Monday, November 28, 2016

Treat Box with Snowman Tag


Picked up this treat box die at Hobby Lobby by Momenta with my coupon. Here is a photo of the packaging with this die:


Here is the first box I made:


For this box I used double sided card stock. The tan strip across the front of the box (and the flower on the snowman hat) are the other side of the red print. I cut out two of the treat box pieces in the Big Shot and put the box together using tear tape. This is an easy box to put together and it will hold a lot of treats but I did not like that on the bottom of the box you see a gap as the bottom is not sealed. So I measured and cut a piece of kraft card stock that I put inside this box using the ATG for adhesive so the bottom is sealed now:


This next box I used solid blue card stock and again I cut out two treat box pieces. While these were still flat I used a snowflake wheel stamp (I have taken all my stamps off their wheels) and I used the MISTI and white ColorBox ink to stamp the snowflakes on the front and the back of the box. Put this together used tear tape:


 The camera did not capture this well but here is a closer photo of the snowflake stamp across the box:


Once again I cut a piece of the blue card stock to put inside the box for the bottom. Now to the snowman tag --

These tags are sold at the office supply store and I picked up a package of 50:


These are in the shipping labels/tags aisle. To make the snowman tag remove one of the tags from the package:


Open the ring at the top with your fingers and remove that from the round tag:


I used the small snowman face stamp from www.http://morningstarstamps.com and stamped at on the tag near the bottom using StazOn black ink. Used an orange marker to colour his nose:


For his hat I used a piece of black card stock from Mikes and punched that out using the Stampin Up Curvy Tab punch:


Used the card stock scraps from each box to cut a band for the hat and put that band onto the hat using a glue pen. Used a dollar bin flower punch for the flower on this hat:


For the blue treat box snowman hat I used the M Stewart snowflake border punch and punched out a snowflake from white glittered card stock:


Added a crystal to each hat for bling and that was done. Used twine from the stash to tie the snowman tags on the treat box. Put paper shred from the dollar store in the boxes and will fill them with candy treats for the holidays. These boxes would also be cute as place markers on a holiday table -- just put the recipient's name on the front of the box. TFL


Sunday, November 27, 2016

Impression Obsession tags


Just bought this new Christmas die set from Impression Obsession and my first project are oval tags:


Used the ovals die set from Stampin Up for the white and red oval. White card stock is #110 weight from Mikes. Red is also from Mikes. With the ovals cut I decided to sponge the edges of the red ovals. Using the same white card stock from Mikes I cut out all the IO die shapes. Wanted these pieces to have some shimmer or shine so I spritzed Pearls Glimmer Mist on them before I put them on the ovals. Once dried I put these tags together.

Used the ATG to put the red oval onto the white one. Used a leaves punch from EK Success and scrap green card stock for those. Used the M Stewart sprig punch for the piece on the front of all the tags under the red crystal in the center of each ornament bow. Here is a photo to show the shimmer from the Glimmer Mist:


"Merry Christmas" is a stamp from Taylored Expression and I stamped that onto scrap white/GP card stock using SU Real Red ink. Used the SU Classic Label punch to make the greeting banner for each tag. Shapes, leaves, and sprigs were put onto the red ovals using glue dots.

These are very easy tags to make. With everything on each tag all I had to do is punch a small hole at the top for the red and white twine to go through and I tied that into a knot and trimmed it with scissors. Easy tags to put together. TFL

Too good to be true? ? ?


Since this was "Black Friday" weekend I took advantage of sales and coupons at Mikes. I had seen this ink there before but for the asking price of $9.99 per ink pad it was something I was not going to be buying anytime soon . . .  until this weekend... Mikes offered a 60% off coupon of one item so this was my chance to pick this up and see if it is as good as they say . . .  Here is the ink pad:


This is a specialty ink pad as it is supposed to be 'glittery' when you use it for stamping without having to use embossing power and a heat gun. It is made by Tsukineko and although they certainly know all they need to in making ink pads these claims seemed too good to be true.

My first concern is will the glitter begin to separate from the ink on the pad? Will this ink combination take forever to dry? Will it naturally smear? Is it going to be a shiny finish like an embossed piece? Brought it home and used it on one of the tags I was making:


The tag base is #110 weight white card stock from Mikes. I did not use a tag die for this tag. I measured how wide and long I wanted the tag to be and then cut that out. Used the Stampin Up Tag Corner punch for the tag top. Punched a hole at the top of the tag. Using a small star stamp from the Stampin Up Star of Light stamp set I randomly stamped that all over the front of the tag.

