4th of July Tags for Goodie Bags

Pin It Now! Just a quick share tonight.  I'm getting ready for a birthday / Independence Day party at my house tomorrow, and needed some patriotic tags for goodie bags for the kids!

I stuffed them full of candy and firecrackers (the cheesy kind!). Oh, and Minion glasses. This is going to be fun!

Have a blessed holiday weekend!  

Envelope Punch Board Gift Card Holders - Snowflake Soiree, Christmas Messages

Pin It Now! I got a little ambitious with the color combo we're working with this week at Hand Stamped Sentiments!  I have quite a stash of cards already, and today I'm working on gift card holders and tags.

These are made with the Envelope Punch Board.  Baked Brown Sugar cardstock base with Snowflake Soiree flakes heat embossed all over with white.  

Everything used here are carryover items from last year's Christmas mini, so it's all still available for purchase!  I started with the girly-ish GC holder with the doily and Cherry Cobbler rosette.  It had been a while since I made ribbon flowers!

They're easy when you use SU's Jumbo Sticky Rounds, and the instructions are on the back of the package!

Next up was a more boyish version, and I decided I'd go more simple, less fussy on the rest.

To make these, use the 3" x 5" measurement on the Envelope punch board, which starts with a piece of cardstock 6-7/8" square.

The inserts are then 3 x 5, easy, right?  I used Champagne glimmer paper and some die cuts to make "tabs" to lift the GCs out of the envelopes, and decorated both sides. 

These left me with some leftover cardstock, so I made some gift tags out of it instead of filing them away. 

The back:

These will definitely be incorporated into my September Christmas class!

Be sure to check out the other DT ladies' projects at Handstamped Sentiments!  Click the pic to join in the fun!

Have a blessed and creative day!

SUPPLIES: 

STAMPS:  Snowflake Soiree, Christmas Messages

INK:  Garden Green, Cherry Cobbler, Baked Brown Sugar

PAPER:  Baked Brown Sugar, Garden Green, Cherry Cobbler, Very Vanilla

EMBELLISHMENTS:  Cherry Cobbler Seam Binding Ribbon, Baked Brown Sugar Thick Twine, 1-5/8" burlap ribbon, In Color Sequin Assortment, Candy Dots Regals, Star punch, Gold Baker's Twine, Tea Lace Doilies, 2-1/2" Circle Punch, Scallop Tag topper punch, XL Oval punch

BIG SHOT:  Stylish Stripes TIEF, Large Polka Dot TIEF

ENVELOPE PUNCH BOARD

Tag Topper Punch Trifold Card

Pin It Now! I love this new Tag Topper Punch.  I've always had a fascination with tags, and this opens up my cardmaking world to so many new ideas!

Today I want to share another card fold using the tag topper punch.

It's a pretty easy, but a nice surprise of a fold!  The card base is 5-1/2 x 11".  Simply score the left side of the cardstock at 4-1/4 & 8-1/2, and the remaining flap gets the Tag Topper Punch. 

Inside, from Kind and Cozy.  This is appropriate for sympathy, get well, or just - well - Thinking Of You!

DSP:  Sweet Sorbet

STAMP:  Kind & Cozy

Thanks for stopping by!

Have a blessed and creative day ~ Erika

Tag, You're DONE! Twelve Tags and Pop-Out Box Card - USWDAF

Pin It Now! Here's a set I have created for the latest event with Ustamp With Dawn & Friends - Heating Up the Holidays!  This event uses EVERY ITEM in the Holiday Mini, can you believe it?  40 + tutorials, so no matter what you bought, there's a tutorial to spark your creativity.

This is a set of twelve tags and a cute pop out 3D box to send them in...

These were REALLY fun to make!  And pretty easy, too.  I'll give you a little hint...They're made combining two super cute sets from the Holiday Mini...the Stamp-A-Tag Kit, and the Season of Style Journaling Tag Pack.  Here's a closer look at the tags.

Isn't it time to get started on your Christmas preparations?  You'll be glad you did!  Click below to check out my tutorial and 39 others for only $24.95...

I'm going to share another one of my favorites from this event...this one is created by Fran Sabad, and it's unexpected and WONDERFUL for Halloween lovers!  Check it out...

Yes, I think I have to make this!  

I'll be back to share my other project from Heating Up the Holidays 2013 in a day or two.  Thanks for stopping by!  

Have a blessed and creative day ~ Erika

Happy National Scrapbook Day! {Glassine Sack Tag Album, 50th Birthday Party Decor}

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Hi friends, and Happy (inter)National Scrapbook Day to you!  Today I'm sharing with you a good reason to scrapbook - to honor someone you love.  I put together this mini album for my husband's recent HUGE milestone birthday!  It was really easy and the result was worth a million bucks.

