Easy Easter Basket

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Easter is coming soon so I thought it was time to make a little Easter basket!  I found this template on the Stampin' Up! website for demonstrators.  It has been around for a long time.  I remember making this same basket many years ago, but it is easy and useful.  Basically, all you need is a square and then scored in thirds on each side.

 
Score and cut your basket square

Cut on the score lines as shown so you can fold your basket.  This paper is from the Sweet Pea Designer Series Paper Stack (#117161) in the Occasions Mini .  If you want,  round the corners, as shown, but you don't have to.

Fold the sides up to make a basket

Then fold up the sides  to form your basket.  You have a little leeway on how you position your sides.  I glued with Tombow Multi.  You could use Sticky Strip or you could use some kind of brad to hold the sides together.  Cut a strip to make a handle, then decorate your basket!

Easy Easter Basket
If you have any questions about making this little basket, leave me a comment or email me! 

Happy Moments Spring Card

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Happy Spring! (yesterday!)  I think most of us will celebrate today since yesterday was not a good weather day for the first day of spring.  I know some places had snow, we had rain in Houston and blustery winds by evening.  I thought I would get hit in the head last night when we left the restaurant because the wind was blowing so hard….and it was COLD!!  I had on my winter jacket, maybe for the last time.

So today since the sun is shining I wanted to make a happy spring card and the Sale-A-Bration set "Happy Moments" was perfect for a quick and easy card.  And you can get this stamp set FREE with a $50 purchase before March 31.  I just stamped with Black Stazon Ink and watercolored with my Blender Pens (#102845) and ink pads.  To make the grass I just cut a strip of Certainly Celery card stock and snipped all along the top to make the blades of grass. Then I just roughed them up to curl them a little to make them look 3D.

Happy Moments Spring Sale-A-Bration Card
 

Become a Stampin’ Up! Demonstrator! You Can Do It!

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Since you are reading my blog, you must enjoy stamped and Stampin' Up! cards, scrapbook pages, and projects.  If you are not already a demo, you should really consider joining my team and Stampin' Up! RIGHT NOW during Sale-A-Bration.  Until March 31 you can purchase either the regular Starter Kit or the Digital+ Starter Kit (which makes you a demo by just purchasing the kit!) for 15% off the regular price…AND during Sale-A-Bration you also get to choose a FREE STAMP SET (up to $47.95 value).  

This is a tremendous deal and you will be part of a fantastic and fun company. And you'll be just in time for the Spring Mini preorder (get the new stuff before everyone else!) and then the new catalog coming in July.  You don't even have to be creative and "talented" because every month you will receive a magazine from Stampin' Up! called "Stampin' Success" with easy ideas for stamping and papercrafting projects, not to mention access to "Stampin' Connection", an online site for demos where you can ask questions, share ideas, watch videos, etc.  

Believe me, all of us demos are not artists, we just have the enthusiasm for the company and the products, and there are plenty of resources both through Stampin' Up! and through me as your upline to help you learn to stamp and build a business.  There is no obligation after purchasing your Starter Kit, except to meet a minimum in sales each quarter if you want to stay active as a demo.  The contents are yours to keep and enjoy even if you never sell a thing.


Starter Kit Price: $185 (over $295 value!)

Sale-A-Bration Price until March 31:  $157

Digital+ Starter Kit Contents:

Images copyright Stampin' Up! 2010

  • My Digital Studio software
  • Party Hearty and Petal Pizzazz stamp sets
  • Whisper White card stock (8-1/2" x 11")
  • Earth Elements assorted card stock (8-1/2" x 11")
  • Old Olive, Pumpkin Pie, Real Red, and Tempting Turquoise Classic Stampin' Pads
  • Chocolate Chip, Old Olive, Pumpkin Pie, and Real Red Stampin' Write markers
  • Chocolate Chip 1/4" grosgrain ribbon
  • Real Red 1" double-stitched grosgrain ribbon
  • Button Latte Designer buttons
  • Stampin' Dimensionals
  • Mini Glue Dots
  • SNAIL Adhesive
  • Business supplies (product catalogs, order forms, training DVD, and other supplies)

This is the Digital Starter Kit which includes the My Digital Studio software so you can start digital papercrafting projects such as cards, scrapbook pages, albums, calendars, etc. right away.  Then you also receive some stamps and accessories to add to your digital projects and make them "hybrid" if you like or just to do some standard stamping.

