Snowman Ornament Tutorial

This little (and I mean little!!!) snowman was a LOT of fun to make. I was surprised at how quick the whole process went too!

First I purchased the "ornament" part. It's really a larger charm by Blue Moon Beading Company. JoAnn's has them on sale this week so it was not very expensive at all. I think it was around $1.50.

I measured the inside of it and cut my watercolor paper accordingly. I did have to trim it on one side a bit, it's a little difficult to accurately measure something that you can't take apart. I then stamped it using the tiny little snowman from the "Little Somethings" set by Stampin' Up! It's a retired set but one I'm going to hang on to for a little while yet. I used black StazOn ink because I am going to be using my blender pen on it and I wanted to make sure I have a black that won't bleed. I left the strip of watercolor paper about 4 inches long. I then slipped it in place on the ornament and I bent the remainder of the paper so I knew where to cut it off when I was all done.

I colored the snowman in using my blender pen and markers. I heated it up with the embossing tool to help the blender pen solution on the paper dry. Watercolor paper holds the moisture longer than regular card stock does.

I added a little sparkle to it by using the Gelly Roll Glitter Pen. I added some highlights to the snow and the top parts of the scarf. Then I added a few snowflakes in the sky. I took the strip and pressed the stamped end in VersaMark and then dipped it in the clear embossing powder. I heated it up and when it melted I dipped the strip in the powder again. I repeated this one more time. You can repeat it as much as you wish but I wasn't sure how thick I could allow it to get and still have it slip back into the ornament. After the embossing cooled I cut the finished piece off. I added some crystal effects to the back of it and set it in place on the ornament. I added some silver cording just to keep it simple looking. Adding some beautiful ribbons would REALLY dress it up a LOT.

*Just a quick note here. I did not add the embossing powder directly to the ornament and heat it directly. I wasn't sure of the melting point of the ornament. The metal felt firm and strong but I didn't want to take any chances.

These would make wonderful gifts for that special Baby Sitter, close friend, teachers, etc. You know who would LOVE something like this. Mine is going on my Christmas tree.

Sorry I couldn't get a closer picture. I need a closeup lens for my camera.

Thank you SO much for stopping by,
Wanda

Split Coast Sketch Challenge 153

As you can tell it's Wednesday because this is the Split Coast Sketch Challenge for today!!! I try to do these every week. I like to have new layouts for my samples. This is a layout I think I will get a LOT of use out of. I may even do one more with this layout later in the week before I move on to your fun upcoming project!!!

For this card I used Basic Black and Always Artichoke card stock and watercolor paper. I used Black Staz On ink for the image because I was planning on using a blender pen. And I used Always Artichoke for the remainder of the ink used in this card, including sponging.

I blended the tree in using Always Artichoke. I added some Ruby Red bulbs and Summer Sun on the garland. After that dried (blender pen takes a couple of minutes to dry on watercolor paper. I then came in with the metallic Gelly Roll pen. Such a fun little pen! A gem of a find when I was up in Duluth. With the blender pen I added some Bashful Blue around the tree and a touch of Bordering Blue just below the trunk. The trunk was blended in using Close to Cocoa. I sponged the edges and added the black layer. I sponged the edges on all pieces here except for the black.

I used the Canvas background stamp on the large Artichoke piece. I used the Flannel Plaid background stamp on the Sahara Sand card stock. Before I assembled the card I wrapped some gold cording around the Always Artichoke piece. It just needed something there. I was going to tie a knotted piece of cording on each side of the top piece but it appeared to be just too much so I left it off. Less is better in this case!!! And here you have it! My finished Sketch Challenge from SplitCoastStampers!!!

You may want to join in these challenges. It's a great way to learn to play with new layouts. There's a different challenge every day of the week. I fell into the Wednesday one and have not ventured out to the other ones. I may try the color challenge but right now I'm sticking with the Sketch Challenge. It's not like you can't join them all. By all means you sure can, if you have the time! I probably could find the time but it's those brain cells that may be more of a challenge to me than the challenges SplitCoast has to offer!!! LOL Click here to see the other Sketch Challenges I've done.

