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Project: Fruit & Flowers Berry Blossoms!

Today's project is a collection of Love Notes that were quick and easy to create... especially the "You're a Gem" card!    It was also a nice break from all the Valentine projects I have been making.  These 3x3 cards are perfect for gift enclosures... or to tuck in a packaged lunch for a nice surprise.

To make your own set you will need:

Stamp sets: Fruit & Flowers (pg.99), You're a Gem (pg.156) and Pennant Parade (pg.69)

Inks:  Calypso Coral, Jet Black StazOn

Card Stock:  Chocolate Chip, Whisper White

Accessories:  Berry Blossoms DSP (pg.185), Stampin' Write Markers, Rhinestone Jewels (pg.198), Dazzling Details, Everyday Enchantment Brads (Sale-a-bration Brochure, pg.7)

Happy Stamping~

Mia

Autumn Splendor with Pool Party and Pear Pizzazz!

Okay!?!  I admit it!  Even though blue is one of my most favorite colors, I have had a hard time using this paper from the Spice Cake Designer Series Paper collection.I always want to turn it over and use it with my leaves that are more autumn (More Mustard, Pumpkin Pie and Riding Hood Red) in color.  That said, I am very happy with the card I am sharing today!

I've used the Designer Series Paper with Stampin' Up!'s Glossy White, Pool Party, Pear Pizzazz, Soft Suede and Very Vanilla card stocks.  Other products used are:

Stamp Sets:  Autumn Splendor (pg.115), Pocket Silhouettes (pg.109)

Inks: Soft Suede, Pear Pizzazz, Old Olive, Pumpkin Pie, More Mustard

Accessories: Lace Ribbon Border Punch (pg.211), Word Window Punch (pg.209), Metallic Brads (pg.199), 1/8" Very Vanilla Taffeta Ribbon (pg.195), Pool Party Stampin' Write Marker (pg.176), Mini Glue Dots (pg.206), Stampin' Dimensionals (pg.206)  and for the first time - Drum Roll please(!) - Log Cabin Smooch Spritz (pg.203)!

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I can't believe I waited so long to use the Smooch Spritz!  Those of you who attend my Autumn Splendor Wreath class at 2:00 pm on October 29, 2011 will have the opportunity to try it yourself!  See yesterday's posting for the sample! You will see I've included a tutorial in the post.  The class is more for those of you who are visual learners... and/or want to have a fun time away from the children and household chores!!!  You will also get a "hands on" lesson in the Direct to Paper Technique.  

Note:  If you are a local reader and didn't receive my email with information about the class, then please email me at maria@stampingwithmia.com and I will send you the information.

Happy Stamping~

Mia

Same but Different!

I played with the Always Thankful stamp set (Holiday Mini, pg.19) and Spice Cake Designer Series Paper (Holiday Mini, pg.17) yesterday.  I used a portrait (vertical) format for the first card, then decided to use the same sketch, but as a landscape (horizontal) format.  Both cards use Very Vanilla, Pear Pizzazz, More Mustard and Chocolate Chip from Stampin' Up!.   I also used the Corner Punch (pg.212), Word Window Punch (pg.209), Stampin' Dimensionals (pg.206) and Silver Mini Brads (pg.199).

Which one is your favorite?  Leave a comment below
and it just might show up in your mailbox!  :O)

Happy Stamping~

Mia

The Three R's... Reuse, Reduce, Recycle!

If you are a regular reader then you know that I hate throwing out items that can be given a new life!

Last year I shared my Easter candy boxes that were made from empty Crystal Light containers.  These "new" containers were designed with Spring and Mother's Day in mind.

The green version uses Springtime Vintage Designer Series Paper (Occasions Mini Catalog, pg.15), Rose Red and Blushing Bride card stock, Basic Pearl Jewels (pg.188), 5/8" Whispering White Organza Ribbon (pg.190), Sticky Strip (pg.197), Stampin' Dimensionals (pg.197), Scallop Edge Punch (pg.200-201) and Stampin' Up!'s Exclusive Big Shot Blossom Party Original Die (pg.213).

The red version was made with the same items, but substituting Stampin' Up!'s Sunny Garden DSP (pg.174), Poppy Parade card stock and Daffodil Delight card stock.

Who wouldn't be thrilled to receive a gift in one of these beautiful containers?!?

Happy Stamping~

Mia 

Unit Open House Project Share!

Our Stampin' Up! Unit held its Open House yesterday in Tamuning, Guam.  We had three Make & Projects... one of which is shown below... door prizes, refreshments, and lots of products and projects on display.  A fun time was had by all who attended!

