Tuesday, November 29, 2016

Fun Online Class tonight - Paper Gifts - Stocking Stuffers

Hi - we had a live online class tonight (I sent kits to all who participated) and we made gift card holders, notebooks, covered journals, post it note holders with Project Life cards.  I've posted the instruction set on the tab "Ideas, Projects, Free stuff"... enjoy!!  Join us for our next online class, email me MaryKateScott@gmail.com and I'll send you a kit and a link for you to join us!!  Happy crafting, MaryKate





Monday, November 28, 2016

Last day of the Stampin Up Black Friday sale - and my favorite Flurry of Wishes is on sale!

Lots of items are on sale and today there's a flash 24 hour sale for these items - check out my store on marykatescott.stampinup.net

My favorite Flurry of Wishes is on a bundle sale (stamps and punch) for $31.  I'm showing you 5 items below but there are hundreds on the site.  


We did this pretty card and tag in October using the Flurry of Wishes set.


Also click on the "Stitched from the Heart" sale - great deals that finish up on Wednesday - why not combine the shipping with today's deals?

Let me know if you have any questions... today I'm creating packages of goodies for everyone who shopped with me in November (I'll post these boxes of free goodies later this week).

Happy stamping  -- MaryKate



Sunday, November 27, 2016

Calypso Coral, Dijon and Taupe Dragonfly Dreams

We get a weekly color challenge with my Inking Everything team and this week it’s coral, Dijon and taupe.. Hmmm ..I was not sure what to do.   Here's the result... and below how I go there.


So I got out a card that I recently made and chose some of the design elements I liked to create my new card.



I liked the coral and the sentiment layered on the burlap and so I translated that to the Dijon ribbon.   The “thanks” is from the set dragonfly dreams but is just a single word.  So I used my coral marker, and colored in the 1 word, “huffed on the stamp” to moisten it and, there’s my “thanks”.




The dots were from the same set, so I took a piece 3 1/2 x 3 and covered it in coral dots.  The dragonflies were cut from from the matching dies: dragonfly thinlets. 


With hindsight, I'd have stapled the ribbon to the top card (with the cutout dragonflies) then attached to the dotted card...but tombow worked fine.

Dimensions:  card 5 1/2x8 1/2 folded, taupe 5 1/4 x 4, vanilla piece with cut out dragonflies 3 1/2 x 4 3/4

Now the color challenge is submitted I'm going to add some gold wink of stella to the wings, and put this in the mail to my mother in law who came for a fabulous 4 day visit, wish it was longer, so appreciate and love her!

All of these new sets are coming in January -- for now - don't forget we have 1 day left in the online sale and 3 days left for the 25% off several great stamp sets!  

happy stamping- MaryKate

Wednesday, November 23, 2016

So much to be thankful for

I went a bit crazy and made about 26 of these! You get 9 to a bag so I had 27 chocolates (where did that last one go... hmm :)  

These are just perfect to hand out to a lot of people that we all really appreciate, all year long, but sometimes don't get around to sharing our appreciation with them.   Such a small item to give and it really gives a big 'thank you'.  (Love and appreciate my post office, town office, bank, all the folks that do so much for us all year - thankful for you!)


It's a bit hard to see the size of things, so below you'll see it's just the size of a Ghiradelli Square Chocolate. 



Very Vanilla 6 x 2 (but cut it a “shy” 2” or 1 5/16”), score at 5 7/8 and 6 1/8.  Punch out each end with the Scalloped Tag Topper Punch.  Fold and burnish.

Stamp the acorn and an acorn top, I couldn’t decide which top so I stamped out a few J   Do you like the dots or the diamonds?


Stamp thankful and cut that out with sharp scissors.  I used Delight Dijon and Rich Razzleberry.

Put 2 dimensionals on the back of the acorn.  Wrap copper thread around 3 of your fingers, about 7 loops, then squash onto the back of the dimensionals. It will look messy at the back but don’t worry.


Now add the acorn, the top, and thankful with dimensionals.

