Embellish

A Cardinal Christmas

I wasn't too crazy about this set when I bought it. So, why did I buy it, one might reasonably ask? Well, I needed another Christmas set for my Stamp A Stack, and I thought this was pretty different from  the other Christmas sets I own and might appeal to more people. Boy, was I right! I have since found out that many people are nuts about cardinals! I showed up at the home of a brand new hostess last week and discovered a house full of beautiful bird prints, figurines, stained glass, etc, prominently featuring cardinals. Her husband is deeply involved with the Audobon Society. Was she ever delighted that we happened to be making this card that night!

This project features Riding Hood Red, Basic Black and Whisper White. It would be very simple to mass-produce--don't let it fool you! It looks a lot more complicated than it is. We embossed the bird image and the words with black EP, colored it with markers and tore the edges, attaching with dimensionals. The card itself is stamped red on red holly berries. And with our matching Riding Hood Red taffeta, it's just perfect!

Contact me today to order a pre-cut Christmas Card kit that will make 20 full cards and includes the cardinal stamp set (a $23.95 value), envelopes and ribbon--you provide adhesive, markers and ink pads. Cost is just $35 plus shipping and tax!

Gratitude Top Note--four minute card

This is a great card I've been using at a lot of events lately--if you're reading this, chances are you've seen it in person! It's so gorgeous and so simple. It literally takes four minutes from start to finish!

The Top Note Big Shot die is what makes it... you really need to think about getting this machine! I'm working on a Big Shot Budget Busters Club for this spring, in which you can get your machine in four months, and attend four Big Shot classes for free, so that by the time your machine arrives, you will already be a pro. Watch for an email with details coming soon!

The base of this card (and envelope) is Kraft 8.5x5.5, topped by Really Rust 4x5.25. Die-cut the Top Note on Very Vanilla and stamp the largest leaf from With Gratitude in the left hand lower corner with Really Rust ink. Stamp the saying in Chocolate Chip ink in the opposite corner. Sponge the edges of the Top Note and the middle of the leaf with Really Rust ink. Punch a Slot in the upper left corner and tie a few knots of twine for embellishment. Attach to cardfront with dimensionals. DONE!

Contact me today if you'd like a sampler of Top Note die-cuts to play with and find out what thousands of Stampin' Up enthusiasts have already discovered--this die ROCKS!

Crazy for Cupcakes!

My friend Kelly loaned me this set to use this month and I think I might just have to own it myself, especially since it is on sale for 20% off this month for Stampin' Up's 20th birthday! There's only a couple days left to get this and five other great birthday-theme stamp sets at that reduced price, so contact me TODAY to order yours!

This card was a swap at my October downline meeting. It showcases our Fine Cosmo glitter, which is super fun! To get the long strip of celadon glitter along the edge, I laid down double-sided tape (Sticky Strip reccomended). Then you just sprinkle glitter on it and shake off the excess--easy as pie! Or should I say easy as a cupcake?!

I used the new Scallop Border punch along the edge of the Gable Green card and backed it with Green Galore--love those two colors together. The Only Orchid circle is cut with the Coluzzle system, then pierced around. The cupcake was stamped on Whisper White, colored with the Aquapainter (also on sale!!!) and the Bold Brights Watercolor Wonder Crayons.

The cherry is made by cutting a little divot out of the 1/2 inch hole punch (Pixie Pink), then watercoloring a little red onto it for shading, and coating with Crystal Effects. I also dabbed CE on the sprinkles of the cupcake and sprinkled it with Dazzlin' Diamonds and the rose Cosmo glitter. I have also made adorable cherries out of the petals of one of the rounded felt flowers from our Felt Fusions Accents & Elements kit. Very cool!

Candy Cane Brownie Truffle "Lollipops"

Here's another recipe we used at the Pampered Chef/Stampin' Up candy class, and this one I definitely plan to use for every event I head to this Christmas! They were not only adorable, but absolutely scrumptious, and SO easy!

