Shoebox Stampers

The container makes the gift!

Every year I create something for each of my sister's and mom, varying mainly by color preference.  This year I decided to go with memory bracelets with matching earrings in each person's favorite color.  I didn't think I would have enough time, but my husband took the kids on the 23rd, so I took my chance and made these boxes.

This one is for my sister, Sam, whose favorite color is pink.  (Her bracelet was my favorite, though the others I would have gladly kept as well!) 

 
The drawer is melon mambo, with a chocolate chip sleeve.  The snowflakes are from Snow swirled in orchid opulence, melon mambo and rich razzleberry, which is the mat for the top.  I used the snowflakes dies with a rhinestone brad in the center in the same color as the drawer.  Then I added a "drawer pull" using our chocolate chip corduroy brads.  You'll find that the basis for all of these are the same so I won't repeat them.

The drawer for this one is tempting turquoise, with tempting turquoise, taken with teal, and certainly celery snowflakes with taken with teal as the mat.  

Mandy's favorite color is lime green, so I used green galore, garden green, and crushed curry for her snowflakes, with garden green as the mat.

Sher's is brilliant blue with brilliant blue, brocade blue and bashful blue snowflakes.  The mate is bashful blue.

My mom likes green, so I used the same colors as Mandy's but her drawer is garden green.  Her mat is green galore.

Fun, right?  The drawer is 7x7, scored at 1 and 2 inches on all four sides, then attached to form a box.  The sleeve is 3 in by 9, scored at 1 1/16, 4 1/8, 5 3/16, and 8 1/4 inches.  I used a 12 x 12 sheet, so was able to make all five out of one sheet.  If you decide to make one, send me a picture.  And have a great New Year!

Wish shoe stampin' fun!

Anything mini is TOO cute...

especially our new mini milk carton!  I just had to order this die before it was available to everyone and I had so much fun making something to fill my sister's purse that I made for her! 

I cut the die out in melon mambo cardstock, then wrapped a strip of Designer series paper from our Razzleberry lemonade set.  I added the rich razzleberry dotted ribbon, then topped it off with a sentiment from our Christmas punch hostess stamp set.  I put a clip at the top to keep it closed after filling it with holiday M&M's.  How cute is that???  I can't wait to make some for Easter for the kids' teachers! 

Wish shoe stampin' fun!

Ideas for the next holiday!

I know that Christmas is over, but there were several projects I finished right before Christmas that I wanted to share, and that you could use for ideas for holidays or birthdays coming up!

I created this for my tennis buddies.  I made four cards, two each of two designs, and covered four Nuggets with coordinating cardstock in chocolate chip, crushed curry, bravo burgundy, and not quite navy.  The base is chocolate chip.

This is the card that I put in the front - it was my favorite of the two.  A very simple card, it features the tennis balls from Just Tennis with the rackets in the background. 

I just love those tennis balls!  I stamped them and then punched them out with our 3/4 inch circle punch, then popped up the last one with a stampin' dimensional.  

I think I'll make another set for me (which I seem to rarely do) but with my favorite colors - elegant eggplant for sure, with regal rose and maybe so saffron...or old olive...or pumpkin pie...guess it's time to play!

Wish shoe stampin' fun!

A little something for the grandparents

Did you know that Sunday, September 13 is Grandparents' Day?  I always find it difficult to find something for them because they usually have everything, so it usually comes down to something with the kids' pictures.  Here was an idea I ran across that would be perfect!

 

Isn't this just the coolest thing?  You can find the tutorial on splitcoaststampers here, but I'll quickly run down the steps I used to create this.  The tiles are from Home Depot and are called tumble tiles.  You might have to look through several boxes to find one that will work since some of them have some pretty large holes (they rather look like swiss cheese!).  Once I had a tile I thought acceptable, this is what I did:

1. I found the picture I wanted to use and printed it on tissue paper (the tissue paper is attached to copy paper with tape or 2-way glue - apply glue, allow to dry a bit to tackiness, then lay tissue paper over copy paper). 

