Rubbed the Wrong Way!

This just cracks me up. I bought these salt and pepper shakers a few weeks back with the intent to use the rub-ons using one of the flower type pieces and then rubbing an "S" on one and a "P" on the other. Well, let me tell you how humorous this is. I wiped the glass off with rubbing alcohol and instead of waiting for it to dry or even getting up to get a paper towel I used the side and palm of my hand to wipe it off. Nothing really wrong with that. Except I had just put on some really greasy hand lotion. SO I take more rubbing alcohol and wipe the glass off again. I actually got up and got a paper towel this time. It really wasn't that hard to do either!!! LOL

Then I rubbed on the white flowery circle. I didn't get it on exactly centered but it was ok, it wasn't that bad. Then I cut out a black "P" and rubbed it on top of the flowery circle. The typical black for pepper and white for salt. It didn't like the way it turned out. You could hardly see the "P". SO I took my kraft knife and scrapped off the rub on and removed the rest of it with more rubbing alcohol. Drying it off with the paper towel that was still sitting on my worktable (not a surprise since I rarely clean it off when I'm working - I allow myself a placemat size area to work!!!) Then I cut out a cute flower and started to rub it on and I wasn't holding it firm enough and it slipped and ripped and I couldn't match it up. So once again out came the rubbing alcohol!!! See where I'm going with this??? LOL Well at this point I decided to go with the original flowery circle so I cut out another one of those and rubbed it on. I decided I was not going to put the "S" and "P" on because it has just (yes just at that very moment, not the day I bought the shakers but about 20 minutes ago) dawned on me that the glass is clear and if you put salt in one of them you will be able to see it's salt in the container and if you put pepper in the other one you can clearly (literally) see it's pepper!!! Doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that one!!! So I left them with the simple yet elegant flowery circles. So much for trying to be too creative. Sometimes it's best to keep things simple!!!

So here's your tip. Make sure you clean the surface from any finger oils which also include greasy hand lotion. Rubbing alcohol works best to do this and it's cheap. And if you can't wait for it to evaporate (it takes a whole 30 seconds) you can wipe it off with a paper towel!!! Not your hands, even without greasy lotion on there are skin oils that could cause the rub on not to stay put.

I have these sitting in front of me and I still chuckle at the thought of labeling the obvious!!! LOL

This is a very simple project and you can make it as simple or as complex as you wish. I think I would save the complex for something larger.

Thank you SO much for stopping by,
Wanda

Wednesday Sketch Challenge at SplitCoastStampers

Ok, today on SplitCoastStampers as you all know is the Sketch Challenge. These are a lot of fun and each week you are introduced to a new card layout. Most of them I like and the only reason I don't like the few I've encountered was because they were just too challenging for me!!! And I do intend to go try them again someday!!! I started doing these when the numbers were in the 120's. Today's sketch is number 161 and I did miss a few in there during the month of December just because it was too busy of a month. I really enjoy it and I look forward to Wednesday morning when I open my email to find the link to the new sketch. Such a sad life I lead!!! LOL

And here's the best part. On Monday at SplitCoast they have a new technique (yes, every Monday you can learn a new technique). This Monday it was called Dahlia Fold. It's a very pretty flower. I saw all the posts on SplitCoast that day and saw the TLC153 under the pictures and I knew it was the technique challenge. SO I had to go look. Then I had to try it. It's a lot of folding but SO worth it. I got the flower put together and then I didn't know what to do with it until today when the Sketch Challenge came out. I LOVED that layout and it fit perfectly with the new technique! Now this is the first time I (knowingly) participated in the Monday Technique. I'm going to have to look into this more often. I'm trying to get more organized around here so I have more time to do things like that. It's always nice to learn new things, especially when they turn out!!! LOL

