Nutz about Stamping

How to create a beautiful Christmas gift card holder

In today's video I am going to show you how to make a beautiful gift card holder idea with the help of my Poinsettia dies and Stitched Nested Labels dies.

The Poinsettia dies are part of the fabulous Poinsettia Petals bundle - worth investing in! The dies have an insert piece that embosses while the flower is begin die-cut. So very cool. 

Here are the Stitched Nested Labels dies - also fab with the stitched edging all around - adds a lovely added touch. 

Combine these two packs of dies along with the Poinsettia Place paper.....

And look what you can create! Note: if you don't have the Stitched Nested Labels dies, try this idea with large shaped dies you do have on hand. 

 

Poinsettia Place Gift Card Holder

My gift card holder is for Christmas but one you know how to make one you can adapt it for birthdays, baby showers, retirements, etc. 

Here's what you need, including measurements. 

Stamp set: none

Ink: none

Paper and cutting dimensions:
        Real Red: 5 1/2" x 3 1/4"; 2 1/2" x 3 1/5"
        Poinsettia Place: 5 1/2" x 3 1/4"
        Old Olive: 2 1/j5" x 2 1/4"

Other: Poinsettia Place designer series paper (153487); Mini Stampin' Dimensionals, Multi-purpose Liquid Glue; Poinsettia dies (153522); Stitched Nested Labels dies (149638); Trimming the Town designer series paper (153491); Stamping Emboss & Die-cutting Machine, Pearl Basic Jewels (144219)

Here's my video - watch all the way through for tips along the way and to see a second idea using a completely different set of products and paper. 

Learn how to make your own gift tote projects

Want to learn how to make your own gift totes? It's easy and I am going to show you how!

I love making my own small boxes, totes, and bags. It is fun to coordinate colors, patterns, stamps and dies - and the best part is that it only takes a bit of time. Not to mention the cost savings!

This project can be adapted to suit any occasion, theme, or season for which you need a gift tote. I started off my choosing my designer paper and then let the colors in that paper guide me for the main base and handle color. I decided to use up a left over piece of the Forever Greenery paper. The patterns feature elegant greenery with painted watercolor patterns to give your projects an organic feel. One side of each sheet has large, leafy designs; the other side has painted patterns.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I love all the combinations of green in the paper designs:

• Old Olive
• Soft Sea Foam
• Garden Green
• Just Jade
• Pear Pizzazz
• Shaded Spruce
• Pretty Peacock

I have a lot of Soft Sea Foam so I chose a Forever Greenery pattern that had this color so that I could use Soft Sea Foam as my base color. That immediately made me think of using Pretty Peacock as my ink color - nice, dark contrast.

For the phrase and leaf embellishment, I chose my Forever Fern bundle and images:

And after these choices were made the project came together quite well! My final touch was to use three Woven Threads Sequins - this assortment has both Soft Sea Foam and Pretty Peacock sequins, the perfect match with the paper colors.

One tool that I feel is essential for any kind of box or bag project is the Simply Scored. This is the time of year to purchase a scoring tool as after seeing this video you will be making scores (no pun intended) of little boxes and can quickly and efficiently score all your holiday cards in one easy step.  

I use this tool in my video for today's gift tote projects so that you can see how handy this tool is. 

 

If I could do over two bits of this project, I would round the top corners of the gift tote and make the handle a bit longer. I might even stamp the Soft Sea Foam base for additional visual interest. What do you think?

Stamp set: Forever Fern bundle (154094

Ink: Pretty Peacock

Paper and cutting dimensions:
        Soft Sea Foam: 3 1/4" x 7 1/2"; 2 1/4" x 8 1/2"; 1 1/4" x 8"
        Whisper White: 3 1/2" x 2 1/2"
        Forever Greenery: 2" x 10"

Other: Forever Greenery designer series paper (152492); Tear & Tape Adhesive; Layering Circle dies; Simply Scored (   ); die-cutting and embossing machine

Here's my video - listen along for additional tips and suggestions. 

How to make a Honey Bee gift pocket

In today's blog post I am going to show you a really fun gift idea using my Honey Bee bundle. This cute pocket idea has so many uses and once I show you how to make it you will be able to come up with a bunch of treat ideas to tuck inside!