Slip in a ghirardelli chocolate.  I don’t glue it in but you could. 

I love the Razzleberry and Dijon Ribbons in the Holiday 2016 catalog and used them on this project. 

Here's how I make my ties.

To make the tie, I tied it a bit like necktie. Cut the ribbon about 8” to make it easier to tie.  Put the end through the front, then the back hole.   Take the front and wrap it around the back of the other ribbon and bring it to the front, 
and up through the hole that you made as you wrapped it around the back. 




Then use the knot like a slip-knot and adjust it, trim the ends.


If you’re thinking why not cut it 6” in the first place… well… it’s so much easier to tie it with 8”. 



There's a project sheet in the tab Ideas, Projects and Free things. Enjoy!

Tuesday, November 22, 2016

Messy watercolor Vintage Leaves for elegant Thanksgiving table decor


This was so fun to do!  I cut a piece of watercolor paper in half and with my aquapainter and a lot of water, colored in the whole page in oranges, reds, yellows and a bit of green.  I used Always Artichoke for my green and was a bit worried about how dark it looked.


I let it dry and the dripped some gold wink of stella over the sheet. The red is Cajun Craze and the yellow is Crushed Curry.  
And then I thought the Gold "wink of stella" was a bit "blobby" (is that a word, don't think so!).  So then it dried and.... with the matching framelits I cut out the leaves.

 
And I really liked the whole effect.  The paper looked really green but the leaves in this random pattern look late leaves in late fall.  Fun, quick and easy.. I think I'll scatter them on my dining table for Thanksgiving.

Happy Crafting and Happy Thanksgiving all - so  much to be thankful for - MaryKate


The Thanksgiving and Christmas Holiday Cracker

Getting ready for Thanksgiving and getting my table organized ... I thought I'd use  a Christmas idea but with my favorite Vintage Leaves Stamp set

So it's a Thanksgiving Cracker - filled with candy.  

I used Vanilla paper and stamped with the leaves (instead of using the designer paper) and I really liked my own designer paper!! 

So I was in a rush to make them.. and then after making them realized I didn't take any photos (oops).  So here are instructions using the Candy Lane paper. We are creating this cracker as part of my class Dec 6  so I 'm sharing the instructions here that I created for my class. 


1.Cut the paper 5 ½ x 6”
2.The 6” is the length of the cracker (think about any directional pattern your paper has)
3.With the 6” along the top score at 1 1/4 and 4 3/4
4.With the 5 ½ along the top score at 1 ¼, 2 ½, 3 ¾ and 5”
5.Fold all score lines
6.With the 6” along the top of the punchboard, line the paper at the 1 1/4 “ punch (no scoring)
7.Flip over the paper, score at 1 ¼ - now your paper looks like this.  
8.Tip: I put a yellow sticky note at the 1 ¼” on the punch board, so it keeps me right there at 1 ¼ (good if you’re doing a lot and enjoying a glass of wine while crafting)
9.Repeat for all folds – see photo for how it looks when all the punching is completed





10.Pinch one end of the cracker and tie with ribbon, then put the candy and tie the other end (yup I’ve tied both ends then thought… hmm should have put in some candy J)




11.Decorate with the cookie cutter creature or a paper cutout  
Or if you want these for Thanksgiving... decorate with a leave or a thankful for you stamp.  


For class on Dec 6 we're making 2 envelopes and these 3 items below 


Happy crafting, MaryKate

Monday, November 21, 2016

Banner Blessings - In all things give Thaks

Here are my Thanksgiving cards. 

I had “hummed and hawed” and dithered and then decided on the Banner Blessings and the Antique Leaves.   Do you do that?  Back and forth and then decided and into "production mode"!

I was going to do them in Very Vanilla but thought the notecards were a perfect size (and yes so easy to buy precut and prescored!) 

My colors are Always Artichoke, Cajun Craze, Crushed Curry and Tip Top Taupe.  The layer cardstock is artichoke.

