Power Poppy 12 Days of Christmas ~ Gift Bag Topper

I'm sharing a new Gift Bag with a Topper, over on the Power Poppy Blog today!  I used three fabulous Power Poppy sets to create a charming Holiday package.  Head on over there to find out all  the details, and how you can have a chance to win a $50 Power Poppy Shopping Spree!!

  Happy Stamping!

Power Poppy Birthday Move the Soul Gift Bag

 

Hello creative friends!!  It's been awhile!!  Life has been busy as I'm sure many of yours has been also.  I'm excited to share a sweet Gift Bag I made for a dear friend of ours.  Since his birthday is in the month of December, I thought it would be fun to make it none Christmas to separate it from the Holidays.  

I used Power Poppy's Move the Soul set for the gift bag front.  It seems he and my husband think that one day they will each own a Harley and will take their adventures to the roads.  Silly boys.  Like that's ever going to happen.  LOL  But it's good to dream right?!?!  My Gift Bag Topper tutorial can be found HERE.

Christine has a thoughtful and fun Power and Spark Challenge this month.  Here is the challenge in her words:  

"The idea is to create something that will be a sweet treat for someone else (so think card, tag, hostess gift, etc) designed to help with those quick Christmas gifts."

I hope you'll get a chance to participate!!

For some more inspiration, check out the following Bloom Brigade Blogs:

• Cindy Lawrence
• Stacy Morgan

That's it for today's project!!  I hope you are all safe from crazy weather, and are enjoying all this year's Holiday festivities!!

  Happy Stamping!

 

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Stamps:  Move the Soul (Power Poppy)

Paper:  X-Press It, This Guy (PhotoPlay, Black (PTI)

Ink:  Tuxedo Black (Memento), Onyx Black (Versafine), Antique Linen (Ranger Distress)

Dies:  Double Stitched Circle (Die-Namics), Standard Circle (Spellbinders)

Accessories:  Copics, Enamel Dots, Score-Pal, Kraft Gift Bag 

Gift Giving with Power Poppy

 

Hello creative friends!!  It's time for another Power Poppy Power & Spark Challenge, and Katie has come up with the nicest challenge possible.......because it's all about giving.  This is how she describes her challenge for this month:   This month’s Power & Spark challenge is all about giving.  We all know the paper crafting community has some of the biggest, giving hearts around so let’s celebrate that with “Gifts from the Heart”.  Show us your creative ways of gift presentations or a hand crafted gift….or both!  Try stamping  your own wrapping paper, decorate your own gift bag or tag, craft a gift set of note cards....you choose how to show your art and heart for a special someone.  Even though the holidays are just around the corner, any time is a great time for gift giving so this challenge is open for any occasion.

Years ago I put together a Gift Bag Topper Tutorial and I still love making them.  (Here's a LINK to a few more that I've made over the years.) So I thought I'd make a gift bag for a general occasion instead of a holiday like I normally do, using the newest Power Poppy Digi image Easy Breezy Coneflowers.  This duo is gorgeous and oh, so fun to color!  I colored them with Copics, diecut them with a Pierced Rectangle die and distressed the edges with Vintage Photo Distress Ink.  Below is a closer look at the detail Marcella has included in the image.

I added the coordinating sentiment on a little tag.  I love these dark rich, detailed papers.  I thought they were a fun contrast to the beautifully elegant, yet bold Coneflowers.

Here's a view of the top.  The paper I was using was only 6x6, so I added a panel to the top to lengthen it.

 
That's it for my project today.  Be sure to stop by the following Bloom Brigaders if you haven't already.  These gals really know how to use their creative side. 

• Christine Okken
• Cindy Lawrence
• Julie Koerber
• Katie Sims
• Leslie Miller
• Stacy Morgan
• Tosha Leyendekker
• Marcella Hawley 

Copics:  Flower Petals - B05, BG05, BG01, BG0000 Flower Center - E87, YR27, YR24, YR21, YG01 Leaves - G17, G14, G02, G0000, YG01

Thank you so much for stopping by!  I hope you have a fantastic weekend!

Happy Stamping!

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Stamps:  Easy Breezy Coneflowers (Power Poppy)

Paper:  X-Press It, Somewhere in Time Collection (BoBunny)

Ink:  Printer

Dies:  Pierced Rectangle Die (Avery Elle), Stitched Tag (Waltzingmouse)

Accessories:  Copics, Border Punch (Martha Stewart), Sequins, Ribbon, Linen Ribbon (Tim Holtz Ideology), Mini-Library Clip (SU!) 

