Wine Bottle Gift Bag … Well sort of …

Posted on September 30, 2017 by Linda Tolson Yarbrough

I was asked to make a gift bag for wine bottles as one of Personalized Christmas Gifts.  Should be easy, right?  I looked for videos or samples and all those that I found were extremely over the top (they looked like gazebos – no seriously!) and then I finally found one on YouTube by Scrimpingmommy (“Reinforced Mini Bottle Bag Stampin’ Up! products”) but it was for a mini wine bottle.  I’m not a wine drinker so I didn’t have any wine bottles handy to measure.  I sent out feelers to some of my wine drinking friends to get the standard measurements for a wine bottle and I got this:

Here is what I created.  Fair warning that it is not at all perfect (let’s just say I learned what NOT to do the next time I try to make one of these) and I could have spent a little more time decorating it but I am just glad to have finished it!

This “bag” starts out with a square bottom made from cardstock.  Since the information I was provided indicates that a standard wine bottle is 3.00″ in diameter, I wanted my bag bottom to be 3.25″ in diameter.  Each side of the box is 1.00″ so to allow me to score 1.00″ on all four sides, I cut a piece of thick Whisper White card stock to 5.25″ square and then scored at 1.00″ on all four sides.  To create the box itself, you will cut up on the score lines on the right and left opposite each other as show in the photo below:

Put a strong adhesive (I used Tear Tape) on the outer side of each tab on both sides.  The tabs will tuck in and attach to the long panel to create the box.

Since the diameter of the box is 3.25″, a 12″ x 12″ piece of paper will not be long enough to wrap around the entire box.  You will need to piece together  an additional 2.00″ of matching paper to a 12″ x 12″ piece.

To reinforce the top of the bag for handles, cut a 2.00″ strip of paper and extend to the same length as the larger piece.  Score at 1.00″ and attach as a cuff around the top (that is the blue that you see on my bag which is the reverse side of the designer series paper that I used).  (My mistake is I forgot to do this before I wrapped the box – not easy to try to do afterwards!)

Put a strong adhesive at the top and bottom edges on all four sides of the box.  On the paper that you are going to wrap around the box, you will need to put a strong adhesive on the inside end of paper that will wrap over on top at the end.

To assemble the pieces together, start approximately in the center of the paper and adhere the box as close to the edge of the paper as possible.  As you get to the corner, give the paper a pinch to bend it but do not crease it all the way up.  Once you get to the last piece that will cross over and close off the bag, put your hand inside the bag and carefully press.  If you used an adhesive with a backing, i.e. Tear Tape, it would be a good idea to remove a little at a time to allow you to control the seam.

I will definitely try this project again, hopefully with better results!

Here are the Stampin’ Up! products that I used in the design of this project, all of which can quickly be added to your shopping cart by clicking on the thumbnails below:

If you have any questions regarding any design elements of this project, do not hesitate to contact me.

Thank you for stopping by today.  I hope you leave here inspired to put stamps to ink to paper.  Until next time, stamp on my friends.

Linda

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Year of Cheer with Snowflake Sentiments

Posted on September 29, 2017 by Linda Tolson Yarbrough

Today’s project was inspired by a YouTube video by Tami White.  She has a Facebook Live video where she demonstrated a wine bottle tag and coordinating card and treat box.  She used the Year of Cheer Specialty Designer Series Paper and the Add a Little Glitz stamp set.  Well I don’t have that particular stamp set (shocker!) (I really only wanted the one stamp that says “May Your Season Sparkle”) so I used a sentiment from the Snowflake Sentiments stamp set on my project.

While this card looks luxurious, it was very quick and easy to put together.  Next one I make I will likely make the strip of card stock for the sentiment a little narrower so that more of the foil snowflake shows.    The Year of Cheer Specialty DSP is by far my favorite in the Holiday Catalog.  I have used it in so many projects that I am just about out of it – time to order more!

Here are the Stampin’ Up! products that I used in the design of my card, all of which can quickly be added to your shopping cart by clicking on the thumbnails below:

If you have any questions regarding any of the design elements of this card, do not hesitate to contact me.

Thank you for stopping by my blog today.  I hope you leave here inspired to put stamps to ink to paper.  Until next time, stamp on my friends.

Linda

Posted in Cards, Christmas, Holiday Catalog | Tagged | 1 Comment

Paper Pumpkin September 2017 Kit

Posted on September 28, 2017 by Linda Tolson Yarbrough

Today’s post will be short and sweet.  I have had my September Paper Pumpkin kit on my desk for about a week now and it has been calling out to me to open it up and put it together.  I could not ignore it any longer.  I assembled all of my leaf bunches, but only completed one of the notecards and one of the pillow boxes.

