Stamping In My Neighborhood

Big Shot Bunco

Last night I held a Big Shot Bunco event.  What's that, you ask?  It was an event with a focus on making projects with the Big Shot die-cutting machine in between Bunco games.  If you've never played Bunco, you should give it a try!  It's a very easy game to learn.  I awarded over $150 in prizes (Bunco Bucks which were used on an order placed at the end of the evening). 

As I mentioned, everyone got to make projects in between games.  This first project was a Christmas card, made using the Top Note die, which is exclusive to Stampin' Up!  The colors are Whisper White, Riding Hood Red and Chocolate Chip.  You can't tell from the photo, but there are Dazzling Diamonds on it to accentuate the snow.

Participants also made this adorable little owl treat holder.  I'd love to take the credit for it but it's a project that a number of demonstrators have done, so my thanks to all of them.  And whoever came up with it first...you ROCK!  We used two pieces of cardstock (Chocolate Chip and Tangerine Tango) with the Top Note die, then used the 1" and 1/2" circle punches to create his face.  His beak was made from a petal of the 5-Petal Flower punch.  We used Hershey's Kisses last night, but it also looks great with Indian Corn (like Candy Corn, only has chocolate) in the cello bag.

The third project that we created was a quick and easy pillow box, using the Pillow Box die and the Snowflake Sizzlets die.  We cut the snowflakes out of sticker paper so all we had to do was peel off the backing and stick it on.  What an easy way to do favors!

I'm looking forward to playing with my Big Shot a lot more over the coming months.  If you'd like to see it in action, schedule a workshop and request it.  It's a GREAT machine!

This will put you over the edge...

If you haven't already purchased the Scallop Punch, all I have to say is "How come?"  I've shown you plenty of great projects that I've done with it.  Oh well, this one is sure to put you over the edge.  I can't take credit for it...that belongs to Julie Case, a demonstrator for Kansas.  But I stumbled upon it and immediately had to make one.  It uses both the Scallop Circle Punch and the Photo Corner Punch (the legs).  Actually, it also uses the 1/2" and 1/4" circle punches for the face.  Anyway, isn't it the cutest thing you've ever seen?  Julie had them as mini peppermint patty covers, but I added a lollipop to mine so the stick could represent a thread from the web he wants to spin.  What a great little favor for a Halloween party or to send in to school for your children's classmates (if your school allows it)!  I have another bunch of spiders ready to be assembled and given to my downline at our monthly meeting next week.  For those of you in my DL that are reading this before the meeting...act surprised.

Here's another idea that I stumbled upon.  It's an eyeball...although I hope you could tell that just by looking at it.  Again, it's covering a lollipop but it could cover a round candy coin or a mini peppermint patty as well.  This one used lots of punches as well:  scallop, 1 3/8", 1 1/4", 3/4" and 1/2" circle punches.  Yes, I own them all and use them A LOT!  Punches are one of the best investments I have made in my stamping arsenal!

I love my Mummies!

This card is one of the projects I did last night at my Marker Club.  I was showing my club members how you can take an outline alphabet and dress it up.  This is one of my favorite things to do when I'm scrapbooking.  I add doodles or stripes or polka dots to make the letters interesting.  But, of course, that doesn't just apply to scrapbooking.  Here I took the "o" from Outline Alphabet and stamped it twice in StazOn on Naturals Vanilla cardstock strips that had been torn.  I colored them in with my markers so they'd look like eyeballs.  We then distressed the edges with Creamy Caramel ink, added more strips, a bow and a greeting (retired)...very simple.

 I then showed them the matching candy bar cover.  I don't own much of anything for Halloween so this is an example of how you can make do with what you have.  Stay tuned to my next post and you'll see some more ideas using my favorite all-time punch...the Scallop Punch.

Playing with my Big Shot!

I've been pretty busy for the last couple weeks, but I did get a chance to play with my new Big Shot.  I had my Top Note die arrive today, and I've got a couple others arriving on Friday, so I hope to get some SERIOUS playtime in on the weekend.  But here are some baskets that I created last time I got a chance to try it out.

These all come from various Designer Series Papers.  I kept them simple as I was just playing.  The best one is not even pictured as I gave it away to someone (hi Sandy R!) before I took a picture.  I know, what was I thinking?!

These baskets are the perfect size to put little treats in for ANY occasion.  I'm thinking about making some for my family's traditional Thanksgiving dinner.  I know a few of my family members will appreciate them...not so sure if enough will to warrant me making about 20.  We'll see.  Maybe I'll just make a few for the table and not one for each person.

Template Club Creation

Amy, one of my Template Club participants, undertook the challenge and submitted these images of her finished project.  She's expecting (you probably guessed that from the cover photo, right?) so she used the opportunity to make a little album about her family.

 

She used her All in the Family stamp set to create little people to go inside.  Pretty clever method to avoid putting your own picture in, Amy!

There's a special treat coming your way when your order arrives!  Thanks for rising to the challenge.