Chevrons & Banners-It’s Easy!

This is an easy way to make Chevrons and Chevron-Tailed Banners for your cards, pages & other projects. 

Here's how:

1. Take out your square punch (1" Square Punch #124094 used here) and measure the diagonal.
2. Cut a strip of card stock or paper no wider than the diagonal measurement.
3. Draw a line in the middle of the strip on the reverse with pencil.
4. Line up the pencil mark with the square corner and the ends across the diagonal.
5. Punch.

This gives you a nice end to the strip for a banner.  For chevrons, continue to:

1. Move the paper down a little, keeping the alignment.
2. Punch again.

You can continue punching to make chevrons!

Got a question about a product or tool?  E-mail me at mary@3amstamper.com or post your question below.  I'll respond directly to your e-mail and post the answer here.

My Top 5 Projects of 2011

I was looking back over the last year and decided to feature these great projects again.  These are my Top 5 Favorite Projects of 2011 (in no particular order):

4-Occasion Gift Card: Putting It All Together (& the Reference List)

Ice Cream Cone Page

Toile de Jouy Look – Simple & Elegant

Hallowe'en Favor Box

Simple Flower – Embosses Two Ways

What do you think?  What are your favorite projects on my blog?  Note them in comments below.

Lacy Look With Paper Doily Die-Video Tips

Here's a video by Stampin' Up!®'s Carrie Cudney with tips on using the Paper Doily Large Sizzlets Die (#125592) as well as making the sample shown on page 7 of the 2012 Occasions Mini Catalog.

This video illustrates the tips I gave in yesterday's post.  What do you think?  Please leave comments below… and share with your friends!

Lacy Look With Paper Doily Die

I love the new Paper Doily Large Sizzlets Die (#125592) for the Big Shot Die Cutting Machine (#113439)!  It makes great lacy looks for cards, pages & other papercrafts.  This card was inspired by the sample on page 7 of the 2012 Occasions Mini Catalog.
I wanted to show off more of the laciness, so I moved the butterfly and accented the doily with Large Pearl Basic Jewels (#125577).  I accented the solid butterfly, made with the Beautiful Butterflies Bigz Die (#114507), using the Perfect Polka Dots Textured Impressions Embossing Folder (#117335).

The key tips, which let me make perfect doilies every time, are:

1. Use only 1 layer of card stock or paper
2. Roll the platform sandwich (platform on tab 1, bottom cutting pad, die, paper face down, cutting pad, card stock or paper shim if needed) SLO-O-OWLY.
3. Gently roll the doily to loosen the punch-outs.  Use the Paper Piercing Tool (#116631) to punch out the tiny pieces.

It takes a few minutes, but the lacy look is well worth it!

To order what you need to add your own lacy look, click the Order Online Button at the far right to browse and shop.

“Like” Me on Facebook & Get a Free Gift!

My Facebook Fans got a free scrapbook tutorial when they "liked" me.  Do you want one, too?  Just click the Find us on Facebook Button in the near right column (below "e-mail me" and you'll be taken to my page.

Faux Rick-Rack Technique

This is one of the cards we made at Stampin' Up!® Leadership Conference.  It uses a clever embellishment I call Faux Rick-Rack.

To make the rick-rack, punch one side of a strip of paper (about 3/4" wide) with the Scallop Edge Border Punch (#119882).  Then punch the other side slightly offset to get the rick-rack effect.  I punched upside down so I could see where the scallops were going, but you don't have to.  You can offset the alignment from the guide on the punch.

I've decided to feature a Technique on Thursdays and alternate weeks with Tool Time on Tuesday.  Do you have a technique you'd like to know more about?  E-mail me at mary@3amstamper.com and I'll post about it, complete with sample.

May 2011 Contest Winner

I'm starting a new feature for Wednesdays: my Guest Artist's creations.  And what better place to start than with some of my Mailing List Subscribers Contest entries!

This gorgeous card was designed by Terry McClain.  I love the way she used different areas of her background paper to make her design.

My papercrafting contest runs monthly and is for mailing list subscribers only.  To get on my mailing list and sign up for my newsletter, fill in the box at right.  You get a free gift just for signing up!

Sale-A-Bration Starts Today!

Stampin' Up!® starts its annual Sale-A-Bration today!

Click this link to see the 3 ways you can earn free stamp sets and accessories, then click on the Order Online Button at the far right to browse and shop!  Be sure to use the button to get preferred pricing!

Happy Chinese New Year-Year of the Dragon

Today begins the Year of the Dragon in the Chinese Lunar Calendar.

I made this page with My Digital Studio (#118108 or Express #124483) to commemorate the occasion.

According to Chinese Astrology, Dragons do well being their own bosses and are particularly successful when expressing their creativity.  This is very compatible with being a Stampin' Up!® Independent Demonstrator!  If you have traits like a Dragon, let's chat about the possibilities of becoming a Demonstrator.  Give me a call at (707) 695-3571 or e-mail me at mary@3amstamper.com to find out more.  I look forward to hearing from you!

Let’s Go Niners!

Absolutely no work today: it's the Championships!
Courtesy San Francisco 49ers Official Game Release.