3amStamping Pad

Baby Announcement - Adorable Bib

Another of my colleagues made this for swapping at my Stampin' Up! Leadership Conference and it's perfect for Sizzix on Saturday!  This Baby Announcement would be great for either boys or girls-just swap the colors!  I particularly like the use of the Perfect Polka Dots Textured Impressions Embossing Folder (#117335) for both the background and the adorable baby bib.
Supplies Used: Baby Prints Stamp Set (#125470, Wood-Mount; #125472, Clear-Mount); Tagtastic Hostess Stamp Set; Calypso Coral (#122925) & Whisper White (#100730) 8-1/2" x 11" Card Stock; Domestic Goddess Designer Series Paper (#122355); In Color 2011-2013 Patterns Designer Series Paper Stack (#122384); Calypso Coral (#122939) & Pool Party (#122938) Classic Stampin' Pads; Big Shot Die-Cutting Machine (#113439); Perfect Polka Dots Textured Impressions Embossing Folder (#117335); Scallop Circle #2 Bigz Die (#113469); 3" Circle Originals Die (#122125); 2-1/2" Circle (#120906), 1/2" Circle (#119869), Decorative Label (#120907) & Scallop Edge Border (#119882) Punches; Daffodil Delight 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon (#119254); Stamp-A-Ma-Jig (#101049); Crop-A-Dile (#108362)

To make the bib:

1. Die-cut the Scallop Circle from Designer Series Paper and the 3" Circle from Whisper White Card Stock with the Big Shot.
2. Stamp image in center, then emboss the white circle.
3. Layer on the scallop circle, then punch a scoop for the bib neckline.
4. Punch 1/8" holes in a strip of card stock, then punch 1/2" circles around them to use for ribbon stops.
5. Cover the edges of the bib to simulate ties after you've threaded and knotted the ribbon.

The adorable bib is easy to make in quantity because you can cut 3-5 circles at one time.  If you use the Extended Cutting Pads (#113478), you can cut both styles of circle at once!

This Adorable Bib Card is versatile:  To switch from boy to girl, swap Pool Party and Calypso Coral colors and stamp "it's a girl".  Change the greeting for a "welcome baby" card.

Try making this design and let us see it.  I'll post it here.  Email me at mary@3amstamper.com and attach a picture/photo/scan.  Plus, if you're on my mailing list, include the list of supplies used and you'll be eligible for my monthly contest.  To sign up for my mailing list, fill out the form on the left.

Quick Notes-Easy, Fun & Free!

I've been having fun making Quick Notes... and with the Everyday Enchantment Designer Series Paper & Brad and Ribbon Pack, they're just about FREE!

Here's how to make Quick Notes:

1. Cut your card base from a 6" x 6" square and fold in half.  You'll get 4 card bases from one sheet of 12" x 12" Card Stock.

2. Layer a 2-1/2" x 5-1/2" piece of Designer Series Paper on a 2-3/4" x 5-3/4" piece of card stock.  Use 12" x 12" sheets and you can get 8 of each, plus scraps for trimming or using on other projects.

3. Wrap strips of ribbon around either top or bottom of both layers.  Tie the middle one with a bow.

4. Punch flowers from extra paper and scrap card stock.  I stamped the scalloped circle with the FREE Fresh Vintage Stamp Set on Pool Party Card Stock from the 2011-2013 In Color Assortment, also FREE.

5. Crumple and smooth out the flower parts, then attach to layer with brad.

6. Ink greeting with marker and stamp at the end opposite the ribbon.  You can do this after step 2, if you wish.

7. Adhere layer to card base and it's ready to use!

Supplies Used: Thank You Kindly Stamp Set (#111700); Neutrals Assortment 12" X 12" Card Stock (#119711), River Rock; Lucky Limeade Classic Stampin' Pad (#122935); Early Espresso Stampin' Write Marker (#119680); Blossom Punch (#125603); 1-3/4" Scallop Circle Punch (#119854); Paper-Piercing Tool (#116631)

FREE Sale-A-Bration Items:  Everyday Enchantment Designer Series Paper (#126154); Everyday Enchantment Ribbon & Brad Pack (#127279); 2011-2013 In Color 8-1/2" x 11" Card Stock Assortment (#127713); Fresh Vintage Stamp Set (#125115, Wood-Mount; #125117, Clear-Mount)

Sale-A-Bration items are one selection FREE with every $50 you buy.  There are bonus host/hostess items for $150 and $400 workshops... but you need to contact me directly to place them.  Give me a call at (707) 695-3571 or e-mail me at mary@3amstamper.com to place your order or get answers to your questions.

Punch Art-Penguin Valentine

I got a picture of this at my Stampin' Up! Leadership Conference a few weeks ago and thought it was just adorable!  Thank you my guest artist, whoever you are.  I photographed a friend's sample, but didn't get the name of the person who created it.  Sometimes, swappers don't put their names on their swaps.

