Happy New Year 2014

I wish each of you a Happy New Year 2014.  As we turn the calendar to a new year, reflection on 2013 is good for the soul.

The world continues to be defined by terrorism, disasters, environmental concerns and the economy.  What will change in 2014?  We can only hope that the world will become a safer place for all its inhabitants.  If we don’t have hope, what do we have?

We do continue to have good people in this world who continue to make a difference.  The world mourned Mandela who passed away in December.  He will be remembered for his efforts to end apartheid in South Africa, and then here is Malala from Pakistan who nearly lost her life standing up for what she believed.  How many of us would be that brave. 

 As we close out 2013, I would like to show case some work from others. 

The first is an art project that my DD did with her Grade 2/3 class.  She is a stamper and wanted to share the love of card making with her class.  They used the Frosty Friends stamp to create this fun card.

The second piece of art to share was also made by my DD.  She made a Christmas ball for each of us and they were displayed on her table for Christmas dinner.  These are so cute and would be easy to replicate.  Of course, I need to give credit to her husband as well who acted as her helper.

The last project was created by my DGS.  It is a Christmas ball where he drew the Polar Express.  This decoration will be fabulous to hang on my tree every year.

I wish each of you a Happy New 2014 and may your year bring health and happiness.

Happy Stamping

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Gift Packages Can be as Unique as the Gift

Gift packages can be as fun to create as it is to give the gift.  There are so many unique ways to package up a gift these days.  Although we can still use the traditional wrapping paper, stuck on bow, the trend is towards more unique and individual gift packages.

Over the past month, I have created two gift boxes using the Kraft Gift Boxes and just had a blast.  There are also some new gift packaging ideas in the new catalogue – the Tag a Bag Gift Bags and the Tag a Gift Boxes.

Here is the gift package and tag that I created for a friends birthday

Birthday Gift Packaging

Stamps: Round Array (c-129090, w-129087 p 126 2013/14 Annual Catalogue, Whimsy Wheel Stamp (retired)

Paper: Crisp Cantaloupe, Whisper White, Daffodil Delight, Epic This and That DSP

Ink: Crisp Cantaloupe, Old Olive, Daffodil Delight, Smokey Slate, Whisper White Craft

Accessories: Kraft Gift Box, Versa Mark, Clear Embossing Powder, Silver Embossing Powder,  Big Shot, Secret Garden Framelits, Tasteful Trim Die, Tea Lace Doilies, Whisper White 1é8`ribbon, Simply Pressed Clay, Simply Pressed Clay Molds, Creped Filter Paper,  Epic Day This and That Washi Tape, 1-3/4″Scallop Circle Punch, 1-1/4″ Scallop Circle Punch

Other: Bubble Wrap

The flower is die cut using the Secret Garden Framelits and then using the Paper Snips, each petal is cut to the center and sponged with Crisp Cantaloupe ink.  Two flowers were cut to add fulness.

The Tea Lace Paper Doily was embossed with Silver embossing powder.  Just swipe Versa Mark all over the doily and then heat set the embossing powder.  Only 1/2 the doily was used.  A piece of the Creped Filter Paper was torn and added to the doily.

The box was stamped using the Whimsy wheel stamp and Whisper White Craft ink.  The tag uses the bubble wrap technique.  The video for this technique is part of the Cool Tool Videos HERE

How about trying out some unique gift packaging yourself.

Tag a Bag Bundle /131371

Tag a Box Bundle /131372

Give the gift of packages

Happy Stamping

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Today, we are attending a Wedding Reception for my Nephew and his New Bride.  They were married early in June in Jasper and now they are home for a visit so that everyone can meet and congratulate them.

When I was at Convention 2012 in July, Sara Douglas, presented a stamping demonstration around jars, and this was one of her creations.  When I saw it, I immediately thought of a gift for the reception.

Although she didn’t demonstrate it, I managed to get a picture and from there recreate what I saw.

I had so much fun with this and while it took some trial and error as I had no instructions has to how big everything was cut, in the end I am very pleased with the whole gift.

In this close up, you can see the butterfly, which I cut out using Chip Board and the Beautiful Butterflies Die and then cut out 2 pieces of the Patio Party DSP and glued them to the Chip Board.  I filed the edges to make them smooth and then ran a Summer Starfruit marker around the edges.

I cut 2 strips of the First Edition DSP, so that the circle, when finished would be large and full enough.  The size of the paper is 12″ by 5-1/2″ and this seemed to work.  And yes, the Silicone Mat came in real handy for this project.

I managed to obtain a picture of the happy couple and made a slide card.  This the first one I had ever made so there was some trial and error going on with this, however persevering really pays off.  On one side of the slider, I put the congrats message and then on the other side, I attached a gift card.

Finally, I attached a Doily on each side of the jar, circled the jar with a strip of First Edition DSP, and tied the whole think up with Linen Thread.

Then the newly weds got their own pot of gold.  I put a piece of oasis in the jar so that I could insert the dowels and they wouldn’t fall over.  The wrapped candy hides all the oasis and makes a nice pot of gold.

I hope you enjoy this, because I sure did while I was creating it.

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