Gift Bags - All Done!

Here's one of the gift bags - all done! From the front, you can see the chipboard post-it pad with the coordinating pen, and the gum slider.

I made the toppers this morning using the Seeing Stars set, the large and small star punches, and the Top Note die.

And, here's a picture of the back of the bag, with the hand sanitizer, candy bar pocket and butterfly lip balm.

It kind of worked out with stuff coordinating in parts so that I could face some toward the back. I kinda like to turn it around and not just see the backs of everything?!


I hope the girls will like them!


Have a great weekend,


Julie

More Fun Gift Set Stuff!

These are the last two little gifts I'm making for the softball gift sets (I think). I just need to put them together in cello bags and add some kind of topper or tag for each.

This is the good old candy bar holder from a 6" x 6" piece of cardstock. I did some quick stamping and added some more coordinating Designer Paper and a ribbon - Wah Lah! And, oh, the most important part - slip in a candy bar!

And, this was a super-quick project I just ran across. I wanted another thing to put in the gift set (not candy - I know, NO candy??!, but just thought the parents would appreciate a mix of things, not only candies!). So, anyway, I had another little way to wrap up a lip balm (we made one in Technique Class a year or so ago), and I found this! Awesome cause it uses the Big Shot - making it so fast! A couple of folded pieces of paper/cardstock through the Big Shot, wrap a little Designer paper on the lip balm, and tie a ribbon - Fun and Easy!


Thanks for stopping by,


Julie

Gum Slider for Gift Sets!

Still working on some little gifties to fill the softball gift sets. So, I made one of my all-time favorite projects, the gum slider. I'm still coordinating the papers with the other projects that I posted yesterday. I used the set, Sporting for the background.

Here's the pull-out picture of it! I also added a star with some light blue bling on the front.

I have a couple other small things I want to make to finish these sets. Hopefully, that will happen tomorrow! I'll be back to show you!


Julie

Gift sets in process...

Amongst other crazy things happening around here right now, I've been working on some gift sets for my brother-in-law's softball team. So, these are a couple things that will go into the set. I made a covered chipboard post-it note pad, a matching beaded pen, and covered a bottle of blueberry hand sanitizer. I'm using some retired Designer Papers from my stash! Their team color is a gray/blue color, and I did start with some Brocade Blue Cardstock, but then I ventured over to my retired stash and ended up with this (a Bashful Blue mix)! I like the pop of red and the flowers a little better for young girls (they're 8, 9 and 10). I wanted to keep it a little girly, but we'll see how the other gifties come out!

So, here's a close up of chipboard post-it and matching pen.

And, a close-up of the wrapped up hand sanitizer.

I have a few more things to make for the set, and then multiply each by 13! I'll post again when I finish them!


Hope your week is going well,


Julie

Shimmery Sweet Scoops!

I made this card today using the new set Sweet Scoops. I had a bunch of card parts on my desk that were left-overs from other ideas that never came to be. So, I put this card together. I added some Crystal Effects on the ice cream scoop, even though ice cream is probably more creamy than shiny, but it kinda adds a fun little somethin' somethin'. I also added Shimmer spray to the whole thing...

It's always hard to get a good picture of the Shimmer Spray, but here's my try!


Hope you had a good Monday,


Julie

Tropical Fun from the Summer Mini

This is a card I got from my swappin' buddy Chari, and I absolutely LOVE it!! I love the bright colors, and especially how she laid it all out. The flower parts are a new Big Shot die called Island Floral (except the Old Olive flower, which is the XL Fancy Flower Punch), and the Designer Series Papers that bring it together are called Island Oasis - love the color combo here! She also used the sets, Itty Bitty Bits and In a Word.


Just love this card! The Summer Mini starts May 1st - can't wait!


Hope you're enjoying your weekend,


Julie

Another Designer Gift Bag - Just Smaller!

I was excited about the gift bag I made yesterday, and I kept thinking that I could probably make it in different sizes. Of course, I have lots of 6" x 6" papers, and scraps from 12" x 12" pieces, so I just halfed all the measurements, and came up with a smaller version! Super cute - I love little stuff! Just that sometimes you need a bigger size for a bigger gift. But, this smaller one would be good for jewelry, any kind of small trinket stuff. It starts out 6" x 6", and when finished is 4" wide, 4" tall and 1 1/2" deep. But I know the pictures always make it look the same as the other one I made, so...

Here are the two side by side. The larger one is from the two 12" x 12" pieces, and it's finished size is 8" wide, 9" tall and 3 1/2" deep. They both have a folded over accent, but they could be taller if you didn't fold that part. Anyway, the larger one is the one I posted yesterday and it has two boxed figurines all wrapped up inside it. It is really a pretty practical size - a shirt, a couple or few small things fit inside.

Pretty cool - and just think about making the card with coordinating or the same Designer Series Paper to coordinate it all....


My wheels are a spinnin'!


