Graduation Cap Gift Box and Card - Petal Cone Die

When I saw this idea by Holly at Ink, Paper, Stamps, I just knew I had to try it.  I've made lots of different projects, including take out boxes, with my Petal Cone Die (retiring, 40% off), so it made perfect sense when I saw it.  The graduation cap is basically a take out box turned upside down, with the card attached to the top.

 I made a few modifications (no white on the base of the cap, texturized the "button" on the top, and used a different punch at the end of the tassel).

 The bottom of the cap opens like this.  You close it just like you'd close up a cardboard box.  Sorry the picture is a little blurry.  My camera just did not want to focus on it, no matter what setting I used.

The Petal Cone die for the Big Shot is so versatile, you don't want to miss out on getting it.  Unfortunately, since it's on the retirement list, you only have until Monday, June 3rd to order it.  While you're there, check out the other great products on the retirement list.

Still on the fence about it?  Google "Petal Cone die, Stampin' Up" and choose Images at the top.  I've also posted some projects here on my blog, though I have to say, I've made many more items with this die than I've posted.

I stamped the inside of the card with Pure Gumption.  I'm not sure why I didn't take a picture of it.

You can always use black for graduation caps and gowns, but when I know the school colors, I like to personalize it.  We made these in the April Club and some of the ladies made theirs in Brilliant Blue (retired) with a Crushed Curry (returning color) tassel, which matches our local high school colors.

The tassel was made with the Tasteful Trim die and the Scallop Oval Punch.

TSSC 265 My Digital Studio (Graduation and Father's Day)

So, last week I mentioned that I haven't been getting the best pictures lately.  I should have been happy with what I had.  We had a little mishap at my house and the entire memory card appears to have been wiped clean.  At first I thought I might not be able to do this week's Techno Stamper Sketch Challenge since I couldn't photograph my sample to upload it to my blog.  But, once again, My Digital Studio (MDS) has come to the rescue!

Graduation is right around the corner and I need to get busy with some graduation cards.  I like to use school colors when I can, so this one is made with Garner High School (where my girls go) colors.  One nice thing about MDS is that it's very easy to change the colors, so it would be a snap to adjust this card for a graduate from another school.

I think the stamp that I used from Word Play is great for graduation cards.  Then again, I think the whole set is pretty great.  It's too bad it's retiring.  You only have until June 3rd to get it.  Sets in My Digital Studio never retire, so you'll still be able to get the digital version, but I'm glad I have both.

I used a text box to get the words on the banner, which I capped with arrows to mimic the arrow in the stamp.

Here is this week's sketch:

And here's a bonus card.  I used My Digital Studio and the set All Holidays to make a Father's Day card.

Head on over to the Techno Stamper Sketch Challenge site to see the samples from the rest of the design team and to link your own entry.   Stretch your creativity this week by playing along.

If you have questions about linking your entry, please feel free to ask.

Happy Memorial Day!  Thanks to all of our active duty military personnel and to our veterans for their service!  Be sure to take time to remember those who paid the ultimate price for our freedom.  After all, that's what this holiday is all about.

Stampin' Kits (My Digital Studio)

I like to carry a small stamping kit with me so that when I get stuck waiting somewhere, I can pull it out and be productive.  I used wood mount stamp boxes (being replaced by a new style).  So far, I have two sizes.  Both covers were made in MDS.  Here they are closed:

Here's a peek inside the larger one.  As you can see, I can carry all of the supplies necessary to make cards.  For this size, the card base must be folded to fit.  Sometimes I cut or punch pieces in advance, since neither the Big Shot nor the big punches will fit in this Stampin' Kit.  If I was making a set of cards at home, I'd punch them all out at once to save time.  So instead of moving to the next step right away, they go in my box with the other card pieces, to be stamped and assembled later.

Here are the cover pages as created in My Digital Studio:

These boxes are so handy.  I intend to make more for storing and carrying other things.  In fact, the small one has been re-purposed for holding my Simply Adorned charms and inserts.  I guess I need to make a new cover to reflect its new use.

