Ink It Up! with Jessica Taylor

Handmade Note Pads

Today's project comes from Mary Staveness of A Bushel and a Peck.  Mary has been attending my classes for nearly as long as I've been having them - over 12 years!  She's been sharing her projects with me for years and now that she's got her own blog, you can get ideas from her too.

These handmade note pads are super cute and make a great gift!  I know I'd love to have one to keep in my purse.

For the step-by-step directions on how to make these note pads and a fun tip for using your clear mount stamps, head on over to Mary's blog.

 

M&M Christmas Treat Bags

You know I love it when you share the things that you are making!  These Christmas M&M treat bags were made by Norma Dusing.

Want to make some?  Get your skinny cello bags and get started!

Card Maker's Gift Guide

Whether you need to buy a gift for another card maker, or you are the card maker asking for gifts, here are some ideas...

 

The Card Maker's Gift Guide

If I didn't already have one, the Big Shot would be at the top of my list.  This is an awesome tool for easily making elegant cards.

 

 

The Simply Scored Scoring Tool makes scoring fun instead of a chore!  Perfect for the card maker that likes fancy folds.

 

Punches are a card maker's best friend.  The 2-1/2" Circle Punch is my favorite right now.  Pair it with the 2-3/8" Scallop Circle Punch and you've got yourself a great gift that will make some awesome cards.  Of course there are lots more paper punches to choose from!

 

Those are my top 3 picks for what to get the card makers on your list.  In you need more ideas, just browse my Online Store and I'm sure you'll find lots of other fun card making supplies!

 

Give a Set of Note Cards

Handmade cards make a great gift and these note cards are quick and easy to make.   I made this set for my sister-in-law with scraps of the Berry Blossom Designer Series Paper that were left over from other projects.

Punches add an extra pop to the greetings without taking a lot of time.

Supplies Used:

Stamps: Happiest Birthday Wishes stamp set (122615 Wood or 122617 Clear)

Ink: Early Esppresso Classic Stampin' Pad (119670); Early Espresso (119680) and Calypso Coral (123002) Stampin' Write Markers

Paper: Whisper White Note Cards with Envelopes (107311); Berry Blossoms Designer Series Paper (122350); Whisper White (100730), Wisteria Wonder (122922) and Early Espresso (119686) card stock

Punches: Extra-Large Oval (119859), Decorative Label (120907), Large Tag (119876), Extra-Large Tag (119866), 1-3/8" Circle (119860), 1-3/4" Scallop Circle (119854), 2-3/8" Scallop Circle (118874)

Accessories: Wisteria Wonder (122973) and Calypso Coral (122976) 3/8" Ruffled Ribbons; Silver Mini Brads (122941), Stampin' Dimensionals (104430), SNAIL adhesive (104332)

 

On two of the cards, I used markers to color directly on the rubber stamp images.  To learn how to use markers on your stamps, plus four other stamping techniques, take my free eCourse: 5 Stamping Techniques Every Card Maker Should Know. 

It's free, so sign up now!

Great Teacher Gift Idea - A Tin of Notecards!

I just love it when you send me pictures of what you've been making!  This great project was made by Norma Dusing.

This is such a great gift idea for teachers, co-workers, friends, or anyone you want to give a little something to.  Norma said she got the tins at Farm & Fleet and they fit 12 of the stamped note cards.

Here's a close-up of the note card:

Don't you just love it!  She used the Snow Burst Textured Impressions Folder on the red background card stock.  That has been my favorite folder for Christmas cards this year.

I hope you've enjoyed this idea as much as I have.  Please leave a comment for Norma to thank her for sharing!

Designer Fabric Projects

Looking for a weekend project that's a little different? This Scallop Square bag was made out of Stampin' Up!'s new Springtime Vintage Designer Fabric.  The pieces were cut out using the Big Shot and the Scallop Square die, making this a quick project.  Think you have no sewing skills?  All you need to do is sew in a straight line.  You can do it!

Click here to Download the instructions for this bag, PLUS 5 other fun fabric projects:

Fabric Flowers, a Child's Apron, an Adult's Apron, a Pincushion and a Fabric NotePad Cover.

Simple Gift Idea... A Personalized Notebook & Pen Holder

I'm back from Nashville and finally getting back into the swing of things while the snow pours down outside.  School is letting out early, so I thought I better share something with you before the snow day fun begins here.

When you travel for a Stampin' Up! event, you usually find yourself sharing a hotel room with other demonstrators and it's customary to give your roomies a little gift.  We are stampers you know!  So, here's what I made for my Nashville roomies...

Inside is a small composition notebook...

And a side view to give you an idea of how this went together...

The dimensions of this project will differ depending on the size notebook you use, but I can tell you how I did the pen holder part.  You'll make 3 score lines each 1/2" apart.  About 1" in from each end, cut from the 1st score line to the 3rd score line.  Fold the middle up and out to hold the pen and fold the outsides in and secure with sticky strip.

Supplies Used:

• Melon Mambo textured card stock
• Basic Black card stock
• Paper cutter with scoring blade
• Big Shot
• Blossom Party die (#115971)
• Go Go Boots Sizzlits Alphabet Die Set (#113450)
• Sticky Strip

Click on the links above to order any of the supplies you need to make this project.

Teacher Gifts: Monogram Notecard Tins

We finally finished the teacher gifts!  The girls each picked the Designer Series Paper that they thought each teacher would like best. Each teacher is getting a set of monogrammed note cards packaged in a lovely tin.

All wrapped up...

Different color/pattern options...

These tins are available in my Clearance Rack while supplies last.  Click here to order the tins - only $2.99 for 5!  Don't forget to order the note cards too. (I put 5 note cards in each tin.)

Teacher Gift Ideas

The Christmas crunch is on and I'm just now starting to think about gifts for teachers.  I made these gum wrappers this summer and thought a winter version might make a good Christmas gift.

What do you think?  Do you have any good teacher gift ideas?  Please leave a comment and share!

Fabric Headband & Peace Pants

Okay so today's post doesn't really have anything to do with stamping, but I had to share my craftiness with you.

My daughter is a skinny mini with long, long legs and we can't seem to find pants that fit her.  So we decided to make some.  For some reason she and a friend at school are really into peace signs.  So she picked some peace sign fabric and we made what I like to call Peace Pants.

Of course we couldn't stop there because there was fabric left over!  So we made a fabric headband to match.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Now she wants me to make one for her friend so that they can have matching peace sign headbands.  They were super easy and will make great gifts, so why not!

If you'd like me to post more about our fabric projects, just leave a comment and let me know.