{12 Weeks of Christmas}: Week 9 -- Belly Band Gift Idea

O, the Belly Band!  How I love thee!  There are so many fun ways to use a Belly Band. In today's {12 Weeks of Christmas} post, I wanted to share a gift idea with you...

This funky origami project is actually a gift card holder!  It's so very simple, uses supplies which are readily on-hand and quick to make with a great WOW factor.

Start with a 4-1/4 by 10-3/4" piece of Always Artichoke card stock.  I scored it (using my FABULOUS Simply Scored tool) at 2-1/4, 3, 3-3/4, and 7-1/4 inches.  I made a careful slit in the 3-inch cut, being sure not to cut all the way across the piece (you're making a slit for the gift card here--note in the picture below that a scant 1/2-inch is left on either side, uncut).  You can easily use your paper trimmer to make this slit.  Add adhesive to the "inside" of the gift card holder part at those uncut places so that it stands up when opened.

Once folded closed, I added a 3-1/4 by 4-inch piece of So Saffron card stock, which I'd run through my Big Shot with the Perfect Polka Dots Textured Impressions Embossing Folder.  I made the sentiment tag using a scrap of Whisper White card stock and the Modern Label punch (do you see how much I love to lop off a side of that punch?  I use it all of the time). 

Finally, the Belly Band...  I created it starting with a piece of Always Artichoke card stock (measuring 9-1/2 by 1-1/2 inches), run through the Big Shot with my new Snow Burst (Holiday Mini) Textured Impressions Embossing Folder.  Oh, how I love those snowflakes!  I scored it at 2-3/4 inches and 7-1/2 inches and adhered the flaps to make the band.  

It is adorned with an image from Sweet Season, which I colored with my Always Artichoke and Cajun Craze Stampin' Write Markers.  It's punched with the 1-3/4-inch Scallop Circle and popped up on Stampin' Dimensionals on a piece of Cajun Craze, which I punched with the larger, 2-3/4-inch Scallop Circle.  This piece is adhered to the Belly Band in an off-set manner to give visual interest.  A strand of white Baker's Twine completes the look.

Stampin' Up! Supplies:


Stamps:  Sweet Season (#116471) and Short and Sweet (#115060)

Paper:  Always Artichoke (105119), Cajun Craze (119684), So Saffron (#105118) and Whisper White (#100730) card stocks

Ink:  Always Artichoke Classic (#105219) and Stampin' Write Marker (#105113), and Cajun Craze Classic (#119671) and Stampin' Write Marker (#119678)

Accessories:  Big Shot (#113439), Snow Burst (#124096) and Perfect Polka Dots (#117335) Textured Impressions Embossing Folders, Simply Scored Scoring Tool (#122334), 1-3/4" (#119854) and 2-3/8" (#118874) Scallop Circle and Modern Label (#119849) Punches, Baker's Twine (#124262), Stampin' Dimensionals (#104430) and Stamping Sponges (#101610)

We're closing in on Christmas -- I hope you're able to find time to slow down and enjoy the festive spirit.  Stay tuned for a corresponding video and more {12 Weeks of Christmas} posts!

{Tuesday: Technique Video (New Camera!)}

Hey, there! I've shot a new video (a tutorial on ribbon-tying), but the camera is giving me fits when it comes to uploading my video. As I type this, I'm downloading software updates and new drivers, so hopefully (today?!), I'll have something to show you!

In the meantime, I'll show you the card I'll be discussing:

Stampin' Up! Supplies:

Stamps: Short and Sweet

Papers: Sweet Pea Designer Series Paper, Taken with Teal, Chocolate Chip

Inks: Chocolate Chip and Rose Red Classics

Accessories: Chocolate Chip Wide Grosgrain Ribbon, Sweet Pea Stitched Felt, Word Slot and Modern Label Punches, Stampin' Dimensionals, Mini Glue Dots

OMG! It's a video!