Bake a pan of brownies according to the directions on the package. While you're waiting, wash the bowl, my mother would say. Lick the spatula, too! No, really, while you're waiting, cut off the straight ends of 24 candy canes to become the handles for your lollipops. Put the crooks of the candy canes into a ziploc baggie and crush with a hammer or meat tenderizer, or use your PC Food Chopper.

While the brownies are still slightly warm, scoop it up into balls with the Medium Scoop (you should get at least 24). Insert the cut end of the candy cane sticks into the brownie ball, compressing the brownie tightly around it.

Dip in melted almond bark, coating it completely. Drain off excess chocolate, sprinkle with crushed candy canes, and set on waxed paper to harden. Store in a mini muffin liner. Eat about a dozen and end up having to make another batch for your son's school party. Oh wait, that's me.

Oreo Truffle Recipe

Boy, I don't know what category to file this under--it's not a paper project and it's not family news, either! I guess I need a Recipes category!

This is about the easiest candy you'll ever make, yet it's so incredibly yummy that a friend of mine is making them to be the favors at her wedding reception. I got the recipe from my Pampered Chef lady and we made them at the afore-mentioned Candies Class. You'll throw out all your difficult and tempermental truffle recipes after you try this one! I've included some of Lynnette's great tips about making the truffles look professionally made.

1/2 package Oreos (or generic cream filled sandwich cookies)--crush with Food Chopper

1 package (8 oz) cream cheese--mix with crushed Oreos

1 lb almond bark or dipping chocolate, melted

Shape into balls with the Small Scoop, throw into chocolate and spoon chocolate to cover (rather than pushing the ball down into the chocolate), lifting out quickly so they don't start to melt. Let all excess chocolate drip off (this will prevent your truffle having a puddle of solidifed chocolate around it). Drop them from the fork or candy spoon about one inch above the paper and use the edge of the fork or candy spoon to make the little curlique on the top. Let harden and then try not to eat so many you make yourself ill!

Creative Candies Class--Windowed Truffle Box

This project was likewise for my CC-CC class, a square truffle box with a window in the lid, so you can show off the tempting treats inside! Where the other box held four truffles in a single row, this box holds four in quarters, a different look. It's a little more work, but wouldn't it make a great party favor?

The lid of this box is made with a sheet of the Patterns Pack, one of our hostess Level One choices. There's twelve sheets each of five different colors, and they're double-sided, so the inside of the box is just as cute as the outside!

Windowed Truffle Box:

Bottom: score a 6x6 piece of Real Red at just a hair over two inches from all four sides (one-sixteenth of an inch past 2 inches--this will make it just enough smaller to fit easily inside the lid). Snip up to the score lines and secure into a box with Sticky Strip.

Top: Score a sheet of 6x6 DSP two inches from all four edges. Before you cut it (but after you stamp it, if you're going to) lay your Coluzzle circle template on top of it, equally lined up on all four edges. Cut a circle with the FIFTH slot, which should then be perfectly centered in the middle of the top of the lid. Trim the circle out with Paper Snips.

Window: Cut a 3x3 piece of clear plastic from a transparency sheet, cello bag or clear envelope. The smallest cello bags SU sells are the perfect size for this. Using Sticky Strip or Crystal Effects in all four corners, secure the window sheet over the lid's hole on the inside of the box. Because the adhesive you will use is clear, your lid will look just as pretty open as closed.

To finish off the lid, snip up to the score lines and fold into a box. Lay an 8 inch strip of Whisper White taffeta ribbon across the window and down both sides, hiding the ends in the flaps which you will be securing shut with Sticky Strip.

Embellish: Tie a bow of Whisper White taffeta on the stretch ribbon right in the center of the window. Trim ends at an angle so they won't unravel. Make a tag and tie to the ribbon using Silver Metallic cord. Note: to make my tag, I layered the "for you" stamp on a Scallop Square punch, then snipped off the brad slot on ONE end of a square Hodgepodge Hardware label holder. You want to use old scissors or your good strong Craft & Rubber scissors for this. Attach that metal tag holder to the Scallop Square with Mini Glue Dots.

