Sunday, February 22, 2009

Driveway's Clear! Come On Over!

Just a morning update for you. Just came in from cleaning up a few drifts out on the driveway, and we're good! See you at 1:30, ready to get your fingers inky!

Saturday, February 21, 2009

Take THAT, Ol' Man Winter!

Lots of you are emailing to inquire about the status of the Sale-A-Bration Mystery Hostess Party tomorrow. As of right now, we're still on! Despite all the white stuff that was deposited in my driveway, a busy day of obligations kept us out'n'about today. Those who were traveling the appropriate speed for the weather had few problems getting around, so I'm thinking that Sunday will be just fine for having the party unless something changes drastically overnight.

If weather in your area does keep you off the roads, you can still call or email your order in and get your tickets for the drawings.

Hope to see you at 1:30 Sunday!

Friday, February 20, 2009

I Just HAD To Do It!

I must admit, a project I completed recently makes me feel a little sassy! The minute I saw the stamp set called "Totally Tool" I knew I just had to have it to make this little project that I used for a recent swap. The stamp set is a cute collection of tools with clever little phrases that relate to the specific tool: "You hit the nail on the head!" (hammer, of course); "Love beyond measure" (tape measure); "Thanks for helping me out of a tight spot" (wrench); "You came, you sawed, you fixed. Thanks for all you do." (hand saw) BUT when I saw the screwdriver, I just knew I had to "correct" what it said!


Because the original phrase leaned toward the masculine side, I just had to "pink" up this project with the much-needed S! Of course, as much as I do like to have the appropriate tools for home-fix-it jobs, I don't really think of such "mundane" tools when I look at this project! Stamping tools are so much more fun!

Speaking of those, I was able to put several of them to good use with this project! The oval scallop frame was made with the Big Shot Die of the same name, and I added the "eyelet" holes with my Crop-a-dile. Even though the frame is chipboard covered with Bella Rose Designer paper, both the Big Shot and the Crop-a-dile cut through the layers with ease! I used watercolor paper to emboss the image onto because I liked the weight and texture the paper added to the project. Used the Aquapainter and color picked up from the covers of ink pads (Riding Hood Red, Pirouette Pink, Basic Gray) to color in the image, making sure that I made the non-handle part of the screwdriver (what DO you call that part?) pink instead of silver or gray! Told you I was feeling sassy! Pirouette Pink Taffeta ribbon completed my "pink blitz."

When I sent my swaps off, I also included a 2-layer base of Riding Hood Red and Pirouette Pink cardstock, just in case the little "plaque" idea didn't appeal to my swap buddies and they wanted to snip the ribbon hanger and turn it into a card front. (The oval scallop is just the right size for the front of a card.) The swap groups I belong to have certain rules and 2-layers is one of the biggies! But I'm hoping that they'll like my tongue-in-cheek project and not object too much to my "bending" the rules.

Gotta scoot! Lots to do today! I'm getting ready for the Sale-A-Bration Mystery Hostess Party on Sunday (1:30-3:30 PM). If you haven't RSVP'd yet, check that calendar--actually CLEAR that calendar--and plan to join us! It's always a great time!

Saturday, February 14, 2009

Happy Valentine's Day!

Have some 3-D items to share with you today. Of course, it may have been nicer if I had gotten my act together and put at least one of these up last Saturday so you could have used this idea this week, but, oh well, it's me we're talking about here! LOL "Works great under pressure," that's me! The good news is that these concepts would also be great for other little occasions, or as favors for wedding or showers, so I'm letting myself off the hook!

This first item is actually the project that my stamp clubs tackled this month. While Valentine's Day isn't a huge gift-giving occasion for friends or office mates, it's fun to have a little something to slip in the mail or put on a desk. I incorporated our "technique of the month: faux suede" into each of these little treat folders, giving the hearts and the elephant some texture.

They're sort of a variation of a "matchbook" folder. When you open the flap, you find a little wrapped treat waiting inside.

Even though each of the folders is decorated a little bit differently, they all started out as a strip of cardstock 3" X 10" that is scored at 3", 3-1/2", 6-1/2" and 7". Fold on the score lines and use the scallop circle punch to make a hole in one of the ends to accommodate the treat. Two little Mini Glue Dots, placed where you see the little black x's on the sample below, are the only adhesive necessary to keep the folder insides together, and a 12" piece of ribbon tied below the punch out will work to keep the flap closed when your project is ready to give. The treat is adhered with 2-3 more Mini Glue Dots.

This next project is one that I wanted to keep under wraps until today because it is the little valentine that I included in each of my stamp club member's bags when I delivered their orders this week. It uses the new toy I got for myself for Valentine's Day--like I really ever need an excuse!--the "Bag with Scallops" die for the Big Shot.

When finished, this little bag measures 2-3/8" X 3-3/4" X 1-5/8", a pretty nice size to hold a little gift or treat. Can you guess what I put in the bags I made for the club gals?


This die is one of the "Bigz XL" dies and requires the Extended Cutting Pads, but other than that little thing, this die is a dream! Love it!! I love how the front and back of the bag are both part of that one long strip. Makes stamping/rolling so easy, and it would also be so easy to modify the bag, adding a "window" on the front with a punch of some sort. The scallop flap could also be trimmed away, making the flap shorter or a different shape if you wanted it that way. The die marks all the score/fold lines and cuts all the edges and that scalloped flap all in a couple twists of the Big Shot handle! I folded the score lines on those smaller side pieces in the above picture so you could see them better. (It's a really cool die, but it hasn't figured out the folding thing yet!) A little adhesive on the flaps on those two smaller pieces and the project's finished. My die arrived on the same day as all the club orders and I was able to get all the bags I needed done and ready for delivery in just two hours! Love it! Hey! I guess that fits the "Valentine" theme perfectly!

Hope you have a good day!

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