Tea for Two Card

This is a multi-layer full card I created for an Occasions Mini 2012 swap. I am often inspired by the color schemes of designer series paper (DSP) and continue the colors throughout a card layout. Here, I have used Riding Hood Red, Blushing Bride, Pear Pizzazz and Whisper White cardstock, Baja Breeze, Basic Grey and Riding Hood Red classic ink, new Big Shot dies, Lucky Limeade Baker's Twine, designer buttons and basic pearls.

You Take the Cake!

What makes the Party Hearty Stamp Set lovable? You get cupcakes, candles, a present, images that can easily be punched out and great sentiments. For this card, I decided to add a surprise inside created with the Three Tier Cake Pop -Up Bigz Die! This cheerful birthday card uses a combination of pumpkin pie, daffodil delight and old olive. The cake tiers have Greenhouse Gala designer series paper.

Candy Wrapper Bigz Die Treats

If you have ever wanted quick, neat treats to place in a basket as party favors, set at each table setting or to give as Halloween gifts, the Candy Wrapper Bigz Die works like a charm! It is one of the newest Big Shot dies available exclusively through Stampin' Up! It cuts AND scores at the same time, so all you have to do is fold, glue and decorate as you wish. Check out my promotions if you would like to learn more in a Big Shot Class or a Holiday Card Class. I also have a Special for Fall/Winter 2010.

The two samples above were created with the Bells & Boughs stamp set, Deck the Halls Designer Series Paper and Designer Fabric, Decorative Label Punch, Scallop Oval Punch, Early Espresso classic ink, Watercolor Wonder crayons, Sahara Sand, River Rock, Whisper White and Crumb Cake Cardstock.

Designer Fabric "Yo-yo"/Ruched Circle Tutorial

S T E P S

Use a 1-3/4" Circle Punch to make a cardstock template if you want to create the same size Yo-yo in this tutorial. Place the circle on the back side (unprinted side) of some Candy Cane Christmas designer fabric and trace around it. Cut out the fabric circle.

Tip: You can also use your Big Shot and Circles #2 Bigz Die to easily die-cut circles from fabric.


Thread a needle and tie a knot on the edge of the fabric circle. Run the needle in and out of the edges. This is called a "running stitch" or "straight stitch."


Continue stitching all the way around the fabric circle. Pull on the thread to gather the fabric edges.


Tie a knot on the back to secure.


Use one tip of your paper snips to gently poke a hole through the center of the Yo-yo/Ruched Circle. Be careful not to cut the thread holding the fabric together. Insert a glimmer brad or other type of brad.


You can use Yo-yos/Ruched Circles to decorate a card, cloth napkins, blouses, sweaters, towels, hairclips or anything else you can think of! I am planning to use these to accent some Holiday Mini Catalog card swaps.

Prepping for Convention 2010

Here are some parts of swaps that I stamped and cut over the past several weeks. I'm still working on the Melon Mambo Eiffel Towers (top right corner of the photo).


These are more pieces that have been stamped and cut/punched. The decorative white labels in the center had to be die-cut one at a time with the Stampin' Up! Lots of Tags Sizzlits die.


This is probably 10% of the cardstock (cut, scored and folded in some cases) that will be used on my swaps for Convention.


I picked up some small swatches of fabric last night and decided to try making flowers with the Stampin' Up! Blossom Party Originals Die. It was really fun and easy. The fabric was not too thick, so I was able to cut up to 6 at a time. I think I will make flower pins and die cut more layers with coordinating colors of SU cardstock.


Clean up was easy too. I just took a couple pieces of tape (about 3" long) and picked up all the bits of fabric that were clinging to the die.