3am Stamper’s iClub Getting Into Journaling

If you haven’t joined the 3am Stamper’s iClub yet, now’s a great time!  June’s Online Bonus Class will include tips and tricks for making a “Smash Journal“!  The Online Bonus Classes are different every month, and once you receive one, you have lifetime access to it!

It’s easy and free to join the iClub.  All you have to do is click the link that takes you to the information page, then agree to the Terms of Service, which signs you up for six months, confirm your subscription and you’re in!

After that, you place your order for $35 or more from my Online Store between the 1st and 10th of each month and you’ll receive your Online Bonus Class as soon as the order is processed!  There’s no muss, no fuss, no bother and you receive your great Stampin’ Up!® products directly to your door!

Here’s a peek at the upcoming class project:

Sign up now and you’ll receive the 2013-2014 Annual Catalog by the end of the month!

Quick & Easy Gift Box for Mom

The Petite Purse Bigz L Die (#125606) makes a very Quick & Easy Gift Box for Mom!  It's a perfect place to hold jewelry or a folded up gift certificate!  All you need is a few pieces of Card Stock, a Big Shot Die-Cut Machine (#113439), a Textured Impressions Embossing Folder and a couple of tiny embellishments.

Other Supplies Used:  Regal Rose* (#105130) & Riding Hood Red* (#111348) 8-1/2" x 11" Card Stock; Whisper White Paper Daisies* (#119243); Elegant Lines Textured Impressions Embossing Folder* (#119277); Itty Bitty Shapes Punch Pack (#118309); Subtles 3/16" Brads (#119738); 1/16" Circle Handheld Punch* (#101227); Pearl Basic Jewels (#119247); Bone Folder (#102300); Sticky Strip (#104294); 3/16" Glue Dots (#103683)

Here's All You Have To Do:

1. Die-cut the purse from 8-1/2" x 5-1/2" piece of Regal Rose Card Stock with the Big Shot and crease all the score lines with the Bone Folder.
2. Punch holes in the side flaps of the purse and ends of the handle.
3. Line up the purse in the Embossing Folder, making sure the outside is against the Stampin' Up! Logo side).  Emboss with Big Shot.  I don't recommend embossing the handle as it's too small.
4. Assemble the purse with Sticky Strip-use one piece cut in half lengthwise.
5. Attach the handle to the purse with brads.
6. Punch out the small flower from Riding Hood Red scrap card stock.  Curl the petals slightly.  Layer on top of smallest Paper Daisy with a Glue Dot folded in half.  Attach a Pearl in the center (I used the middle size).
7. Attach the flowers to the purse flap with a Glue Dot.  Your Gift Box for Mom is ready to fill!

Tips: You may want to widen the slit with Paper Snips (#103579) so the tab will fit in easily.  You may also find you need to burnish the embossing on the flap so the Sticky Strip will adhere better.

Note: products marked with an asterisk (*) are retiring as of June 3rd or while supplies last.

This Quick & Easy Gift Box for Mom or Someone Else is a perfect project for a PlayShop!  If you'd like to make it or a similar project and earn free catalog merchandise (including exclusive hostess stamp sets and accessories), let's plan a PlayShop together.  (PlayShop stands for first we Play with my stuff, then we Shop!)  Give me a call at (707) 695-3571 or e-mail Mary Varley at mary@3amstamper.com and let's chat.  I look forward to tailoring the project to you!

Paper Flowers For Home Décor

I was so excited to find out that most of the 2011-2013 In Colors are being moved to the Stampin' Up!® Core Color Families, that I decided to make a bunch of paper flowers to use in Summer-izing my house: Paper Flowers for Home Décor!  I spent yesterday cutting up a bunch of of 12" x 12" Card Stock and Designer Series Paper with the Flower Folds Bigz XL Die (#115970) and my Big Shot Die-Cutting Machine (#113439).  For this particular flower, I used Island Indigo, Wisteria Wonder and Pool Party from the 2011-2013 In Color 12" x 12" Card Stock Assortment (#124328) and the 2011-2013 In Color Patterns Designer Series Paper Stack (#122384).

