Sunday, December 19, 2010

SWEET & SIMPLE CARDS WITH *NEW* EMBOSSING FOLDER

Pin It Now! The Framed Tulips embossing folder is my new best friend, I just love the way it frames everything so beautifully. I also love the color combinations in the new spring mini, how do you like this gorgeous blue?

A few quick cards...




This new embossing folder is available January 3rd, and you can order online, anytime, right here at my SU site! 

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

DECK THE HALLS MINI ALBUM

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I needed to make a gift for my card club's gift exchange, and stared down a stack of my stash...and came up with a cute, compact mini album made of Stampin' Up!'s elegantly simple Mini Lunch Sacks. They come 10 to a pack, so I made 2 cute albums using minimal scraps and a few embellishments.  Really, the paper is so pretty it can stand alone!



The binding was simply done by (1) laying each bag flat and folding the bottom in half to form a 1-1/2" spine, (2) laying all 5 bags together, (3) covering the spine with a paper of your choice, cut 3-1/2" wide x 3-1/2 tall (I used Always Artichoke, run thru the Big Shot with Petals-A-Plenty embossing folder, and scallop punched at the edge...it was just a scrap!), (4) punching 3 evenly spaced holes down the spine with the Crop-A-Dile (you may want to hold it all together with a binder clip or two, so your papers don't slip), (5) then I put a fancy vanilla brad from Stampin' Up!'s Hodge Podge collection in the center, and ribbons through the outer two holes with a ribbon anchor in the back.  Here are shots of the spine...
Front View


Back View
Finally, I embellished!  My favorite part!  If I had endless amounts of time, I would have stamped all kinds of pretty images, heat embossed, glittered, and fussy cutted, but I don't, and I also wanted to leave a welcoming space for photos. 

Inside each bag was a Christmas tag from Ali Edwards at Designer Digitals. I love her, she makes memory keeping simple and gorgeous!  Anyway, each tag prompts the scrapper to record a moment and date.  Perfect, easy scrapping!  Here is the set...

I added ink around the edges (Always Artichoke),and stamped a light border of pointsettia and evergreen from
Stampin' Up!'s Bells & Boughs.
 The inside pages...

 

 

Thanks for coming by!  If you need any of the supplies to make this project, please visit my Stampin' Up! site at http://www.erikaclark.stampinup.net/

MERRY CHRISTMAS!  GOD BLESS!

Monday, November 29, 2010

A SIMPLE BUT ELEGANT BAG TOPPER

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This is a very easy bag topper that's sure to impress.  Simply run a piece of Read Red cardstock through the Sizzix Big Shot, using the Top Note die, then run thru again with the Pointsettia Embossing Folder.  Stamp the Merry Christmas and holly images using the Bells and Boughs set, and punch out with XL Designer Label Punch.  Punch a piece of matching green cardstock (I used Old Olive) and cut in 1/2, adhering half at the top and half at the bottom of the stamped piece.  Add a little bling to suit your taste!  Fill a baggie with goodies and give, give give! 

SUPPLIES:
Bells & Boughs #121142 $14.95
Top Note die #113463 $21.95
Petals-A-Plenty embossing folder #116824 $7.95
Real Red cardstock
Old Olive cardstock
Real Red brush marker
Old Olive brish marker

FOR ANY SUPPLIES, PLEASE EMAIL ME OR SHOP ONLINE NOW!

GOT FIVE MINUTES?

Pin It Now! ...Then you have time to make a layout today!  Here is a super-simple but equally cute layout that goes together in no time.  It's made using Stampin' Up's Candy Cane Christmas Designer Series Paper, one stamped image, and a little ribbon.

Add caption


Hand-draw some doodles to match the paper that you cut for the right side...don't be shy! It's fun!


A 3-1/2" square of the Candy Cane Christmas DSP makes this embellishment.
The stamp I used is from the Gifted set #120480, and matches the stockings on the patterned paper quite well!  I used Brush Markers to color the stamp, and a scalloped punch for the edging.  Please email me if you'd like to purchase any of these products, or shop my online store!

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

What it's all about...

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My Crafty Christmas Bootcamp was so much fun!  Food, papercrafting, friends, a *little* bit of wine, cookies, Bingo and plenty of giveaways made me a happy demonstrator, and I think everyone else was happy too!  Especially our little Stampin' Mascot Natalie...she hung in through the whole event!


Here are a few of the projects we made...

VICTORIAN CHRISTMAS CONE
Our first project of the evening was this gorgeous paper cone, with gobs of pretty details!  It may look a bit involved, but even the complete newbies did a *fantastic* job!  Here are the instructions:

Choose a sheet of cardstock, and cut a large circle out of it, the larger the better. You can use anything as a template, maybe a plate or your Cricut Machine.
Cut the circle in half, and you have a template for 2 cones.
Run the paper across the edge of the table a few times to loosen up the fibers in the paper, making it easier to roll into a cone.
Use tacky glue or adhesive on ½ of the straight edge, roll into a cone and adhere. You may need another dot of adhesive on the inside corner to keep it neat.
Decorate as you wish!  I added crochet ribbon, satin ribbon, champagne glitter glass, mini pearls, waffle paper, and linen thread, all available in the Holiday Mini Catalog.  Please contact me if you want to make some of your own!

Next was the Tea Light Box.  These are fantastic looking gifts, and so easy and inexpensive to make!  I got the instructions from Jill's Card Creations' blog, and was a BIG hit! 

Finally, we had a big tag party.  Punches, inkpads, brush markers, bling, pearls, and ribbon everywhere!  I put mine in a mason jar decorated with Striped Grosgrain Ribbon and DSP from the Holiday Mini Catalog. 

A PRESENT FOR MY WORKSHOP LADIES!  NOBODY LEAVES WITHOUT A SINCERE "THANK YOU"
I made a little early Christmas gift for all of the ladies who signed up for my workshop, I sincerely appreciate everyone who helps me enjoy my job.  I LOVE what I do!  This is a luscious lip gloss from Bath & Body Works in a cute little purse holder.  I saw the lip balm holders on Project Tuesday's blog, but had to change the measurements of the cardstock and the score lines.  Here's how you make this purse:

Cut a piece of patterned paper for the outside of the purse 7"x4".  Find the center mark and score at 3" and 4". 

Cut a piece of solid cardstock for the inside of the purse at 6 3/4" x 3 3/4", find the center mark, and score at 1/2" of each side of the center.  The score lines will match the outside paper, leaving an even border all the way around.  Make one more score line 1/2" from the second score line, which will be the backside of the purse. 

Make two cuts with a craft blade from the first score line across the second, and ending at the 3rd, all the way across them.  They should be 1-1/2" apart.  Lift up the flap you have cut and you should be able to insert the lip gloss. 

Adhere the inside & outside pieces, fold, and decorate at desired! 
HERE'S THE INSIDE OF THE LIP GLOSS PURSE