Category Archives: 3-D, Gifts & Things

Halloween Stamped Candle

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After getting out my Halloween decorations yesterday and some candles, I remembered this old technique from several years ago of how to stamp on candles!  Actually you stamp on tissue paper and then heat and melt it into the candle.  Pretty easy, really.  Here I have taken you through the steps.

Stamp on tissue paper that will fit on the candle….best to cut your tissue paper as close to the stamped image as possible. (I forgot that part!)

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"Stick" the tissue paper onto your candle….I used a bit of glue stick to hold it for these photos.

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Wrap a piece of wax paper around the stamped tissue paper, best to have extra in the back to grab and hold to keep your hand away from the heat gun.

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Heat with your Stampin' Up! Heat Tool (a very good quality product…others will konk out sooner) until the wax melts a bit…..you'll be able to see it.

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I did the sentiment on the back with a separate piece.

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What a fun project and great gift!  Just think what you could do for the holidays!!

Stamp sets used:  Pumpkin Patch (in the Holiday Mini) and Holiday Best, Level 1 Hostess set

Teddy Bear Baby Shower

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A few weeks ago I was asked to make some centerpieces for a baby shower.  As I was about to go on vacation, it became a "rush" job, but I knew it would be fun to tackle this project!  Since it was a teddy bear theme, I knew the Stampin' Up! Build-A-Bear would be perfect!

After getting some ideas, I decided to make a "diaper cake" for the main centerpiece.  I suppose there are several ways of making diaper cakes and this was my first, but I just added the diapers sideways around in a circle to make the layers of the cake and then decorated with "Build-A-Bear".  For the cake, I used the boy bear in the stamp set Beary Best Friends and cut him out.  The teddy on top of the cake is smaller than he looks in the photo and just a cute little one I picked up to fit on top of the cake.

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And then for the table centerpieces, I just used new paint cans, filled with a diaper, a bib, and baby wash cloths and decorated with bears from the Stampin' Up! Bear die in the Build-a-Bear Collection.  If I'd had more time I probably would have done them up even a little more, but I think they turned out pretty cute as is.

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If you are interested in starting or adding to your Stampin' Up! Build-A-Bear Collection, just email me and I'll help you decide what you'd like to start with!  Of course, you need it all!

Halloween Decor Element….Toil and Trouble

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ToilandTroubleDixie 

Isn't this the CUTEST Halloween frame???!!!!!  If you were thinking Stampin' Up!'s Decor Elements were for walls only, think again!  My demo friend Dixie and her friend Gerrie got together to make these the other day for a play day! Don't we all need to just stop and play once in awhile?  They used the Old Olive "Toil and Trouble" Decor Element in the Definitely Decorative catalog on page 7 in this frame and decorated with "Cast-A-Spell" Designer Series Paper around the edges, a little sponging with black ink, some other little stick on "jewels" and some "real" plastic spiders!  It is SO CUTE, I wish you could see it in person!  (sorry for the glare from my flash)

You can order these Stampin' Up! items and any other Halloween or fall products tonight in your pajamas at my online store and have them in time for Halloween!

And if you are interested in "My Digital Studio" there are some new Halloween downloads available today!

Item # Product Name Price
118114    Cast A Spell Designer Series paper – digital download  $4.95
118115    Night & Day Designer Series paper – digital download  $4.95
118124    Medallion stamp brush set – digital download   $1.95
118126    Circle Circus stamp brush set – digital download   $5.95
118116    School Days II stamp brush set – digital download  $9.95
118121    Great Moments II stamp brush set – digital download  $9.95
118122    Pumpkin Patch stamp brush set – digital download  $5.95

Stampin Up! Growth Chart Special

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Dates: August 1 – September 30, 2009

Promotion Details:
Purchase the brand-new Décor Elements Growth Chart, only available August 1-September 30, and as an added bonus, receive a free applicator tool with your purchase (a $1.95 value).

 Item # Description  Price 
117519 

Décor Elements Growth Chart 

 $24.95 


  • There is no limit to the number of Growth Charts a customer may order. A free applicator will automatically be included on each order.

The Growth Chart is only available through September 30, 2009. Any future availability will be announced at a later date.

You can order online anytime!



Senior Year Journal

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The kids are back to school here in Houston and many other places around the country.  I was reminded of a journal I made for each of my children during their senior year of high school.  Just get yourself any notebook…..I used these Composition notebooks that you can pick up on sale now….and every night write an entry about your senior's day.  It is supposed to be positive.  The more often you write in it, the more valuable it will be to them in the future.  It's very easy to do if you put it beside your bed or wherever a good spot for you is to see it and remind yourself to do it!  My kids did seem to show at least a smidge of appreciation for it when I gave it to them as one of their graduation gifts, but what I really intend is that someday when they are middle-aged adults they will come across this notebook and have some fun reading what went on in their life when they were 17-18.


