I won't be updating this blog anymore. I was never really happy with how long the link was and to better reflect my new company name for 2010 (hopefully), I have changed my blog. You can find me here now: http://whimsical-charms.blogspot.com/

Check Out My Retired Stampin' Up!(r) Sets on eBay

I'm going to convention for the first time this year! Woohoo! To help raise money for my expenses I'm selling some of my retired stamp sets. Some of them I have a slight emotional attachment to and they will be missed. You can see all my stamp sets available here:

Stampin' Up! Retired Sets

Pictured is just a sample of some of the sets available that I listed today. I'll be listing some more sets later this week end as well.

Images (c) Stampin' Up!

Opps! I forgot to show you the cute gift box that I made to give the pendant in! I realized at the last minute that I didn't have a gift box ready to go. I thought about just putting it in a organza bag and giving it to her that way, but considering my sister, Mama Kat is also my leader... what would be the fun in that? So, I quickly made her this cute box using the Big Shot Die-Cut Machine (page 193 in the catalog) and the Box #2 die (page 194). I used the Parisian Breeze Specialty Paper (page 158). For the embellishment, I cut a Stampin' Up Simple Flower die cut (p. 202) out of Baja Breeze cardstock and attached it with a Chocolate Chip Corduroy Button (p. 176). To finish the look I tied a Chocolate Chip ribbon (p. 179) around the box. It took me less than 5 minutes to make the perfect gift box! Best part, everything was color coordinated! Because Stampin' Up! is kind enough to tell us what colors are showcased in the Designer Series Paper, I knew what cardstock and color of button to use!

Images (c) Stampin' Up!

It's About Time!!

It's about time I did another post on my blog! I've been neglecting it once again these past few months. That is because I've been working on a new product line for my website, www.photodesigngifts.com. I'm still not 100% comfortable putting my new jewelry line up for sale yet, but should have it all ready to go in the next few days. I will show you a sneak peak here. This is a pendant that I made for my sister for her birthday. Everything is made with sterling silver and handstamped by me! I just can't get away from stampin'!! LOL For the final touch I added a Swarovski Austrian Crystal.

It's about time I did my first workshop for Stampin' Up! After being a independent demonstrator with Stampin' Up! for almost 14 months, I held one! Woohoo!! It was a learning experience. I have a lot more respect for my leaders now. Its not as easy as they make it look. LOL Here are pictures of the three projects that I did for my workshop.

Here are two of the three projects that I did for my workshop. I need to remember to take a picture of the 3rd project! It was sooo cute, but for now you will just have to trust me. :-)

Some Images (c) Stampin' Up!

Pop-Top Can Surprise

Here's one of my favorite gift holders. My sister, Kat of Mama Kat's Playground
taught me how to do this.

Supplies Needed:

Pop-top can with a hard edge bottom (not round; I used a Chunky Soup can)
8 ½” x 11” Card stock or patterned paper cut to fit (for Chunky I used 4 3/4 “ x 11”)
Card stock to use for whatever stamping or designs you want on the can to decorate
Terrifically Tacky Tape®
Glue Dots or Dimensional Dots
Pampered Chef® can opener
Krazy Glue® Brush On
VersaMark® pad (or light colored ink pad)
Glue stick
Favorite stamp set
Favorite ink pads
Small cello bag
Rub-On’s (optional)
Two pieces of ribbon
Shredded Paper

Some Images © Stampin’ Up!

Step 1:
Open can with with the Pampered Chef® can opener from the bottom. Carefully pry off the bottom and enjoy the soup or put in a different container for later. Thoughroughly wash the can. I recommend letting it sit with some soapy water to help get rid of the food smell.

Step 2:

(Before starting this step, see Step 5 in case you want to stamp the cardstock going onto the can. Do this first)
Put three long pieces of Terrifically Tacky Tape on the paper. I HIGHLY recommend getting this tape specifically since it is the strongest tape I ever used. You can find it through DS companies like Stampin’ Up!, Michael’s or other retailers (including online) that sell scrapbooking supplies. Take off one piece of the red plastic at a time to make sure you attach the paper properly to the can. What I do is that off the first strip, carefully place it on the can and then before I take off the other strips I roll the can around the cardstock to shape the paper around the can. Then I go back and take of the second red strip and smooth the cardstock around the can and attach it. Repeat to completely attach the cardstock.