You need to cut each sheet individually and use the Extended Premium Crease Pad (#117630) so the folds on the flower petals will score nicely and not cut through.  You may have to shim to get the die to cut and score properly, depending upon the material you use.  I had to use one of the thin plastic shims for the Card Stock flowers, then a second shim and folded piece of Stampin' Up! Grid Paper (#102787) when I cut the DSP flowers.  It may vary, depending upon your dies and machine.

The Flower Folds Die is longer than a 6" x 12" piece of paper or card stock, so you need two strips.  Cut one starting at one end and the other starting at the opposite end so that you have at least one of each size flower.  If you are using a piece of paper from the Designer Series Paper Stack, put the adhesived edge at the end of the die so you don't get any undesirable markings or extras on your die-cuts.  However, the paper flowers are large enough that you can easily use them in home décor.

Other Supplies Used:  Vintage Faceted Designer Buttons (#127555); Island Indigo Baker's Twine (#125575); Paper-Piercing Tool (#126189); Stampin' Pierce Mat (#126199); Tapestry Needle or Floss Threader

I cut an extra large flower from Lucky Limeade to use for "leaves".  I also punched two holes in an extra circle of card stock to thread the twine through the bottom, then passed the twine a second time through the holes in the flowers and tied a bow through the button on top.  The petals can still move so you can arrange them to your satisfaction.

To order what you need to make your own Paper Flowers for Home Décor, click on the Order Online Button in the far right column or on any of the product links in this article.  You'll get preferred pricing and Stampin' Rewards™ on qualifying orders!

Simply Score a Bone Folder Cozy!

I was including a Bone Folder (#102300) as a last-minute addition to my girlfriend's belated birthday present and realized I didn't have any more wrapping paper that matched what I'd already done.  So I decided to make a wrapper for it and fancy it up with the Simply Scored™ Borders Scoring Plate (#126192) that attaches to the Simply Scored™ Scoring Tool (#122334).

I used a double layer of Designer Series Paper to make my Bone Folder Cozy as I decided to make it a re-closeable package.  Totally unnecessary, of course, but I also wanted to use a retired embellishment that I'd previously used on a scrapbook page for her.

Take two 6" x 6" squares of Designer Series Paper and adhere them together.  I used Pretty in Pink and Rose Red from the Subtles Patterns Designer Series Paper Stack (#117152) and rounded one of the corners.  You can also use a 6" x 6" square of card stock.  Score at the 1" mark using the Simply Scored™ Diagonal Plate (#125586).  Rotate to the left and score at the 3-3/8" mark, rotate again and score at the 1" mark.  Trim away the triangles formed where the score marks cross.  You can also trim off the point of the narrow flap, but I left it.

Trim one flap to 1-1/4" from the fold.  This will be the inner flap.  Trim the opposite flap to 1-1/2".  Place this flap face down on the Borders Plate.  I place the plate and the clear guide on top of the Scoring Tool, then slide my material in between the plate and guide and line it up.  The guide makes it really easy to score and the face down position will give you a raised border.  Trim about 1/8" from the embossed border to finish the edge of your outer flap.

You can adhere it all closed with Sticky Strip (#104294), especially if you're using two sheets.  If you want it to be recloseable, adhere the bottom and inner flaps with Sticky Strip, then attach a hook-and-loop closure.  If you want to embellish with a brad, such as the Designer Builder Brads (#129329), attach it first, then attach the closure.

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

Inside Story: Flower Embellishment with Creped Filter Paper

As promised, here is the inside story on using the White Creped Filter Paper (#123913) to make the flower embellishment on this Bashful Blue Valentine's Day Card.

I used the rectangular filter paper sheet and cut it in half.  On one half, I sponged all over with the Bashful Blue Classic Stampin' Pad (#126961) and let it dry.  It takes just a minute or two.  Then I turned the sheet over and stamped one of the flowers from the Mixed Bunch Stamp Set (#125535, Wood-Mount; #125537, Clear-Mount) in each corner and the center, using a Rose Red Classic Stampin' Pad (#126954).  The ink bleeds nicely, but you may want to stamp off or use a lighter color or a different flower image from the stamp set, depending on how you want your flower to look.

