So, I changed my plans and went the route of coffee…love me some Starbucks, don’t you…especially during the holidays (Peppermint Mocha…why can’t they make it year round)! I went and got a gift card and goodies from there since she listed that she enjoys lattes!…so I hope she likes what I created:
This is a closed view:

This is the front view of the box open:

This is the back side:

I think it turned out so cute. I have the a pack of mints from Starbucks, and the quote says “I’m glad you were “mint” to be my teacher” and there is a pack of chocolate covered graham crackers with the quote, “Thanks for making me a smart cookie!” And of course, I have got a small starbucks cup with the quote “Thanks a latte”. On the other two panels, there is a hand written message from my son to his teacher and the last panel is the Starbucks gift card.

For his classmates, I did little treat bags:

Merry Christmas Everyone!!!

I have had SU’s lattice die for a few months now, and haven’t used it…and I needed some favor boxes..so this is what I came up with: 

Supplies:
-Gumball Green Cardstock
-Cherry Cobbler Cardstock
-Champagne Glimmer Paper
-Labels Collection Framelits
-Gold Embossing Powder
-VersaMark Ink Pad
-Heat Gun
-Tombo Multipurpose Glue
-Glue Dots
-Cherry Cobbler Seam Binding

Supplies:
-Styrofoam wreath form
-Stampin’ Up Deck the Halls Designer Fabric
-Hot Glue
-Cardstock
-BigShot multipurpose adhesive sheets

I really like the style of the wreath and looking forward to hoarding more of the clearance rack fabric..probably the bright Candy Cane Christmas fabric for next year. I will probably make a larger version with flowers instead of a bow.

I used the owl punch to punch out the body of the owls. To make the pumpkin, I used the small oval punch and just free hand cut a stem. The bat was made using the old bat punch for the wings. And of course, I sponged them for more dimension. The “boo” is stamp is from my stash (don’t remember who manufactured it)…and the paper is also from my non-SU stash. It gets harder and harder to come up with things to put in these boxes since they don’t allow candy. Usually, I give out pencils, stickers and some small toy. I had a lot of fun making these and hopefully the kids enjoy them…though I’m sure they wished it was candy. I know the teacher and parents are happy that it’s not candy…who needs a ton of little kids bouncing off walls. Enjoy your Halloween, stay safe

I embossed with background with the Fancy Fan embossing folder, then I sponged it with the the illuminate ink pad…which made the background shimmer. Then I took the Snowflake Party Wheel, inked with the illuminate pad and rolled it onto another piece of Very Vanilla cardstock (used just my fingers to roll since I wanted a whimsical look…and it didn’t have to be perfect since it was in the background). The ornaments were stamped with versa mark and embossed with gold embossing powder. I made 3 of the large ornaments and glued them together for a 3-d effect. I also took some of the white baker’s twine and embossed it as well with the gold embossing powder (although it doesn’t look like gold once I did it).  Then I embossed very thin strips of paper with the gold embossing powder and created little bows on top of the ornaments. A very elegant and shimmery card…I need to play with it some more to see. I heard the illuminate pad works well with the dark colors as well…We’ll have to see

Supplies:

-Ornament Keepsakes Stamp Set
-Holiday Ornaments Framelits
-Snowflake Party Builder Wheel
-More Merry Messages Stamp Set
-Illuminate Ink Pad
-Versa Mark Pad
-Gold Embossing Powder
-Fancy Fan EF
-Adorning Accents EF
-Very Vanilla Cardstock
-White baker’s twine
-Sponge
-Dimensionals

I love the bright colors…I am so going to miss the 2011-2013 in colors. I hope they decide to keep them during Stampin’ Up’s color renovation next year. These are by far my favorite colors…and I love creating with them…That reminds me, I should stock up on the cardstock and re-inkers in case they don’t keep them around. Hope you like it as much as I do:

Here is a close up of the layering of the poppies:

Supply List:

Pleasant Poppies Background Stamp; Lacy Brocade EF; Black Stazon Ink Pad; Calypso Coral Marker & Ink Pad; Blender Pen; Gumball Green Marker; Calypso Coral Baker’s Twine; Sponge Dauber; Very Vanilla Cardstock; Calypso Coral Cardstock; Pearls; Modern Label punch, Dimensionals; Something to Celebrate Stamp Set (Retired)

The article was published in the October edition of Stampin’ Success (This magazine is sent to Stampin’ Up Demonstrators only).

