Mini Backpacks

I volunteered to make a couple of gifts for the teachers and staff at Kyle's school for Teacher Appreciation Week last week. I decided to make this adorable mini backpack that uses the Fancy Favor XL die for the Big Shot. This die is a MUST HAVE if you like to make mini boxes. It is SO easy to put together. I filled the mini backpacks with Hershey Kisses.

To make the backpack:

1. Use Big Shot to cut out one fancy favor box. I recommend using the Extended Premium Crease Pad for this! Do not fold or adhere box together, yet.
   
2. Cut a 3x3 piece of cardstock and rounded the edges of two corner. Score the straight edge at 3/4" and 1 1/4". This piece was adhered to the back of the box.
3. I attached my star punches to this piece before I adhered it to the box.
   
4. I used my Crop-a-dile to punch 2 holes through the lid and box-(I folded the lid at the crease so that I could punch through both layers.)
5. Punch 2 holes near the bottom corners.
6. Cut a 16 1/2" piece of ribbon.
   
7. Thread the ribbon through the top 2 holes on the lid. Be sure the ribbon is even on both sides and leave a little handle at the top for the backpack loop. Tie knots so the loop stays put.
8. Thread the ribbon through to the back of the box.
9. Thread the ribbon through the bottom holes.
10. Tie knots and trim.
11. Use Sticky Strip to adhere box.
12. Add Velcro dot underside of lid to close box.

Now, I just realized that you can see the ribbon that comes out of the back to look like the backpack straps! I'll take a picture of the back soon so you can see it.

Snowman Box

This is the January project I made for Kyle's teacher. I have been sending her little gifts throughout the year with 3x3 note cards.

The box is made using the Fancy Favor XL die for the Big Shot. Isn't he adorable? The XL dies can be a bit pricey, but if you are looking for just one to invest in, I absolutely recommend the Fancy Favor die. I love it!

The little earmuffs were made using the Scallop Circle punch and some 5/8" Basic Black ribbon. I used the Paper Crimper to give the muffs some texture. I guess I could have used any of my texture plates for the Big Shot, too.
I kept the cards very simple and didn't even add a greeting this time. The snowflakes are from the Snow Swirled stamp set and were stamped in Not Quite Navy, Ballet Blue, and Bordering Blue.

Snowman Box Directions:

1. Cut one box from Confetti White cardstock using the Fancy Favor Die and Big Shot.
2. Use Sticky Strip to put box together.
3. Punch 5 black 3/4" circles. Cut the bottoms off 2 of them to make the eyes.
4. Add eye details using White Gel Pen.
5. Cut a 1 x 1 3/4" piece of Pumpkin Pie cardstock. Cut it at a diagonal to make two noses.
   
6. Crimp nose with Paper Crimper.
7. Adhere face pieces.
   
8. Punch 2 scallop circles in color of your choice (I used Summer Sun). Crimp both pieces.
9. Cut an 8" piece of black ribbon and adhere to sides of box.
10. Place scallop circles on top of ribbon.
    

Quick & Cute Christmas Ornaments

Hi Ladies! Sorry for being away for so long. I am going to try to post some quick and easy projects over the next couple of weeks, so check back soon. I will also be posting additional information about my Super Stampin' Weekend on Wednesday.

These next two projects are a couple ideas I'm working on for my MOPS group craft. I'm not sure if either of these will be used, but at least I have something to share with you all!

The Snowman is a pocket ornament. It is made from a standard invitation size envelope and has a great pocket to hide some goodies.

The Snowflake ornament is made with the Snowflake die for the Big Shot. The stamped image is from the retired Deer Friends set, but you could substitute any image in its place. I sprayed the entire thing with my Shimmer Paint/alcohol mixture to give it some sparkle.

Shimmer Paint: Fill a small spray bottle about half way with rubbing alcohol. Add a couple teaspoons of shimmer paint (found in Holiday Mini) and shake vigorously. The best way to add the spray to your project is to spray it in the air and drag your project through the mist. This way your paper won't get too wet and the ink won't smear. As you can see from my sample, I didn't take my own hint!

