My Weblog

Project: Altered Journals!

I am stuck on the idea of transformations!  I spent today altering three notebooks into journals.  This one is my favorite.

I used Stampin' Up!'s Everyday Enchantment Designer Series Paper (available until March 31, 2012 for FREE with a $50 order!), Fresh Vintage stamp set (also part of Sale-a-bration!), Stampin' Up! Exclusive Beautiful Butterflies Big Shot Die (pg.222), Everyday Enchantment Ribbon & Brad Pack (Yes... another FREE Sale-a-bration product!), Corner Rounder Punch (pg.212), Stampin' Dimensionals, Pool Party card stock and ink, Calypso Coral card stock and ink, Confetti White card stock, Lucky Limeade ink and Stampin' Write Markers.

You can view another of the altered journals on my facebook page - Country Crafts and More.  You'll have to come to the Zumba Dance event at the Aurora Resort & Spa in Tumon, Guam this Saturday evening if you want to see the third one.  :O)

Place a $50 (or more) order today to earn your FREE Everyday Enchantment products!  Just click on the Order Online image in the upper right corner and start shopping now.

Happy Stamping!

Mia

Project: Mini Notepad Transformation!

I just LOVE using Stampin' Up!'s wonderful products to transform the ordinary into something beautiful!  The containers from Crystal Light (shown here!) are one example.  This is another!

 

 

 

Who would believe that this mini notepad used to look like this?!?

 

 

 

 

 

 

Call or email me NOW to see how you can start making creations like these!!!

Happy Stamping~

Mia

Project Fun Valentine's Favors!

Today I am sharing two of the party favors that I made for yesterday's Earrings for Erica
fundraising luncheon.  They were fun to make... and I sold out of both!  I thank those of you who came out in support of me... and in support of Erica's House.

To recreate the Lollipop Favors you will need the Brights Designer Series Paper Stack (pg.177), the I {Heart} Hearts stamp set (pg.46), the Hearts Collection Framelits (Occasions Mini, pg.6) and your adhesive of choice.

To recreate the Pencil Favors you will need Real Red and Whisper White card stock, the 1-3/8" and 1-1/4" Circle Punches (pg.212), the Take It to Heart stamp set (Occasions Mini, pg.14), the Tiny Tags stamp set (pg.136), the Hearts Collection Framelits and your adhesive of choice.

Note:  Click on the images for a larger view of them!

Happy Stamping~

Mia

Are You Ready?!?

Are you ready for those last minute guests and/or unexpected visitors this Sunday?  If not, then pull out your Big Shot, Stampin' Up! Fancy Favor Box Die, punches and some card stock and
get to work making some of these cute favors to fill with candy, a couple of tealights or votives, some homemade cookies or what ever else you can think of.

To recreate these you will need:

Stamps:  Jolly Bingo Bits (Snowflake, pg.41)

Card Stock: Wild Wasabi, Real Red, Whisper White, Basic Black, Pretty in Pink, Marina Mist, Tangerine Tango, Chocolate Chip, Crumb Cake

Ink:  Sahara Sand, Baja Breeze, Marina Mist, Early Espresso

Accessories:  Ornament Punch, Bird Builder Punch, Owl Builder Punch, Word Window Punch, Itty Bitty Shapes Punch Pack, Modern Label Punch, 1/2" Circle Punch, 3/4" Circle Punch, 1" Circle Punch, 1-3/4" Circle Punch, 2-1/2" Circle Punch, Large Oval Punch,  Extra Large Oval Punch, Fancy Favor Box Die, Red Glimmer Paper, Dazzling Details, uni-ball Signo Gel Pen, Petals-a-Plenty Textured Impressions Embossing Folder and Baja Breeze Seam Binding

*** Note:  Punches are on pages 209-213 of the current catalog, and pages 34 & 36 of the Holiday Mini catalog.

I've got to get back to making more of them myself!

Happy Stamping~

Mia

Project: Tic-Tac-Toe!

I've been making a lot of new projects over the past few weeks.... months... to share in my displays downtown.  These Tic-Tac-Toe games were among those projects.  They are a nice gift for people of all ages!

I used metal DVD tins for the base... and covered them with an assortment of retired Designer Series Papers (although any of current ones would be just as lovely! Pgs.183-186)) and card stock.  The letters were cut using the Big Shot (pg.215) and Stampin' Up!'s Alphabet Simple Letters Bigz Die set (pg.223).  I used coordinating papers for the inside as well.  The place markers are retired Designer Buttons with Designer Series Paper accents... and Crystal Effects (pg.206).  Magnetic backings hold them in place making them a wonderful travel game... especially for those long flights to Honolulu, Japan, the Philippines, etcetra!