The final project we did I already gave away, so I don't have one to show you, but we stamped with Stazon White on our large flat cello bags, inserted Brownie Candy Cane lollipops, and tied them shut with Kiwi Kiss Striped Grosgrain ribbon and a cute tag made from the hostess set Deer Friends and the circle punches. Very very fun! And so easy... you could put out a bunch of those in very short order.

Creative Candies Class--Long Truffle Box

As promised, here is a photo and directions for a long, narrow truffle box that we made at my Classy Candies & Creative Crafts class this past Tuesday night. Everyone had a great time learning to make easy Pampered Chef recipe candies with my great consultant Lynnette Sharf, and then learning to make three types of packaging for our holiday gift-giving. Thanks, Lynnette!

Long Truffle Box:

Bottom: Score a 10x6 inch piece of Basic Black CS two inches in from all four sides. Snip up to the score lines on the ends and fold into box shape, securing with Sticky Strip.

Top: Score a 9x5 inch piece of Baja Breeze at 1.5 inches from all four sides. Stamp as desired (I used Snow Swirled and Baja Breeze ink). Snip up to the score lines on the ends and fold into a box, securing with Sticky Strip.

Embellishments: Tie a length of Baja Breeze Striped Grosgrain around the box and trim ends at an angle so they don't ravel. Emboss a snowflake in Sterling Silver EP on scrap Basic Black CS. Punch out using the Tag Punch. Punch a hole for the silver metallic cord to go through and tie to Baja Breeze knot in a bow.

Bethlehem Night--Iridescent Ice Embossing

Wanted to show you all a quick and easy way to add some KA-POW! to your Christmas cards this year. But first--put a pillow over your keyboard. Right now. That way, when your jaw drops, you won't accidentally send an email to Nigeria or cause the Blue Screen of Death to appear on your monitor.

To acheive this starry night look (which works with snowmen or wintery trees as well as the Bethlehem skyline from this retired set (City of David), you'll need a stipple brush or other stiff bristly paintbrush, a Versamark (stick clear ink) pad, Iridescent Ice embossing powder, and a heat tool. All these awesome supplies are available from Stampin' Up and me.

First stamp your background scene in a light color on dark cardstock, and emboss it if desired, or let it throughly dry. Then, dab your stipple brush onto the Versmark pad and then onto the paper in the desired area. In this case, I only dabbed the Versamark under where the star would shine. Then, sprinkle the II EP over the dabbed areas and shake off the excess. Heat set with your heat tool--be careful as II seems to burn more easily than the other EP's. That's it!

The colors I used here are Night of Navy and Brushed Silver cardstock, with Encore Silver ink. To finish it off I sponged a little Craft White ink on the hills to simulate sand dunes. Really a quick card, believe it or not! Now, a little sales pitch--this is the only set I had left over from my big stamp rummage this year. I know it's because no one wants to think about Christmas in August. But I know if you see this et in action, you're gonna want it, and it's not available to order any more. So, first come, first served! Email me if you are interested.

Blind Embossing with your Paper Trimmer

This is another card of mine that was on the Stamper's Showcase. I am into monochromatic cards in a big way, so I LOVE Stampin' Up's color coordination in terms of ink, cardstock and embelishments, and this card shows them off just perfectly.

Click on the photo to enlarge and see the background--that's what I want to focus on this morning. You can create this very easily with your paper trimmer and a bone folder. All you do is score a straight line every half inch all the way across the card front. Then turn it and do the same thing in perpendicular lines the other direction. Bingo! You've got a grid of perfect squares that adds a lot of texture without adding a lot of busyness. In the case of this baby card, it turned out looking like a soft baby blanket (especially when you brush ink on the raised lines).

One more note on this card and I've got to go make lunch for the little boogers--the heart in the center of the square punch frame is made from the scallop circle punch--yep, I said the scallop circle punch. You just cut two of the scallops out! You can get several hearts from one scallop circle--and they just fit on a dimensional. Very cool! Another awesome use for this extremely versatile punch.

What's in YOUR tool kit?

