Back To School Desk

Every year on the first day back to school I write my daughter a letter telling her how much I believe in her and praying blessings over her new school year...and every year I try to make something to put the letter in or to put in treats in or to coordinate with the letter. This is this year's 'something'. I saw a desk like this over here. I thought, 'that's cute, I can make that', so I sat down and this is what I came up with. I know there is a link where you can buy the tutorial, but I thought it looked simple enough, but if you would like a tutorial, be sure to click on the link above. I also know the link has a much smaller post it note pad, but I thought a full sized one would be more practical for my daughter even if it dominated the desk and so I purposely put the drawers closer together to offer support and I cut the teeny pencil in the original because she wouldn't use it.

Sorry this is not a great picture...it's at least 3X cuter in person...the morning light when I took the picture was too bright for the window sill.

This project uses 6 of the matchbox dies from Stampin Up. The purple is because that seems to be my daughter's favourite colour these days. The stampset I used is the strength & hope stampset that benefits a great cause and is only available until August 31, so if you don't have your yet, be sure to place your order before the end of the month.

In each of the drawers I have placed some chocolate and a challenge & blessing for the year ahead for my girl. As in prior years I placed this in her place at the dining table the night before so she discovers it at breakfast on her first day:)

Kindness Matters Pocket

I love this stampset. It was one of the first ones on my wishlist when the new catalog came out. Kindness (truly does) Matter!!

On today's pocket I used crumbcake, island indigo & very vanilla cardstock along with the new triple layer blossom punch and the scallop border punch and a piece of hemp twine.

The jury is still out on the petite pocket die...I'm loving these little pocket envelopes so I might just have to have it, but I'm also loving my new simply scored which certainly simplies the process of re-engineering a project!;)

Occasions Alphabet Pocket

Today's pocket was made with the new Occasions Alphabet stampset. Can you believe mine hadn't seen ink yet?!!

I paired it with wisteria wonder, melon mabo & pretty in pink cardstock and some flirtateous dsp. I used the large oval and designer label and 3/4" circle punches too and the new ruffled ribbon in wisteria...so pretty!:) Today's pocket took some inspiration from Jenny, but I still haven't decided if I need the new petite pockets die, but I am liking my new simply scored tool!

Established Elegance Pocket Envelope

I'm trying to decide whether to order the new petite pocket die for the Big Shot and in the meantime I received my preorder of the new simply scored tool that debuts in the Holiday Mini on September 1. So I thought I'd try making my own pocket envelopes for giftcards, notes, etc.

At the same time I had my new Established Elegance stampset out as I'm preparing the projects for Sept. 1st's technique club, so I couldn't resist playing. I got some inspiration for this one from Kim. The cardstocks I used are: island indigo and ridinghood red, and I used some of the first edition dsp and the curly label punch.

Strength & Hope Treatholder

I wanted to post a recent project with the Strength & Hope stampset as it is only available for a few more days (until August 31st). This is a very special stampset where a portion of the proceeds on every set sold go to the Breast Cancer Research Fund, so if you haven't gotten your stampset yet, contact me to order one...you'll be supporting a great cause and the stampset is really beautiful.

This project was inspired by Shawna, my upline. Shawna has a tutorial here. The cone is made out of a 6 x 6 piece of first edition dsp. The butterfly is stamped in marina mist on naturals ivory and inked with soft suede. The tiny tag is punched with the tiny tag punch and is stamped with the Strength & Hope stampset which includes the beautiful butterfly image. It's tied together with a piece of white bakers twine and a button from the neutral pack. The lace is chantily.

A Rose by Any Other Name...

The rose on this little box is made out of the medium flower from the fun flowers die...actually 3 of them;) Cardstock used was wild wisteria and crumb cake and the edges were inked with soft suede.

Ghirardelli Treat Holder

This is another one of our stamp camp projects. I used the scallop envelope die for the big shot with some of the new flirtateous specialty dsp to creat the base. The tag is stamped on naturals ivory with stamps from the Clearly for You stampset and the flower is from the new blossoms bouquet triple layer punch and the lace trim border punch. I used a large pearl jewel in the centre and the ribbon is whisper white taffeta. Oh and the chocolate is 'dark chocolate with raspberry' by ghiradelli:)

Stamp Camp Bookmark

This was the fun flowers bookmark we made in wisteria wonder at Stamp Camp this weekend. Once you cut the flowers with the fun flowers big shot die you crumple them up then sponge the edges with the same colour of ink, then you layer them with dimensionals and circle punches (that you don't see) and attach a ribbon at the back. To finish them off we added a tiny tag made with the tiny tag punch and stampset (image 'love') and with the angel from the charmed stampset stamped lightly in the background. This is then tied onto a button along with a crown charm with linen thread and then attached to the centre of the layered flower with a glue dot:) We used the new ruffled ribbon for the tale of the bookmark too:)

I'm made 2 similar bookmarks recently...here (mocha morning) and here (vintage wallpaper embossed)

Cheerful Tote with coordinating cards

Another one of the projects we made at yesterday's stamp camp. Although I've seen these totes in several places on the web, Amy has the best directions for how to make them so here is a link.

We used the Cheerful delight dsp (a hostess only selection:) and built a doily from the flirtateous specialty paper into the flower. Cardstock used: melon mambo, lucky limeade, concorde crush, naturals ivory. We also used the designer frames embossing flower on one of the cards and the images stamped on the cards are all from the Creative Elements stampset. The sentiment is from the swirls & curls verses hostess stampset.

You have enough dsp for the tote, it's handles and the 2 cards from one sheet of 12 x 12 with a wee bit left over. I almost made a 3rd card with the left over, but we already had 5 projects including this one for stamp camp and I was bit concerned for time:)

Stamp Camp is Here!

It feels like I've prepared all summer for today, my first ever stamp camp, and with it 5 projects for my participants. I might have been too ambitious!;) But I'm sure we'll have fun.

This little birdhouse is one of today's projects. It was inspired by one in my demonstrator magazine and I can email a template; however, I'll caution that the template isn't quite perfect.

I used a couple of new products on this project...island indigo card stock, lucky limeade ruffled ribbon and paisley petals dsp! The flowers were made with the boho blossoms punch and the centres are pearls from the jewels pack. The welcome stamp comes from the fabulous phrases stampset.

24-7 Decor Project Class

I made this framed decor piece for a friend and the feedback has been such that I decided to do a class to make this project.

When: Thursday September 15^th 7-8:30 pm

Where: My Home

Cost: $17

RSVP by September 8^th, or sooner if the spots fill up (as there are a limited number)

What to bring:

• *scissors

• **adhesive: 2 way tape/glue runner; liquid glue/tomobo mono multi OR glue stick

• brown/black inks and a sponge for edges & distressing

• paper piercing tool (if you have one)

"Treat Yourself Like Your Own Best Company"

Again, some more mocha morning dsp, and some first edition. Add to that some crumbcake and very vanilla cardstock, my new favourite frames impressions folder, my new favourite colour, wisteria wonder, and the brand new Creative Elements stampset and voila!:))