Isn’t this purse card adorable? Whether you make them as birthday cards, party favours, bachelorette party gifts or as a gift card holder, everyone will go crazy for this little purse!

I went girly for this purse card and choose Pretty in Pink satin ribbon and Pretty in Pink papers from the Sweet Pea designer series paper stack – 48 double sided sheets for $32.95 – page 33 of the Occasions Mini catalogue.

Cut the cardstock to 5” x 11”. Score at 3-1/2”, 4-1/2”, 5”, 8-1/2” and 9”.

The large white grommet will be inserted through a 1/2" circle on the front flap. Since the 1/2" circle punch won’t go through three layers at once, I punched the circle into the middle of the black cardstock first. Next, I lined up the piece of 1-3/4" x 4-3/4" Whisper White cardstock and punched again. Finally, I lined up a piece of designer series paper 1-1/2" x 4-1/2" and punched a final time. Insert the grommet and bend back the prongs.

The pieces of paper on the bottom of the purse measure 4-3/4" x 3-1/4" for the Whisper white cardstock and 4-1/2" x 3" for the Sweet Pea paper. Carefully close the purse aligning the top and bottom flaps. Make a mark through the grommet showing where to insert the ribbon. Punch holes for the ribbon and tie it in a knot. To close the purse, you will pull the ribbon through the grommet.

With sticky strip at the ends, add a handle of cardstock measuring ½” x 6”. The Pretty in Pink cardstock inside the purse card is 4-3/4" x 3-1/4" and the Whisper White is 4-1/2" x 3". Stamp to finish.

Have fun making these little purses and remember there are only 10 days left to shop from the Occasions Mini catalogue!
 

Don’t think it, ink it!

I have been making alot of Swing cards lately but this in one of my favourites. I love making mono-chromatic cards. This card uses only Soft Suede ink, cardstock and papers with Whisper White embellishments. 

The first few Swing cards you make can be tricky but once you have the hang of it, they are very straight forward to make. I used some papers from the Thoroughly Modern designer series package on this card. If you only buy one package of designer series paper, make it this one. I use it all the time. On this card, I also used some white ribbon and brads to dress it up a bit.

Please let me know if you have any questions on the tutorial below by posting a comment or contact me.

Below is a photo of the swing card open. This is a great two-sided card perfect for giving to someone special. 

Cut a piece of cardstock to 5-1/2” x 6-3/4” to make the card.

Place the cardstock horizontally into the paper trimmer.

  Line the paper up at 2-3/4” and score 1-1/4” in from both the top and the bottom edge.

Move cardstock to 4” and score again at 1-1/4” from both the top and bottom edge.

Turn your cardstock and insert it in paper trimmer until it is lined up at 4-1/4”.

Be sure you are using the cutting blade.

Line the blade up at 1-1/4” from the bottom and cut up to the score line. 

Keeping the paper in place, line the cutting blade up at 5-1/4" and cut down to other score line.

Turn the paper and repeat this step on the other side.

Turn the cardstock so it is horizontal again and line the paper up at 1-1/4.

Cut between the two corners. 

Repeat on the other side by turning cardstock and re-inserting it at 1-1/4".

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Stamps: For All You Do 

Ink: Soft Suede

Paper: Thoroughly Modern Designer Series Paper ($13.25, #115673), Soft Suede, Whisper White

Punches: 1-1/4" Square, 1-3/8" Square

Other: 5/16" Neutrals Jumbo Brads ($9.95, #112533), Whisper White 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon

For All You Do Stamp Set

$38.95, #115360, Set of 10

Page 118 of the Idea Book & Catalogue

Don’t think it, ink it!

I love these new Stampin’ Up! Treat Bags – page 158, $5.25, 5 per package. They are glossy and have a wonderful rich look to them. And, it is so easy to "take them up a notch" by adding some ribbon and a stamped accent. 

Here, I tied a knot of double-stitched Real Red ribbon and attached it to the bag with a dimensional. The punched medallion was tucked in under the ribbon with a glue dot making sure the bag opens and closes easily. To make the medallion, I stamped "Joy" from the Spotlight on Christmas stamp set, $30.95, #111694, set of 6, page 30 in Chocolate Chip ink and punched with the 1" circle punch.  The stamped image was layered onto punched pieces - a red 1-1/4" circle, a chocolate chip 1-3/8" circle and a red scallop circle.  

