Back To School Survival Kits

One of the Splitcoast Technique challenges was to make this backpack box.  I use the template for the 2-5-7-10 box since it already had a built in flap for the front, and then made up a template for the pocket on the front   Details below.  Anyway, this is so cute.  Next time I will put the straps on more realistically.  I spaced them wrong.  They should be close together at the top and spread out towards the corners on the bottom.  Next time I'll fix that.  I made 10 of these on Monday night for moms of children that are going off to Kindergarten.  They are sending their babies off to school for the first time, and I wanted to encourage them.  There is a kleenex to dry their tears, bittersweet chocolates for the bittersweet time of realizing their babies are growing up, hugs and kiss (Hershey's) for the hugs and kisses they will shower their little ones with when they get home, some chamomile tea for calming their nerves while they wonder if their child is having a good day, and some scripture verses to encourage their heart and soul.  I thought it was a neat way to let them know we are thinking about them and send a little of God's love their way.  Not looking for any kudos for me, just wanted to share some of God's love for them.  We homeschool so we don't know what it's like to send the boys off to school, but I do know the feelings of realizing my boys are growing up soo fast.  

Here are the details of the box:  NOTE ABOUT PHOTOS.  I TOOK THEM WITH MY IPHONE SO THEY AREN'T THE BEST.  I'LL TRY FOR BETTER LATER.

2-5-7-10 box from Splitcoaststampers tutorials.  Follow those direction, but do not assemble the box together until you get the pocket on and the flaps trimmed.  

Use a coluzzle template or a nestabilitie die for tracing the circle onto the flaps.  

Stamp the backpack base or use printed papers.

Cut out box flaps as shown on tutorial.  

Pocket dimensions are 3 1/2 x 5 1/4.  Score along 5 1/4 side at 2 1/2 from each end.  Along the 3 1/2 side score at 1 /4 and 1/2 from each end.  Trim as seen in photo.  Fold and glue the back flap up.  

Flap for small pocket is 2 1/2 x 2 score along 2 inch side at 1/2 and 3/4.  Trace a circle onto the flap.  Glue to pocket then glue pocket onto backpack box base.  

Ribbon for backpack straps.   Use a long reach hole punch or an eyelet setter punch to make holes for ribbons.  

I knotted the top ends of the ribbons and then used glue dots to attach them at the bottom.

My Homemade version of the Stampin' UP! calendar folio

Here is the calendar folio that I made up using the Mark the Date and Full Calendar stamp sets, journaling stamp and Stampin' UP! designer paper.  You use one sheet of designer paper cut to 8 1/2 x 11 for the folio.  Then you will need to score this at 4 inches from the right and left sides of the 8 1/2 length as seen in  the first photo.  Next you will score at 1 and  1 1/2 inches from each side on the 11 inch side. Trim off the flap as seen in the photo to make the sides of the folio.  Then glue the top flap onto those side pieces.  Embellish the folio as you wish with chipboard numbers, or whatever.  

For the calendar pages they are 4 x 8 pieces of white cardstock.  I took various patterns of the designer paper and cut both a 1 inch and 1 /2 inch piece for the top and bottom.  If you decorate your pages this way, rather than lining the back side you can get about 6 calendars, maybe more from one package of designer paper.  I stamped the journaling lines first  and then the calendar and then the month.   Then I punched tabs using the round tab punch, which if I  had to do it again, I would cut in half instead of folding them over and then gluing them.  Less punching, less paper used.  Voila.  That is all.  So quick and easy, and you can make these calendars in whatever color scheme  you want.  I love this idea.  Tuck it in a briefcase, purse, desktop, or take out the individual pages and clip them on one of our chipboard small clipboards that you have decorated with matching paper.  So great and so pretty.  You'll have people asking you, "Where did you get that?"  And you can say, "I made it myself.  Do you want one?"

NOTE:  I just saw a goof I made.  I meant to put 2009 on the calendar and I put 2008.  Oh well.  Easy to cover up with another white circle.  I was working so hard, I forgot to think of the right year.

