Decorative Label Punch--Alternate Use Tutorial

This is a card we're making at my August Stamp Club, inspired by Julie Phillips on our Stampin' Up! demonstrator website. See the punch in the bottom right hand corner? Recognize it? It is our Decorative Label punch (Stampin' Up! #120907) used in an alternate way. Ready to learn how?

1. Use the Decorative Label punch to punch a label out of cardstock.
2. Put the cardstock back into the punch and line up the curved corners so that you get a nice rounded edge then punch again.
Voila! You get a smaller label that is very cute with mini brads (Stampin' Up! #122941) on the ends.
You could also punch from the other side of the label, but use a post it note to hold the label in place so it doesn't move around much.
This size fits all of the Tiny Tiny Wishes (Stampin' Up! #115370) greetings.

I would imagine you could make a smaller label out of the Curly Label punch as well but I do not own that one yet.

Cooper's Room

I got the idea from the Stampin' Up! vinyl set called "Spot On" which is now retired. I cut out all of the circles, and lined them all up as you can see, found a cute poem to put on the wall and voila! Sorry the pictures are a little fuzzy. I couldn't get my camera phone to get a great picture.

I really like how it turned out and it took less time to prepare for the walls than I thought.
I LOVE dots!
I also found some cubby things and baskets at Costco that fit perfectly in Cooper's room so now he has a room he can play in and all the toys are within reach...well...except for the train and basket on top.

I really like how it all turned out. Now, off to make the girls room into a princess' layer.

Sponge Organizing

You know those projects that you've seen and want to do yourself but when it comes to actually doing it...it seems to fall through the cracks of life? Well, this is one of those projects.

I've seen this done and have wanted to do this for a while and finally got around to doing it.


Supplies (pictured above):

Round Tab Punch (Stampin' Up! #119864 $16.95)

Craft & Rubber Scissors (Stampin' Up! #103179 $19.95)

Stamping Sponges--2 packs (Stampin' Up! #101610 $3.50 each)

Stapler

Cardstock in every color (exept for Whisper White and Very Vanilla)

Instructions:

Cut each sponge in half, cut the halves in half, and then the quarters in half so you have 8 slices per full sponge.

Punch 1 round tab out of each color of cardstock.

Fold tabs in half.

Write color name on each tab.

Fold tab over the smaller, pointed end of the slice and staple it onto the sponge toward the bottom of the tab.

VOILA!!! All Organized for the next time you want to sponge your projects; you'll have just the right sponge. :)
One last thing I wanted to share...

This is Kazia's card she made to give to her Nana for watching her while I was at the Stampin' Up! Convention. I thought it turned out rather cute. I was using my butterfly wings embosslit and Kazia used the left over butterflies, some ribbon from my scrap bucket, and a couple pearls.
She made this all by herself and even used my stamp-a-ma-jig to get the lettering straight. She made this momma proud! :) I'm so excited that I'll have someone in my immediate family to share my passion with seeing as my mom and sister could care less about paper crafting.

FIJI!

Every year, Stampin' Up! offers the opportunity for their demonstrators to earn an incentive trip. I've been a demonstrator for 5 years now and have never earned a trip. I also have never tried to earn a trip. Last week I attended the annual Stampin' Up! Convention in Salt Lake City, Utah and I must say, I finally caught the bug to earn the trip. It was announced that the next trip is to FIJI!!!
Yes FIJI!!! So, I want to earn it along with add a little income for our family which will be met by doing what it takes to earn the trip.
How am I going to do this? By doing a lot of stamp classes, camps, club, and workshops. Guess how I'm going to do it?

YOU!

You are going to host a workshop and/or class. Do you live far away? That's no probem. Every order you submit through my site helps me. You can also get orders from your friends and submit a big order (at least $150 or more) through me so that you can get the hostess benefits. Did you notice that the hostess benefits are bigger and better than ever before? The whole plan has changes. Contact me for further details. My email address is

embellishedbybrenda@gmail.com

I'll keep you posted on my status toward earning the trip. Just know that every little bit helps. Every order, everyone that signs up to be a demonstrator (whether you sell anything or not, as long as you keep up your quarterly minimums). EVERYTHING HELPS! Help me go to Fiji!

Contact me today to set up a workshop with your girlfriends, near or far, or a class. I will still have classes that you may attend at my house too, so what are you waiting for?