Step 3:

Take the VersaMark® pad and tap it onto the inside part of the bottom lid. Press it onto left over matching cardstock two times (Save one piece for the top; Step 4). Then cut around the outer ring and it will fit the bottom lid perfectly. Adhere with Terrifically Tacky Tape. Set aside bottom for later.

Step 4:

Tap the VersaMark® pad onto of the pop-top “thingy” and then take the 2nd cardstock piece from Step 3 that has the VersaMark® on it and press down on the top part. Cut out out of the pop-top pattern (see examples for how much). To adhere the top piece I didn’t use the Terrifically Tacky Tape®, instead I used a glue stick. I did this because I wanted to make sure that I had time to put the cardstock in place. If I had use the Terrifically Tacky Tape® I might not have had time since the tape is really sticky.

Step 5:

Take your favorite stamp set and stamp whatever you want to put on the can. If you want you can stamp the card stock you are going to be putting around the can. For this particular can I decided to do a funky design with Stampin’ Up!’s Delight in Life stamp set. I first stamped in black the outline all over my 8 ½” x 11” cardstock. I then went back and stamped the inside of the flowers with different colors of ink. To give my flowers a little different texture I put Stampin’ Up!’s Crystal Effects on to off them. I then set the card stock aside to dry (I let it dry overnight). More on the flowers I did in Step 8. If you are going to use Crystal Effects then I recommend you start here for Step 1.

Step 6:

Here’s an example of what you could put in as a surprise gift. For this example I added a keychain that I made. I’ve done in the past bath & body samples and gift cards. Whatever I give I try I put it in a cello bag. For this project I decided to put a couple of rub-on’s on the cello bag to make it extra cute. I put some shredded paper into the cello bag with the gift and then added a ribbon. Make sure and add the gift into the can so that the top part of the gift faces towards the pop-top. I then add a little bit more shredded paper on top of the cello bag. This will actually be the bottom of the can once sealed.

Step 7:

Take the bottom lid and use Krazy Glue® Brush-On to adhere the lid to the bottom of the can. The Brush-On gives you those extra seconds needed to secure the lid properly to the bottom. Hold the lid in place for a few seconds and it should be sealed tightly. It won’t look like the can was ever opened.

Step 8:

If you are making the flowers the same way as I did, I think they look cute if you pinch them a little bit to give them some extra dimentions. I used glue dots to place them all around the can and on the top as well.

Step 9:

You are finished! Here is a picture of the top of the can and another can that I did using designer baby and stickers from a Stampin’ Up! Scrappin’ Kit.

2009 Calendar by Digi Dandy Designs

Wow! Has it really been almost a year since I started this blog and then let it sit here? 2008 was a tough year for me and I really didn't get much done in the way of scrapbooking or stamping. :-( I'm going to try and be better about it this year.

For now, I want to showcase a very talented lady's work that she did for me using her digital scrapbooking talents! I hired my friend, Kathi of Digi Dandy Designs to make me some calendar templates featuring some of my vacation pictures from when my husband, Leighton and I went to Wales. Well, I did have her include one picture from Stonehenge. It kind of went with the theme though since some of the stones are from the Preseli Mountains of West Wales. Actually, one of the calendar pictures showcases us at one of the blue stones at the base of the Preseli Mtns.

I actually hired Kathi to make two calendars for me... one showcasing my family (Laura's) pictures that I gave as Christmas gifts. The 2nd calendar was of our trip to Wales that I gave as gifts to Leighton's family. BTW, Leighton is from Wales and the pictures feature us visiting his family and the beautiful scenery of West Wales.

To find out more about Kathi's designs, you can visit her blog here: http://digidandydesigns.blogspot.com/

(c) Digi Dandy Designs