Tag Accordians...FUN!

So, I was online a few weeks ago and found a project that I really wanted to try!! It was a tag accordian decoration for Christmas! I went to Sharon Johnson's Blog and found the directions for this super project! Her accordian is beautiful!! I did use the same paper, but I think that is about it...but go check her accordian out, it is awesome!! I made a few of these--10 I think for the Christmas Market and only came home with 2! So, it made me happy that other people liked them too!!

This first post is a photo of the accordian we made at a class I had last week. Everyone had a great time making them! It was great to see the satisfaction on the faces of my friends after accomplishing this...they did awesome! Oh, I just noticed that this little accordian only has one dew drop.....my friends found out they really liked the dew drops and used them on each of the letter panels. *sorry this guy only has one!*

For the stars on this first accordian, we used the large and small star punches from SU. Punch your small star out first, then use the large star and punch around it, giving you this great "star outline". Two way glue all the way around and dipped in dazzling diamonds...love it!! I don't have the felt flurries....(and I'm wishing I did!) but when I found these red felt snowflakes at my local Real Market, I knew they'd do a good job!

This next one is the one that I sold a bunch of at the Christmas Market.
This Merry Chistmas one is the first one that I made, and after making it I decided to try a smaller word for reproduction! I used Baja Breeze, Real Red, Chocolate Chip and Old Olive cardstock, Ski Slope Designer paper, the so many scallops retired stamp set, contempo alphabet, real red ink, the rub-ons from the level 3 hostess bundle, 1 1/4" square punch, lage and wide oval punches, 1 1/4 and 1 3/8 circle punches, crop-a-dile, jumbo eyelets, glitter stars and silver bells from my local Kaufland market, and 5/8" red grosgrain ribbon! Here is the whole accordian and the next photo is a close up photo of one of the sections. The whole things goes quite quickly when you have decided all the pieces. Sharon gives great details on how to make it, so check there for specific insturctions. I scored the paper and cut the tag shape, then cut the ski slope paper to it's tag shape and attached it to the accordian. I stamped the merry christmas letter and then used my 1 1/4" punch to punch them out. I cut my paper to mount them on at 1 1/2" instead of using my 1 3/8" punch, I wanted just a little bit more border to show. Then I attached them to the accordian with dimensionals. Next, I used my crop-a-dile to punch holes for my silver bells. I used the crop-a-dile to set my jumbo eylets, then tied the silver bells on. I then tied a nice red ribbon around to cover the little sivler string the bells had to tie on with! I found these fun stars at my local grocery store...and the bells too! I attached the stars with dimensionals. Then, I stamped the "celebrate the season" snowflake scallop and cut out just the center of the image with my 1 1/4" circle punch. I did layer it on a 1 3/8" circle of red cardstock. The rub-ons were the finishing touch. I decided which panels needed a little more, and then added the white rub-ons. The seasons greating rub-on is a chocolate chip one, from that same hostess bundle.

Didn't it turn out fun!? I've got this big merry christmas one out in my family room and it makes me so happy when I walk by it! :) I love having the necessary items to make fun decor! So, thanks for being patient with me while I worked through technical difficulty! I hope you are all having a wonderul holiday!!

Thanks so much for stopping by!!

Notebooks

You know when you create something that you really have fun with?! I am a notebook person. I have them all over my house, in several bags, and I really have a soft spot in my heart for them. I had a hard time deciding just what ones to share...so I picked several...I hope you don't get board looking at them! I had a lot of fun making them! I think I had something like 22 for the Christmas Market last week. They were also well received and a lot of them sold. So, here are several of the notebooks that have found new homes..yea!!

These spiral bound notebooks have a speical place in my heart! I {heart} them! They started as a piece of chipboard--saved from the designer series paper packs from SU. I ran the chipbord/cardboard through my Big Shot with-what other than the Top Note! Another thing I love about this project, is that running the chipboard and then the patterned paper through the Big Shot makes a perfect marriage when you attach your paper to the chipboard...perfection! Love it! So, I ran some of my beautiful SEI paper through my Big Shot as well, and then attached the paper to the chipboard for the covers. When I placed my paper/chipboard on the top note die, I just scooted it over to the right of the die a little, so I could get a straight left hand side...and not the bracket on that side--so that it was flat to put in the BIA for binding.

Ok, so I had the covers and then needed the inside pages. I have a ream of paper that is just a little thicker than typical paper for my printer-don't you love having just the right things!! I was so happy about that! I ran a bunch of them through the Big Shot, I think I was able to cut about 4 pieces of that paper at one time. Each of these little books ended up with I think 25 pages inside. After getting all the paper cut I pulled out my BIA! I cut the holes in all the papers/covers, and slipped the binding in and then just as easy as that they were finished!

