Flower Ball (Or Should I Say Flower)

What is a girl to do on a rainy, gray, dreary day while fighting a headache?  Well, originally, I thought it was take some Excedrin, drink coffee and clean the craft room.  It turned out to be take the meds, drink coffee, spend time on the computer and then decide to try something new and use up retired supplies.

 

I have seen these flowers/flower balls online.  I got as far as making a flower.... It would take a dozen "flowers" to make an entire ball out of them.  It wasn't overly hard to make, just a lot of folds and then gluing them together. I used paper from Patterns Pack 3 which I think was a hostess gift at some point.  I thought it was great because you need to start with a square sheet of paper.  This pack of paper is 6"x6"-no cutting needed!

Don't you think these would be wonderful kissing balls for Christmas?  Nice reds and greens would be beautiful I think.  Hmmm I think I see a school project coming up.  I love when I can work paper crafting in as an occupational therapy project!  "PAPER THERAPIST" can that be my new title and could I get raise for having a title?

Well, I think I need more coffee and I need to get more Christmas paper while it is on sale at Stampin Up.  Check out the special on Designer Series Paper here.

Until next time,

VC Rocks Blog Hop 3, 2011 Antyhing But A Card

Here we go, hoppin' again!  I hope you hopped over here from Marisol's blog. Did she have such great ideas. Or if you hopped on my page first, you can get a complete list of all the participants here.

This month's blog hop is anything but a card.  One of my all time favorite categories ever!  I actually have two items for you today.  One is all about me!  Awhile back on the internet I found a few sites that people had made custom covers for their iPhone.  We for my phone (not an iPhone), I had gone thru a couple covers and breaking them when I had dropped my phone.  Don't worry my phone was fine, the covers-not so much....So I just gave up and stopped buying covers.  Until...so I had to search online for a clear cover, because the mall didn't have one.

I took out the cardboard insert that came with the cover and traced it on to Whisper White card stock.  Next, I got out my Melon Mambo, Daffodil Delight, Tangerine Tango, Tempting Turquoise and  Wild Wasabi stamp pads along with the set Flower Fest.  My name is a custom stamp I had made a long time ago before I knew about Stampin Up.  Maybe it is time for me to get a new one from Stampin Up.  Did you know they could make custom name stamps as well?

My second idea that is a SUPER SIMPLE idea that could be added to a spa gift  basket that you made yourself of course. (Hmm... maybe I need to make some bath salts in jars and decor elements)  I bought emery boards from the big department store.  Make sure they are brand that doesn't have the name stamped on them already.  I used the small solid flower from Just Believe.  I used the same inks as I did on my phone cover and randomly stamped the tan side of the emery boards. Be careful not to touch the ink right away.  It takes just a minute or two longer than it does on cardstock.  Don't you think they would make such a cute gift for someone, like the secretary, who keeps the school running smoothly?

Now, hop on over to Jane's blog, where she will have even more idea of what you can make with Stampin Up products besides a card.

Until next time,

Gift Certificates

Here is a gift certificate I designed using My Digital Studio by Stampin' Up.  The cover this years Idea Book and Catalog has such beautiful colors on it, so tried to pick colors that matched it.

So if you know anyone who has a birthday or any type of special event coming up and you don't know what to get them; a Stampin Up Gift Certificate, in any amount, always fits! Contact me to get one (or two or a dozen LOL) today stampinstace@gmail.com or 207-659-0412.

Until next time,

Post It Note Picture Frame

Here is a simple gift or craft fair item.  This is a 3.5"x5" frame from the Christmas Tree Shoppe.  I think they are a New England chain but I am not sure...but it is a discount store and the frames there are $.69.  I used designer paper from the 6x6 hostess paper pack from Stampin Up.  The pen has a screw off end and I rolled a 3/4" x 3.5" piece of dsp  that was scrap from the frame.  I got a package of 8 at the dollar store.

The word is from Word Play.  The stamp actually says Remember When, but I only colored the Remember with a black marker and then stamped.

I was thrilled when I went into one of my ladies classroom and she had it on her desk.  I let everyone in the group pick the color they wanted.  If I were to give this as a gift, I would put a coordinating ribbon around it as well.

Well until next time,

Dragonfly Purse & Coffee Cozy

Here is a rag bag I made with the Big Shot and a matching coffee cozy for one of my close friends. Of course with my busy schedule, I didn't actually make it until after Christmas. Normally, I cut the batting small enough to fit inside the scallop square. This time I was thinking of the white fleece on certain winter leather jackets-so I let it show. My friend absolutely loved it, and she loved the dragonflies (she is particularly fond of them).

My friend is also a member of my stamp club. The ladies couldn't believe that was made with a Big Shot. I told them all the things I use my Big Shot for: cork, magnets, soda cans, material and every now and then I have been know to cut paper with it.

Until next time.

Warm and Cozy

It isn't the greatest picture but you get the idea. I know coffee cozies are popping up everywhere. I have seen them made with felt with the SU basket die and felt. It didn't work trying to use regular material and batting. It looked like a skinny worm! This pattern came from here.

Does the material look familiar? It is the same material I used on rag bags I had made. This coffee cozy is a present for my son's girlfriend. She got one of the bags for a present. The cozy was suppose to be for Christmas present but I didn't get to sew before the holiday.

The cozy has two buttons on it to make it adjustable. Just in case she gets the XL drink from the coffee shop that is down the street from her apartment.

Well I am off to the fabric store to look for some more material.

Until next time,

Elf Shoe Gift Box

Isn't this stinkin' cute?!?!?! I wish I could say I was clever enough to say I designed this but I am not. I found it here. Valita is a very talent woman and has so many cute ideas on her blog.

I used Taken with Teal and some retired DSP from Stampin Up.
White ribbon and a blue brad. I embossed snowflakes on the boot with snowflakes and added dazzling diamonds to the ruby red pompon.

Here is a close up of the DSP , ribbon and rhinestone.

I have been trying to find something cute to put a gift card in for my brother in law and now I have it. (I think these would be cute with a few chocolates in them for coworkers as well.) The one for my brother in law is a little more plain. I made it without the embossing, or brad. He is a very outdoorsy person-he is not "all about the bling." Hahaha.

Tomorrow I will be working on casing an idea I saw at a craft fair....cupcake socks.

Until next time,

Tea Light Gift Set

Here are the tea lights in a box together.  The pattern can be found here.  I used decorative card stock for the bottom and clear acetate for the cover-that way I could show off the pretty candles LOL.  I don't really care for the tag in this picture.  I am sure I will change it.  Also I need a large square punch because as you can see I can't cut a straight line at all!

**WARNING  Always keep burning candles in a safe place and don't leave them unattended. Tissue paper may catch fire.

Tea Light Stamping

I have stamped on large round candles before using the technique of stamping on tissue paper first and then using the heat gun to melt the tissue paper into the candle.  This time I did it with tea lights.  This isn't an original idea at all, several people posted it to their blogs.  I stamped a circular design on tissue paper then punched it with my circle punch.  To make this easier, place your tissue paper over scrap card stock and punch them out together.  I used a 1/16 punch in the center to poke the wick thru.  I melted the tissue paper into the wax with my heat gun.  I measured the side of the metal holder, cut some decorative paper to cover the outside with.  Once I did the Christmas theme-I thought of Valentines Day etc.  Any design that is circular is shape could work.  I discovered darker colors work the best-dark green is very pretty.