I stacked the stamped half with the blank half and punched both layers carefully with the Blossom Punch (#125603) four times.  I used the 1-1/4" Scallop Circle Punch (#127811) to punch out a center.  Taking all the layers, I stacked them together and pierced a hole in the center with the Paper-Piercing Tool (#126189) on the Stampin' Pierce Mat (#126199).  One of the smaller Antique Brads (#117273) went through the hole.  Before spreading the prongs, I scrunched the blossoms as tight as I could, then spread them back out, twisting each layer slightly off line from the others and fluffing each layer.  I placed the flower and pierced another hole in the card front layer, inserted the brad and flattened the prongs on the back.  I wrapped and tied the ribbon around the layer, behind the flower embellishment, then attached it to the card base with Stampin' Dimensionals (#104430).

Other Supplies Used: Delightful Dozen Stamp Set (#122650, Wood Mount; #122652, Clear-Mount); Bashful Blue (#105120) Wild Wasabi (#108641) & Rose Red (#102544) 8-1/2" x 11" Card Stock; Subtles Patterns Designer Series Paper Stack (#117152); Rose Red Classic Stampin' Pad (#126954); Subtles 3/16" Brads (#119738); Dazzling Details (#124117); SNAIL Adhesive (#104332); Bird Builder (#117191) & Full Heart (#119883) Punches; Whisper White 3/8" Taffeta Ribbon (#109070) dyed with Bashful Blue Classic Stampin' Ink Refill (#105221)

So there you have the Inside Story on making a Flower Embellishment with Creped Filter Paper!  If you want your flower even fluffier, you can snip the petals deeper with Paper Snips (#103579).

Do you have a technique or product you'd like to know more about?  E-mail me at mary@3amstamper.com and I'll post about it, complete with sample.

Bashful Blue Mini Milk Carton- A Spring Treat Box

With Valentine's Day just past, I was still in the mood for something to hold treats, but I felt it's a smidgeon too early to start on an Easter Basket.  It's also been a while since I pulled out my Mini Milk Carton Bigz™ L Die (#117310) for the Big Shot™ Die-Cut Machine (#113439)!  So, I grabbed a 5-1/2" x 8-1/2" piece of Bashful Blue 8-1/2" x 11" Card Stock (#105120) and got ready to cut me a Spring Treat Box!

The Mini Milk Carton is very easy to assemble, but you need to make sure you cut one sheet at a time and use the Premium Crease Pad (#113476) to make sure your score lines don't cut through.  I also put a half-sheet of card stock either under the die or on top of the pad to shim it so it will cut through on the cutting lines.  After you cut out the Mini Milk Carton, fold and crease all the score lines with your Bone Folder (#102300), then open it back out.  Attach a line of Sticky Strip (#104294) the full length of the flap.  Then you're ready to stamp, embellish and assemble!

Other Supplies Used: Secret Garden Bundle (#131100, Wood-Mount; #131099, Clear-Mount; includes Secret Garden Stamp Set #129141, wood, or #129144, clear, and Secret Garden Framelits™ #129372); Whisper White 8-1/2" x 11" Card Stock (#100730); Marina Mist (#126962), Wild Wasabi (#126959) & Pretty In Pink (#126955) Classic Stampin' Pads; Basics Glimmer Brads (#121003); Pink Pirouette 3/8" Taffeta Ribbon (#122981); Paper-Piercing Tool (#126189); Stampin' Pierce Mat (#126199); 1/8" circle punch or Crop-A-Dile.

Stamp your carton before you tape it together.  Adhere the side flap to the side, then fold the top and punch a hole through, making sure the milk carton can open after the ribbon is tied.  Then fold in the bottom flaps and secure with a piece of Sticky Strip.  You may have to pinch the top closed after you fill the carton with treats: M & M® or Jelly Belly® size or smaller.

To order what you need to make your own Mini Milk Carton Spring Treat Boxes, click on the Order Online Button in the far right column or on any of the links in this article.  You'll get preferred pricing and Stampin' Rewards™ on qualifying orders!

Celebrate Mardi Gras With A Quick & Easy Treat!

Happy Mardi Gras!  Time to indulge your friends and family with a Quick & Easy Celebrate Treat!