Latest creations: trying to use all these stashed accessories

Here are some creations I made recently with some of my chipboard pieces, buttons and pretties flowers.  I tend to buy all these things and then hoard them.  In my quest to spend less and use what I already have, I am bringing these things out and getting them on some cards.  Hope you like the birthday , anniversary, and pun cards.

I used Pun fun set and the Holiday and Wishes set for stamping.  Craft ink was used on all the chipboard pieces.  You have to use the craft ink on SU! chipboard because it is a light gray/kraft color and classic ink won't dye it a true color.  

Enjoy!

My First Catalog Order

Well, I did it.  I made my first new catalog order today.  This is what I ordered:  Party Hearty set, which works well with many punches and is not corny or limited to a kid style card.   I think it is very versatile and would make great masculine cards as well. 

I ordered the It's a Date set which is a double mounted background set that is a daily planner page and a weekly planner page.  I am going to keep up with the boys weekly assignments for school and their chores on these sheets.  Now I just have to make their clipboards.

I ordered the Say It With Scallops set and the scallop rectangle punch.  I hope to make some nice samples to show you for my product bundle special next month. 

Then for accessories I ordered the Chit Chat rub-ons cause I totally think they are awesome.  I know they are disposable but who can beat getting all those awesome sentiments for the front of your cards.  And you can put them on ribbons, metal, etc.  I love them.

Urban Garden designer paper cause that is the color scheme in our living room and I need to make some home decor stuff.

Haiku paper cause i love the patterns and color combo.  

Parisian Summer paper because it is soo pretty and feminine and I think it will make some pretty anniversary cards.  

New Big Shot purse bag die and the extender plates to go with it.  I am so excited about this one.  Think awesome fast and easy treat bags for the holidays.  Yeah, baby!!  

Well that is all.  I'll be posting some artwork tomorrow.  

Another Deer Friends card

Here is another cute card I CASED from Splitcoast.  I changed the patterned paper to something I had and so the colors kind of changed too.  But otherwise it is pretty much the same.  Thanks to the talented card makers there.  I used some paper that I have  had on hand for a few years now.  The colors match the new In colors: kiwi kiss, riding hood red, groovy guava (retiring in color), and then the regular color of old olive.  I also used a little trick for my stitching, since I am so not going to lug out a sewing machine.  I have a clear stamp that is a zigzag stitch that I used with white craft ink, and white embossing powder.  There you go, textured faux stitching.  Love it.  Anyway, I hope you like this card.  Trying to come up with some holiday cards to sell as kits for friends and family to assemble themselves.  I think this one might be a little over the top for something like that, but it was too cute not to try.  

Details:

card base is standard 4 1/4 by 11 folded at 5 1/2

olive layer is 4 x 5 1/4

squares are 2x2

scallop edge piece is 4 x 1 1/2  (used scallop edge punch)

Christmas in July

July is almost over, but it's Christmas in July here.  Trying to design my Christmas card class on the go cards, and here are some more options.  Nothing is finalized yet, but I think these are going to be so cool to make and give.  I simply used my nifty Cuttlebug embossing folders that I found at Hobby Lobby.  Love that store.  We don't have a Michael's or ACMoore close by, but they always had all the old folders and not the new ones.  Well Hobby Lobby which is a short 25 min. away in Gadsden has these great new Christmas folders that go great with the snowflake background folder.  Love it.   These were so easy to make using my Nestabilities for the mats on the images.  I also used the new Kiwi Kiss on the red and green cards.  It looks so great with the Real Red.  Like a strawberry.  Who doesn't love strawberry-kiwi flavored things?  

Details:  

Cuttlebug machine, snowflake background and dots background, and holiday mini folders

Real Red, night of navy and bashful blue cut to regular card size: 5 1/2 x 8 1/2  scored at 4 1/4

kiwi kiss 5 1/4 x 4

white on red cards is cut 5 x 3 3 /4

white on blue cards is cut 5 1/4 x 4

red, navy, and bashful blue ribbons

white squares 1 3/4x 1 3/4

nestabilities

1 1/2 circle punch would work for white circles  but I used all nestabilities for the round and scallop round pieces.

Merry Christmas from our house to yours...

