Rubber Stamping & Card Making with Yapha

I was looking for more ideas of what to put in Stampin’ Up’s fabulous 1″x8″ cello bags. I’ve seen lots of them look super cute with M&M type candies, but that also means someone has to touch all of those M&Ms! Since I wanted to have my after-school kids class make something cute for Halloween, I was looking for wrapped candies. A little more sanitary that way.  I was at a party store looking at Halloween costumes, and I saw that they sold Pixy Sticks individually. I bought a bunch of orange ones, and this is what we made at the after-school stamping class this week.

Stamps: Batty for You
Ink: Basic Black, Tangerine Tango
Paper: Basic Black, Tangerine Tango, Whisper White
Other: 1″x 8″ Cello Bags, Scallop Circle Punch, 1 3/8″ Circle Punch, 1 1/4″ Circle Punch

I let the kids choose which stamps and which colors they wanted to use. In addition to the Basic Black and Tangerine Tango, I included Old Olive for the Frankenstein’s Monster stamp. They loved this project!

Whether you are creating this year’s holiday cards or scrapbooking Christmas Past, there are some great new digital downloads from Stampin’ Up this week! These downloads work with My Digital Studio and any other digital scrapbooking program that allows you to import PNG and JPG files, which is most graphics programs.

127580 And a Happy New Year Photocard Template $1.95

Share double the holiday message with this festive photocard template. This digital-exclusive, double-sided 5″ x 7″ postcard template offers room for four photos, letting you showcase several moments or looks. Download comes with a 15-piece stamp brush set. All elements in this designer template come as stamp brushes allowing for complete color customization or use on any project. Coordinating colors include Cherry Cobbler, Early Espresso, Lucky Limeade, and Whisper White.

127578 Ornamental Holidays Photocard Template $1.95

Send a fresh and festive holiday card with our modern Ornamental Holidays Photocard Template. This digital-exclusive, double-sided 5″ x 3-1/2″ postcard template includes a four-piece stamp brush set and three embellishments. The stamp brush pieces allow for color customization or use on any project. Coordinating colors include Cherry Cobbler, Lucky Limeade, Pool Party, River Rock, and Whisper White.

127439 Bright Idea Journal Template $1.95

Store all your bright ideas in this adorable journal template. And here’s the first bright idea to make your list: buy this download for yourself today! Our digital exclusive Bright Idea Journal Template includes a designed 6-1/4″ x 8-1/4″ journal front and back cover. All elements in this designer template come as stamp brushes allowing for complete color customization. Coordinating colors include Bashful Blue, Calypso Coral, and So Saffron.

127585 A Little of This Tag Templates $7.95

This digital-exclusive download offers a variety of tags to embellish projects and gifts for every occasion: Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Valentine’s Day, saying thanks, offering congratulations, and even “anytime” occasions! Download includes 10 2-1/2″ x 4-1/4″ tag templates (three landscape and seven portrait), a 10-piece stamp brush set, and 10 embellishments. Coordinating colors include Baja Breeze, Basic Gray, Bermuda Bay, Blushing Bride, Bravo Burgundy, Calypso Coral, Cameo Coral, Certainly Celery, Concord Crush, Crushed Curry, Dusty Durango, Early Espresso, Elegant Eggplant, Going Gray, Island Indigo, Kiwi Kiss, Lucky Limeade, Melon Mambo, Pacific Point, Pink Pirouette, Pool Party, Poppy Parade, Rich Razzleberry, Really Rust, Riding Hood Red, River Rock, So Saffron, Taken with Teal, Tangerine Tango, and Very Vanilla.

127768 Four the Holidays Stamp Brush Set $3.95

127769 25 & Counting Stamp Brush Set $7.95

What better way to make your Christmas merry and bright than by creating your very own Advent calendar? This heart-warming 25-piece set includes festive images that will help you ring in the season with style and that work great on any holiday project. The download also includes a one-page 12″ x 12″ designer template.