I chose to use the Honey Bee bundle because I love it so much and know that it will be retiring on 2 June (sad face). 

Honey Bee Bundle
$41.25

 

I also chose a sheet of the Mosaic Mood designer paper because it is also retiring. It is sometimes very difficult to see favorites retire, isn't it? The particular pattern I chose has tiny bees on it which is why I paired it with my Honey Bee stamp set. I love when I notice little things like this and combine products that I have in ways that I haven't done before. 

Mosaic Mood Specialty Designer Series Paper
$10.15

 

 

 

Did you notice that this paper pack is on sale? Get it soon as it is only available as supplies last! 

To make the pocket you will need a sheet of 12x12 paper. You can use solid paper or patterned paper - make sure that whatever you choose that the paper is thick enough to be scored. The Mosaic Mood paper is a bit thicker than most 12x12 papers so is perfect for this project. For the inside of the pocket, you can then choose a matching or contrasting paper for the holders. 

The biggest challenge for me was using Soft Suede to stamp my bees. I did this because Soft Suede is one of the colors in the Mosaic Mood paper. But then I had to think a bit about how to color the bees when the ink I was using was water based. You can see how I solved this problem on my video. 

I suggest you get all layers created first, then attach any decorations/layers to the front before attaching the inside pieces. In my video I did not do this and you will see that it wasn't easy to add my SNAIL adhesive, lol!

Here's a photo of my Honey Bee gift pocket. 

Here's what you need to make this pocket. Use what you have on hand and see what your pocket looks like!

Stamp set: Honey Bee bundle (153792)

Ink: Garden Green, Soft Suede, Crushed Curry

Paper and cutting dimensions:
        Very Vanilla: 5" x 1 1/4"; two pieces 1 1/2" square
        Blushing Bride: 5" x 1 1/2"
        Garden Green: two pieces: 2 3/4" x 5 3/4" (score at 1/4" and 1/2" on three sides, two short & one long)
        Mosaic Mood: 5" x 12" (score at 5 1/2" & 6 1/2")

Other: Mosaic Mood designer series paper (149478); Magnolia Lane Ribbon Combo Pack (149485); Simply Scored (122334); Classic Label Punch (141491); Tear & Tape adhesive (138995); Blender Pens; Mini Stampin' Dimensionals

Here's my video - watch for my BONUS tips along the way!

How to create a beautiful Mother's Day box

Today I want so show you how to create a beautiful Mother's Day box using the Painted Poppies bundle.

Painted Poppies Bundle
$52.00

 

 

I am so excited that the Painted Poppies bundle is going to carry over to the next Annual catalog. Except - it will no longer be bundled which means you will pay full price for both items. (Tip: order it by 2 June and you will save 10%)

What is not carrying over are these two products - I am so sad about the Sequins (sniff sniff):

 

Peaceful Poppies Sequins
$7.00

Peaceful Poppies Designer Series Paper
$11.50

 

But I am happy that I got to use them on today's project. In the past couple of weeks I have share some beautiful Mother's Day card ideas. Click here and here to see these cards.

Today I wanted to give you a coordinating idea - a Mini Pizza Box! Think of all the gift ideas you can tuck inside that will make your Mom happy on Mother's Day! This box is super easy to create and if you look closely you will see a fun technique that perhaps you haven't tried yet. (Tip: my video below introduces the technique if you can't figure it out)

Mother's Day Gift Box

Here's what you need to make this beautiful gift box:

Stamp sets: Painted Poppies (bundle 153827); Timeless Tulips (bundle 153793)

Ink: Poppy Parade

Stampin' Blends: Poppy Parade (147275); Granny Apple Green (147274)

Paper and cutting dimensions:
        Granny Apple Green: 3 1/8" square
        Peaceful Poppies: 3" square
        Whisper White: 3| x 1 3/4"; 5 pieces: 2 1$" x 1 3/4"

Other: Mini Pizza Boxes (144645); Flourish Dies (141478); Peaceful Poppies designer series paper (151324); Peaceful Poppies Sequins (151325); SNAIL, Fine Tip Glue Pen; Multipurpose Glue; Stampin' Dimensionals: die-cutting machine

Here's the box standing up and a side view so you can see the dimension I created:

I created a video tutorial so you can see step by step how to create this box, along with a fun new technique I learned this week!