Hope you're having a good week,


Julie

Designer Series Paper Gift Bag!

I saw this gift bag demonstrated at last year's convention. It was a definite WoW!! demonstration, but one of those things that I never remembered to make. Then I saw it recently on another demonstrator's blog, and thought - I better make one NOW!! Plus I needed a gift bag for a gift for my sister's birthday this Friday. It will match with the card I'm giving her. (The card was my last post, yesterday.)

So, this is how the bottom closes up.

Super nice and neat! (Just a blurry picture though)

Even the inside looks pretty!

It's all made with two 12" x 12" pieces of Designer Series Paper. So, I used some retired pieces that coordinated with the card, and what a great way to use up my retired Designer Papers!! And, I even found the coordinating ribbon - in Riding Hood Red (which we'll be seeing again in July!).


If you come to Technique Class, you just may make one of these bags soon!


Julie

CASEing Shelli!

This is a hopeless case from Shelli, our Stampin' Up! founder. She has been traveling the US and Canada doing workshops, and this is based on one of the cards she did at a recent workshop. I added black layers behind the Saffron and the Top Note parts, but otherwise the rest was her design. I love the kind of primary color look to it, and especially the accent with the gingham ribbon! I think in person it shows even more "punch" with color!


Hope you're having a great day,


Julie

My Last Watercolor Trio Swap Card

So here's the final card I made for the swap I'm doing. I got the inspiration from a card by Ilina Crouse. I just slightly changed up the colors. I used Rose Red, More Mustard, Old Olive and Basic Grey. I really like this layout though - I've done this layout with lots of other sets and color combinations.


Have a great week!


Julie

And Another Watercolor Trio Card!

Here's another card that I made to swap with the Watercolor Trio set. The colors are Perfect Plum and Artichoke. I really like this set, just marker to rubber gives the watercolored look without all the effort of real watercoloring. I also used some shimmer spray with the Texturz Plate for the background layer. I love that subtle, but pretty look.


Happy Sunday!


Julie

More Gift Baskets!

My husband and I are having some friends down to our other place again this weekend. So I made up a couple gift baskets(tins). Since I just did some a couple months ago (see Feb. post), this time they seemed a lot quicker to do. I kind of just did the same kind thing as I did last time. I wrapped some chocolate bars in retired DSP (but I loved this one cuz it has the Baja Breeze!). I made three different kind of cookies in cello baggies and tied with them coordinating ribbon. Plus, I put a bunch of other fun snacks and stuff!

And, again I made tags from the Top Note die. I used some retired Baja ribbon too!

I hope we see some great new, or returning, accessories to coordinate with the Baja Breeze when the new catalog comes out in July. I can't wait!!


Have a great weekend!


Julie

Guess How Old Benjamin Is??

This Saturday is both my nephew's and my dad's birthday. So this is the card I made for my nephew - probably could have figured my dad isn't getting the 3 card!! Plus I showed you my dad's card already! Anyway, I used a chipboard number from my retired stack of stuff that I had stashed away. I also used the Pawsitively Prints Papers to coordinate everything.


Hope you're having a great week,


Julie

Happy Birthday Dad!

As I was working away on my swaps with the new Watercolor Trio set, I liked that this one was coming out kind of masculine. So, I decided to make an extra one to give my dad for his birthday (this Saturday).

I used Sahara Sand, Always Artichoke, and Basic Black. I touched some spots with the white gel pen too. The taffeta ribbon is moss. I also used the Grooms Paper (the part with the black on black stripes) - I love the look of that paper, and it's cardstock-weight - nice!

Thanks for stopping by,


Julie

Sneak Peak from the Summer Mini!

I don't usually put a sneak peek out this early, but here it is! This is stamped with a new set that will be in the Summer Mini Catalog, which starts on May 1st (but you should be receiving your copy sometime later this week or early next week!). The set is called Watercolor Trio. It has three watercolor flower images, a watercolor butterfly and three sentiments. I really like it's elegant style. So I'm swapping cards with my usual swappin' buddies, and this is one of the cards I'll be sending them.


I can't wait to show you some more of the awesome new stuff that will be coming out in May!!


Thanks for stopping by,


Julie

Matchbox Thank Yous

I made these little thank you Matchboxes with the Big Shot - pretty quick and easy! I used the Cottage Wall Designer Paper, and Old Olive and Orchid Opulence Cardstocks to coordinate. The Thank you stamp came from the All Holidays set. And, I used the large and small oval punches on top of one of the tag cut outs that was on the Matchbox die.

Hope you had a good weekend!


Julie

Stampin' Up!'s Color Renovation!

If you've been on any Stampin' Up! blogs lately, you've probably heard the Big News!! But I still wanted to share with you too! When the new catalog comes out in July, Stampin' Up! will have a renovated Color Line!