Using the matching die set for that I cut out a gold glittered card stock star. Using the smaller, more detailed die from that set, I cut out a white glittered card stock star. I put these two stars together using a brad. Using a dauber I sponged the edges of the tag with the same gold ink. I also stamped a greeting stamp from that stamp set at the bottom of the tag. Here is a photo to show the sparkle and shine of this ink:


I made a second tag using navy blue card stock and the Encore silver ink to show the difference between these inks:


This photo shows that ink better:


Although the silver ink is shiny it does not have a sparkle to it like the Delicata gold ink does. Am happy I bought the gold ink pad and plan on buying the silver ink pad but not without a serious coupon! TFL

All 30 tags are done --

Happy to say all 30 tags I was making are complete and now I can work on finding the counter top and work table top again ... before the Christmas projects are started. . . To keep the tags neat and tidy I have them in sandwich bags from the dollar store on a piece of card board to keep them from not getting bent:



Now I can work on some cards and treat holders for Christmas projects I have wanted to make. TFL

Saturday, November 26, 2016

Flaky Tag


Tag base is #110 weight white card stock from Mikes. Used the Sizzix tags die set to cut out the tag. Stamped the snowmen stamp from the Stampin Up Flaky Friends stamp set off the edge of the tag using StazOn black ink. Used markers to colour the tag. Stamped the greeting above the snowmen to the left.

Using clear Wink of Stella I went over the snow at the bottom of the tag. Then spritzed the tag using Pearl Glimmer Mist:


 Used a 1/4" circle punch and then a 1/2" circle punch to make the red ring for the hole at the top of the tag. Put that ring on the tag using a glue pen. Tied red ribbon with a snowflake pattern at the tag top and tied a sparkly ribbon around that at the tag top:


Stamped "To and From" on the back of the tag. TFL

Flurries Tag


Another tag of the 30 different tags I am making. . . For this tag I went through card stock scraps and this blue card stock was large enough to make a tag from. I did not use a tag die to cut out the tag shape. I used the trimmer and cut the blue card stock 2 1/4" wide by 4 3/4" long. I used the retired Stampin Up Tag Corner punch for the tag shape. Here is my Flurries Tag:


I believe this scrap blue card stock is Close To My Heart paper. Here is a photo of the Tag Corner punch I used to get the tag shape:


Once I had my tag cut out and corners punched I used a 1/4" circle punch and made a hole at the top of the tag. I then punched out a 1/4" circle from more of this scrap card stock. Using a 1/2" circle punch I punched over that first small circle and this gave me the ring for the hole at the tag top:


Once the ring was punched out I set that aside. Using a stamp with dots I picked up at a thrift store by Hero Arts I inked it with VersaMark and stamped it onto the blue tag. Sprinkled white embossing powder on that and used the heat gun to set that. With the embossing done I used a glue pen and put the ring over the hole at the top of the tag. Using Stampin Up Brocade Blue ink I sponged all the edges of the tag to give the edges a darker look. This also makes the white dots more prominent.

For the "SNOW" word at the bottom of the tag I used a border punch from Fiskars and punched that out of white glittered card stock. Used the trimmer to cut it to the size I needed for the tag. Put this piece onto the tag using red sticky tape:


Used a snowflake border punch from M Stewart and punched out a snowflake from the same glittered card stock. Put that snowflake over the snowflake punched with the "SNOW" punch. Added a clear crystal to the center of the snowflake using a micro mini glue dot. (Hobby Lobby).

For the larger snowflake on the tag:


The larger snowflake is a punch from Stampin Up and again I used white glittered card stock for that. The smaller center snowflake is made using a die that came with a recent British card making magazine I bought at Barnes and Noble. Put the two snowflakes together using small strips of the tear and tape. For the center of the snowflakes I used the blue circle that I punched out at the tag top and I put that circle onto the snowflakes using a glue dot. Added a clear crystal on top of the blue circle using also using a glue dot. The blue circle makes the crystal look blue-ish. Put this snowflakes piece onto the tag using tear and tape.

At the tag top I tied silver ribbon and used thin sliver wired twine (floral section @ Mikes -- thanks to Bonnie for sharing!!). Put the twine bow onto the ribbon using Aleene's glue:


Another festive tag for the holidays. I stamped the "To and From" on the tag back in the Brocade Blue ink I sponged the edges with. Happy to find the Hero Arts stamp at the thrift store as well. TFL

Friday, November 25, 2016

Open for business . . .


Hoping all that celebrated Thanksgiving yesterday had a nice holiday... beginning of the holiday season... and sales.... and projects .....