Here's the recipe!
I used a half sheet of black card stock for the main part of the card. Using the measurements from the 161 challenge I printed out, it prints out exact size (how cool is that???) I layered it with decorative papers. The top final layer strip is Very Vanilla and I sponged it in Groovy Guava. It was just too bright to leave as it was. I also sponged the edges of the decorative papers too. I used Groovy Guava on the bottom layer and River Rock on the green layer. The brad in the center of the Dahlia is a 1/2" brad from Office Depot. I was going to heat emboss the brad but I decided to use a permanent marker and I just colored it in. For the corners I was going to add brads but I don't like how they lay on decorative paper so I used the Mat Pack and a marker and colored in the circles. The words are from the Stampin' Up! set "All Holidays." For those of you who are not familiar with the Mat Pack it's also by Stampin' Up! and it can be found on page 189 of the 2008 Spring Summer catalog. The catalog can be viewed online, just click on the link above and check it out.

Thank you SO much for stopping by,
Wanda

Please send any questions via email. If you ask a question in the comment section I am not able to reply to you. Blogger doesn't have that capability. Maybe someday they will.

For Some Bunny

I know, Valentine's Day isn't even here yet and I'm showing you Easter "stuff." I will try to be careful not to post any more Easter until after Valentine's Day. I remember how I felt in December when I was shopping for Christmas and I saw Valentine's Day stuff out. And I am guilty of purchasing some before the "season." But I just had to have a pair of these adorable socks!!!! I was upset but yet purchased. Doesn't make sense, does it!!! LOL

I got this cute little bunny stamp at Michael's (for a dollar!!!). Above the head of the bunny it reads "Some Bunny Loves You." Awww, isn't that just cute??? I stamped the bunny on card stock and cut it out. I colored in the ears and nose.

I then took a Treasure or Nugget, either will work and I wrapped a plain white mailing address label around it. If you don't have any mailing labels you can use a regular piece of white card stock. Measure and cut it to fit. I would be that copier paper would work too but if it's 20 or 24# you may have to double the thickness to cover the wrapper better.

I then took a 1/2" pom pom and taped it to one end of the candy and I taped the head piece to the other end.

I saw these done on SplitCoastStampers last year using other bunny stamps. I didn't have any bunny stamps that were small enough then but now I do!!!


These are SO easy and fun to make. I also got the pom poms from Michael's and they were only 99 cents a package. Such a deal!!! These are pretty inexpensive to make and a great project for the kids since there is no glue involved. The tape runners work just fine and hold well. You can have bunnies all over the place with this project. You can even have the kids write their names on it or they can write the name of the one they are going to give them to. Aren't they adorable. And again I can't take credit for the idea, it's an oldie from last year!!!

Thank you SO much for stopping by,
Wanda

Calendar Information

I've been asked by several readers about the calendars and where to find them. If you can't find them at Michael's try calling Oriental Trading. Check with Walter Drake company, Miles Kimball or Lillian Vernon. You may have to call them and ask them. I would think they are willing to part with them since this month is almost over. And as a last resort you can check on SplitCoastStampers in the Forums. There are some free calendars available for download there. The only drawback is you have to cut them out and assemble them yourself.

I hope this helps you out.

Coaster Post It

I've seen these Coaster Post It's floating around the stamping blogs. They are SO fun and SO easy to make. You use the 4" x 4" coasters. If you don't have them you can cut cereal boxes to size and glue two of them together for stability. You may want to snip the corners before you glue them together it will make it easier to snip.

For this one I used the new Stampin' Up! decorative paper Bali Breeze. I cut the paper just a hair longer than 4" x 4" and glued it in place with the Anywhere Glue Stick. I trimmed the edges that needed it and I clipped the corners to fit the coaster.

I took the clip that I purchased at Office Depot and I added some of the same paper to it and adhered it using the glue stick.

The words were done using a self-inking stamp I got from Vista Print. I punched out using the small oval punch and the layer behind it I used a piece of paper from the post it pad and used the larger oval punch. I taped the pieces together and taped it onto the coaster. I taped it VERY close to the bottom so the pad wouldn't cover it up.

I clipped the pad in place and slid an ink pen under it. I tied on three ribbons and that as it. SO quick and SO simple. I like the way it's assembled. You just clip on a new pad. Isn't that a great way to do it? Then you can just add a new one without anything left behind on the coaster from the last pad. Such a wonderful idea there!!