The Standard Starter Kit is also on sale 15% off during Sale-a-Bration plus the free stamp set.  Read all about it here:  Starter Kit

Just email me with any questions or for more information at KSFontinelle@gmail.com.  I will give you the password so you can sign up online at my website and be a demo within  minutes!!

A Simple Birthday Card

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Easy Cupcake Birthday Card 

 If you were a Stampin' Up! demonstrator, you would have received a special magazine for demos called "Stampin' Success" every month.  It is jam-packed with fabulous (and easy!) stamping ideas plus articles about other demonstrators and how they run their businesses.  It is just one of the many great reasons to be a Stampin' Up! demonstrator! This card was copied from an idea for a treat pouch in the magazine.  I just made a card instead of the pouch!  Very easy and a good way to use a piece of scrap designer paper, which was the point of the article.  Not that many of us have SCRAPS because we hoard the paper and don't want to use it in the first place!  Just kidding!

The card base is Taken With Teal, the stamp set used is "Crazy for Cupcakes" and the designer paper scrap across the top is from the Sweet Pea Designer Series Paper Stack in the Occasions Mini.  I scribbled on some glue with the Two-Way Glue Pen on the cupcake frosting and added Dazzling Diamonds Glitter.  I hope my niece likes it!

Let me know if you would like to "subscribe" to this Stampin' Success Magazine by becoming a demo!  It's free once you are a demo!  Tons of fun!!

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

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How much do you know about St. Patrick's Day?

Here is a little quiz!

  • True or false:  Do people in the US celebrate St. Patrick's Day more than the people in Ireland?

Yes, people in the US really like to celebrate St. Patrick's Day, whether they are Irish or not!  In Ireland, St. Patrick's Day is more of a religious holiday but in recent years has been used to boost tourism.

  • What is the traditional Irish meal served on St. Patrick's Day?

Corned beef and cabbage.

  • What do they do in Chicago to celebrate St. Patrick's Day?

Dye the Chicago River green for several hours!

  • If you kiss the Blarney Stone in Ireland, what gift are you supposed to receive?

   The gift of gab!


A Punch Art Leprechaun 

 

Recipe Album 6×6

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These are some more pages I put together for a recipe album using a Stampin' Up! Linen Album (#104509).  I used various stamp sets, the Big Shot, Designer Series papers, ribbon, punches, sometimes made my own designer paper!  Some of the pages have pockets into which recipes can be inserted or they can just be pasted on the page. Since I don't know exactly how the recipient will use the album, I wanted to make it versatile. 

Recipe Album 6x6 page layout 

Recipe Album 6x6 page layout 

Recipe Album 6x6 page layout
Recipe Album 6x6 page layout
Recipe Album 6x6 page layout
Last Page Pocket for Good Wishes or Recipes
Recipe Album 6x6 Cover 

 

If you want to make a recipe album or scrapbook like this, contact me soon.

 

 

 

 

More Big Shot Fabric Flower Fold Die Pins

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Granted, the fabric was still laying out and I still had a lot of precut flowers handy, but I made these two flowers yesterday in practically no time while I was waiting for dinner to finish cooking.  Recently, I went to a resale shop and bought a pair of jeans for only $3 so I would have some denim material to add to the flowers.  You could purchase all of your fabric this way, just purchase clothing at a resale or thrift shop….and you might get some nice buttons to use out of the deal as well!  I think the different textured fabrics make the most interesting pins.  All you need is a Big Shot Die-Cut Machine (113439) and the Flower Folds Die (115970), some glue or needle and thread, and a button or one of our Stampin' Up! Corduroy Buttons.

Fabric Flower Pin
Fabric Flower Pin 

If you want to purchase a Big Shot Die-Cut Machine so you can make these fabric flowers and SO many other great projects, be sure to order it during Sale-A-Bration and get FREE PRODUCTS too! Only two weeks left!

