I'm not trying to freak you out, but did you know that Valentine's Day is next week?
The designers at Stylin' Stampin' INKspiration have you covered. Hop on over to the blog to see some great Valentines Day ideas.
My youngest is still in grade school, so that means there will be a Valentines party and card exchange. There are only 7 kids in her class and most of the parents agree on limiting sugar/candy. We (my daughter and I) are always on the lookout for creative non-candy treats and I think we've got a winner this year.
Are these not the cutest things ever?
The centers are those EOS lip balms that you can pick up at many stores. We created the treats with the Silhouette Cameo, some Lori Whitlock files, and Stampin' Up! card stock. I was able to put them together in a very short amount of time.
Each design has a hole in the middle. You just unscrew the lip balm, place it through the hole, and then screw the top back on. So simple!
My favorite is the bear!
Bella's favorite is the butterfly. We'll probably add a little bling to this one.
Which one is your favorite? Comment below and I'll be selecting one person to receive a Valentine from us. I'll announce the winner on Saturday.
If you like what you've seen here today, make sure to follow me on your favorite social media. All the buttons are in the right-hand column.
You deserve something NICE....how about a step-by-step tutorial on making this shirt with the Silhouette Cameo and HTV(heat transfer vinyl)?
First things first, you'll need to "purchase" this free digital download in my online store. You will have to go through a check-out process, but you won't be charged.
Make sure you write down the location on your computer where you download this image. You'll need to find it later.
You will also need to purchase some heat transfer vinyl. I purchased mine here (not an affiliate link). Shipping was fast and there was plenty for me to try before I decided if I would want more (I do!).
And of course, you need a shirt. And an iron.
READY? Open your Silhouette Designer Edition software.
***This step is not really necessary, but is helpful for planning your design and colors.
I hope this tutorial is helpful in getting you started with using an MDS image. This is such a fun project and I hope you have success with it!
Welcome to the Monday Montage blog hop! There are 10 stops and you don't want to miss any of them.
I've been doing a lot of holiday crafting, but most of it hasn't involved paper. My Silhouette Cameo has been dusted off and I've been trying out some new things. The great thing is that I've been able to use some of the downloads from My Digital Studio in a different way.
I created this cookie plate with the Waiting for Santa digital download. It was so quick & easy to make! I found an inexpensive plate at Target, then added the vinyl design.
One of my favorite projects so far has been this shirt for my daughter. The saying fits her perfectly (let's just say it's been a rough year at school).
I could not believe how easy it was to do and I'll be sharing more about it in a future blog post. If you want to stay updated, subscribe to my blog or LIKE my page on Facebook. You can also get this download for FREE to create your own masterpiece.
Thanks for stopping by! Be sure to click the NEXT button to see what Wendy has in store for you OR you can go BACK to view Kaitlyn's marvelous creations.
It's the most wonderful time of the week.......Monday Montage time! We've got some great projects to inspire you so be sure to stop by all 10 stops.
In Indiana, our first snow has already come and gone. It's kind of early for it to snow in our area and we really didn't get enough of the white stuff to build a snowman. But I've got a great little guy that you can create in minutes using the Gift Box Punch Board.
The head is a Medium Box (2.5" x 2.5") made with Whisper White cardstock. The hat is a Small Box (1.75" x 1.75") made with Basic Black card stock. I cut a circle with the Circle Framelits for the hat brim. The eyes (and buttons) were punched with the 3/4" circle punch and the nose is the triangle punch cut in half. I added accents to the eyes with the white gel pen and the mouth was drawn with the Journaling pens.
You can see how easy it is to create a gift box in the video below.
In a recent class, we made a full snowman with 2 larger boxes for the lower body. I added buttons to the middle section. These would be perfect for gift giving.....load it with hot chocolate mix and candy canes OR a matching set of mittens and a hat.
I am so very excited to share my Hello December Project Life Album! I just love the way it turned out.
The Hello December Project Life products are only available while supplies last. You are definitely going to want it ALL!
I am offering this as a Class Kit To Go. You will receive all of the products shown at the end of this post plus some fun "extras" including:
Burlap & Cherry Cobbler Ribbon strips to decorate your own album
Paper Doily
Die-cut "Hello December" letters as shown
Invitation to my private Memory Keeping Made Simple Facebook group where I'll be sharing some of my layouts
There are 2 Class Options:
Option 1: Hello December Project Life without stamp set $60
Includes the album, card collection and accessory pack, journaling pens, pocket pages and envelope pages
Option 2: Hello December Project Life with December Wonder Stamp Set $75
Includes everything in Option 1 plus the December Wonder stamp set
Prices include tax, shipping, and all the extras above. Please allow up to 2 weeks for delivery. If you would like to add to your order, please email me.
So you've probably seen the latest Project Life by Stampin' Up! albums in the 6" x 8" size. I love this smaller-sized album, but the plain cover was just so BLAH! Don't you agree?