The hardest part of making these was choosing which of our Designer Papers to use and then waiting for the Crystal Effects to dry so that I could test the pieces by playing the game myself!

Note:  The sets of Designer Series Buttons are currently being sold in the Clearance Rack.  Click on the Order Online logo in the upper right to order them NOW because they are only available while supplies last!

Happy Stamping~

Mia

Project: Angry Bird Favor!

I have my last display of the year this coming Sunday at Sea Grill in Tumon, Guam.  These are two party favors that I will have on my table.

The bird is created using a combination of punches and hand-cut pieces.  The "Got Merry" is from Got Treats (pg. 65).  They take time... but I think it is time well spent.

The second design is for those that want a more festive design.  Both images are from Tags 'til Christmas (pg.32).  It's also a bit quicker to create.  One of those last minute ideas!

If you would like to learn how you can make these - and more(!) - yourself, then please contact me.  If there is enough interest I will hold a class.  :O)

Meanwhile...

Happy Stamping~

Mia

Fun Christmas Project!

I did another Christmas Bazaar this past weekend... at St. Paul's Christian School in Harmon, Guam.  There was already a Stampin' Up! vendor signed up... so I participated as Country Crafts & More... the name listed on my local business license.  I pulled out some boxes of supplies from my early craft fair days.  Among them were a bunch of plastic frames from small counted cross-stitch kits that I had decided not to use for the counted cross-stitch.  This is what I did with them for Saturday's fair.  I love how they turned out and enjoyed how quickly they came together!

I used some of our retired Designer Series Papers and card stock, but any of our current papers would work just as nicely!  The stamp images and punches are all still current.  They are:

Stamp Set:  Jolly Bingo Bits (pg.41)

Card Stock: Cherry Cobbler, Whisper White, Poppy Red, Glorious Green (Retired.  Substitute Garden Green or whichever green matching your DSP)

Inks:  Poppy Red, Cherry Cobbler, Garden Green

Accessories:  1-3/4" Scallop Circle Punch (pg.210), 1-1/4" and 1-3/8" Circle Punches (pg.212), Dazzling Details (Holilday Mini, pg.41), 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon (pg.195)

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Coming later today - November 21, 2011 at 5:01pm Guam time!

 

Happy Stamping~

Mia

Project: Yo-yos... Part 1!

In my last blog post I shared a photo of all the yo-yos I had made that day.  Here is a follow-up photo showing one of the completed projects using some of the yo-yos.

It's a set that includes a pony tail holder and two barrettes!  What a wonderful gift or stocking stuffer!

The finished Yo-yos are about 1-1/2 inches in size.  I made them using the Spice Cake Designer Fabric (Holiday Mini, pg.18) and the larger size scallop circle from the Scallop Circle #2 die (pg.222).  The buttons are from the Regal Designer Buttons (pg.197); and the ribbon is 1/8" Very Vanilla Taffeta Ribbon (pg.195).  I made three of these sets... and if you look closely you will see part of the set I made using the Springtime Vintage Designer Fabric (pg.196).

I hope that you will try making some of them yourself.

You will find another one of the projects here... on my facebook page!  Be sure to "like" me while you are there.  :O)

Happy Stamping.... or should I say Sewing(?)~

Mia

Project: Stocking Stuffer!

I've been busy working on projects for my upcoming display at Julale Shopping Center in Hagatna, Guam on Thursday, November 10, 2011 from 10:00am - 2:00pm.  Here is one of the many stocking stuffers and gift items that I making to sell and/or inspire you.

Be sure to stop by my table to see more ideas for stocking stuffers and gifts you can make - or buy from me(!) - using Stampin' Up!'s wonderful products!

Happy Stamping~

Mia

Tutorial: Autumn Splendor Wreath!

I've had a lot of people contact me with questions about how I made my Autumn Splendor Wreath so here is a step by step photo tutorial for your use.....

