SO, these are the projects we did in a class in September. I thought it would be fun to do an all treat-holder night. Truthfully, I could do an all treat-holder class once a week for a year and not run out of fun ones to do... but people would start to throw things.

The matchbox is made using Stampin' Up!'s exclusive Matchbox die and the big shot. I added some Designer Series Paper from the Christmas Jingle Simply Scrappin' kit, a tag stamped with the Holiday Best stamp set and a poinsettia made from Real Red and Old Olive cardstock, using the 5-petal flower punch. Easy peasy, lemon squeezy, as Annika would say!!

The ornament 'cookie pouch' is a super simple treat holder - you could put candy canes, a big cookie, a little note pad or anything you'd like in it. It's made with just half a sheet of cardstock and a strip of designer paper. I used Close to Cocoa and the flocked paper from Christmas Cocoa pack in the Holiday Mini. There's a medium cello bag inside. I embellished it using Delightful Decorations and Ornament punch, some silver elastic cord and some of the Mistletoe ribbon - all in the Holiday Mini Catalogue. You could really crank a lot of these out in a short time if you wanted to make something for your kids' classmates or teachers.

The Halloween one is made using a pattern I got on the Stampin' Up! demonstrator website. (one of the many benefits of demo-ship!) I used Basic Black or Dusty Durango cardstock, and for the record, the textured c/s works way better..., Only Orange or Black gros grain ribbon and Spooky Treats rub ons. I think these would make awesome Christmas Crackers - though you'd need to really love the people you're giving them to - they're simple, but a little time-consuming.

Fun stuff! No math was required in the making of these projects. Well, maybe just a little.

Just getting caught up...
Here are the Crimped Envelope cards we made at August clubs. I learned how to do this from a tutorial on Splitcoast Stampers. What a great technique, and so easy!
I used Herb Expressions and Teeny Tiny Wishes stamp sets, a Very Vanilla envelope, Sage Shadow, Certainly Celery and Very Vanilla cardstock, Almost Amethyst, Certainly Celery and Old Olive Classic inks and the crimper, Eyelet Edge punch, Snips, Round Tab punch, ink spritzer, Going Grey Stampin' Write Marker and some Certainly Celery 1/4" gros grain ribbon.

So these pictures are a little washed out, but here's one of the projects my clubs made in August. It's a mini album, the theme of which was chosen by one of my club members (SUCH a smart lady!) A pet mini-album makes a lovely gift for animal lovers... yes, I am thinking of Christmas already!!


I made this using a patten provided by Paula Goff. Supplies: Old Olive and So Saffron Cardstock, Basic Black, Old Olive and Crushed Curry Ink, C is for Cat stamp set and P is for Paws Stampin' Around Wheel, Sponges, various SU! punches and So Saffron Designer paper.

What do you think? Cute huh??

These are a couple of examples of the little case we made at our last club meetings. I made them a few different ways, but all with a pocket on the front and handles. The one on the left is made with Certainly Celery and Soft Suede cardstock, Tall Tales Designer paper, gold brads, medium twill tape and D rings from the fabric store. The one on the right uses Old Olive cardstock, still the Tall Tales dp, gold brads and Chocolate Chip cardstock for the handles. You could put a lovely treat (chocolate sounds nice!), a note pad or some small cards in the front pocket and some nice monogrammed blank cards, some all-occasion cards or a paperback book in the main part of the tote. There are so many ways to dress up a simple box like this. I kept this one really simple, but I'll have to post some others I've been churning out for fall craft sales when I get a chance. They're really fun to do.

My hostesses got a covered sticky-notes pad with a pencil and an assortment of cards to fill the box - only one of which I've pictured here, all using the Tall Tales designer paper and coordinating cardstock. I constantly kick myself for forgetting to take pictures of my stuff before I give it away!!! sigh.

I took this case idea from Leigh O'Brien's "totally totes" tutorial on Splitcoast Stampers - a link won't help you unless you're a fan club member there so I won't try. I can send you directions for my version, which is very simple, more of a jumping off point really, if you wish. Just drop me a note.

Stamp club projects from July

Here are the two cards we made at our last club meetings. The one on the left is made using the Upsy Daisy set, Melon Mambo paper and ink and Crushed Curry paper and ink. We rubbed the inkpads on a sheet of transparency and then brayered it over the image - which had been stamped in VersaMark and embossed with white ep. Sadly, the stamping with bleach technique didn't work at the first class. The bleach was diluted just a teeny bit in the container and it was a dud. Next picture is the sample WITH the bleach technique. I hope you'll try it on your own, it is LOADS of fun. (***note, I don't know about you, but I can't get this one to work on Not Quite Navy cardstock. Might be just me, not sure.)

The one on the right is the 'famous' re-inker spread technique. This technique originated with Crystal French from Denver, and was demo'd at the Stampin' Up! Seattle Regional Seminar by Connie Ingram. Then Sandi MacIver shared the directions on a yahoo group and Patty Bennet did a fabulous tutorial on it. I just love it - I can't stop making them! Just remember, you have to use shimmery cardstock, regular Whisper White won't work.

I'll post the 3D we made in a bit, and I hope, a sneak peek. (I know, I always say that and I *never* get around to it, but this time I'm determined!!!)

toodles!

sneak peek?

Well, one of my clubs has already done these this month, but I had a request to get a sneak peek up BEFORE our class for a change, and I am happy to comply.

We're playing with ink this month - re-inkers and water, brayer and acetate, and bleach *(I hope it works this time! Note to self: do NOT rinse out the container just before adding the bleach to the paper towel inside!).

Later today (um, after our class!) I'll post the rest of the picture. ;)

....and here are the projects from my first SU! workshop

Here it is, finally, the projects we made at my very first Stampin' Up! workshop. I *tried* to keep it simple, but really this is the advanced class, so we kind of went to town! I had so much fun, even though I was really nervous. I don't explain things well, especially out loud... really makes ya' wonder why I took this job, doesn't it? Hmmm....