FEBRUARY RUBBERQUEEN MEETING

Hello stamping friends!

Sorry for the long break in posting, but it has been another busy month (does it ever stop?).  This week was our monthly RubberQueen meeting and, as usual our leader, Ronda Wade, had some amazing presentations and make'n takes.  If you don't know already, this is the time of year Stampin' Up! gives away amazing stamps and other product -- yes, FREE PRODUCT!!!  To see the fabulous Sale-A-Bration free product and all the new product in the Occasions Mini, check it out here.  There's not much time left and you don't want to miss out on this once-a-year offer.

Below is my swap card for the meeting, using the new Picture Perfect Stamp Set, from the Occasions Mini.  The gift cards and box to hold them were our make'n takes made with the free Sale-A-Bration Perfect Pairings Stamp Set and new Timeless Textures Stamp Set.

I love this stamp set and always wanted a Hummingbird in my bird collection.

Look at all the different designs using one FREE stamp set and the new Timeless Textures for all the cards

Until next time,
Sandi

"In all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight." -- Proverbs 3:6

OCTOBER RUBBERQUEEN MEETING: SNOW PLACE

Hello stampers!  I thought I better update my blog today before I leave for Creative Retreat tomorrow.  I'm all packed, and already wondering what I have forgotten, even though the whole rear of my SUV is packed to the roof!!  I love going to retreat to see everybody and catch up on their adventures over the summer.  And of course, I love working on my scrapbooks; but I dislike the fact that I always forget something that I really need (last spring it was a punch that nobody else had and I needed it to finish an album page -- I have it packed this time and probably won't need it).  So today I'm showing the awesome make'n takes from Ronda Wade's RubberQueen meeting this month -- she always comes up with such cute ideas, and I loved these cute treat ideas using the new Snow Place Stamp Set:

Snow Poop never grows old -- everybody loves this simple goodie bag.

Cute, cute card!!

Another way to give candy, using the Gift Box Punch Board.

Another treat box using the Fry Box Bigz L Big Shot Die.

A cute snowman gift tag!!

Until next time,
Sandi

"In all your ways be mindful of Him and He shall make straight your paths."  Proverbs 3:6

ALL WRAPPED UP WITH STAMPIN' UP!

Brrrrr, it's getting way too cold here in Michigan!!!  Now I know why people go south for the winter when they are retired.  It's just not good for our bones -- they need to be kept at a steady 75-80 degrees 24/7, and without humidity!!  Just like I store my craft supplies and albums -- we are both worth preserving!!  But you didn't come here to read about my creaking bones, so I'm going to show you some awesome and SIMPLE projects to give gifts that won't take you hours to create.  The majority of these ideas were done either at Creative Convention or gifts I received at Creative Retreat (designed by Ronda Wade and Tamie Ackerson).  But all of them are adorable in person.

Easy-Peasy way to make pocket holders for those gift certificates!!  We made these at Creative Convention using:  Polka Dot Tag a Bag Gift Bags, Trim the Tree Designer Series Paper Stack, Good Greetings Hostess Stamp Set, and the Under the Tree Tag a Bag Accessory Kit.

Gift bags also made at Creative Convention using:  Trim the Tree Designer Series Paper Pack, Good Greetings Hostess Stamp Set, and the Under the Tree Tag a Bag Accessory Kit

I made these gift boxes for my stamping group using the new Gift Box Punch Board, Under the Tree Specialty Designer Series Paper, Note Tag Punch, Merry Everything Stamp Set, Burlap Ribbon, and Sweater Trim Ribbon (on Clearance Rack).

My pillow gifts from Ronda Wade and Tamie Ackerson at Creative Retreat using:  Under the Tree Specialty Designer Series Paper, Scalloped Tag Topper Punch (Project Life Journaling Pen inside), Polka Dot Tag a Bag Gift Bags (Trim the Tree Designer Series Paper Pack inside), Star Framelits Dies, Tree Punch, Cherry Cobbler 1" Sheer Linen Ribbon, and Clothespins.

More pillow gifts from Creative Retreat!!  I love how easy it is to just add a few embellishments to the Tiny Treat Boxes and Decorative Window Gift Boxes to make WOW packaging!!

I hope I've given you some good ideas on how easy it is to create awesome packaging for your holiday gifts.

