Tuesday, October 14, 2014

Homemade Holiday Gifts and Tags...

Today is another group post for Papertrey Ink! We will be showing you some new stamps and dies that will help you make fabulous handmade holiday gifts for those special people in your life, and even gifts that would be great for teachers, neighbors, bus drivers, etc. that you can make inexpensively.

First up is the new Canned stamps, the Jar Bonnet dies and Tasting Tag die.


For one of my jar gift ideas, I wanted to make a cocoa mix!
It looks so cute in the jar with all of the layers. I'm sure you've seen this around, but I had to give it a try.

To make this, you'll need:

  • a quart jar from the craft store
  • 1 cup powdered milk
  • 1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder 
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/2 cup mini chocolate chips
  • 1/2 cup crushed peppermint candies.

Starting with the first ingredient, the powdered milk, pour each ingredient on top from the list. This mix will fill a 1-quart jar (12 servings), but if your containers are different sizes, just keep the ratio of ingredients constant. 


Top with crushed peppermints. I could have crushed mine a little better, but it sure is a messy job. :)

The inside of the jar was wrapped with fabric, and I used some sugared pipe cleaner candy canes on top. Next, I stamped a tag with the new Tasting Tag die to attach to the cocoa mix. It comes with little holes to tie on the cutest little wooden spoons!! On the back of the tag, write: "Mix contents in a large bowl. For each serving, place 1/3 cup cocoa mix in a mug and stir in 1 cup boiling water. Store remaining mix in airtight container." If I had to make it over again, I think I'd use 3/4 cup of each of the 1 cup ingredients instead. I didn't have a lot of room left at the top for the cute crushed peppermints.

Last I used the new Jar Bonnet Die on a smaller jar filled with peppermints. Added a pipe cleaner candy cane covered in fine glitter and a jingle bell. You could add a tag to this jar also with a gift card.


Cocoa Mix and Peppermint Gift Jars:
(All supplies by Papertrey Ink unless otherwise noted.)
STAMPS: Canned
INK: Pure Poppy
PAPER: white
DIES: Tasting Tag, Jar Bonnet Dies
OTHER: wooden spoon, twine, washi tape, fabric, pipe cleaners. jingle bells, twine.
______


Next are the new Cross Stitched stamps and Cross Stitch Alphabet Dies. I thought what better to go with a stitched tag than a stitching kit? 

Some sewing supplies were gathered to add to my jar: 
  • a small scissors, stick pins, safety pins, needles, thread, measuring tape, hem tape, thimble, seam ripper, etc.
All of the supplies were tucked inside the jar, then I used the new Cross Stitched stamps on the tag and the Cross Stitch Alphabet Dies to cut the holes for the letter K, hand stitched with floss. (The circle was cut with Stitched With Love dies.) 
The jar topper was made by taking out the inside of the lid, covering it with fabric and stuffing it with batting. The fabric is hot glued underneath to the inside of the lid, and the jar surround was covered with washi tape.

Cute and easy! Maybe a gift for someone going off to college? Or a crafty friend? I love this tape, it's the same tape I used on the birthday card yesterday. Lots of fun colors in it!

Sewing Kit Jar:
(All supplies by Papertrey Ink unless otherwise noted.)
STAMPS: Cross Stitched
INK: Pure Poppy
PAPER: white
DIES: Stitched With Love dies
OTHER: pearl by Melissa Frances, twine, fabric, washi tape, pins, floss and jar kit contents - scissors, measuring tape, pins, safety pins, thread, needles, hem tape.
______


Last up is a gift box cut with the new Vintage Favor It Box die. I used patterned paper from Fancy Pants' Oh Deer collection and one of their little trees from the line also.

The banner and the opening were cut with Just a Little Something dies, and the banner is stamped with Just a Little Something stamps.


Christmas Candy gift box:
(All supplies by Papertrey Ink unless otherwise noted.)
STAMPS: Just a Little Something
INK: Pure Poppy
PAPER: Fancy Pants' Oh Deer
DIES: Just a Little Something dies
OTHER: tree - Fancy Pants' Oh Deer, twine, pearl - Melissa Frances, wooden star - Gossamer Blue's Get Happy.
______

What do you think? Is there a product you like the best? Visit the the PTI team to see more with these new products! Everything will be available on Oct. 15 at 10pm EST. Thanks for stopping by!

Monday, October 13, 2014

Make It Monday video tutorial: Dipped Die Cuts...

On this fine Monday, I have a new video tutorial for you on how make these "dipped die cuts"!


Aren't they pretty? Gold-dipped, perfect to set at a fall table place setting to let someone know you are thankful for them. Or create a packet of a variety of tags like I did here, slide them into this sleeve and give as a gift.

Watch the video HERE.
For your dipped die cuts, you don't have to use gold. Or leaves. Be creative and see what you can come up with! You can dip your die cut shapes in other colors of embossing powder, or you can use paints, watercolors, maybe even dip them in sprinkles? Can't wait to see what you come up with!

Thankful Gold Dipped Die Cuts sleeve and tags:
(All supplies by Papertrey Ink unless otherwise noted.)
STAMPS: Basket of Blessings stamps
INK: Dark Chocolate, Terracotta Tile, Canyon Clay, Fresh Snow, Versamark inks
PAPER: White and Classic Kraft cardstock, Autumn Abundance patterned paper, Gold self adhesive paper from Luxe Letterpress kit
DIES: Leaf Prints dies, Basic Bookmark 3 die, Phrase Play #7 die
OTHER: Gold embossing powder - Papertrey Ink, 
Vintage Cream and Canyon Clay buttons - Papertrey Ink,
 floss and vellum - craft supply, 
seam binding - Hug Snug by Zipperstop,
machine stitching.
______


In other news, I've been nominated by a few friends for the "Blog Tour" that you might have seen going around lately, and I've been a bad blogger. I'm here to catch up! Nominated by three of my scrappy friends whom I admire so much:  Wida Miller, Brenda Weaver and Anna-Maria Wolniak!