I was sooo very excited when Papertrey introduced this new Boards and Beams set in June.  Can you say perfect for new house announcements that I will need to make here soon when our house is built.  However, in the meantime, this set makes a wonderful Christmas card.  Pair it with the Holiday Wishes set from PTI and you have a perfectly coordinated little card.  I tried very hard to add a little snow to the eaves.  I think the next one will be Liquid appliqued and then topped with a bit of chunky ice glitter.  This one just has some white glitter on it. 

 I found the greatest thing yesterday, okay maybe not so great since I bought so much, at Wal-Mart.  Martha Stewart craft papers, ribbons, punches, scrapbook and kits, and this awesome glitter.  There are 3 packs of glitter per package for only $5 and pretty much all the colors match a Stampin' UP! color.  Love it.  That is why I got so much.  And there is a glue pad they sell for $5 too that you ink up your stamp on and then stamp, glitter and it takes the place of heat and stick, I hope.  No more heat gun and two steps.  I haven't actually tried it yet, but I am keeping my hopes up that it works.  And I found this great border punch that I used to make the artichoke border here.  

I watercolored the house with creamy caramel, close to cocoa, bravo burgundy and artichoke.  I colored the windows with summer sun marker and toned it down with a little water.  

This is a super easy pocket card and would be a great Christmas card.  You could even put a family photo on the insert.

HOx3 Santa card

HOx3 means HO! HO! HO! as in Santa Claus saying that with "Merry Christmas!".  Okay I thought it was cute.  I totally CASED this card from the totally great demo magazine we get every month.  Did I mention being a demonstrator is really a great thing.  Lots of FREE samples, a great discount, FREE stamps, a sneak peak at all sorts of new stuff, great support and training, and so much more.  I love it.  What I wish for are more great stamps like some of the other companies out there have come out with, not the same old flower sets that we keep seeing coming out or being recycled by Stampin' UP!  I am just not feeling the same love these days for our stamps.  We need some truly new and cool stuff:  stuff for men, stuff for boys, and not the cutesy cartoony stuff.  Real stuff.  I am so holding my breath to see what new things we are getting in August in the new catalog.  I know of 2 new label like sets with coordinating new punches, new buttons, new In colors and coordinating ribbons and accessories, new Simply Scrappin' and designer papers since they retired all that were in this Spring and Summer catalog.  New hodgepodge hardware kits, and such.  Can I say that I am loving all the new accessories, and I will always love our colors.  Our paper and inks are so great.  But honestly, they better wow me with the stamps this time, or I might not be able to be so excited about Stampin' UP!  I'll try to hang in there with you.  

Here are the details of this fun card:  squares are 1 1/2 x 1 1/2.  Used kiwi kiss, riding hood red, bashful blue and white.  Same with inks.  Used circle punches and scallop punch.  White craft ink and a zig zag stitch clear stamp for the stitching.  I am loving that stamp.  Wise purchase here recently.   Deer friends set, as well as two retired Christmas sets: perfect presentation and Glad Tidings.

New Catalog Pairings

Here are some pairings of product from the new catalog to help you group together some coordinating products.  I know when the new catalogs come out, it's often hard to decide what new things to order and then know they will go together and what I can use them for.  So here are some product pairings I thought of to help you out.

Say It With Scallops (Ronald McDonald House set) with the scallop square punch and the Haiku paper

Party Hearty with the Junior Varsity designer paper, 1 3/4 inch circle punch, and the Chit Chat rub ons .  Also works with the tag punch too.

Pocket Silhouettes and the Chit Chat rub ons, and possibly the Haiku, Windsor or Urban Garden papers 

Upsy Daisy with Urban Garden paper

Only Ovals and the new wide oval punch, and either the Parisian Summer or Bella Rose papers

Bella's Bloom or Dreams Du Jour and the Bella Rose papers and the vanilla hodgepodge hardware set

Spotlight on Christmas and the oval punches (not wide oval), square punches, circle punches, large star punch and the 5 petal flower punch

Word Flurries rub ons and the I Wish Simply Scrappin or the Holiday Treasures designer paper, and the Seasons on board chipboard with the snowflakes, frames and leaves.  Think ornaments and gift packaging.

