stamping with Maggie

A Defining Star Book

I used the nestabilites die cuts - long rectangles on my Sissix Big Shot machine. I used the longest die for the Close to Cocoa cardstock. And used  the next smaller die for the pink print, and the next smaller die for the white print.

I used Stampin' Up's defining moments stamp set on each page, choosing those that would make a great album gift for Valentine's Day, birthday, support, or friendship.

I folded each die cut in half and glued the backs together. I used red sticky tape to make sure it would hold up to the movement of opening and closing.

There must be something I can do with these scrap leftovers from die cutting the book pages.

Christmas decorating Simple

I found a Vintage feed sack while I was decluttering my crafty stuff. I found some fake pine boughs I had been saving and made a really cute Santa sack for my couch. I stuffed it with that great paper stuff that Stampin' Up packs in  their boxes.They are a  full service company for the recycler. smile....

Very festive, but where I gained ground with the Santa sack decoration, I lost ground by starving this poor Christmas cactus.

Cozy Christmas Cocoa Gift Box

 

 

I made these cocoa boxes after seeing this inspirational piece. She has a great tutorial. The template for the box can be printed on 8 1/2 x 11 cardstock, and then just cut and folded. This Pdf file was shared by Debbie Olson on her blog and is freely shared for personal use, not for resell.

Download DOlson_CocoaPackTempl

I used the in color from Stampin' Up called Kiwi Kiss. I love this green for Christmas. I downloaded the Santa picture from the web as a free share. I googled vintage Santa picture. I distressed it to work with the vintage look and feel by crinkling, and rubbing Close to cocoa ink, with a little basic black.

I used  Stampin' Up designer Series paper Holiday Treasures which I really love! And the coordinating riding hood red taffeta ribbon.

I used nestabilities scallop rectangle and snow flurries  dies on my Sizzix Big Shot machine. I added some glitter and shine with Dazzling diamonds.

The hardest part was remembering to buy the cocoa when I went grocery shopping.... forgot twice.

A Cute Cocoa gift box

I Just want to post a quick box I made, that makes a perfect cocoa gift box for our snowy winter and holiday season. This was very simple to make following a template and using scraps of your favorite  Stampin' up designer series paper. With the design on both sides of the paper, you don't even have to think about coordinating patterns.

Sandy! I have lost you again. I'm sure I put your address somewhere VERY safe, but... sigh. Please send your address again. Oh, please.

Thankful - Turkey Noodle Soup Jar Mix

I found this wonderful idea in a magazine at the library. It is a jar mix for turkey noodle soup recipe. How perfect for the leftover turkey from Thanksgiving. The ingredients were very easy, I had most of them at home. Here is a  pdf  Download turkeysoupjarmix.pdf   of the jar mix recipe.

 I used Stampin' Up  Holiday Treasures Designer Series Paper to cut circles for the jar lids. I used the circle nestability die on my Sizzix Big shot machine. I used Kiwi Kiss cardstock and the envelope die from Stampin' up to make the envelope.

I created a digital label and printed them on whisper white cardstock. If you would like to use this same recipe card, you may download it free from here.

Our Thanksgiving will be small this year. I still need to adjust to our empty nest.. But my children are well and I am grateful. We have been blessed beyond measure. I hope your Thanksgiving is full of great memories for you, and that you get them recorded.

I am joining the There is No Place Like Home Thanksgiving celebration this week. There will be many great ideas, from ladies all over, to help us concentrate on our thanksgiving blessings.

Basic Scrapbooking Tool Kit for Baby Album

My plan was to make a quick, simple baby album for a friend having a baby. I didn't want this to be a work of art, but a gift from the heart. I wanted to use what I had on hand, and sit down, focus, and be done. I found myself overwhelmed with all the possibilities, I have too many choices. I was constantly jumping up and down to go in search of the perfect addition. I wore myself out, and started hating the whole project. I gave myself a stern lecture, and realized that I will want to make baby scrapbooks, of the simple variety, on many occasions. Why not make a basic kit that i can pull out every time I sit down to create a baby album.

I wanted it to fit in this box, and include only those things that would go in all baby albums. I can add  papers and embellishments specific to each album later.

