Flower Patch

Happy Sunday!

This is another card we are making in today's Stamp-a-Stack:

It's a lovely little card - but a little more fiddly than I like to have at a SAS.  Alas - I like what I like and my peeps know that I almost ALWAYS have one "more complicated" card.  It's not hard - just a few steps by the time you stamp and punch out all the flowers and leaves.  I used he Large Polka Dot embossing folder for the background.  I used the Flower Patch stamp and coordinating framelits for the image.  Oh!  Take note - when you try to take those stinkin' little framelits out of the package be CAREFUL!  A few of them are SHARP little suckers and when you try to peel them off the tape you can quite easily slice your thumb open.  Just sayin'!


I used Pink Pirouette and Melon Mambo for the flower, Wild Wasabi and Garden green for the leaves and then some So Saffron for the centre, which I actually punched out with my small scallop punch rather than the matching framelit ('cause I was gushing blood and couldn't be bothered to get another one off the tape!)  I popped the centre up on a dimensional.  The sentiment is from last years' retired hostess set … SUCH a great set!  I added a few rhinestones to finish it off.  I bright, cheery card for many occasions!

Gotta fly - pop in again.  Until then, have a stampy day!


Tam

Custom Star Boxes by Stampin’ Up!

Happy Saturday!

Here's another video for your viewing enjoyment :)

Have a stampy day!


Tam

Up-Cycled Lollipop Container

Happy Friday!

Ya - I know, I already posted a video this morning ... but I'm not quite ready to walk the dog yet so I thought I'd post THIS little beauty.  I so LOVE this project!  I love when I get to create without having a class in mind.  When I do that I don't have to worry about how many buttons I have, whether the stamp set is current or not ... all those little things I need to think about when designing classes.  Yup - the BEST crafting is when you get to play and just have fun!  That's what happened here:

Isn't he just the cutest little thing???  For those of you who follow me on FaceBook (if you dont, WHY NOT??!! *lol*) you will recall that I was trying to submit some fall centerpiece ideas to Dale, the Manager of SU Canada Operations, for our upcoming, cross country conferences.  This was one of my submissions.  He didn't pick this project to showcase but I love it and have it on display, full of lollipops :)

I DID have to be mindful to use mainly current product - which I did ... except for the buttons - those were retired. 

Here is what I did. 

I had this lollipop container sitting on my desk, alfter making 90 moustache lollipop treats for the teachers and kids' classmates for Halloween (yes, I have Halloween covered but don't have tonights DINNER figured out yet *lol*).  Looking at it it seemed PERFECT for a pumpkin decor piece. 

I bought the lollipops at Costco.  I think they were $10'ish.



I started by putting some white tissue paper inside the bowl.  Of course it would be a lot faster to use ORANGE tissue paper but I wanted to play with my new Blendabilities to see if they really DO color anything

I used my Pumpkin Pie Dark and Medium Blendabilities and started coloring.  Yes, I was worried that my markers would dry out doing so, but they didn't.  Yay!

When you first color the plastic it is wet and yep, if you wipe it most of the color will come off ...

... so don't wipe it!  LEt it dry and then you have a pretty vibrant bucket ...



I put a little green tissue paper inside as well ...

I used my new tree punch to make the nose.  You can either not punch the stem by linig up the punch with the bottom of the card stock ...

... or by cutting it off (duh!)

If you don't have the tree punch you can also use the Pennant Punch ...

For the hat (which was SUPPOSED to be a stem ... but looks more like a hat) I hot glued two of our button containers together ...

... then wrapped it with a piece of Chocolate Chip card stock ... then a little burlap ribbon (using the hot glue gun) and then embellished it with various buttons, some raffia I had in my stash and some leaves made with the new Flower Frenzy Bigz Die.  I used my hot glue gun to assemble it all.

See the little squiggle of ribbon?  That is the new Old Olive Thick Bakers Twine in the 2014 Holiday catty.  Wanna know how I made it twisty?  I grabbed a pencil. wrapped it around the length of it and then ran a bead of hot glue down one sode.  Once the glue dried I peeled it off the pencil (ya, some of the pencil came with it *lol*) and wa-low!  a twisty piece of ribbon :)  

And there you have it - one adorable little pumpkin/scarecrow that hold lots of yummy treats.  How cute would this be to have on your desk at work??