Join Stampin' Up! Now for only $99!!!

Dates: July 1-31, 2011
Promotion Details: It's always more fun to stamp with friends! The limited-time $99 Starter Kit is the perfect choice for the lover of Stampin' Up! products. Use this exclusive Starter Kit to get the products you love at a 20 percent discount.

Whether you want to make this a business or just enjoy the discount as a hobbiest, this is the kit for you!

$99 Starter Kit Contains over $185 in products and business supplies--including new products from the 2011-2012 Idea Book & Catalog! All items listed below are recommended, but a new demonstrator can substitute a similar item of equal or lesser value.

Easy Events Clear-Mount Set*
Pennant Parade Wood-Mount Set*
Old Olive Classic Stampin' Pad
Pumpkin Pie Classic Stampin' Pad
Real Red Classic Stampin' Pad
Brights 8-1/2" x 11" Assorted Card Stock
Basic Black Classic Stampin' Pad
Whisper White Note Cards (20)
Just Add Cake Designer Series Paper*
Chocolate Chip 1/2" Scallop Dots Ribbon*
Blender Pen (1)
Clear-Mount Block C
SNAIL Adhesive
Business supplies (box of catalogs, order forms, postcards, etc.)

*New to the 2011-2012 Idea Book & Catalog!

Plus, you will get a Christmas Keepsake project kit absolutely FREE--a $40 value! This exclusive kit contains everything you need to create a beautiful Christmas Keepsake Box to hold your most treasured Christmas memories. Remember, you can only earn this special Shelli Signature Collection kit when you add new stamping friends to your downline!

To join either call me (if you have my number), leave a comment, e-mail me, or go directly to my Stampin' Up! website and click on "Join Now".

http://brsmith.stampinup.net

A to Z Notecards for Every Occasion Class

Are you always needing a notecard to attach to a present last minute? If you answered yes, this is the class for you! You will go home with 26 notecards and envelopes using the Occasions Alphabet set out of the new Idea Book & Catalog. You will also decorate a clear/plastic paint can to hold the notecards for future use.

Date: Tuesday, July 26th

Time: 6:30-9:30pm

Location: My House

Cost: $18, includes bucket, 26 notecards & envelopes. If you want to include the Occasions Alphabet stamp set so you can use it that night the class fee will be $45 for clear and $60 for woodmount. That is a savings of $8-$9!

RSVP and prepay by Thursday, July 22!

Sorry the pictures aren't great. I still cannot find my camera.

The bucket

Sneak Peak of the notecards inside.

July-September 2011 Newsletter

Punch Art Class

This is your last chance to make some cards and tags using our retiring stamp sets/punches.

When: Tuesday, June 21st from 6:30 pm-9:30pm
Where: My house
Cost: $15, must RSVP and pay by Wednesday, June 15th.

You will stamp 2 sets of the bug/creature on the projects so that you can take home a set so that you know what to use to make another one in the future.

I will also send out a list of punches we'll be using to those that sign up so you can bring your punches if you'd like. It will make the class go quicker and you won't have to share as much (or wait for the punches you need). Please make sure to label your products when you bring them so they don't get mixed-up with others.

Please bring your own scissors and adhesive. If you don't have any, I will have glue sticks you can use.

Last Chance Stamp-a-Stack

This is your last chance to make some cards using our retiring stamp sets/products.

When: Saturday, June 18th from 9:00 am-1:00pm
Where: My house
Cost: $20, must RSVP and pay by Wednesday, June 15th.

You will make 3 each of the 5 designs for a total of 15 cards with envelopes. I will have other greetings you can use on the cards in case you want to change the occasion for the card.

Please bring your own scissors and adhesive. If you don't have any, I will have glue sticks you can use.

Super Hero Cape Tutorial

I found a tutorial HERE. They have patterns for the symbols to put on your cape, or you can make your own. I used her instructions and this is what I came up with:

I started with 27" long fabric, folded it in half again (it's already in half when you buy it). I then used the instructions on the tutorial and the pictures to make the neck and then angled it out to the edge of the fabric, then cut straight down and rounded the corner, and straight across the bottom.

Cut out your symbol using a pattern, or some type of die cutting machine.

