stampin' Up! will donate $2 for each of those kits.  You have until October 10th to activate an account and you can do so here:   https://mypaperpumpkin.com/en/?demoid=80380.

Paper Pumpkin is a crafting kit that comes to your mailbox each month for $19.95 plus tax.  It usually shows up in a pretty red box but the October kit will come in a limited edition pink box!  The box contains a photopolymer stamp set, ink spot, and instructions for making a minimum of 6 cards or a project.  For new subscribers, the first box will also contain a clear block.  I credit Paper Pumpkin for much of my current creativity and love being a subscriber especially during the holiday months where Stampin' Up! helps make my holiday crafting less stressful and loads of fun.  I hope you'll give it a try!

Have a craftastic day,
Stacy

Monday, September 14, 2015

Christmas Stamp a Stack - Lots of Merry Trees

Today I'm posting another Stamp a Stack option.  As mentioned yesterday, a stamp a stack is where you pick the card you want to make and I cut all the pieces.  I put them together in a bag and you come to my house to stamp them all.  Then you assemble one and either take the rest home to complete or complete them here.  The cost does not include adhesives so you provide the adhesive and dimensionals to assemble the cards.



For this card, the cost is $10 for 8 cards with envelopes.  You can order as many sets as you'd like but they have to be in increments of 8.  It features the Merry Moments Designer Series Paper Stack, Peaceful Pines Framelits, and Lots of Labels Framelits.  The card base is Cherry Cobbler and it's accented with Old Olive and Whisper White.  The saying is from the Flurry of Wishes stamp set.  All of the items are pre-cut for you so you just have to layer them and stamp the saying on the front and the inside piece.  Easy and stress free - two things I love to associate with my holidays!

If you are interested in making this card, please leave me a comment to arrange payment and a time to stamp the cards or email me at stacy @ acrophile.net.  You have until 9/30 to select your kits!

Don't forget to check out these weekly deals via my online store.  They expire at midnight so look for new specials here tomorrow!






Have a craftastic day,
Stacy

Sunday, September 13, 2015

Christmas Stamp a Stack - Santa

So between school starting and trying to get out in front of all my classes coming up, I realize I've been neglecting my blog.  Sorry about that.  The next few days I'll be posting my Christmas Stamp a Stack options while I wait for our next Paper Pumpkin kit to arrive!

What is a Stamp a Stack, you ask?  Well, I'll tell you.  You pick the card you want to make and I cut all the pieces (unless otherwise noted).  I put them together in a bag and you come to my house to stamp them all.  Then you assemble one and either take the rest home to complete or complete them here.  The cost does not include adhesives so you provide the adhesive and dimensionals to assemble the cards.


For this card, the cost is $20 for 10 cards with envelopes.  You can order as many sets as you'd like but they have to be in increments of 10.  It features the Home for Christmas DSP and Very Vanilla Striped Ribbon from the holiday catalog.  You fussy cut these Santas after you stamp the cards which is actually quite fast. The stamp set on the final card differs.  We will use the small expression from Cozy Christmas instead. 

This card was inspired by the make-n-take tag we did at Convention this year!  I hope you have as much fun making it as we did both times.  :)

If you are interested in making this card, please leave me a comment to arrange payment and a time to stamp the cards.  You have until 9/30 to select your kits!

Have a craftastic day,
Stacy