Did you notice that white and gold leaf?  Well, that is the remnants of the foil paper after you carefully and cleanly remove the gold leaf foil stickers.  I fussy cut around the negative image and now I have an awesome leaf for a future project.  (One person’s trash is another’s art!)

Paper Pumpkin kits are absolutely perfect for scratching that crafting itch without breaking the bank.  For only $19.95 / month (U.S.) tax and shipping included, you will get a box in your mailbox filled with everything you need to make your project.  This particular kit included enough supplies to make 8 of the 3×3 notecards (with envelopes) and 8 of the pillow boxes.  WOW!

I am trying to decide if I want to save the rest for guests to assemble when they attend my Open House to celebrate World Card Making Day on Saturday, October 7.  Have you sent in your RSVP yet?

Thank you for stopping by today.  I hope you leave (no pun intended) here inspired to put stamps to ink to paper.  Until next time, stamp on my friends.

Linda

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Hearts Come Home to Painted Harvest

Posted on September 27, 2017 by Linda Tolson Yarbrough

I thought perhaps you guys may have seen enough Halloween treat bags this week so I am switching back to Christmas themed projects.  Today’s project’s focal point uses a non-conventional Christmas color – black.  The designer series paper I used on this project is from the Merry Music Specialty designer series paper pack which is a collection of patterns in black on white background or vice versa (sheet music, snow flakes, etc.).  I used gold and silver to bring it more into the conventional arena.

As you will see I have once again used the sunflower stamp from the Painted Harvest stamp set to create a wreath.  This time, though, I embossed the wreath alternating layers of gold, copper and gold embossing power.  It didn’t turn out quite as I had imagined it would – I had hoped for more of the copper layer to show – but I kind of like it.  What do you think?

How did I do that?  I stamped the less detailed stamp in Versamark and sprinkled with gold embossing powder and heated until set.  Once cooled I stamped with the detailed stamp in Versamark and sprinkled with copper embossing powder and heated until set.  Once cooled I stamped with the less detailed stamp in Versamark and sprinkled with gold embossing powder.  This time I heated the image from underneath the paper, rather than from the top as you normally would.  (NOTE:  I would suggest using the Embossing Buddy before you stamp each time.  I only used it the first time and I ended up with some embossing powder where I didn’t want it to be.  Just rub it around the image the second and third time.)

One other tip that is not obvious in the photographs.  Do you have Dazzling Diamonds Glitter and not sure how to get it to stick to your projects?  Did you know that you can sprinkle it over wet ink and it will stick to it?  Well that is what I did on the “Joy to the World” sentiment on the front of the card.  (Of course, now I will have glitter on my face the rest of the day!)

Here are the Stampin’ Up! products that I used in the design of this card, all of which can quickly be added to your shopping cart by clicking on the thumbnails below:

If you have any questions regarding any other design elements of this card, do not hesitate to contact me.

Thank you for stopping by today.  I hope you leave here inspired to put stamps to ink to paper – and put a little glitter in your day.  Until next time, stamp on my friends.

Linda

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Spooky Cat Mini Milk Cartons in a Wood Crate

Posted on September 26, 2017 by Linda Tolson Yarbrough

I am having so much fun making Halloween treat holders that I thought I would make another for today’s project.  This one was inspired by a UK demonstrator’s YouTube video (hers were much fancier, with heat embossing and more), but it was the measurements for her milk cartons that I needed so that they would fit inside the wood crate made with the framelit dies.  First I will show you my finished project, then I will walk you through the steps and finally show you the original project that inspired me.

Your cardstock or designer series paper should measure 4.5o” x 6.50″.

  • 4.5o” side score @ 1.50″, 3.00″ (flip over paper – this is for the top of the milk carton and will fold in a different direction than the other score lines), 4.oo”
  • 6.50″ side score @ 1.50″, 3.00″, 4.50″, 6.00″
  • Fold and burnish all score lines.
  • Cut on the dotted lines and trim off pieces marked with “X’s” as show on the photo below
  • Apply adhesive to the side tab and adhere to the side which will create a rectangle (you should be able to lay it flat on the table and fold over the pieces which should match up perfectly)
  • Two of the end tabs opposite each other fold together to create the bottom, followed by the other set of opposite tabs.  Depending on what you intend to include inside the milk cartons, adhesive is only needed on the last tab that you fold over to create the bottom

Score lines to create the tent fold at the top of the milk carton are recommended when using designer series paper, otherwise the bottom portion of your milk carton may not be square.  (Ask me how I know!)