 

OK - the dog is now looking at me all sideways so I guess it's that time.  Off I go!  Pop in again tomorrow - and have a stampy day!

 

 

Tam

Four Feather Fun

Happy Friday!

Today I'm back with another project to share!  Wa-hoo!

This is one of the five cards we are making at the All Occasions Stamp-a-Stack this Sunday.  This a quick and easy card that really can be used for almost every occasion or sentiment!

I have to say the Four Feather set is one I will be using a LOT!  I have seen SO many quick, easy, lovely cards made using it … along with the coordinating framelits.  A GREAT value (15% off for the bundle!) that you won't regret buying!

The first card above is made with Blackberry Bliss card stock and ribbon, with Smoky Slate Ink.  The second is made with Island Indigo card stock and ribbon with Soft Sky … or was it Pool Party … nope - Soft Sky - more bus than green … ink.  I used silver sequins that come in the new Frosted Sequins pack in the Holiday catalogue.  You get 450 in the pack!!!  There are different sizes of silver sequins as well as snowflakes - GREAT value for money!!!  The sequins are attached with mini glue dots.  The sentiment is from Lots of Thanks set - another one to have in your stash!

Thats it for today.  Pop in again to see another video.  Until then - have a stampy day!

Tam

Frightful Wreath Simply Created Kit by Stampin’ Up!

Happy Thursday!



Me again …. Ih've had a LOVELY day of crafting.  I finished cutting the projects for Sunday's Stamp-a-Stack and then spent an hour putting together my Halloween Wreath with Rebecca.  It turned out GREAT!  I THOUGHT I had posted this video … but can't see it anywhere .. so I'm posting it now.  We watched it to put ours together rather than read the instructions.  Easier that way,



Off to serve dinner - pop in again tomorrow.  Until then - have a stampy day!





Tam

Curvy Keepsake Box by Stampin’ Up!

Happy Thursday!

Ya, I was gunna post another project but thought I'd drag it out a little longer for ya!  I thought today I'd share another video.  This one is on the new Curvy Keepsake Thinlits Die.  Ho-LEE COW do I love this thing!  I was pretty sure I didn't need it right away so I didn't order it on my pre-order last month.  I was wrong!  I ordered it a week or two later and I LOVE this little stinker!  There are fantastic ideas all over Pinterest - the ideas really do seem endless!  I made one last week in a matter of minutes - they are a MUST if you make teacher or co-worker treats - you can change the design every season for a quick, cute little treat.  That's it for now - off to start my crazy for the day!

Enjoy the video and have a stampy day!!!


Tam

Double Vision Technique

Happy Wednesday!!!

Have you missed me??  Have you missed my rambling?  I've missed DOING it! 

I FINALLY found a few hours tonight to start NINE blog posts!  NINE projects!  Yep - I HAVE been crafting, just not posting!  What HAVE I been doing?  uhhhhhhhh - I dunno - but I've been stupid busy since the day school started!

I vaguely remember 4 days ago - Saturday - we had Family Fun Day.  The four of us signed up for Archery lessons.  Yep - nothing says "Awesome Mom" like arming your minors with weapons when they are underslept and fighting with each other *lol*.  Not gunna lie - I was a *little* concerned about my 8-year-old-with-a-temper ... but she didn't shoot anyone, I'm happy to report.  In the end the only one who got hurt was me ... and I did it to myself!  Yep - have a lovely purple /blue /brown bruise the size of my fist thanks to 20 pounds of force of cable slamming against my inner arm.  Note to self:  Keep body parts out of the way of compound bows!

I spend most of this week prepping for my Stamp-a-Stack this weekend (yes, I actually have all 5 cards designed and 90% CUT and it's only Thursday!!  I usually start cutting around 9:00 pm the night before!) and planning Alicia's 9th birthday party.  Oh it's gunna be fun!  We struggled to come up with something that could even come CLOSE to trumping last year's EPIC party ... her Halloween Party complete with Haunted House in the basement and "guess what you're touching" games.  We finally settled on a Movie Star Party and Sleep Over.  It will be a BLAST!  I've bought all the decorations - will be making cupcakes that look like bowls of popcorn, we'll be doing hair, makeup and nails ... and of course watching movies late into the night before pretending to sleep for a few hours!  The paparazzi will naturally be on hand as the guests arrive and walk the red carpet.  Oh ya - feather boas, silk gloves, tiaras and sunglasses will be the fashion for the evening ... Minute to Win It games where they earn play money to buy candy at the movie concession stand .... and whatever else Mom cooks up between now and then.  Should come CLOSE to last year's party of awesomeness!!!