2. Using mod podge, apply a layer over the tile and then carefully lay trimmed image over tile.  Apply another layer of mod podge and allow to dry.

3. Choose stamp with appropriate sentiment and apply image using permanent ink (Stazon is great for this) and allow to dry.  Apply one final coat of mod podge.

4. After the tile has dried, add felt pads to the bottom for use as coaster (these are also at Home Depot or Lowe's).  

This is a great gift - it's easy and it doesn't take very many supplies.  If you make one, share it with me.  I'd love to see how it turns out.  If you need the supplies (stamp set, Stazon ink) make sure to use my online ordering or contact me. 

Wish shoe stampin' fun!

Survival chocolate for the First Day of School

Of course, I remembered to create something for the kids' teachers the morning of the First Day of School, so thankfully I had some chocolate lying around.  Hershey's packages their chocolate wafers similar to Ghiradelli, though it's a bit smaller.  That simply makes it cuter!

 

All you need is cardstock (I used Designer Series papers), strong adhesive, and a crimper.  Cut to size and wrap, then close off ends.  Crimp each edge and embellish!  I really love making these - they are so easy but fancy.  You can see more of these I've made here.  I found another sample here as well.

I hope you remembered to start the year off right sooner than I did!  If you gave a teacher gift, make sure to share it with me, either this project or something else!

Wish shoe stampin' fun!

Recipe remodel - Happy Valentine's Day!

It has finally made it, and while it seemed to rush here, I have been so busy with preparations that it also felt like it took forever!  I had one more thing to share with you - my favorite recipe for any romantic holiday (or Christmas, Thanksgiving, really whenever!).  I received it from a gal who worked with me at US Bank in Overland, MO some ten years ago.  It's one of my very favorites!  And to make it easy to add it to your favorite recipes, at the end of this post I've included a pdf file at you can download, save and print.

If you plan to give the whole pie, then you can easily create this paper bow - the tutorial can be found here.  I would suggest using one large brad for the whole thing, rather than a brad for each layer.  And I also add four more of the 5 inch strips to make the bow a little fuller.  It is a very easy decoration and fast too - you might find reasons to make more!  I used our Raspberry tart Designer series paper, and simply attached with a glue dot.

And, after having been to the store five times in the last two days, I finally remembered and found the mini graham cracker crusts, which is perfect for giving individual servings.  And when you make it as a pie, you will have a bit extra that is perfect for these (I actually filled a pie crust and three mini crusts when I made this last.  So I wrapped the little pie with plastic wrap, and tied it with riding hood red striped ribbon.  I punched the large tag from chocolate chip and the small tag from whisper white.  I stamped the heart from Polka dot punches (a Sale-a-bration set) with versamark and embossed with whisper white embossing powder.  I stamped the sentiment from All holidays and punched with the heart to heart punch.  The large heart is raised up with dimensionals.

Download Cappuccino pie

What's your favorite recipe to create for romantic evenings or getaways?  I love easy recipes, but sometimes, a bit more effort is called for in appreciation for all that's done. 

Wish shoe stampin' fun (and lots of love)!

Rebecca

Teacher gift for Valentines'

While it may be a little late to make these for Valentine's Day for a teacher, you can definitely make these for someone just as deserving!  And you can make them with other things, like kit-kats or chocolate, but I used the small boxes of conversation hearts since everyone loves them and you can't get them any other time of year (unlike peeps!). 

 

Ben likes blue, so we used the new SAB paper bundle, Designer Dots, to create his wrapped goody.  I cut the paper 7 x 7 which fit pretty snug, but saved most of my paper for other projects.  I put some sticky strip on the ends (best done before enclosing goody as it's hard to get your fingers in there!), pressed closed, then crimped with our crimper.  Next, I put a bashful blue belly band around it, added the scalloped saying from Love you much in whisper white, bashful blue, and brocade blue punched with the scallop punch, 1 3/8 inch and 1 1/4 inch circle punches.  Very simple, but packs a punch (or should I say, some heart???).