Edit 5/22/13 - Two more ideas:

1)  These would also be great for gift boxes.  You could personalize them to match the gift.  Wrap the gift in tissue paper before putting it in the box so that you can't see what it is, insert the decorative cover, close the box, and you're done.  You can also tie a ribbon around it and add a bow to make it even nicer.  If you use the box to give handmade cards, then the recipient has a nice box to keep the cards in until they get used.

2)  If you don't have MDS, you could create cover inserts the traditional way - using card stock, stamps, punches, etc. 

Edit 11/12/13 - I have really liked having my Simply Adorned charms (retired, but the 1.5" x 2" size is still available on the Clearance Rack), chains, and inserts in one of these boxes.  It's a great way to keep them all together.  I just went into MDS and changed what my cover says.  If I really wanted to get organized, I'd scan all of the inserts and put a picture on the front cover.  Then I'd be able to see what I have without having to open the box.  Maybe one of these days...

So basically, with MDS you can make any kind of cover insert so you can use the boxes for anything you want.  And because the covers are inserted inside the box, they don't get messed up and they are easy to replace. 

I personally have not bought these boxes because I have been converting my retired wood mount stamps into clear mount (using the Clear Mount Cling Foam, 124236 - if you have questions about how to do this, please feel free to ask me).   So I have plenty of empty boxes to use - and I love that I can re-purpose them rather than throw them away.  However, if you haven't done this yet or need new boxes (say for a gift), you can get them from Stampin' Up!

Since the Stamp and Supply boxes are being retired, Stampin' Up! has offered a great price on these:

We are excited about the recent announcement of our new wood-mount stamp cases and want to give you a chance to get our outgoing placon storage boxes before they are gone. We have specially packaged the following placon boxes in packs of 10 at a great price.

Item	Description	Price
134676	Stamp & Supply Boxes (10 Pack) 3-3/8" x 2"	$2.95
134677	Stamp & Supply Boxes (10 Pack) 4-1/4" x 3"	$3.95
134678	Stamp & Supply Boxes (10 Pack) 5-1/4 x 4-1/4"	$4.95
134679	Stamp & Supply Boxes (10 Pack) 6-1/4" x 4-1/2"	$6.95
134680	Stamp & Supply Boxes (10 Pack) 8" x 5-1/4"	$7.95
134681	Stamp & Supply Boxes (10 Pack) 8" x 5-1/4" with tray	$7.95
134682	Stamp & Supply Boxes (10 Pack) 10-1/4" x 5"	$8.95

The placon boxes are only available while supplies last, so order yours today and get organized!*

Edit 1/20/14 - These Stamp & Supply Boxes are still available on the Clearance Rack.  The prices have gone down significantly!

TSSC 264 Blossom Petals Punch

Good Morning!  It's time for another Techno Stamper Sketch Challenge!  Here's my card:

 And here's the sketch:

The colors on my card are Midnight Muse, Primrose Petals and Summer Starfruit.  I know they don't quite look like that in the picture.  I've apologized before for my photography, but for some reason my TSSC photos seem to turn out even worse than normal.  I thought it was because I usually end up taking them at night (due to the deadline), but last week I took the picture in the sun and it just ended up looking harsh (in my opinion).  I guess I'll just keep trying until I get it figured out (insert shrug here).

The Designer Series Paper is Patio Party (retiring, 25% off).  There's one page in there that's basically strips of different designs - so cool to use together or to cut into individual strips as I did for this card.

The flower was made with the Blossom Petals Punch (retiring, 40% off).  This is such a versatile punch, both for the variety of flowers and leaves you can make with it and for use in punch art.  You can see some of the projects I've made with it here - including a golf tee and a Hershey's kiss.

The coordinating Stampin' Up stamp set, Build a Blossom, is also retiring.  Want to see even more ideas?  Google the punch and/or the stamps, click on images at the top, and you'll see tons of creative uses for both.

Now head on over to the Techno Stamper site to see the samples from the rest of the design team.  Then, make your own project using the sketch and link it to the challenge.  Hope you'll play along this week.  Don't have a blog to link to?  Contact me for other ways to join the challenge.