I used my cricut to cut the K and the circle. The K measures about 8 1/2" and the circle is about 9 1/4-9 1/2". Before I cut them with my cricut I ironed the fabric onto Heat 'N' Bond Lite (for sewing). Then flip the fabric upside down, tape down the piece using painters tape (it won't hurt your cutting mat), and cut. Remember to use the mirror image when you cut your letters or they will come out backwards since the fabric is upside down when you cut it out.

Next, peel the backing off of the Heat 'N' Bond from the letter only, aline the two pieces, and iron them together.

Then peel the backing off of the main piece (the circle), align it on your cape and iron it.

I wanted my capes to have a "finished/store bought" look to them so I wanted to use the satin stitch around the decals. A satin stitch is just a very close zig zag. As you can see the stitch chosen was #4 (a basic zig zag). Then I shortened the distance between the zags and lengthened the stitch to make it a little wider to make it easier to catch the fabric as I went around. This was my first time doing this so I am NOT a pro by any means but it was fairly simple to figure out. Use a piece of scrap fabric to play on until you have the stich just where you want it and then move on to the project at hand.

Here is a close-up of what my letter is looking like with the satin stitch around it. I love the way it turned out. It's not perfect, but pretty good for my first attempt. Once I sewed around my letter and circle, I put the two cape pieces together inside out, serged around the outside leaving a 5-6" opening at the bottom to turn it right side out. You could use a regular machine to sew around the cape if you don't have a serger. At this point you'll want to iron the whole cape and iron the edges well so that it all lays flat and is ready to finish. I then sewed a straight stitch about 1/8" from the edge all around the cape, closing the hole at the bottom and keeping it flat.
The last thing I did is put velcro on the neck. I used a 2" piece. One piece goes on the top of the left side, the other goes on the bottom of the right side. I'm sorry I don't have a picture of this.

I don't have any great pics of the girls wearing their capes because I've misplaced my camera and haven't been taking many pictures lately but it was Jade's birthday and Kazia was giving her a birthday kiss. You can see the cape here pretty well.

At the party you can see both of the girls capes and the lengths of them. You can always shorten/lengthen them depending on how tall/short your kids are. I have one in the works for Cooper and it's shorter. I figured he'd want one to wear when he starts walking and playing with the girls.

Kazia had a birthday party to go to and this is what I made. I used the tutorial link above to get the pattern for the batman and superman logos. I then changed the super man S to a J for the little boy whom received the cape.

Turned out rather well I think. The cape is reversible. I'm going to make more for our house so when boys come over and the girls want to dress-up, we'll have something for them.

Pillowcase Shirts/Dresses

I found a tutorial HERE. I loved them so much I made 5 for each of the girls...matching of course. Money is a little tight so they generally only get matching clothing for pictures or if I make them. Here is one of the outfits:

These are SO adorable! I ended up having their 4/6 year old pics taken in them. I also made Cooper a matching bowtie (out of the red/white polka dot fabric) and had kid pictures taken as well.

I love that these are SUPER easy and quick to make. After the first one (where you make all of your mistakes) they go together nicely. I can make 2 in about 1 1/2 -2 hours from start to finish.

I also made the leggings. I used a pair of Old Navy leggings that Kazia had in her closet, turned them inside out, traced them the best I could onto tissue paper and voila, a pattern. This way I could make 4 sets of leggings to match each of the shirts/dresses I made.

Some of them are shorter (shirt length), mid thigh, and to the knee. This way they're all a little different (besides the pattern on the material). You do not have to add the coordinating piece at the bottom, but I think it's WAY cuter with a chunky hemline.

All of my shirts/dresses were made from fat quarters. To add length I made the coordinating fabric wider, to shorten I took a couple inches off the length of the fat quarter but still added the coordinating fabric at the bottom. For the ties, you can use a piece of coordinating fabric, bias tape, or ribbon. I have a large selection of ribbon so it was easy to find ribbon to go with everything I made. The girls love to jump...twirl....

and model these outfits.

They're very cozy and let them move however their heart desires.

Watch for upcoming pictures of the other 4 shirts/dresses I made!

Becky's Baby Gift

I had some cute ideas floating around in my head for a baby girl yet my girls are definitely NOT babies anymore. When Becky told me she was having a girl I knew just what I was going to make.

This first outfit is a white onesie that I die cut a flower from the Flower Folds sizzix die (sold by Stampin' Up!). I ironed it on and sewed around it then added a button. I used the same flowers for the flower that goes on the headband but I alternated the layers with fabric and white felt, sewed the layers together, added a button, then glued it to a clippie.

