Tag: 5 Ways on Fridays

5 Ways to Use Fringe Scissors

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Welcome to another edition of “5 Ways on Fridays” where you will learn unique and different ways to use a Stampin’ Up! product!

Today we are talking about Fringe Scissors 

Certain projects are easier when you have the right tools and this is one of those tools: Every time you squeeze the handles of your fringe scissors together, you are cutting not once, not twice, but FIVE TIMES! Talk about conserving energy 🙂

“What can I do with them besides making grass?” you may be asking yourself. You’ve come to the right place!

1. Fringe scissors make Ombre Fringe cards and tags in a jiffy! For this tag, I used Soft Sky, Pool Party, Coastal Cabana and Island Indigo card stock, along with the new Tag Topper punch:

While you are “fringing”, check out this adorable Fringe Chandelier made by Lauren Elise for the Knotty Bride:

2. Create a crepe paper garland! This tutorial from Yesterday on Tuesday shows a few different styles and hello! This is super fast with your fringe scissors:

3.  Flowers or “pom poms” are adorable accents to any project.

Lisa Brown from inkandinspirations shows you how fun and easy these are to make using Stampin’ Up! Crepe Filter Paper:

Thanks Lisa!

4. If you cut across your fringe the opposite way, you end up with CONFETTI!

At Stampin’ Up! Leadership last month, Shelli demonstrated how to create a shaker card using the confetti made with fringe scissors: Cut the corner of a clear envelope to the size you need (in this case, just a smidge taller than the photo frame die cut). Stamp image on top of clear envelope with Stazon, then seal the confetti in with a thin strip of sticky strip. Place behind the die cut and voila! Shake away!
5. A strip of fringe from Designer Series Paper or crepe paper is easy to adhere around a curved object like a basket or hat brim: 
Image from Spotted Canary

For these medallions, I just punched two circles and cut in from the edge. I used two because when you cut into the circle, some of the pieces fall off and it’s not perfectly round, so layering them gives the illusion they are still circles 🙂

At just $9.95, these scissors are an awesome addition to your crafting toolbox! Order your Fringe Scissors in my Stampin’ Up! store today and start living on the edge 🙂
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5 Ways on Fridays: My Paper Pumpkin

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I look forward to receiving my RED My Paper Pumpkin BOX every month in the mail because I love surprises and I love a craft project that is prepared for me (instead of having to cut and prepare it myself) And some GREAT NEWS:

When you are a NEW subscriber to My Paper Pumpkin before February 10, 2014, you’ll get a set of 2012-14 In-Color Markers FREE (a $14.95 value!). Not only that, but ALL FUTURE SUBSCRIPTIONS are twice as cool as ever before! Trust me…I got a sneak peek at Leadership and I loved them so much, I’ve changed my subscription to 2 boxes every month 🙂

When you subscribe to Paper Pumpkin, the first kit you get is the welcome kit which makes the following cards, but Paper Pumpkin could be anything: banners, mini-albums, bags/tags, etc. Here are 5 Ways to get the most out of your kit:

1. Think outside the box: Turn your card sideways, play with the pieces, don’t follow the instructions! You’ll find hundreds of samples online, but here are mine:

2. Think INSIDE the box. Sarah instructs us how to turn a card into a box on her blog:

3. Use the pieces for a scrapbook page layout as Rachel Tessman did here:

4. Use up the scraps! No naked envelopes! Just follow this great tip from Julie Davison:

(Note: If you are mailing the card, just stamp on it, as the die cuts would come off in transit)
5. Give the Gift of Creativity! It’s your best friends birthday next month? Order an extra kit to give to her! Mother’s Day? Subscribe for your wife or mother and they will feel the love every month when that awesome red box arrives in the mail! My Paper Pumpkin was one of Studio 5’s “Top Subscription Box” picks!

http://www.ksl.com/api/jwplayer/player.php?file=http://media.ksl.com/1386794176-160122989.mp4&image=http://media.ksl.com/1386794176-160122989.jpg&width=640&height=360

More Paper Pumpkin Info:

  • Frequently Asked Questions…answered here!
  • Check out the November Kit Video: It was one of the most loved kits so far.
  • NEVER cancel your subscription: If you need to skip a month (or two), just edit your account and change the quantity to “0”. Then when you are ready to start up again, you won’t get a duplicate welcome kit, but can jump right into whatever crafting joy with the current kit!
  • Who Needs a Prince?  Video by my Canadian friend Carolyn & convention commercial winner!
  • More details & SUBSCRIPTION page at www.mypaperpumpkin.com I would love to send you a Thank You card when you choose me (Loni Spendlove) as your demonstrator! 

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Endless Wishes: 5 Ways on Fridays!