  

Spring Ahead: Daylight Saving Time Starts March 14 at 2:00 am

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Spring Happy Moments Flower Card for Daylight Saving Time 

For a reminder for all of us to "Spring Ahead" tonight to Daylight Saving Time (apparently it is Daylight SAVING time and not SavingS time!) I decided to make a bright and springy card!  It's just a little 3×3 card, but it is one of those things that once I made it I just loved it and want to make some more!  It's a happy card, as my friend would say.  I stamped the flowers from the Happy Moments Sale-A-Bration set (you can get it free with a $50 purchase!) with Black Stazon Ink and watercolored with my Aquapainter and ink refill bottles!  So easy….and you don't have to be perfect with watercoloring….in fact, it enhances the look to let your color get outside the lines.  I added some Melon Mambo ribbon (that will make you happy if nothing else!) and punched the corner with the new Scallop Trim Corner Punch in the Occasions Mini.  Sweet and fun!

So when you go to bed tonight, set your clocks ahead an hour (at least in most US states)…so if it is 10 pm set your clocks to 11 pm…..and they recommend checking the batteries in your smoke alarm at the same time as you change your clocks.

If you would like to make this project and many others, email me or use the online ordering button in the upper right corner of my blog!

Voila Chef 6×6 Page

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It's so much fun to play with the Voila Chef (#115102).  You can watercolor him or you can paper piece, which I did on his pants using Designer Series Paper.  Just stamp on the DSP and cut out the section you want to overlay on your already stamped outline of the chef. Since this is for my personal use, I have used some retired product, such as the Antique Brass Hodgepodge Hardware on the tag and the greenish Gingham Ribbon.  You can easily substitute with current product and colors.  I made the chef first and then wasn't sure what to do for the background.  But then I found the little stamp in the Tiny Tags stamp set (page 28) in the Occasions Mini and stamped it all over the Whisper White card stock, essentially making my own designer series paper!

Voila Chef 6x6 Scrapbook Page 

Shop 24/7 at my Online Store for all your stamping and scrapbooking products!

Little Easter Card

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Just made a quick and easy little Easter card!  It's just 3×3!  I used the Eggcoutrements Stamp Set in the Occasions Mini.  You can choose either the wood-mount or clear-mount stamps.  I stamped the little border with Green Galore Ink on Whisper White card stock and then punched it out with the Scallop Edge Punch (#112091).  I stamped the tag with Pixie Pink and used the Small Tag (#108264)and (large) Tag Punches (#105934), the Crop-A-Dile (#108362) to punch a hole, and the beautiful Whisper White Organza Ribbon (#114319).  It was time to use the Bold Brights color family again for a change!

Easy Easter 3x3 Card
 

A St. Patrick’s Day Treat

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Need a little something green for St. Patrick's Day March 17th?  This is a little Stampin' Up! cello bag stuffed with some green shred, a gold coin, a peppermint patty decorated with the shamrock scallop, and several pieces of green-wrapped candies.  The tag is made with the "Define Your Life" stamp set (#114950), the definition for "lucky"!  I stamped the little shamrock on it with three small hearts from the set "Tiny Tags" (#118091, #118592) and just drew in the little stem with a Stampin' Write Marker.  Want to get the "Define Your Life" stamp set free?  Just sign up to be a Stampin' Up! demonstrator during  Sale-A-Bration and choose a free stamp set, up to a value of $47.95 (which includes this one!) PLUS get the Starter Kit 15% off!  Contact me soon! 

St. Patrick's Day Treat Bag
 

Paper Flower

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These paper flowers of all types seem to be the hottest thing right now so I wanted to try one!  This one is very easy…..just punch as many layers as you want with the Scallop Circle Punch (#109043) and cut down a little bit between each scallop.  Pile them all up and punch a hole in the center for either a small brad or a larger one.  I used my Crop-A-Dile (#108362) so I could easily insert a Rhinestone Brad (#109111) in the center and of course the Crop-A-Dile just punches through layers like butter!  Once you have your flower assembled, just "smoosh" it up!  I tried to gather up each layer and then smooshed it up around the center.  Just play with it until you have the look you like!