I am sorry to those that have been looking and waiting for the details…been sick for over a month (so much wasted creative time ).

Star-Snowflake Ornament
Supplies: Snowflake Soiree Stamp Set; Origami Pentagonal Star Fold (5 pieces of 3″ x 3″ Be of Good Cheer DSP); Silver Glimmer Paper; White Vellum Cardstock; Very Vanilla Cardstock; Versamark; Silver Embossing Powder; Cherry Cobbler Stampin’ Write Marker; Gumball Green Stampin’ Write Marker; Rhinestones Basic Jewels; Stampin’ Dimensionals; Multipurpose Liquid Glue; Sticky Strip; Stampin’ Sponges; Scallop Trim Border; Itty Bitty Circle Punch; Scallop Edge Punch; 2 1/2″ Circle Punch; Petite Pennants Builder; Whisper White Bakers Twine

Here is a video that I found on youtube to recreate the star. I tried doing my own instructions and taking pictures, but couldn’t show to fold the star with just pics. (It is called a origami pentagonal star): Link to Video

1-Cut 1/2″ strips of silver glimmer paper and punch with the scallop edge punch.
2-Color the glimmer paper with the ink pad/markers/reinkers & sponges. All these pieces to dry before handling.
3-Punch (2) 2 1/2″ circles in very vanilla and adhere 1 of them to the center of the star (choose which side that you want use as the front).
4-Cut (2) 1.5″ x 12″ pieces of glimmer paper and punch edge with scallop trim border punch. score and fold each piece, and adhere together into a rosette.
5-Adhere the rosette to the center of the star and adhere the circle punched in step 3 in the center of the rosette. You want the rosette to be sandwiched between these two circles.
6-Stamp the 3 sizes of snowflakes from the stamp set in Versamark and heat emboss with silver embossing power. Stamp 1 of each of the snowflakes on White Vellum Cardstock and Very Vanilla Cardstock.
7-Cut out each snowflake.
8-With dimensionals, adhere the largest white vellum cardstock snowflake onto the base. Add more dimensionals add the same snowflake stamped on very vanilla cardstock (make sure you shift the snowflake slightly so that you can see the points of the other snowflake underneath). Continue to layer the other snowflakes alternating between very vanilla & vellum, going down in size.
9-Adhere rhinestones as desired.

I designed a simplified cost effective version for those that want to recreate the look, but want to do it in less time (something that can be completed during a class).

To make this snowflake, all you need is the Petite Pennants Builder punch. Punch out 5 pieces of the glimmer paper in the scalloped pennant, and 5 pieces of the plain pennant in designer series paper. Sandwhich them between a 2 1/2″ circles punched in very vanilla cardstock while forming your star.

Stamp 3 snowflake designs on both vellum cardstock and very vanilla cardstock. Cut out the snowflakes, and adhere them with dimensionals, from largest to smallest.

Decorate with rhinestones.
Here is a comparison of the size (Just slightly smaller than the original star shape):

****************************************************************************

Snowflake Wreath Card
Supplies: Snowflake Soiree Stamp Set; Delightful Dozen Stamp Set; Gumball Green Cardstock; Cherry Cobbler Cardstock; Very Vanilla Cardstock; Versamark; Gold Embossing Powder; Gumball Green Ink Pad; Cherry Cobbler Ink Pad; Fancy Fan Embossing Folder; Square Lattice Embossing Folder; Itty Bitty Circle Punch; Rhinestones Basic Jewels; Stampin’ Dimensionals
**All the snowflakes were stamped and cut out by hand..wish they had a punch.

****************************************************************************

Snowflake Shaker Card
Supplies: Snowflake Soiree Stamp Set; Curly Cute Stamp Set; Crumb Cake Cardstock; Versamark; Silver Embossing Powder; Clear Embossing Powder; White Craft Ink; Gumball Green Ink Pad; Cherry Cobbler Ink Pad; 2 1/2″ Circle Punch; Shaker Frames; Gumball Green 3/8″ Stitched Satin Ribbon; Dazzling Diamonds Glitter; Silver Glass Stampin’ Glitter; Rhinestones Basic Jewels

***I actually cut apart the largest shaker frame and added a piece from the smaller ones to make it around the 2 1/2″ circle punch. You can actually make the shaker box any shape or size.