For the owl on the post, I created the post by cutting off a piece of chip board that comes in the packaging of Stampin’ Up! products.  I stamped the post in Early Espresso with the longest texture stamp in the set.  I used an Exacto knife and cut a slit under the owl’s feet and slid the post through the slit so that it looks like he is sitting on the post.  To give it a clean look from the back, I stamped and fussy cut out a second owl and adhered it to the back to cover up the post.

Here are the Stampin’ Up! products that I used in the design of the project, all of which can quickly be added to your shopping cart by clicking on the thumbnails:

And finally, here is the original project that inspired me to make mine.  As you can see, hers is much more elegant.

Thank you for stopping by today.  I hope you leave here inspired to put stamps to ink to paper.  Until next time, stamp on my friends.

Linda

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Spooky Cat Mini Treat Bags – Trick or Treat!

Posted on September 25, 2017 by Linda Tolson Yarbrough

While most people count down the days to Christmas, there are others who count down the days to Halloween.  Depending on how my year has gone will determine which side of the coin I fall on that subject.  This year I am a little excited for the upcoming holidays, including Halloween, and have enjoyed making projects for each occasion.  Today’s project (actually projects – I made three of them!) is a mini treat bag made from a thinlits dies set available in the Annual Catalog and the Halloween Designer Series Paper available in the 2017 Holiday Catalog called Spooky Night.

I told you those cats would show up again at any time!  These were quick and easy projects to make with the proper tools and supplies which I just happened to have thanks to Stampin’ Up!

Here are the Stampin’ Up! products that I used in the design of these treat bags, all of which can quickly be added to your shopping cart by clicking on the thumbnails below:

If you have any questions regarding any of the design elements of these cute little bags, do not hesitate to contact me.

For the months of October and November, Stampin’ Up! is doing something it has never done before with its Paper Pumpkin kits – they are offering two straight months of perfectly coordinated Christmas card making and gifting projects.

Here’s a short video from the Stampin’ Up! home office.  Sorry, no sneak peeks – not even us demonstrators know what comes in the kits.

The Fine Print:

  • The October and November kits coordinate but they also stand alone. You DO NOT need both kits to create a complete project.
  • To receive October’s kit, customers must subscribe at paperpumpkin.com by 11:50 PM (MT) on October 10.
  • To receive November’s kit, customers must subscribe at paperpumpkin.com by 11:50 PM (MT) on November 10.

If you do decide to subscribe, I hope you will select me as your demonstrator during the subscription process.  If you need assistance, I am happy to guide you through the process.

Here is a video of what you would have received in September’s kit if you had joined during the 50% off promotion:

I haven’t put my kit together yet, but I hope to get to it soon.  It is absolutely amazing!

Thank you for stopping by today.  I hope you leave here inspired to put stamps to ink to paper.  Until next time, stamp on my friends.

Linda

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Painted Harvest on a Candle – Part 2

Posted on September 24, 2017 by Linda Tolson Yarbrough

The next step in candle stamping is melting the stamped tissue paper into the candle.  You will need a Heat Tool and regular straight from your pantry wax paper.  Here is the finished project:

Here are the next steps to complete this project on your own:

Tear off a strip of wax paper that is long enough to wrap completely around your candle AND leave you enough extra to fold over to create and handle in the back so you have something to hold onto when using the Heat Tool.

The candle that I used in my project is 2.8″ in diameter and 5.5″ tall.  I was able to fold my piece of wax paper in half before wrapping it around the candle.  You will want your wrap to be tight and smooth.

Hold the Heat Tool approximately 2″ or so from candle and move slowly across the areas where the tissue paper is attached.  Do not hold in one place for too long as you will over heat the candle.  You will notice the areas of the candle being heated start to get shiny which means the wax is melting; be sure to move on to another area.  Once you believe you have heated all areas, roll the candle with the wax paper still attached on a smooth flat surface, then carefully remove the wax paper.  If you can still see outlines of the tissue paper in some areas you will need to repeat the process in those areas; you will get best results if you use a new piece of wax paper (fresh wax on the paper).

If you decorated both sides of the candle (which I did – it is the same on both sides), do one side at a time.  Always use a fresh piece of wax paper.

Wait for candle to completely cool before attempting to buff out any rough places on the candle that may remain.  I have been told, but have not yet tried, that using a pair of nylon stockings will buff out the rough spots.

Here are the Stampin’ Up! products that were used in the design of this project, which can all be quickly added to your shopping cart by clicking on the thumbnails below:

Thank you for stopping by today.  I hope you leave here inspired to put stamps to ink to paper.  Until next time, stamp on my friends.