 

So that's what I've been doing for the last 5 days - before that is a blur of meetings, trips to the airport, designing projects and general "normal stuff" - you know - the life of a SAHM!

 

Enough rambling?  Ready for a project??  OK!  This one is already "old" by my standards as I posted it on FaceBook ages ago and we made it at my classes last week (do you follow me on FaceBook?  Search for "Tamara's Paper Trail" and "Like" it and/or "follow" it to get notifications whenever I post things.  I use FB a lot more frequently than my blog - quicker and easier!) .... but I digress ... as usual *lol*  OK - HERE - HERE is my project.  I call it my Double Vision Technique card:

OK - THAT picture lighting totally sucks!  Here's a better pic of the funky background:

I found this technique on Pinterest - where else?  It was linked to Splitcoast Stampers and I found the tutorial by Susan Roberts over at www.rainy.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com  - it shows quite a few cards made using this technique.  It really doesn't get any easier!  You simply run your cards stock through the Big Shot (I used the Large Polka Dot folder - freaking LOVE that folder!!!) then you flip the card stock over and run it through with the folder again.  Genius!  Gives you an embossed and a debossed image.  SO cool! 

 

The rest of the card is pretty straight forward.  I sued my 2" circle punch for the black and silver card stock circles - and the new Festival of Trees stamp set (stamped in Memento ink) and punched out with the coordinating punch.  Some Basic Black Bakers Twiner, some flags and the "Good Greetings" stamp set (which you get for FREE if you host a party with over $325 CDN sales!) finish it off.  I'm surprised but I actually LOVE this black and white Christmas card!

 

So there you have it - a not-so-brief update on my "crazy" and a fun technique to try out!  Pop in again soon to see those other 8 projects I have in "draft" post form.  Until then ... have a stampy day!

 

 

Tam



Halloween Treats

Happy Saturday!

Up at 6:00 am again today - I've been on SUCH a roll getting things done the let two weeks I couldn't stay in bed!  … well that and my lower back was KILLING me … stupid lovely fashion boots of stupidness!

I'm pretty pumped about all the crazy that's going on in my world over the next month or so.  I've booked LOTS of classes, I'm planning Alicia's 9th birthday party (Movie Star Theme home-party!), Stamp-a-Stack, 3 days of camp with Rebecca (Lord help me!), Stampin' Up! Conference, Stampin' Up! Head Office Training session (!!!), then Alicia's party, then my brother and SIL come to town for Thanksgiving, then Halloween.  Throw in a couple of field trip helper days for the kids, after-school activities and general "life"and yup - back to the crazy I love!

I had HOPED I'd get a chance to post some projects yesterday … alas, life happened again and I ended up running errands for 4 hours instead.  It was actually quite fun.  I hit Michael's to pick up some super cheap sketch pads for Alicia's birthday (she's recently taken up a love of drawing so a great birthday present from Auntie!).  Whilst standing in the line to pay the key-UTEST little 1 year old boy was wobbling down the aisle grinning from ear to ear at everyone and everything.  An elderly lady spoke to him telling him he was "such a HAPPY little boy!"  With that he wobbled over to her and have her leg a BIG hug.  It made everyone smile and laugh.  The lady was thrilled - she said "any day you get  free hug is a good day".  With that I said "Awwww - I'LL give you a hug!" … and I did *lol*  With that her husband looked at me and said "What about me?"  … so I hugged him too *lol*  It started a chain reaction of hugging - it was hysterical … and everyone left with a free hug and a smile on their faces.  It was pretty awesome!  That set me up for a happy day … despite the hell that was Costco that followed … and the double train that had me sitting forEVER on the way home.  It was just a great day!  Of course once you get home from Costco you need to spend an hour finding room to PUT everything, freeze everything and generally gut and reassemble your entire kitchen.  Follow that with dinner, dishes and stamping class and … ya … blogging projects didn't happen.  On the bright side ONE DAY I will have LOTS to post, as the projects keep getting made and being added to the "blog one day" pile *lol*

To keep you crafting I thought I'd post another throw-back project.  This one is from last year - I posted how to make cute little hand sanitizer favours.  Remember these?