1. What am I working on right now? 

Whatever my assignments are at the moment! I rarely get to scrap just for no reason lately. I usually have 12-14 projects due for Papertrey Ink on the 15th of every month. I'm also on their Monthly Moments team and the Make It Market team, so I make 3 items each monthly for those as well. I just joined Gossamer Blue kit club recently and make a few things for their kit each month now...and I am a social media girl for Fancy Pants! So I'll post a few things with FP products to help spread the word for FP. I know, it all keeps me very busy, but I'm not sure what I'd do otherwise with myself! One more thing, I have something in the works coming soon....let's just say I will be filmed by a production studio in November, and you will all get to watch me create. ALL of me. Yikes! I'm nervous, but it should be really fun and will stretch me out of my comfort zone! :) And the best part is that it's here in Denver. I get to have my makeup and hair done before filming and will be working with a super fun group of people! It's already been such an awesome experience!

2. How long does it take me to create a project?

I am painfully slow. Painfully. Sometimes I'll have an idea of what I want it to look like, but not always. I have lots of ideas, but have a hard time executing them! Wish I could be faster. On a good day, I can make 2 - 3 cards at the MOST! Mainly I would say it's because I'm very indecisive. Will people like this? Is it me? So many decisions, ya know?

3. What are my favorite things to create with at the moment? 

Dies of course, vellum and embossing. Since being on the Papertrey Ink team for almost 4 years, I'm so used to using stamps now that it's hard to create without stamps too! Ooh, and right now I'm currently addicted to gold. My husband says I love shiny things. :)

4. How does my writing/creating process work?

Hmm. That's a hard one to explain. Usually, I lay out all of the items I'm supposed to work with and choose my favorite pieces from that. Then I just start moving them around to see if any ideas are sparked. If not, I'll browse Pinterest for ideas and my saved files. But usually the products dictate what they want me to do with them based on their size, shape, pattern and color.

5. How do I become inspired and stay inspired?

Try new things. That's definitely the key! It's just fun. Keep it fun and don't put too much pressure on yourself. Do what YOU like. Inspiration is everywhere, and although I need breaks here and there, I'm always excited to get back into creating when I'm not able to. I think it's more of a passion for me. 

6. What is my signature style? 

I love a look that is clean and elegant, yet layered....layered groupings, yet leaving a little bit of white space open on my work too to give the eye a place to rest. I love florals and feminine fonts. When making something, I keep asking myself, "would I really like to be the one who receives this?" If yes, then I'll feel proud to give it away. Ha. Well, that wraps up my blog tour, hope you enjoyed reading more about me. xo

Danielle

Introducing Songbirds...

The Papertrey Ink team is back with the October countdown posts to show you what's new this month! Today we are previewing the new Songbirds stamp set and dies, available on Oct. 15th at 10pm EST at Papertrey Ink.


Normally I don't use a lot of blue, I am more of an aqua fan, but I thought I'd branch out and try something different. I love the soft colors for a holiday card paired with the dark blue though! Blue, cream, white and gold...what do you think?

The Christmas music notes are stamped and embossed on vellum.

Next a little holiday tag made with the new Foodie Tag die and the Songbird stamps and dies. I stamped the music note background, die cut the leaves and bird and added some red cardstock punched circles and some "snow" (mica flakes).

These are so quick to make! And the Foodie Tag die folds in half, so you get a front and a back- 2 layers of cardstock. It's very sturdy. And of course, lots of room to write the To:/From: on the back.


Last up is a birthday card made with the Songbirds stamps and dies. I have a good friend that loves purples and greens, so I made this card with her in mind.
The background is Lavender Moon cardstock, the leaves are Raspberry Fizz cardstock and the bird is stamped in Plum Pudding ink on a Lavender Moon cut out. Love this washi tape I found at Michaels, it is fabric and has a great texture to it, but also sticky on the back. Hope you enjoyed these ideas. Thanks for reading! xo


Joy card:
(All supplies by Papertrey Ink unless otherwise noted.)
STAMPS: Songbirds
INK: Versamark ink
PAPER: White, Enchanted Evening Pattern Pack, Spring Rain
DIES: Songbirds, One Liners
OTHER: white embossing powder, seam binding - zipperstop, sequins - Pretty Pink Posh, gold foil paper - Papertrey Ink's Luxe Letterpress kit.
______

Holiday Tags:
(All supplies by Papertrey Ink unless otherwise noted.)
STAMPS: Songbirds
INK: True Black, Spring Moss
PAPER: Pure Poppy, Vintage Cream, White cardstock
DIES: Foodie Tag die, Songbirds dies, hole punch
OTHER: mica flakes from Papertrey Ink's Tinsel & Tags kit.
______


Happy Birthday card:
(All supplies by Papertrey Ink unless otherwise noted.)
STAMPS: Songbirds
INK: Plum Pudding, Raspberry Fizz
PAPER: Lavender Moon and Raspberry Fizz cardstock, Harvest Gold Pattern Pack
DIES: Songbirds
OTHER: washi tape - craft supply, pearl - Melissa Frances.
______

What do you think? Is there a product you like the best? Visit the the PTI team to see more with these new products! Everything will be available on Oct. 15 at 10pm EST.