Thank you for stopping by!
Wanda

Sincere Motif

Just saying good bye to the Linen background stamp. I just can't believe that Stampin' Up! is retiring that one. But that must mean that something new and better is coming to replace it. SO I look forward to what is yet to come. I can't say that I am waiting patiently though!!!! I think I'm more excited to see what is in the new catalog more than I'm excited to see what is under the Christmas tree!!! SO sad, isn't it?? LOL

If you click on the photo you can see it close up. You will see the linen background with the stamped off lighter flower images there too. This is done much like the Sparkling Notes was done. I didn't add any bling to this card. I need to mail it and after my wonderful experience at the post office today I am leaning more towards the clean simple look for cards I'm going to mail. I just found out today that even if your card is only layers, no bling whatsoever, if it won't bend you have to pay the 17 cent surcharge. WHAT?????? Cards that don't bend will jamb their equipment. I learn something new (and something I don't want to know) every time I go there. I had to mail some packages and brought my Christmas card with me to see if it would pass. It weighs exactly the one ounce. I was informed it would pass if I did not do another thing to it. Not planning on it!!! And as long as it will bend (and I bent it) it will be just fine. I hope so!!

Back to his card. I used the Baroque Motif set, the Linen background stamp and the Sincere Salutation stamps all by Stampin' Up! The card stock used is Whisper White, Blue Bayou and Soft Sky. I sponged the edges of all the pieces. It's a little difficult to see on the photo but I did sponge the Soft Sky piece with Soft Sky ink. It softens the edges down some. Same with the Bayou Blue pieces. Sponging adds a nice touch to your cards. Plus it's a VERY inexpensive way of enhancing your card.

Before I assembled the card I added the ribbon to the top piece and then affixed it to the main card. This Baroque Motifs set is a perfect set to make some very quick and beautiful cards. Plus it's versatile too. This set will work for many occasions. It doesn't limit you to just one occasion or theme. I like sets like that. I seem to get more use out of those than the single theme sets.

Thank you SO much for stopping by today,
Wanda

Tin Update

The tins I used to make the gift candies with are still available at Michale's. Well, the ones in my area that is. They are found right at the checkout. But to get the ones you want you need to look at the other checkouts that they usually don't open up very often. Those are well stocked and they have other designs too. I am partial to snowmen so every time there is a snowman around I am drawn to it!!! They seem to call me. LOL

Just look by the checkout for the tins.

Chocolate Snowmen

When I was at Michael's I bought another one of those adorable snowman tins with the intention of altering it too. The last one I only altered it slightly. I mean, how much can you alter this? It's just too darn cute mess with. I like the organza bow on here. I think it gave the tin a more delicate touch!!

I bought some Nuggets and decorated them up. I stamped the snowman from "Very Merry" on mailing labels. I colored them in with markers and wrapped them around the Nuggets. This tin held 10. A PERFECT amount for gift giving.

This is a very quick and easy gift to make. I was surprised at how quick and easy it was to stamp, color and affix the labels. These tins are the way to go for those gifts you need to make in a hurry. Most people like chocolate. I happen to be one of those people who don't care a whole lot for chocolate. I have to be in the mood for it. My idea of the perfect chocolate chip cookie is one with 3 chocolate chips in it!!! That is the ideal chocolate chip cookie!!! It's not that I don't like chocolate, I just don't like that much chocolate in my mouth at one time.

I think these would make wonderful teacher gifts, something for the paper carrier, the mail carrier, the coach, a little extra gift for the kiddies, etc. Plus once the candy is gone the ribbon can be removed from the tin and they can reuse it! Or they can keep the ribbon on and still use it!!!

I thank you SO much for stopping by,
Wanda

All Wrapped Up!

Do you need a REALLY quick card? I was wrapping Christmas gifts this afternoon while I was baking some Banana Bread and some Peanut Butter Blossom Cookies. I love to multi-task!!! While I was finishing up a roll of wrapping paper and grabbing another I noticed how cute these snowmen were. I mean, now how could I just use it for wrapping paper that people are just going to toss when I could make a card with it so they could toss that too!!! LOL

I just loved this snowman and the colors too. It was VERY difficult to match blues for the background. I had gotten some adorable paper from The Paper Company and it was the closest match I could find to fit the snowman image.

This card has minimal stamping, just the wording. And if you want to go stampless and just practice your layering technique you can make your wording on your computer.