My assistant, Bearverly is holding the treat package which you can make in minutes and you can make a whole lot real fast!  Fill with treats to celebrate Mardi Gras today!

Supplies Used: Perfectly Penned Stamp Set (#122890, Wood-Mount; #122892, Clear-Mount); Very Vanilla 8-1/2" x 11" Card Stock (#101650); Natural Composition Specialty Designer Series Paper (#126197); Elegant Eggplant (#126969) & Daffodil Delight (#126944) Classic Stampin' Pads; Sponge Daubers (#102892); Big Shot Die-Cut Machine (#113439); Apothecary Accents Framelits™ (#127003); Regals Collection 3/16" Brads (#119737); Regals Collection Stampin' Write Markers (#119701); 1/16" Circle Handheld Punch (#101227); Daffodil Delight 1/4" Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon (#126872); Medium Flat Cellophane Bags (#102757); Sticky Strip (#104294); Stampin' Trimmer Paper Cutter & Scorer (#126889); Bone Folder (#102300); facial tissue; Velcro™ Square or other small hook & loop tape fastener, household tape

This Quick & Easy Celebrate Treat package features a version of the Wipe-On/Wipe-Off Technique.  It's super fast and easy using the Natural Composition Specialty Paper, which has glazed patterns!  All you do is:

1. Color the design of your choice with markers.
2. Wipe off the excess with a tissue.

I recommend starting with the lightest color first, and wipe off in between coats.

To make the treat pack itself,

1. Score a 4" x 12" strip of Natural Composition Paper at 4-3/4", 5-3/4" & 10-1/2" and crease with the Bone Folder.
2. Color a portion of the design with markers and wipe off excess with tissue.
3. Stamp greeting on small piece of Very Vanilla in Elegant Eggplant and cut out with Framelit and Big Shot.  Sponge edges with Daffodil Delight.
4. Align stamped die-cut on 1-1/2" front flap, punch holes in either side and attach with Garden Green brads.
5. Fill cellophane bag with treats and fold top over twice or three times.  Secure with household tape.
6. Attach a small piece of Sticky Strip to the back of the cello bag, remove the liner and stick on the inside of the Natural Composition strip.
7. Wrap ribbon around the top flap crease and tie in a bow.
8. Attach Velcro square (both parts together) under flap, leaving outside liner in place.  Close package and remove liner.  Pinch together so the other part of the square adheres to the front of the package.

Your treat is ready to give!  Happy Mardi Gras!

To order what you need to make your own Quick & Easy Celebrate Treat Packs, click on the Order Online Button in the far right column or on any of the links in this article.  You'll get preferred pricing and Stampin' Rewards™ on qualifying orders!

National Puzzle Day-Puzzle Solved!

As promised, here are the National Puzzle Day pieces all put together!  The puzzle is solved!  I know they're not together-together, but that's because I attached magnet strip pieces to the back of each one instead of adhering a magnetic sheet to the back of the puzzle card.  I admit, I didn't want to get out my craft knife and cut around all the edges of the pieces to separate them.

This Puzzle Card previews my next series of Color Of the Week, the Subtles Collection.  I'm not going to post any this week because it's Super Bowl Week and you know how I am!

Supplies Used: Swallowtail (#129213, Wood; #129216, Clear) & Bloomin' Marvelous (#129651, Wood; #129654, Clear) Stamp Sets; Perfect Plum (#126963), Rose Red (#126954) & Marina Mist (#126962) Classic Stampin' Pads

I'm getting ready to open my 3am Stamper's Cabinet, where I will have hard-to-find retired Stampin' Up!® products available.  My first offering will be the blank Puzzle Card with matching envelope!  Check back in a day or two for the scoop!

In the meantime, have you ever used those orphaned puzzle pieces in your paper crafting?  If so, how?  Please leave a comment and share!  One of my readers, Liz Stamp, mentioned this terrific idea: She covered them with ink & used them on a farewell card for someone at work … "We'll go to pieces without you"!!

It’s National Puzzle Day!

So I stamped a puzzle!

Check back later to get the pieced together story!