 Simply gather a bunch of glassine bags or whatever bags you have on hand.  Need some?  Check here in my Etsy shop.
Staple them together at the bottom.
Wrap the stapled end with a piece of cardstock.  Mine is Marina Mist, embossed, and embellished with an Antique Brad & circle punch of Champagne Glimmer paper.
Wrap each bag with coordinating pattern papers.  Mine is Nautical Expedition (retired SU).  This gives the album a little body and color.
Add a little stamped embellishment to the front.  I used The Open Sea.
Now your base is done, time to fill it with memories!
I used the Two Tags die, measured the usable space, and typed up the replies on the computer. Then I cut them out and die cut each with the Big Shot.

Since it was my hubby's big giant birthday (I happen to be a LOT younger than him LOL, but I'm catching up fast), I wanted to fill it with messages of appreciation from people all throughout his life.  FACEBOOK, here I came!  I sent a group message to everyone that I thought has been touched in some way by his being around.  Childhood best friend, coworkers from 25 years ago, family, neighbors, church friends.  It was really easy once I got started.  Then the messages started rolling in, by Facebook message, text, and phone.  And it was WONDERFUL!   I was so blessed by the memories I received on his behalf.  It was very sweet to read what others had to share, and I was surprised by the heartfelt responses, especially from the guys in our lives.  But the real impact was when he read the messages.  I gave him the book the night before his birthday, and he took it to bed to read.  He laughed.  He got quiet.  And he smiled.

And this is why you have to scrapbook.

I also threw him a surprise party, and I wanted to share some of the decorations with you.  I scoured the web and Pinterest when planning his party and ended up coming up with all the ideas on my own.  First up was the banner for the cake table...

It's made of hand cut banner pieces, and LOTS of squares of Silver Glimmer Paper.  I scanned snapshots of many of the big moments in his life - childhood, grandparents, high school, our wedding, our first son, second son, and our business grand opening were some of the big ones.

Here's the hall, all gussied up!  I didn't want to do all black, I'm just very much not into the over the hill stuff :)

C. is a collector of antique clocks, so I started swiping clocks from the house earlier in the week. I set one as a centerpiece on each table, added confetti & balloons, and glue dotted a "time" quote to the face of each clock.  Lines like, "time flies when you're having fun",  "everything is better with time", etc.  It was so very HIM, and he loved it too.

  

Finally, some quickie decorations for the food table.  Jars of candy with coffee stirrers embellished with banners, pinwheels, and big fat rhinestones.  

I hope you enjoyed my birthday ideas, and hopefully you'll be able to bless somebody's life with a scrapbook, or honor them in some way with your crafty skills.  I'm going to try to pop back in later with a layout for NSD :)  Till then, have a blessed and creative day!  ~ Erika

Easter Crosses of Hope Tags & Cards

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Happy Easter Saturday to you!  If you haven’t put together some little goodies to give the adult friends in your life, it’s not too late.  Here’s an easy tag to make, that also quickly transforms a card front into an elegant statement.

In assembly line fashion, prepare all of your layers.  Doily Sizzix circle (largest one), wood grain embossed Sahara Sand cardstock, Crosses of Hope stamped in So Saffron (hand cut), “Happy Easter” from Teeny Tiny Wishes, punched with the Word Window punch, then banner cut at the ends.  And then your flower layers.  Here’s a quick visual on how to recolor your Flower Lace Trim easily:

I’ve seen them sprayed with a water bottle (here on Pinterest) to achieve the color spread, but I like the way the Aqua Painter works better for a variegated look. You can really work the brush into the layers and get it as wet or dry as you want.

After assembling your tags, you can run some Linen Thread through the tops of some, or make cards from them like these two.

I have several Sympathy cards to make this week, so I thought I’d make one from this tag to get started.  If I happen to have leftover tags that didn't find a home by Easter, I’ll  probably swap out the Easter sentiment for communion, baby, or whatever I need.

My guys and I put together these bags of pretzel bunnies (again, found on Pinterest here), and we plan to go to our elderly neighbors today, and visit a couple local folks in nursing homes.

Have you been watching The Bible series on History channel?  We just caught up last night, and wow, how visually stunning it is!  To see the stories played out on the screen is amazing.  I love seeing the surprise and realization on my sons’ faces when they recognize the stories being portrayed.  I think it’ll be helpful to them to see this, they’ll remember the events even better now.

Have you seen this Easter topiary on Pinterest?  Haha!  It’s adorable.  This is the one we made here at home for our kitchen table.  The base of mine is a blue glass vintage doorknob and an inverted mini tart tin.  It gets lots of comments J  My 12 y.o. says he saw a report that Peeps never deteriorate.  Weird, but okay!  I guess I’ll pack it away for next Easter and see if the research holds up.

Well, I hope you have carved out time to do something crafty this weekend!  Link up in the comments if you’d like to share, I’d love to see what you’re up to!