Waltzingmouse September Release

Hello Waltzingmouse fans!!  The day has finally arrived!  You can now purchase all of the new September sets.  What a super fun release.  If you've arrived here from Teresa's blog, you are on the right track and at your last stop.  If not, head on over to Claire's for the list.

  I didn't have as many projects to share with you this month because I had my son visiting from out of state, and I was out of town for 3 days.  So I promise to share more with you in the coming weeks.  These sets deserve to be shown off as much as possible.  They're full of beautiful and fun images and fabulous sentiments.

Today I combined a new set with one of the newly released sets:  Opera Tags Christmas and Seasonal Remedies.  I thought it would be perfect to add the tag to a gift bag, so I made my Gift Bag Topper (Tutorial found HERE).  This bag is smaller:  3x5x8 1/2, so I adjusted the dimensions to fit it.    I added a tag, that I die cut using Waltzingmouse's Opera Tags die, and the Seasonal Remedies image to the front.  Pink and green aren't traditional Christmas colors, but I wanted to step out of the traditional box with this project.

eta:  There will be a prize of a stamp set of choice from a random drawing from comments left on each blog. You have until September 21 at 11:59 PM (GMT), 5:5 9AM Central (Sept. 22), 3:59 AM Pacific and 6:59 AM Eastern to leave comments.  The winner will be posted on Claire’s blog on Monday, September 23rd.

That's it for today.  I'm the caboose on this hop, so if you started here, you'll want to start at Claire's blog for the complete list of hoppers.  The super talented Becca is starting us off this month.

I hope you've enjoyed the previews and have been inspired to purchase these beautiful and versatile sets.

Thanks for all your kind, encouraging words.  They truly are a blessing.
Happy Stamping my friends!!

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Stamps:   Opera Tags Christmas and Seasonal Remedies (Waltzingmouse)

Paper:  True Friends (Carta Bella), White (PTI)

Ink:  Versamark

Accessories:  Opera Tags die (Waltzingmouse), Border Punch (Martha Stewart), Doily, Scor-Buddy, Cyrstal Button (Melissa Frances), Gift Bag

Waltzingmouse May Blog Waltz

Hello my friends!!  Well, the day has finally arrived!!  Woo-Hoo!!  This month's Waltzingmouse Stamps Release is now available for purchase!!  

You have an opportunity to win a stamp set of your choice too!!  All you have to do is leave comments on the blogs involved in this waltz, and Claire will do a random pick from the comments left.  You have until June 1st at 3:59 am Pacific to leave a comment.  The winner will be posted on Claire's blog June 3.

Now, we'd like to inspire you a bit more and show you just how awesome these sets are, so I hope you will hop along with the team today and check out what everyone has created!!  This is quite the creative bunch!!

If you've arrived here from Teresa's blog, your hopping right along.  If not, start at Claire's blog for a complete list of the the Waltzers.

I wanted to make some candy bag toppers for 4th of July this year since I've found some fun patriotic themed candies.  I used the USA 1776 set, and started by making a rosette, for this first package of Gummy Bears, and included a mini-star embossed background and one of my favorite sentiments in this set.  I love what it stands for and how Claire fonted it.

Okay, aren't these candles just the sweetest!!!  I LOVE them, and thought they would go beautifully on the packaging of these super fun twizzlers.  I framed them with the star frame image and added the "Happy 4th" sentiment along the side.  I also added a bit of sparkle cause that's what this holiday has a lot of.  :)

Tip:  If you'd like the staples hidden, as I have on this package, just staple the base (Mine is white), then adhere a decorative panel to the top to hide them.

That's it for me today.   Next up on the Waltz is the sweet, and oh so inspirational, Becca.

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Stamps:  USA 1776 (Waltzingmouse Stamps)

Paper:  Celebrate (Authentique), White (PTI)

Ink:  Onyx Black and Smokey Gray (Versafine), Teal Zeal and Love Letter (Memento)

Accessories:  Mini Paper Rosette die (Tim Holtz), Star Embossing Folder (Lifestyle Crafts), Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon (SU!), Quickie Glue Pen, Glitter, Staples, Bags, Star Brad (SU!)

