Constantly Stamping

Valentine Boutique Boxes

I knew from the minute that I saw the Boutique Boxes Designer Kit (#129306) in the spring catalog that I would love them. You can use them exactly as they were intended, or you can do what I did and turn them inside-out and decorate them. They are super easy and fun to make. For this project I used the Hearts a Flutter stamp set and stamped all over the box with Real Red ink. Then I assembled the box and and sponged the edges with Early Espresso ink.

The ticket images in the That's the Ticket stamp set were the perfect addition. I stamped on the leftover section of the box, so I didn't even need any additional card stock. The Ticket Duo Builder Punch is designed to work perfectly with this set. Here's a little tip: I actually tied the top of the box closed. But never fear...I left the bottom of the box open so that I could add treats later. It also makes it easy for the person who receives it to open it without destroying the packaging. I added a Cherry Cobbler button and some hemp jewelery twine (non SU) for the bow. Some of you might be wondering what to do with the remaining pieces of the kit? Well, I will have some ideas on that to share with you soon, so be sure to check back.

 

 

 

Related articles

Hugs & Kisses Valentine Card

Be My Valentine

Happy Hearts Valentine

Happy Valentine Heart Stamp

Catalog Inspired Valentine Note Card

You can't tell it from looking at my blog, but I have been stamping a lot lately. Only one problem, I can't share anything I have been doing because it is for an upcoming Spring event. So I decided to take a look through the catalog and see if there was anything that would inspire me for a quick card to share here. I found it on page 119. That is one of the many things I love about the catalog...the samples. There are about 300 ideas in the current catalog. I say "about" because I think I counted about ten of the samples twice. LOL! I did make some changes to this already adorable little 3"x3" note card, but there is no denying that this is a case.

I started with a Pretty in Pink note card and stamped flowers from the Bordering on Romance set with VersaMark ink and then heat embossed in Whisper White. I tied on a little bow with ribbon from the Sycamore Street Ribbon & Button pack from Sale-a-bration. The sentiment is from the Delightful Dozen set. I used Island Indigo and Raspberry Ripple markers to color the words and omitted the heart. Then I punched it out with the Decorative Label punch. The butterfly was made using Twitterpated DSP and the Elegant Butterfly punch. I added a small flower made with the Itty Bittly Shapes Punch Pack and then added a small pearl to the center.

I will continue to try to have something to share at least a couple of times each week, so don't give up on me. See you soon!

Related articles

Be My Valentine

Happy Valentine Heart Stamp

Happy Hearts Valentine

Hugs & Kisses Valentine Card

Hugs & Kisses Valentine Card

If you read my last post you know that my husband and son both caught a good look at the Valentine's Day card I was making. So I thought I would throw them a curve ball and make another one. Now they don't know which card I am planning on giving them. Not that it really matters...my guys really don't care about stuff like that. But the good news is that they know that I am at least giving them a card, so they better get it in gear and shower me with lots of awesome stuff for Valentine's Day or they are both in BIG trouble! LOL!

This card is built on a Crumb Cake card base, layered with another piece of Crumb Cake that has been embossed with the Woodgrain embossing folder. The letters are cut with the Typeset Alphabet Bigz Die out of red glitter paper. The heart is punched with the Small Heart punch. I added a Tea Lace paper doiley (129399), tied on some Island Indigo bakers twine, and added a red button. The ticket is from the Artisan Embellishment Kit (#`129328) from the new Spring mini catalog.

Related articles

Happy Hearts Valentine

Happy Valentine Heart Stamp

Happy Hearts Valentine

"Watch'a doin'?" I normally don't hear these words much from my guys while I am in stamping mode, but let me start working on a potential project for one of them and it they instantly become curious...or at least that is how it seems. It turns out they were actually more interested in the open bag of candy left over from my previous post, but of course, there I was working on a Valentine's Day card...I guess I will need to be more careful the next time and clear all of the candy from my work area so as not to encourage these expeditions for sweets. So I suppose it doesn't matter now whether I share the card on my blog, because both of them have already seen it. LOL!

I am seriously loving the stamp from the Happy Hearts bundle. Here, I made a card using the More Amore Specialty designer series paper now available in the Spring Mini Catalog. Because this card needed to be a little more "manly" I opted to leave off the ribbon and substituted some paper-pleating. I love how it adds to the whimsical feel of the card. I mentioned the other day that I don't have the coordinating heart punch for this stamp, so for this project I carefully hand-cut the image after stamping it with Primrose Petals ink on Very Vanilla card stock. I also stamped and die cut the lace heart from the Heart a Flutter bundle.

I did throw you a little curve ball by using the Pool Party button. It will be available next week as one of the free items you can get with a $50 purchase during Sale-a-bration. Unfortunately the Happy Hearts bundle offer ends before Sale-a-bration begins, so you will need to make two separate purchases if you want both the stamp and the buttons. One more little observation...I used a stamp from the Easy Events stamp set for the words on the little flags. It is all in the details!

 

 

Related articles

Happy Valentine Heart Stamp

Be My Valentine

JOY Christmas Tag

Merry & Type Tag

Happy Valentine Heart Stamp

Every once in a while SU comes out with just the cutest little promotion and the Happy Valentine Heart Stamp that is included in the Valentine Treat Bundle is just adorable. The bundle comes with the single stamp and includes fifty of the 1"x8" cello bags. Now, you know I couldn't resist stepping it up a notch, so, just so we are clear, I added a few things that are not part of the bundle.