As near as I can figure, the penguin is made from a combination of Punches and Die Cuts.  I remember the colors used, all Card Stock:

• Old Olive 8-1/2" x 11" (#100702), 5-1/2" x 8-1/2" card base
• Basic Black 8-1/2" x 11" (#121045), penguin body, wings & eyes
• Whisper White 8-1/2" x 11" (#100730), penguin body
• Pumpkin Pie 8-1/2" x 11" (#105117), beak & feet
• Real Red 8-1/2" x 11" (#102482), large heart
• Melon Mambo 8-1/2" x 11" (#115320), smaller heart

You could use scraps for the details and SNAIL (#104332) them on!  These are the Dies for the Big Shot Die-Cutting Machine (#113439) & Punches:

• Top Note Bigz Die (#113463)
• Hearts Collection Framelits Dies (#125599)
• 3/16" Corner Punch (#119871)
• Decorative Label Punch (#120907)
• 3/4" Circle Punch (#119873)
• Large Oval Punch (#119855)

The other supplies used are: Short & Sweet Stamp Set (#115060); Basic Black Classic Stampin' Pad (#101179); White Signo uni-ball Gel Pen (#105021)

I am guessing that the black body is 5" x 4" with the corners rounded.  That would work with the white Top Note Die Cut and leave room for the feet.

Have you made a Punch Art Penguin?  Send me a picture to mary@3amstamper.com and I'll post it here.  You can also post your method in comments below.

Images © Stampin' Up!

Bone Folder - Adding Dimension

My favorite Bone Folder (#102300) is great for adding dimension - use it to curl petals or leaves and watch your embellishments puff up your projects!
Pictured is my well-worn Bone Folder and the flower embellishment I made with petals curled up.  Try curling the petals under for a different effect.

You can read more about the Versatile Bone Folder by clicking the link.

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 Own Personal Groundhog Day

I've had more than one technique drive me nuts because it took me doing it over and over... and over to get it right, but my most frustrating one was getting a bow tied so it looked pretty on my projects.

This inspired me to develop my "Bows for the Bow-Challenged" Class.  I am now working on the online version, so check back here at http://www.3amstamper.com for its availability.  Better yet, sign up for my mailing list by filling in the box at right and you'll get the announcement first thing!

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.

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!

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!

Blossom Box Means Fancy Folding

The Blossom Box you make with the Big Shot Die-Cutting Machine (#113439) and the Blossom Box Bigz L Die (#123127) is really neat and self-closing!  You can store a bunch of them flat, then re-fold when you use them.  However, getting the fancy folds are a little tricky.  Here's a video one of my colleagues made that shows you how:

To see more ideas and get your own Blossom Box Die, click the Order Online Button at the far right to browse and shop.

Fun Post-It Note Holder

I made this Post-It® Note Holder Clipboard for one of my colleagues I was meeting in person for the first time at Leadership.

{Design by Mary Varley, images copyright Stampin' Up!)

I covered the clipboard with Beau Chateau Designer Series Paper (#122357) and decorated the clip with a triple bow.  To make the bow, I tied 3 lengths of 3/8" Taffeta Ribbon together (Pink Pirouette #122981 & Whisper White #109070 dyed with a Marina Mist Classic Ink Refill #119787), then separated the loops after it was done.

More news from Leadership tomorrow, so please check back!  I'm also sending Tweets and posting updates on Facebook.  Click on the links at right to get the news faster by following me on Twitter and "liking" me on Facebook.

On My Way to Leadership

One of the traditions at Stampin' Up!® events is for Independent Demonstrators to bring "swaps."  I'm on my way to the annual Leadership Conference (this year in San Antonio!) and this is one of the designs I'm taking:
The Leadership Conference is just one of the training offerings from Stampin' Up! that benefits your business and can be earned for free!  For more information, feel free to give me a call at (707) 695-3571 and chat about the possibilities for you!  You can also find out more by clicking here.

Sweet Sweet Shop Card

I have a new favorite stamp set to add to my must-haves: Fabulous Phrases (#117002, Wood-Mount; #120501, Clear-Mount)!  The "sweet" image was perfect for my set of cards using the Sweet Shop Suite!
I just love how the Specialty Designer Series Paper (#125408), the Designer Stickers (#125584) and the Jelly Bean Brads (#125587) all match!

Have you checked out the Stampin' Up!® 2012 Occasions Mini Catalog?  You can click on this link or the catalog pictures at the far right to browse or print, then post your favorite goodie or set of products in Comments below.

Button Butterflies

I was in the mood to play with buttons and this is the result:
This is another card that coordinates with the Gift Wrapping with Designer Series Paper-1 post, by the way.  Instead of tying Baker's Twine through the button holes, as I did for yesterday's project, I "connected the dots" with a Signo uni-ball White Gel Pen (#105021) for a faux-thread effect.