Thanks for stopping by my blog!

MDS Birthday Card

I needed a birthday card for a friend who recently moved.  Since I don't have her new address yet, I decided to make the card in My Digital Studio (MDS) and e-mail it to her.  Turned out to be much quicker and easier than I expected.

MDS comes with many templates for cards, photo pages, etc., plus you can buy additional ones.  This card is one of those templates.  I do not know if this is one that comes with the software or one I got with a digital purchase.  Either way, I thought it was very cute.  So, instead of designing a card like I had originally intended, I used this one.

All I did was open a new project using this template.  Then I made the first page of the card a .jpeg file.  Now I can send it in an e-mail as an attachment.  How easy is that?

For times that I want a hard copy, it's also very easy to personalize the templates (for example, to add a message on the inside).

Have you tried MDS yet?  If not, you can try it FREE for 30 days.  The more I use it, the more I like it.

Thanks for stopping by my blog today.

Photo Wallet - Elements of Style

Recently I made this cute little photo wallet using one of my favorite Stampin' Up! sets, Elements of Style.  I can't believe it's retiring.

Here's the photo wallet closed:

Here it is opened all the way.  You can mount pictures on the solid pieces and journal on the Whisper White ones.  I used a light colored ink on the journaling pieces so that the writing will still be readable (as long as you use a dark ink).

 Here it is partially open (or partially closed, depending on your view point).  There are two spots for more photos and a pretty stamped center.

 This is the belly band that holds it closed.

We'll be making one of these in an upcoming class, so keep an eye on the Classes/Events page to find out when.  The one we make in class will be different since Elements of Style will no longer be available.  It's a great set.  If you don't have it, be sure to get it before it's gone.

Boo Hoo Girl (Punch Art)

This card was made by my friend and customer, Nancy Baker, whose work I've shared before.  She made this for the birthday of a mutual friend.

 The face is the Ornament Punch (119847, retiring, 25% off).  The hair is the Scallop Oval Punch.  The mouth is a Circle Punch.  She used the Little Leaves Sizzlit, Boho Blossoms Punch and a punch from the Itty Bitty Shapes Punch Pack for the flower above the Happy Birthday Label (which is from the Bitty Banners Framelits). The medallion was made with a Scallop Punch (not sure which size) which was punched twice, with a smaller circle layered inside.  Not sure what else, though I believe several parts were hand cut.

Here's another card she made:

Some of the supplies I recognize:  a label from the Lots of Tags Sizzlits (retiring), a retired Embossing Folder, Butterfly Embosslits, Ticket Corner Punch (retired).  I'm sure the crocuses are made with some small piece from a punch, but I don't know which one.

Nancy often gets inspiration from other stampers, so it's possible these may resemble something you've made.  If so, please let us know by leaving a comment with a link to your work.

Thanks for stopping by my blog today.  I hope you've enjoyed seeing my friend's cards.

TSSC 263 Feel Goods

Here's my design team sample for this week's Techno Stamper Sketch Challenge.  I've really been using Feel Goods a lot lately.  In fact, I recently made a graduation card for my step-niece who just got her Master's Degree and I used the "She believed she could ...so she did" stamp from that set.  It seemed perfect for a goal which took such perseverance to achieve.  I don't have a picture of the card (and the graduate already has it), or I'd post it.

So, since I've been using that set so much, the white rectangle on the sketch just screamed, "Feel Goods," at me.  Here is the result.

 Here's this week's sketch.  Make your own project and upload it here.  Then check out the rest of the design team's samples.

Supplies Used:

Cardstock:  Whisper White, Midnight Muse, Gumball Green

DSP:  In Color Patterns Paper Stack (retiring)

Ink:  Midnight Muse (sponging around edges), Gumball Green

Stamps:  Feel Goods

Big Shot:  Chevron Embossing Folder, Sweet Buttons Embosslit

Embellishments:  Lucky Limeade Baker's Twine (retiring)

I used a Sponge Dauber to sponge around the edges of three pieces with Midnight Muse and to highlight the chevrons with Gumball Green.

Hope you'll play along this week!