Personally, I am soooo excited!! At first, I was a little nervous looking at the new charts, but then I looked a little closer ~ the scoop is this: 5 Completely NEW colors, 10 RETURNING In-Color Colors (if you know me well, can you say "Baja Breeze"? Woohoo!!), and Lots of Rearranging of current colors into new Color Collections (families).

So, here's a picture of the New Color Collections:

And, here's what will be leaving the current Color Families! There are a total of 30 colors leaving. So, check out if you have any Must-Haves for your collection! If so, you'll have until the end of June to stock up. By getting the ink refills ($2.95 each), your stamp pads will be good for along time coming! And don't forget cardstock packs, so you'll have plenty to layer with!

There will be lots more details to come.... but for now, you might want to prioritize your needs list for the ones you might be missing.

For me, it took a little time to sink-in how many will be retiring. But then, I realized that it's been a long time since I've wanted to use a lot of the retiring colors.

It is like a true "renovation" - it's good to be out with some of the things we aren't using and bring some freshness to what we will be making. It's kind of like cleaning out your old clothes that you haven't worn in a few years, or repainting a room of your house. - Kinda feels good once you do it, and you get over the parting with the old stuff once it's gone!


Hope you're having a good weekend,


Julie

Awash with Flowers

I made this quick Awash with Flowers card before I'm headed back home! This is the set that's available this month as a Sneak Peek from the new 2010-2011 catalog. After April, you'll have to wait until July to buy it again.

But, on to the card, I did the current catalog cover layout - I like the simplicity of this layout. I also used the Tea Party DSP and the Well Scripted set (do you know this set by heart now too?). So, I'm off to home again - and looking forward to making some creations beyond the "limited supplies" I had here!

Have a great weekend!


Julie

Bird Punch Heliconia

I've been wanting to make one of these Heliconia flower cards. I saw the idea from a SU demonstrator Ann Fitzgerald. I'm still away from my usual set of supplies, but I was able to sponge the colors I wanted. The flower is made from the new Bird Punch. You use the body and wing parts, with some trimming!

Mine came out a little tilted to the right, but hey all flowers in nature are unique, right? I used some Sweet Pea DSP for the background layer and the words is, of course, Well Scripted!

Happy Stampin',


Julie

Another XL Fancy Flower!

And another Thank You to Lynn Put's inspiration! This card really caught my eye when I saw it - I Love the colors! And, I love that the XL Flower Punch is done easy!! - a stamp and the flower punched around it! I'm not at home with all my stamp accessories, so I used ribbon in place of where I would have used buttons and/or brads for the flower center. The stem and leaves is from the Sweetheart set - it is the special set that coordinates with the Sweetheart cups.

I used the set With All My Heart, and the Sweet Pea Papers - all from the Occasions Mini. Don't miss out on these goodies that will be gone the end of this month!

Hope you're having a good week!


Julie

XL Fancy Flower in 3D

I was inspired to make this flower card from a demonstrator named Lynn Put. She makes really nice, clean cards! Anyway, I changed up the colors and CASEd her!

The card uses the XL Fancy Flower Punch (4 of them). They're just smooshed and crunched up to make them look distressed. Then I added a button form the Button Latte pack with some hemp for the center. The leaves are the five petal flower punch.

I also used the Top Note with Sahara Sand, and layered that onto a piece from the Sweet Pea Designer Papers. I think the paper has Bashful Blue in it, but I really like Bordering Blue, and thought it went well too. So I used Bordering Blue for the flower and the card base too! I like how a lot of our color combos can be versatile like that!! Of course, the saying is Well Scripted - it's still available through the end of April in our Occasions Mini Catalog if you haven't gotten that Must-Have set yet!


Julie

Some more Quick Last Minute Easter Cards

I'm always making my kids cards last, but not least, when it comes to the holidays! So, I used some kinda "what I had" pieces from other cards I had recently made that were sitting around on my stamping table. I added the little bunnies from the Eggcoutrements set - perfect and quick with coordinating circle punches!

So, of course, the top version was for my daughter - with the pink. And then I made the blue version for my son. But, I'm sure the most important part will be how much $$$ will be inside! Ah, the differences as they get older!

Kinda sad how the kids have gotten older, and no more Easter Egg hunt and all the fun that went along with that - dying the eggs and everything. But I won't feel sad to not have to be up late cleaning up the egg dying kits and up early to hide the eggs and all that. I am looking forward to a nice sleeping in morning, and relaxing family get together tomorrow afternoon!

Hope you have a Happy Easter!


Julie

Another Easter Card in the Mail!

I made one more quick Easter Card that I need to mail out today! I love how easy the stamps in the Eggcoutrements set make it to create a quick and easy card. It has to be becuase they coordinate with punches. So, a few easy layers, stamp and punch and Wah Lah! Perfect for today's card (especially since I need to be cutting supplies for tomorrow's class!!)

I used the Sweet Pea papers and the Polka Dot Impressions Folder for the background layers - which are both in the Occasions Mini, only available the rest of this month!


Have a good one - NO Foolin'!!


Julie