Curvy Label punch set with brushed silver paper and silver embossing powder  paired with any of the papers with blues, basic grey, or baja breeze, or pinks

Cheers to You set with the Berry Sorbet paper.  Think cool refreshing tropical flavors and you'll see why I think those go well together.  Plus the fun funky prints would match well with a drink inspired card.

Deer Friends in In colors

Here is a set of 3x3 notes using the new level 2 hostess set Deer Friends.  It is a great set for notecards, larger greetings and gift tags.  I love it.  I made a card with pretty much all the images using the new InColors,  my scallop edge punch, and my Papertreyink polka dot set.  I am waiting for matching IN color ribbon and designer paper to really do these up right.  But thought you would like the sneak peak.  Level 2 sets are for workshop orders $300 or more.  

Fresh Cuts notes in InColors

Here is a quick and easy set of Fresh cuts notes that I made to show off the new InColors for 2008-2009.  I love them.  I stamped the main image on the colored cardstock in white craft ink.  Then I stamped the "vine" on the front in the proper color.  A couple of the cards I used the new Scallop edge punch, which is so easy to use.  Then I stamped the small flower on white, cut them out and adhered them with a brad.  Then you glue your card front to the colored piece of paper, and you are done.  So easy.   Don't you just love these colors?

A Little Blog Clean up

I am finding that I spend way too much time searching my favorite blogs for things that I have seen I like or trying to figure out later whose blog I saw this or that tutorial on and so forth.  I needed to clean up my blog lists, organize the sites I visit, "bookmark" so to speak on here the things I think will be helpful to not only myself, but to you my blog viewers and my customers.  So here is a little information on what I have done.

Stampin' UP! specials will be posted at the top of the sidebar.  You'll see the promo flyer and then you can click on it to get more info.  Great tool here.  

My time is limited, and there are some really talented people out there who are way more organzied and better at posting project and card tutorials. I decided that it is a waste of my time to reinvent the wheel and try to retype their instructions and ideas.  So now they show up specifically on my side bar under the appropriate categories.  You need to check them out, in order from top to bottom.   There is a wealth of information on Andrea Walford's blog, Splitcoaststampers, Nicole Heady and Papertrey links, and on a few others I have on there.  You will find ways to use product you haven't dreamed of, and things that will make you say, "Ah, so that is how they did that.".  And there are card ideas, box ideas, and card kits that you will just love.  A lot of the card sketch ideas and color combos are so great at getting those creative juices going too.

I just don't have the time to do my own classes and kits these days.  These ladies have already done so and in most cases posted the direction for them.  I try to give you all the best help  I can as I know we are all looking for ways to maximize our creativity in the short amount of time we have to work on our crafting.  Also I know that internet and blog hopping can be big time wasters.  So I wanted to help you and myself with that too.  I hope this helps.   I want to inspire you, but really most of the projects that I make come from these wonderfully talented ladies.  So now you have direct links to their creativity and instructions.  NOt that I won't be trying to come up with my own twist on things, but the basic instructions will be the same.  

Hope all this helps you and you will use the tools I have provided.  Keep stamping, work smarter, and make the most of your creative time. 

Melissa  

It's here... I have the new catalog!!!

I have the new Stampin' UP! catalog.  It's gorgeous, as usual.  First impression as I looked through it was a mediocre one.  Lots of the stuff I like, I already have.  A lot of the same sets that I didn't like before in there, and the new stuff, well it was okay, but still too many flowers.  Not enough kids additions that were good.  Not enough occasions sets, and not enough fresh new stuff.  Now with that said.  I love the new designer papers, metal brads, clip assortments, ribbons, and punches.  There are a lot of great things there.  I'll talk more about that later.  

After looking through it a few times, I am a bit more optimistic, but still not a long list of stamps I want that are new.  A huge list of papers and accessories I want, but I will say the samples of art made with the stamps in this catalog are awesome.  The new In Colors really make the other 48 colors pop out at you.  They are stunning.  I didn't think I would like them when I first saw them this spring, but after having them and playing with them, seeing them combined with other colors in the catalog, I love them.  They are rich and vibrant and so wonderful.  