As threatened, I've created my first video! It was a lot easier than I thought it would be to set up the camera and edit the final product. Part of why I've waited this long is a fear that I needed to get everything perfect. You'll see that this video is definitely my first. For example, my nine-year-old just pointed out that the part I finished this morning was done in my PJs and robe. Guilty... I promise that you won't see me in my jammies again (I'd forgotten that you'd see that). ;)

I also called the Designer Series Paper both "Welcome Home" and "Welcome Neighbor." Technically, it's "Welcome Neighbor."

I was nervous and made some bad jokes, but all in all, I'm happy with the end result. Please forgive the rough end to the first clip and recap of the beginning of the second. My camera battery died unexpectedly and I didn't want to start the whole video over again. I *LOVE* the teaching part of being a demonstrator (I am a teacher on Mom Detail sabbatical, after all), so this is very fulfilling for me.

I won't recap the details for making this card except to correct myself in the video... Grab some popcorn and take a look!



Stampin' Up! Supplies:

Stamps: Short and Sweet

Papers: Welcome NEIGHBOR Designer Series Paper (Sale-a-Bration freebie!!), and Bermuda BAY (not "Bermuda Blue") and Whisper White card stocks

Inks: Bermuda Bay Classic

Accessories: Scallop Trim Border Punch (another Sale-a-Bration freebie!!), Scallop Square Punch, Bermuda Bay and Whisper White grosgrain ribbons, paper snips, Stampin' Dimensionals, white embroidery floss

Thanks for your visit!

Soccer Moms Unite!

Whew! Soccer is ov-ah! What a relief!

Don't get me wrong... Soccer has brought my husband and children much joy and good exercise. I will say, though, that it has been a challenge to have him coach the two older kids' teams and have a two-year-old in the mix. Plus we sure had some rainy days this season!

The kids were darling and all commented on how much fun they had this season. We hope to see everyone back next year!

To thank the fellow Soccer Parents who helped order trophies, set up our team party for the end of the season, bake treats for the party, etc, I came up with some simple "Thank You" notes. I love this design, as I can tweak it to use elsewhere...

I made this card in both Bravo Burgundy and Orchid Opulence (for the parents on Jordan's team; their team color was light purple).

Stampin' Up! Supplies:

Stamps: Short and Sweet, I Love Soccer (Retired)

Paper: Bravo Burgundy, Whisper White, Basic Black

Ink: Bravo Burgundy, Going Grey and Basic Black Classics

Accessories: Blender Pens, Basic Black wide grosgrain ribbon, Word Slot Punch, Stampin' Dimensionals

Welcome Home, Daisy!

Dear friends of ours suffered the loss of a dear dog earlier this year. She'd been with them for over 16 years and is a cherished member of the family.

We just received the happy news that they've welcomed a new (lucky!) puppy into their home, named Daisy. Here's the card I made to send to them:

Stampin' Up! Supplies:

Stamps: All in the Family and Short and Sweet sets

Papers: Very Vanilla and Pink Passion card stocks, Kaleidoscope Designer Series Paper

Inks: Pink Passion, Tempting Turquoise and Basic Black Classics and VersaMark

Accessories: Scallop Oval, Scallop Circle, and Word Slot Punches, Tempting Turquoise Narrow Grosgrain Ribbon

Thanks for looking!

"Here's your sweet lavender..."

"...sixteen sprigs a penny,
that you’ll find my ladies
will smell as sweet as any."

Lavender Sellers’s Cry, London England CA 1900

Good Monday morning! For today's 365 Cards challenge, we were asked to create a lavender-colored card. I love the botanical lavender. I had a little time before Baby Anna woke up, so I popped outside to take some pictures of mine (they're almost ready to harvest).

Here's my card (which turned out a lot more blue in the photo than it looked in the Studio):
Stampin' Up! Supplies:

Stamps: Short and Sweet

Paper: Almost Amethyst card stock and DSP (from a retired Hostess Pattern Pack)

Ink: Almost Amethyst

Accessories: Sizzix Big Shot, Stampin' Up! Backgrounds I Texturz Plate (Damask), Stampin' Up! Birds and Blooms Sizzlits die, Stampin' Up! Scallop Envelope Bigz die, Word Slot punch, Stampin' Dimensionals

Here's another lavender quote: "There's a few things I've learned in life: always throw salt over your left shoulder, keep rosemary by your garden gate, plant lavender for good luck, and fall in love whenever you can." Alice Hoffman, Practical Magic (from http://theherbgardener.blogspot.com/2008/01/lavender-in-literature-quotes-about.html )

Lavender Sellers’s Cry quote from: http://www.lavendershoppe.com/lavender_quotes.php

Thanks so much for looking!