Gift Bag Topper ~ Winter Wishes

Hello my friends!  I have another Gift Bag Topper to share with you.  I made a few of these last year too.  They're so easy and it's like giving a gift inside a gift...kwim?  (Gift Bag Topper Tutorial)  In my previous post I made some little felt goody bags, and I didn't want to transport them in a plastic baggy or plain 'ole paper bag.  So I doctored a handled paper bag up a bit using some beautiful images from the Verve set Holiday Greetings.

I love the beautifully elegant snowflakes in this set and thought they'd look fabulous adorning to top of my bag topper.  I also added the itty-bitty stars.  I added some Washi Tape to the border, along with some fabulous sparkly icicles that I punched using a Martha Stewart Punch.

Isn't this chevron tree just super awesome?!?!  I stamped it with Fresh Snow (a muse) and with my Quickie Glue Pen, I added some Crystal Glitter to the Cheveron centers.  I colored the pot with Copics,     and framed the image using the embossed rectangle from Spellbinders' Mix'd Media Elements.

The sentiment was framed using Spellbinders' new 2012 Heirloom Ornaments die.  I stamped the snowflake while the kraft paper was still in the die, and added some punched holly (Martha Stewart), some Tinsel ribbon (Webster's Pages), and some beautiful Rhinestones (Pizzaz Aplenty).

The border around the main panel was punched using a Martha Stewart Punch, and a Fiskars Wavy Crimper was used on the white.

That about sums this project all up.
Thanks for dropping by!
Happy Stamping!

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Stamps:  Holiday Greetings (Verve)

Paper:  Kraft and White (PTI)

Ink:  Fresh Snow (a muse), Onyx Black (Versafine), Turquoise Gem (VersaMagic)

Accessories:  2012 Heirloom Ornaments and Mix'd Media Elements dies (Spellbinders), Holly and Border  Punches and Snowflake Sticker (Martha Stewart), Tinsel Ribbon (Webster's Pages), Rhinestones (Pizzaz Aplenty), Washi Tape, Quickie Glue Pen, Crystal Glitter, Copics

Holiday Diva Dare ~ Gift Bag Topper

Hello my stamping friends!! I have another fun gift bag topper to share with you. I made it in answer to the Verve Holiday Diva Dare. Check out my post HERE for all the details. Here's the tutorial for the topper that I made a little while back.

I used the following Verve sets and dies: Glad Tidings, Frosty Flakes, Bright Spirits, Winter Fun and Snowflake Tidings.

See the little snowflake ornament? That was made with the medium snowflake from the Glad Tidings set along with a new Verve die called Snowflake Tidings. And the icicles were made with a Martha Stewart Punch.

I made the medallion using the Tim Holtz Mini Paper Rosettes die along with the 2011 Snowflake Pendant and the Petite Scallop Circle dies by Spellbinders.

Be sure to check out the Verve Blog for more Holiday inspiration this week. We'd love to see how you answer the Holiday Diva Dare.

Thanks for stopping by!!
Happy Stamping!

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Stamps: Glad Tidings, Frosty Flakes, Bright Spirits (Verve)
Paper: White and Kraft (PTI)
Ink: Onyx Black (Versafine), Versamark and White
Accessories: Winter Fun and Snowflake Tidings, Mini Rosettes die (Tim Holtz), Petite Scallop Circle and 2011 Snowflake Pendant dies (Spellbinders), White embossing powder, White Glitter (Glitter Ritz), Icicle border punch (Martha Stewart), beads and sparkly rhinestone sticker, kraft paper gift bag, crimper, Natural Burlap String (May Arts), Scor-Pal

Gift Bag Topper Tutorial

I've been getting quite a few requests for a tutorial on how to make the Gift Bag Topper I posted a couple of days ago. You can find that bag HERE.

It's really quite easy. I made the topper a bit different this time. But don't worry, I'll include measurements for both toppers.

Supplies for Punched topper:

8" x 4 1/4" x 10 1/2" Gift Bag
9" x 12" cardstock
(2) 1 1/8" x 7 3/4" and (2) 1 1/8" x 4 3/4" decorative paper for sides
4 3/4" x 7 3/4" decorative paper for the top of the topper
Scor-Pal
Ruler
Exacto knife



For this one, I started with a 9" x 12" base, and scored 2" in on all four sides. I then took a punch (In this case it was an EK Success one), and started in the middle of each side and worked my way out. That way each punched side is evenly balanced. You don't have to go all the way to the end because you're going to trim the excess off in a bit. Make sure you pass the score marks though.


