School's Out!

My second grader is out for the summer! She is officially a THIRD grader! Where does the time go? To close out the school year, she helped make her teacher's gifts.

Last weekend we did a little shopping for items that Stampin' Up! does not carry.  One craft store had a coupon for 25% off everything - including sale items!! We found this cute yellow polka dotted flowerpot and gerber daisies, as well as a 5" x 7" chalkboard.

First we started with the chalkboard. Celia picked out the red paper from the Polka Dot Parade Designer Series Paper (#126902, $7.67). She picked out the chalkboard font on my Silhouette e-cutter. After cutting it out, she ran it through my Xyron machine so it would stay in place on the chalkboard. After placing the letters, she coated the sign with two layers of modge podge. After it dried I attached a  ruffled stretch coastal cabana ribbon (which is sold out).

We ran washi tape (Retro Fresh This and That Designer 
Washi Tape, #133001, $4.95 and Gingham Garden Designer Washi Tape, #129314, $3.47) in straight lines down the pencils.

The flowers are actually pens! I cut the flowers down to size and adhered them to the pens with floral tape.  I then used three of the washi tape designs and wrapped those over the floral tape.  A styrofoam block topped with shredded designer series paper was an easy and inexpensive way to put everything in the flower pot!  




We also added a Starbucks gift card and little purse.  The purse was made using Coastal Cabana cardstock (#131297. $6.95) and the Petite Purse Bigz L Die (#125606, $32.95).  I stamped bees on it using the Springtime Hello set (C #133415, $10.95; W #133412, $13.95) in Smoky Slate (#131179, $5.95). And, what would a teacher's gift be without some chocolate? We added four Hersey Milk Chocolate Nuggets to the purse.  It was a perfect fit!

This cute gift is so versatile it can be made for anyone! Who knew?

The prices noted in red are retiring items that have been put on further sale.  You can purchase these Stampin' Up! products online at  my store.  

I'm Still Here - Who Knew?

Wow! I can't believe that the last time I wrote a post was ... JULY! Where have I been? Let's see, getting ready for back to school (as a preschool teacher and mom of a second grader and a college FRESHMAN), chauffeur for after school activities, volunteer head of three positions for our Girl Scout service unit, and a part-time seasonal job for a certain ham store that has turned into permanent part-time.Oh, and I can't forget being a wife! :-)  Apparently, I like to overschedule myself!

Well, it is a new year (okay, so it is February) and I am going to do better and schedule time to write on my blog! 

My last post was about washi tape.  Yes, I now have some.  Actually, two sets from Stampin' Up! - Gingham Garden Designer Washi Tape (#129314) and Retro Fresh This and That Designer Washi Tape (#133001). I admit that I let them sit there for quite a while. They intimidated me. I did some looking around on the web and decided to give it  a try.



My first card is very simple. I CASEd (copy and share everything) a card by fellow Stampin' Up! demonstrator Jennifer Timko. I added the flower in place of her butterfly. Washi tape is much easier to use than I thought it might be.  It is easier to reposition than I anticipated. For a change, I used our Crystal Effects to adhere the flowers. I read on another demonstrator's blog that she likes to use it because she likes how permanent it is.

Supplies:

• Whisper White CS (#100730)
• Island Indigo CS (#122923)
• Gingham Garden Designer Series Paper (#129310)
• Gingham Garden Designer Washi Tape (#131296)
• Rhinestone Basic Jewels (#119246) ( I used a yellow permanent marker to color it)
• 1 3/4" Scallop Circle Punch (#119854)
• 7/8" Scallop Circle Punch (#129404)
• Stampin' Dimensionals (#104430)
• Crystal Effects (#101055)

The second card I tried was based on a card by Carolyn Lindenmayer.  The trick with this card was to place the embossed cardstock at an angle and trim off the excess. I wrapped the end of each piece of washi tape around the mat. I was stumped on what else the card needed. Then, I remembered the vintagey stamp set from the annual catalog!  And upon the umpteenth look at this card, I think I am going to add a pearl to the center of the phone!




 Supplies:     

• Coastal Cabana CS (#131297)
• Whisper White CS (#100730)
• Baked Brown Sugar CS (#131296)
• Retro Fresh This and That Designer Washi Tape (#133001)
• Timeless Talk stamp set (clear - #126607; wood - #126605)
• Stampin' Dimensionals (#104430)

My lesson learned from this long-overdue experiment with washi tape? Don't take so long to try a new product! What's the worst that can happen? I mess up and have to start over.

Washi tape is fun and easy to use! Who knew?