Paper Flower on Bitty Box

To use my flower on a project, I used the Big Shot Stampin' Up! die cut to make the Bitty Box (#115967).  This was a die I didn't buy at first until….of course…I saw so many cute projects made with it!  Did you realize the die also cuts a little envelope should you want to put little notecards inside this box?!  So cute!

And to make the top layer with Razzleberry Lemonade Designer Series Paper, I played with the the new Scallop Trim Border Punch (#118402) and Scallop Trim Corner Punch (#118870) to get the little scallop border all the way around.  If you have any questions about using these punches, please let me know!  Remember, you can get the Scallop Trim Border Punch for free with a $50 Sale-A-Bration order until the end of March!

Houston Azalea Trail

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We enjoyed the Azalea Trail yesterday in River Oaks!  We only went to the four private homes.  There are three other sites to see, but we have visited those before.  While you can walk through the homes (my favorite part!), you can't take photos inside so these are only from the gardens outside.  Unfortunately, we didn't see any azaleas blooming at these homes, but we did see some in another part of the neighborhood.  It's a lovely area to drive around in and see the many mansions and beautiful homes.

Here are a few photos. You should be able to click on them to enlarge.

Houston Azalea Trail 

Houston Azalea Trail 

Houston Azalea Trail Hydrangea
Houston Azalea Trail Hydrangea
Love this picture!! Reminds me of a retired Stampin' Up! stamp!

Houston Azalea Trail
Houston Azalea Trail 

Houston Azalea Trail 

I don't know WHAT in the world this is!  Looks like a brain!

Houston Azalea Trail
Not my backyard!

Houston Azalea Trail
Houston Azalea Trail
Houston Azalea Trail
Houston Azalea Trail
Houston Azalea Trail
Houston Azalea Trail Tulips
Gorgeous tulips!

Houston Azalea Trail 

Houston Azalea Trail
Shouldn't we all have a front door like this?! 
        
 
  

 

River Oaks Azalea Trail Time!

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The Azalea Trail Home and Garden Tour in Houston put on by the River Oaks Garden Club begins today.  It used to be two weekends, but now it is just one.  It's a fun thing to do if the weather is nice…..beautiful homes and lovely gardens to see.  Even inside the homes are beautiful floral arrangements made by the garden club ladies.  We always enjoy going!  We don't have any azaleas blooming yet at our house so I hope we see some today on the trail.  In the meantime, here are some azaleas I stamped on a card!

 Azalea Card with Fifth Avenue Floral Stamp Set 

 

I stamped the flowers from Fifth Avenue Floral (#113734) with Black Stazon Ink (#101406) and colored in and shaded with my Watercolor Wonder Crayons (color families on IB&C page 154) and Aquapainter (#103954).  I LOVE using the Watercolor Crayons but hadn't used them in awhile…..so relaxing to just color and not worry how good it is!  I even used some gray to shade outside the flowers.  It's likely not artistically perfect, but that is the nice part of watercoloring…..you can be a little sloppy and off!  Still looks decent!  For the flower stems, I punched out the branch and leaf from the Extra Large Two-Step Bird Punch (#117191).  On some branches I cut off the leaves and put them where I wanted them on other parts of the branch.  That punch is so versatile!  You should have one!

If you want to purchase any Stampin' Up! products, just visit my Online Store!  If you would like to learn how to make a card like this, please contact me!  Or sign up for my stamping newsletter and get on my mailing list!  The box is in the upper left corner.

For information about the River Oaks Azalea Trail, just click on the link.  See you there!


 

An Easy Card with a Button!

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Pink Flamingo DSP Squares 

This is an easy card I made after getting an idea from a past Stampin' Success Magazine, Stampin' Up!'s monthly magazine for demonstrators.  I love these easy cards where you just punch out squares of paper (in this case I used the Pink Flamingo Designer Series Paper #113976) with a square punch (I used the 1 1/4" Square Punch #104400).  I usually write on the back cardboard insert of my designer paper what Stampin' Up! colors coordinate with that particular paper and then I have that information handy when I go to make something.  Since I'm seeing lots of buttons being used these days, I wanted to add a button from the Playground collection (#116313) and tied it with some linen thread.  I also added a little Trio Flower on the top square.  The sentiment is from the Sweetheart stamp set.