Linda

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Painted Harvest on a Candle – Part 1

Posted on September 23, 2017 by Linda Tolson Yarbrough

Today’s project will be brought to you in two parts.  The project is a stamped candle.  Well, you don’t actually stamp on the candle itself – that would be difficult to do.  The trick is to stamp on tissue paper that you then arrange and adhere to your candle to get the layout you want.  Part 1 below shows you what you should expect your project to look like after you have stamped and trimmed down your pieces and adhered them to your candle (I used snail adhesive on mine, just be careful not to tear the tissue paper when applying).

Tomorrow I will show you in Part 2 what the finished project will look like after the images are infused into the candle with heat and wax paper.  Stay tuned!

Did you notice that I used the Painted Harvest stamp set (a set that has been used to make beautiful sunflowers) to make a wreath?  I used the stamp that appears in the lower left corner of the product picture.  In the areas where it stamped too lightly, I used a Blender Pen with my ink pad to fill it in a little bit.  Thanks to my fellow demonstrators who posted other projects with this brilliant idea, sorry I cannot recall your names to give you credit.

Here are the Stampin’  Up! products that I used in today’s project, all of which can be quickly added to your shopping cart by clicking on the thumbnails below:

If you have any questions regarding this technique, do not hesitate to contact me.  I would be happen to demonstrate this for you at your home or mine!

Thank you for stopping by today.  I hope you leave here inspired to put stamps to ink to paper (even tissue paper)!  Until next time, stamp on my friends.

Linda

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Hearts Come Home for Christmas

Posted on September 22, 2017 by Linda Tolson Yarbrough

Switching back to cards for a bit, but getting a very late start after spending most of my day trying to “organize” my craft space.  Not much progress was made on the organization front, but I did get a card made!

I had another stamp set from the Holiday Catalog that I had not yet used (a complete shocker, right!) – Hearts Come Home.  It comes with a coordinating set of edgelits dies – Hometown Greetings – which I will introduce to you on another project soon.  Here is today’s card:

I have to admit that is not my best stamping on the houses; I didn’t get a good solid image when I stamped the houses (I tried to do all three at once and probably should have stamped them individually) so I tried to use my blender pen to fill it in.  The images were a little too small for that and I refused to start over.  Leaves me something to work on for my next project with this stamp set!

Here are the Stampin’ Up! products that were used in the design of this card, all of which can be quickly added to your shopping cart by clicking on the thumbnails below:

If you have any questions regarding any of the design elements of this card, do not hesitate to contact me.

Thank you for stopping by today.  I hope you leave here inspired to put stamps to ink to paper.  Until next time, stamp on my friends!

Linda

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Snowflake Sentiments on a Mini Pizza Box

Posted on September 21, 2017 by Linda Tolson Yarbrough

Today’s project is another gift box.  In the Holiday Catalog on page 44 there are these adorable Mini Pizza Boxes which are sold in a set of 8 and measure 3.50″ x 3.50″ x 1.00″.  They are all white and can be decorated for any occasion.  I didn’t include any of these on my order but have loved all of the projects I have seen made with them, so I searched for some instructions on how I could create one myself using my Simply Scoring Tool and some designer series paper.  Luckily I found a video from about three years ago that was easy enough to follow.  And here is my mini pizza box:

My finished box measures 4.25″ x 4.25″ x 1.00″.

I started out with a piece of designer series paper that was cut to 8.25″ x 11.50″.  On the 11.50″ side score at 1.00″, 5.25″, 6.25″ and 10.50″.  On the 8.25″ side score at 1.00″, 2.00″, 6.25″ and 7.25″.

See the below photos for instructions on where to cut and where the adhesive goes.

You will assemble by applying the adhesive to one side at a time.  Tuck in the two tabs on each side of the panel on which you put the adhesive and fold the long piece with the adhesive over on top of the two tabs.  If the panel will not fold over flat, then you need to cut a little bit more off of the tabs.  Repeat on the other side.

The “top” portion of the pizza box, the side panels tuck inside of the box and the two tabs should slip into pockets that you created when assembling the bottom portion of the box.  (NOTE:  If you put adhesive on both panels on each side of the box, you will not have a pocket; therefore it is important that you only put the adhesive on the top panel.)  You may need to trim your tabs a bit to get them to slip into the pockets.

Sorry if these instructions are confusing.  If you would prefer to view the YouTube video from which I got my instructions search for PootlesPapercraft for video named “4×4 Traditional Pizza Box Tutorial”.  (Or, you could just buy the ones in the Holiday Catalog, Item #144645, $6.00!)

Here are the Stampin’ Up! supplies that I used in the design of my mini pizza box, all of which can quickly be added to your shopping cart by clicking on their thumbnails below:

Thank you for stopping by today.  I hope you leave here inspired to put stamps to ink to paper.  Until next time, stamp on my friends.

Linda

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