Matchbox Frame

Matchboxes seem to be all the rage these days and can be used in many ways.  Betty Traciak one of the very talented Guest Designers on UStamp with Dawn and Friends "With Love 2010", designed a really great "Matchbox Frame" using the "Love Bandit" stamp set 117086 from the Occasions Mini Catalogue.   Betty's version used the Matchbox Die cut. Since I don't have my Big Shot here in Southern California, I made my matchboxes from a template I found on SCS.

Recipe:


Cardstock:  Rich Razzleberry, Crushed Curry, Old Olive and Soft Suede
Stamps:  Vintage Vogue 117690, Very Vintage Wheel 117693 and Three Little Words
Ink:  Rich Razzelberry
Accessories:  Scalloped Heart Punch, Heart to Heart Punch and Heart Punch, Rhinestones and Ribbon non-SU

Check Out This Invitation Holder

Linda Hansen one of the US Crew Girls from UStamp with Dawn and Friends Fall 09 program created a beautiful invitation holder as one of  her designs in this round.  Isn't this gorgeous?  Linda made the base from Rich Razzleberry card stock and incorporated an invitation which she created on her computer.  The monogram letter is from the Lovely Letters Alphabet set (115030 pg 152 IB&C).   And don't forget the ribbon...... of course its SU's dotted ribbon in Rich Razzleberry.

I loved Linda's design and decided to make one but with a few changes of my own.  I wanted to achieve a rich classic look, so I used Basic Gray Cardstock and matching Basic Gray Taffeta ribbon for my accent.  I texturized the front fold-over piece of cardstock using the Big Shot FlourishTexturz Plates (# 114512 Stampin Up Backgrounds #1 pg. 195 IB&C).  To enhance the look of the embossing I brushed on some silver ink rub that I had in my stash.  This is where it would have been great to have the new Platinum Shimmer Paint ( #116807 pg 27) from the Holiday Mini Catalogue.  Believe me with Christmas coming the PSP is on my wish list!

I improvised with the monogram as I didn't have the alphabet set Linda used ( it's on my wish list too).  Since I fell in love with the card sample on page 139 of the IB&C I purchased the Three Little Words stamp set.  I knew this would work perfectly for my monogram letter, with a little improvising.  I simply inked up the "T" from the first letter of the "Three little words for you" stamp with Basic Gray Ink  and then used a baby wipe to take off any excess ink before stamping the letter.  It seemed to work pretty well, as you can see from this close up. 

My computer was off when I was making this at 2:00 in the morning and I didn't feel like turning it on to make an invitation insert, so instead I used some old stationary with a mottled grey background to stamp the sentiment and flower.  The sentiment is one of my favourite quotes, from the Dreams Du Jour stamp set (#111624 Pg 99 IB&C), and the flower is from the Friends 24-7 stamp set (#113218 pg 100 IB&C).   I added some Dazzling Diamonds to both the monogram and the flower to finish it off. 

Well, what do you think?  Do you like it?  Did I achieve the rich classic look?  Let me know, I always appreciate hearing from you.

Enjoy!

What’s Up You Might Ask?

You might be wondering “where’s Penny, and why isn’t she posting? What has she been doing this month? Well, let me tell you September has been a really fun month for me, and I’ve been doing the things I love.

To begin with I’m participating in Ustamp with Dawn Fall 2009 and what a blast it’s been. I was amazed at how much fun the summer Ustamp was, but I’m absolutely bowled over by the beautiful projects and the numbers of women participating from around the globe in this fall session. I can’t wait to get on my computer every day and check out who’s there and what the latest projects are and then get to my studio to do the “creating” part. So stay tuned as I start to post more of my projects.

I was delighted to find out I was paired with Holly Griffith from New Plymouth, New Zealand as “swap sisters”. Wow what fun I had making my projects to send to Holly. I managed to get everything done and mailed two days before deadline. Woo Hoo! I can’t show you my whole project yet because it’s a secret until we post our swaps on September 28th on Ustamp with Dawn and Friends but here’s a sneak peak…………….. Is this exciting or what!