How to use your stamps in a bullet journal

Do you bullet journal? I have been bullet journaling for just over a year now. I find that I keep on track of my goals, I stay focused and I never lose track of what needs to be done each week and month.

At the beginning of each month it is so much fun choosing a theme. I usually look on Pinterest and this month my April page was inspired by a card that used the Under My Umbrella stamp set. Just so you know, the stamp set has a coordinating punch that's fun to use on designer paper!

Under My Umbrella Photopolymer Stamp Set (English)
$16.00

 

 

 

 

 

I stamped the umbrellas, boots and flowers using a permanent black ink, and then chose four Stampin' Write markers to color with:

• Bermuda Bay
• Pineapple Punch
• Granny Apple Green
• Smoky Slate

 

I haven't finished my April weekly pages yet and hope to include some of these elements there. Watch my Pinterest Bullet Journal board for future photos for April! 

 

Make it a “LOVE”-ly year with Paper Pumpkin!

Paper Pumpkin’s first kit of 2020 is all about L-O-V-E. Whether you want handmade favors for Valentine’s Day, a bridal shower, or a remarkably romantic wedding, this kit has your number: 20 treat bags, 10 mini cards and envelopes, and embellishments.

It’s everything you need to celebrate your favorite friendships and love stories. So, make it a “LOVE”-ly year with Paper Pumpkin! Watch this video to see the I’ll Bee Yours kit in action.

Want more ideas? Looking for inspiration? Head over to the Paper Pumpkin blog and check out some alternate projects that Stampin' Up!s concept artists created with this kit. 

Here's a peek:

Even though the January kit is no longer available you still have time to subscribe and get the February kit!

Click here to subscribe - you can cancel at any point so why not give it a try!

Learn one project that will last the whole year

In today's video I am going to show you how to make a gift card holder. It's a nice time of year to learn how to make this project so that you can use the supplies you have at home all throughout the year to make similar ones. 

For my gift card holder I used the Painted Poppies bundle:

Painted Poppies Bundle
$52.00

 

 

 

 

I have made many projects with this bundle since it was available for order on 3 January. To see one of them, click here. The entire product suite is amazing and I love the colors in it:

• Poppy Parade
• Calypso Coral
• Flirty Flamingo
• Crushed Curry
• Old Olive
• Mossy Meadow
• Pool Party
• Rich Razzleberry
• Blackberry Bliss

I also used the Golden Honey designer series paper which you can earn for free until 31 March!

Golden Honey Specialty Designer Series Paper
$0.00

 

 

 

In case you didn't know this, the Golden Honey paper coordinates with the Honey Bee bundle in the Mini Catalog - gotta love that!

Here's my gift card holder and video (below). Why not give it a try?

Golden Honey Gift Card Holder

Stamp set: Painted Poppies bundle (153827); Perennial Birthday (145760)

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black

Stampin' Blends: Poppy Parade Combo (147275); Basic Black (147942)

Paper and cutting dimensions:
        Basic Black: 11" x 4 1/4" 
        Golden Honey paper: 4" x 3 3/4"; 3 3/4" x 1 1/2"
        Whisper White: 3" x 1 3/4"; 2" square
        Basic Black: two scrap pieces for border die

Other: SNAIL adhesive; Layering Circle dies (141705); Tear & Tape adhesive; Silicone Craft Sheet; die-cutting machine 

Here's my video showing how to make this gift card - thanks for watching!

 

How to make a beautiful Christmas gift tag

In this week's video I want to show you something different using the Christmas Gleaming stamp set. I want to show you how to use the exact same products but to make Christmas gift tags that you can put on your presents this year. Publishing this video has been an adventure! The battery in my MAC laptop was malfunctioning, so after I created and saved my video I took my laptop to the Genius Bar to have it looked at. And came home without my laptop because the battery is dead and it will take a week to replace. Lesson learned! Upload video before heading the the Genius Bar! 

I am exercising all my detective skills to figure out how to get my video from my iPad to YouTube but every time I come up with an idea it is a massive fail. Until I figured out a way to compress the video, email a link to my work laptop, download it to my desktop and then upload it to YouTube. Taa-daa! Speaking of genius, I figured it out and am feeling very proud of myself. 

