Stampin' Up! Hamburger Box Die - Frustration Free Method!

Howdy!  By now you've probably been seeing some really cute projects made with the new Stampin' Up! Hamburger Box Die.  This little gem will be available on June 2nd, and it's stinkin' CUTE!

But....it's not really easy to assemble.  That is, if you follow the directions that come with the die.  I followed the directions for the first box I made.  And then I was frustrated.  All I could think about was there has to be a simpler way.  When I get determined to find a way....I seek and destroy.  

So - I created a video to show you a much easier way to put this little box together.

Watch now:

***NEW! CRAFT CLASS: Embossing Paste***

Learn to create your own embossing paste, make your own stencils, and lots more!

New Online Class - Envelope Punch Board Class

Create 5 boxes! Not envelopes!  Using the EPB!

Click here for details!

Creation Station: Work of Art, Blast Off and all things Twine!

Hey there!  It's time for another group posting from the Creation Station Design Team!  Be sure to welcome Sara Levin and Heidi Boos this round!  They will be regular contributors - and they do amazing work. (that's kinda why I picked them to join us!)

This week the Design Team and I are working with a lot of new items, but mainly:

1) Work of Art Stamp Set

2) Blast Off Stamp Set (retiring)

3) Tied up with Twine - creative uses for Twine!

Alrighty - come on into the Creation Station:

For this one, I used the circle image from Work of Art and stamped it  like it was confetti falling {can you say trendy??}  I used three of our new In Colors - Blackberry Bliss, Lost Lagoon, and Hello Honey.  And I hate to admit this, but I think I have a newfound love of PURPLE!  Specifically Blackberry Bliss.  Such a pretty shade of purple, and I know it makes people like Cindy G. glad to hear me say such things!  

For the twine, I colored it with my new Blendabilities Markers.  The bonus here is that the twine dried almost instantly.  I tried this at first with our regular markers. It doesn't work as slick as with Blendabilities.  I ended up with purple fingers and the first die cut piece I tried to tie my twine to ended up with a LOT of purple smudges.  May I recommend using Blendabilities to "die" your twine!  You can see I also tied it to the die cut piece like you would a tag - on both sides.  Then adhered the ends to the back using Fast Fuse - this is some great new adhesive.  There is a trick to using it. It comes with some directions (thank goodness!), and with a little practice......The stuff is sticky - which is GREAT!

Let's move on to my next card.....

I was in dire need of some Graduation Cards.....are you seeing a theme?

This one uses the chevron image from Work of Art as a background stamp.  And instead of really showcasing the watercolor effect these stamps have, I think the looks a little more grungy - perfect for a teen graduate!  I think you'll want to use a Stamp-a-ma-jig - it makes lining things up MUCH easier!

The card base is Tangelo Twist, and the tag is Bermuda Bay - I think they make a great combo!  That sentiment is from Bravo!  This is a great!!! sentiment set - and the sentiments are large!

As you can see, I stitched with my twine.  This was actually quite easy.  I went around the edge of my Crumb Cake layer with the Essentials Piercing guide, and pierced every other hole in the guide. Then, I simply stitched it with a needle and white twine!

Ready for some more goodness?

Ok....I'm gonna warn you now!  I'm in love with our new Blendabilities!  IN LOVE!!!  Forever I've been wanting to purchase some Copic Markers.  But.  They. are. so. expensive.  

Our Blendabilities are reasonably priced.  3 of them for 11.95 (US).  Compared to the single $7-8 Copic - I think this is FANTASTIC!  And now I feel like I'm coloring like a pro!

That's what I used to color these gals from the In This Together set.  I pulled in the Work of Art set by using the skinnier streak image for the "rain" - well....here it looks like a downpour!  But I'm cool with that!

I also pulled in some new DSP - this comes from the Moonlight Paper Stack.  Once again, I colored my twine with a Blendabilities marker - this one of the Coastal Cabana colors.

Alright....one more card!

This time I stuck with Work of Art - sentiment and all.  First I heat embossed the sentiment with clear embossing powder, then stamped some of the images over the top using Lost Lagoon and Hello Honey.  
Yeah - my Lost Lagoon streak looks a little funny.  I tried to rolled the ends in a darker ink color.  I need to do a little more practice.  It really left a line.  I think the new(er) style ink pads aren't as friendly to the rock and roll technique.  (If you have tips....let me know in the comments! PLEASE!!!)

As you can see - where the Hello Honey and Lost Lagoon meet over the sentiment, they turn green....yellow and blue make....green!  It's probably more noticeable here because I had to use a sponge dauber to push the color into the areas around the embossed sentiment.  It's raised enough that the ink doesn't get down around the sentiment onto the paper.  

I pulled in some DSP from that Moonlight Paper Stack again, and some arrows in Lost Lagoon from the Chevron Border punch.

Well....that's all from me today!  Go on to the next blog to see what Ilina has come up with - something amazing I know!  Or head back to Justin's blog to be inspired by his awesomeness!

              

***NEW! CRAFT CLASS: Embossing Paste***

Learn to create your own embossing paste, make your own stencils, and lots more!

New Online Class - Envelope Punch Board Class

Create 5 boxes! Not envelopes!  Using the EPB!

Click here for details!

Chevron Favor Bags

HEY!  I know, I know....I've been gone.  I've left ya hanging....
without explanation.  But life blew up on me.  