To embelish the covers, I used my Big Shot and the Birds and Blooms flowers...they are so cute! I used some hardware--Mary, aren't you proud of me!? I know it's just a silver brad...but I used some of my beautiful hardware! I attached the flowers with dimensionals. On the few that have a little "remember" on them, that came from the define you life stamp set. I stamped it in chocolate chip ink, punched it out with the wide oval punch and then layered that on top of a scallop oval-punched out with the pink size marvy uchida scallop oval punch. Didn't they turn out fun!?

For this next grouping, they are like the notebooks from yesterday's post. I just used a half sheet of cardstock for the covers, added a couple of layers of cardstock/patterned paper and this great Super Hero from LAD! My son was really excited about these. And yes, so were the other boys that saw them! The papers are turquoise and real red, with some retired SU paper. The other is a Not quite Navy, Ruby red and an AC striped paper. I colored my little super hero with my SU markers. No, there is not glitter to be found here, but the boots and belt did get embossed with clear embossing powder (i love the versamarker...i use it all the time!) and heat set so they look like shiny vinyl...fun, fun, fun.

These santa notebooks went as well. The paper, Real Red, Old Olive, and that never ending stash of Dots and Dashes paper! I stamped the santa from the deer friends stamp set. I used the 1 1/4, 1 3/8, and scallop circle punches for the man in the red hat. His hat has had a run in with red stickles glitter, and it didn't get into the photo...(last minute touch up!) but I also added a tiny little white "pom-pom" to the end of his hat.

Can you make it through just one more set? This last set were also some of my favorites...I love this paper! Hawaii Papya! Beautiful colors! Oh, the "notes" were done using the contempo alphabet...isn't it a great clean font!? Ok, colors here, chocolate chip, kiwi kiss, and tangerine tango. I did use the scallop edge punch on a few...but not all.

You made it! Thanks so much for getting to the bottom of this post! I just didn't know how to choose...you know!? It was a notebook post...right?!

Thanks so much for stopping by! I hope you all make your day Merry!! Remember this December!!

Some fun...

Hey all! Hope you are all doing well this "Visit from St. Nikolaus" Eve! My kids have cleaned up their boots and are getting ready to leave them out for hopes of having a little something left inside! Yea! I have to say that living in Germany during the holiday season is SO much fun! It's great all year round--BUT Chirstmas time is really magical here! It's wonderful to learn so many wonderful new traditions that I'm sure will stay with us for always and forever! Anyway, just a tid bit!

These little bookmarks--jumbo paperclips--sold really well at the Christmas Market. I had a lot of moms saying that their daughters that love to read would really love them! "Oh, what a great stocking stuffer!" I agree, and yes, I now have a great bookmark in my book! No more magazine inserts or receipts for me!:)
I had some die cut flowers that I attached patterned paper to, used Scotch quick dry adhesive, and sandwiched the paper on either side of the paper clip. The paper clip-I've had a collection of them in my little drawer for quite some time. I found them at Wal-mart I believe. They come in boxes of 12 I think. Super fun bookmark! The colored flowers are from my collection, primas, calypso....just a bunch of great flowers! I did also do some of my new die cut--flower layers--for my big shot. They were done with some GREAT SEI paper, and because I didn't use chipboard on those, i just attached the papers(which is almost cardstock) together with dimensionals. Anyway, fun little giftie!
These little covered notebooks were another of the "great stocking stuffer" items. They are little notebooks, about a 4x6 size. I just cut a piece of c/s in half, ran scor-tape across the edges of the notebooks covers, and attached the cardstock. I then made a couple of layers, chocolate chip cardstock, then some designer paper, and the cute little princess from LAD. I colored her with my SU markers, then glitified her with dazzling diamonds! The oval punches from marvy uchida helped with the white oval and the scalloped oval the princess is on. These little "queens" were a hit! Everyone loved them...what's not to love about glitter!? I did make some boy notebooks too...with a super hero....they'll come tomorrow!:)

Hope you are all doing well! Thanks so much for stopping by!! Enjoy this December!

Happy Wednesday!