Elf Season has begun and here is my craft room door:


Drove myself to Mikes this morning at 7AM when they opened, my coupons in hand, and with their holiday on going sale and my coupons... this wreath was approx $16.00. Decided since so many projects come out of my craft room (or 'warehouse' as DH calls it) I decided I would buy a holiday wreath for the door. So now when I come into the craft room I am inspired to get to work... Elf Season has begun and I am sure this season will fly by as they usually do . . .

Some great buys at Mikes this morning -- very thin washi tape, in a 6 pk, $1.99, card stocks and stamps on sale, storage items on sale, and so it goes... but decided with my coupons and their holiday coupon that I would break down and buy the WRMK Pillow Box punch board. I have a steel ruled Sizzix die for a pillow box but it only cuts out one size. Stampin Up also sells a thinner die for a pillow box but again that is one size only so never bought that one. Had seen this punch board at the store and thought about it but just never bought one... until today -- here is my new WRMK Pillow Box punch board:


Now to figure this out... I have other punch boards but with the Pillow Box punch board you can make different size boxes. Great idea . . .  but what size card stock for what size box?  I wanted to actually 'see' the size pillow boxes I can make. Time to play....

Used white/GP card stock for my white pillow box samples. To make a pillow box all card stock has to be 6" wide but the length of card stock you use decides the size of your pillow box. I made three pillow boxes using three different sizes that are sizes I will use for my holiday treat holders:


The punch board not only punches out the curved shapes but also punches out the notch so you can easily open your pillow box.  The sizes I cut out:

4" long by 6" wide
4 1/2" long by 6" wide
5" long by 6" wide

Having these samples made I can see at a glance what size I want to make and with the measurements written on them I will know what size card stock to cut. Here is a photo of two samples of embellished pieces I could decorate my pillow box with and these samples show how the pieces will fit on the front of my boxes:


Am thinking this new punch board will get lots of use in my craft room this season and beyond. As for the white/GP pillow box samples I made up I will hang these my bulletin board so I will always have them near by for size info... (keeping them ON the bulletin board will also enable me to find them!! haha)

Good sales today at Mikes and other craft stores if you want to fight the crowds -- There were not many shoppers this morning when I was shopping but I am sure it will be busier as the day goes on. TFL

Tuesday, November 22, 2016

Merry Tags


This photo shows the three holiday tags I just made using the new Stampin Up Merry Tags Framelits die set. All white tags were cut out using the Sizzix tag die set and I used #110 weight white card stock from Mikes. Here is a photo of each of the tags:


Silver glittered card stock was used for the deer/trees die. Used silver Encore ink for the greeting. This next tag:


Used red glittered card stock and again cut out the deer/trees die. For the "JOY" at the bottom of the tag I used red foiled card stock from Hobby Lobby and a border punch from M Stewart for that. Put the "JOY" piece onto the tag using red sticky tape. This next tag:


Used green glittered card stock for the tree cut out die. For the silver/holly glittered piece at the bottom of the tag I used washi tape for that.

The Merry Tags framelits die set cuts the thicker glittered card stocks with one pass in the machine. There are a lot of pieces in this die set to use for tags or to use as ornaments on a card front. Lots of possibilities for holiday projects ahead. TFL

Sunday, November 20, 2016

Silver Glittered Tag


Once again the camera does not capture the shine of the silver glittered card stock from Hobby Lobby used for this card. For the tag I used the Sizzix tag die set and cut out a white tag from #110 weight white card stock from Mikes. Sponged the edges of the tag using the silver Encore ink. Set this aside.

Using two of the dies in the Stampin Up Merry Tags die set I cut out the deer/trees die from glittered silver card stock. Then cut out the circle ornament die using white/GP card stock to go behind the deer/trees piece. Put these pieces together using TomBow glue and a sponge. Once those were adhered I set them aside:


For the "Merry Christmas" stamp I used a stamp from Taylored Expressions and the silver Encore ink. Stamped that onto the lower part of the tag:


Tried to capture the shine of this ink with the camera. Put the die cut ornament onto the tag using large glue dots. Added a silver ribbon bow to the top of the ornament. Tied the ribbon onto the tag top and this tag was done. IRL it is very sparkly and shiny. TFL

Let It Snow ... Man Tag

*** This tag was chosen as one of the Favorites of the Week on Splitcoast Stampers. A HUGE thank you to Pam Michaelis at morningstarstamps.com for her inspiration and her GREAT stamps!!