As I said above, I used the Christmas Gleaming bundle - this bundle is only available for a new more weeks, and then it will not be available for several months. Once Stampin' Up! does add the stamp set and punch pack to a future catalog they will no longer be bundled so you will lose the 10% savings. 

Christmas Gleaming Bundle (En)
$49.50

Hint: click on the photo above to link directly to my online store!

I also used two packs of designer paper from the Holiday Catalog - both will retire at the end of December and neither will appear in any future catalogs. So if you love these pack, get them now!

Wrapped In Plaid 6" X 6" (15.2 X 15.2 Cm) Specialty Designer Series Paper
$14.50

Night Before Christmas 6" X 6" (15.2 X 15.2 Cm) Designer Series Paper
$11.50

 

This tag idea is perfect for using up left over paper and I love how it turned out:

Christmas Gleaming Gift Tag

Stamp set: Christmas Gleaming Bundle (153006)

Ink: Cherry Cobbler, Memento Tuxedo Black 

Stampin' Write Markers: Shaded Spruce, Cherry Cobbler

Paper and cutting dimensions:
        Very Vanilla: 3 1/2" x 2 1/2"; 3" square (for ornament) 
        Night Before Christmas (scallop oval): 3 3/4" x 3"
        Wrapped in Plaid (smallest oval): 2 1/4" x 3 1/4"

Other: Layering Ovals dies, Night Before Christmas designer series paper (150437), Wrapped in Plaid designer series paper (149596), Stampin' Dimensionals, Mini Stampin' Dimensionals, Cherry Cobbler Diagonal Stripe Ribbon (150439, Mini Glue Dots 

Here's my video - please be forgiving as I had to edit my video using my iPad which was a huge learning curve and there were some issues too. 

How to bring out the crafter in all of us

The holiday season will be here before we know it. And along with putting up the Christmas tree and spending snowy nights by the fire, many Paper Pumpkin subscribers will be looking forward to opening their holiday kit. Christmastime papercrafting with Paper Pumpkin has become an annual tradition!

Even non-crafters like making simple and fun projects to celebrate the season. And since “simple and fun” is Paper Pumpkin’s middle name, you have the perfect gift idea for yourself or for your crafty friends this year.

It’s Christmas made easy with Paper Pumpkin!

Here are the November Kit details!

Makes 24 holiday-themed gift tags of 4 various sizes and designs.

Coordinating colors: Early Espresso, Pool Party, Poppy Parade, and Shaded Spruce

 

Want the fine details?

• There’s no commitment, you can cancel your monthly Paper Pumpkin at anytime. You can also skip a month if you want by logging onto the website and putting that month's kit on hold.
• Each month Stampin’ Up will send you a unique, surprise kit with a project – cards, journals, décor, and more! (They’ve even color-coordinated, measured, and cut everything for you! How great is that!)
• Each kit includes stamps, ink, paper, and accessories – everything but scissors.
• Each kit gives you a 30-minute creativity escape – who doesn’t need that?
• Stampin’ Up will ship your Paper Pumpkin on or around the 15th of the month.
• You need to sign up for a kit by the 10th of the month to get that month’s kit. If you sign up after the 11th of the month, your first kit will come the following month. 
• A Paper Pumpkin membership is $21.95 per month (and shipping is included!)

You don't want to miss the next Paper Pumpkin kit, but you have to subscribe no later than 10 November! Order now and the fun Christmastime kit will arrive on your doorstep in this sweet box! 

 

How to make super sweet Harvest Hello boxes

Today I have a super sweet Harvest Hello box that you can easily make and I am going to show you how! First, have you seen the cute Harvest Hello bundle?

Harvest Hellos Bundle (En)
$35.00

The box below was created using the Come to Gather paper too - for added visual interest:

Come To Gather Designer Series Paper
$11.50

 

You can use this bundle for amazing cards, on scrapbook pages and even to make boxes like this one!

You can add a face to the pumpkins or not. Without a face these boxes have an apple image:

 

 

Here's how to make these super sweet Harvest Hello boxes:

Harvest Hello mint boxes

Supplies: 

Stamp Sets – Harvest Hellos (150581)

Card Stock (CS) – Pretty Peacock (150880); Cajun Craze (119684); Mint Macaron (138337)

Ink Pads – Pretty Peacock (150083); Memento Tuxedo Black* (132708)

Misc. – Come To Gather Designer Series Paper (DSP) (150454); Basic Black Stampin’ Write Marker* (100082); Apple Builder Punch (150663); Multipurpose Liquid Glue (110755); Bone Folder (102300); Paper Snips (103579)

 

*The black ink pad and marker are optional - use if you are adding the jack-o-lantern face. 