Now I know that the cover is plain by design so that we can customize it ourselves. My typical reaction is to do nothing because I'm fearful I'll mess it up. Anyone else feel that way? Well, let me put your fears to rest.....
Here are my tips to get you started:
JUST DO IT! Don't be afraid to add your artistic touches to the album. It will definitely look better if it is embellished.
Think of it as a card, scrapbook page or canvas.....you are just working on a different surface and possibly a different size than what you are familiar with. It is a blank slate that you can use with mixed media techniques such as stamping, painting, or stenciling.
Add embellishments such as paper, buttons, ribbon, and die-cuts.
For my album, I started by applying modeling paste with the stripes decorative mask. For a quick tutorial on how to do this, click here. I did this very haphazardly to give it bit of a rough look.
After the modeling paste had dried, I added several pieces of designer series paper. These were just scraps that I had leftover from other projects. I laid them out until I found a layout that was acceptable. I used hot glue to adhere the paper, but you can use anything with a strong hold.
And finally I added the die-cut "thankful", a gold button, and some burlap ribbon to tie it all together.
I plan to fill this album with pictures of my family and friends, and all the other things I am thankful for. It seems many people participate in a thankful month during October. Wouldn't this be a great way to document everything that you are thankful for?
I have already finished my next album cover and will be sharing it here on Wednesday along with a new class offering. Be sure to bookmark this page so that you don't miss it!
It's time for you to hop along to see what Wonderful Wendy has in store for you next. And don't miss out....there are 10 stops along the hop and I know you'll find inspiration from each of these very talented women.
It's time for another Monday Montage Blog Hop! Make sure you check out all 10 blogs for some amazing projects. These girls always inspire me.
I love Advent calendars.....probably because it cuts down on the "How Much Longer" conversations with my kids. It always helps to have a visual. So you can imagine how excited I was to see the 25 Days stamp set and this project in the new catalog.
I decided to stamp the images on Cherry Cobbler, Old Olive, and Crumb Cake cardstock squares with the Memento Black ink pad just as it was shown above. Then, I adhered a magnetic sheet to the back of each square and placed the squares over the openings of a mini muffin pan.
There is enough room in each opening for a small piece of candy or gift. I think this would be a perfect gift for my neighbors....I'll simply add a muffin mix for them to enjoy!
If you would like to see my original version of the Muffin Tin Advent calendar, click here. It's one of my most popular posts on my blog and apparently it's pretty popular on Pinterest, too!
Now you may be worried that the 25 Days stamp set is not very versatile, but why not use it to created customized birthday cards? My daughter turned 8 and my son turned 17 this month, so I used their favorite colors for inspiration. Here are a couple of "real-life" cards for when you need that last-minute birthday card.
You'll definitely want to check out the other 9 stops on the hop. Click forward to see the amazing Wendy or back for our Artisan, Kaitlyn.
If you are looking for a super-easy, WOW, 3-d project.....look no further. While they may look a little intimidating, you can whip up a bunch of these in a very short amount of time.
Here are the supplies you'll need:
4-1/4" Square Tiles from a Home Improvement Store
Cork Sheets from Stampin' Up (Item #119819)
Hot Glue Gun
4" Squares of Designer Series Paper of your choice (I used Mocha Morning Specialty Paper on these samples--Item #122366)
3/16" Corner Punch (Item #119871)
Brayer
Modge Podge
Foam Brush
Clear Acrylic Spray
Ribbon (optional)
DIRECTIONS:
Cut cork sheets into 4-1/4" squares. Adhere to the bottom of the tiles with hot glue.
Use corner rounder punch on the corners of each square of designer series paper.
With foam brush, apply a thin layer of modge podge to the back of the paper. Adhere to the tile and smooth out any air bubbles. A brayer can be helpful.
Allow paper time to dry. Apply a thin layer of modge podge to the top of the paper to seal the tile. You may apply a second coat if desired.
Air bubbles may appear as you complete step 4. Use the brayer to smooth out the paper if needed.
Once completely dry, spray tiles with acrylic spray. Repeat if desired.
Allow tiles to dry and tie with ribbon for gift-giving.
I've had people ask if the coasters are absorbant. The answer is no. These are sealed and will not allow moisture to reach the paper. They are designed to protect your furniture surface. The tiles should not be placed in the dishwasher, but can be wiped clean with a damp cloth.
I sold the tiles in sets of 4 at craft fairs for $6. These sold very well and can definitely be made for any occasion just by changing the paper.
If you would like to purchase any of the products shown here, please visit my Stampin' Up website.
At stamp club last month, members made these three projects.
The first project was the anti-bacterial soap holder inspired by Erica Cerwin. She has great instructions on her blog on how to make the box. I used the Owl and Bitty Bat punches to create the vampire bat. The fangs were cut free-hand and I used a red marker on the tips.
The 12" x 12" scrapbook page also features the Owl punch....I used it to create the spooky ghosts. The pumpkins were created with the Ovals die and the big shot with Pumpkin Pie card stock. I sponged the edges to make them stand out a little better.