Make A Valentine Treat With Heart

It's easy to make a treat for your Valentine with the Valentine Treat Bundle (#132771) and your Big Shot Die-Cut Machine (#113439)!  And you can use scraps of card stock and/or patterned paper!

The Valentine Bundle comes with a Clear-Mount Happy Valentine-Heart Single Stamp and a package of 1" x 8" Cellophane Bags (#124134).  You just need the Clear-Mount Block C (#118486, also included in the Clear-Mount Block Starter Bundle #129851) to go with it.  You get 50 bags in the package, so you can make sweet treats for all your favorite Valentines!  The stamp fits the Full Heart Punch (#119883) to make cutting out easy, too.

Use your scraps to make the hearts and butterflies to decorate the stamped image by cutting them out with the Scalloped Heart of Hearts (#117332), Beautiful Wings (#118138) & Fashionable Hearts (#125596) Embosslits™.  The Embosslits will fit on the Multipurpose Platform and Standard Cutting Pads (#113475) so you can cut them all at once.  I frequently cut out a bunch of different Embosslits shapes at one time so I have them on hand.  The extras get stored in Medium Flat Cellophane Bags (#102757) with the name of the Embosslit printed on it.

Here's Bearverly, my Stampin' Up!® Build-A-Bear™ modeling the Valentine Treat.  She loves to hold things while I take pictures!

Other Supplies Used:  Melon Mambo Classic Stampin' Pad (#126948); Bravo Burgundy (#105123), Whisper White (#100730), Pretty in Pink (#100459) & Wild Wasabi (#108641) 8-1/2" x 11" Card Stock; Brights Patterns Designer Series Paper Stack (#117155); Hearts Collection Framelits™ (#125599); Wild Wasabi 1/4" Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon (#126873); Pearl Basic Jewels (#119247); 3/16" Glue Dots (#103683); SNAIL Adhesive (#104332); Stampin' Dimensionals (#104430)

Tips:

• Continuing with the idea of using your scraps: snip a piece of the border or one of the Dimensionals to attach the butterfly stack and the mini heart to the treat tag.
• Stack the smaller butterfly on top of the larger one with a rolled-up Glue Dot.

The Valentine Treat Bundle (#132771) is only available until Monday, January 21, so order right away.  To order, click on the Order Online Button in the far right column or on any of the links in this article.  You'll get preferred pricing and Stampin' Rewards™ on qualifying orders!

No Time, No Space, No Ideas? Try Paper Pumpkin from Stampin’ Up!®

Paper Pumpkin by Stampin' Up! is a new monthly kit program that anyone can can enjoy. It's a fun paper escape that comes right to your door.  It's ideal for those with no time or space to stamp, or for those who need ideas!

It's so easy to get started.  Simply sign up for the program by visiting www.mypaperpumpkin.com and click Get it. Every month a new, surprise project kit arrives at your doorstep. Just think of the anticipation of creating a fun project to pin, showoff, and share with your friends and family-every month!

Here's the nitty gritty:

• Each month we send you a unique, surprise kit with a project-cards, journals, décor, and more! (We've even color-coordinated, measured, and cut everything for you!)
• Each kit includes stamps, ink, paper, and accessories-everything but adhesive.
• Each kit gives you a 30-minute creativity escape.
• We will ship your Paper Pumpkin on or around the 15th of the month.

You need to sign up for a kit by the 10th of the month to get that month's kit. If you sign up on the 11th of the month, your first kit will come the next month. (Let's say you sign up on May 10th, we'll send your kit around May 15th. If you sign up on May 11th, we'll send your first kit around June 15th.)

A Paper Pumpkin membership is $19.95 per month (and shipping is included!)
There's no commitment, you can cancel your monthly Paper Pumpkin at anytime. You can also skip a month if you want.

Here's How You Order

Sign up for your monthly Paper Pumpkin by visiting www.mypaperpumpkin.com and click Get it.  Don't forget to select Mary Varley as your Demonstrator to receive an extra gift!

Color Of the Week Wrap-Up: Regals Collection Part I

Here are the first five of the Regals Collection Color Of the Week posts.  They feature Always Artichoke, Bravo Burgundy, Cajun Craze, Cherry Cobbler & Elegant Eggplant.

