VALENTINE PURSES

I made a bunch of these little Valentine purses last weekend. I passed them out to all the ladies at my sister-in-law's superbowl party, and will be giving them to co-workers on Monday. They are so quick and easy and hold one Hershey's milk chocolate nugget. I followed the instructions on Ink Bug's Stamping Fit found HERE. Although it's hard to tell in the photograph, the chocolates are wrapped in coordinating designer paper.

RECIPE
Paper: Love Patterns Designer Paper, Real Red and Pretty In Pink Cardstock
Embellishments: Pretty In Pink and Real Red 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon, Pretty In Pink and Real Red Brads
Tools: Small Heart Punch
Supplies: Sticky Strip for ribbon

VALENTINE SHADOW BOX COLLAGE

I created this Valentine shadow box collage over the weekend. I liked the way it turned out so much that I'm making more as gifts for friends. I found the 8 x 10 shadow boxes at my local craft store in a 3-pack for $9.00. The Petty In Pink cardstock that each square is adhered to measures 6" x 8", and each square measures 1 3/4" x 1 3/4". I used many different designer papers, stamps, punches, and embellishments with a color scheme of Pretty In Pink, Real Red, Whisper White, and Basic Black. All products are Stampin' Up!.

See my Christmas shadow box collage HERE.

FOR LEAH

I made this for my friend Leah Sinatra for her birthday back in May. I photographed it before I gave it to her, went to post it on my blog and couldn't find the photos! I had to ask for it back long enough to photograph it again, and Leah was kind enough to bring it to me. Thank goodness she's a stamper, blogger, and my downline and "gets" why that's so important! Thanks, Leah! When I give it back to her, is it considered "re-gifting"? LOL!

You all know how much I love the Cottage Wall Designer Paper, and I just love the style of this little bag. It fits four 5 1/2" x 4 1/4" cards & envelopes quite nicely. You can find the tutorial for the Haute Tote here.

This card is a version of my original design found here ...
This card is CASEd from FubsyRuth on SCS ...

RECIPES
Haute Tote
Paper: Cottage Wall DP, Rich Razzleberry CS
Embellishments: Filigree Designer Brads
Tools: Beautiful Wings Embosslits Die, Pearl Accents (non-SU)
Supplies: Sticky Strip, Glue Dots

Card #1
Stamps: sentiment from Vintage Labels
Paper: Cottage Wall DP, Whisper White, Rich Razzleberry, Old Olive, and Orchid Opulence CS
Ink: Rich Razzleberry
Embellishments: non-SU pearls, Rich Razzleberry Polka-Dot Grosgrain Ribbon
Tools: Extra Large Two-Step Bird Punch, Scallop Circles #2 Sizzix Die, Circle Cutter, Paper Piercer, Mat Pack, Priceless Classy Brass Template, Trio Flower Punch, 1" and 1 1/4" Circle Punches
Supplies: Stampin' Dimensionals

Card #2
Stamps: Vintage Vogue, Well Scripted
Paper: Rich Razzleberry, Orchid Opulence, Old Olive, and Whisper White CS
Ink: Rich Razzleberry and Orchid Opulence
Embellishments: Lilac Rhinestone Brads
Tools: Little Leaves Sizzix Die
Supplies: Stampin' Dimensionals

Thanks for stopping by today!

BACKPACKS for BACK TO WORK

On Monday, I start a new position at a new school. The school district I work for replaced the certified Librarian positions in their recent budget cuts with a new classified position called a Library Clerk. As a Library Clerk, I'll be doing pretty much everything a certified Librarian does except teach. My training for my new job was back in mid-June which seems so long ago. I've become good friends with several of the Library Clerks at other schools (also newly hired), and today we met for lunch to offer moral support to one another, share ideas, and calm each others' nerves for Monday.

When I saw these little backpacks as the SCS Technique Lover's Challenge #232 this week, I knew my new friends would need one filled with chocolates for "Back to Work"! I used the retired Summer Picnic Designer Paper and HERE is the tutorial.

MORE CUPCAKE GIFT SETS

Yesterday, I showed you the Cupcake Gift Set that Lorri Heiling made for me. I found it to be the cutest gift EVER, and was inspired to sit down and try my hand at a couple of them! Mine are very, very similar to THIS ONE of Lorri's. Again, these were created using Nichole Heady's Tutorial.