My upline Jessica gave a little talk on organizational tips at one of her meetings and one section really struck home. It was on having "zones" around yourself when you're settled in your favorite stamping chair. In the closest zone, the area immediately in front of you, you should have the tools you use ALL the time, on a daily basis (see my list below). In the next zone, the area within arm's reach, you should have the tools you use the next most-often (like once a week or more). The next zone is things you'd have to stretch, bend, stand, open or otherwise disturb yourself to get 9thing you use once a month or so). The final zone is things you'd have to get up and walk to get, which encompasses the rest of the room and should be things you use only occasionaly or seasonally.

It makes a lot of sense and I am in the process of converting my stamp room to this zone system (within the parameters of my vintage house and it's layout and quirks. Right now I have to get up and move to get every single piece of cardstock--but let me tell you, stamping is a sedentary job and a little movement is a good thing). I began to realize how much JUNK I have within my first two zones--things that I honestly don't need right at hand, which I could move to make room for tools I DO need right at hand. There's a thought!

So here's my list of the top ten items I need right at hand. I keep them on my stamping table and in a spinning tool organizer I got from Pampered Chef that works perfectly for this purpose! My adhesives are all in a little open, shallow basket on the shelf immediately to my right hand.

1. Bone Folder--honestly, I can't fold a simple piece of paper in half any more without this great tool. And yes, it's made of real cow bone. And no, I don't know why that works so much better than the fake plastic "bone" folders in the stores, but it does--no comparison. My favorite thing to do with it is stick in the the groove of the paper trimmer and use it to score when I'm too lazy to pull out the scoring blade.

2. Paper Trimmer--what on earth does one do without this item? Some of you are still cutting your cards by hand with a ruler and pencil. How tedious! And can I let you in on a secret? It really does show. Time to take your projects up another professional notch! Not to mention the trimmer makes scoring incredible easy, which is absolutely necessary for many projects. If I had to choose ONE tool (heaven forbid) I would choose this one. The SU one has more measurements and since they are not painted on like other companies' trimmers, they won't wear off over time.

3. Paper Snips--they're tiny, but they're awesome! These are the sharpest scissors you will ever own. Be super careful with them, but enjoy the tiny, precise cuts they make, as well as how cleanly they cut ribbon and how accurately you can trim out images.

4. Stampin' Scrub and Mist--our super cleaning system is the best on the market and very compact, too. The Mist has a mild detergent and glycerin in it to condition the rubber, and the Scrub has a wet AND dry side, unlike others out there, and has a nice deep pile to get in all the nooks and crannies of the fine details of our stamps.

5. Adhesive Remover--for those little adhesive blunders we all make. Yeah, me too. This cheap item (two bucks) will even remove sticky strip!

6. Mono Adhesive and refills--this is by far my favorite adhesive.I love that I never get a sticky fingerprint on my project. My hands stay completely clean. And it works out to be only a penny an inch, making it one of the most affordable adhesives on the market. It's lightweight and works great!

7. Dimensionals--honestly, it's a toss-up between these and the paper trimmer, getting back to that horrifying "lost-on-a-deserted-island-what-would-you-take" scenario. Flatter and softer than ANY other pop-dot on the market, these won't catch in the postal machines, cost only a penny apiece if you use the whole sheet, and add that awesome dimension to your projects.

8. Sticky Strip--it's a must-have. There's so many things you can do WITH it, and so many things you can't do WITHOUT it. Your projects will last until the year 2089 if they're made with this. Trust me.

9. Sponges--anyone who stamps with me knows this is my best "fix-it" tip for smudges, partial stamps, mis-stamps, and ghosting. It also adds instant panache to any project and helps draw the whole thing into a cohesive whole. In a pinch you can make a whole background just by sponging. But don't just run out and buy any old sponge. You need the rounded ones (which, coincidentally, SU sells) or you will get those blechy straight lines instead of a nice overall blur.

