I’ve been making these cute little containers to store the cookies in, and matching recipe cards to give away with each little tin. I’ve been saving all those little tins from flavoured teas, mini or large sized pringles chip tins, hot chocolate tins, any tin that has a lid works great. You simply select the paper you want, attach with glue, and then embellish as desired. Easy but oh so pretty, and lots of fun to make too. I used the myStampBOX “Merry Mr. Snowman” set and my Copic Markers for the Ornament on the Tin and the Invitation.

For the Recipe Card, I pulled out my “Lots of Dots” alphabet stamps, stamped them in VersaMark and embossed them with Cranberry Embossing powder from Ranger. I’ll then write in the recipe for my cookies…. once I decide which ones I am making!

This is my last Blog post here at mSB before the holiday. I’ll take this opportunity to wish you and yours a very happy, healthy and crafty Holiday Season.

Lara

I started with a white piece of Canadian Scrapbooker super stock card stock, and sprayed it with Tattered Angels glimmer mist in Jack O’ Lantern.  It’s best to use a thick card stock to avoid the paper from warping.  If you have standard weight card stock, I recommend spraying it, letting it dry and then placing it under something heavy to flatten it.  I have a photo here where I used the mist, along with a template from Crafters Workshop as well, but I found that too busy for the layout.  It’s a great technique though! Next I prepared the chipboard embellishment which is a great new item from Maya Road. It comes as a key chain set of the  four seasons.  I inked mine and then sprayed it with the Maya Road Iridescent Maya Mist.  I love this particular “colour” as it adds shimmer without adding any colour.

It’s hard to pick up on a photo, but you’ll have to take my word for it… it’s just too fantastic!  A couple of notes to remember:

1.  Don’t tilt the bottle down towards your paper, but rather hold you paper up and spray it straight – like hairspray.  This will ensure that the nozzle doesn’t get filled with little pieces of mica and get all clogged up.

2.  Don’t hold the bottle too close….. it will  make big blotches instead of a nice fine mist

3.  Do use some kind of drop sheet or splat mat, and then soak up any extra mist onto a white ribbon.. the results will be gorgeous and unique each time.

4.  Do experiment and have fun!

Okay, so now back to the layout. Once the card stock is sprayed and the mist is dry (that happens quickly), add on your patterned paper blocks. I then wanted to use the my TALL OUTLINES myStampBox set to make the title.  Again, I went for subtle, so I selected an ink colour that was fairly close to the card stock colour…  Whenever I am using stamps for a title, I always test the  out for size and placement by laying them directly onto my layout before I start stamping.  I also NEVER stamp onto a piece of paper that is attached… I always do my stamping and then I stick the pieces into place. To many “oopsses” in my past, so I’ve learned the hard way.   Now, I just wanted a few “girlie” touches, I used some dew drops from Robin’s Nest, and Kaiser Kraft flowers. Down in the very bottom corner, of the layout I stamped the “Explore Seal” from the SEAL it set from my Stamp BOX.

It’s not very noticeable, but it adds some balance…. and I thought the explore was appropriate since Joelle was exploring in a pumpkin patch. Hope you enjoyed the layout… go grab yourself some glimmer mists and your favourite stamps and go get MESSY!

I’m working on a totally cute, teachers gift for the upcoming holidays for my December post – it’s gonna be FUN!

And I don’t mean Halloween masks…. the holidays are here, but for me I am in full Christmas mode.

I’m down at the Creative Festival teaching this weekend… did a card class today, and have a Mini Album class tomorrow.. both classes feature some of the fantastic myStampBox stamps!

For class we used the HoHoHo set, and a mask.. so that the reindeer appears to be peeking out from behind Santa.

I of course coloured it in using my Copics.. the red #’s are R29, R 35, R 37 & R 39. To make the mask, stamp Santa on a spare piece of cardstock, cut him out and set aside.

Next stamp him where you would like on the card (in my case I used the top note die from Stampin’ Up! ). Once he is stamped, place the mask exactly over top of him. Get out the reindeer, ink him up and position him to the right of Santa where you want him and stamp. Part of him will be on the cardstock, and part will be on the mask. This gives the effect of layering… and I love it!

Now, colour in all your pieces, add stickles and stick everything down. I used my Copics to colour the small Prima flower the exact coordinating shade of red that I needed, since I only had pink around. This works exceptionally well for coordinating your embellishments with your coloured image.