127771 Stitched Stockings Stamp Brush Set $5.95

What better way to deck the halls than with an assortment of festive Christmas stockings? This 12-piece set coordinates with the Stocking Punch to help you create unique gift tags, cards, or photobook pages.

127772 Stocking Punch (digital) $1.95

Create your own unique little stockings for gift tags, cards, or photobook pages with this four-piece punch. Coordinates with images in the Stitched Stockings Stamp Brush Set. Download also includes a 5″ x 3-1/2″ postcard designer template.

127773 Holly Berry Bouquet Digital Kit $9.95

Poinsettias, pinecones, and holly berries in our Holly Berry Bouquet Kit will make your holidays beautiful and elegant. Add a touch of traditional Christmastime images to your projects with this beautiful assortment of artwork including the digital versions of the Pines & Poinsettias Stamp Set, Holly Berry Bouquet Designer Series Paper, and Holly Berry Bouquet Buttons. The kit includes a five-piece stamp brush set, 12 Designer Series Paper patterns, four embellishments, and a 4-1/4″ x 5-1/2″ greeting card designer template. Coordinating colors include Cherry Cobbler, Chocolate Chip, Real Red, So Saffron, Very Vanilla, and Wild Wasabi.

127774 Something For Christmas Stamp Brush Set $5.95

You’ll have the holiday season under wraps with this versatile, nine-piece set. Three holiday greetings and ornaments galore will make spreading Christmas cheer effortless–with plenty of time leftover for cookie baking and merry making! Download also includes a 4-1/4″ x 5-1/2″ greeting card designer template.

127776 Hockey is Life Stamp Brush Set $5.95

Add our 10-piece Hockey Is Life Set to your collection of digital sports designs. This digital-exclusive download is perfect for the athletes in your life!

You can purchase these or any other digital downloads through my online store. (Clicking on the pictures above will take you there as well.) They great news is that they are available for immediate use, with no shipping charges! Just click on Digital Crafting, then Digital Downloads, then Newest Downloads to see all of the recent additions! If you registered your copy of My Digital Studio, you may also receive end-of-the month emails from Stampin’ Up featuring that month’s digital releases.

There is a My Digital Studio tab to the top right hand corner of this blog. It is a handy reference to a variety of My Digital Studio resources, including a list of all of the downloads and a break down of the printing costs. There is also a Resources page on MyDigitalStudio.net that includes an MDS Catalog. It shows all of the MDS software artwork (contained in the boxed-version) and downloads from the October 2009 launch through September 30, 2011! The catalog gives a snapshot of the entire product line with artwork thumbnails followed by product details, which includes the colors of the designer papers! Because MDS is regularly coming out with new artwork, the catalog will be updated every month.

Ooh, what fun Halloween colors in the ColourQ challenge this week!

I pulled a super cute picture of Eve and her friend Simone last year for this challenge. I used the digital version of Spooky Bingo Bits. They are sized bigger than the actual stamp, so you can enlarge them on your page without losing and quality.

I “colored in” the witch’s hat by placing punches in Lucky Limeade and Pumpkin Pie behind the hat stamp.

Be sure and come back tomorrow to see the latest digital download’s from Stampin’ Up! There are helpful templates for creating holiday photo cards and more!

Thank you to everyone who visited my blog over the weekend! as I promised during the hop, I have a combo tutorial for you today — how to enlarge your Matchbox AND how to create an easel for it as well. First of all, you need Stampin’ Up’s Matchbox Bigz XL Die. (If you don’t already have this, read to the end for a special offer.) This is what the final project looks like:

The to create the regular matchbox bottom, you need a piece of cardstock that is approximately 6″ x 5″. This creates an adorable box that is unfortunately about an inch to short to hold a gift card. To compensate for this we are going to start with a piece of card stock that is just a bit larger than 7″ x 5″. Fold this in half so that your folded piece is now 3 1/2″ x 5″. Place this on the Matchbox die so that the folded edge is towards the middle of the die, and the two open sides are just at the edge of the cutting line. (Thank you to Carmen for the original tutorial on this.)