I find this relaxing stamping... just stamp and see how it works out and it's great!  I start with the largest leaves and aim to stamp 3 in each color. My panel here is 3 1/4 x 4 3/4

Then I go back and add in the leaves at the edges of the card.  And so it looks a hot mess ...

I add a layer to the back .  I like the very thin edge in artichoke so the back layer is 4 7/8 x 3 3/8.




And the artichoke piece around the edge of “Thanks” is
3 x 1 3/8  The Thanks is on Whisper White 1 ¼ x 2 7/8.  I start with the big image and then add in  few leaves by stamping just the tips.  



I added a heart from the enamel shapes, I used all the colors for the hearts but ended up loving the Cajun Craze the best!


And now I like it I go into "production mode"!



So much to be thankful for – happy crafting – thanks for crafting with me, MaryKate

Wednesday, November 16, 2016

The Star of Light Swirly Tag

Create several tags (you’ll want a lot of these!!)

Cut your tags  4 ¼ x 2 (or 1 15/16), punch the top with the scalloped tag topper.

Dust off with your embossing buddy and then with Versa Mark stamp on the swirl. Cover with the silver embossing powder.   Emboss with the heat tool.  Be careful the tool generates a lot of heat, much hotter than your hair dryer.  
Either….

-Take a dauber and put into the ink and then gently swirl around the tag (the first place you start will have the most ink), and remember you can add color but you can’t take it away!  I’ve used a dauber on the tag on the right
-Use an aqua painter and watery ink and cover the tag with a light colored background

I like this look with Pool party or with mint or a light colored ink.


Add ribbon or twine to the top and a greeting – I used Merry Christmas with the stars but there are lots of options.

happy embossing and dauber-ing - MaryKate

Tuesday, November 15, 2016

Shine from Banner Blessings

What a fun class we had tonight!  All about the Star of Light with a shaker card and luminary (search star in the search bar) and you can see the projects with all the dimensions.  


Last week we used Banner Blessings ($8 on clearance!) and  it was still on my craft table, I combined one these blessing stamps "Shine" with the Star of Light.  

So simple, just lot of the small stars, embossed in silver,  the sentiment also silver heat embossed and the then a strip of the 1/8" silver ribbon.  I cut the shine out with the Lots of Labels dies.  

Dimensions:  It's a notecard 3 1/2 x 5 folded; Pool Party 3 3/8 x 4 7/8 and the top Whisper White card is 3 1/4 x 4 3/4.  

Happy Crafting! MaryKate

Monday, November 14, 2016

Color Challenge

We get a weekly team challenge with my fun fabulous Inking Everything team... this week Watermelon Wonder, Blushing Bride and Early Espresso.   

Here's my entry.  The lighter pink (Blushing Bride) is the top butterfly.  The shadow comes from the vellum overlay. 
I used 2 stamp sets: Watercolor Wings and the greeting is from Acorny Thank You (I was doing Thanksgiving treats and there is was on my desk!)

 Simple but I think pretty.  
Happy crafting - MaryKate

Sunday, November 13, 2016

The Star of Light Table Light

This is  very pretty table decoration.   I did this in sugar plum but in class I have a whole suite of color choices from Pacific Point, Pool Party, Real Red, Emerald Envy ... what would be your favorite color??

The box is made with a 11 x 6” piece.
For the 11 x 6 sheet, score on the long side at
2 5 /8 , 5 1/4, 7 7/8 and 10 1/2
On the short side score at 2”

With the die that is mostly holes in the shape of a star, place on each rectangle  (closer to the top than the bottom)  that is 2 ¾ x 4 and run through the big shot (yes 4 times!).  You’ll need the paper piercing tool to poke the pieces out.  Look closely as this die has a top and a bottom, the bottom has 7 holes the top has 6.



Now, fold and burnish all the fold lines. See the photo below… cut the tiny piece off the end.  Cut the tabs, miter the middle tabs.  



 Cut a semi circle on the  ½ strip that will be folded inside.  On this ½ side put on tear n tape.  


Now fold the side up and then secure the bottom with liquid glue (or tear n tape).