Just start with a plain notebook like this:

Composition Notebook Journal

And when it is time for graduation, just decorate the cover with cardstock and stamping…..that's why I like this composition notebook because it is easy to decorate.  


Here is the one I made for my son back in 2007.  You can decorate with school colors or whatever you like.

Graduation Notebook Journal Hand stamped


Stampin’ Up! Convention Make & Takes

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We got lots of Make & Take projects at Convention plus the four stamp sets and a wheel to do them with!  I'm sure everyone loved getting so many things to stamp, but it was a little too much to do in the time allotted.  However, I didn't mind because after stamping a couple of things, I opted to just save mine to do at home…..and instead I went to stand in line for Memento Mall to open so I could buy my Stampin' Up! Bear!!  So I had the best of both worlds!  The stamp sets we received were:

  • Hello Again  p. 114
  • Sweet Season  p. 29
  • Things I Love  p. 54 
  • Tree Trimmings  p. 28 
  • Retro Remix Stampin' Around wheel p. 114  

Here are the projects: 

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A scrapbook page with some Direct to Paper White Craft ink, a grommet on one of the flowers, and notice a little end of the Modern Label punch sticking up above the bow at the top where the photo would go. (sorry, the photo is a little blurry!)

CONVM&T tags
Christmas tags made with the Big Shot Two Tags die.  Very cute!  You could slide a candy cane through the folded one.

CONVtreatbox
The new Treat Boxes, page 159…more like a bag than a box, but very nice.  The ribbon is polka dot on one side and plain on the other.

CONVcellobagnotes
Cute little cello bag of 3×3 note cards and envelopes.  Perfect for a little gift!

CONVnotes
Notes out of the bag.

CONVhellobox
Cute, cute  little box!  Just two scored pieces of cardstock, glue one flap onto the bottom so it opens.

CONVboxopen
The box opened.  The back flap of the top is glued to the bottom left side.

CONVgatecard
Kind of a gate fold card where the two front flaps open and a belly band around.

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The card opened.

CONVhellocard
Cute and easy card and stamped envelope!  New color Crushed Curry.

CONVorncard
Easy Christmas card, although you have to cut out the ornaments by hand!  Love the new ribbon!

How's that for fun?!  Don't forget about the Specials going on now to become a Demo if you want to go to Convention next August!!  Click on that link or the image on the sidebar of my blog…….then go to my website to join…and use the password "karenstamps" (no quotes).  Or contact me with any questions!

The Stampin’ Up! Convention

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Will I ever get tired of talking about the Stampin' Up! Convention??  I don't think so!! There was so much good information, so many IDEAS, so much fun, so much friendship….even extra treats at lunch!…..popcorn, ice cream, candy!!

Shelli Gardner has a fabulous presentation at Convention!  She literally walked out on stage carrying ALL of these boxes in which she had handmade gifts that are so easy to make.  Who wouldn't want to receive (or make!) one of these gifts?!  Think how much easier your holiday shopping would be if you got started now at your kitchen table or desk, enjoyed what you were doing, and wouldn't have to fight the crowds at the mall come holiday time!  A substantial savings in money for you and a gift with more meaning for the recipient!

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Notice how she just used plain boxes and then tied our Stampin' Up! ribbon around.  She even used the wide twill tape and attached Stampin' Up! buttons, apparently like they do at expensive stores.
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An easy little triange box Shelli made:
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A little lip balm holder:
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A tag:
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A coaster stamped with the new Medallion stamp!
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Earrings made with the metal edge tags!
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More earrings:
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More earrings:
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A beautiful brooch to wear, fabric cut with the Big Shot!  Loved it!
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A headband covered with fabric cut with the Big Shot!
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I think this was a card with a bookmark inside or you could put a gift card:
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Shelli made these with her relatives at a family reunion out of sheet metal, covered with Designer Series Paper…..so they can't be too hard!
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A similar magnetic board but enclosed in a picture frame:
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One of the new magnetic boxes you will find in the Holiday Mini:
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One of the new Simply Adorned Charms that is in the upcoming Holiday Mini.  Shelli made a bunch of these for the "Prize Patrol" to give away, signed on the back!  I dare say it was one of the highlights of Convention, for those who won one.  Unfortunately, it was not me!  They called out "Yellow…. (and I had a yellow wristband!)….Swirls!"  Darn!  So close, yet so far!  But I will be ordering one (or more) because they are beautiful and you can change the artwork inside any time you want.
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Another charm:
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Wedding gifts:
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Back to Convention: More Photos!

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Here are some more random photos from Convention!  I think you can click on the photos to get a larger version.


A magnetic board made with the Build-A-Bear die cuts.  Just use magnetic sheets and make your own paper dolls!
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A display board with red, white, and blue!
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A class about using Decor Elements:
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Ways to use Decor Elements besides on the wall:
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So cute for a child's room!  But I think all of us stampers could use this saying in our craft rooms!
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A beautiful sample on display!!