Also this week my door bell rang twice, sending the dogs (yes dogs………… I’m babysitting dogs this month for good friends) into a frenzy. I was in a frenzy too because my latest shipment of goodies from the Holiday Mini Catalogue had arrived by UPS.

These goodies include the new My Digital Studio.  Over the coming weeks I hope to share a number of projects that I have created using the MDS so stay tuned! Here are some details you need to know about My Digital Studio.

Beginning October 1, 2009 - Go digital with Stampin' Up's "My Digital Studio"

• Perfect for beginner or intermediate digital scrapbookers or cardmakers. There are also enough creative options that advanced users will have everything they need

• Creates cards, pages, calendars, books, and albums - plus interactive digital scrapbooks that you can burn to DVD.

• Runs on PC and Mac (PowerPC and Intel) platforms

• Three ways to design: Build from scratch; generic card, calendar, and scrapbook templates and pre-designed scrapbook templates (just drop in your photos)

• Three product line elements: My Digital Studio software, printing services, and downloadable brushes and papers through the online store - Digital Downloads

• My Digital Studio comes on a DVD with a selection of brushes, not all of which are available as Digital Downloads

• Digital Downloads can be used with My Digital Studio or with another application, such as Photoshop Elements

• Digital Downloads will be available in the online store

• Printed versions of your digital creations can be ordered through My Digital Studio printing services

Goodie Boxes

How's this for a treat holder? This week on UStamp with Dawn and Friends Tracey Old the very talented Crew Team member from New Zealand shared her "Coffee Treat" gift box. What a winner? This quick to make nifty little box would make a great house warming gift during the upcoming Holiday season. To that end, I have designed my box to hold chocolate nuggets covered in last year's Holiday Treasures DSP and candy canes............ where's the hot chocolate?

The box base is made from Old Olive cs and the belly band again from the Holiday Treasures DSP. I used the "Just For You" sentiment from the Oval All stamp set and mounted it on Old Olive and Red Riding Hood cs punched out with the large oval punch. The same cs was used with the Trio Flower punch to add additional interest to the belly band and each of the chocolates. and finally SU's gold brad's were used for the flower centers to give a bit of added colour. All in all, this was a very quick and inexpensive gift to make, and I'm sure it will be a hostess pleaser.

Stationary Card Purse - UStamp With Dawn and Friends

Tracey Old, the New Zealand Dream Team member for UStamp with Dawn and Friends demonstrated a Stationary Purse with four gift cards for her second round. She chose Urban Oasis and Urban Garden for her Designer Series Paper and her card stocks were in Basic Gray and Baja breeze. What a fabulous combinaton. Tracey used the One of a Kind and Short and Sweet stamp sets for her sentiments.

I've discovered through the chat forums on UStamp with Dawn that New Zealand is a season behind Canada and the United States with their SU Idea Book and Catalogue so they are currently using last year's (for us) In Colours, DSP and stamps.

Another of the wonderful benefits I've found in participating in the UStamp with Dawn and Friends session has been the opportunity to chat with many of the marvellous demos from around the globe, and in particular from New Zealand and Austrailia. These gals just rock! They are funny, sweet and nice and willing to share ideas. Because of them I think I'm going to move my "Trip to Down Under" higher on my bucket list ......... have to talk to hubby about that. LOL!
For my sample, I recreated Tracey's project using the "To the Nines Specialty Designer Series Paper" from last years IB&C. This paper is very thick - almost like cardstock and very wonderful to work with.

Since I love, love, love (did I say love?) Sage Shadow and Chocolate Chip together, card stock choice and DSP choice was a no brainer. Because the pattern on the medallion stamp wouldn't show up on Chocolate Chip unless it was embossed, I used Close to Cocoa card stock.

Even though there is a lot of cutting and scoring in this project it was well worth the time, as it came together quickly and easily and would make a great class. The finished project would make a great incentive gift for a workshop hostess (think wow!) or a special gift for a bridal shower or how about for a secret swap sister!

This is an inside view of the stationary purse. The two pockets which are raised hold 2 cards and 2 envelopes on either side. In this example I have pulled the cards out of the pockets so you can see the design, however to close the purse you need to push the cards right into the pockets. I used two pearl brads on the lid and front of the card and a strip of 1/8" ribbon for the closure. A piece of Chocolate Chip 5/8" ribbon was tied onto the handle to give it some extra Pizzazz. When the stationary purse is fastened closed, it stands up nicely on its base.