Run this through your Big Shot as usual. When you take it out, unfold the piece that you cut. It should look like this:

Fold on all of the score lines, and put it together just as you would a regular Matchbox. As you can see your final project is slightly larger than a regular Matchbox, and can now hold a gift card!

The next step is to create a cover and the easel. For the cover you want to start with a piece of cardstock that is 6 1/2″ x 3 3/4″. Score this on the long side at 3/4″,  2 7/8″, 3 5/8″, and 5 3/4″. (Have I mention recently how much I love my Simply Scored? Love it!!)

Next you need to create a base for the easel mechanism. Start with a piece of cardstock that is 2 1/8″ x 4 3/4″. Score it on the long side at 1 7/8″ and 3 3/4″.

Now fold under the piece that is 1 7/8″ and glue it to the underside of the cover. Next fold up the bottom part, so it is touching the top. (Is this too confusing? Do I need a video?)

Create your focal point image and attach it to a mat that is 2 1/8″ x 3 3/4″. The top of this mat is then glued on to the folded up part of the easel mechanism. (Are you still with me here?)

Now fold the cover on its score lines and fold into a sleeve for the matchbox. For the final step, attach something to the cover that will catch the end of the easel and prop it up. Here I used a little cut out coffee cup on a Stampin’ Dimensional.

I hope this tutorial was helpful. I welcome your questions and comments!

Oh, right, the special offer! From now through October 31st, I am offering free shipping on any order that includes the Matchbox Bigz XL die. Send me an email for complete details. And don’t forget! If you join my team of Craft Therapists before the end of October, you can get either a FREE Big shot or $100 worth of the Stampin’ Up products of your choice. Click here for more details.

Hello and welcome to Stampin’ Addicts Big Shot Blog Hop! In honor of Stampin’ Up’s amazing sign up special (where you can get a free Big Shot!) we are featuring a variety of Big Shot dies. Each blog will focus on a different die, and all the blogs connect in a circle. So whether you are starting here, or have just arrived from Sarah’s Ink Spot, with the fabulous Fancy Favor die, you will have a chance to see them all!

I am super excited to be featuring the Matchbox Die. This is a Bigz XL Die, so it does need the extended cutting pads. It also works best with the Extended Crease Pad. The die cuts and scores the two pieces that make up the matchbox, plus 3 fun tags.

My first project for you today is a little red wagon. I only used the inside of the Matchbox, plus two circle punches to make this adorable wagon. How fun would it be to use these as place cards or favor holders at a child’s birthday party? The last time I made one of these, my daughter took it to use with her Polly Pocket dolls! As you can see by the tag on the back, this one is for my nephew. That silver tag is one of the three tag shapes included on the die.

Stamps: Calendar Alphabet & Numbers
Ink: Cherry Cobbler
Paper: Cherry Cobbler, Basic Black, Brushed Silver
Other: Matchbox Bigz XL Die, Big Shot, 1″ Circle Punch, 1/2″ Circle Punch, Word Window Punch, Neutral Brads (black)

My next project turns the Matchbox into a little purse. I did not change the structure of the box at all, I just added the scalloped circle piece and the ribbon so it would look more purse like. This adorable little purse can hold 3 lip balms, to make a sweet party favor as well.

Ink: Wild Wasabi
Paper: Peach Parfait, Wild Wasabi, Beyond the Garden Designer Series Paper
Other: Matchbox Bigz XL Die, Big Shot, 2 3/8″ Scallop Circle Punch, Square Fire Rhinestone Brads, Peach Parfait Poly Ribbon

The fun really starts when you combine multiple Matchboxes to create larger items. I have seen a variety of single, double and triple stacks of Matchboxes to make dressers, desks, and more! Below is a fairly simple dresser, two stacks of two Matchboxes each. This is for my daughter’s teacher, who is about to have a baby. I filled the drawers with samples of baby lotion and body wash, but they could fit a variety of small objects, including baby socks!