 

Supplies:

Autumn Splendor stamp set (pg.115)

One sheet of 8-1/2 x 11 inch Glossy White or Shimmer White card stock (pg.181)

Jet Black StazOn (pg.203)

More Mustard, Pumpkin Pie, Riding Hood Red, Pear Pizzazz, Old Olive, Chocolate Chip and Soft Suede Classic Inks

Crumb Cake and Soft Suede Stampin' Write Markers (pg.180)

Stamping Sponges (pg.203)*

1/4" Pumpkin Pie Grosgrain Ribbon (pg.195)

1/2" Peach Parfait Stitched-Poly Ribbon (pg.194)

Linen Thread or Baker's Twine (pg.194)

Brigths Glimmer Brads (pg.199)

Stampin' Dimensionals, Mini Glue Dots, Multipurpose Liquid Glue and Crystal Effects (pg.206)

Dazzling Details (Holiday Mini, pg.41)

7 x 7 Chipboard - I like to use 2 pieces of backing from Stampin' Up!'s 12 x 12 Designer Series Paper

Paper Snips, Circle Scissor Plus and Glass Cutting Mat (pg.208)

 

Instructions:

Step 1:  Glue the 2 pieces of backing from Stampin' Up!'s Designer Series Paper together using Multipurpose Liquid Glue... turning one of them 90 degrees so that the grain is going in the opposite direction.  This adds strength to the layers and helps it to lay flat.  Set aside to dry.  (Note:  Cardboard from a large cereal box can be used instead of the DSP backing.)

Step 2:  Stamp 10 leaves and 4 acorn images on either Glossy White or Shimmer White card stock.  Use the Stamping Sponges to add color to the leaves - starting with the lightest color and working up to the dark colors - as shown below.

Step 3:  Cut out all images using Stampin' Up!'s Paper Snips.  (These are very sharp and allow you to easily follow the tight curves of the leaves.)  This is the time to add any additional color to the leaves.  I like to add Soft Suede to the edges to give them even more dimension.  You can see the before and after comparison in the photo below.

Step 4:  Turn the leaves over and place a dot of Multipurpose Liquid Glue to both ends of each leaf.  Set aside to dry.  (Note:  The dried Multipurpose Liquid Glue dots make the leaves repositionable, so they can be held in place while positioning them but easy to shift them if necessary.)

Step 5:  Color the acorns by lightly sponging Soft Suede on the bottom part and Chocolate Chip on the top part.  Use a Crumb Cake Stampin' Write Marker to color in the bottom, and Soft Suede to color in the top.  Cut out and apply either Dazzling Details or Crystal Effects... or both... as shown below.  Set aside to dry.

Step 6:  Use the Circle Scissor Plus to cut the circle base from the glued DSP backing, cereal box or chipboard.  Start by securing the cardboard to the Glass Cutting Mat with tape.  Set the blade at 5 inches and cut.  You will need to go around several times in order to cut through both layers... and will be able to feel when it has cut through completely.   Leaveing the Circle Scissor Plus in place... change the blade's position to 6 inches and cut a second circle.  Lift out the resulting wreath base.

Step 7:  Start putting the leaves on the base... interlocking them as you position them - as shown below - and making sure that base is hidden.  When you are happy with the arrangement - gently lift up the sections of leaves and put additional Multipurpose Liquid Glue on the base to secure the leaves in place.

Step 8:  Add Stampin' Dimensionals to the back of the acorns and place them on the wreath.  Add Pumpkin Pie grosgrain ribbon knots... and the 1/2" Peach Parfait Stiched-Poly Ribbon bow with Glimmer Brad accent using Mini Glue Dots.  Finally turn over the completed wreath and add a Linen Thread or Baker's Twine loop so you can hang your finished wreath.

* Note 1:  I like to cut my Stamping Sponges into wedges and assign each wedge to a specific color.  Sponge Daubers (pg.203) can be substituted but they don't give as soft an edge so the colors won't blend as well.

* Note 2:  The sponging technique I used here is called "Direct to Paper".  Other techniques that can be used are Baby Wipe, Brayer and Smooch... but the Direct to Paper is not as random so it gives you more control over what color is where... and the final look of your leaves.

* Note 3:  When hand-cutting the leaves and acorns... remember to turn the paper into the scissors so it will be easier on the hands and will create a much smoother edge

This wreath can be displayed in a window, on the front door or hanging on the wall.  It can also be framed before hanging it on the wall.

Here are both samples - shown side by side - with the Glossy White version on the left and the Shimmer White on the right.  I like them both... but I think the one using Glossy White is my favorite!  :O)

Leave a comment below and receive a copy of the tutorial in pdf format.  :O)

Please feel free to contact me if you have any additional questions or to share your finished Autumn Splendor Wreath with me and my readers!

Happy Stamping~

Mia