The heart stamp itself is designed to fit perfectly with the Full Heart Punch, but since that is about the only SU punch that I don't own, I used one of the dies from the Hearts Collection Framelits and it worked really well. I stamped the heart in various colors of ink  (Real Red or Melon Mambo) on Whisper White card stock. After die cutting them, I layered them on a second heart made using the Hearts a Flutter stamp set and matching framelits from the new Spring Mini Catalog. I stamped the laced edge heart with VersaMark ink, heat embossed it with Winter White embossing powder, and then die cut them with the coordinating framelit die.

If you visit my blog often, then you know that I am about a 98% SU gal, but there is absolutely one thing I refuse to give up and that is my gingham ribbon. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE gingham and since I didn't  have any current SU ribbon that went well with this project, I decided to indulge my obsession and add some red & white 7/8" gingham ribbon (non-SU).

That's all for today. Many of my good friends are currently in Orlando at SU Leadership Convention, but I decided to sit this one out. It was a difficult decision to stay at home, but I already have plans to attend convention this summer, so I am hoping that will be enough to keep me from getting too depressed. Homeschooling a high school student is difficult enough without missing almost a week of classes. I know I made the right decision, but it is still hard to miss out on the fun!

Purchase the Valentine Treat Bundle—complete with the brand-new Happy Valentine Heart Single Stamp and the cutest little treat bags ideal for all of your precious valentines. Even better, the brand-new Happy Valentine Heart stamp coordinates perfectly with our Full Heart Punch for fast and easy creating.* 

Bundle Item	Description	Retail Value	Special Bundle Price
132771	Valentine Treat Bundle Includes the Happy Valentine Heart Single Stamp (clear-mount) and 1" x 8" cellophane bags	$7.45 US/$9.20 CAN	$5.95 US/ $7.25 CAN

*Full Heart Punch not included in bundle.

Only available through January 21, 2013.

Be My Valentine

Hi everyone! Yes, I am stamping again...well, sort of! I mentioned a while back that I use my dining room as my craft room. We had a steady stream of guests throughout the holidays, so I had to put away all of my toys so that we could use our dining room as it is intended...for dining. But getting jump started in the new year was a little challenging. Right after our last guest left on New Year's Day I started moving my supplies back to where they belong. Whew!

I feel much better now that most of my supplies are accessible again. Things still aren't exactly where I need them to be, but I am hoping that everything will fall into place quickly. After not making a card in almost two months, it was a little intimidating. I found my inspiration for this card from a Valentine ornament that I bought at the craft store the other day.

I feel a little guilty because the DSP that I used is from the Festival of Prints Paper Stack from the now retired Holiday Catalog. I have several items on order from the new Spring Catalog and Sale-a-bration (coming January 22 to March 22). I can't wait to dig in and start stamping on a consistent basis again.

Vintage-Inspired Gift Packaging

When I was a child my father used to drag me to every flea market and antique store he could find...thus the love of all things old and vintage comes naturally. Practically every Saturday we were off on a different adventure to see what old "new" things we might find. These are some of the most precious memories I have of my childhood. Just me and my dad hunting for unexpected "treasures" in a sea of what most people would call junk. I have always been "daddy's girl" and to this day my dad and I will run out to a flea market or antique store together whenever we have an opportunity. Now that we live in different states, those opportunities seem to come much less often.

The project I am sharing today was inspired by those fond memories of childhood. I started by wrapping my gifts with First Edition Speciality DSP. The edges were sponged with Early Espresso ink to give it a worn, vintage feel. Next I tied on some Crumb Cake Scalloped Tulle Ribbon. The snowflake was created with Silver Glitter Paper and die out with the Snow Flurry Bigz Die. I hot glued the layers together and added a little punched paper greenery between layers (non-SU). For even more sparkle, I added some Basic Rhinestones. Then I hot glued the snowflake to the ribbon so that the person receiving the gift could slide the entire thing off and reuse it. The final touch was a tag stamped with the Merry & Type stamp set in Early Espresso ink.

 

Most likely this will be my final creative post before Christmas. My "to do" list is much too long! I would like to take this opportunity to wish all of you for your support. Your uplifting comments and sweet emails are what keeps me moving forward. Thank You and may you and your loved ones have a blessed and wonderful Merry Christmas. Remember, without Christ there is no Christmas!

Related articles

Vintage Patriotic Birthday Card

The Siren Call of Milk Glass

WHAT is Vintage???? Seriously!!!

JOY Christmas Tag

I guess it is obvious that I have managed to slip in a little creative time recently. Instead of stamping, I used my Big Shot to make this cheerful Christmas tag. It all began with a Real Red card stock and the Two Tags Die. Then I used the Chevron folder to emboss it. I added a two inch strip of dsp from the Festival of Prints DSP Paper Stack. I die cut Red Glitter Paper with the Typeset Alphabet set. I added a snowflake that I cut with the Snow Flurry die and some Silver Glitter Paper. Then I used some White Sweater Trim Ribbon to create a fun bow and topped everything off with some jingle bells that I purchased from the craft store.

Someone asked me where the "to and from" is supposed to go. I suggest adding it on the back side of the tag. Wouldn't this just be so cute added to a package or gift bag?