Paper: Very Vanilla, Pool Party, Soft Suede, Spice Cake Designer Series Paper
Other: Matchbox Bigz XL Die, Top Note Bigz Die, Big Shot, Printed 2011 In Color Designer Brads (Pool Party), Mono Multi Adhesive

When the Matchbox die was first released, some people were disappointed that it was not large enough to hold a gift card. I am happy to tell you that it is fairly easy to modify the die cut to create a box large enough for a standard gift card. My final project is an elongated Matchbox  with an easel top. Since it is a Starbuck’s gift card, I chose a coffee theme for the Matchbox. (Easel matchbox inspired by Becky Roberts.) I will have a full tutorial on how to create this next week, so be sure to stop back.

Stamps: Morning Cup
Ink: StazOn Jet Black, Garden Green, Basic Black, Pretty in Pink
Paper: Garden Green Whisper White
Other: Match Box Bigz Die, Big Shot,  Simply Scored Scoring Tool, Pretty in Pink Dotted Scalloped Ribbon, Stampin’ Dimensional

Thanks so much for joining me on the Blog Hop today! Your next stop is Lisa over at Add Ink and Stamp, where she has some amazing ideas for the Box #2 die. Wait until you see the card file!

Have you seen this gorgeous box? This exclusive Christmas Keepsake Box kit from Stampin’ Up! is available from now until December 31, 2011 (or while supplies last). The completed box is perfect packaging for a gift that will never be forgotten, and the kit itself can be the perfect gift for your favorite crafter! The kit comes with almost everything you need precut for just $19.95, and includes instructions to help you make it. (Please see below for a list of items that are not included.)

Christmas Keepsake Box kit contents:

• Keepsake box
• Scallop borders (cut using Tasteful Trim Bigz XL Die. Includes First Edition Designer Series Paper (3) and Holly Berry Designer Series Paper (6))
• First Edition Specialty Designer Series Paper strip (2)
• Holly Berry Designer Series Paper piece
• Real Red Top Note (cut using Top Note Bigz Die)
• Real Red Decorative Label (cut using Matchbook Bigz XL Die)
• Wild Wasabi Card Stock strips (3)
• Naturals Ivory Card Stock piece
• Holly Berry Bouquet Designer Fabric (cut to length)
• Real Red 1-1/4″ Striped Grosgrain Ribbon (cut to length)
• Real Red 5/8″ Grosgrain Ribbon  (cut to length)
• Victoria 5/8″ Crochet Trim (cut to length)
• Linen Thread (cut to length)
• Champagne Fine Galaxy Stampin’ Glitter
• Vanilla Pearl 1/2″ Simply Adorned Bauble
• Pearl Basic Jewels (1 pkg.)
• Holly Berry Boquet Designer Buttons (1 Large Wild Wasabi and 1 Small Real Red)
• Mini Vintage Tag

The Christmas Keepsake Box includes written instructions, but the following supplies are not included:

• Pines & Poinsettias stamp set
• Early Espresso Stampin’ Write Marker
• Real Red  Stampin’ Write Marker
• Wild Wasabi Stampin’ Write Marker
• Adhesives
• 3/16″ Corner Punch
• Paper Cutter
• Paper Snips
• Needle
• Glue gun

My sister-in-law’s sister-in-law (yes, that would be my brother’s wife’s brother’s wife) made a card very similar to this at a card class she went to near her in North Carolina, at her demonstrator Kim’s house. I loved the card when I saw it, and decided to make a blinged up version. (The original was a stunning white on white.)

Stamps: Delightful Dozen
Ink: VersaMark
Paper: Old Olive, Cherry Cobbler, Very Vanilla, Brushed Gold
Other: Gold Embossing Powder, Lace Ribbon Border Punch, 1″ Circle Punch

Isn’t it fabulous how the 1 inch circle punch fits so well behind the Lace Ribbon Border Punch? It almost looks like stained glass! Plus, this card is nice and flat so it won’t cost anything extra to mail!

