Stamp it BIG! Winner and a Mason Jar

Hello! Happy Monday!  Oopsie----I forgot to post the winner of my Stamp it Big stamp set yesterday.  Here is the winner as selected by Random.Cara....#3.  Congrats to Cheryl Hutcherson who said...

"LOVE the new stamp set! Your cards are fabulous...as usual!!  Congrats on the debut! Thanks for the chance to win!!"

February 6, 2013 at 9:33 AM

Congrats Cheryl!  Please email me your address so I can get that set in the mail!

I also wanted to share this little project with you today---It is a mason jar all dressed up with some SRM Labels by the Dozen- Made By and some Charcoal baker's twine from The Twinery:

Here is a view of the top of the jar that says "Made with Love" :

Thanks for stopping by today!

The Twinery "Be Our Valentine" Series: Day 7

Hello! Have you seen the "Be Our Valentine" Series going on over at The Twinery blog yet?   If not, you don't want to miss a day---it is full of inspiring projects, home decor ideas, free printables and some fantastic giveaways!  Today is Day 7 in the series.

Today's feature is Party Favors!  Since the theme of the series is "Be Our Valentine" I decided to create a Valentine party favor:

I dressed up a clear pillow box (SRM Stickers) using an adorable Silhouette cut file by Samantha Walker called Hug and a Heart and some baker's twine- Charcoal, Pink Sorbet and created this little treat holder  for a sweet valentine cutie:

 

I love using baker's twine to "dress up" fun designs.  In this case, I tied some Pink Sorbet sassy bows for the little cutie's hair and I created a small heart banner for the little girl to hold using the Charcoal baker's twine.  I tied some extra Pink Sorbet twine around the base of the pillow box and tied it on the lower right side near the sentiment.

I know one little girl who will be jazzed to get this on Valentine's Day!

Thanks for stopping by and be sure to check out The Twinery blog for lots of inspiring ideas and a fun giveaway!

Samantha Walker Creative Crafters Team Blog Hop

Welcome to the Samantha Walker Creative Crafters Team Blog Hop! (My first one with this wonderful team!)

You should have arrived here from Maya Oren-Dahan's blog!

If this is your first stop, be sure to head over to Samantha Walker's blog to start at the beginning!

!

This month one lucky winner will receive the fabulous

Spellbinders Botanical Swirls and Accents Dies:

AND be sure to look extra closely at Step #4 to learn how you can get this FREE SVG and Silhouette Studio file:

To enter, just leave a comment on Samantha's blog during January 9th through January 13th. The winner will be announced on Samantha's Facebook page on Monday, January 14th. 

For additional entries:

1. Receive an additional entry for commenting on each of the other blogs in the blog hop.

2. Go here and follow Samantha Walker's blog 

3. Follow her on Facebook

4. Sign up for an e-mail subscription to Samantha's blog and you will automatically receive a link to a free SVG cutting file that you can download and use on your personal electronic cutter. If you are already a subscriber, just enter in your information in the secure form on Samantha's blog!  The free files will be e-mailed early next week!

To receive the additional entries and get the free files, mention in your comment on Samantha's blog that you have done so! 

WOW, that is 17 chances to win!

Here is my project for the hop! Our theme was Winter--and since Valentine's Day falls in Wintertime--I took this opportunity to use some of Samantha's fabulous Silhouette files to create a Valentine mini album:

I used a piece of chipboard to create the front cover and then cut some pages from cardstock.  After decorating the cover, I punched a hole through the cover and pages and added a binder ring:

Here are the files I used:
'10 Things I Love About You' phrase
1 piece flourish bracket
Keys
Decorative tree (I used the bird from this file!)

The note pages are all read to fill!

Thanks so much for stopping by!  
Click below to head over to 

Samantha Walker Facebook Page!

Your next stop on the hop is Claudia Harvey!

Happy Hopping! Thanks for stopping by!

Cardmaker Blog Team - Xyron Blog Hop

Hello! It is time for another Cardmaker Blog Hop.  The Cardmaker girls received some awesome products from Xyron.  Thanks Xyron!  So we are having a blog hop today to show off the cards we made.

Here are the Xyron Products I used on my projects today: 

the Creative Station: this product blows my mind!