Trim off the extra punched piece so your tab can fold in without being seen through the punched areas. Then, on the short ends, cut in to the scored line.


Now you need a slit for the handles to go through. I used a ruler and an exacto knife after drawing a line to cut. Begin your cut 1 5/8" in from each side and 1/8" from the side. It has to be wide enough to slide the handle through. Then glue the tabs behind the short ends, and decorate as you wish.


That's it. Like I said it's really very easy.

For my bag, I used one of the newest Waltzingmouse released sets called Say it Loud/Winter Holiday.

Now, I made this bag for the CCEE Stampers Challenge which is to make a "card" with a bird on it. I rebelled a bit and made a bag instead of a card....shhhhhhh.... :) See my little bird hanging from the flower? Be sure to stop by the CCEE Stampers blog for some fabulous bird watching.

Before I go, I promised the template measurements for a topper without a punched border. Here they are:

Supplies for Plain Topper

8" x 11" Cardstock
(2) 1 1/4" x 4 3/4" and (2) 1 1/4" x 7 3/4" decorative paper for sides
Score 1 1/2" around each side and Begin slit cut 1 1/2" from the long sides.

Thank you so much for stopping by. I hope you're having a wonderful week.
Happy Stamping!!

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Stamps: Say it Loud/Winter Holiday (Waltzingmouse)
Paper: PTI and Love Nest (Glitz)
Ink: Onyx Black (Versafine) Colorbox Queue, Antique Linen, Vintage Photo and Black Soot (Ranger Distress)
Accessories: Border Punches (EK Success and Martha Stewart), Flower (Prima), Bird Cage embellishment (The Girls' Paperie), Scor-pal

Waltzingmouse Sept. Release Blog Waltz ~ A Christmas Cottage

It's day four of the Waltzingmouse Sneak peeks, and we're having a blog waltz featuring the new set A Cottage Christmas. It includes the sweetest little Christmas cottage, along with a darling snowman, some charming trees, brilliant snowflakes, and gorgeous sentiments! What a delight it is to work with this set. If you arrived here from Anya's blog, you're on the right track. If not, you'll want to start at the beginning with Claire. She's leading our Waltz today. :) The four sets we've been peeking are now available too. So after the hop, head on over to Waltzingmouse Stamps to see the complete sets!!

Okay, now for my project...

My goodness, it's been like a gazillion years since I've made a gift bag topper. Okay, so I may have exaggerated a bit, but it's been at least 6 or more. I used to see them all the time. So, since lace and punches are so in right now, I thought it would be fun to make one again, with lace trim, using an Alesa Baker template that I have had forever! The images I used that are from this set are: The cottage (of course), the tree trio, the Snowman on the tag, the sentiment in the top left which reads: "From our House to Yours", and the flakes behind the cottage, and on the top of the topper. I combined these images with some images from the set Very Vintage Christmas: the topper border, and the "to" and "from" sentiments.

I used a Viva Decor Ice White Gel pen with some white opaque ultrafine glitter for the snow.




I stamped the decorative border along the topper, with Versamark, embossed it with black ep, and colored it with Tombows. Incidentally, all the images are colored with Tombows.

Isn't that BoBunny Santa Brad cute? I thought it was a fun addition to the bow.

Here's a close up of the top so you can see the snowflakes.

Before I go, I want to let you know that you have a chance to win a Waltzingmouse Stamp Set of your choice. All you have to do is leave a comment on as many of the blogs, along the Blog Waltz, that you can, by Sept. 22. A Winner will be chosen from one of the design team member's blogs and will be announced on Sept. 23 on Claire's blog.

That's it from me today. Next along the hop is the fabulously talented Becca.
Thanks for visiting!!
Happy Stamping!

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Stamps: A Cottage Christmas, Very Vintage Christmas Paper: Black and Kraft (PTI), Watercolor, and Christmas (Lost & Found MME) Ink: Versamark, Onyx Black (Versafine), Latte (a muse), Vintage Photo (Ranger Distress) Accessories: Tombow Markers, Labels 15, Standard Circle, and Picot Edge Circle dies (Spellbinders), lace (Vintage), Ice White Gel Pen (Viva Decor), Ultrafine Opaque White Glitter, Black Burlap String, Santa Brad (Bo Bunny Noel Icandy), Seam Binding Ribbon (MemrieMare), Border Punch (Martha Stewart), Dimensional Tape (Scotch), Gift Bag Topper Template (Alesa Baker)