Stampin’ Up has just released a bunch of new My Digital Studio templates, for photo cards, journals, calendars, and more! Plus a super cute Christmas Village stamp brush set.  These downloads work with My Digital Studio and any other digital scrapbooking program that allows you to import PNG and JPG files, which is most graphics programs.

128342 Pinwheel Daily Calendar Template $9.95

Use this digital-exclusive calendar to record can’t-forget birthdays. Keep it on hand year after year, and add birthdays as new people join your family and you meet new friends. Everyone could use one of these—so print a few extra for gifts. Most of the template’s pieces are stamp brush images, letting you customize the color as well as use in other projects. You can print your calendar months single-sided or double-sided with an attractive pattern on the back. Download includes a 24-piece stamp brush set, eight embellishments and a seven-page 11″ x 8-1/2″ designer template. Coordinating colors include Bashful Blue, Basic Gray, Daffodil Delight, Early Espresso, Lucky Limeade, Poppy Parade, Pumpkin Pie, Sahara Sand, Taken with Teal, Tangerine Tango, and Whisper White. Note: In the My Digital Studio software, you can open this template under Calendars, Multiple Options, or Photobooks/Individual Pages. Individual Pages presents the best option when using Stampin’ Up!’s print services.

127755 Compilation of Recipes Designer Template $14.95

Whet your appetite with our delightful Compilation of Recipes Designer Template. This digital-exclusive 34-page 8″ x 8″ board book template and included 64-piece stamp brush set lets you completely customize your favorite recipes with the artwork, alphabet, and numbers. Coordinating colors include Baja Breeze, Daffodil Delight, Old Olive, and Real Red.

127582 You & Yours Christmas Photocard Template $1.95

Complement a family photo with our lovely You & Yours Christmas Photocard. This digital-exclusive, double-sided 5″ x 7″ postcard designer template will make sending your Christmas cards a cinch. All of the elements on the designer template come as stamp brushes, letting you customize the look, or use on other projects. Download comes with a 10-piece stamp brush set. Coordinating colors include Baja Breeze, Old Olive, Real Red, and Whisper White.

127581 Banner Greetings Photocard Template $1.95

Welcome winter and greet the holiday season with our Banner Greetings Photocard Template. This digital-exclusive, double-sided 5″ x 7″ postcard designer template includes a six-piece stamp brush set. All of the elements on the designer template come as stamp brushes, letting you customize the look, or use on other projects. Coordinating colors include Cherry Cobbler, Marina Mist, and Whisper White.

127437 Impressive Ideas Journal Template $1.95

Impress others when you whip out your Impressive Ideas Journal—great for writing down inspirational quotes, future plans, or favorite memories. The digital-exclusive 6-1/4″ x 8-1/4″ template includes a designed journal front and back cover. All elements in the template come as stamp brushes allowing for complete color customization. Coordinating colors include Cherry Cobbler, Early Espresso, and Kiwi Kiss.

127440 All About Me Journal Template $1.95

With a cool, clean, and modern look, you’ll be tempted to tote our eye-catching All About Me Journal as an accessory! The digital-exclusive 6-1/4″ x 8-1/4″ template includes a designed journal front and back cover. All elements in the template come as stamp brushes allowing for complete color customization. Coordinating colors include Pool Party, Rich Razzleberry, and Very Vanilla.

127571 Merriment Photocard Template $1.95

Use our fancy and festive Merriment Photocard Template for your holiday cards this year and be the bright spot in your friends’ stacks of mail. The digital-exclusive, double-sided 4″ x 9-1/4″ postcard template includes one stamp brush and six embellishments. All elements in the template come as stamp brushes allowing for complete color customization. Coordinating colors include Cherry Cobbler, Early Espresso, Whisper White, and Wild Wasabi.