Other Supplies Used:  Flower Fest Stamp Set (#122278, Wood-Mount; #122280, Clear-Mount); Wisteria Wonder (#122922), Elegant Eggplant (#105126) & Whisper White (#100730) 8-1/2" x 11" Card Stock; Flirtatious Specialty Designer Series Paper (#122360); Elegant Eggplant Classic Stampin' Pad (#105210); Wisteria Wonder 3/8" Ruffled Ribbon (#122973); Subtles (#119765) & Brights (#119747) Designer Assortment Buttons ; 2-3/8" Scallop Circle (#118874) & Butterfly (#119848) Punches; Paper Snips (#103579); SNAIL Adhesive (#104332); Stampin' Dimensionals (#104430); Mini Glue Dots (#103683)

To order what you need to complete this project, click on the Order Online Button at the far right.  If you have questions, feel free to e-mail Mary Varley at mary@3amstamper.com or call (707) 695-3571.

Chalk It Up With Stampin' Pastels

I like using chalk to dust color over stamped images.  It's also easy to blend into another color with chalk.
For this card, I colored the flower & butterfly images with Stampin' Pastels (#120962).  I rubbed the color in with the applicator, then blotted it off with a cotton ball.  This Dust & Blot Technique leaves the paper tinted without needing a fixative to keep the chalk from smudging off.

Other Supplies Used: Flower Fest Stamp Set (#122278, Wood-Mount; #122280, Clear-Mount); Pretty in Pink (#100459), Melon Mambo (#115320) & Whisper White (#100730) 8-1/2" x 11" Card Stock; Flirtatious Specialty Designer Series Paper (#122360); Melon Mambo Classic Stampin' Pad (#115656); Pretty in Pink 5/8" Satin Ribbon (#117289); White Baker's Twine (#124262); Subtles Designer Assortment Buttons (#119765); Paper Snips (#103579); SNAIL Adhesive (#104332); Stampin' Dimensionals (#104430); Mini Glue Dots (#103683)

I cut out the images, but they could have been punched out as well.  Check back tomorrow for another example.

This card coordinates with one of the boxes shown in the Gift Wrapping with Designer Series Paper-1 post.

Free Tutorial for Signing Up!

Members of my Mailing List get free tutorials just for signing up... this is one:

Join the 3am Stamper's Mailing List by entering your name and e-mail address in the box at right and you'll receive your free tutorials in short order!

Sweet Stickers = Instant Card

This card goes together in a flash with Sweet Shop Designer Stickers (#125584)!  I also used my absolutely no bow technique for the ribbon.  The card is quick and readily mailable with no extra postage, too!
OK, I did tie a bow - but with the Wisteria Wonder Baker's Twine (#125576), not the Pool Party 1/2" Seam Binding Ribbon (#125582)!

Other Supplies Used:  Fabulous Phrases Stamp Set (#117002, Wood-Mount; #120501, Clear-Mount); Lucky Limeade (#122926) & Whisper White (#100730) 8-1/2" x 11" Card Stock ; Sweet Shop Specialty Designer Series Paper (#125408); Soft Suede (#115657) & Wisteria Wonder (#122936) Classic Stampin' Pads; Decorative Label Punch (#120907); SNAIL Adhesive (#104332); Stampin' Dimensionals (#104430)

I featured new items from the 2012 Occasions Mini Catalog in this design.  Did you get yours in the mail?  If not, e-mail me at mary@3amstamper.com with your contact information and I'll get one to you right away!

A-Mazing Embellishments

I made a birthday card with the new Maze Games (#124332) from the just-released Stampin' Up!® 2012 Occasions Mini Catalog.  These work perfectly with the Totally A-Maze-ing Stamp Set (#125505, Wood-Mount; #122507, Clear-Mount) and the 2-1/2" Circle Punch (#120906)!
The trick to using the Maze Games is to carefully remove the cardboard backing and cover it with stamped card stock or Designer Series Paper, then replace it so the design shows under the maze.  Be sure to fasten it to your project with a strong adhesive, such as Stick Strip (#104294) or Sticky Sheets (#114300).  I don't recommend Stampin' Dimensionals (#104430) or other foam-backed double-stick adhesive to adhere the game because it may tear apart more easily.  Your recipient or viewer may be tempted to lift it off your card or page if there's space underneath, so stick it down flat!

Other Supplies Used:  Teeny Tiny Wishes Stamp Set (#115370); Blushing Bride (#119796) & Pool Party (#122924) 8-1/2" x 11" Card Stock; Sweet Shop Specialty Designer Series Paper (#125408)-look close and you can see the embossed & debossed hearts; Calypso Coral Classic Stampin' Pad (#122939); Pool Party 3/8" Ruffled Ribbon (#122975); Modern Label (#119849) & Word Window (#119857) Punches.

Click the Order Online Button at right to browse and shop all the terrific new items in the 2012 Occasions Mini Catalog!