These would make a great hostess gift, customer appreciation gift, make n takes and even craft fair items.

Thank you SO much for stopping by,
Wanda

Ribbon Threading Tutorial

I saw this technique on someones blog a while back. I didn't remember it until I got the Stampin' Up! set "True Friends." So if you know who came up with this please let me know and I will give them the full credit they deserve and a link back to their blog.

First you stamp your image onto card stock. I did try it on watercolor paper but you need to make sure the ink is completely dry or your thumb will be colored and the ink will be smeared by the time you are done cutting it out. Here I used Purely Pomegranate.

Punch out the holes around the center flower. For this one I used the taffeta ribbon. I cut it about 12" long. On the calendars I did I used grosgrain ribbon. It was a little stiffer to work with but it will work. And if you rip through a hole you can tape it back together from behind and repunch it and continue on. It's on the back so it won't show. Speaking from experience here!!! Yes, even I make mistakes but I am willing to share them with you so you don't make them or so you know how to fix them too!!!

I taped the end of it to the back center and then I punched out the center hole. Now all you do is thread your needle in and out of the card stock. You start from the back and outer hole and then thread through to the front center hole.

When you have gone all the way around just slide the needle under one of the "stitches" on the back and cut it off. You can leave the center the way it is or you can cover it with a smooth brad, charm, rhinestone brad or half pearl. I sponged the edges to punch the color up a bit and for this one I used it on a mini composition book. Just add a little decorative papers and some layers and you can really dress up a little composition notebook, can't you? You may want to use Dimensionals to affix the flower on because the bulge from the ribbon will cause the flower to stand out.

Thank you SO much for stopping by,
Wanda

Calendar of Months

I was just finishing up some projects I had started that didn't need to be done right away. I am good at getting a project started but if the deadline is a few weeks away I tend to let it slide until a few days before I need it. I guess I figure the hardest part of it is finding the idea and the layout. After that it's just a matter of time and putting it together.

So I finally finished the calendars. These were actually fun. The part that took the longest time was threading the ribbon through the flower. I made a notebook using that same technique. I don't remember where I saw it but it's not my original idea!

I like the rhinestone brads in the flower centers. It gives the whole calendar a little bit of class.

There is really not much to making these. You cover a 4" x 4" coaster with decorative paper, add the calendar, some ribbon and the flower. See, not much to them but then again it took me 3 weeks to finish them!!! LOL Actually I've got TONS of stuff I'm working on and many of the projects are almost done and it's just a matter of taking the time to finish them.

I got the calendars at Michael's and the coasters were purchased at our last Stamp Share. I was told there is a company on the Internet you can purchase them at but you need to buy a minimum of 1,000 of them. You can just use Google for the information. I did that sometime last year and found that company the others were talking about. I didn't need that many and didn't think I could get rid of the remainder. And I REALLY have enough projects to work on. Including the coaster challenge that I was given at the last Stamp Share!!! I haven't started it but after the next Stamp Share I'll post it here.

Thank you SO much for stopping by,
Wanda

Dum Dum Sucker Tutorial

Isn’t this just the cutest thing? I made this earlier this month at our quarterly Stamp Share. I need to give you a little information first so you’re not confused. My upline (manager/boss) is Sue. And Sue’s upline is Terri. Terri is the one who puts the Stamp Share on each quarter. It is an absolutely fabulous time. We have demo’s and sharing of ideas. There’s always card samples and 3-D samples. Terri demonstrates some fun projects. There’s a business meeting part and a fabulous and fun Make & Take at the end. This item was January’s Make & Take.

ALL products here are by Stampin’ Up!
You need some Real Red, Regal Rose and Whisper White card stock.
Real Red and Regal Rose markers
Scallop, 1-1/4" Round and a 1-3/8" Round punch
Pink Brad
2 Gold Brads
Flower punch from the "Three for You" kit
Mat Pack
Piercing Tool
Dum Dum Sucker
Ribbon
Dimensionals



You will need a piece of red card stock cut 6-1/2" x 2".