Snowman Directions:

1. Seal your envelope and cut it at 5".
2. From the bottom, fold back to small triangles to give your snowman face some definition.
3. Cut a 4 1/4" x 1 3/4" piece of cardstock (Night of Navy) and stamp on it with a snowflake stamp of your choice (mine is from Christmas Punches hostess set).
4. Cut a thin piece of cardstock (Soft Suede) and adhere to bottom of stamped piece.
5. Adhere "hat" to top of snowman's head.
6. Punch (2) basic black circles with the 3/4" circle punch. Add details with white gel pen.
7. Adhere to face with dimensionals.
8. Cut a 6" piece of ribbon and tie a knot at one end.
9. Adhere your "scarf" to bottom of envelope.
10. Cut a triangle from orange cardstock and fold in half to make nose. Attach with Mini Glue Dots.
11. Make blush circles by sponging through a hole punched from your black eyes.
12. Add face features with black marker.
13. Punch two holes with your 1/8" handheld circle punch on the back side of the envelope near the edges and tie an 8" piece of cording through them.
    
14. Fill with a candy cane and candy!
    

Cocoa Packets

These are some cute little cocoa packets I made for my MOPS group project this month. They are super easy to make and so adorable!

1. Take a business sized envelope and cut the bottom off at 5 1/2".
2. Cut the top part of the envelope at 2".
3. Cut a piece of designer paper to 1 3/4 x 3 7/8".
4. Stamp bottom piece of envelope as you wish. Run through your Paper Crimper.
5. Adhere Designer Paper piece to top off envelope and tie a piece of ribbon around it.
6. Stamp a greeting on the bottom part of your lid.
7. Add a cocoa, coffee, or cider packet to your envelope.

Christmas Stamp Camp Bonus Projects

Images copyright Stampin' Up!

Oh, we had so much fun at the Christmas Stamp Camp on Saturday! I had nine ladies join me to make 5 fabulous (if I do say so myself!) projects. You can see them in the post below.

Each year, I like to add some type of stamped bag and a gift for my girls who come. You can see what I made last year by clicking here. This year, I made (with Jennifer's help) these super cute Santa Bags and Santa Hershey Bar covers. Don't you love them?!

Both are super easy to make. After finishing the candy bar holder, I realized that my bags look kind of goofy with the white showing in the buckle. That doesn't really seem right. So, my directions below will have you make a black belt that goes all the way across. Also, you could make the candy bar holder longer so that it doesn't show the top and bottom of the candy bar.


Santa Gift Bag
Supplies: Whisper White cs, Basic Black cs, 1 ¼” circle punch, 1 3/8” square punch, Red gift bag, Merry Moments Designer Paper, Silver Cording, Big Shot Two Tags die, Christmas Punch stamp set (hostess only)

1. Cut a 3 x 10 ¼ strip of Whisper White. Distress sides using Cutter Kit or scissors.
   
2. Cut (2) 1 ½” x 3 ½” basic black for belt.
3. Cut (1) 2 ¾ x 2 ½” basic black for buckle. Use square punch or paper cutter to cut out middle.
4. Punch 3 basic black circles for buttons.

Santa Candy Bar Wrapper
Supplies: Hershey Bar, 5 ½ x 7 ¼”Real Red cs, Whisper White cs (1 ½ x 7 ¼. 1 ½ x 5 ½), Basic Black cs (1 x 7 ¼, scraps), ½” circle punch, Stampin Dimensionals.

1. Score red cardstock with 5 ½ at top at 2 ¼, 2 ½, 4 ¾, and 5”.
2. Apply adhesive to one flap and wrap this around your candy bar.
3. Score the same as above for the Black piece and the longer white piece.
4. Tear both edges of shorter white and the top edge of the longer white.
5. Adhere the shorter white down the middle of your Santa’s body.
6. Apply adhesive to back of longer white piece and wrap around bottom edge of your Santa’s body.
7. Apply adhesive to back of black piece and wrap around middle of Santa’s body.
8. Cut a 1 ¼” square from Basic Black cs and adhere to middle of belt.
9. Punch 3 ½” black circles and attach to white strip using Stampin’ Dimensionals.

Skittles Pouch

Images copyright Stampin' Up!

This is a quick and easy little pouch that will hold snack size Skittles, M&M's, and Resee's Cups.

Directions:

1. Cut an 8 1/2" x 3 1/4" piece of cardstock. Score at 4 and 4 1/2. Fold along score lines.
2. Use Scallop Edge punch along top edges, if desired.
3. Adhere a 3 x 3 1/4" piece of Designer Paper to the front.
4. Use Horizontal Slot punch or a circle punch, to make space to tie your ribbon through/
5. Embellish with stamped image(s) as you wish.