Now with that all said, here is my section by section review:

Hostess sets:  as in past couple of years, they don't do a lot for me.  I love the Deer Friends set for Christmas.  The Serene Spring set is also pretty.  Level 1 choices are Punches Three that go with the new square scallop punch and the new wide oval punch, Best Yet which also go with those two punches, and the prints paper pack--love the new prints designs.

Holidays:  none of the Halloween as we just aren't into that and they are too creepy.  I like the Batty For You, but again, I wouldn't buy it cause I wouldn't use it enough.  

Thanksgiving set In Everything Give Thanks is cute, but I don't see myself decorating and sending cards for Thanksgiving too much.  

Christmas:  love Snow Swirled, Spotlight on Christmas (goes with lots of the punches), Snowburst.  Holiday Trinkets is nice too.

Occasions: 

Cheers to you is the cocktail set I have been hoping for.  Very cute.

Love Party Hearty which goes with lots of punches and is quite versatile (hats can be turned into Christmas trees or upside down for pennants)

Crazy for Cupcakes is sort of like other companies cupcake sets, but it is nice

Simple Birthday Thanks is high on my list for helping my boys write their own thank yous for birthday gifts.  So cute.

Growing Up:  nothing too new and noteworthy

All Natural: 

Pocket silhouettes is very pretty and petite (on sale in Aug. for 15% off)

Inspired By Nature didn't really strike me too much at first, but I have seen convention goers samples and they are pretty.

Upsy Daisy  (on sale in Aug. for 15% off) is very pretty too and I just love the Urban Garden paper that goes with this set and Inspired by nature)

Bella's bloom is pretty and inexpensive and goes with the Bella Rose paper

Under the Stars is super cute for camping, and with Nathan in Cub Scouts it might go on the wish list.

Elements:

New addition to the large Calender stamp is Cute Cues with more cues to put on  your calendar

Say It With Scallops is the new Ronald McDonald House set and I really like it.  Love the square scallop punch it goes with.  I see simple but neat cards made from this set paired up with the pretty designer papers.  And $2 from the sale of each of these goes to the Ronald McDonald house.  I may do a special bundle with this in Sept. with square scallop punch.

Puns from the Past is a nice vintage pun set with antique typewriter, fan, grater, sewing machine, camera, buggy, and coffee pot.  Cute vintage look.  

Only Ovals with wide oval punch stamps.  Great for faux metal look. I like them.

It's a Plan background stamp set duo : planner pages and to do list on two stamps.  Okay think large On Board journals turned into a great daily planner or organizer in any color you want.  This is going on my list.

Bella Toile background is so pretty and elegant

Greetings:

New birthday greetings, thank you, script all occasion set, four square set for scallop square , new die cut alphabet.

Accessories:

All In Color products and stripe ribbons

Die cut blooms assortment from the Spring mini in a new color assortment as well as that one.  New color asst. is in baja breeze, vanilla, cocoa, and kiwi.

New notes and envelopes including the carousel notes and fresh cuts notes

Papers: urban garden, haiku, windsor knot, bella rose, hawaii papaya, maine blueberry, green tea(like the ginger blossom but in baja and greens), holiday treasures (Christmas), murifield, banbury and manchester are same prints different colors (think English plaid and argyle and stripes and such), parisian summer, and new prints in in colors as well as regular colors.

Simple Scrappin:  all new kits for baby, summer home and winter retreat, love the new I Wish for Christmas, Best Ever for birthdays is great. 

Simply Sent card elements: new elements with optional go together stamp sets.  Think precut cardstock and accents and elements pieces in a kit with a coordinating stamp set you may purchase separately.

Rub ons:  great ones here!  Word flurries for Christmas,  Chills and Thrills for Halloween, Chit Chat for all sorts of greetings, chateau bella, hidden garden, greatest moments, and school days.

New chipboard:  lots of letter sets with multiples of some letters and a lot of fun fonts.  You gotta get these.  Also a set with a combo of the ginormous frames and flower elements, a holiday set like what was in last years holiday mini but without the large letters, and a new 8 1/2 x 11 3 ring binder book you can cover and embellish.

New felt flowers in baja, chocolate and pink pirouette

New hardware:  clips assortment, mini library clips, new designer brads in different styles: filigree, flower, circles and stars, and vanilla styled hodgepodge  hardware.