10. Craft and Paper Scissors--you could never have told me that a pair of scissors could make such a difference, but these babies really do. I was lucky enough to win a pair in a contest, or I might never have tried them because they're a little pricey. But I'm completely in love with them now and I get quit put out when I can't lay my hands on them. They cut ribbon without any tension--you can literally cut the ribbon without holding it. The longer blade length is great for cutting paper in a straight line, too. Yes, a straight line! That's worth it right there.

So there you go. I would encourage you to put together your own Tool Kit of "must haves" and put it in your personal zone. Even if you don't own a stamping space per se, you can create a tool kit to put in your rolling tote that you can lift out and place in your zone when you are at a crop or event. Save yourself time and frustration--and as Martha would say, "That's a good thing."

Baby, it's cold outside

Brrr... it's chilly and rainy outside and I wish someone would make me a cup of hot chocolate! Enjoy one while you're making this quick project I designed for my last Chocolate Lovers' Stamp Camp. It was featured on the Stamper's Showcase, a demonstrator-only gallery that is a fantastic resource--our best kept secret!

Instructions for Cocoa Slider Cards

Supplies needed: 1—4.25x11 inch cardstock (Real Red card base), 1—3x12 inch coordinating cardstock (Bashful Blue belly band), 1—2.5x2 inch neutral cardstock (Whisper White focal point), 1—4.25x2.75 inch coordinating cardstock (Chocolate Chip mat), Paper cutter with scoring blade, Mini Glue Dots, Stamps and ink for focal point image and background (Pun Fun and Itty Bitty Backgrounds), 10 inches wide grosgrain ribbon (Chocolate Chip), individually packaged cocoa.

1.   Stamp card base with background stamp using the same color ink as the cardstock (keep it subtle).

2. Score card base at 2, 2.25, 7.75 and 8 inches. Fold. The longer flap is on the top. Secure the cocoa packet inside with a glue dot.

3. Score the belly band piece at 4.25, 4.5, 8.75 and 9 inches. Fold and secure with Sticky Strip, making sure it goes around the card and packet easily but is not too loose.

4. Stamp and color focal point image, adhering to the right hand edge of the mat.

5. Adhere the matted image to the belly band with mono adhesive.

6. Tie a knot of wide grosgrain ribbon around the belly band and trim ends at an angle to prevent raveling.

7. Slide belly band over card to hold flaps down. To open the card, slide the belly band up or down.

Stamp A Stack Card Designs

Registration is now open for my annual Christmas Card Stamp A Stack, this November 15th from 10 a.m.--3 p.m. Join us as we get a jump on our cards for the year stamping and chatting with friends, and share a Christmas potluck lunch--bring a dish to pass! Contact me for more details.

This year I'm doing something a little different and instead of having four set designs and everyone makes 40, you will be able to choose your favorite designs in multiples of 20, as many as you would like, up to one hundred cards! CLICK ON THE PHOTOS TO ENLARGE.

Design #1 (Christmas Pointsettia), a classy design using our new Top Note die cut inside and out, and the new Christ is Born set. Accented with the gold Zig Painty pen, the colors of Riding Hood Red and Handsome Hunter look so elegant. Requires quite a bit of hand-cutting.

Outside: Christ is born. Let the heavens rejoice and the earth be glad. Psalms 96:11. Inside: Wishing you the joy and wonder of the first Christmas.

Design #2 (Christmas Cardinal) is a more weathered country look with this new set from the Holiday Mini. Mellow Moss and Riding Hood Red holly and berries complement the gorgeous red of the classic Christmas bird. An inside Top Note with faux stitching adds an extra touch. Requires easy hand coloring/painting, eyelets set with the Crop A Dile. 

Outside: Merry Christmas. Inside: May the blessings of the season fill your heart and home with joy.

Design #3 (Sleigh Ride) is my Currier & Ives inspired card for this year. Earthy tones of caramel and burgundy complement the sepia style line drawing and pale watercolors encased in an oval frame. An inside Top Note with faux stitching adds to the theme. Requires easy painting and simple use of the Coluzzle.

Outside: Merry Christmas. Inside: Welcome Christmas into your heart.