Club Card

Tomorrow is my Mixed Club meeting. This is a group of ladies ( a few relatives, too!) who have been stamping with me for a long while. This is the last meeting of the Club round, and we will be making cards. One of the cards we'll be making is this stair step card. It is a really neat card to make and doll up because it can sit on a shelf as remembrance of the sentiment or occasion.

I had never made one of these and was really surprised at how easy it was to make. This card uses the Big Shot and some dies. I used the "Scallop Circle" (which is my absolute favorite die) and the "Bird w/ Leaves and Flower" die which is my newest die. I am not a bird person, but I have just caught on to the bird trend that Stampin' Up seems to be on. I bought both of the silly bird sets on pages 90 and 91 and now I have the Big Shot die.

This club starts a new session on April 9 and has room for 2 more members. It will be a Scrappin' Club this round. The club meets on the 2nd Mondays of the month at 7:00 pm. We meet at 6:30 for those who want to do dinner. Each month's hostess takes turns picking up dinner (we all pay for our own!). This is an optional part of club. Our club also swaps layouts which makes keeping up with your own scrapbooking so much easier. Please contact me if you have any questions!

Directions for the Stair Step Card:

1. Start with a 5 x 8 1/4" piece of cardstock for the base of your card.
2. Score at 1 1/4, 2 1/2, 4 1/4, 6, 8 1/4.
3. Accordion fold it so that you have 3 stairs of varying heights. Start the fold so that the first small stair is facing down.
4. Cover your stairs with designer paper or cardstock of your choice. Mine measure 1 x 4 3/4", 1 1/2 x 4 3/4", and 2 x 4 3/4".
5. Decorate the 3 stairs with various die cuts or cut-out images. Be sure that when you fold the card, your pieces don't stick out to far to prevent the card from fitting into a standard envelope!

I will share the 2nd card-a spiral pop-up card---tomorrow!

February Newsletter Valentine Project

Here is an easy little Valentine treat you can make super quickly! This treat holder holds a little cello bag of candy. I used my new candy obsession---Sweethearts.

1. Cut a Real Red piece of cardstock to 3 1/4 x 8 1/2.
2. Score at 1, 4 1/2, and 5".
3. Use Scallop Edge punch to scallop the edge of the 1" section.
4. Stamp this piece as you wish.
5. Cut a small cello bag to 3 3/8".
6. Fill the bag with candy (you don't want it to be too full!).
7. Place the bag inside your pouch so that the open end is near the crease of the 1" flap.
8. Close the pouch and use your Crop-a-dile or hole punch to punch two holes in center of the 1" section---these punched holes will go through all layers--bag included.
9. Use ribbon to tie the pouch closed.

Supplies Used:
Stamps: Happy Heart Day
Inks: Real Red, markers
Paper: Real Red, More Mustard, Whisper White
Other: Crop-a-dile, White grosgrain ribbon, Iridescent Ice embossing powder, Versamark, heat tool, Scallop Edge punch

Candy Heart Purse

This is another project the ladies made at my Valentine Treats Class. It uses one clear envelope, a velcro dot and Coluzzle ovals. Easy and so cute! If I had a daughter, this is what she would be passing out for Valentine's Day!

1. Use Coluzzle to cut a large oval from cardstock and the next size oval from Designer Paper.
2. Adhere to ovals together and fold along the long side.
3. Use Crop-a-dile or hole punch to punch two holes along crease for your ribbon handle.
4. Tie a 10” piece of ribbon through the holes.
5. Use a bone folder to make sharp creases on the clear envelope flap. Fold up the bottom of the envelope so that it touches the flap creases—use bone folder to get a sharp crease.
6. Apply a strip of Sticky Strip at the top back of your envelope pouch. Adhere it to the inside of the cardstock oval at the crease.
7. Insert candy of your choice in the envelope. Fold up the bottom.
8. Adhere a Velcro dot to the inside flap of your cardstock oval and close your purse. When you are ready to give this as a gift, you can pull of the envelope flap covering and close the “bag.”
9. Decorate as you wish.