I just couldn't help myself with this guy!!! I'm still anxiously waiting to make my own snowman. We got snow on Saturday. It was VERY pretty and I think we got a bit over 6". But it was that light fluffy stuff. You can't make a snowman with that now can you???? SO alas I must wait until a warmer snow storm to head our way. Hopefully I won't have to wait until March like the last winter season.

I do have to tell you that when you are cutting wrapping paper on your paper cutter it does like to shift. I was able to hide most of that under the wording. See, if you look closely you can see the right side is not even. And the left side is not perfectly straight either and that was because the cutting mat had a groove in it and the paper followed the blade. I did put a new mat on so I could cut the top and bottoms straighter.

SO here you have it, a super quick card made with wrapping paper. So even if you don't have any snowman stamps or holiday stamps you can use wrapping paper and make some cute cards!!!

Thank you SO much for stopping by,
Wanda

WOW! Topped 200,000!

My blog exceeded 200,000 hits!!! Isn't that just fabulous? And there is a winner too. Linda P. has sent me the 200,000 hits screen shot as you see posted here.

Congratulations Linda and thank you for preserving that milestone for me. Please email me your snail mail address and I'll get the package out in the mail to you.

A BIG thank you to all of you for visiting my blog. I REALLY appreciate it and I hope I can continue to keep my blog of interest to you.

Thanks for stopping by,
Wanda

Decorating the Tree! (Instructions too!)

Here is a tree ornament I made using the (about to retire) "Holiday Tag Team" set. I just LOVE that set. Personally I think Stampin' Up! should talk to me first before they retire something!!! LOL I got the tins from Oriental Trading Company. The item number is 65/90057. You can also get them in the beading section of Joann's. They come in a package of 6. I don't remember how much they were but with the coupon they aren't all that expensive. Under $5 with the coupon!!

I stamped the snowman on Whisper White card stock using black Staz On. I colored it in and then cut it out using the Coluzzle System cutter. I used Crystal Effects to affix it to the inside of the tin. I chose Chrystal Effects because I knew it would give a tight bond. Tape could cause the paper to curl in time and it would also leave gaps where I didn't get enough tape on it. And tape never dries so if any was exactly on the edges it would cause the micro beads to stick there. Once the crystal effects dried I added a heaping teaspoonful of clear micro beads. Then again with the Crystal Effects I ran a little around the bottom outer lip and put the cover on to seal it all up.

I used the Sticky Strip tape around the outside seam. I measured it to go only half way around and then I cut that piece up the middle because it was to wide for the ribbon I was using. I added the red grosgrain ribbon to the sticky tape. I started at the bottom with both raw ends. Match the raw ends together to give the illusion of it being just one piece of ribbon. If you don't like the looks of a seam at the bottom you can cover it with a button or a half pearl from the Pretties Kit. Lay the ribbon all the way up to the top of the ornament. Make sure you get it on fairly straight. You want to accomplish this in one or two tries, more than that and the tape loses it's stickiness and you'll have to reapply it. I had cut my piece of ribbon 12 inches long so that left me a 3 inch loop at the top of my ornament. I tied white grosgrain ribbon near the tin to hid how the loop was made.

There is another way you can tie the ribbon onto your tin without the seam at the bottom. It does require more ribbon. I don't know exactly how much because I don't use this technique very often just because it requires more ribbon and I usually don't make just one of an item. For this technique you will fold the ribbon in half to find center. This center will be at the bottom of your tin. You will still want to add some tape to around the tin to help hold the ribbon on. Tie a knot at the top of the tin. Take something round like your Crystal Effects bottle or a Tacky Glue bottle and tie the ribbon around that too, making a knot and then a bow. Don't tie it too tight, you don't what to have to explain why there is a glue bottle hanging on your tree with the tin!!! LOL And NO, I'm not speaking from experience there!!! REALLY!!!!! After you get the bow ties and the ends trimmed, remove the bottle and your ornament is ready to hang.

These are fun and they make very inexpensive gifts. They do sell well at craft fairs. And they make excellent Stamp Camp items.

Thank you SO much for stopping by,

Wanda

Eye On the Counter!

Don't forget the "Eye on the Counter" Blog Candy. Click here to be taken to the post for more details. My blog is not far from hitting the 200,000 mark and you want to be the lucky viewer!!!