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Well, I had this ready for last Friday when my computer was out of commission…and wouldn’t you know it: Stampin’ Up! sold out of this awesome Photopolymer stamp set on Tuesday!!! GRRRR…

But I’m sharing it anyway because of all the time and effort I put into it, and those of you who were lucky enough to snag one before they sold out~ You’re Welcome! Of course,  many of the designs & techniques could be re-created with another snowflake stamp set, such as Festive Flurry 🙂

P.S. Endless Wishes *is* available as a digital brush set (item #136559) for all you digi-crafters and if SU! changes their minds and produces more, I’ll make sure to update this post (we can hope, right?)

1. Faux Diamonds. This is always a big hit and so very easy! I gave step-by-step instructions on the Faux Diamond technique in this post. The Designer Series Paper is from the Winter Frost Specialty DSP (132341)

2. Random Stamping. Just go crazy with it. Let them overlap, go off the edge of the paper and layer them on top of one another. I really loved the look of White/Baked Brown Sugar/Cherry Cobbler on Crumb Cake card stock and even stamped a piece to go on top of my jar of apple pie filling.

3. Make a Window. The Squares Collection Framelits (130921) and the Big Shot (113439) create perfect windows. I used a piece of a window sheet and stamped the snowflakes using the White Stazon ink pad (106960), then placed it between the Navy and (polka dot embossed) Blushing Bride layers to appear that you were gazing outside to a frost covered world.

4. Use the Words. While the snowflakes are delicate and delightful, the words are what sold me on this set. It’s awesome to be able to mix up the script with the print and come up with dozens of greetings. So cute! I paired the greetings with some of the Season of Style Designer Series Paper (132340), the 1″ Cherry Cobbler Grosgrain ribbon (132135) and Cherry Cobbler Baker’s Twine (123125) and a Vintage Faceted Designer Button (127555).

5. Monochrome Embossing. The words & snowflakes on the white were simply stamped using the Silver Encore pad (132141) and I embossed in silver on the Silver Foil Sheet (132178). This card is stunning in person, though the photo doesn’t do it justice (sorry…I tried). Just because it needed MORE bling, I added the Silver Glimmer paper (124005) as a layer, too!

Stamped snowflakes are much warmer than the real thing, eh?
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My Digital Studio: 5 Ways on Fridays

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My Digital Studio is a Sweet digital designing Suite from Stampin’ Up! that has evolved to become quite an intuitive user experience. If you are like I (was), you may have just turned off and tuned out…

“I’m computer challenged,” you were thinking, “and I’ll never be able to learn digital stuff. It sounds too complicated.”

Stop. Right. There. 

MDS is INTUITIVE (look it up if you don’t know the meaning) and it’s EASY…and there are step-by-step training videos. Hello?! And templates that you can drag & drop pictures into (or customize). And you can try it FREE for 30 days. Duh. This is a no-brainer. (As long as you have an hour or two to play with it, so don’t download the free trial the week your daughter is getting married) 

Obviously, it is optimal for creating photo albums and cards…but THAT’S NOT ALL it’s good for! Today I’m sharing 5 different ways to use My Digital Studio:

1. Fabric Transfers

When I saw this on the SU! blog with instructions for using MDS to print on transfer paper, I was so delighted! How fun and easy to dress up not only our mini muslin bags, but a t-shirt, a backpack or a piece of fabric to frame in an embroidery hoop. Crafters…start your irons!

2. Chalkboard Quote Template

There are plenty of ways to add the look of chalkboard to your card and pages in My Digital studio (I like this video by Kimberly Van Diepen) but did you know you can also print a template to use on a chalkboard wall (or frame)? Check out the tutorial here or click on the picture above.

3. Recipe/Cook Books

There are actually quite a few recipe book templates to choose from in MDS and you can print them as board books, hard bound books, single pages or in this case (and my favorite) as a free-standing recipe book using the Easel Calendar format 🙂 How cool would it be to gather family comfort food recipes (and pictures of family members cooking them) to compile as a gift for a family reunion or Christmas?

4. E-Cutters & MDS

(Personalized Water Bottle by Connie Collins)
Oh, yes, digi-crafters…you read that CORRECTLY! My Digital Studio has SVG files that can be used with E-CUTTERS! Which means that you can cut paper and VINYL (and who knows what else) with an E-Cutter that can import any SVG file. 

Video Tutorials that may be helpful in learning how-to: 
Kimberly Van Diepen shows you the basics of SVG files and e-Cutters
Erica Cerwin also teaches MDS & SVG here
While there are a few e-cutters that seem to work, Silhouette Cameo is a popular choice and
Connie Collins walks you through the process from start to finish in this video
5. Home Decor

Create a year’s worth of interchangeable quotes to showcase in a lovely frame. If you create 5×7 postcards in My Digital Studio, you can print on both sides of the card: 6 cards will give you 12 personalized quotes or pictures (and through November 30, 2013, printing through MDS is 30% off). You can even peek at a friend’s Pinterest board to find her favorite quotes and make it a very thoughtful gift.