Love You Much projects

There are only 2 more days to order the Love You Much Bundle at 20% off. For $44.14, you get the fantastic Love You Much stamp set, coordinating 3 heart punch, and awesome Candy Lane designer series paper. January 31 is the last day for this sale. After this date, you can still purchase each product individually at regular price.

Here are a few projects I've made using the bundle:

Hershey Kiss holder--holds 4 kisses


1. Start with a piece of 4 1/4 x 5 cardstock.
2. Score at 1 1/2, 3, 4 1/2.
3. Stick Hershey kisses to the inside with mini glue dots.
4. Fold over under the little flap and adhere it to the inside.
5. Decorate as you wish!

Okay, please excuse the messy stamping on this project. I was in a hurry and the ink smeared! I didn't have time to go back and redo it.

This card was copied from Aly Schilling. I used the textured Chocolate Chip cardstock, which I have rarely used. I must say that I see the draw of this cardstock and have resolved to start using it more--especially since I have 2 packs of it stashed away! I love the look of it. It jazzes up even the most simple project.


Candy Heart Pull Box

1. Start with a 4 x 7 1/4" piece of cardstock.
2. Score it at 3/4, 3 1/4, 4, and 6 1/2".
3. Use Sticky Strip to adhere the small flaps together.
4. Use the Horizontal Slit punch to make a slit at the top of both sides of the box--this is for your ribbon.
5. Cut a 20" piece of ribbon. Slide it through the slots so that the ends are coming out of the front and back of the box.
6. Insert your candy heart box in the middle so that it pulls down the ribbon.
7. Let the box settle to the end of your cardstock box and tie a knot or bow at the top. Now, when you want to get the candy, all you do is pull the ribbon up--you don't have to untie it.
8. Decorate as you wish.

I made a belly band for my box---did you notice my textured cardstock?! See, I'm on a roll! My belly band measured 3 x 7 1/4---score the same as above. Don't you love my sparkly image? I used the Faux Diamond technique to make it all pretty. After your image is complete, smoosh your Versamark pad on top of it. Make sure the whole piece is covered. Sprinkle Iridescent Ice embossing powder on top and heat it. That's it. Just be sure not to overheat it or you'll lose the "sparkliness."

Christmas Ornaments

Images Copyright Stampin' Up!

We made these Domino ornaments and pins at my Christmas Stamp camp earlier this month. The ladies were amazed at how nice they turned out and how easy they were to make.

Supplies: Dominos (you can often find cheap dominos at discount stores like Odd Lots or Family Dollar), re-inkers or ink pads with sponge daubers, Jet Black Staz-on, Stamps, rubber gloves (optional), embellishments like rhinestone brads, pin backing or magnet, Sanding Block or Rubbing Alcohol, Silver Leafing Pen, Spray Sealant, Ribbon, Mini Glue dots or Sticky Strip

1. Use sanding block or rubbing alcohol to sand away the glossy finish of the domino.
2. Put a small dot of re-inker at the top of your domino and rub it in with your gloved finger. You can vary the shading and even use two colors, if you wish. OR, use sponge daubers and ink pads.
3. Ink stamp with Staz-on and stamp on the domino.
4. Add color to line images with Sharpie Markers, if you wish.
5. Use a Silver Leafing Pen to cover edges of your domino. Allow to dry.
6. Spray with sealer. Allow to dry.
7. Take apart the rhinestone brad and adhere it to the domino with Tombow Multi-purpose Adhesive.
7. Adhere magnet or pin backing or turn into an ornament by adding ribbon along the edges with mini glue dots.

For the glitter tree pin----After I sealed the domino, I used Crystal Effects to add the glitter. Be sure to let the CE dry before you touch it!

Images Copyright Stampin' Up!

These ornaments were made using the On Board Trinkets Ornaments kit found in the Holiday Mini Catalog. This is a really fun and easy way to add some handmade ornaments to your tree. The kit contains chipboard pieces with matching perforated Designer Paper pieces. It makes over 40 ornaments. You can add some zip to them by adding glitter, ribbon, stamped images, etc.

Another easy way to decorate the chipboard pieces is to smoosh them into craft ink. You can then leave them be, or sprinkle some Iridescent Ice embossing powder for some sparkle. Find more ideas for decorating chipboard in this post from last year: Click Here!