• I love the Stampin' Up 1/4 inch gingham ribbon. So I included a roll of pink, and light blue ribbon in my kit
• I know there are so many shapes, colors, sizes of brads available, but I decided to pick one to keep permanently in my kit, I chose Stampin' Up soft subtles. It's small, inexpensive and comes in a great container. Perfect colors
• Every baby album must have buttons, and the Stampin' Up soft subtles assortment will match any baby colors perfectly. Clear might be great second choice.
• I didn't want to keep punches in this kit exclusively, but The Stampin' up scallop circle punch and scallop border punch would be an essential go to addition to the kit.
• I included some baby safety pins and little tags I punched using the smaller Stampin' up tag punch from Whisper White cardstock
• I needed tag string, so I added white crochet thread.
• I pre-cut white photo mats from Stampin'Up Whisper white Cardstock. I used a 12x12 sheet, and cut 4x6, which gave me 6 photo mats.

Now I can grab a scrappin' kit or pretty paper, basic tool kit, and my basic baby kit, sit down and create a baby memory album. Simple

 

Open Box Challenge

I started this project on time ...really. But I was late finishing. It was for a challenge at 3D Challenge group. We were to make an open box.

I used the Sizzix envelope die and my Big shot machine to cut out 4 envelopes from Stampin' Up's Holiday Treasures Designer Series Paper. I used the red sticky tape to adhere each side flap together and folded the top outward to create contrast. I used buttons from my giant button jar to decorate the top. I even stamped the tissure paper using Stampin' Up's ..ack!..they retired that set, um.. using any Christmas sentiment stamp. This was super easy if you have a flat space to work. ( no confessions there). This would make a great gift box for Christmas. Finished it was about 3 inches square.

Do you Remember Paperkins? + 300 Posts Gift

I love paperkins by EK Success. They were very popular, way back when, in scrapbooking. Even the names were fun! I started collecting them after the second round had come out for the public. I determined I was going to have everyone of them. I remember, I struggled to find slam dunk sam. I finally found him on vacation on our way to Florida in Bowling Green Kentucky. Yes, I used to make my family stop at scrapbook stores on vacation. What's wrong with that, i ask you? SO...

My friend, who had a shop, and helps coordinate the Crop for kids fund raiser, had enough to donate for a make and take. We had so much fun making these again. I made a girl on a swing for pictures I have of my Granddaughter on our tire swing. How cute are these? 

By the way, I did collect them all! and I still have them. I have them all made, in fact, and in a little album, But i forget to use them.

I have just flipped over 300 posts!!! Woohoo!!  As a Gift, I have mini paper kins I would love to send to you. Just leave a comment and I will draw for them.  Thank you for all your support.

Another Stairstep Card- Elegant

I really enjoyed making this fold of card. I feel like I am painting a scene with paper. I wanted a more elegant look for this card, and I wanted to try the corner punch in a circle technique I found on Becca Feeken's blog. She has a tutorial which is great!

All supplies from Stampin' Up

Stamps: Baroque Motif, Sincere Salutations, Heard from the heart

Paper: Very Vanilla, Mellow Moss

Ink: Versamark

Accessories: Embossing buddy, Gold embossing powder, ribbon, string of beads corner punch, gold brads

Directions for stairstep fold: Splitcoast Stampers

Stair Step Card - Going Wild

I am on a Stampin' Up demonstrator list that issues weekly challenges. The time slips by me without an entry. But I had also looked at Splitcoast stampers challenges and decided to try the Stair step fold this week anyway, What luck! now I can participate in both challenges.

This was great fun! I wanted to use my Zoofari stamp set again for a baby card. And before the holidys take over and all we see is Christmas cards, I wanted to try something new. I left The animals on a stick unstuck so that a child could play with them after they opened the card.

So.... Wild about you.. on a stick.

Stamps: Zoofari

Paper: Gable Green, Whisper White, bordering blue, more mustard,garden green, real red
Ink: Stazon black

Accessories: 2 oval  punches, 1/4 in circle punch, scallop circle punch, 1 1/2 circle punch, word     window punch, 2 smallest square punches, spiral punch, red gingham ribbon, markers

Directions for cutting and folding Stairstep card: Splitcoast Stampers