Score this piece at 3/4", slide it over and score at 2-3/4".

Turn and repeat scoring on other end. Turning it allows you to have both ends come out the exact same size.

Fold the two scored lines that are closest to the center inward. The two that are closest to the edges fold them outward. Setting it upright the paper will look live a "V"

Bring the top pieces together. Taking the piercing tool and the foam piece from the Mat Pack, poke holes two holes for the gold brads. These brads hold the piece closed. You can add one brad but wait until you have added the scallop to the sucker stick to close the other brad.
The stamp set used here is the new "Happy Heart Day." SO cute and versatile.

Punch out two red scallops, one Regal Rose (1-3/8") and after stamping your flower image line up the round 1-1/4" punch and punch out the circle. Stamping the image first allows you to have your image better centered. Color in your flower. Affix the flower to the Regal Rose and affix that piece to the red scalloped piece. Set one red scalloped piece on your work surface. Add the Dimensionals and expose the tape. Set the sucker stick on top of the scalloped piece and sandwich it in between the finished scalloped piece. Insert the candy part of the sucker into the opening of the red scored piece. Hold it shut with the brad.

This one used the cute tag punch in the set. It was punched out in white and layered on Regal Rose card stock. The two pieces were taped together and then slipped under the "cuff" of the red scored piece. Isn’t that just the cutest idea? Terri is SO creative. Ok now tie on your bow and it’s ready to set upright.

Then Terri showed us how to use this project for other occasions by using double-sided decorative paper. She cut the sides a bit to make it more of a flowerpot shape and now it’s a perfect gift for someone’s desk. It can be used as a little thank you, birthday and thinking of you gifts. It can also be used as a place card and these would be fabulous for bridal or baby showers.

I can't even begin to tell you how lucky I am to be a part of Sue's group which allows me to be a part of Terri's group. I am among some VERY talented people. Both groups are a wealth of information and let me tell you how wonderful it is to be among a group full of wonderful talented people who are all "Minnesota Nice." Even the ones who come from the Dakotas, Wisconsin and Iowa!!! LOL We converted them!!! LOL

This card was made entirely of Stampin' Up! products. To view more cards/items made entirely of Stampin' Up! products click here.

Thank you SO much for stopping by,
Wanda

SO Versatile

Ok, I have found another Stampin' Up! set that is VERY versatile. It's the "True Friend" set. Last night I needed to make a thank you card and I used this set. Then I found out a friend of mine wasn't feeling well so I thought I'd make her a get well card. I liked the layout of the thank you card and thought I'd just convert that card into a thank you card. I could easily make this into a Birthday card, a Thinking of You card, Friendship card, Mother's Day, Valentine's Day, pretty much anything for females!! This set will get a lot of miles on it that's for sure.

For my card I used Pretty in Pink for the main card. I folded a 5 -1/2" x 8-1/2" piece of card stock in half. On top of that I added a piece of Stampin' Up!'s new "Berry Bliss" decorative paper cut 5-1/4" x 4". I sponged the edges in Close to Cocoa. The brown strip is the back side of the decorative paper. Pretty isn't it?? I cut it 1-1/2" wide by 4" long. The Close to Cocoa piece behind it is cut 1-3/4" wide by 4" long.

The flower was colored in using markers. I used Pretty in Pink over the whole flower and then came in with Regal Rose over the edges. The stem and leaves are done in Sage Shadow. I cut my card stock the same size as the wood on the stamp. And I added 1/8" around for each layer.

The circle was done on my computer using a program called "Print Artist" by Sierra. I have been working with Print Artist for over 10 years. I just LOVE their software. I wrote "Get Well Soon" and had the program make the words go in a circle. I had to work with the circle a little until I got it to fit in the 1-1/4" punch. I punched it out and sponged the edges in Close to Cocoa. I then punched out a Pretty in Pink circle using the 1-3/8" punch and then I added a Closet to Cocoa circle using a 1-1/2" punch.