Still Shinnin'

I just can't seem to get enough of these little rhinestones. Plus they go SO well with the Baroque Motif set by Stampin' Up!

I was doing some experimenting with this set. I wanted to try to mix Old Olive and Bravo Burgundy. Well, Bravo Burgundy looks black on top of the decorative paper. SO my second choice was the Purely Pomegranate. I could have gone with a couple of the other regular colors but I thought I'd just work in one of the "in" colors. The flair part of the stamp was done using black Staz On as were the words. After I stamped the flowers I added the cute little rhinestones. It's amazing how far a little block of dollar rhinestones will go. And I still have more. Do you think they'll show up on my next card????? LOL

Tomorrow is the December DIVA event. Again Sue will be spoiling us. I just LOVE to be spoiled! And Sue spoils us SO well. I can't wait to see what is in store for us!

I am now off to work on our Christmas cards. My goal was to have them done by December 1st. Um, that would be tomorrow. NOT going to happen!!!! I have TONS of card stock to cut tonight and just a bit of stamping to do and then I can assemble them. Once I get them done I'll post the one I chose for our 2006 Christmas card. I do know that our card for next year will be a lot easier and quicker than this one!!! I think I said that last year!! LOL

I am also working on some fun projects that are almost ready to post on here too. Some fun things for the kiddies to either make for them or for them to help make!!! But you have to be patient!!! Tis the time of year for testing your patience, isn't it??? LOL

And lastly the blog candy winner did come forward so now you just need to keep your eye on the counter. It's getting close. I'm going to guess that it will happen in a little over 3 days. That depends on how many hits the blog gets over the weekend. Weekends usually bring more! You'll just have to keep checking in!

Again I thank you SO much for stopping by,
Wanda

How Small is Too Small?

I'm still making Thank You cards!!!! I would like to make up a bunch to have some extra on hand. Wishful thinking!!!

I had this tiny piece of striped decorative paper left and wasn't sure if it was big enough to keep or too small and it should be tossed. TOSSED??? Did I actually type that??? LOL This little piece was only 1-1/4" wide and it was 6" long (trimmed down to 5-1/8"). Do you keep it or toss it? Or do you ponder over what to do with it, sit down and make it work on a card???? Guess which one I chose??? LOL

For this one I used the Baroque Motif large background stamp. I stamped the image on the white card stock twice. I used the Vanilla craft ink pad and clear embossing powder. I liked how it turned out. It would be VERY fun to have a pearl ink pad. Can you imagine what that would look like with clear embossing powder???? Pearl powder would work too but I don't have either of those!!! Anyway, after embossing I stamped on the flowers in Purely Pomegranate. Some of the one flower stamped over the embossed area. The ink beads up on the embossed image. Take a paper towel, set it on top of the card and press down gently to absorb it. I then added the decorative paper strip and the ribbon. I added the tiny little rhinestones. I should have done this after I added the sentiment but I didn't. It would have made it easier to place the layered words. I think I was just too excited to see what those tiny little rhinestones would look like on the card. They did add a nice touch! I got them in the dollar bin at Joann's Etc. They have these little designs in rhinestones (mine was a light blue and clear). I didn't like the design but I did want cheap rhinestones. I just cut them off the plastic they are stuck to and added them to my card. Very simple and extremely cheap. I still have a lot of them left. You can really make some quick and easy cards with this set.

I'm not sure if this card will pass the surcharge test at the post office so I think I'm just going to add a 5-1/2" x 4-1/4" piece of white card stock over the top of the card before I put it in the envelope. It will still be thin enough to mail and the card stock will cover the rhinestones so they don't get caught up in the machinery at the post office. That's the plan anyway. I'll let you know if it works!!! I'm mailing the card out on Saturday!!!

I have some fun holiday projects coming up next week so please check back!

Thank you SO much for stopping by,
Wanda

Blog Candy Winner!!!

It's time to announce who the lucky Blog Candy winner is. PLEASE, PLEASE email me with your snail mail address so I can get the package mailed out. I will be going to the post office on Tuesday to mail the package. Because of it's size I will be sending it out the cheapest way I can so it may take a few days to get to you. If you are from Canada or out of the Continental United States it will take longer than that.