RECIPE
Stamps: Party Hearty, Crazy for Cupcakes
Paper: Sweet Always DP, Regal Rose, Chocolate Chip, Pumpkin Pie, Pink Pirouette, and Whisper White CS
Ink: Chocolate Chip, Regal Rose, Pumpkin Pie, Real Red
Embellishments: Chocolate Chip 5/8" Grosgrain Ribbon, Chocolate Chip 1/2" Library Clip, Chocolate Chip 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon, Chocolate Chip Corduroy Brad
Tools: Scallop Border Punch, Scallop Punch, 1" and 3/4" Circle Punches, Tag Corner Punch, Paper Crimper, Regal Rose 5/8" Grosgrain Ribbon
Supplies: Sticky Strip, Stampin' Dimensionals, Test Tubes (non-SU)

BIRTHDAY CUPCAKES from LORRI

I am so excited to share with you what my BFF, Lorri Heiling gave me for my birthday (today, 7/21)! She gave this awesome cupcake gift set (and lunch) to me on Friday ... it is so adorable in real life that I was inspired to sit down and try my hand at two of them on Saturday! Come back tomorrow for photos of the cupcake gift sets I made for some special friends!

Lorri has more details about this gift set on her blog, Confessions of a Stamping Addict. She made another one in May as the door prize for our weSTAMP meeting .... details HERE. Another adorable cupcake gift set by Becky Roberts can be found HERE. All cupcake gift sets use Nichole Heady's tutorial found HERE.

Lorri even included a cupcake stand, an apron card, and recipe cards for a variety of cupcakes ...

OH, CHRISTMAS TREE .... OH, CHRISTMAS TREE ....

When I saw these Christmas Tree Triangle Boxes on Connie Collins' blog, Constantly Stamping, I knew I HAD to try them! They were fun and easy to make, and a great way to use up those craft store rhinestones that have been sitting in a drawer for-ever! Just like Connie, I used Beate Johns' Triangle Box tutorial on SCS. Instead of using a 5" x 10" piece of cardstock, I used a 5 1/2" x 8 1/2" piece.

The scallops of the tree were made using the Scallop Edge Punch, and the scallops were sponged with Old Olive ink. I used my Paper Piercer Template to strategically place the rhinestones by penciling in each spot. The rhinestones were adhered with Tombo Adhesive. I used Sticky Strip to close the box because I was afraid that it may not stay closed with the additional weight of the candy. I know, I know .... the recipients will have to tear them open to get to the candy. It's the thought that counts, right?
RECIPE

Paper: Old Olive CS, Gold Metallic CS for star

Ink: Old Olive Classic

Embellishments: Generic Colored Rhinestones (non-SU), Gold Cord

Tools: Star Punch, Scallop Edge Punch, Paper Peircing Template, Crop-a-dile

Supplies: Sponge, Tombo Adhesive, Sticky Strip

weSTAMP CHRISTMAS PRESENT

This is a Christmas present Lorri Heiling and I created and gave to our SU downline and weSTAMP members Tuesday night. The mini loaf pan contains a loaf of fresh baked Pumpkin Bread, and the criss cross card has the recipe for it inside. This gift was inspired by Chat Wszelaki's Fall Gift HERE. The cellophane is secured by holiday ribbon with garland and a cookie cutter.
RECIPE FOR CRISS CROSS CARD
Stamps: In The Spotlight (Level Two Hostess)
Paper: Always Artichoke, Purely Pomegranate, and River Rock CS, Holiday Harmony DP
Ink: Purely Pomegranate Classic Ink Pad
Embellishments: Gold Brads
Tools: 5-Petal Flower Punch, Spring Flower Bouquet Punch, Round Tab Punch
Supplies: Sticky Strip, Pop Up Glue Dot
Note: Tutorial for Criss Cross Card by Beate Johns found HERE. The recipe for the Pumpkin Bread was printed from the computer.

RECIPE FOR PUMPKIN BREAD
3 1/3 c. flour
2 tsp. baking soda
1 1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. nutmeg
3 c. sugar
1 c. oil
4 eggs
2/3 c. water
2 c. canned pumpkin (1 sm. can)
Sift the dry ingredients together and add to the rest of the mixture. Make into 3 loaves, or 7 small loaves. Bake 1 hr. at 350 degrees.