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Some Build-A-Bear samples:

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An album made with "My Digital Studio", one of the new pieces of jewelry, "Simply Adorned Charms" in the Holiday Mini (wait until you see these in person!), and the calendar in the Holiday Mini:
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Another gorgeous project on display.  Love those display boards!!
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What a cute card!!
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All Images © Stampin’ Up! 1990-2009

That's all for today but I have more!!!

More About Convention!

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I'm starting to feel like I can hardly believe I was there at the Stampin' Up! Convention!

Here is Shelli Gardner on stage.  Notice the cool lighting with all the circles!  The colors and patterns would change!
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Brent Steele did a presentation about the new "My Digital Studio"….a scrapbooking and card making software program, Mac and PC compatible.  You will love all the things you can do and make with it!!  Can't wait until it comes out!  This is a family album he made and had printed using templates in the program.
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A Build-A-Bear Card made by Jill Kocherhans before announcing that we could all purchase our own Stampin' Up! bear in Memento Mall.  Watch for new Build-A-Bear stamps and Big Shot dies in the upcoming Holiday Mini!!
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Here are just a few of the display boards!  This is one of  my favorite parts…the ideas, the ideas!!!!!
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And the evening entertainment was the group Tonic Sol Fa!  They were very talented and "picked on" Shelli's son-in-law in the audience, who got up and led a Conga line around the room!  It was very funny!
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What a fun-packed and inspiring day!

Convention Gifts

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When I found these notebooks in the Dollar section of the craft store I knew I could make them into a nice gift!  One for me and one for my downline Linda going to Convention with me!  And an RSVP pen lined with designer paper to match!  The background butterfly is made with the Big Shot.  The sparkly one is punched with the Butterfly Punch from a Sticky Sheet and then glitter applied!  Very fun!  Love that Razzleberry Lemonade Designer Paper, can you tell??

NotebookPen

Bag Tag for Stampin’ Up! Convention

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Here’s sort of a sneak peek!  This is a tag I made to put on whatever bag Stampin’ Up! gives us at Convention!  With thousands of the same bag, it’s nice to have something different on yours to identify it.  I was going to use some other DSP, but could not resist using the bright and colorful Razzleberry Lemonade Designer Series Paper…and a chipboard letter from Onboard Timeless Type.  It’s so easy to cover the chipboard letter using our Stampin’ Up! Glue Stick.  Just place the paper over the chipboard and then trim away with your scissors.  On the back of my tag I put the Convention logo and my contact information in case the bag gets lost….heaven forbid!  The  plastic holder is called a Badge Holder and you can buy them in a package at an office supply store.

CONVLuggageTagK

Razzleberry Lemonade Notebook

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NotebookKF 

This is what you can do with a little notebook in the Dollar Bin!  I covered it with the new Stampin' Up! In Colors…..Rich Razzleberry and Melon Mambo, then some Razzleberry Lemonade Designer Series Paper.  Of course the Lovely Letters Alphabet is perfect for a monogram.  For the butterfly, I finally tried out my Big Shot Die "Beautiful Butterflies" with a layered butterfly on top punched out of Sticky Pages with the new Butterfly Punch  and covered with Chunky Sprinkles Glitter plus two little half pearls from the Pretties Kit.  I love the new In Colors Polka Dot ribbon and the Organza Ribbon.

Stenciled Picture Frames

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Since I loved doing the picture frame in THIS post, I had to run back to Hobby Lobby and get more frames.  This time I got the light-colored frame.  It gives a whole different look, which of course you can control depending on how much glaze you apply or wipe off.  Here are some photos of the process and the end result. The first stencil is "Kind Thoughts Brocade" and the second stencil is portions of the "Brocade Flourish" stencil.  You can find these in the Definitely Decorative Catalog.

  • Just place the Stampin' Up! Decor Stencil where you want it. 
  • Lightly tape it down to hold it in place. 
  • Smear the embossing paste over the stencil to cover. 
  • Place post-it notes over areas where you don't want the paste to go. 
  • Then wipe off the paste with your palette knife. 
  • Carefully life the stencil up. 
  • Clean off your stencil right away.

Let me know which design and look you like the best!

Stencilingpaste 

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KThoughtsstencil2 

Brocadestencil 

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Deal of the Week: Styled Vanilla Hodgepodge Hardware $18.99

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DBWS_dealofweek_hodgepodge Our Styled Vanilla Hodgepodge Hardware adds class to any project. Get them for just $18.99 (over 30% off the regular price of $29.95)—only July 20-26!

Here's a fancy bookmark I made for a gift.  Although it is made with the Silver Hodgepodge Hardware, all you have to do is substitute with a Vanilla piece if you like.  With this special offer you will have lots of hardware pieces to play with on your cards and scrapbook pages!

BookmarkHodgepodgeHardware