Click here for additional ornament ideas. The chipboard pieces used in this post are retired, but you can find similar pieces in the On Board Something Seasonal pack found on page 180 in the current Fall/Winter Catalog.

Big Shot Gift Card Ornaments

What a fun way to give a gift card or cash! Hide a few of these on your tree and watch their eyes light up when they find them. You could personalize them a little more by adding a name or initial on the front. I made these to sell at a vendor fair so I had to make a bunch of them quickly and didn't want them personalized.

Don't own a Big Shot? That's okay--all you need is a circle cutter.

1. Cut 2 circles (or Scallops) from Designer Paper.
2. Cut 1 circle (or Scallop) from cardstock.
3. Cut a piece of ribbon for your hanger--about 5 inches.
4. Attach it to the cardstock circle with tape.
5. Adhere the Designer paper circle on top of the cardstock circle--right over top of the ribbon.
6. Cut one designer paper circle in half.
7. Use glue dots to attach the half circle to the back as a pocket for the gift card.
8. Stamp and decorate as you wish.

Supplies
Stamps: Deer Friends, Heard from the Heart
Ink: Chocolate Chip, Riding Hood Red, Pirouette Pink,
Other: Big Shot Scallop Circle or Circle Cutter, 1", 1 1/4", 1 3/8" circle punches, scallop circle punch, Chocolate Taffeta Ribbon, Stamin' Dimensionals

Come back tomorrow for some fun ornament ideas!

Isn't he too cute?! I made these little treat boxes for my Club ladies on Monday. This was inspired by a card made by Debbie Schlink. The box is your basic 2-4-6-8 box with the pieces attached.

What you need:
5 1/2 x 8 1/2 Chocolate Chip cardstock
2 x 1 1/2" Black cardstock
3 x 1/2" Black cardstock
Paper cutter with scoring blade
3/4" circle punch--punch 2 White, 1 Chocolate Chip
1/2" circle punch--punch 2 Back
Small oval punch--punch 1 More Mustard
5 petal flower punch--punch 1 Real Red
Sticky Strip
Stampin' Dimensionals


You can find directions for making the 2-4-6-8 Box by clicking here. This is a great box to know how to do--you can make all kinds of treat boxes--change the size of your beginning sheet and you can make various sized boxes.

Once you make the box, just use the punched out pieces and black hat pieces to make your turkey face. I cut the Chocolate Chip circle in half for eyelids and punched them up with dimensionals. The waddle is made by snipping off a petal from the 5-petal flower. Although, looking at this picture, his waddle should be pointing more towards the bottom!

Christmas Stamp Camp

Well, I've just finished my nap after my Christmas Stamp Camp today. All the fun started for the ladies at 9:30 this morning and lasted until almost 1:00. I was exhausted! I meant to take pictures of everyone today and it totally slipped from my mind until they were eating lunch, but I knew they wouldn't appreciate me taking pictures then! Instead, I'll just share some pictures of the projects.

Here are the projects that they made today: Ribbon Bookmark, Domino pin and ornament, Decorated Candle, Altered Picture Frame, and Glass Etched Plate.


I also made these bags for them to put their items in. Aren't they too cute?! You'll find directions at the end of this post.


Finally, I made each of them a pocket calendar. I bought these at the Flower Factory, but you can find them anywhere. One of the Stamp Camp projects a couple years ago was a pocket calendar, but it ends this year, so I knew some of those ladies would need new ones. These use the new Hawaii Papaya designer paper. It was the first time I've used this paper and I have to tell you--it is gorgeous! I added Felt Fusion flowers from both color kits to complete them. The greeting at the bottom says, "The Best is Yet to Be." It is from the Level 1 Hostess set called "Best Yet."



SNOWMAN BAG
Supplies: White Gift Bag, 3 ½ x 8 ½ Basic Black cs, 1 ½ x 8 ½ Real Red cs, 4 x 1 ¾ Only Orange 8.5" x 11", 1 ¼ circle punch, 1” circle punch, Crimper, Alphabet stamp set of choice (mine is from the Taffy Alphabet) Whisper White ink pad, Pretty in Pink ink pad, sponge, scrap cs, Stampin’ Dimensionals