I put in a tea light at the bottom that I covered with the copper washi tape. 


I might do the drippy glue and sparkles on this (depends on my paper and my desired look).  Maybe put a rhinestone or two on the sides or ribbon on the bottom edge.  I put some Hershey’s kisses in the bottom to catch the light and to stabilize the light.

Happy crafting - MaryKate


Friday, November 11, 2016

Star of Light Shaker Card



Shaker cards are pretty, especially if you use a sparkly sequin or two or fifty.  J
The top card has the swirl embossed on a background card whereas the card below has a plain backing.  This card above has 2 straight ribbons and the one below, I’ve tied them with silver thread.  Do you have a preference?



The details, dimensions and how-to's:  Take a piece 4 x 5 ¼ and cut out the big star shape.  Now emboss the greeting on the front and 4-5 stars.  I do each stamp and emboss separately which takes a few minutes more but I find I can really stamp cleanly (after using the embossing buddy) and use the heat tool to lock down that greeting or star.  So do this each time until you are happy with your greeting and stars.  Each time you stamp and then add the embossing powder make sure you wipe off any extra speckles.   Once you heat them they are there to stay :)

Now the front of your card is complete.   Attach some tear and tape to the back and add a strip of sparkly sugarplum and silver ribbon.  Make sure they are not too tight.  Now with silver thread, tie the 2 ribbons together with a few knots, trim the ends.  Secure the window on top of the star shaped hole – see photo on the right.

If you want to have the swirl on the background, take a piece about 4 x 4 and silver emboss the swirl and cut this piece to fit your shape.  Adhere to main card base.  

Add the foam strips on the back around the edge and (not in the photo) you may want to make a big “diamond” around the star with the foam strips.  This takes a few more strips but it makes sure the sequins are in the middle near the star.  The top card has more foam vs the bottom card.  See the lower photo for the foam around the star.



Now remove the backing from the foam.  In the photos you’ll see the sequins get put on the card last.  So tip some sequins and the secure the front to the base covering the swirl and sequins.  Note the top on the sequins – they spill very easily J


Consider adding a greeting to the inside of the card and a few stars on the envelope.

This card takes a bit of time but has a real wow factor.  And once you get the hang of it, it's pretty quick to do a bunch of these

Happy crafting, happy embossing, MaryKate  

Wednesday, November 9, 2016

The Cable Knit Gift Card Holder

Warmth and Cheer projects continue... love this paper!  This is a fun fast gift card hold that uses the new 3D cable knit embossing folder.



Take a Kraft bag (at 10 for $3.50 it’s a deal), cut the end off so the bag is open at the bottom end.   I cut off about 1/4".   

Turn the bag over so the seam is facing up and with the seam “up”, place inside the cable knit folder so the bag is ¾ of the way into the folder (make sure the bottom is inside the folder).  Be sure to have the logos facing up (with the seam facing up).  And it’s a super thick 3D folder so use just 1 cutting pad.

 
Turn the bag up with the end about 1/4 to 1” below the top.   Secure the sides with tear n tape.  Put the tear n tape right at the edge so you have room for the gift card. 

Back to the bag itself.  Create a belly band from ¾" x 6" x 2 strips.  Glue the 2 strips together.  Hide the front closure with a Christmas tree (tree punch? Peaceful Pines.. they all  work, you are sure to have something in your stash!

 Make sure the belly is not too tight or too loose. Now you have a front pocket to put in a gift card. 

Now create the flat card to fit in the top pocket.   I used Cherry Cobbler at 3 ½ x 4 ¼ with the white card at 2 ¾ x 3 1/2  I adhered a Christmas tree (you can use a punch or a die) so it’s a cute notecard.   I did stamp on it...but didn't take a photo with my greeting. Oops.  Just about any greeting will work great. 


I really love this paper, so fresh, sort of “modern organic”, love the plaid.  Love how it all coordinates.  

And of course being from Maine, I put in a Reny's gift card (if you're not from Maine this is quirky discount department store that has everything :)  love it.. 

happy crafting, MaryKate