SUPPLY LIST:

STAMPS: Crosses of Hope, Teeny Tiny Wishes

INK: So Saffron, Old Olive, Primrose Petals

PAPER: Tea for Two DSP, Sahara Sand, Baja Breeze, Whisper White

EMBELLISHMENTS: Lace Flower Trim, Vanilla Seam Binding Ribbon, Doily from Artisan Embellishment Kit, Delicate Doilies Sizzix die, Always Artichoke Seam Binding Ribbon, Woodgrain embossing folder, word window punch

Travel Candle Tin Birthday Set {DIY Candle}

Pin It Now! My latest project tutorial for Ustamp With Dawn & Friends is one I know I'll make over and over again.  It's a do-it-yourself travel candle in a repurposed Altoids tin, all decked out in gorgeous vintage frills!

The ensemble includes a criss-cross pocket card, embellished kraft gift box, and matching tag.  They're all adorned with the Artisan Embellishments Kit from the Spring Mini. I'll tell you, I have never seen Stampin' Up! put out more gorgeous, versatile, and on-trend products as what is in this catalog.  

You can get a full color 9 page PDF tutorial, with step by step directions on everything you see here, even how to easily create my tin candle with items you have around your house already.  Just visit Ustamp With Dawn & Friends Grow Creative Love.  There you will be in a private party zone full of friends like you, who love to stamp and love to create really outstanding WOW projects. This event has over 40 tutorials in all, from card sets to jewelry making, and it's only $24.95.  Chats, galleries, prizes, and all the inspiration a girl could wish for!

Girly Chalkboard Tags

Pin It Now! I'm jumping on the Chalkboard Technique bandwagon, and I'm loving the ride!

I made a little batch of these feminine tags for customers when I sent out my latest packet of info.  They're simple and easy to do, and there are plenty of tutorials on the web.  Now that I've done it, I've found a few other samples that I'd like to CASE, like this one from Tami White, very subtly done.  So I'll continue to tweak my technique. Practice makes perfect!

Mine are simply done by heat embossing the image with white Stampin' Emboss powder onto Basic Black CS, then sponging Craft White ink here and there.  It's easy to smudge around until you like the look.

SUPPLY LIST:
STAMPS: Vintage Verses (SAB 2013), Affection Collection,

INK:  Craft White, Versamark clear
PAPER: Basic Black
EMBELLISHMENTS: Pink Pirouette Two Tone Ribbon, Baker's Twine, White embossing powder

Ornament Keepsakes Reverse Applique Tags

Pin It Now! I have great news!  (for me, anyway) It's snowing!!!  I love, love, love the snow.  It puts me in the mood for my favorite holiday, which of course is Christmas.  This week at Hand Stamped Sentiments we get to play a little with Christmasy things, making something that we all need and use...gift tags!

 These were made using the Reverse Applique technique.  I learned to make them from Ilina Crouse's project at Ustamp With Dawn's Technique Boutique event that's going on right now.  I plan to try out lots of new-to-me techniques, and this was a good one to dip my toe in, so to speak!

 They're made using Brushed Gold Specialty paper, and the Ornament Keepsakes Framelits.  I used 2 new sets of DSP from the current Holiday Catty, they are Candlelight Christmas (the green pattern) and Snow Festival (the Cherry Cobbler and Early Espresso).

 I trimmed them out with Cherry Cobbler Scalloped Tulle ribbon and a few others I had on hand.

 I really like them, I think they look good enough to give to my mother-in-law, who is pretty fancy :D

So I know you will need a gift tag or two this holiday season, why not hop over to HSS and share a tag project with us?

And if you'd like to check out Ustamp With Dawn's technique-y projects, click the pretty pink blinkie on my sidebar!  

By the way, I hope you and your loved ones are not involved in this treacherous storm, Sandy.  My thoughts and prayers are with everyone who is suffering through this difficult situation.  

Have a blessed and creative day!  Erika

Tags, Bags, Boxes & Bows...TAGS!

Pin It Now! I'm holding a Tags, Bags, Boxes & Bows gathering at Wittman UMC on Sunday, Dec 12th. We'll have a dozen beautiful little projects to choose from, and I'm going to post all of them over the next week.

Here are my first sets of gift tags!




This first set is a sparkly but elegant tag set with glimmer paper and Bells and Boughs. A little satin ribbon & popping up. Pretty and pretty easy!



Next up is a gorgeous velvety combo. Mocha Morning is so rich and elegant. The tag is a CASE from UstampWithDawn's I Heart the Holidays event, by the fabulously talented Gretchen Barron, and I created a wine bottle tag to go with it.



Third set is a super quick & easy group made with antiqued Very Vanilla, the Ticket Corner punch & quilted ribbon trim. With the right supplies, even a one-minute tag can make your gifts look SO put together!



Can't wait to get together with all my wonderful friends and neighbors. This is what it's all about <3

I'll be posting gift bags next!

Have a blessed & creative day! Erika. www.erikaclark.stampinup.net