TSSC Design Team:

Mary Jo Price-Williams:  Technostamper 

Sue Root (me):  Stampin' With Sue

Robbie Rubula: InkedX2 

Eileen LeFevre: Eileen's Stampin' Fever Blog 

Tanya Bell: Stamping T! 

Carolyn Bennett: Carolyn's Paper Fantasies 

Jonia Smith: Stampin for Me 

Mary Brown: Stamper Camper

Happy Mother's Day!

I hope you have an amazing Mother's Day!

I have two cards to share with you today.  Each uses the Stampin' Up stamp set, Amazing Family.

Colors:  Whisper White, Not Quite Navy (retiring), Regal Rose (retiring), Wild Wasabi, Daffodil Delight.

Border was punched with the scallop trim border punch.

 

Close up of the layered Quintessential Flower (retiring).  I actually could have done one more, but I kept this one at 4 layers.

I stamped the first flower directly on the card.  Punched the Regal Rose flower with the 1 3/4" Scallop Circle Punch.  Then used the 1" Circle Punch (Wild Wasabi) and 1/2" Circle Punch (Daffodil Delight).  I topped it with a Basic Pearl.

 Inside of the card (Delightful Dozen, retiring, and Something to Celebrate, retired)

The second card:

Colors:  Whisper White, Not Quite Navy (retiring), Lucky Limeade (retiring), Daffodil Delight

Big Shot (Border):  Delicate Designs Embossing Folders

Ribbon:  1/8" Stitched Taffeta Ribbon (Daffodil Delight, retiring)

Punches: 7/8" Scallop Circle, 1 1/4" Scallop Circle, 1/2" Circle, 3/4" Circle, Corner Rounder

Same Layout - Three Cards

My mom is so thoughtful.  Whenever she gets a hand crafted card or a card with a particularly good layout, she makes sure to show it to me in case it's something I'd like to try.  I really liked one of her recent cards, so I re-worked it with current Stampin' Up products and here are the results.  We'll be making the first one in my class at the end of the month (5/28 and 5/29).

 I absolutely love French Foliage and cannot believe it is retiring!  I've also become quite fond of Friendly Phrases, which is also retiring.  I will definitely miss both!

This was actually the third card I made with this layout.  I left the ribbon off because I thought with the Fall colors I could use it for a man.  Sometimes I have a hard time coming up with masculine cards, so I'm glad to have one ready to go.

 Here's the French Foliage card in Spring colors:

Here are the insides of the cards.  I'll probably add a sentiment before sending, but I'll wait until I know who I'm sending the card to and the situation before deciding.

 Supplies Used:

Stamps:  Bright Blossoms (top card), French Foliage (bottom two cards; retiring), Friendly Phrases (top and bottom card; retiring), Teeny Tiny Wishes (middle card)

Punches:  Square Scallop Punch (retiring), Scallop Oval Punch, Large Oval Punch, Owl Punch (circle in top card), Scallop Edge Border Punch

Ribbon:  Rich Razzleberry 1/4" grosgrain (top card, retired, but available as Stitched Grosgrain), Daffodil Delight 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon (bottom card, retiring, 25% off!)

Accessory:  Basic Rhinestones (top card)

Colors:  all use Whisper White

Top Card:  Melon Mambo, Tempting Turquoise, Rich Razzleberry

Middle Card:  Crushed Curry (returning color), Soft Suede, Cajun Craze

Bottom Card:  Certainly Celery (retiring), Bashful Blue (retiring), Daffodil Delight, plus green inks Gumball Green, Garden Green, Old Olive

To see other cards made with these products, click on the respective label at the bottom of this post.  If you are getting this in your e-mail, you'll have to go to my blog to see the labels.

Note:  just because there's not a label doesn't mean there aren't other cards using a particular product.  It just means I didn't label it.

The Bashful Blue card also work for this week's LNS Challenge, say goodbye to our retiring colors.  My time as a guest designer may be over, but it's still fun to play along.

Win Prizes!

Hi Blog Readers!

Looking for a demo?  I'd love to be yours!  I offer personal service and regularly thank my customers in a variety of ways - free Stampin' Up goodies, projects, classes... 