 

Measurements:  

• Pretty Peacock CS: 3” x 3” scored ¾” from all four sides; ½” x 6-3/4” 
• scraps of DSP and Pretty Peacock, Cajun Craze, and Mint Macaron CS for punching

 

Instructions:

1. Burnish all score lines using a Bone Folder.
2. Cut one score line at each corner of the 3” x 3” CS.
3. Fold up the sides and glue each tab onto the inside of the adjacent side, to form the box.
4. Run a Bone Folder along the ½” strip of CS to soften it, then glue the ends onto the inside of the box sides.
5. Stamp the pumpkin twice in Pretty Peacock ink onto a piece of the DSP. If desired, stamp the face in Memento black ink, and fill in the face using a Black marker.
6. Stamp the stem twice in Pretty Peacock ink onto a scrap of Cajun Craze CS.
7. Stamp the leaf twice in Pretty Peacock ink onto a scrap of Mint Macaron CS.
8. Punch out all the stamped pieces.
9. Punch two pumpkins from a scrap of Pretty Peacock CS.
10. Glue the stem and leaf onto the back of each DSP pumpkin.
11. Glue the Pretty Peacock CS pumpkin onto the back of the DSP pumpkins.
12. Glue the pumpkins onto the sides of the box.

How to make a cute and easy Halloween treat box

In today's video I am going to use the Everything Festive stamp set to create a very cute and very special Halloween treat container idea. Halloween is coming soon and I bet there are some special children in your neighborhood and you might like to give them something special when they come by your door. 

The Everything Festive stamp set is so fun and versatile. I love the fonts for each phrase in the set and know that I will use it a lot this fall and winter.

Everything Festive Cling Stamp Set (En)
$24.00

 

I used one of the Kraft Pillow boxes for my treat container - these easy to assemble and uses no adhesive (bonus!). 

Kraft Pillow Boxes
$5.00

Here's my treat container - along with a complete list of supplies and a video showing you how to create it!

Stamp set: Everything Festive (150566)

Ink: Memento Jet Black

Paper and cutting dimensions:
        Whisper White: 3" x 2 1/4"
        Pumpkin Pie: 3 1/4" x 2 1/2"
        Monster Bash: 6" x 2 1/2"

Other: Layering Ovals dies (141706), Kraft Pillow Boxes (147018), Basic Black Scalloped Edge Ribbon (150449), Tear & Tape adhesive, Mini Glue Dots, SNAIL, Monster Bash designer series paper (150447)

Here's my video - watch for a couple of extra tips along the way!

This is the perfect crafting afternoon with your friends

For today's post I want to feature the delightful Christmas Countdown Project Kit (page 38 Holiday Catalog). 

Get ready for Christmas with hand-crafted advent decor. Fill the boxes with small treats, and let the countdown begin! This kit includes enough supplies to create 25 mini boxes, plus a sturdy outer box to hold them all. 

Christmas Countdown Project Kit
$30.00

Add the Christmas Countdown stamp set for added details and then use the set for cards and scrapbook pages too! 

Christmas Countdown Cling Stamp Set
$21.00

Here's my suggestion:

• gather your friends
• each of you order a kit here
• collect your ink pads: Cherry Cobbler, Early Espresso, and Mossy Meadow
• bring your own adhesive and Stampin' Dimensional
• choose a free calendar date for all
• (add adult beverages and snacks)

And create the perfect crafting afternoon with your friends!

Want to learn more? Here's a short video from Stampin' Up!:

 

Let me show you how to think outside the box

 

I have already told you that our September kit will help you make 20 Halloween treat boxes. But what if you are thinking "outside the box"? How about "with the box"? The spooky possibilities are endless! We created this haunted house with the special-edition box and other contents from the kit to give you a spooky sneak at what's to come inside the Bone Appétit kit.

Don't miss it! Subscribe by September 10, if you dare...