Lots of new ribbon sizes and a new colors for some of the original collections.

Button assortment with different shapes and "prints" for Incolors. 

Punches: 1 3/4 circle, wide oval, scallop edge, scallop square and a new punch and stamp bundle minus the cool metal tin which is a curly label.  I like the curly label set as it works well with other punches and makes great faux metal accents paired up with metallic papers and embossing powders.

And that is all that grabbed my attention.  I in no way will be getting all of this stuff as I have too much already that I need to use up, but I still make my wish lists and then pick and choose off of that when I can.  

Nice thing is that the stamps will be around for at least a year, and the accessories I won't die without.  That paper though is pretty nice.  Hmm.  

Well that is all I have on the new catalog.  I'll keep posting the new stuff I make.  I hope you are inspired and you enjoy looking at all the cool samples in there.  They really are nice.  Some wonderful ideas, layouts,  and color combos.  I am enjoying my too late nights looking through it. 

Some wedding presents

Here are some wedding presents I  made for my husband's cousin and wife who were married a couple of weeks ago.  I made several sets of 12 cards each for them as well as a framed picture of their invitation and a card box.  I used Cuttlebug embossing folders, Papertrey Ink stamps and Stampin' UP! papers to create these quick and easy cards and projects.  I love them.  

New catalog from Stampin' UP! and so many new cool things coming this Fall.

I have been on Splitcoaststampers reading all the big convention announcements from Stampin' UP!  There are so many of them I'll just start where I can.

1.  First of all coming this Fall you will be able to order online 24/7 from either www.stampinup.com or from a demonstrator's Stampin' UP! demo website.  You will ultimately want to order from your demo's site cause that way you get lowest prices, lowest shipping and eligibility for hostess benefits.  

While I just disabled my demo website in July because I didn't feel I could afford to hang onto it during our move and transition, you can bet as soon as I know the Online ordering will be up, I will reactivate my demo website at www.melissasibert.stampinup.net .  You will have 24/7 access to ordering without having to email me your orders.  You just go online to my site and place your order like you would on any other website.  So easy.  However, if you want to order the traditional way, feel free to do so.  

2.  More Decor Elements coming this Fall:  these will be more coordinating items from the catalog in more of our signature colors.  Also there are decor elements for holiday decorating and putting on holiday serving dishes, or really whatever.  How does a decor element frame for an advent calendar sound?  There is a decor element that would allow you to create one.  So cool.  

3.  The biggest product announcement was that Stampin' UP! has partnered with Sizzix to make a line of dies for the Sizzix Big Shot that coordinate with SU! products.   We will also be selling the Big shot as well with the SU! logo and a special color.  Now if you already own a Cuttlebug, most of the dies we will be selling will work in your Cuttlebug machine.  The Bigz XL dies and the long strip dies might not work as they are either too long or too wide (6").  The Cuttlebug only will accept dies that are 5 1/2 inches wide.  So have no fear, you would be able to use these dies on your current machine.  If you don't have a Cuttlebug, you might want to look into a Big Shot.  It works the same way, but is a bit more sturdy and doesn't fold up compact like the CB.  It also works with nestabilities and cuttlebug embossing dies.  Also a couple of our new dies in the Bigz XL are for the most adorable treat purse holders.  They are totally awesome.   This new product line is a bit pricey as the dies are expensive, but they save a lot of time in cutting multiples of things and they can cut through a wide variety of materials like: multiple sheets of cardstock, chipboard, fabric, thin metals, thin plastics, etc.  Great for scrapbookers.  

4.  Now for new catalog news: I have heard that there are tons of new Designer papers both in masculine and feminine styles.  Tons of new accessories.  New vanilla hodgepodge hardware in the same style as the Styled Silver.   Pretty new ribbons, and so much more.  YOu are going to love the new holiday sets, and there are some new occasions sets that sound cute too.  Still looks like a lot of flower stuff, but enough other to create a good sized wish list.  So make sure you get you a pad of paper and pen so you can start making yours when you get your copy.  When I get mine, I'll go through it and jot down my thoughts on stuff as I go through each section here on my blog so watch for that.  

Talk to you all soon as I hope to have that new catty in my hand by the end of this week.