I'm really excited to share today! I had my MIL bring me an abundance of altoid tins when she came to visit in October. I do love altoids, but let's be honest, I really just needed some tins!:) So, as I sat at my desk happily snacking on the freshest breath snack of all time, I thought to myself 'how could I package these and sell them?' I had a little somewhere in the back of my mind a thought about snowman kisses...so I ran to the computer, searched the SCS gallery for Snowman Kisses and found just what I was looking for!! There are several super cute offerings, so I combined a few things from here and there, added some of my own...and now want to share my Snowman Kisses with you! Note, this photo is using mini marshmellows-I did a more "kid friendly" version with mellows and then some "adult" packages with altoid mints! And yippy, they were a hit!! The little poem on the inside reads: "He's cute and cuddly, and full of good wishes, and he wants to give you these Snowman Kisses!"

I started my figuring with the size of ziplock bag I was using. It was a 4 1/2 x 3" bag. So, My cover was 6 7/8 x 5". I scored it at 3 1/4" and then at 3 3/4". I then attached the ribbon along the middle of the cover, with my ATG adhesive. I used about 14" of ribbon per package, you could do with less, but if you are gifting them, I'd leave a little extra so it's really easy for others to tie up. I punched a 1 3/8" circle as far up as the punch would allow on the bottom of the cover. My white layer measured 2 3/4 x 4 1/2". I punched the snowman "window" with the 1 3/8" circle punch and saved that punch for the mid-section of the snowman! I attached the punches, the middle was 1 3/8" and the head was 1 1/4". I used the small star punch and tangerine tango cardstock for his nose and just drew the eyes with a great AC pen. For my sentiment I just typed it up on my computer, and punched it out with the Window Word Punch.
Now for his insides. I typed my poem, printed it and cut it out. I mounted it on a tangerine tango scallop square. Then for my marshellows and altoids, I just filled up my little bags and attached them to the cardstock with my ATG adhesive.

Don't you think you should make some of these!? I had so much fun! It was fun to watch men buying these little packages...wouldn't they make a great offering in an office? maybe for a teacher...etc.? I think I might make a little bottle of them for my kids teachers for Christmas....how often do you think teachers need a mint? I'll share creation when it comes..hopefully next week!
These next treats are a remake of something I did for Halloween for my kids teachers. This Top Note "sandwich" is housing a little slider box of some Risen chocolates. I found them at the checkout of my grocery store! All I did was stamp the snowflakes on kraft paper with white craft ink...LET IT DRY...while I stamped other snowflakes. I ran my peace, joy, love and cheer die through the Big Shot and just covered the "peace" with paper, so i didn't waste the rest of the words. When the snowflakes were dry, I ran the kraft paper through the Big Shot with the Top Note. I can't tell you how many times I used the Top Note in the last month...but I sure have my $$'s worth from that one alone!! Ok, back on track!:). I attached the top notes to the box of chocolates, used a little two way glue and dazzling diamonds to make the snowflakes sparkle a little, attached "peace" tied the retired white organdy ribbon around it...and that was it! I love those chocolates...and I learned that a lot of others do too!!

I'll be back tomorrow with more fun!! Thanks for stopping by!! Oh, I was asked how I wrapped my roudolph...I'll see if I can get a little photo or two to post tomorrow too!! Have a great day!!

Well, Hallo!

Hello friends! Long time! I am finished with my Christmas market, and just about back to normal!:) It was the first time I really just 'put myslef out there' and boy, it was a lot of fun! I was very well received, sold a lot of product and really had a great time sharing what I LOVE! I'll be sharing some of the items sold during this week..and since it's Tuesday already--how did that happen!?--I'll share two today!

This first post is called a bag-in-a-box. It's a quick little giftie and was very well received. If you'll click here you'll go to the tutorial over on SCS and you yourself can make one of these! This one was filled with a cello bag and some delicious German chocolate treats..yum! But, there are a lot of gifts that you might be giving that could easily fit in this bag!

I used the retired Dots and Dashes paper--that paper seems to never end! I thought I was all done with it, and then found more...I really think it is replenishing it's self! I used the scallop edge punch and real red cardstock for the base of the box. The Merry Christmas is from All Holidays and stamped in Old Olive and pounched out with the 1-3/4 circle punch from SU, and then the blue size scallop circle punch from marvy uchida. The flower is just a real red 5 petal flower with 1/4" circle yellow centers. I used the tab punch for the little "handles" and then punched a hole in them with my crop-a-dile and tied the bag shut with some old olive ribbon! Super quick and really fun! What a fun way to gift a little birthday gift...and not have to go buy a gift bag!:) And you can make your card to match! What fun!!