Here is another tag I made for Christmas. This tag is inspired by Pam Michaelis at her website/store  www.morningstarstamps.com.  I came across her and her great stamps at her wonderful booth at a stamp show I attended long ago. She has a great selection of stamps and wonderful projects on her website. For the Snowman tag I used her small Snowman Face stamp and I followed her layout. I did not have the hat stamp she used so I used what I have on hand. I have both the small and the large Snowman Face stamps she sells and I use these two stamps all the time for holidays and holiday projects. Great stamps for sure. Here is my version of her tag:


First to make this tag I used the Circles Collection die set from Stampin Up. For the white circle I used white/GP card stock and the third largest die in that set. For the red circle I used card stock from Mikes. Cut that red circle out using the next larger circle die in the set. Cut out both circles and set them aside.

Using two stamps for my "To" and "From" I stamped the back of the red circle while it was flat before I put my two circles together using black Memento ink:


With that stamped now I worked on the white circle. Following Pam's tag I stamped the small Snowman Face stamp offset to the left top of the circle using the black ink. For the placement of the ribbon I used a ruler and a light pencil line so my ribbon would be straight across the front of the circle below the face. I put red sticky tape on the back of the ribbon and then put the ribbon on the white circle even with the pencil line. Once in place I used scissors to clip the ends of the ribbon that was over the edge of the circle. Used the ATG and put the stamped white circle onto the red circle.

For my snowman hat I used black card stock from Mikes and the Stampin Up Round Tab punch. I cut a small piece of red glittered card stock for the band across the hat. Used scrap white glittered card stock and a snowflake border punch from M Stewart for the snowflake on his hat. Put the hat together using Scotch double sided tape and put that onto the edge of the white circle:


For the red and white twine I used a mini circle punch and punched a hole to run the twine through. Tied that off and used scissors to trim the ends of the twine. Also -- if you are buying twine for your holiday projects -- it is cheaper to buy the twine out of the bakery aisle at the craft store. (In the Wilton department). You get more yardage that way and using a coupon makes it even cheaper. They offer different colours as well.

As for the red circle -- I used red to go with my ribbon but blue or silver would also look good for a snowman. A BIG thanks to Pam not only for the great snowman face stamps but also for her too cute inspiration!!  :0)  TFL

Tuesday, November 15, 2016

What is old is new again . . .


This card is made using a pumpkin die by QuicKutz that I recently bought from a stamper's craft supply sale --- happy me to add this to my pumpkin dies as this is a larger pumpkin -- it measures approx 2 3/4" across by 2" high. It also cuts out two or three layers for your pumpkin:


I paid $8 for this die -- and as you can see by the packaging photo it can be made using two of the pumpkin layers or using all three pumpkin die cut pieces you can make a larger pumpkin. Here is my card:


For my card the card stock base is Pumpkin Pie from Stampin Up. Front piece is Stampin Up Crumb Cake. For the printed card stock on the left side of the card front I used patterned card stock also from Stampin Up that I had bought at another stamper's yard sale. BEWARE tho --- if you use Stampin Up printed card stocks be sure to check on the piece of card stock before you cut it for your project. Stampin Up puts their logo on the corner of all their printed card stocks and you would not want that to be on the front of your card or project.

With the card stock base cut and scored, and the front piece cut I then cut a 1 1/2" wide piece of the printed card stock for the left front of the card. I put the printed card stock onto the Crumb Cake card front using the ATG. Then I put these onto the card stock base using the ATG. Set this aside.

For the pumpkin I cut out my die using scrap Pumpkin Pie card stock. With my three pumpkin pieces cut I used three different embossing folders to put pattern onto the pumpkin pieces -- the largest pumpkin I used a dotted folder on, the second pumpkin I used the Stampin Up Square Lattice embossing folder, and the smallest pumpkin is embossed using another embossing folder. I sponged all the edges of the pumpkin pieces using SU Pumpkin Pie ink. Used a Sizzix leaf die for the leaf and to add dimension to that I sponged the edges of that and then used the crimper on that. Sponged the stem and pumpkin top using SU Old Olive ink. Here is a better photo of the embossed pieces:


Put all the pumpkin layers together using glue dots and put the green pieces onto the pumpkin also using glue dots. For the greeting "Happy Thanksgiving" I used a stamp from Morningstar Stamps. They carry a great selection of stamps and their prices for their smaller stamps are very affordable. Some stamp online stores charge a lot for the smaller stamps. I stamped the greeting onto scrap white card stock and then punched that out using the SU Classic Label punch. Trimmed to the length I wanted and tucked it under the first layer of my pumpkin using glue dots:


Easy card to put together with my new-to-me finds... :0)   As for Morningstarstamps.com if you are looking for serious stamps, whimsical stamps, religious stamps, poem stamps, etc they sell it -- with the upcoming holidays coming you may want to order their small and large Snowman face stamps. Here are a couple of projects I have used them on:





So enough we will be working on all Christmas cards, treat holders, and such. The Snowman Face stamps make all these projects easy!!! TFL