Grace really liked the flowers in the Bella rose Designer series papers, so we went with riding hood red and pink pirouette as our color scheme.  The same idea as Ben but we substituted colors. 

I just love how they turned out and I know I'll be making more of these (wouldn't Ghirardelli chocolates be perfect for this?).  What did you make for teacher treats?  I'd love to hear from you because it seems there's always another reason for giving!  And make sure to check back early tomorrow - I will post a recipe for my FAVORITE cappuccino recipe.  YUM!

Wish shoe stampin' fun!

Rebecca

Recipe remodel!

This is one of my favorite recipes for year-round chocolate satisfaction!  And there are very few ingredients, most of which are staples, that it's easy to throw together at the last minute. 

It only requires 1/2 cup butter, 1/2 cup brown sugar, 1 tsp vanilla, 3 cups quick-cooking oats, 1 cup chocolate chips, and 1/2 cup peanut butter. 

Melt the butter in a saucepan then add the brown sugar and vanilla - mix well.  Add the oats and cook over heat for a few minutes.  Divide this mixture in half, placing one part in a greased 9x9 pan.  Melt the chocolate chips in a microwave safe dish and add the peanut butter - heat to make stirring easier.  After mixed well, pour the chocolate pb on top the oats, then crumble the remaining oat mixture on top.  Refrigerate for a couple hours and serve.  Yum!

I needed a large-ish box in which to put the goodie, so I used the tutorial from splitcoaststampers.com to create this one that will fit a 2 1/2 inch square.  It's so easy - just a bit of scoring and adhering, with some stamping (of course!) and it's done!  I used the new Botanical blooms and certainly celery twill ribbon available during Sale-a-bration paired with regal rose and our wide oval punch. 

What occasions do you give homemade goodies?  And what do you make?  Share a recipe and you could be featured here!

Wish shoe stampin' (and bakin') fun!

Rebecca

On the tenth day of Christmas...

I made earrings using our Designer series papers!  And it was so easy - the hard part was waiting for the glue to dry!

I cut a piece of riding hood red patterns paper 6 by 1/2 inches.  I rolled it around a toothpick real tight and used just a bit of adhesive to keep the edge down.  I applied Mod Podge with a paintbrush and allowed it to dry.  Once dry (and still on the toothpick), I rolled it in versamark ink and sprinkled the bead with clear embossing powder and heated with a heat gun.  Finally I slid the "bead" off and created the earrings.  Won't these be great slid into the pillow box for a gift?  You guessed it!  We're making these at my Holiday gifts/wraps class.

Just a note...you have to wait for the Mod Podge to dry thoroughly, or the heat gun melts the embossing powder and bubbles the glue!  What a mess!  Can you guess which one I just couldn't wait to dry???

Wish shoe stampin' fun!

Rebecca

On the ninth day of Christmas...

I made another ornament.  But, wait!  This one holds a gift!  This scallop ornament has a pocket to hold money or even a little love note, maybe even a tag!  So it could be a tag for a gift within a tag!

Using riding hood red cardstock, I cut out the larger scallop on the scallop die #2.  Then I cut out another half-scallop with our Holiday Treasures designer paper and kiwi kiss cardstock.  I used our scallop border punch to create the scallop on the kiwi kiss and adhered them together, then added the half scallop to the full scallop to create a pocket.  Using the round tab punch, I created a hanger in kiwi kiss.  Then I stamped the sentiment from Many merry messages and tucked it under a snowflake from Felt flurries.  I waved the sentiment to make it look like a banner (rather reminds me of those banners trailing planes, but this one is trailing a snowflake!).  Finally, I punched a hole with the Crop-a-dile and added chocolate chip taffeta ribbon for a hanger

Tell me what you think.  I'd love to hear from you!

Wish shoe stampin' fun!

Rebecca