 

the Mega Runner: the best tape runner I have used

 

and the Permanent Adhesive Glue Stick for Corners:

Creative Station---> Since I am a figure-it-out-yourself-and-if-you-run-into-problems-look-for-a-video kind of person :), I found a great video on how to use the Creative Station on the Xyron Video page.  It is a cinch!  You can also find wonderful ideas and inspiration on their Blog.

My machine came loaded with permanent adhesive inside.  Just place the item you want to make sticky all the way into the machine (as shown), crank the handle clock-wise and the items come out the other side.  When they come through the back, press the clear bracket down and slide the blade across to cut the paper. (NOTE: The paper will be sticky on the back so always put the side you want to be sticky facing down into the machine.)

Then you end up with something that looks like this:

All you do from this point is use a bone folder or press over every area of the image to ensure you will get the sticky on every part and then peel the clear film off and you  have die cuts that are sticky!  This is HUGE for someone like me (who uses a lot of intricate die cuts and uses my Silhouette machine non-stop!)

But, with this same machine you can change out the Permanent Adhesive cartridge to add in a Repositional Adhesive, a Magnet backer (great for creating magnets from photos); a Laminate Cartridge, and a Laminate/ Permanent Adhesive Cartridge (which has laminate on top and the adhesive on bottom.) Love that!

Here are a few projects I made with the Xyron products:
For the first one, I used the smooth-as-butter Mega runner to add paper to a chipboard tag.  To create the glittery ornament, I die cut it using my Silhouette machine (Ornament Set: Samantha Walker).  Then, I took the ornate cut and ran it through my Creative Station to apply adhesive to the back.  Placing the sticky side up I sprinkled glitter all over the die cut.  The glitter attached to EVERY spot of the diecut and did not come off.
I ran the die cut through the Creative Station again (glitter side UP!) to get perfect adhesive coverage on the back of it so I could attach it to the ornament base that I cut from neutral cardstock.  After assembling the ornament, I added some rhinestones and pearls before adding to the tag:

Next, I have a card using glitter again.  I created the card base by adhering the patterned paper to the card using the Mega Runner.  After I die cut the tree image (Samantha Walker: 3 Christmas trees: Silhouette), I ran it through the Creative Station one time to add the glitter.  Then, I used the Glue Stick to adhere it to the card base.  Then, I added the glitter tree on top using foam tape to get some dimension. I am lovin' the glittery tree!:

Here is another very ornate die cut image that I cut using my Silhouette (Birds on a Branch by Hero Arts) that I have avoided using because I didn't want to try to add liquid adhesive to the back of every leaf and I was sure a tape runner would rip it.  It was simple using the Creative Station:

Finally, here is another quick card using an intricate snowflake die (from The Cat's Pajamas), sentiment from Simple Snowflakes (Gina K Designs).  The snowflakes were run through the Creative Station and then added to the card:

Head on over to these blogs to see what the rest of the Cardmaker girls made with their Xyron products:
Cardmaker Blog
Anya
Colleen
Glenda
Jennie
Trudy

Thanks to Xyron for the wonderful products featured on today's post!  Thanks for stopping by!

Tag Wall Calendar

Hello! Happy Monday! Thanks so much for all the comments and emails from my last post.  I just love my super fabulous blog friends!

Last year I created a wall calendar made up of tags that hang on this birdcage in my kitchen.  I decided to update the tags for 2013 since it has been a big conversation piece in my house.  The tags feature SRM Mini Calendars and a LOT of other SRM stickers (listed below!)  You can see in the detail pics all the other stickers I used (including lots of border stickers!) Here is the finished product that was on the SRM stickers blog last week:

SRM Stickers used:
Stickers by the Dozen- Valentine’s  #62004

We’ve Got Your Border- Halloween  #57005

Express Yourself- St. Patrick’s Day #42036

Freestyle Winter #50001

We’ve Got Your Border- Valentine’s #57007

Mini calendar 2013 Standard #48009

Mini calendar 2013 Decorative #48008

Sticker Sentiments- Life is Good #51014

Year of Memories 2013 #48007

Express Yourself- Water Fun #42039

Express Yourself- Graduation #42019

Quick Card- Class of 2013  #52043
Express Yourself- School #42020

Other supplies used are from these companies: The Twinery, Ranger (Distress inks), Gina K Designs, My Favorite Things, Bella Blvd, October Afternoon, Little Yellow Bicycle, Echo Park Paper, My Little Shoebox, Lori Whitlock (Penguin Silhouette Shape).

