This is what you call "tearing into the new Spice Cake Fabric"!  I started out planning to use more of the beautiful Spice Cake Designer Series Paper, but I see I didn't use any of it! But I did stamp with the Gently Falling stamp set, a 2-step stamping set.  That means you stamp the "inside" of the stamp and then use another stamp over it that provides the outline of the leaf and the veins.  You can also just use each kind of stamp separately….I almost just left the solid image of the stamp alone because it looked pretty enough that way.  I could have used the Stamp-a-Ma-Jig tool to get perfect placement, but I just "eyeballed" it….close enough!

After layering the stamped Very Vanilla card stock on Pear Pizzazz, I wrapped a piece of torn Spice Cake Fabric around like you would do ribbon…and after a few attempts, just tied a separate bow and stuck it on to the piece of fabric to get it how I wanted it.  The top and bottom border of More Mustard is made with the Lace Ribbon Border Punch, just partially hidden under the card stock.

I finally decided the bag was fine as it was, easy to add a greeting if I want when I know what gift I am going to use it for.  I considered stamping and cutting out some leaves and either using Stampin' Dimensionals to pop them up over the stamped leaves or use them as tags hanging from the bow or handle.  But time was up, so this is the finished product!

Save those cute little bags you get at the stores sometimes and then decorate to personalize your gift! Stamp some tissue paper to match!

I finally got around to finishing my Make & Takes from the Stampin' Up! Convention in July!  Make & Takes are the projects Stampin' Up! gives us to actually "stamp" at the "stamping" convention.  I'm just not very good at doing the projects during the allotted time….I don't know why….I feel like everyone else understands the directions better, is working faster, etc. etc.  Too much pressure!!  I know at least some other demonstrators feel the same way so I know it's not just me!  I much prefer to do them at my kitchen table provided I have all the supplies at home. Besides, the morning my Make & Takes were scheduled I was VERY tired and was worried about getting my photos taken of the display boards.  So after partially making ONE card, I packed up my stuff, walked all the way back to the hotel from the far corner of the convention center to get rid of my stamp sets and supply packets and walked all the way back to the far corner of the convention center to take my pictures.  And then I was happy (if not more tired!)  But with kitchen remodeling and vacations, it has taken awhile to get to do my Make & Takes!

This is a box that will be in the new Holiday Mini Catalog coming out Sept. 1st called "Stampin' Card Keeper". It's very sturdy and very nice quality.  It comes flat so you just have to assemble it and then you can decorate it any way you like.  This lid here is covered with the new Timeless Portrait Fabric (using Sticky Strip to adhere). Patterns come with the box for covering it, even the sides if you wish.

Here's the gorgeous paper flower on the top of the lid.  It's made from various punches out of textured card stock….the Fancy Flower Punch, Lace Ribbon Border Punch (the flowers are cut apart) , and the Blossoms Petals Builder Punch.  It's all actually made out of two stacks of assembled flowers and then all stacked together.

I did make one change.  Stampin' Up! gave us in our kit a Simply Adorned Clear Crystal Bauble for the center of the flower….but the crystal is so pretty I wanted to use it on my Simply Adorned Jewelry so I made an alternate flower center!  Mine is an Antique Brad with a Rhinestone Jewel in the center for some bling!

Cute label for the box using On Board Merry Medley chipboard and the stamp set Best Friends Forever.

Six dividers for organization, covered with the Timeless Portrait Designer Series Paper.

 You'll be able to order your Stampin' Card Keeper box #124107 when the Holiday Mini comes out on Sept. 1st!

Having fun making Fun Flowers with the Bigz Fun Flowers Die #121812 with mostly the new In Colors!  We saw flowers similar to these all over the Stampin' Up! Convention!  So easy with the Big Shot Die-Cutting Machine and paper!

The Stampin' Up! Lace Ribbon Border Punch will be making its debut in a new Stampin' Up! catalog near you soon!  Just a couple more weeks and you, too, can get your hands on this beautiful new punch!

In this project, I made a simple box from a 9"x9" square piece of Pink Pirouette card stock, scored at 3" and 6" on both sides of the paper to make a "tic-tac-toe" scored design.  Then you cut from the edges up to the first score line top and bottom.  You can tell where to cut from the photo below.  You'll then be able to fold up the flaps and make a box!

Since this basket (or box) measures 12" around, when you wrap the 12" strip of paper around, you will come up a little short.  Either you can disguise that gap center front by covering with a large enough flower (which then might cover up your fancy punched band) OR you can punch two strips that each meet or overlap slightly on the sides.  I used Tombow Glue #110755 (Multipurpose Liquid Glue) for the Whisper White band and also for the lacy punched band, which requires tiny dots of glue.

I decided to punch another strip of paper and make a matching handle with the Lace Ribbon Border Punch.  Wouldn't this punch make beautiful Easter baskets?  (not that I am thinking that far ahead!!)

Do you need a gift box with bling?  You can make one yourself!  I saw some little boxes at a nice store covered with pearls and rhinestones and I thought, "I could make something like that!"  (Isn't that what always gets us crafters in trouble??!)  I envisioned using a small paper mache box I was sure I had multiples of but of course I could not find one in my stash….so an extra box that held a Simply Adorned charm worked just fine!  I cut the center out in order to put a little window in the lid (with a piece of window sheet or transparency) and to save on rhinestones!  I planned to use pearls to cover the box with a few rhinestones mixed in, but since I didn't have enough pearls, I had to use mostly rhinestones.

It is so easy to use the Stampin' Up! Basic Rhinestones #119246 and Basic Pearls #119247 on any project.  I used my Paper-Piercing Tool #116631 to pick up each jewel and with the adhesive on the back they were easy to apply where I wanted them.  Some even come attached in a close string so it made it easy to do the edges of the box. And if I wanted just a few rhinestones out of that string, I just cut in between two rhinestones with my Paper-Piercer and got what I wanted. The pearls and rhinestones are so pretty!

If need a couple packages of Stampin' Up! rhinestones or pearls, just go to my Online Store and place your order!  Try making your own trinket box or jewelry box by covering a plain box with bling and your own decoration!  Let me know if you make one!

Today is May Day, although I've never really seen it celebrated! Supposedly you hang a small basket of flowers or gifts on your neighbor's door without being seen.  Now wouldn't that really be a nice thing to find on your door?!  I think this tradition has been transformed into a fun Halloween prank where you "Boo" somebody with a paper ghost and some Halloween treats.  Some say on May Day that if you get caught placing the May Day basket, you get a kiss!  I read that in London children get pennies for bringing flowers house to house and then those pennies are thrown into a wishing well and donated to charity.  In France people try to touch cows parading with flowers on their tails, which is supposed to bring good luck.  Whether or not these are real traditions, I think they all sound like nice celebrations of spring.

Here's my May Day basket, made with the Stampin' Up! Petal Cone die #121810.  It is being carried over from the Occasions Mini, which means we can still order it!

Click HERE to see which items are being carried over.

If you like this project and would like to make it yourself, send me an email and I'll get you started!