Here you can see the four gift cards - 2 of each design. I swapped up the DSP on tops and bottoms and changed the embellisments on the flowers to give some variety.

I used the medallions from the SU True Friends Stamp Set (retired). I made three layers and cut the medallions out by hand. Recollections pearl brads and Making Memories bronze brads were used for the flower center pieces and Chocolate Chip 5/8" grosgrain ribbon and Sage Shadow satin 1/8" ribbon (non SU) were used for added embellishments.

Hope you've enjoyed this project........ I know I did! Happy Stamping.

Double Treat Gift Basket - UStamp with Dawn and Friends Project

Makeesha Byl, Dream Team Member from Austrailia for UStamp with Dawn and Friends created a simple basket called "Triple Treat Gift Basket". Her design used the new Rich Razzleberry card stock and Dotted Swiss Ribbon, and Razzleberry Lemonade Designer Series Paper (DSP).

I made mine into a "Two Treat Gift Basket" ...... I only had two candles so what the heck. LOL! I used the Raspberry Tart DSP from last year and Rose Regal Card Stock for my base. This was a very quick and easy project and would be perfect for one of those last minute gifts. Enjoy.

Pocket and Accordian Folder

Linda Hansen another fabulous "Crew Girl" from the UStamp with Dawn and Friends group, shared a project with us the other day, utilizing the new In Colours and Circle Circus stamp set. She called it the Circle Circus Pocket and Accordian Folder. I really liked her sample but didn't have that stamp set, so improvised by using some other stamps on hand. This pocket card is a really fun and easy project to put together and it can be used for endless gift possibilities. It can be a photo journal, or a combination photo journal and gift card holder, or it could be a place card holder announcing different meal courses......just to name a few.

For my sample I used Orchid Oppulence cardstock (CS) for the envelope, Whisper White for the belly-band and 1 3/8" circle. Rich Razzleberry(RR) CS was used for the 1 1/4" and scallop circles. One of the images from Stem Silhouettes was stamped in white craft ink and embossed with white EP on RR CS. An image from the Fresh cuts stamp set was stamped in white craft ink and embossed in white EP on RR and then punched out with the scallop circle. The beautiful polka dot ribbon is in Razzleberry. An SU retired rub-on was used for the "celebrate" sentiment. Finally the bottom of the envelope was crimped to give it some additional detail.




The accordian fold insert was folded and then cut from RR using the top note die cut. Whisper White card stock was adhered to the front of the folded sections with Snail Adhesive. For my sample, which I will be using as a "hostess incentive" I've incorporated some Stampin Up images from a past year's postcard series (how lucky the colours were perfect). I stamped a "Wish List" from my Taking Care of Business stamp set and included my business card.




Of course the lucky hostess who books a party from me will receive this accordian card folder and a gift certificate for free merchandise. How cool is that?

Hope you enjoyed this sample. If you are interested in learning how to make this folder please give me a call to book a class or workshop.

U Stamp With Dawn Tag Book Project

This past week I have been participating in "U Stamp with Dawn and Friends", and let me tell you I'm having a ball meeting new friends from around the world and some local ones too!

There are 10 Design Team Members and Crew Girls who are contributing to the projects - and so far they are absolutely fabulous.

Every day a new project is posted along with the PDF or video instructions. All projects are Stampin Up product based. If you're interested in joining there is still time, just follow the link on my sidebar.

Here are some pictures of my first completed project ~ a tag book ~ following the fabulous instructions and sample provided by BC's very own "UStamp Crew Girl" Jenn Picard.

I chose to do my album in Old Olive, Dusty Durango and Creamy Caramel. I used a retired DSP from last seasons DSPs called Haiku. Stamp sets used were Sincere Salutations and Stem Silouettes, two of my favorites.

I cut out flowers from the DSP with my circle punches and used them throughout the tag pages to add some interest. And on the front cover I used the eyelet punch on Old Olive CS to add some interest. Hope you enjoy these pictures.