That’s all for today, stop by the Canadian Scrapbooker Booth #224, we’re doing a cute make n’ take on Saturday with the HOHOHO set…..and some CHOCOLATE!

Well, it’s the first official day of Fall, and while I will miss summer, and the easy schedules with the kids, the garden, the trips to the beach and all that BBQ’ing, I have to admit that I truly LOVE fall.

The crisp slightly cooler air, the fresh smell of the wind whipping through the gorgeous fall leaves, and of course, all the celebrations! I love thanksgiving (almost more than  Christmas), and Halloween too.

I decided that since I love thanksgiving so much, why not really celebrate it right? Including sending out some invitations made with the totally gorgeous myStampBox set a Tree for all Seasons? I then took it one step further, and made a little pillow box which I will fill with truffles and use as placetags for each person at dinner.

I’m pretty happy with how they turned out.. Just have 13 more to do now!!

Happy Fall everyone!

Card Recipe:

myStampBox Stamps: A Tree for all Seasons & Floating Leaves

Core’dinations Cardstock cut 7 x 11 3/4

Prism Simply Smooth White Cardstock

Memento Rich Cocoa Ink

Copic Markers:  Assorted Colours

We R Memory Keepers Patterned Paper  cut 2  1/2 x 7″  & buttons

Cut the cardstock and score at:  2 1/2 and 7 1/4 from the left hand side of the paper.  Fold.

Cut 2 pieces of the Simply Smooth cardstock to 2 3/4″.  Cut a mat of cordinating cardstock to 3×3″

Stamp tree trunk using memento ink onto one of the white cardstock pieces.

Stamp the leaves overtop of the trunk, and colour in using copic markers.

Mat the completed Tree image.   Attach the  piece of  patterned paper.  Adhere the matted stamped image so that is centered when the card is closed.    Adhere the second piece of white cardstock behind the attached image on the right hand side of the card.. so that it is hidden when the card is closed.  See photo.

Stamp sentiment.   Attach buttons using glue dots.

Pillow Box Place Cards:

Sizzix Pillow Box Die Cut

myStampBox Floating Leaves Stamps

Copic Markers

Foam Dots

To assemble pillow box, use Sizzix die cut in and cut out.  If you don’t have the die,  you can download the template here from the Canadian Scrapbooker Magazine website which I made for a previous project in last winters issue.

Make a band using matching coodinating patterned paper.  Wrap around the pillow box and attach with adhesive.

Write or print each persons name onto a small piece of cardstock.  Set aside.

Stamp desired leaves from Floating Leaves set onto Prism Simply Smooth Cardstock.   Colour as desired with Copic Markers and cut out.  Adhere using pop dots to give extra dimension and depth.  Attach names and you’re done.

You only need a few supplies, and some basic instructions.  I took some pictures of the process as I created this particular card.  I can assure you that taking the photo’s was WAY more difficult that actually making the card!

Supplies:

Stamps: open or outline stamps are needed for this type of work

Ink of your choice

Scraps of patterned paper

Fine Tip Scissors

Adhesive

Embellishments as desired

1.  First you need to select a stamp.

You will need to use an “open” or “outline” stamp that has enough space for the patterned paper you are using to show through.

2.  Select co-ordinating patterned paper and stamp your selected images onto the paper.

This is a great time to dig into your supply of scraps, or use leftover pieces from your last card or layout.  Selecting paper from the same paper line makes the whole design process very easy!  I really like to use the small 6×6 pads of papers that many companies now make when paper piecing.  These papers have been reduced in scale so that you get the whole pattern in smaller scale on each piece of  paper….

3.  Using fine tipped scissors cut out your images.

Remember that it’s best to turn the paper,  not the scissors for the cleanest lines, and that micro tipped, SHARP scissors really help.  You don’t have to cut out every little detail if it’s just too impossible, leave an even border around the image and it still looks great.

You can also choose to use a punch (circles are nice), to punch out the whole image leaving a shaped border around it.  My favourite scisscors are from Tim Holtz and they are to die for!

4. Layer images onto your card as desired.

Add any embellishments such as ribbon now.  Using pop-dots gives some depth and dimension that is  especially  nice  with this technique.  Voila, a beautiful card is born!