Baroque Motifs in a Slew of Layers

I designed this card for the card class I donated to my son's preschool. The lucky bidder actually bought the class for her sister as a birthday gift and it was fun to be with them (they made me miss my sister, who lives out-of-state!).

I CASEd the awesome layout of this card from Wendy Weixler. I really loved the layers (especially the one on the top right -- love how it's flush at the top with the body of the card!). I used my own color scheme, stamp set and embellishments. I can't wait to see what else I can do to this terrific layout. I made a few of this card to give to graduates in my life...Stampin' Up! Supplies:

Stamps: Baroque Motifs and Short and Sweet sets

Papers: Chocolate Chip Patterns Designer Series Paper, Elegant Eggplant, Barely Banana, Very Vanilla, Rose Red

Inks: Elegant Eggplant

Accessories: Big Shot, Backgrounds I Texturz Plate, Very Vanilla Narrow Grosgrain Ribbon, Very Vanilla Hodgepodge Hardware, and Designer Label and 1/16-inch handheld punches

**Note** It's hard to see in my picture, but I fed the Chocolate Chip Patterns Designer Series Paper through the Sizzix Big Shot, using the Texturz Plate (Flourish) to give it an embossed look that coordinates with the flourish stamped on the Very Vanilla piece in the middle. I also crumpled my poor Barely Banana card stock until it started to peel apart (one piece will come apart into two "sueded" pieces).

Simple Cards

Here are some simple cards I made for my moms group to stamp. The group consists of new and experienced stampers, so I have to be sure that everyone is successful and enjoys their final products. I also love to throw in a technique or two. There are two major constraints on my planning, though. First, the projects have to be simple because we don't have a lot of time and my supplies of scissors, punches, stamps, inks, etc, are limited. I want all of the moms to have time to complete our project. No one wants to go home with something she couldn't finish. Second, we really have to watch our pennies. I have to look to things like sueded card stock as lower-cost embellishments.

These projects are also good make-and-take projects for workshops, because the aforementioned constraints apply there as well.

Dreams du Jour card:

Stampin' Up! Supplies:

Stamp Sets: Dreams du Jour

Inks: Chocolate Chip Classic

Papers: Kraft, Night of Navy, Baja Breeze and Very Vanilla Card Stock

Accessories: Stampin' Pastels; paperclip; Linen Thread

Special Technique: Using a towel (I'm a weenie), I repeatedly crumpled and smoothed out the piece of Baja Breeze card stock until the layers started to want to peel. I gently peeled them apart, leaving me with two pieces of "sueded" card stock, which adds visual and textural interest (**Excellent for scrapbooks!**).

Love You flower punch card:

Stampin' Up! Supplies:

Stamp Sets: Short & Sweet and Boho Backgrounds

Inks: Gable Green and Basic Black Classic

Papers: Gable Green, Pretty in Pink and Whisper White Card Stock

Accessories: 5-Petal Flower punch, Stampin' Dimensionals, Whisper White 5/8-inch Satin Ribbon

Lovely as a Tree card:

I wrote about this card in an earlier post (see "Happy Birthday, Uncle Brian"). I love this design and can't wait to play with it! I made a few changes for this group:

Stampin' Up! Supplies:

Stamp Sets: Lovely as a Tree; Fundamental Phrases

Inks: Chocolate Chip

Papers: Certainly Celery, Chocolate Chip, Ruby Red, and Whisper White card stock

Accessories: Whisper White Grosgrain ribbon; Linen Thread; Sizzix Big Shot; Top Note Bigz Die; Handheld rectangle and 1/16-inch punches; Word Slot punch