Now for the best part....RUFFLED BUM!!! I LOVE ruffled baby bums! It was a little time consuming to add the ruffles but super easy. I used the Tasteful Trims sizzix die (sold by Stampin' Up!) to cut the scallop edges out, sewed a gathering stitch close to the straight edge, gathered, pinned, then sewed one layer at a time starting with the bottom layer. I LOVE how it turned out!

Sorry the lighting isn't as great. My phone camera is not as great as my other...but the other is vacationing, somewhere. This is a smaller version of the pillowcase dress/shirt. I really hope it fit Alana because I didn't have a pattern to go from so I just guessed.

I also made some matching leggings to wear under the shirt/dress. They sure are CUTE! I didn't have a pattern for the leggings either. I used a pair of Kazia's leggings to make a pattern for my girls. I then shrunk it to a size that seemed fit for a newborn. I just hope I'm not way off.

June Club Projects

I used a tutorial found HERE to make my "magic slider card". I tweaked it just a little and voila.

I think it turned out pretty cute!

I got the idea for our pages on a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator site. I tweaked it just a bit and got the pages you see above.

I will post supply lists at a later time.

May Club Projects

Please forgive the quality of these images and the posts to come. I've misplaced my camera and so I'm using the camera on my phone.

Supply Lists are on their way!

The Retirement Lists are Here!

Dates: June 1-30, 2011 (select items while supplies last)
Details: It's time to say goodbye! Hundreds of products from the 2010-2011 Idea Book & Catalog and Definitely Decorative brochures are retiring, and now is the time for you to get them before they're gone.

Last Chance Lists (Remember to go through My Store for best pricing. Click on the "shop now" button under my name and contact information. You can also call or e-mail me to place an order.)
Clear Mount Stamps (for PDF format, click HERE)
Wood Mount Stamps
Accessories (for PDF format, click HERE)
Definitive Decorative (for PDF format, click HERE)

April Club Projects

Supplies:

Pear Pizzazz cardstock
Peach Parfait cardstock
Watercolor paper
Black Stazon ink pad
Poppy Parade, Daffodile Delight, Peach Parfait, Wild Wasabi Stampin' Write Markers
2-Way Glue Pen
Dazzling Diamonds Glitter
Aqua Painters
Word Window Punch
Teeny Tiny Wishes Stamp Set
Awash with Flowers Stamp Set
Perfect Polka Dots Embossing Folder
Sizzix Big Shot
Supplies:
Pink Pirouette cardstock
Pear Pizzazz cardstock
Poppy Parade cardstock
So Saffron cardstock
Concord Crush cardstock
Designer Series Paper Pack (Level 1 hostess set-Stampin' Up!)
Simple Letters Alphabet dies (4 pack)
Extra Large Oval Punch
Both Large Oval Punch sizes
Owl Punch
2 1/2" Circle Punch
Sponge
Pink Pirouette classic ink pad

I sponged around each of the white parts of the bunny except for the whites of the eyes to give him a little texture.

April-June Stampin' Newsletter

DVD Emergency Kits (on the go)

I found this idea on one of my Stampin' Up! leaders website, Amy Johnson. I thought it was so cute I had to make some for my boutique and of course to put in the glovebox of our van so it is on hand everywhere we go. Supplies: DVD cases (clear, sold in sets of 4 by Stampin' Up!) Designer Series Paper 6" x 8" Cello (cut down to 4" x 8" to contain the medicines) Whisper White cardstock (to print the contact list on) Sticky Strip to hold the contact list on and the cello bag. Embellish as desired Medicine Contents: Band-Aids, DayQuil, NyQuil, Benedryl, Advil Sinus, Trident gum, Copy of the medicine labels (I cut them off the boxes and laid them out so I could get them all on one sheet). I would have put Tylenol in them but could not find them ANYWHERE sold in individually in packets. The smallest I could find were in little round tubes that were too fat for the DVD cases. Everything else you can get from any drug store, pharmacy, WalMart, etc.

I made a large variety to choose from. These little kits are great for purses and gloveboxes to take on the go and the case protects all of the contents and keeps them all in one place so you're not searching for something that will work. Something else you could add to these are the individual packets of sanitizer wipes that are great for clean hands, or cleaning a small wound before applying a band-aid.