My finished card is really quite simple, and didn’t take that long to put together.  You could make a whole set of cards great for gift giving… by stamping and cutting out lots of your chosen images at one time, and then assemble them all at once.  Hey, you could get a head start on your Holiday Gift making… if you’re really organized (which I am so totally NOT).

Happy stamping and scrapping…. hope you give this technique a try!

TO DO......

I used one of my favourite myStampBOX sets,  JUST ADD NOTES.  I love journaling stamps!  they really help to remind me to add those important details, but in a decorative manner.

I used the date stamp, the bracket and the memories seal from this set.. it’s really versatile, and has lots of different uses…

Next I pulled out one of the fantastic Font sets I have – LETTER BOXES.  I have the smaller version, which is good for adding captions, I think I need a note to self to get the larger version for making titles.

The papers in this layout are from  We R Memory Keepers, nice and Springy and Fun.. which is how I was feeling in this picture taken of me in the Park on Mount Royal in Montreal.

Just a couple close ups to help you see some of the detail on the LO,  I actually got into my sewing room (I don’t really sew, just on layouts!!! – really!!)….    and I LOVE my Singer Sew Easy machine… even I can thread this baby and it has all the stiches that I like to use.

Check it out if you are in the market for a new machine.

I also have a quick card to show you, and yes I KNOW it’s spring, not Christmas, but I really like this snowman.  I am fussy about Snowmen images but his one is really really cute!   I think I’m going to play with doing some paper piecing with him too.    He’s from the  Mr. Merry Snowman set.

This card uses papers from We R Memory Keepers as well.. they have this cool Designer Scrapbook Pad with Christmas Design pattern papers, die cuts,  chipboard letters, and stickers.  It’s a great pad, not too cutesy, and not even specifically all Christmas, lots of good winter papers…

Anyways, here’s my little card.  I also used some Basic Grey Ribbons, Queen and Co Felt Snowflakes, Hero ARts Rhinestones, and of course, COPIC Markers to colour.

By the way, I am now officially a Copic Certified Designer!  Whooo Hooo…   Now, I am still practicing my newly learned skills (and it’s harder than you think), but I will be sharing some tips and techniques to get some nice shading on your stamped images on my next BLOG day, April 18th.   So mark your calendars and come on back…

Thanks for stopping by….. I’m off to post some new things on my BLOG which I have been neglecting lately.      Lara

Garden Sketches Acetate Card

This is my first Blog posting for myStampBOX… I hope you all enjoy it.   The kids have been playing lots this week for March Break and I’ve been playing too… with ACETATE and new STAMPS!

You can make some really great projects, but you do have to know about a few special products.

Acetate - I just use the ones from the office supply store.

Stazon Inks – Allow you to stamp on Acetate – it is alcohol based and dries instantly.  No heat setting required, and no smudging.  I prefer white and black for most of my projcts.

Paints -  All assorted acrylic paints will dry on acetate, don’t use too much though or it will smudge.

Copic Markers -   Use these fantastic alcohol based markers to colour in your stamped images and bring them to life.   Can you believe they come in over 400 colours?

Alcohol Inks -  Available in many many colours these come in liquid form in little bottles, add water to them and paint, or mist them to make backgrounds.   Lot’s of fun.

Card Recipe:

Cut acetate to 8 1/2  x 5 1/2, fold in half so you have a 5 1/2 x 4 1/4 card.  Use a scoring blade or a bone folder for a nice edge.

Randomly stamp flower images from the Garden Sketches with white stazon all over your card.   I start in the center and work my way out for a more natural look. Allow some of the images to fall off the sides.   Let dry a minute or two.

Close up of Garden Sketches Acetate Card

On the inside of the card, colour in the images using copic markers of your choice.  I used BG23

Note that I colour on the back of the acetate so that the ink doesn’t smudge.

Adhere Strip of cardstock as shown around the outside of the card.   Attach scalloped border if desired.  Punch out a scallop circle and a nesting circle for the inside (I like the Marvy Uchida punches for this).   Stamp sentiment of choice from Small Greetings set.  Attach mini prima flowers,  and embellish with Dew Drops or Rhinestones for the centers.

Attach small card center with a glue dot, lining it up with where the card strip is on the outside to hide the adhesive (see photo).  I like to use double sided papers for the insert.

Working with Acetate cards requires a little pre-planning, but they are lots of fun and make really unique cards.

I hope you’ll try one.