127435 Thanks Tons Greeting Card Template Set $2.95

Create a stack of assorted thank you cards to have on-hand with our Thanks Tons Greeting Card Template Set. Want to give a gift that everyone can use? Print and give “thank you card stacks” to others too. The set of digital-exclusive cards includes six 5-1/2″ x 4-1/4″ greeting card designer templates, and all elements in the designer templates come as stamp brushes allowing for complete color customization. Coordinating colors include Island Indigo, Lucky Limeade, and Wisteria Wonder; Bashful Blue, Old Olive, and Sahara Sand; Basic Gray, Calypso Coral, Lucky Limeade, Melon Mambo, and Sahara Sand; Rich Razzleberry and Very Vanilla; Baja Breeze, Melon Mambo, and Whisper White; Bashful Blue, Island Indigo, Pear, and Very Vanilla.

127766 Christmas Village Stamp Brush Set $5.95

Create a quaint digital Christmas village with this 10-piece stamp brush set, then print your project to bring the scene to life. The cozy holiday digital-exclusive download also includes a 7″ x 5″ greeting card designer template.

You can purchase these or any other digital downloads through my online store. (Clicking on the pictures above will take you there as well.) They great news is that they are available for immediate use, with no shipping charges! Just click on Digital Crafting, then Digital Downloads, then Newest Downloads to see all of the recent additions! If you registered your copy of My Digital Studio, you may also receive end-of-the month emails from Stampin’ Up featuring that month’s digital releases.

There is a My Digital Studio tab to the top right hand corner of this blog. It is a handy reference to a variety of My Digital Studio resources, including a list of all of the downloads and a break down of the printing costs. There is also a Resources page on MyDigitalStudio.net that includes an MDS Catalog. It shows all of the MDS software artwork (contained in the boxed-version) and downloads from the October 2009 launch through September 30, 2011! The catalog gives a snapshot of the entire product line with artwork thumbnails followed by product details, which includes the colors of the designer papers! Because MDS is regularly coming out with new artwork, the catalog will be updated every month.

My father-in-law’s 75th birthday was yesterday. He and my mother-in-law are in vacation in New Zealand this week. They left us their itinerary, so I thought it would be really fun to send a card and have it waiting for my father-in-law when he got to the hotel on his birthday. Luckily, I thought of this two weeks in advance, so I was actually able to get the card there in time! From the email I got, he was pretty surprised to receive a birthday card in New Zealand!

This card is based on Cindy’s fabulous card from the Stampin’ Addicts New Catalog Blog Hop. I needed to make it completely flat though, so it would go through the mail over seas with no problems.

Stamps: Pennant Parade, Upsy Daisy
Ink: Basic Black, Basic Grey
Paper: Pool Party, Garden Green, Basic Black, Crumb Cake, Whisper White, Marina Mist, Just Add Cake Designer Series Paper
Other: Petite Pennants Builder Punch, 1/2″ Circle Punch, 1 1/4″ Circle Punch, Wide Oval Punch, Perfect Polka Dots Textured Impressions Embossing Folder

That cute little 9 on the flag is punched out from the page of numbers in the Just add Cake Designer Series Paper.

Stamping 411 has another great sketch this week. As soon as I saw those three circles, I knew EXACTLY what I wanted them to be!

I had recently been looking at Jill’s super cute card with three ghosts on it, and decided to adapt it to this sketch. Take a look below, can you tell what the ghosts are made out of? The owl punch!! It’s turned upside down, and their little feet are cut off. Don’t they make adorable little ghosts?

Stamps: Teeny Tiny Wishes
Ink: Pumpkin Pie, Basic Black
Paper: Old Olive, Pumpkin Pie, Basic Black, Whisper White
Other: Owl Punch, Word Window Punch, Modern Label Punch, Snow Burst Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Basic Black 1/4″ Grosgrain Ribbon, Dazzling Details

It’s hard to see in the picture, if you click on it you can see it a little better, but I outlined each ghost with the new Dazzling Details glitter glue. It was a quick and easy way to give them just a little bit of Pop!