Until next time,
Sandi

"As I have loved you . . . you also love one another."  -- John 13:34

VINTAGE SCRAPS!!

Last week I decided to get out my designer paper scraps and do something with them.  My other goal was to get some gift packaging done so I wouldn't have to create something at the last minute, which is the "usual" for me.  So putting those two goals together, this is what I came up with:  two gift boxes to hold cards, tags for the boxes, and two pillow boxes to hold little gifts.  Sounds easy -- but with all the boxes I have made, I had never gotten around to making a regular gift box to hold at least ten cards and envelopes.  Plus, I thought I owned the pillow box die only to find out I had never bought it and it is now a discontinued product from Stampin' Up! 

So, I decided to use up some toilet paper rolls that I had been saving for another project to make my pillow boxes.  First problem fixed!!  Next I sat down and did the math to make my card boxes for standard A2 cards -- so easy peasy with Stampin' Up's Simply Scored Scoring Tool!!  Wahoo, all problems fixed and here are the finished projects.

Main Stampin' Up supplies used are the Fan Fair Designer Paper; Riding Hood Red Card Stock; Basic Black and Riding Hood Red Ink; Petite Pocket Bigz XL Die; Linen Thread, Victoria Crochet Trim, Vanilla Flower Trim, and Pink Pirouette Two-Tone Ribbons; Silver Soda Pop Tops; Crystal Effects; White Creped Filter Paper (large flower); and  Pretty Petites Sale-A-Bration and Postage Due Stamp Sets.

Don't these toilet paper rolls make cute pillow boxes (recycle, recycle, recycle!!).  This card box was made for a male gift.  Believe it or not, males love to receive a box of cards so they won't have to shop!!  Same products were used except I used the Sale-A-Bration Island Indigo Sycamore Street 1/4" Ribbon and Island Indigo Card Stock.

Close-up of the back/inside of tag. 

 

Close-up of the front of tag -- which is terribly out of focus!!



Pillow box close-up.



This is my favorite!!  I cut the ribbon in half as it was a little too wide for this box.



Picture of the box lid before adhering sides.  And to save you time here are the measurements for the box (if you don't already have): 

Top Lid of Box:  Cut 6 7/8" X 8" piece of designer paper.  Score 1" on all 4 sides and crease on score lines.  Cut the 4 corners as show in the picture above and apply Sticky Strip on the front side.  Adhere the 4 corners to finish the lid.

Bottom of Box:  Cut 7 3/4" X 9" piece of card stock.  Score 1 1/2" on all 4 sides and crease on the score lines.  Finish directions as written for top of box.

Until next time,
Sandi

"I remember the days of old."  -- Psalm 143:5
Fellowship with Christ is the secret of happiness now and forever.

STAMPIN' UP: SUMMER SMOOCHES

What an awesome week it has been!  It started out Sunday with the celebration of Jesus Christ's resurrection from the dead (Easter) and a celebration of the birth of my youngest daughter, Tricia, who was born on Easter Sunday (4-11-1971).  Family and friends were invited over for dinner, which started out with 9 guests, and ended up with 12 arriving!!  If I do say so myself, I prepared a delicious feast (took me 2 days to prepare, but thank goodness I always make too much food and I was prepared for the extra guests).  I made name-tag gift boxes for table decorations -- so cute (see pictures below).  Thanks to my middle daughter, Deborah, who ran down to my studio to make extra boxes for my surprise guests, everybody went home with an Easter treat. 

Monday my granddaughter came over to do a school project:  sew a stuffed "mole."  Yep, I don't have a clue why she picked me to help her as I DO NOT sew, but I did know that she had to cut her pattern out as the first step.  She accomplished that and then decided it was best to come over again tonight to use the sewing machine after we spent a half-hour trying to figure out how to sew the pattern pieces together and another half-hour trying to cut out feet for her mole!!!  I now know why young girls centuries before were always brought up spending hours every day learning needlepoint and sewing.  What happened to the days when girls were taught sewing in middle school???  Of course I took it, and barely passed -- but I do know how to thread my sewing machine!!!  The good news is that I got some bonding time with my granddaughter to add memories.