Always Artichoke

Color Coach®: One Cool Tool

Color Of the Week: Always Artichoke Funky Hallowe'en Page

Color Of the Week: Re-Sizing Tips in Always Artichoke Stocking Card

Bravo Burgundy

Held Over: Bravo Burgundy As Color Of the Week

Color Of the Week: Bravo Burgundy Chocolate Sings Card

Cajun Craze

Color Of the Week: Cajun Craze-a Fall Favorite

Color Of the Week: Cajun Craze Birthday Card

Color Of the Week: Cajun Craze Winter Page

Fall Card Inspired by Vegas

Cherry Cobbler

Happy 40th, Atari & Thanks For the Inspiration!

Gift & Card in One

Color Of the Week: Cherry Cobbler Christmas Tree Card

Elegant Eggplant

 Color Of the Week: Elegant Eggplant in a Jiffy Décor

 
Color Of the Week: Elegant Eggplant Combos

Christmas Page in Elegant Eggplant, Color Of the Week

Lacy Doily Valentine-Elegant Eggplant Color Of the Week

Lacy Doily Valentine-The Inside Story

Check back in two weeks for the compilation of the final five!

New Spring Princess Purse-with Rosy Trim

I'm ready for Spring!  The new Spring Seasonal Catalog from Stampin' Up!® has even more goodies for the season!  This is my youngest granddaughter's birthday present wrapped up in a Princess Purse trimmed with the Vanilla 5/8" Flower Trim (#126869)–they look like roses to me–and Pearl Basic Jewels (#119247).

Other Supplies Used: Tea for Two Designer Series Paper (#129311); Pretty in Pink 8-1/2" x 11" Card Stock (#100459); Big Shot Die-Cut Machine (#113439); Petite Purse Bigz L Die (#125606); Premium Crease Pad (#113476); Metallic 3/16" Brads (#119741); Anywhere Glue Stick (#104045); Sticky Strip (#104294); Craft Scissors (#108360); 1/16" Circle Handheld Punch (#101227)

The Flower Trim can be dyed or separated into individual flowers, depending upon what you want to do.  I was going to go overboard, but restrained myself with pearls.

You can die-cut the purse from a half-sheet of card stock.  Be sure to use the Crease Pad so the score lines don't get cut through.  You may have to shim to get a good impression.  I used a folded sheet of copy paper for the Pretty In Pink purse and a half-sheet of old card stock for the paper purse.

A 6" x 12" piece of Designer Series Paper for the second purse works well.  I like to reinforce the Petite Purse with a layer of paper to make it sturdier.  To cut, place one end of the paper over the die and let the rest trail through.  You will have enough left over to make two backgrounds for card fronts or photo mats for a scrapbook page.  Cut the purse pieces apart and trim them so there's a small border of base card stock showing when you glue them in place. 

I had to include Bearverly in the picture with the purse so there would be some contrast in the background.  Here she is full size.

To order what you need to make your own Rosy Princess Purses (they'll look good with the heart stamp from the Valentine Treat Bundle #132771, too!), click on the Order Online Button in the far right column or on any of the links in this article.  You'll get preferred pricing and Stampin' Rewards™ on qualifying orders!

New-Valentine Bundles-Just in Time for a Head Start on the Day!

Just announced: From January 3 through January 21, Stampin’ Up!®’s got two super special valentine offers sure to set your heart aflutter!

1. Get the Sealed with Love Simply Sent Kit FREE—a $7.95 US/$9.95 CAN value—when you buy the brand-new My Little Valentine Stamp Set (#132242)! This four-piece stamp set, created exclusively for this promotion, contains the perfect sentiments to express your feelings for your children, spouse, girlfriends, or mail carrier!

2. Purchase the Valentine Treat Bundle (#132771)—complete with the brand-new Happy Valentine Heart Single Stamp and the cutest little 1" x 8" treat bags ideal for all of your precious valentines. Even better, the brand-new Happy Valentine Heart stamp coordinates perfectly with our Full Heart Punch (#119883-not included) for fast and easy creating.

The Single Stamp is clear-mount, so if you order both (at a savings of more than 35%), you have room to store your Valentine heart stamp in the My Little Valentine case!