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Don’t think it, ink it!   

I cannot even remember the first time I made a Triangle Box but I do remember how easy it was to assemble. And I know I have made alot more since that first time.

Today, I used the Haunting Hill Jumbo Wheel – $9.95, #116359 - and Twick or Tweet Stamp Set – $24.95, #116497 – both on page 10 of the Holiday Mini to give my Triangle Box a Halloween theme.

For this Triangle Box, I cut my Pumpkin Pie cardstock to 4" x 8".  However, this box can be made in a variety of sizes by
keeping the cardstock twice as long as is it wide. 

Score cardstock in half at 4” on the long side. Turn cardstock and mark middle of short side at 2” with a pencil or scoring tool.

Diagonally line up the mark with the middle of the long side and score.  Repeat until you have a triangles created by the scored lines. Repeat on the other side. 

I wheeled the Pumpkin Pie cardstock with the Haunting Hill Jumbo Wheel and Basic Black ink.  To make the tag, I stamped the little bird also with Basic Black ink and coloured the pumpkin with the Pumpkin Pie marker. Next, I punched the image with the small tag and created a layering piece from Baic Balck cardstock and the tag punch.

Fold one side in along the scored lines and punch a hole for the ribbon with the Crop-a-dile.  Thread ribbon through hole. Fill box if desired. Bring in the opposite side and punch again. Thread ribbon through second hole, add tag and tie.

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Stamps: Twick or Tweet (116497), Haunting Hill Jumbo Wheel (116539)

Inks: Basic Black, Pumpkin Pie Marker

Paper: Pumpkin Pie, Whisper White, Basic Black

Punches: Small Tag, Tag, Crop-a-dile

Other: Black Grosgrain Ribbon, Jumbo Handle 

Don’t think it, ink it!   

I have had lots of time to stamp recently as both of the computers in the house picked this last week to quit.  The good news is that I am once again online, fingers crossed, and I have lots of new projects to share with you.

Today’s project is a bookmark holder that was shown at the Stampin’ Up! Convention in August. I wanted to make a little gift for my 2 nieces and 2 nephews, all 6 years and under, that would keep them a little busy when we went out for dinner. And this activity fit the bill perfectly.

I stamped the Real Red cardstock with Real Red ink using the girl and boy bears from Beary Best Friends in the Holiday Mini catalogue and used the scallop edge punch on the longer flap.

Inside I included a bookmark stamped with an image they could colour and some crayons. The holder was held together with a belly band to keep the crayons inside.

The bear is from the set, Seal of Pawthenticity. Isn’t it cute? I also used a 1" x 8"strip of  Christmas Cocoa designer series paper for the band and mounted it on Soft Suede cardstock 1-1/4" x 8".  The medallion is two scallop circle punches, Real Red on Soft Suede. 

 I made a tie with the Sleigh Bells ribbon which matches so well. The bookmark holder is Real Red cardstock cut to 7-3/4" x 11". The bookmark is Real red cardstock 3" x 5-1/2" and Whisper White cardstock cut to 2-3/4" x 5-1/4" and glued on top.   

Click Here for the Bookmark Holder Pattern

Stamps:   Beary Best Friends (118052, $24.95), Seal of Pawthenticity (118054, $12.95), Beary Nice Wishes (118050, $22.95) 

Inks:   Soft Suede Classic

Paper:   Real Red, Soft Suede, Whisper White, Christmas Cocoa Designer Series paper (116770)

Punches: Scallop Circle, Scallop Edge, !-3/8" Circle. 1-1/4" Circle

Other:   Sleigh Bells Ribbon

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Don’t think it, ink it!  

I needed a make a few small thank you gifts and wanted them to be quick and easy. And I wanted to use my new "Thanks" embosslit die for the Big Shot.

I used small pieces of designer series paper in various colours and scraps of cardstock to make these little pouches that hold a rubber stamp and a piece of chocolate in a small flat cello bag. To finish, I embellished with ribbon and brads. 

I hope those who receive one will like them!