The original post and TUTORIAL to make them is here 

Sorry I don't have anything new for you … soon!  Until then, have a stampy Saturday!


Tam

Double Vision Card

Happy Tuesday!

GEEEEEEEZ where do the days go???!!!  I can't believe I haven't posted since last Monday!  I have LOTS to share but I simply haven't had half an hour to post them.  Right now I NEED to hit the basement to cut the paper and set up for class … TONIGHT!!!  So I just thought I'd quickly pop in, say hi, confirm I'm still alive (and yes, LOVING my back-to-crazy "schedule"!) and throw out a teaser of one of my projects.  I won't share the details, just the pic.  Mean, huh?  Well, it's that or nuthin' Sista!  So here it is …. I saw this "technique" somewhere - likely Pinterest - and will research the who, what, where so I can give credit another day.  In the meantime, I'm calling this the "Double Vision Technique".  Here is the card I made for class tonight:

LOVE it!!!  Took me about 2 hours of tweaking and playing around with different elements before I settled on this … yep - love it.

I have 3 other cards designed … boxes, trees and tutorials … hopefully Friday I can carve out some time to share!  Until then - have a stampy day!!!

Tam

Thanksgiving Treats Throwback ..

Happy Labour Day!

I LOVE Labour Day.  No, not because the kids go back to school the next day and I get my "life-asI-know-it" back (although that really adds to my love of it!).  I just have really fond memories of it from my childhood.  Yes, I'm dating myself here … but I always looked forward to the long weekend and the Jerry Lewis Telethon … DESPITE the fact that I HAD school when it was over.  I remember watching it for hours and waiting to see the next awesome act.  My childhood friends, m brother and I would try to do something to raise money for the charity - a garage sale, a lemonade stand, a talent show.  Yes - those were the days before iPods, XBox games and so on - back when the neighbourhood kids would get together and just play all day.  The weather was always nice (fall is SO my favourite) and mom would always have great comfort food dinners.  *sigh* - such great memories.  Yep - I love Labour Day weekend.  (Things have changed just a *little* - tonight the 4 of us are heading out to the Katy Perry concert!  I GUESS it's similar entertainment to the telethon *lol*)

I'm up earlier than usual - Alicia couldn't sleep … so now she's in MY bed, sleeping … and I'm down here chasing a fly.  (Ever get jealous of my glamorous life??)  To be showered,dressed and ready-to-go before 8:00 am on a Sunday is just WRONG in my mind but there you have it.  Today will go by in a blink getting ready for tomorrow.  We already labelled all the backpacks, lunch kits, shoes and water bottles - we picked out the outfits and found our memory stick - we updated our annual "interview" of favourite things for their diaries …. today we need to do hair and pack lunches before the concert so we can make it to school on time after a WAY too late night tonight.

One fun thing I did this morning was try out a new mascara I got this weekend.  A friend of mine is now a rep for a company called "Younique".  I agreed to do an on-line "party" as I saw and liked the mascara they sell.  I tried it out this morning.  Check.  This.  Out!

OK - kind of a scary up-close eye shot … and makes my nose look freakishly shaped … but look at the difference from this stuff!!!  And that's just one coat!  It is a 2-step process - you apply it just like regular mascara - you put on a gel, then these tea leave fibres, then the gel again to seal it.  It's insane!!! I have really sparse and thin lashes - this stuff puffed them out and lengthened them without it clumping and/or making me look like a prostitute!  Yes - this my new favourite non-stamping product!!!  I'm going to check my other mascaras - why would I ever use anything else???  Yes, you can order some to (and then I get credit for my on-line party :) )  It is $35 Canadian 9plus $5 shipping - in the US it's (I think) $29 + shipping and it comes right to your door.  If you want to try this stuff out (and/or buy 5 extra bottles for Christmas presents like I am!) here is a link to do so.

Right!  Guess I should go put mascara on my other eye before I forget and go out looking a little lops-sided *lol* … but before I do how about another throwback project?  These little treats are still in the top 10 most popular projects from my blog -

These were SO quick and easy to make - 28 made in 1 hour 15 minutes.  LOVE!

Click here to se the original post.

Wish me luck for tonight and tomorrow.  Until next time, have a stampy Labour Day!


Tam