OMG! I finally have a Stamp Inventory Catalogue!

I've been accumulating Stampin' Up! stamps for over 8 years.  I quickly ran out of space for all those cases of wood mounted stamps so I started unmounting my stamps and wheels!

Click HERE to see that post.

I now have 11 bins (that hold 32 CD cases each) of Stampin' Up! rubber stamps (mostly retired).

Plus a TON more loose non-Stampin' Up! stamps.

Sadly I wasn't using my stamps because I had no way of knowing what I had in the bins and I didn't keep the image sticker if it was already stuck on the wood block.

So after reading Kate's amazing craft room cleanse journey I decided to tackle these stamps and get myself more organized.

First I sorted ALL my stamps by theme.  Then I created an inventory sheet (in MS Word) for each bin and printed off a duplicate to keep in my new stamp binder.

To create the inventory sheet I scanned the label sheet for the stamp set (for ones I never mounted them on wood blocks) .  If I don't have labels I look for the images on the internet and insert that image (if I'm lucky an image of label sheets) into my document.

If my CD case is missing the image sheet (because it was a mounted stamp set and I threw out the labels stuck on the wood blocks) I print off a larger image or as true to size as possible and put that in the CD case with the stamps.

Here's what my Stampin' Up! stamp inventory page looks like:

Nothing fancy but it gives me an idea of what I've got and where it is!

For my non Stampin' Up! wood mounted stamps I created similiar inventory pages (in the same binder).  I sorted the stamps and put them in snap cases by themes.  I used my labeller to label the theme and then a code on the side of each case. 

I used my printer/copier to copy the top of the case (without taking the stamps out) and I printed out 2 copies.  One for my binder and the other I trimmed and inserted in the stamp case.  This gives me a quick "snapshot" of what's in the case and what should go back in that case.

I can flip through this binder and get a good idea of what I've got and hopefully find what I'm looking for.

Next I'm going to tackle my clear and rubber cling mount stamps!  I just need to inventory them - I've already sorted them and put them in bins (SU!) and binders (non-SU!).

Until Next Time!
Marie

TIP: Converting stamps to clear mount

If you are like me and have been at this hobby - stamping - for a while now you will probably be running out of room for all your stamps.

Years ago I started unmounting my wood mount stamps and rollograph wheels and now I mostly buy unmounted or even digi stamps. 

But I have a ton of stamps still on wood that I really must do something with.

Today I came across this blog post in my favourites and I thought I would share it with all of you.  In case you haven't seen it that is!

I really like this post because it's simple to do for stamps that you haven't mounted yet -use the stamp image stickers and tombo mono glue to "convert" the wood mount stamps into clear/cling mount ones. 

BUT I also love her TIP of peeling off an old sticker from the wood block and using that again on your rubber.  I hadn't thought about that and I did throw out a bunch of them in my frenzy to unmount!

Until Next Time!
Marie

Tip - Inking blank spots

Does this ever happen to you?

I just love this solid image stamp (Dasher from Stampin' Up!) but I hardly ever use it because I sometimes get a "missed" area when I stamp.

I saw on Mary Fish's blog how she uses a blender pen to "fix" this blank spot and so I tried it.  I squeezed my ink pad (SU! Cherry Cobbler) to get some ink on the inside lid and then I dipped my blender pen (NOT aqua-pen) in the smudge and then applied it to the image.

Voila! Check out this "fixed" image.

It really works!

Another great tip Mary suggested was to ink up the stamp with the pad on top rather than tapping the stamp on the ink pad.

Until Next Time!
Marie

Witch's Boot!

It's been a while since I last posted - I know!

I haven't really done much crafting lately but I have been busy doing other stuff for my husband and kids as well as around the house.  I just replaced my smoke detectors all by myself (2 of them hard wired), primed and painted my daughter's room (from school bus yellow to "sanctuary" blue), and some other stuff around the house!

I even reorganized my craft room a bit and found a great temporary storage solution for my embossing folders.  Now I can keep these on the shelf next to my Big Shot!

Check it out!

 I put the folders in alphabetical order so I can find it when I need it - I just have to remember the name!

This one is almost full so I'm on the lookout for another one - it's a stationary box with a hinged lid.  I don't remember where I got it from originally (probably Home Sense, Winners or maybe Superstore) but I used to keep my Copic Ink Refills in it until I outgrew it!

While I was reorganizing I found all kinds of things I'd forgotten I had.  Do you do that?

Anyway while I had my Big Shot, folders and dies out I decided to make this cute Witch's Boot project.

Here are some close ups for you:

And I loaded it up with some Hershey Nuggets that have wrappers on them!

I made these with Stampin' Up!s My Digital Studio It's a Wrap - Holidays brush set and Avery 8160 address labels.  But they are pretty easy to make with just stamping or digital paper!

Now I won't re-invent the wheel and repeat the instructions for this project here. 

I got this idea from other demonstrators' blogs that got the idea from someone who was at or attended Stampin' Up!s recent Founders' Circle get together.