Thanks for stopping by!

Travel Gift Idea

Since my husband and I "gifted" each other a Hawaiian vacation for our anniversary this year...I was inspired to created a fun way to present a travel gift.

Here is my gift idea...

I used a Silhouette file to make the airplane and added some SRM stickers to the plane...."relax" "unwind" and "dream".  I attached the plane to the tube by using a stick pin.  The top of the pin in threaded through the airplane base and then I pushed it through the lid of the tube.  I put some foam tape on the inside of the tube lid to anchor the pin.   The plane actually tilts back and forth :)  

I covered the bottom of the Mini tube with black vinyl that I die cut into building shapes using My Favorite Things Die-Namics Skyline Border die.  I added the "adventure" sticker along the tube and filled the tube with the travel information.  This concept would work well with concert tickets, amusement park tickets, etc.  Simply change out the topper to reflect what is inside :)

SRM products used:

Express Yourself Retirement #42005

Express Yourself Everyday Boy #42040

Mini tube

Thanks for stopping by!

Card Design Handbook

..a special issue from Paper Crafts Magazine is available now!!  I couldn't wait to see how this publication would turn out and I was not disappointed.
If you've ever wondered about the "rules" of design, you'll want this first-of-its-kind special issue. We'll show you how to creatively combine colors from all segments of the color wheel and explain basic design concepts like the rule of thirds. You'll also learn elements of different styles, from fun and cute to classy and elegant with everything in between. There are hundreds of project ideas using these design lessons so you can practice your new found skill on cards, bags, tags, wraps, home décor and more.
This issue is wonderful: 

I am lucky enough to have two cards in this magazine.  Here is a peek at one of them:

Thanks for stopping by!  Back to the Olympics (Can.not.tear.myself.away!)

Twine-tastic News and a CARD!

Did you hear?  The Twinery just added four new colors to its collection.  The new colors include Midnight Blue, Ocean, Strawberry and Seaweed and they are fabulous!

Head on over to The Twinery blog today to see them and to get the details on some special pricing that is available for today!

Here is a color chart with all the of The Twinery's colors:

So fun!  And finally, I have a card to share with you.   I love this silhouette image---> 

Supplies:  Silhouette file- Couple on Tandem Bike (Jamie Koay: Silhouette); Patterned paper- Happy Go Lucky: Love Notes, Lovely Day: New Story (My Little Shoebox); white cardstock (Gina K Designs); baker's twine- charcoal (The Twinery); metal heart (Colorbok); SRM sticker- Fancy Sticker Sentiments-Birthday.

Hope you have a Marvelous Monday!

Really Reasonable Ribbon/Cardmaker Blog Hop

Welcome to the Really Reasonable Ribbon/Cardmaker Blog hop.  Bonnie (Really Reasonable Ribbon) asked the Cardmaker girls to join in on their blog hop this month!  Hope you are inspired by all the ways to use ribbon!

You should have come here from Bonnie's blog.  If you did not, you can head on over to the Cardmaker Blog and start at the beginning of the hop!

I was sent the July Really Reasonable Ribbon Assortment from the Monthly Ribbon Club.  When I saw the beautiful vibrant yellows in the assortment, I immediately thought of lemonade.  So my summer inspired card is based on that:

I used two of the yellow ribbons from the pack and layered them to create the lemonade in the lemonade pitcher (Silhouette) using some 1/4" Scor Tape.  I also used one of the yellow to tie on the pitcher's handle.  To create the background, I used my Scor-Pal to add some vertical embossed lines.  I added a SRM sticker to a piece of vellum to tie onto the handle with some twine.

No summer party is complete without some ice cold lemonade!

Thanks, Bonnie, for asking us to be a part of this hop!  It was great fun and I cannot wait to see what everyone else came up with!

Blog Candy*  The Blog Hop will be open from 7/13 to 7/20 and there will be a prize offered on the RRR blog for a randomly selected comment there.  RRR will also be giving away two additional July Ribbon Club Assortments, one from comments on a random RRR designer's blog and one from comments on a random Cardmaker designer's blog.

 

The next stop on the hop is the talented Heidi!

Thanks for stopping by today!