DO YOU HAVE MORE IDEAS FOR MY DIGITAL STUDIO? Share them (or links) in the comments so we can compile a resource of MDS ideas that are “outside the book” 🙂

If you are fortunate enough to be visiting this list in November 2013, you can take advantage of the “Most Wonderful Time of the Year”…for digi crafters, anyway…because many digital downloads AND print services are 30% off through November 30, 2013! Check out the awesomeness HERE.
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5 Ways on Fridays: Thankful Tablescape Simply Created Kit

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The pieces of the new Thankful Tablescape Simply Created Kit (item 133463) in the Stampin’ Up! Holiday Catalog were designed to decorate a Thanksgiving table, but of course, people get crafty and find new ways to utilize the parts in unique ways, so come along as I share a few of my favorites! Leave a link to other awesome crafts using this kit in the comments. 
1. Starting with cards, here’s a pocket card I created from the Tablescape kit following the 
Create with Connie & Mary sketch 273: 
All I added was a crumb cake envelope (for the pocket), a piece of Early Espresso card stock, a strip of 1-1/4″ Burlap Ribbon (132140) and I punched the circle using the 2-1/2″ circle punch (120906). 
2. At SU! convention in July, Sara Douglass demonstrated how to create a Thankful Journal from the Tablescape kit, but my photos weren’t that great, so a quick internet search found another Sarah (Sagert) who had crafted her own…with some nice pictures of her lovely pages 🙂
3. Admittedly, I’m a sucker for anything in a mason jar, so Jessica Lewis’ simply sweet Thankful Jar immediately appealed to me! Can’t you just imagine filling this with reasons to be grateful? 
The Birch paper and chocolate chip herringbone paper both come on a roll in the kit and are perfect for wrapping around a vase, jar or candle. 
4. Allison Okamitsu (a very talented Canadian demonstrator) created the last two gorgeous home decor projects from the Thankful Tablescape Simply Created Kit. The first is a Thankful Banner and you see more of this beauty by clicking on the picture.  

5. I love Allison’s style and her blog is “Nice People Stamp”. Haven’t met her, but it’s a given she’s one NICE person to share her talents! This is also her creation~A frame covered in the Birch-bark paper from the kit. Isn’t the banner adorable? Visit Allison’s tutorial for the frame HERE (or click on photo)

Thanks for checking out my 5 Ways on Fridays collection! Order the Thanksgiving Tablescape Kit from my Stampin’ Store to create some fabulous Fall creations of your own, then post a link to them in the comments so we can be inspired by YOU!
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5 Ways on Fridays: Envelope Punch Board

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Today I’m sharing FIVE amazing ways to use the new Envelope Punch Board from Stampin’ Up! (Item #133774). Once you see these, you’ll NEED your own and you can order it from My Stampin; Up! Store Since it’s Halloween season, I made most of my samples using the Witches Brew Designer Series Paper (132185), Toil & Trouble and Tags 4 You stamp sets (Holiday Catalog) and Label Bracket punch (132153)

1. Make Envelopes. Stating the painfully obvious, but hey…that’s what it was made for! Just remember this: Envelopes don’t always have to hold just a card 🙂

If you haven’t seen how the Envelope Punch Board works, WATCH the Training Video from Stampin’ Up! I also love having a liner inside the envelope and the best video tutorial I’ve seen (using just a small square of Designer Series Paper) is from Mary Fish and her tutorial can be seen HERE. 

2. File Folder Cards. These unique cards are so much fun to make and you could create a whole slew of little file folders to organize things like photos, paper embellishments, receipts, etc.

Patty Bennett’s Video Tutorial explains how simple these are, and once you’ve made a few, you just can’t stop! 

3. Boxes. Yep, that’s right: The Envelope Punch Board can make BOXES! Here are two of my top picks (because they are both simple, and I’m all about easy!)

Elaine Schader (at Elaine’s Creations) made this box to hold some eerily adorable Halloween tags from four envelopes made with the Punch Board. Check it out on HER BLOG.

Designed to hold 4 cards & envelopes, I discovered (after I whipped this one out in no time flat) that this little gem also holds a King Size Kit Kat! I followed the instructions by Cindy Beach at Stamp, Paper and Ink. The only modification I made was to use my Word Window punch to create a place to insert the top flap and hold it closed.

Learn to make another candy bar box on THIS video tutorial by Janet Wakeland

4. Advent Calendar. When I saw this on the Stampin’ Up! blog post  (scroll down past the Game Day banner to see the instructions and downloadable PDF for dates) I thought it was GENIUS!

5. Envelope Tag Book. Here’s one for the memory keepers…or this could be a fun way to present love coupons, a grandma brag book or just for fun.

Tricia over at the Efficient Crafter is the artist for this project and her motto, “Quick…Let’s Craft!” tells me she’s my kind of lady! View her tutorial HERE. 
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So there you have FIVE different ways to use the new Envelope Punch Board! It’s a MUST HAVE tool for your Craft Closet and you can order it in Loni’s Stampin’ Store today. If you have another great way to use the EPB, leave a comment below to help compile a resource for more excellent ideas!

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