****************************************************************************

Twisting Snowflake Card
Supplies: Snowflake Soiree Stamp Set; Petite Pairs Stamp Set; Very Vanilla Cardstock; Be of Good Cheer DSP; Silver Glimmer Paper; Versamark; Silver Embossing Powder; Gumball Green Ink Pad; Cherry Cobbler Ink Pad; 2 1/2″ Circle Punch; Dazzling Details; Dazzling Diamonds Glitter; Modern Label Punch; Word Window Punch; Finishing Touches Edgelits; Floral Frames Framelits;Cherry Cobbler 1/2″ Scallop Dots Ribbon; Whisper White Bakers Twine; Sticky Strip

****************************************************************************

Snowflake Purse Tote:
Supplies: Petite Purse Bigz L Die; Snowflake Soiree Stamp Set; Be of Good Cheer DSP; Silver Glimmer Paper; Cherry Cobbler Cardstock; Very Vanilla Cardstock; Gumball Green Ink Pad; Gumball Green 3/8″ Stitched Satin Ribbon; Scallop Trim Border Punch; Itty Bitty Circle Punch; 1″ Circle Punch; Sticky Strip; Stampin’ Dimensionals

****************************************************************************

Floral Framelits Snowflake Tote:
Supplies: Floral Framelits Die; Snowflake Soiree Stamp Set; More Merry Messages Stamp Set; Be of Good Cheer DSP; Cherry Cobbler Cardstock; Very Vanilla Cardstock; Gumball Green Ink Pad; Gold Embossing Powder; Versa Mark Ink Pad; 2 1/2″ CIrcle Punch; 2 3/8″ Circle Punch; 1 3/4″ Circle Punch; Gumball Green 3/8″ Stitched Satin Ribbon; Rhinestones Basic Jewels; Sticky Strip; Stampin’ Dimensionals

I took the largest of the boho blossoms punch flower and cut into the center of one of the notches, then glued over two of the petals on top of one another to create a slight cone shape. Then I pierced a hole thru that piece and the flower and inserted floral wire (I had a very thin 24 gauge wire on hand so I looped it to make it sturdier)..then I wrapped floral tape around it.

The crayons are attached to a paper pencil holder that I had from a stationary set. I used glue dots to attach the crayons and then red sticky strip to attach the ribbon to hold it all down. If you have the styrofoam for flower arrangements, I would use that for the inside to hold up the flowers. Of course I didn’t have any at home, so this became a Macgyver experiment. I used a paper towel cardboard roll that I glued to the bottom of the vase and stuffed tissue that I had leftover from gift wrapping.

Punches used for flowers in bouquet: Blossom Punch; Fancy Flower & 5-Petal Flower Punch; Boho Blossom Punch; Extra-Large Oval Punch for Leaves

I think the flowers created with the blossom punch look like carnations…sooo pretty

Tutorial for Blossom Punch Flower

Supplies:
1. Stampin’ Up Blossom Punch
2. small paint brush stick/cuticle pusher/chopstick or any other small stick you may have for curling your flower petals
3. cardstock
4. tombo mono adhesive/hot glue gun
5. Scissors

Punch 6 blossoms with your punch. You can add more or use less depending on how full you want your blossom to look. My samples that were created used 6 blossoms each.

With your scissors, cut towards the center of each petal (about half way inward). As you can tell I am using a manicure stick to curl my petals…works great for these flowers.

Wrap you petals around the stick to curl them. Continue to curl all the petals.

Take one petal and apply a drop of glue. Make as tight of a bud as you would like your flower to have.  

Wrap the petal on the opposite side around that bud you just created. Apply glue and hold in place for a few seconds.

Continue to create the bud by wrapping alternating petals on opposite sides. Apply glue to the inside of each petal as you fold each one up onto the bud.

Apply glue to the bottom of the bud that you just created, and stick it into the middle of the new blossom punch flower. The squared edges of the bud should be set in the middle of each petal. Continue constructing your bud by wrapping alternate sides up.

Put aside the bud that you have created with 3 punches. With the 3 remaining blossoms, open up the petals (until they are almost flat). You curl the petals and then flatten them out because it makes it look more life-like. Here is a comparison of one that has been manipulated and the other that was just punched out:

Take 2 blossoms and apply glue to the center of one. Off set the blossom on top, and press to adhere together. Add glue to the top blossom and off set the last blossom on top, press to adhere.

Take you completed bud and adhere on top of the 3 flattened blossoms. Make sure the squared edges settle in the middle of each petal. Apply a little pressure to adhere and allow a few minutes for the glue to dry.

Mold your blossom by opening and closing petals to achieve the look that you want.

Have fun making these gorgeous flowers. Let me know if you have any questions.