In the past 2 weeks, I've had 4 funerals, 1 graduation party that I took over and created all of the decorations for (my BFF's dad died the week she was having her daughter's graduation party!) and a bridal shower that I did some crafty things for - as seen above!  Plus school functions and baseball practice....  This stay-at-home mom has been anything but!  Today I'm home.  Finally.  One full day home.  My agenda is still chaotic - laundry (ugh!), a garden to plant, some signs to make that I sold on my etsy shop, a class to prep for and a craft room that needs some serious attention.  It's a disaster.

So, let's focus on some cheerful things, ok?

I created some favor bags for a recent bridal shower we had for my sister-in-law.  I think they turned out super cute - I did 2 different styles - today I'm showing you my favorite one.

I stamped some black cardstock with a retired stamp (that I don't dare part with cuz I really love it!).  I used the Gold Encore ink.  I used the Dotted Scallop Border punch with some Gold Foil paper to anchor the bottom.  Added half of a paper doily, and that was it for the base of my chevron favor bag.

The flower is a mix of flowers from the Fun Flower Die, and the Petite Pansy Punch.  Stacked them and glued them, then added a black button that's tied up with some gold baker's twine (*swoon*)!

I made 10 of this style, then we filled them with yummy chocolates.  Everyone loved them.

Would you like some of these bags?  I'm putting them up on my Etsy Shop!

***NEW! CRAFT CLASS: Embossing Paste***

Learn to create your own embossing paste, make your own stencils, and lots more!

New Online Class - Envelope Punch Board Class

Create 5 boxes! Not envelopes!  Using the EPB!

Click here for details!

Tuesday's Deals at Stampin' Up!

WoW!!!  There are some great deals this week at Stampin' Up!  Click on the picture above to learn more about each product, and to purchase these amazing items - remember, while supplies last!

***NEW! CRAFT CLASS: Embossing Paste***

Learn to create your own embossing paste, make your own stencils, and lots more!

New Online Class - Envelope Punch Board Class

Create 5 boxes! Not envelopes!  Using the EPB!

Click here for details!

Introducing: The Creation Station!

Howdy!  I have something SUPER fun for you guys today!  

I've put together a team of 12 talented, inspiring, creative individuals to join me in a bi-monthly blog hop.  We've got creative geniuses from all around the States AND Australia!  You'll see that we all have styles that are different from one another.  This will help YOU in your creative process, by showing you many different ways you can use your stamps.

We will be posting as a group every 1st and 3rd Sunday of the month.  Each time we'll showcase 2 different Stampin' Up! stamp sets and a Stampin' Up! product (like gift boxes, punches, specialty paper, etc.)  We want you to see all of the possibilities!

So, come on into The Creation Station!

First up, The Creation Station team is following trends!  Today's trend is all about TRIANGLES!  It seems that they are everywhere:

   

Stampin' Up! has some great products that are right on this triangle trend:

 

I've created a couple of cards using triangles, and the Geometrical Stamp Set.

This first card is flirty and fun.  I simply stamped the triangle images in Pumpkin Pie and Strawberry Slush and punched them with the coordinating punch.  This made is easy to line up in a pattern on my card.

I stamped the sentiment in the same two colors at the bottom.  I like this sentiment because it's really versatile - Birthday, Graduation, any celebration really....

This one is simple and a great "mailer".  I stamped the same image repeatedly in Bermuda Bay, Coastal Cabana and Smoky Slate.  Then I punched a few in Bermuda Bay and popped them up with Stampin' Dimensionals.

We thought we'd soften things up with our next highlighted stamp set: Stippled Blossoms.  After all, it is spring, and after the winter most of us have had, I think we are all ready to smell the roses!

Here's some inspiration:

  

The Stippled Blossoms set is so striking because you can create stamped flowers that are quite realistic:

I just think these flowers turn out so beautiful.  A Stamp-a-ma-jig is a must for creating these!  You'll line up the stippled part perfectly that way.

Doesn't this make for a gorgeous card?  I pulled in the sentiment from Blessings from Heaven (retiring) and used the On Film dies to create the frame.  The patterned paper is Eastern Elegance (retiring).  This card could easily become a card for any occasion - just swap out the sentiment.  Mother's Day, Birthday, you name it!

Lastly, some of us are showing uses for the Tag-a-Bag gift boxes.  Pretty wrapping seems to be all the rage - just look on Pinterest for some gift wrapping ideas. 

I decided to keep mine rather simple - in fact I Case'd mine from the upcoming new Stampin' Up! Catalog, but swapped out the DSP so the box would coordinate with my card:

I think the tag is sweet with it's little vellum flower!

Alrighty.....That's today's inspiration from me!  Now, go see what Ilina has up her uber talented sleeve!

       

If you happen to get lost along your way here is a full listing of those participating in our Blog Hop:

Creation Station Design Team:

Jen Arkfeld – You are HERE!

Ilina Crouse

Kathy Kartak

Cindy Beach

Teneale Williams

Jennifer Frost

Kallan Quinn

Jennifer Downey

Deborah Smart

Justin Krieger

***NEW! CRAFT CLASS: Embossing Paste***

Learn to create your own embossing paste, make your own stencils, and lots more!

New Online Class - Envelope Punch Board Class

Create 5 boxes! Not envelopes!  Using the EPB!

Click here for details!