1. Cut only orange cardstock in half along diagonal (makes 2 noses). Run through crimper.

1. Adhere black cardstock at the top of the bag.


2. Stamp name on red strip using Whisper White ink.


3. Adhere red strip to black strip.


4. Punch out one 1 ¼” circle on a scrap piece of paper. You will use this as your stencil for the cheek “make-up.”


5. Punch out two 1 ¼” circles and five 1” circles from Basic Black cardstock.


6. Adhere two eyes in the middle of the bag.


7. Use your scrap circle stencil to apply make-up with pink ink on the cheeks.


8. Adhere the five 1” circles as a mouth.


9. Adhere the carrot nose with dimensionals.

Top Note Frankie & Frankette

Oh, I am so excited to show you my latest creation inspired by a fabulous stamper named Cambria! This is a little treat holder. Put some candy in a cello bag and drop it in the box. So cute!


Directions for Face:

1. Use Big Shot to cut two Old Olive Top Notes and one Pink Passion (or other color for hair).


2. Cut the Pink Passion top note in half to make front and back hair and attach to the Olive top notes.


3. Punch two white 1" circles, one olive 1" circle, two black 1/2" circles, and one olive Round Tab.


4. Cut the olive circle in half, sponge with Old Olive ink and the cut in half and fringe to make eyelashes.


5. Cut the round tab in half for nose and sponge.


6. Adhere the face pieces as shown.


7. Use Black journaling marker to make stitches on face and back.

For Box

1. Cut a piece of cardstock to 6 x 10 1/2". I used Old Olive, but you could use the same color as your hair.


2. With your piece of cardstock facing so that the 10 1/2" side is horizontal, score at 4 1/4" and 6 1/4".


3. With the cardstock facing so that the 6" side is horizontal, score at 1 1/2" and 4 1/2".


4. With the 6" side facing up, cut along the score line that makes the skinny rectangles on all 4 corners--just cut to the perpendicular score line.


5. Use paper cutter to cut off 1 1/4" from the top of the skinny rectangles.


6. This step is optional--use scallop edge punch to scallop the skinny rectangles and the top of the large rectangles.


7. Adhere the Top Note face and back to the big flaps of your box. Be careful not to put adhesive where the hole for your ribbon goes or above the hole.
   


8. Fold in the flaps to make a box shape. Add adhesive where necessary to hold box together.


9. You could attach the larger sides to your small box to keep it together, but I used my 1/4" circle punch on both pieces so that I can slip a piece of ribbon in them to tie the box together

I hope my directions aren't too confusing. The box is really easy to put together once you figure it out and makes a fantastic treat holder on it's own without adding the Top Note pieces. I'll work on one to show you soon!

The Great Pumpkin Take 2

How fun is this?! Last year I made the globe version. Click here for directions for those. I had never seen this kind before. It works great as a pumpkin, but how about as a Christmas ornament? So easy to make---give it a try! I used regular cardstock, but our Designer Papers would be fantastic!

Directions:
Cut one strip 1"x6" (strip A), two strips 1"x7" (strip B), two strips 1"x9" (Strip C), two strips 1"x11" (Strip D). Arrange them in this manner: DCBABCD. Tap them on a table so all of the ends touch -> Staple this. Now just gather all of the tops, line them up, and staple them as well. I cut a 1 x 2 inch strip of Kiwi Kiss cardstock--although, I guess I probably should have used a brown for the stem. Fold it over and adhere it over the top section. I punched leaves with my Wide Oval Punch, cut them into a leaf shape, and adhered them to the side. Finally, I used my Crop-a-dile to make a hole at the top for my ribbon.

Party Favor Cones

Isn't this a cute little project? You have plenty of room to put candy or other treats. By simply changing the stamps and size of paper, you have adorable little Christmas baskets to hang on your tree. This project was made by my downline, Christine.

1. Start with a square piece of paper (this one is 8 1/2 x 8 1/2)
2. Wheel or stamp both sides of the cardstock as you wish.
3. Use a circle punch and punch a half circle from one of the corners (this will be the bottom of your cone).
4. With the punched corner facing your belly button, roll your cardstock into a cone shape.
5. Once you get the shape you like, add adhesive and close.
6. Use a hole punch to punch two holes. Add ribbon for a handle.
7. Add a stamped image like the flower shown, if you'd like.
8. Add crimped, shredded paper and whatever treats you want to your party cone!

Super fun and super easy!