Design #4 (Peaceful Snowfall) showcases an element from the new Big Shot in classy silver and eggplant, accented with our great silver cardstock, cord and ink. Requires minimal embossing and eyelet setting with the Crop A Dile (optional).

Outside: Peace. Inside: May the true spirit of Christmas fill your heart with peace, your home with love.

Design #5 (Baroque Christmas) is an elegant gate fold design in Bordering Blue accented with a gold embossed medallion, gold cord and ink. Inside is a Top Note edged in gold (see additional photo). Requires minimal embossing and easy handcutting.

Outside: holiday greetings. Inside: Sing praise & joy to God above for His glorious gift of peace and love.

Contact me today for information on pricing. RSVP for the event no later than November 1st!

Two Minute Christmas Card!

Here's one to consider if you need to mass-produce a bunch of Christmas cards and you have very little time! This card takes just two minutes from start to finish. It's only got one layer, so there's virtually no measuring and cutting, if that scres you. It can be done with any set that has at least three sizes of snow flakes in it (for instance, the very popular Snow Swirled set, which so many of you purchased during last month's Never Before Seen promotion!) Assemble your supplies and then time yourself just for fun!

Fold a half sheet of Brilliant Blue cardstock in half to form a side-opening card. Tear off about an inch from the side of the front cover only. Using Encore Silver ink, stamp little snowflakes on the inside of the card where they will show when the card is closed. Stamp the largest snowflake on the front cover. Stamp a saying inside. Stamp a snowflake on the envelope, too! Tie a knot of silver metallic cord around the fold. DONE!

As Chef Emeril would say, "kick it up a notch" by embossing the large focal point snowflake and inside saying if you'd like. But as many of you have already discovered, the Encore Silver ink pad is an easy way to add an elegant sheen, especially on darker, rich colors of cardstock.

And a "cool" note-- you can get the cardstock, ink and cord to make 48 cards for less than $20 bucks! Add a pack of envelopes and you're still only paying about fifty cents per card for something much prettier and a lot more meaningful than the flimsy cards from Walmart. So go to my website today and try out the new online ordering! I will be giving a FREE cardstock sampler ring of our 48 exclusive colors to the first three people to order this week.  www.Lyssa.stampinup.net

Cracked Glass Technique

I really love the look of this technique, but don't use it very often, because that would require me getting up off my duff and walking to the kitchen to put my project in the freezer and I'm just that lazy.... and yes, you heard me right, I said FREEZER! And just when you thought you'd seen everything when it came to stamping...

The technique is called cracked glass, which sounds dangerous but honestly isn't! All you need to make it is Glassy Glaze embossing powder (hereafter referred to as EP), a heat tool, a Versamark (clear embossing ink) pad, and your freezer. Powder Pal trays are awesome, but you can use a sheet of scratch paper as a tray in a pinch.

Step one is to stamp your image. I always think flowers look awesome with this technique, but by all means use anything your little heart desires.

Step two is to press the entire piece of cardstock face down into your Versamark pad so the whole thing is coated with that stick, clear ink. Then, sprinkle the Glassy Glaze EP over the top, shake off the excess, and heat it until it's entirely melted. It will have a slightly bumpy, uneven textures surface, just like old glass windows.

Step three is to repeat step two twice. So you have three layers of this thick, clear EP, one on top of each other. Then quickly stick it in the freezer for at least five minutes so it gets completely cold.

Step four--pull it out of the freezer and start bending it in all directions. The cold EP will start cracking in all directions. Keep bending and twisting until you have all the cracks you desire. I often will sponge a little Creamy Caramel or Going Gray into the cracks to make them really stand out. That's it! You have a totally cool focal point to add to your weathered, shabby chic, or retro card.

This card uses a now-retired stamp set (Blossoms Abound) which I will NEVER part with because it's lilacs, which I've always loved. When I was growing up in Wyoming, our big back yard were bordered on three sides with enormous lilac bushes and the month when the air was perfumed with them was absolutely heavenly. When we bought our current house, the first thing I planted was--you guessed it--a lilac bush. I now have six varieties of lilacs in various spots around the house and I can't wait until they're all matured and blooming away. Anyway, next time you come over to "play" we can dig out this stamp set from my retired pile and it can bring back memories for both of us as we make cards for people we love.