Anyway here's some links:

Tami White

Patty Bennett

Sandi McIver

The only things I did differently was I made myself a boot template (which I hand cut) rather than die cut a stocking and circle each time and I used the Box#2 die but adhered it top up (without the top).

 I made my template of white cardstock and just traced onto the black cardstock.

Isn't this a fun project?

Until Next Time!
Marie

Cute Punch Santa!

I saw this post from Patty Bennett on making a punch out Santa while at Stampin' Up!s Founder's Circle event and I just had to try it!

Isn't it just the cutest thing! 

Perfect for a card part, tag, treat topper or bookmark etc..

Punches used:
119859 Extra Large Oval (Red & White for Hat parts),
119855 Large Oval (Pink for Face),
119847 Ornament Punch (White for Beard),
117191 Bird Builder (just the wings in White for the Moustache),
118074 Owl Builder (just the Medium sized Eye circles - 2 Black for Eyes, 1 Red for Mouth, 1 Pink for Nose),
116824 Petals-a-Plenty Embossing Folder for the Red Extra Large Oval piece for his Hat
Snowflake Embossing folder for White Ornament Beard piece
Pom-Pom cut from spool of Pom-Pom strand


Until Next Time!
Marie

Baby Cards

I needed to make up some baby cards and this is what I came up with.

I used Stampin' Up! wheels - Baby Tees and Nursery Letters.

Until Next Time!
Marie

Stampin' Up! Grab Bags

Did anyone else get some of the Stampin' Up! grab bags?

I got all 3 and this is what I got in them:

 Here's what I've made so far with just some of what came in my $18 grab bag!

I've still got a ton more cards to make with the other materials in the other grab bags!

Happy Easter to YOU!

Do you make cards for Easter?  If so, you better get going on them because Easter is next weekend!

Here are some of my favourite Easter cards that I've made in the past.  I really like these cards because they are so easy to recreate.

This first one is too easy - just punch out coordinating patterned paper using a jumbo oval punch for the eggs, stamp a greeting and tie on some ribbon!

I printed these pages up from Digital paper.

 Here's a close up of the "eggs".  I like to use pop dots on some for added interest and dimension.

These next two cards both use Bunny Friends by Penny Black. This is a big stamp - 5 1/4 by 2 1/2 - so these cards are 8 1/2 x 5 1/2.

This background paper is from BoBunny (how fitting) and it's called U BUG ME! DOT (this is the back side pattern). I used Kraft for the card base and Kraft and Certainly Celery for the mats.

 Here is a close up of one of the bunnies! I coloured this image in with COPIC markers.

 I just love this pinked felt ribbon!  I bought this at a local home decor shop but I've since picked up some Paper Trey Ink felt and scalloped dies to make my own felt ribbon.



For the next version of this stamp I coloured in the pots with Old Olive, Dusty Durango, Crushed Curry, Ruby Red and Brocade Blue markers and then used a watercolour brush on them.




 The paper is a retired DSP package from Stampin' Up! called Summer Picnic and the ribbon is a favourite of mine from Stampin' Up! as well (I think there may be some of this ribbon in Chocolate Chip and Riding Hood Red in the Stampin' Up! Clearance Rack for cheap!).

 Here's a close up of one of the bunnies!



 
Thanks for stopping by and I hope seeing these cards gives you some inspiration to make your own Easter cards!

SNEAK PEEK: Fresh Florals Class Samples

Here are some Sneak Peeks from my upcoming Fresh Florals Watercolouring Class.

What I'm working on...

I'm working on some class samples for an upcoming watercolour class.

Here's a sneak peek of my worksheet:

This class will be offered at Scrap Arts sometime in March.  If you're in the area and would like more info please contact the store at 604-980-8811.

 

I LOVE this scrunchy ribbon look!

I've seen the scrunchy ribbon "look" done different ways but I like this one the best. 

Why?  It doesn't use sewing to gather and it's a pretty gather rather than just laying and scrunching your ribbon right on to sticky strip.

The method I used in the photo above is easy and quick - that is once you get the hang of it! 

Click HERE to see the video by the talented Mary Fish on how to do it yourself.   I LOVE her sample card too!

Marie's TIPS:
When doing this technique here are a few things to keep in mind.
1.  Cut a long piece of ribbon - for a 4 1/4 card front piece I cut a piece of ribbon 11 inches long.

2.  Secure the non-pulling side of the ribbon.  I did this by using a lighter to sear the ribbon end.  Check out THIS POST to see what I mean. 

If you don't do this you may pull your thread all the way through and end up with flat ribbon with a line through it.  This happened to me the first time doing this!

3.  Fray the ribbon end you're going to pull from quite a bit so you can get a hold of a thread.  I have long nails and I guess my finger tips are not that strong so I needed to use tweezers to get the thread started.

Click HERE for the sewn scrunchy ribbon look.


Click HERE for the scrunch look with sticky strip.

Which one do you like best?