The final project was this adorable test tube holder. The test tubes have been collecting dust in my closet for a couple of years. I know I'll probably get questions regarding where to purchase them....I got them in a bulk buy from another demonstrator, but if I find a new source, I'll let you know.
Lisa Somerville has several patterns for test tube holders on her blog. I used the Wicked Cool stamp set, the Spider Web embossing folder, Raven lace trim, and Nite Owl Designer Series paper to really make this project pop!
Be sure to check out the Clearance Rack on my Stampin' Up! website. There are many items for sale at drastically reduced prices. It's a great time to get your hands on some fun stamping supplies.
The show has started....now what? I find that shows start off one of two ways: a slow & steady trickle of customers or a mad rush. I prefer the mad rush because you are busy right out of the gate, but what if you experience the slow & steady trickle?
Keep in mind how you like to be treated when you are shopping. Most of us don't enjoy being pounced upon by an overly-eager salesperson when we enter a store, right? Now I know you are excited, but do try to contain yourself just a bit. My strategy is always to give off the appearance of being busy, but accessible. I'll often take Christmas cards to work on. Many customers will stop to see what I am doing, and that is the perfect conversation starter. One year, I took my Big Shot and cut out dies all day. I actually had a couple of new people sign up for a Big Shot class because of it.
Now, don't get so busy that you fail to acknowledge your customers. Greet EVERYONE that enters your booth area with eye contact and a smile, plus a simple "hello", "good morning", etc. This probably sounds like common sense to you, and I haven't met too many Stampin' Up demonstrators that are unfriendly. However, I have seen some pretty poor customer service at craft fairs.
At one show, I experienced a crazy mad rush of customers the first hour of the show. I think I sold almost $300 in that one hour, and most items were priced around $15-$20....it was busy. When it finally slowed down and I was able to catch my breath, I noticed that the three women working at the booth across from me were "shooting daggers" in my direction. They were sitting at the back of their booth, arms folded, frowns on their faces, and not acknowledging anyone that went near their booth. At the end of the show, they complained to the show's organizer that they did not make any money. They chewed her out pretty good, and she came up to me after that to see if I had done alright. I told her that I had done very well throughout the day and had no complaints whatsoever. Your attitude is everything! Be pleasant, no matter what.
At some point during the day, you are going to want to take a break. If you didn't "hire" someone to work with you for the entire day, you might just want to have someone give you a break at lunchtime. Potty breaks throughout the day can probably be covered by asking the vendor next to you to keep an eye on your booth for a few minutes. They can let customers know that you are going to be right back.
I highly recommend that you get out of your booth for a short time during the day.....for lunch and marketing. You are amongst fellow crafters, so don't let this opportunity pass you by. I will take packets filled with a mini catalog, door prize entry form, business card, hand-stamped card, my class schedule, and any specials with me when I leave my booth. As I visit other booths, I will introduce myself and give the vendor a packet. The conversation goes something like this:
"I love your ________(sincerely compliment their craft/something specific in the booth). My name is Melissa Stout and I am a Stampin' Up! demonstrator. My booth is right over there. You probably haven't had a chance to get out of your booth today, so I wanted to bring you some goodies. (hand them a packet) There is a door prize form inside, so just drop it by at the end of the day and I'll get you entered to win."
Now what usually happens is that they will look through your materials whenever the show slows down and many of them will visit you at the end of the day with questions, orders, and sometimes an interest in hosting a show or the business opportunity. How great is that?
Hopefully, you have been collecting customer contact information throughout the day. You must contact these people within a few days of the show to establish a good relationship with them. Now, I hate making phone calls, but if you want to grow your business, it is a necessary task. I schedule a free introduction to stamping class within 2 weeks of the show and invite them to attend. Everyone likes to be extended an invitation, so this is a wonderful reason to contact them. If they are not interested, okay. You probably will get a few that are interested and that can really grow your business.
One final note.....I always have some items leftover from my holiday craft fairs. In early December, I will hold a Holiday Open House for my customers and make these items available for sale, sometimes at a discount. You can also put your items on ebay or Etsy, give them as gifts, donate them to charity, or store them for the following year.
SNOWMAN JIFFY POP GIFT CARD HOLDER
I posted this project on my blog several years ago and I always get emails asking for the directions. I'm a little embarrassed because he is so simple to make, you may lose all creative confidence in me. LOL!
This is a great gift to give to a teacher. You can add a gift card to her favorite store or restaurant.
This would also be a nice gift to give a family or your neighbors....add some cans of soda, boxes of movie candy, a gift certificate for a DVD rental.....and you've got "A Night at the Movies".
Here are the card stock measurements and a quick video to help you make your own snowman:
Nose: Pumpkin Pie card stock 1-1/2" x 3", cut diagonally
Brim: Basic Black card stock 2" x 6"
Hat/Gift Card Holder: Basic Black 4-1/4" x 8", scored at 2-1/2" and 5-1/4"