Scalloped Baby Onesies--you can thank me later

  These are cards I received in demonstrator-only swaps and they really are just the cutest things going and SO easy to make. Deb F is the creator of the pink one and Angel B. made the green one. The idea's been around for a bit, but it is always a WOW. Having had to pry them out of people's hands so I could go home after workshops, I decided to post them here so they won't "fall" into anyone else's purse.

All you do is stamp or wheel a blank piece of cardfront-sized cardstock (4.25x5.5) with whatever small baby-style images you want. Then use your large circle punch (upside down, remember) to make the neck line. You can either use the same circle to carve out the two leg openings, as shown in the celery sample, or hand cut your own, as shown in the pink sample.

To make the slanting sides, I would reccomend cutting one side the way you want it, then taking the piece you cut off and using it backwards as a pattern to make the other side match exactly. You cannot expect me to EVERYTHING for you!

Other CUTE touches include the bib (scallop circle punch) and crotch "snaps" (the line of dotted circles from One of a Kind). Sponging the edges also adds dimension. I wouldn't reccomend the ribbon rosette if you plan to mail your invitations/announcements, because it's really bulky--but super cute. I also own another swap that is pretty much the same idea only they didn't make the leg openings, so it was a little dress. And the new scallop border punch is so perfect for that it just isn't funny. Add a little pocket and people will be crying, it's so cute. The very thought makes me verklempt.

You can stamp an announcement in the blank area on the back, or, if you plan ahead, you can run the cardfronts through the printer, making sure that you centered the info so that when you punch out the neck and leg holes and cut the sides, you won't cut off the last couple letters of little Herkimer or Hepsibah's name.

Some of you may be thinking "I have no use for this thing" and that's ok, but stick it back in a corner of your brain, because Someday Somebody Somewhere is going to ask you to host a shower.

You can thank me later.

Haiku Boxes, continued

Folks out there are telling me they're having a dab of a difficult time figuring out the Haiku Boxes I posted about early in September, so I am including some more photos of the steps to help you visualize it better. We're starting with a 9x7 rectangle of DSP (Bella Rose pictured here) and scoring it at one and two inches from each long side, and two and three inches from top and bottom. Then we trim out the corners all the way to the inner score lines, as shown here in the photo. The two little flaps there will be tucked into the bottom of the box for stability.

You bring up the bottom flap of the box, tucking in those two little flaps and securing with sticky strip. Sorry the pictures are so goofy--my camera is giving me a horrible time lately. Sometimes I mess up electronic gadgets just by touching them--no lie. I have had cameras quit when I picked them up, analog and digital watches stop when I wear them, streetlights go out as I walk under them. I'm surprised I haven't imploded my Cricut or anything. Someday I'll probably spontaneously combust or something. Anyway, my camera is quitting on me every time I press the button. I have changed the batteries multiple times and it still does it. About every twentieth time it will take a picture instead of quit. Incredibly frustrating!

Anyhooo-- back to the original topic--where where we? Oh yes, you're attaching the ribbon tie and label area to the top flap, which not only covers the top but comes half the way down the front of the box. Here the box is pictured laying face down, with the ribbon attached to the edge of the top flap. Hope that makes sense. It took me seriously an hour to figure out how to close this box when I was designing it. You want a smaller length of the ribbon sticking out on the right hand side, because the other length of ribbon is going to wrap all the way around the box, capice?

The final picture is the box right side up again, resting on it's bottom, with the top flap down and the ribbon tied all the way around the box, closed. If you're really confused at this point, it's because I added another piece of DSP to the bottom front of this box just so I could use more of the patterns in the adorable Bella Rose collection.

Allrighty then... if that doesn't do the trick, I'll just have to come over to your house and we'll make one together. If it's got to be done, it's got to be done. You make sure you have some DSP on hand, and I'll bring the chocolate.