I usually provide a Make & Take that makes use of the Big Shot.  This year was no different.  Here is the project that I provided:

Stamp Set:  Perfect Punches (pg.131)

Inks:  Poppy Parade (New In Color!)

Card Stock:  Poppy Parade, Very Vanilla, Peach Partait (New In Color)

Accessories: Big Shot, SU! Exclusive Favor Box Sizzix Die (pg.208), Sunny Gardern Designer Series Paper (pg.174), Wide Oval Punch (pg.202/203), Boho Blossoms punch (pg.200/2001), Regal Brads (pg.187), Sponge Daubers (pg.195), Stampin' Dimensionals (pg.197), Tombow Multipurpose Glue (pg.197)

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I've decided to share one of my favorite projects from our Open House display... along with a tutorial that I hope will help you avoid making the same mistake that I made.  It's a magnetic board... complete with magnets!  (Note:  That is a PartyLite votive and votive holder in the photo.  If you want more info about them then please email me.)

 

I found a magnetic chore board at our local Cost-U-Less (Guam's equivalent to Price-Costco).  I covered it using Island Oasis Designer Series Paper (from the Summer Mini Catalog, pg.27 - only available until August 31, 2010!), Baja Breeze Textured card stock and our Scallop Edge punch (pg.200/201).  The flower magnets were made using the Stampin' Up! exclusive Island Floral Sizzix die (pg.206), our new magnetic sheets (pg.205), an assortment of card stock and brads.  I love the way it turned out... and it is perfect for Guam's tropical island... but while making it I made a BIG mistake!  Read on!

(First, several of you have asked so I decided to add... I used the brads to hold the two flower layers together and then glued the magnetic flowers to the leaves using our Tombow Multipurpose Liquid Glue.  They have stayed together well, despite having fallen on the floor several time.  LOL!!!)

When I use a Big Shot die with mulitple images I usually place different colored pieces of card stock on the die before I cut them so that I can have an assortment of colors instead of everything being the same color.  This is especially true with the leaves of the Island Floral die.  I used this same method when I cut the first set of flowers since I didn't want red, pink and yellow leaves!  Big mistake!  You see, after placing the card stock in place on the die, I cut a piece of magnetic sheet to the size of the die and placed it adhesive side down over the card stock and then cut the shapes.  You guessed it!  The parts of the magnetic sheet that weren't covered with card stock stuck to the foam parts of the die.  I had to carefully pull the uncut portions of the magnetic sheet hoping that I wouldn't pull up too much of the foam... ruining the die.  I don't want you to make the same mistake I made, so I came up with this picture tutorial to show you how I cut the rest of the flowers for my magnets.  I applied a technique that is used in some Crazy Quilt applications.  It is refered to as paper piecing.  Here is the photo tutorial:

Template Tutorial for the Big Shot

 

Step 1:  Cut a piece of paper to the outside dimensions of the die and cut using the Big Shot.  Then using a ruler, draw guide lines between the different shapes as shown in the photo below.  Be sure to label the side facing you as "away from card stock" so that your pieces will be cut properly.

 

Step 2: Cut apart using the markings as your cutting guide.

 

 

 

 

Step 3:  Place - or trace - the cut piece on the card stock color of choice and cut it to size and shape.  Repeat with all the other shapes and card stock colors.

 

 

Step 4:  Tape the pieces of card stock together using the die as your guide... and placing the tape in areas that will not be cut when rolled through the Big Shot.

 

Step 5:  Place the pieced paper on top of the die making sure to place it in the proper position.  Cut a piece of magnetic sheet to the size of the pieced paper/die.  Peel off the protective sheet and place adhesive side down on the pieced card stock.  (Note: I didn't add the magnetic sheet because I wanted you to be able to see the process.)

 

Step 6:  Roll the appropriate die sandwhich through the Big Shot.

 

 

Step 7:  Here are the die cut pieces!

 

 

Step 8:  This is what the remaining pieced card stock will look like.  (Note: If you were making magnets and had applied magnetic sheet then you would only see the black of the magnetic sheet and foam.) 

 

This technique is not just for when you are using magnetic sheets.  It can be used anytime you are using your Big Shot dies and want an assortment of colors, but especially necessary when you are applying something with adhesive to the card stock before cutting.

I hope that you find this tutorial helpful.  If you have any questions... or there is something you need more clarification about... then please feel free to call/email me... or post your comment below.

Be watching for more projects from our Stampin' Up! Unit Open House!  Meanwhile...

Happy Stamping~

Mia