I LOVED reading your comments. Some of the guesses were just hilarious. Chocolate covered olives???? EWWWW LOL And one of you actually did guess it. That was ljs, she guessed it was a close-up of a cat!!! That's exactly what it is. I was on my knees taking pictures of some of my card samples and the cat came by and had to check out the camera. I didn't notice it right away because I kept snapping away. I thought I caught her before she got too far in the way. That's one quick cat!!! LOL It wasn't until I got the pictures loaded on to my computer that I saw it. I thought it was funny and was going to delete it but then when I ran across it again I thought it would make a great guessing game!!! SO ljs, I have a small gift for you, please email me your snail mail address too and I will pop your gift in the mail as soon as I get your address.

I check my Gmail in the evening and I respond the same day I read them. If you do not hear from me that evening that you email me, please try again and you can also send a comment to a post and I will get that in my email that is registered with Blogger. I promise I won't post it!!!

SO onto the Random Drawing winner . . . . . . .

The lucky winner is: CAKVD (Cheryl)
I'm going to guess dinner rolls. Oh, and I always check to see if I'm a winner or not!!!Thanks!Cheryl KVD

Cheryl, please email me with your snail mail address.

Thank you all for playing. There is more Blog Candy up for grabs. It's the Eye on the Counter blog candy to celebrate my 200,000 hits!!! And if there is no winner I will put the candy up in a random drawing. 199,999 or 200,001 do not count!!! LOL Good luck to you!

Split Coast Sketch Challenge 152

You guessed it!!!! It's Wednesday and that means it's the Sketch Challenge over at Split Coast Stampers.

I just LOVE this Jolliest Time of the Year set. And I got to use the Ho Ho Ho wheel too!!! Oh and I used this Liquid Applique that I bought about 4 or 5 years ago. I never used it and I actually thought it would be dried up but it wasn't!!! It was as fresh as it was the day I bought it! I put it on the snowflakes and on Santa's hat, cuffs and coat bottom. While it was wet I sprinkled the Dazzling Diamonds glitter over it and then I let it dry. That was when I decided it was time to go to bed!!! I had my email open at the time the Sketch came in and I opened it. Something I shouldn't have done because I knew I had to work on it. And I did. I got it almost done and then just ran out of steam!!! This was a very fun and I think versatile sketch. I can't wait to see the what other people did with it on SplitCoast. I'm heading over there later tonight to have a look see. I am in awe of some of the entries.

I like doing the sketches. The gal Roxy that is head of this one sends out the link and I print them out. They print out in the exact 5-1/2" x 4-1/4" that a card is. I print out two, one for my folder and one to use in front of me. I cut the pieces and just work on top of the printout. I don't measure much, I usually just set the card stock up to the sketch and mark with a pencil where I need to cut. SO simple!!!

It was fun and I think I'm going to go back and add a bit of glitter in the few snowflakes at the top of the card. It just needs a little sparkle up there too!!!

Thank you SO much for stopping by,
Wanda

Sparkling Notes Tutorial!

I ran across the instructions for this fun notepad holder. I think the original pattern came from Lisa Sommerville's blog. I've had the finished notebook for so long I forgot about it until I opened it up and saw I had the score lines written on the pad inside. I like this pattern because it allows you to reuse the holder when the paper is used up. As long as it has a cardboard back to the pad you can replace it!!! Such a wonderful idea.

To make this I took a piece of Blue Bayou card stock and on the 8-1/2" side at 2-1/2" and at 5-3/4". Turn the card stock and score it on the 11" sice at 5-1/4" and at 5-3/4". Cut away the two side rectangles. Make sure you cut about 1/8" below the 5-3/4" score line. You need to give a little leaway for the cardboard backing to the notepad. Click on the photo to see it close up. You will see how much was cut off on the top edge of each side. It's just below the two center score marks. I drew the score lines in with a pencil so you can see them better.

Then I glued the bottom edges and the flaps shut. I figured if the glue distored the paper it wouldn't show because the notepad would hide the seams. Insert your notepad and decorate the front as desired.

For this one I used the Barouqe Motif's set and the Linen background stamp. I wanted to keep it simple and this set allows you to give it that touch of elegance at the same time.

This notepad holder was VERY fun to make. I am going to make some to sell at the next year's craft fairs. They would also make wonderful Christmas Gifts, Hostess Gifts, Customer Appreciation Gifts and even a Stamp Camp item.

Thank you for stopping by,
Wanda