August Project Challenge

You have until August 30 to submit your entry for this month's Project Challenge. This is an envelope card that can be used to hold gift cards, money, candy, and more. This project uses ALL NEW materials. The colors used are from the new In Color Line--Riding Hood Red and Kiwi Kiss. I love the new Bella Rose Designer Paper. The stamp is from a beautiful new set called Dreams du Jour.

Here's what you'll need:

• 4 1/4 x 10 3/4 sheet of cardstock


• 4 x 4 and 1 3/4 x 4 pieces of coordinating Designer Paper


• Coordinating cardstock for image and matting--my measurements are:
  Whisper White: 1 3/4 x 1 3/4
  Riding Hood Red 2 x 2
  Kiwi Kiss 2 1/4 x 2 1/4


• Stampin' Dimensionals
• Paper cutter with scoring blade
  
• 2 standard envelopes 3 5/8 x 6 1/2"--not the kind SU sells.
  

1. Be sure to have all of your paper cut to the sizes mentioned above. Take the 4 1/4 x 10 3/4 sheet of cardstock and score it along the long edge at 4 1/4 and 8 3/4.


2. Adhere your Designer Paper to the appropriate places on your cardstock. Stamp your image and adhere it to the mats.



3. Attach 2 Stampin' Dimensionals to the back of your matted images at the bottom. This piece is what we use to hold the card closed.





4. Peel off the backings of the Stampin' Dimensionals and adhere it to the folded "card" being sure to overlap the flap of the card.
   
   
   
5. Seal both envelopes and cut them at 4".



6. Run a line of adhesive on the back of your envelope (from the open top to the bottom)and attach it to the back of the other envelope. Now, I used the envelopes I had on hand, but if I would choose, I would buy the cheap envelopes that are all white--not with the security lining, so that they would look nicer.



7. Run adhesive around one side of the envelope pair and attach it to the center of your cardstock as shown. Make sure the open end of the envelope is at the top.
   
   
   
8. Run adhesive on the other envelope and fold over the cardstock to attach it. Now, when you open your card it opens slightly to show 2 pockets. Fill the pockets with gift cards, money,notes, candy--whatever you think of!
   
   
9. Tuck the top flap behind the stamped image mat and you're finished! These cards will fit in the A2 envelopes that we normally use for cards.

Now, get busy! Remember to email me your finished project using any supplies you have on hand. I will randomly pick a winner to receive a stack of 5 cards with envelopes.

Popsicle Cards

I just love these cards! They'd be perfect as invitations if you were planning a summer time party! I used my favorite set from the Occasions Mini catalog--Tart & Tangy. I adore this set! It is so fun and cute. The coordinating Summer Picnic paper is fantastic, too! You have until June 30 to order from this catalog, so be sure to call me if you need anything.

Directions:

1. Cut cardstock to 5 x 4.


2. Score at 2 1/2" and fold over to make the card base.


3. Use corner rounder on 3 sides--go through both sides of the card.


4. Use Scallop Punch on the top righthand corner--only punch the top layer.


5. Cut inside white cardstock to 4 x 2 1/2". Stamp as you like on this piece.


6. Punch the corners the same as the colored piece, except be sure to make the scallop "bite" a little smaller so that it peaks out. This makes it look like your popsicle is a creamsicle! Do the scallop punch while lining up your white inside with the back of the card and punch through both layes.


7. Use Horizontal Slot Punch to make two slots toward the bottom of the right side. Slip your popsicle stick through the holes.


8. You will adhere your white cardstock from above to this side using Stampin' Dimensionals.


9. Decorate as you wish!

Summer Activity Jar

I am so excited to share this project with you! This idea came from a fellow demonstrator named Erin Blair. The jar contains 20 activities--five each in four different categories. Each week, we will pick out one of each category for a total of four activities for the week. Click on the picture below for a better view of the activities I picked. I'm sure you can come up with some great ones of your own!

1. Things to do in or around the house


2. Places to go


3. Creative Projects


4. Food to make

I bought the jar for around $4 from Target. They actually have 3 sizes--I bought the smallest one. If I would have been going to IKEA anytime soon, I definitely would have found a cheaper jar!

I used the Summer Days Simply Scrappin' Kit to make this project. My tags measure 2 1/2 x 4 3/4". The Designer Paper measures 2 1/2 x 3 1/4". The Designer Paper on the jar is attached using Sticky Strip.