Ok, so next came Roudolph. He was a big hit, and sold really well. He is simply a wrapped Ritter Sport Candy Bar...YUM. I used Close to Cocoa paper to wrap him with and then sealed the edges with my crimper. I used my pink size marvy uchida oval punch for his head--and sponged the edges with a sponge dipped in cocoa ink. The antlers are the scribbles and swirls die cut for my Big Shot. I made them with chocolate chip cardstock. Next I used one of the blossoms from the Boho Blossom punch for his hair. And for ears, the small oval punch was perfect! His eyes are made with a white and black 1/2" circle punch, just layered on top of each other. I used the white gel pen for a little eye definition. Then, the start of the whole thing-the nose-is a 3/4" cirlce with red stickles glitter on it. Yes, it is attached with a dimensional. The sentiment came from the level 3 hostess set Occasions Collection. I punched it with my small oval punch, then mounted it on a real red large oval.

So, there you have a couple of my treats from the Christmas Market...I'll be back with more tomorrow!!:)

Thanks for stopping by and have a great one!!

Frosty

Hello Friends! I hope you are all well! We've been fighting the yucky cold bug in my house...we've all had our turn! Hopefully it will be on it's way out soon! I wanted to share something that turned out really fun! I've made a bundle of these Frostys to sell at the Christmas Market this Saturday(and if any of you...Susanne are around, I'd love to see you!!). I've seen several different snowmen in the stamping world, but I think most of my inspiration came from Dawn Griffith. She made some cute cards and wrapped some candy bars, but I thought he would make a super cute topper for a little treat!
I started with a ww tope note-cut with my Big Shot. Next came the two black pieces for the hat, and then the punches started!:) I love them...as you all know and boy, they sure made this little project fun! The eyes: 3 -1" circles, one cut in half for eyelids and 2- 3/4" black circles marked with a little white gel pen. The nose: 1 pumpkin pie 3/4" cut in half. The mouth: 6 black 1/4" circles attached with mini glue dots! I stamped merry christmas in black ink on real red, and used the word window punch to add a little red to his brim! The last punch I used was for the flowers on the hat, the three for you punch, since it is 3 flowers, you just need to punch 1 time!:) Yea for multiple punches! I used the SU small cello bags, added my kinder egg, and then stapled the bag to the back of the ww top note, then I used my ATG-or sticky strip would be great too, to attach the front of the top note to the cello bag, so no staples show in the front. Oh, I can't forget the dazzling diamonds! I used a two way glue pen to glitify his eyelids.

Fun huh? I'll hopefully get to share a few more things before Saturday...busy busy bee!! Hope you have a great day!! Thanks so much for stopping by!!

So, I've been busy...

I have been working my little fingers to the bone..getting ready for an upcoming "Christmas Market" at the International School next Saturday!! I've got a lot of things that I'll get to sharing...all sorts of fun things:). I love calendars. I've been making calendars that fit inside a 3.5x5 acrylic frame for several friends for several years...and yes, I'll still get them their refill for the 2009 year, but I wanted to try these too! My wonderful friend Jeanelle totally hooked me up with the calendar template of the 3.5x5 calendars. I printed several of them, but then used it to create another template for these coaster calendars. The calendars are 3.5x3.5". The font is called CK Becky and it can be downloaded FREE from her blog here.
So, for some detail. I printed them on papertrey white cardstock. You all know my love affair with whisper white cardstock, but for this project, I wanted the paper a bit thicker...so I chose to go with the papertrey cardstock. After printing (I only needed 2 sheets of paper per calendar...yea for that!) and cutting, I added strips of designer paper. I used Urban Garden on the first calendar and then Sweet Always on the next two photos. The strips of paper are 3/8" wide. I attached the designer paper to each of the months, then pulled out my new bind-it-all!:) It is a super fun machine! I can't wait to get more time to play with it!
The BIA(from now on let's just call it that!) is super. It's easy to use, I just slipped about 6 sheets of the calendar in the machine, pulled the handle and beautiful holes! I slipped the other 6 sheets in and got perfectly lined up holes punched...yea! I took my 4x4 coasters and covered them with a piece of designer paper on one side and coordinating cardstock on the other side. I used my ATG gun to attach the paper to the coasters. I trimed the corners of the paper, and then sanded each side of the coaser with a sanding block, to round the edges perfectly and make the paper look lovely! Then came the BIA again, punching perfect holes again. I took my little "o-ring" as they are know in the binding world, put it in the awaiting slots, and then used my BIA to close the rings...SO easy!

I've got a few of these done...they go really quick, only took about 10 minutes from start to finish for each calendar. Fun gift for a teacher huh?! Or anyone that likes to have a calendar by their computer...so many options!

Thanks for hanging in to the end of this post! I know it was a little bit longer than usual!:) If you have any other questions, feel free to drop me an email!

Thanks for stopping by! Have a great one!