To order what you need to get a head start on Valentine's Day, click on the Order Online Button in the far right column or on any of the links in this article.  You'll get preferred pricing and Stampin' Rewards™ on qualifying orders!

My Top 5 Blog Projects of 2012

I picked my Top 5 Blog Projects of 2012:

Mixed Bunch Birthday Card

Happy Earth Day Page

Petite Purse Die Makes Adorable Favor

P.S.  I Love You Digital Page

Easy & Fun Quick Notes

These are not in any order-just 5 of the projects I had the most fun making and writing about.

What do you think?  Please leave a comment and let me know your favorite… even if it's not on this list!

Color Of the Week: Elegant Eggplant in a Jiffy Decor

Want some last-minute decorations for your New Year's Party?  Download the Midnight Cheer Ensemble (#132916) for My Digital Studio 2+ (#130647, Disc; #130646, Download) from Stampin' Up!® and warm up your printer!  The ensemble includes an invitation, décor, bottle tags, table tents, name tags, a banner and a framable design that you can adapt in minutes!

I changed the wall décor to feature Elegant Eggplant, my Color Of the Week.  It's a snap to do with the Coloring Tool feature that lets you recolor parts of the stamp brush!  As you can see, I also recolored the "champagne" in the flutes from the Happy Hour Ensemble (#132721).

Of course, if you like the Ensemble just as it is, it's all ready to print!  Use on Whisper White (#100730) or Very Vanilla (#101650) 8-1/2" x 11" Card Stock.

Download your party ensemble today!  You can try My Digital Studio 2 out for 30 days free, if you don't have it, and create your own decorations right away!  You can get any of the Digital Downloads immediately as well.  Just click on the link and you're in my Online Store.

Holiday Stockings Gift Card Holders

I love projects I can get done fast… especially when I need to make a bunch!  These are the stockings I made for my grandchildren – easy to transport since I'm going there this year.

You can make a lot of the die-cuts at the same time with the Big Shot Die-Cut Machine (#113439).  If you want to make the Holiday Stocking with the Bigz L Die (#124098) and both sides of the Designer Series Paper, like I did, be sure you have 2 pieces of each pattern, one of each design facing down on the die.  For my 5 stockings, I needed to use 6 pieces of Be of Good Cheer Designer Series Paper (#126896).  You can cut 5 sheets at one time.  The 6th would have made the stack too thick.

Other Supplies Used: Lovely letters (#115030, Wood; #127796, Clear) & Got Treats (#119114, Wood; #120627, Clear) Stamp Sets; Cherry Cobbler (#119685), Lucky Limeade (#122926) & Very Vanilla (#101650) 8-1/2" x 11" Card Stock; Cherry Cobbler (#126966) & Gumball Green (#126861) Classic Stampin' Pads; 1/16" Circle Handheld (#101227), Jewelry Tag (#117190), Postage Stamp (#122344) & 1-3/8" Square (#119877) Punches; Old Olive (#119256) & Real Red (#119251) 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon; Lucky Limeade Baker's Twine (#125572)

A Valentine version of this design is the featured project of my January Bonus Class for the 3am Stamper's iClub.  Click the link to find out more.  Join now and you'll be in time to order from the Stampin' Up!® Holiday Seasonal Catalog on January 1st or 2nd and have it count for your January membership!  Club orders are due by January 10th!

Tags for Pet Treats

I totally took the easy way out and did these tags in My Digital Studio 2+ (#130647, Disc; #130646, Download) from Stampin' Up!®.  I also used a Designer Template included in the Waiting For Santa Ensemble (#132615) and changed it to suit my grandkitties with the Patterned Pets Stamp Brush Set (#129599).  It's easy to recolor the image to match (sorta) the kitties' fur and you can use the coloring tool to add stripes or spots if you want.

To make the tags, export the pages to .jpeg, then insert them in a desktop publishing program (Adobe Pagemaker, Microsoft Publisher, Microsoft Word, etc.).  You can re-size and arrange the images to print double-sided or make a mini card.  I flipped the "back" image and placed it on top of the front (to/from) image, then printed it out on Whisper White 8-1/2" x 11" Card Stock (#100730).  My tags are top-fold, but you can make side-fold "mini card' tags by placing the back image to the left of the front image.