Stampin’ Up exclusive Embosslit Die for the Big Shot – Thanks, $15.95, item # 115957

 Don’t think it, ink it!  

Aren’t these little Christmas tags adorable? And they are so easy to make.

Featured in the new Holiday Mini catalogue are two new embosslits for the Big Shot. The first is Merry, the tag itself, $15.95, #116820. The second is called Merry Details, $7.50, #116823 and creates all of the cute trees, birds and snowflakes shown on the tags.

I made 20 tags in about 20 minutes. Since it is so quick, this year I won’t be wrapping my gifts at the last minute.

Did you notice the tags made from the Wood Sheets seen on page 158 of the catalogue. I love these wood sheets! They are very thin and easy to work with. I had no problems running them through the Big Shot to make these tags. And won’t they look great on my gifts?

The rest of the tags were created using cardstock in Shimmery White, Real Red, Always Artichoke and Brushed Gold. I tied the individual tags with the Hemp Twine and the cello bag with the Sleigh Bells ribbon from the Holiday Mini, a new favourite of mine.  

For this second set of tags, I used the Wood Sheets with Shimmery White, Night of Navy and Bashful Blue cardstocks. The tags were tied with the silver Elastic Cord and Night of Navy Grosgrain ribbon. 

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Paper:   Shimmery White (101910), Real Red (102482), Always Artichoke (105119), Night of Navy (100867), Bashful Blue (105120), Brushed Silver (100712), Brushed Gold (102935)

Accessories:   Merry Embosslit (116820 – mini), Merry Details Embosslit (116823 – mini), Big Shot Die-Cut Machine (113439), Wood Sheets (116309), Silver Elastic Cord (109866 – mini), Hemp Twine (100982), Sleigh Bells Ribbon (116795 – mini), Night of Navy Grosgrain Ribbon (109036), Medium Flat Cello Bag (102757)

Don’t think it, ink it!   

The new Holiday Mini has Sweet Treat Cups and envelopes and a stamp set, Sweet Centers to match. How easy is it to include a special little something for the sweet people you want to gift with an unusual card?  The cups can be filled with candy or something with less calories like glitter, sparkles, punches or really anything that will fit into the cup.

On this card, I used the Big Shot Flower Folds die and cut out the centers to fit around the cups.  

 After using the Big Shot and the Flower Folds die to cut the largest flower, I used my paper snips to cut just inside the fold line and remove the center.

 Next, I overlapped one of the flower petals and adhered creating a flower ring that will fit easily right over the Sweet Treat cups.

To create a cardstock ring that will cover the layered flowers and make the center look finished, I made 2" circle with my Circle Scissor Plus and punched out the center with a 1-3/4" circle punch.

 To finish the flower, I layered the three flower rings using adhesive between each layers to keep them in place. The cardstock ring that I punched out was glued on top to cover the flower. Cut out petals were used as leaves and designer series paper and ribbon embellish the card top. Last, a greeting as added.

This is an easy way to create alot of petals without stamping and making a "sweet" flower card.

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Stamps:   Thankful Thinking 

Inks:   Certainly Celery 

Paper:   Cameo Coral, Pumpkin Pie, So Saffron, Certainly Celery, Tall Tales Designer Series paper

Accessories:   Big Shot Die Cut Machine, Flower Folds Die, Sweet Treat Cups (available Sept 1), 1-3/4" Circle punch, Circle Scissor Plus, Elementary Ribbon Originals, So Saffron Striped Grosgrain Ribbon 

Don’t think it, ink it! 

Today, we are looking at the new In Color, Crushed Curry.

I had so much fun creating with this colour, I couldn’t stop at just one project.

I decided to stay monochromatic and use only crushed curry with white and a few embellishments. 

The Razzleberry Lemonade designer series paper makes another appearance here along with the crushed curry polka dot ribbon. Can you spot the textured cardstock? New with the 2009-2010 catalogue, In Color textured cardstock will be available in 8-1/2" x 11" size. 

The sneak peak stamp set is Circle Circus and has 10 unique circle stamps sized from 1/4" to more than 1-1/2". You can choose to use the circles as the focal image as I did here or use multiple circles to create backgrounds.