Before affixing the brown piece to the decorative paper I added the ribbon. I like to add just a piece of ribbon and tape the edges on the back. Then I assemble the rest of the card and the last thing I do is tie a little piece of ribbon to the taped piece. This way I can move it where I need it. It lays much nicer than if you just tie a knot and it's SO much easier to work with than trying to tie a knot and hold the paper at the same time. The thing I do like the best about it is that the knot I just tied is movable so if I want to slide it over just a bit I can without having to make a big production out of it!!!

For the finishing touches I added a couple of half round pearls. The card will now require the 17 cent surcharge stamp but that's ok. A sick friend is worth it!!!

I'm posting early tonight, I have stampers coming over and I will need to devote my time to them while they are here. Stay tuned tomorrow I have a VERY fun Valentine's Day project for you all to work on!!!

This card was made entirely of Stampin' Up! products. To view more cards/items made entirely of Stampin' Up! products click here.

Thank you SO much for stopping by,
Wanda

Wednesday Sketch Challenge at SplitCoastStampers

I have not done a Sketch Challenge at SplitCoast since before Christmas. Life just got too busy then and things are slowing down a bit here now.

This was a very fun sketch. You can find this Wednesday's sketch here. I print out the sketch sample and measure from that.

The background, main card color is Close to Cocoa. On top of that I added a piece of Always Artichoke that I sponged with Close to Cocoa. On top of that is a piece of Groovy Guava that I stamped with the Linen background and Close to Cocoa ink. I also sponged the edges with the same color. I used the tag punch on the corners. I put these two pieces together and added the brads and some Wild Wasabi ribbon. Then I measured and cut out the pieces. Again I used Always Artichoke and on top of that I added some decorative paper I got at Michael's. I used the Sidekick Sayings stamp on watercolor paper and black Staz On ink. I colored the leaf in with a blender pen and Groovy Guava, Always Artichoke, Wild Wasabi and Pumpkin Pie markers. I sponged the edges and added a layer of Close to Cocoa behind it. I taped it in place and that was it. There's lots of pieces to this card but SO worth it!

If you have the time I highly recommend you head on over to SplitCoastStampers and check out their challenges. There are 160 Sketch Challenges!! That should keep you busy for a while. There is something new to challenge you every day. It's great to learn new things. I check other blogs and SplitCoast almost every day. I use them as a study. Plus I like to leave comments for other stampers. I have done the technique challenge a couple of times and didn't even know it!!! I was just using an idea I saw on SplitCoast and didn't know it was one of the technique challenges. It's all about having fun and I find the Sketch Challenge a lot of fun when I have time to play!

Thank you SO much for stopping by,
Wanda

For the Birds!

Literally!!! This Valentine's Day gift is for the birds. I have had this poem attached to the bird seeds (or is it the seeds attached to the poem?) for a few years now. I don't know if it was from a Stamp Camp or just a stamping project. It's been too many years. But I still like the poem and the concept.

I just printed out the poem on the computer and then stamped the bird in place. I cut around the words and bird and then did my layering from there.

When stapling this together make sure you staple it backwards. You want the long bar of the staple to be on the back and the two bumps on the front. That way when you cover up the front with your wording layers all that is exposed of the staple is the nice single half inch bar of metal. It's a lot nicer looking and you don't have to worry about the prong coming up and poking anyone.

Now if you were to sell these at a craft fair, would you have to put a warning on them??? I suppose you would. I'm sure there is someone out there who may mistakenly eat them and then come back to you about it. I know it's bird seed and you know it's bird seed but then again you have to remember there is a recipe out there for a human consumable treat called "Puppy Chow!" It's just best to be safe than sorry.

So be sure to make some of these up to give to your friends to make for the birds for Valentine's Day. These would also make a great birdy treat for the kids to pass out at school instead of candy. Most schools are trying to get away from the candy giving and this would be the perfect gift. No candy and helping out the chilly birdies!!!

Here's the poem:

I gave a hundred Valentine’s
A hundred, did I say?
I gave a thousand Valentine’s
One cold and wintry day.
I didn’t put my name on them
Or any other words
Because my Valentine’s were seeds
For February Birds!