It's simple to trim the excess card stock away, then fold and crease your mini card and punch a hole in the corner.  It's ready to attach to your gift!

You can also make coordinating gift wrap by printing out a sheet of the Designer Series Paper pattern.  Pick an 8-1/2" x 11" page and just add the pattern.  You can get two patterns on one sheet by using the "add as layer" selection.  I used regular Designer Series Paper (Candlelight Christmas Specialty #126901) to get the measurements so I could tell you.  I rolled a 6" x 9" strip around each can of Friskies Whiska Lickin's treats and adhered it together with SNAIL (#104332).  The 5" or 5-1/2" strip you can print out would be more than sufficient!

To finish, pop the covered treat container into a Gusseted Cellophane Bag (#127850), twist the open end and tie it off with Baker's Twine (Lucky Limeade #125572), then tie on the tag.  You can also tie a bow with ribbon around that.  I used Early Espresso 3-1/2" Scalloped Tulle (#127839) and the kitties will have a lot of favorite things to play with: string, soft catchy ribbon, crinkly bag, cool can to bat around and, of course, treats to eat!

You can also use these tags and wrap for people gifts.  And you can download them today!  Why not try My Digital Studio 2 out for 30 days free?  You can download it and create your own tags and wrap in just a few minutes!  If you want any of the Digital Downloads, you can get them immediately, too!!  Just click on the link and you're in my Online Store.

Spiced Cider & Happy Holidays Card with Riding Hood Red, Color Of the Week

I like Riding Hood Red, this week's Color Of the Week, because it reminds me of rosy cheeks and spiced apple cider (and mulled wine!).  I've used commercial mulling spices to make spiced apple cider.  And I often use a cinnamon stick because you can never go wrong with that… and it makes a handy stirrer!

Have you ever tucked a packet of spices in a card as a gift?  That would be a fun thing for neighbors or host/hostess' gifts.  You can make your card in the matchbook style and adhere the packet, inside a Medium Flat Cellophane Bag (#102757), with Sticky Strip (#104294).

Matchbook Style Card:  Cut base card stock 11" x 4-1/4".  Score at 5-1/4", 5-1/2" & 10-1/2" along long side.  Fold and crease well, then staple the 1/2" flap about 1/8" from crease.  You only need one or two staples to hold it.  Decorate the front and tuck it in the flap after you've attached the spice packet.  That's it!

What do you like to do to make spiced apple cider or mulled wine?  I'd love to hear about your favorite recipes.  Please leave a Comment with your tips or recipe.  If you don't see the comments box, click on the title and it'll appear below.  You can also e-mail me at mary@3amstamper.com.  Either way, I'll be glad to feature you as a Guest Artist-Culinary Division!

Terrific Gift Tags in a Snap!

Do you need a bunch of tags in a hurry?  (Don't we all!)  Do you need tags for large gifts (you know, like for grandchildren!)  Take a look:
My Digital Studio 2+ (#130647, Disc; #130646, Download) to the rescue!  I picked the 2-1/2" x 4-1/4" tag template in the Waiting For Santa Ensemble (#132615) and, of course, modified it to suit me!

Other Digital Downloads Used: A Holly, Jolly Christmas Stamp Brush Set from My Digital Studio Express Booster Pack (#124484); Soft Blooms (#130080); Designer Rosettes (#131525)

The tag template is designed to print a double-sided tag, which will come pre-punched from the MDS print service.  But if you're in a hurry, like me, you'll need to print them out yourself.  I inserted more pages to get the number of tags I needed, duplicating pages where necessary.  Then, I exported the whole thing to .jpeg and inserted them in my desktop publishing program (you can also use your word processing program), then printed them all out on Whisper White 8-1/2" x 11" Card Stock (#100730).  I could increase or decrease the size of the tags to fit on any size package.  And if I needed copies of some of the tags, I could copy the images and add them to another page to print.  They're easy to cut with the Stampin' Trimmer (#126889)!

If you don't have My Digital Studio 2, why not try it out for 30 days free?  You can download it and make your own Terrific Gift Tags right away!