I am offering two chances to win prizes this month.  These prizes are in addition to any other freebies your purchase(s) may earn:

1)  Place an order (with me as your demonstrator) in one of the following ways.  Each order gets an entry.

- Online, using hostess code MVBH7EGH (by May 28th; a new code will be announced for orders placed after 5/28)

- Online, not using the hostess code, because the order is large enough for you to collect Stampin' Rewards (the online equivalent of Hostess Benefits)

- Directly through me, as a customer order or as part of a group order (at a class, club, or just because)

Sign up for My Paper Pumpkin - your monthly craft escape.  Each month when it mails, you'll automatically be entered in any drawings for which you qualify.  Sign up by May 10th to get this month's kit and be part of this month's drawing.

2)  Like my facebook page.  The more likes, the more prizes.

Also get entries for sharing posts.

No purchase necessary for the facebook contest.

Please contact me if you have any questions.

Thank you for your business!!

Sue Root, Stampin' Up Demonstrator

TSSC 262 Friendly Phrases

Here's my sample for this week's Techno Stamper Sketch Challenge.  I love the Designer Series Paper, Floral District, which is not only retiring, but is 25% off.  The stamp is from Friendly Phrases, which is also retiring.

Edit 5/10 - I replaced the scanned image with a photo.  The colors still don't look as bright as in person, but you can see the whole card this way.
I used the scanner again this week and didn't realize how washed out the colors look until I uploaded it.  The colors are so much more vibrant in person!  If you've seen Lucky Limeade or Tangerine Tango, you know what I mean.  Plus, it's kind of hard to see, but the card is on a Whisper White base.  Guess I need to go back to the camera.

 Here is this week's sketch:

You can check out the rest of the design team's samples and link your entry here.  I hope you'll play along this week.

I searched on Floral District and found I'd made several cards with this great DSP.  The search button is on the right hand side (right under where you sign up for e-mail updates) if you want to try it yourself.

You can see projects made with Friendly Phrases here. 

 Edit 5/6/13, 12:09pm:  I just saw that this matches the theme of the LNS challenge this week, so I will enter it over there, too.  I was planning to enter the challenge, once I saw what it was.  My time as a guest designer has ended, but I still plan to play along when I can.

Gossamer Lace Background

This card uses the Gossamer Lace stamp and the Vintage Wallpaper Embossing Folder as a background.  Both are are on the retirement list.  The ribbon is Whisper White 5/8" Organza Ribbon.

The colored card stock, Baja Breeze, is also being retired.

Remember that retiring accessories are only available while supplies last.

Happy Stampin', Sue

Birthday Cards using Builder Wheels

Some of my favorite builder wheels are on the retirement list - So Many Stars, Candle Crazy and Birthday.  Here are a couple of cards I made a while ago, but I guess never posted.   Or, if I did, I didn't tag them properly.  I know there are lots of other cards I've made with these wheels, but apparently did not post, either.  I guess there are only so many blogging hours in a week...

The stamp on the top card is from Birthday Bliss, which is retired already.  You could substitute something current.  However, it won't be as easy to find something to substitute for these wheels, so head over to my Online Store and get them before they're gone.

Thanks for stopping by my blog today.  Happy Stampin', Sue

Friendly Phrases Flower

Friendly Phrases is such a great set.  I love the phrases, the font, and the size.  Sadly, it's on the retired list.  You can see other cards using Friendly Phrase here.  You can see the other flower type included with the Pop-up Posies kit here.  Be sure to get both these items before they're gone.

Supplies Used:

Stamps:  Friendly Phrases (on retired list)

Card stock:  Whisper White, Tempting Turquoise, Daffodil Delight

Ink:  Tempting Turquoise, Melon Mambo (sponged flower)

Embellishments:  Pop-up Posies Kit (Spring Catalog), Brights Glimmer Brads,  3/16" Brights Brads (on retired list)

Punches:  Itty Bitty Shapes Punch Pack, Large Oval, XL Oval, Boho Blossoms

Big Shot:  Honeycomb Embossing Folder