Thank you SO much for stopping by,
Wanda

Love is "Priceless"

I was looking through my stamps to find a heart I liked and I ran across one in the Stampin' Up! "Priceless" set. I stamped it on white card stock and cut it out. I'm not a big fan of cutting but after all it was only one heart. I punched a 1-3/4" black circle and taped it on top of a red punched scallop piece.

I used my Cuddlebug folder and dry embossed the white background piece. I taped that on top of a piece of black cards stock and then added the ribbon around it. I taped that to the red card base and then tied a bow on the ribbon. I taped the scallop piece to the card and it was done. A pretty quick card. I set it down and looked at it and realized I didn't like the red ribbon. SO I thought about it and felt maybe black ribbon would be better. I made another card and added the black ribbon instead. I think I like the black better. Which one do you prefer and why?

Thank you for stopping by,
Wanda

Baroque Valentine

This is one of the most versatile sets I've ever worked with. This set can cover MANY events. Birthday, Thank you, Anniversary, Wedding and even Valentine's Day. That's a lot of miles on one stamp set!!

Tonight I went for a Valentine's Day card. It's all in the colors you use that determines the event! I went with the traditional red, black and white. And it worked too!!

This was a very quick card to make too. I think every card I have made with this set was a quick card. You don't need to do much with this set to make a fabulous card.

I like the new 5/8" wide ribbon. I like to make those cuts in the ends. It gives it a nice new fresh look.

I added a few rhinestones and taped everything in place and it's ready to give!

Have fun making these. You can make a bunch of them in no time at all. And if you don't have any rhinestones you can use dazzling diamonds for the sparkle!

Thank you SO much for stopping by,
Wanda

Such A Baby!

I was looking for a way to make cute, impressive yet simple and quick baby card. And I found it!!!

This was one of the sketches at SplitCoastStampers. I don't remember which week it was but I really did like this sketch layout. I have not done a sketch since just before Christmas. I need to get back into playing on Wednesdays. I LOVE to learn new card layouts.

For this card I used a black piece of card stock for the main part of the card. Use a piece of Very Vanilla on the inside to write on or you can use the white gel pen. I prefer to use the lighter colored paper on the inside. I usually write on it before I tape it in place. I'm pretty much guaranteed to make a mistake writing if the paper is already taped in. Murphy's Law!!!

Ok on to the card. With the base being black the next layer is the Ballet Blue cut 5-1/4" x 4". You can stamp the "Canvas" background stamp on it before or after you cut it. I do it after just in case I get it a little crooked. I have 1/4" to trim and get it straighter. Now my secret is out!!! LOL I sponged the edges in Ballet Blue and taped it in place.

Then I took a 1/4 sheet of Very Vanilla card stock and stamped the "Flannel Plaid" background stamp on that using Ballet Blue ink. I cut the stamped piece 1-7/8" x 3-1/8". You want two of them. Cut two pieces of black measuring 2-1/8" x 3-1/4" for you layering. Sponge the edges of the flannel and then tape them on top of the black. Tape these pieces to the top of the Canvas stamped piece. I lined up the sides and edge so it looked even on those 3 sides. The gap in the center is a little bigger but that's ok because you're going to wind some gold cording around it. I went around it five times on this card. I used regular tape and taped the ends of the cord in place. Tape that piece in place on top of the main card.

The baby buggy is from the Stapin' Up! "Fun & Fast Notes" set. I taped off the word on the stamp because I only wanted the image. I cut my Very Vanilla card stock 2" x 2", stamped and colored the image. And again I sponged the edges. I took my Crystal Effects and dipped the tip of a toothpick in it and touched the dots on the buggy and added Dazzling Diamonds. I layered it on top of a piece of black cut 2-1/4" x 2-1/4". I used Dimensionals on the back so it would lay flat across the top of the cording. And that's it. A quick, simple, cute and yet impressive baby card!!!

Thank you SO much for stopping by,
Wanda