Tuesday night was Ronda Wade's RubberQueen meeting.  We received lots of business-booster tips, awesome make'n takes, tons of project ideas from the WOW table and swap cards, and (my favorite) the opportunity to visit with 40+ RubberQueens!!  Of course I was too busy visiting and had to take my make'n takes home to complete; so that is on my agenda today along with finishing my gifts for this weekend. 

And last but not least, to top off the week, I am leaving for Ronda's Creative Escape Weekend Retreat tomorrow!!!  Wahoo!!  I have lost count on how many years I have been going to the semi-annual Retreats, but it is always one of my very favorite events to attend.  So today is also packing day -- after I finish all my stamping projects.

Wow, don't you agree that I have had an awesome week so far??  And it's only going to get better.  Before I leave, here are pictures of my celebration boxes (to celebrate Easter and Tricia's Birthday):

Name Tag Treat Boxes (filled with yummies).  Stampin' Up Product:  Kraft Gift Boxes; Summer Smooches Designer Series Paper; Summer Smooches Designer Brads; Daffodil Delight Seam Binding; Bright Blossoms Stamp Set; and Big Shot Framelits Label Collection. 

Close up of the box tops.  The designer paper, stamp set, ribbon, and brads are sneek peek products from Stampin' Up's Summer Smooches product line that will be in the new 2012-13 Catalog -- which you can purchase until the end of  the month!

Until next time,
Sandi
"Let them give thanks to the Lord for his kindness and his wondrous deeds . . ." -- Psalm 107-31
Thank you Lord for all the blessings you have bestowed upon me.

CARDS, CARDS, CARDS

Do you ever wonder (especially if you are a demonstrator) what to do with all those cards you have accumulated (from swaps, card class samples, presentations, etc.)?  Of course we all send out tons of cards through the year for special occasions, etc.; but, I still have tons left over.  I've been saying for years that I should sell some, but I just don't do it.  I always think it is not worth the work involved, nobody will buy, I don't feel it's right, and the list goes on and on.  So a couple of days ago I came up with this brainstorm of an idea when I was working on my heritage album.

Everybody knows that the most important thing we can give to our children is love.  (No, that wasn't part of my brainstorm.)  Besides monetary things like food and housing, second on my list would be teaching them about how to live and providing them with memories.  These two things include many things you do on a daily basis.  But why not include our knowledge and memories with something we love to do:  STAMPING!!  So here is what I am going to do for at least the rest of the year -- not only for my family but my friends.

I will be sending out "Remember When" cards on no specific date or time -- just at least once a month to many people.  My "Remember When" cards will include a printed note telling them about a memory we shared or one that I or my ancestors had when growing up.  In my first card to that person, I will tell them that they will be getting these cards throughout the year, and that I hope they will create a scrapbook using their cards and "Remember When" stories on their album pages.  If I have a picture, I will include that with the card.  How awesome that would be to create a heritage album based on actual stories from the past.  This will be especially important for my children, grandchildren, nieces, and nephews because they are always asking me questions about their family heritage, or what it was like when I grew up (I know, that is not the "norm" for kids, but I guess my personality has rubbed off on them more than I thought).  Actually, my mother passed it on to me and my siblings so they would love to do this too.  It also helps because most of my family has scrapbook albums.  I would love to get a handmade card in the mail with a "Remember When" story -- wouldn't you????  I will keep you posted on how this works out, but wanted to share my idea to all those that love to pass on memories.  After all, memories teach us so much about life and values on how to live, plus they can pass them on to their family.

Okay, this is about the most serious post that you will ever read of mine again so don't start thinking it will continue.  What will continue is pictures of my projects.  So with that in mind, here are some pictures of my thank you gifts this month for my customers.  These were so fun and fast to make.  I got the pattern measurements from Holly Krautkremer if you would like to check it out.


I used the Two Tags Bigz and Fun Flowers Bigz L Dies for the boxes, that were embossed with the Elegant Bouquet Textured Impressions Embossing Folder.



The gift tags for inside the box were made with the same Big Shot Dies.



And you thought I was going to posts lots of cards, didn't you!!!  Sorry about that, but I will next time.

Until then,
Sandi

"He has made everything beautiful in its time. . . ." -- Ecclesiastes 3:11
"Every day is a gift, Lord, each moment a treasure, give us eyes to see beauty, hearts to hug pleasure." -- Fred Bauer