It’s so easy to get started. Simply sign up for the program by visiting here to create an account, then simply click SUBSCRIBE.

Of course, you’ll want to know more. So here are the fine details:

• Each month Stampin’ Up will send you a unique, surprise kit with a project – cards, journals, décor, and more! (They’ve even color-coordinated, measured, and cut everything for you! How great is that!)
• Each kit includes stamps, ink, paper, and accessories – everything but scissors.
• Each kit gives you a 30-minute creativity escape – who doesn’t need that?
• Stampin’ Up will ship your Paper Pumpkin on or around the 15th of the month.
• You need to sign up for a kit by the 10th of the month to get that month’s kit. If you sign up after the 11th of the month, your first kit will come the following month. 
• A Paper Pumpkin membership is $21.95 per month (and shipping is included!)
• There’s no commitment, you can cancel your monthly Paper Pumpkin at anytime. You can also skip a month if you want by logging onto the website and putting that month's kit on hold.

Just think of the anticipation of creating a fun project to pin, showoff, and share with your friends and family – every month!

Ready to join? Go here to subscribe and get your Paper Pumpkin Halloween kit:

How to create a delicate card embellishment

In today's video I am going to show you how to take the Good Morning Magnolia stamp set and Magnolia Memories dies to create a beautiful image or embellishment that will go on the front of a friendship card. 

Magnolia Lane Suite Bundle
$134.75

This Annual Catalog bundle is a clear favorite - just look on Pinterest and you will see what I mean. It is also one my all time favorites and I have created so many beautiful card ideas with it - you can too! And what I think is really cool is that you can purchase the entire bundle for one discounted price OR you can purchase single items as you need or want. 

Today's card, however, is a bit unusual. I wanted to feature one of the 3D magnolias and in my video below I show you how to create it. And then I show you this card, which was really an afterthought:

You can use these magnolias on so many project ideas - listen in my video for an amazing birthday idea!

How to create a Magnolia embellishment

Stamp set: Good Morning Magnolia (149298)

Ink: Versamark

Paper and cutting dimensions:
        Petal Pink: 8 1/2" x 5 1/2"
        Basic Black: 1/2" x 5 1/2"
        Whisper White: 4" square
        Magnolia Lane: 1" x 5 1/2"
        Daffodil Delight: scrap

Other: Magnolia Lane designer series paper (149484), Magnolia Memory dies (149578), SNAIL, Stampin' Dimensionals, Bone Folder, Fine Tip Glue Pen, 

Here's my video, enjoy!

How to make your Halloween festivities frightful

Halloween is nearly here, which means that Paper Pumpkin has been busy, busy, busy. We thought you might like “a hand” with your frightful festivities, so we designed September’s kit, Bone Appétit, with YOU in mind.

Hint: the coordinating colors in this kit are: Basic Black, Gorgeous Grape, Pumpkin Pie, and Whisper White

This kit includes 20 food-safe treat boxes, a unique and exclusive Halloween stamp set, and a spooky, special-edition box. September’s kit also gives new meaning to the word “handmade.” (Cue the scary laughter!)

So don’t leave your trick-n-treaters in the dark this Halloween. Subscribe at paperpumpkin by September 10 to get in on the fun.

Note: the exclusive Halloween stamp set can be used for other project ideas as well! Don't think that once your treat bags are created that you are done and dusts. Coordinate this set with the Monster Bash suite in the Holiday catalog (pages 52 - 54) and the other Halloween sets and accessories too.

Want the fine details?

• There’s no commitment, you can cancel your monthly Paper Pumpkin at anytime. You can also skip a month if you want by logging onto the website and putting that month's kit on hold.
• Each month Stampin’ Up will send you a unique, surprise kit with a project – cards, journals, décor, and more! (They’ve even color-coordinated, measured, and cut everything for you! How great is that!)
• Each kit includes stamps, ink, paper, and accessories – everything but scissors.
• Each kit gives you a 30-minute creativity escape – who doesn’t need that?
• Stampin’ Up will ship your Paper Pumpkin on or around the 15th of the month.
• You need to sign up for a kit by the 10th of the month to get that month’s kit. If you sign up after the 11th of the month, your first kit will come the following month. 
• A Paper Pumpkin membership is $21.95 per month (and shipping is included!)