Since I wanted to stay soft and muted, I embellished all three projects with the pretties kit.  Isn’t it amazing how pearls and rhinestones can dress up a simple card?

And here the Big Shot Box #2 is dressed up in no time. If you need to make wedding or party favours, using the Big Shot is the way to go. Contact me if you want more information on designing items for a special day. 

So, how does Crushed Curry compare to our existing colours? Take a look!

From left to right:

So Saffron, Summer Sun, Crushed Curry, More Mustard 

And tomorrow is Soft Suede day!

Today’s In Color is Bermuda Bay.

Thanks to Stampin’ Up!, I cruised to Bermuda last year on our company incentive trip and this colour brings back fun memories. It is tranquil and refreshing, just like Bermuda.

Our next incentive trip destination will be announced in just a few days. If you would like to take a guest on an all expense paid trip, contact me by e-mail or phone 1.866.472.8207 for more information on the many benefits of being a demonstrator. 

The stamp set on this card is a new level 2 hostess set called Wings of Friendship. 

To go with the Bermuda Bay, I choose to use Soft Suede and Melon Mambo. All of this years In Colors go together so well that it is simple to design a card or project using any combination of them.

And look here! I created a gift card holder insert using one of the many new Stampin’ Up! exclusive Big Shot dies. 

This one is called, of all things, Pop-Up Look Here and creates a great focus on the gift card. You could also insert a photo or anything else you wish to spotlight. 

And remember that the Big Shot will be increasing in price in the new catalogue so order today and save $$. And receive a free die of $25.95 or less with every Big Shot machine purchased.

Big Shot Die-Cut Machine $118.95, item # 113439

So, how does Bermuda Bay compare to our existing colours? Take a look!

From left to right:

Brilliant Blue, Tempting Turquoise, Bermuda Bay, Taken with Teal

Tomorrow’s In Color is Crushed Curry. See you then! 

Today’s featured In Color is Rich Razzleberry.

True to its name, this is a rich, deep berry colour. For this card, I coordinated the Rich Razzleberry with Crushed Curry. 

Both colours are found in the Razzleberry Lemonade Designer Sries paper shown on this card. The other included colours of this paper are Melon Mambo and Pumpkin Pie. You will love every design in this paper pack.

And, doesn’t the name make you thirsty for a big glasss of berry lemonade. YUM!  

The punch I used for the greeting is called Modern Label and is another sneak peek from the new catalogue.  

This card unfolds when you open it. The finished size is 4-1/4" x 4-1/4". 

I decorated inside the card with more Razzleberry lemonade paper on the right hand side. On the left, is an image from the matching stamp set, Razzle Dazzle coloured with the new In Color markers. I absolutely love how it all co-ordinates.   

I started with a piece of 8-1/2" x 8-1/2" Rich Razzleberry cardstock for this card. Below are the instructions for scoring and cutting the cardstock.

So, how does Rich Razzleberry compare to our existing colours? Take a look!

From left to right:

Perfect Plum, Eggplant Envy, Rich Razzleberry, Bravo Burgundy

Click here to pre-order your free Stampin’ Up! catalogue today and be among the first to see all the new products.

Tomorrow our featured colour is Bermuda Bay. And don’t forget, Blog Candy on Saturday!  

If you haven’t heard, I LOVE my Big Shot! I think it is a must have tool for every paper crafter. I can’t imagine making party favours like the one shown by hand but with the Big Shot it’s simple and quick to do. And I have a whole new creative side when making card and scrapbook pages.

The Big Shot Die-Cut Machine, #113439 is currently priced at $118.95 but in the next catalogue it will be $132.95. So if you have been thinking about buyng the Big Shot do it today and save yourself $14 plus the tax and shipping savings. 

Order by June 25th and I will include a FREE Daisies #2 bigz die, item # 114520, $23.95 or any other die priced $25.95 or less.

And there will not be a Big Shot Starter kit in the next catalogue so you can save even more by ordering the kit.

Big Shot Starter Kit, #116314, $232.95 includes the machine, Top Note and Scallop Envelope dies, Birds & Blooms sizzlits, Billboard decorative strip and decorative strip cutting pads and extended spacer platform. A value of $245.20 if purchased separately.   Add the Doctor’s bag for $308.95.