UP ALL NIGHT STAMPER

Stamping Space Makeover with the Gardners

One of the exciting benefits that was offered to Convention goers this year was the possibility of winning a stamping space makeover compliments of Stampin' Up! and designed and executed by Shelli Gardner herself!  Check out this video to see how lucky Tamzin Cochrane got a total space makeover by Shelli, Sterling, Sara and Shalae Gardner.

 

 

 

Jealous?  I know *I* am!!!  Check out all the great ideas and little artistic touches they added to this gorgeous space. Are there any YOU can incorporate into your space?    Send me links to pics of your space and what you love about it and I will feature them here on my blog you can be Space Proud, too!

Decorative Advent Calendar from Class!

Finally!  Photos of the fabulous Advent Calendars we made this past weekend at my Advent Calendar Class...check them out and we can talk details afterward.  Here's a photo of the whole thing (ignore the wonkiness if you can - I had a hard time getting the whole thing in one shot)

Now because this is decorative (as opposed to the kind where you hide little treats or candies inside) when you lift up the flaps of the days that open there are little motifs inside that match the outsides.  I wasn't able to get shots of many of the insides but here are a few close ups.

These were made with the 25 and Counting Stamp set and since I did all the cutting and trimming ahead of time, these kits went together fairly quickly considering all the detail work!

I can't wait until December 1st so I can hang this up in my house!  If you would like to make one of these for yourself, contact me to learn what you need to do so and I will get you all set up!

Supply List
25 and Counting, Item #123792
Frostwood Lodge Designer Series Paper, Item #124002
Very Vanilla Cardstock, Item #101650
Cherry Cobbler Cardstock, Item #119685
Garden Green Cardstock, Item #102584
Early Espresso Cardstock, Item #119686
Confetti Cream Cardstock, Item #102835
Silver Glimmer Paper, Item #124005
Rich Regals Textured Cardstock Assortment, Item #121076
Cherry Cobbler Classic Stampin' Pad, Item #119669
Garden Green Classic Stampin' Pad, Item #102272
Early Espresso Classic Stampin' Pad, Item #119670
Cherry Cobbler Stampin' Write Marker, Item #119681
Garden Green Stampin' Write Marker, Item #100080
Early Espresso Stampin' Write Marker, Item #119680
More Mustard Stampin' Write Marker, Item #100076
Basic Rhinestones, Item #119246
Silver Brads, Item #122941
Early Espresso Baker's Twine, Item #123124
Cherry Cobbler Baker's Twine, Item #123125
Mini Library Clips, Item #109587
Mini Clothespins, Item #122942
Mini Jingle Bells, Item #124116
Linen Thread, Item #104199
Cherry Cobbler Seam Binding, Item #120992
Peekaboo Frames Die, Item #124587
Perfect Polka Dots Embossing Folder, Item #117335
Timeless Type Junior Alphabet Die, Item #115951
Northern Frost Die, Item #120901
Big Shot Die Cutting Machine, Item #113439
SNAIL Adhesive, Item #104332
Stampin' Dimensionals, Item #104430
Paper Snips, Item #103579
Curly Label Punch, Item #119851
1 1/4" Circle Punch, Item #119861
1 3/8" Circle Punch, Item #119860
1" Circle Punch, Item #119868
1/2" Circle Punch, Item #119869
Itty Bitty Shapes Punch Pack, Item #118309
1" Square Punch, Item #124094
Square Scallop Punch, Item #119884
1 3/4" Circle Scallop Punch, Item #119854

A Fabulous No-Sew Project Using Stampin' Up! Fabric

First, a confession. I own a sewing machine but I CANNOT SEW.  I took sewing lessons once absolutely determined to learn.  I stitched a beach cover up from a gorgeous light gauzy fabric which was supposed to be "foolproof".  Fabric = meet Brenda. Epic fail. So that's just one craft I have accepted is NOT in my repertoire.

So when Stampin' Up! came out with fabric I figured that would be the one product I wouldn't be buying.  Then I decided that I couldn't really tell people about it if I didn't have it in my possession and I needed to get it to make swatches for my downline.  I got it, I opened it...........and I sort of fell in love.

It's so soft and has such a gorgeous sheen but it's woven tightly enough that it really has some body.  It fringes beautifully so making "ribbon" from it is a dream.  It cuts crisply on the Big Shot and I have used it more than once (OK, a LOT) to create elements for scrapbook pages, cards and little 3-D projects.  But recently I decided that I had to grow up and make something "real" out of it - that is, something that is normally made from fabric and I knew exactly what I wanted to make.  A lampshade. And no, not to wear on my head at parties.  For a little tiny lamp which I will show you in a moment.

Well, I don't sew! And I don't have any of the iron-on sticky stuff; I actually don't really even know where the iron is, to tell you the truth!  So in the absence of any "real" sewing instruments or knowledge, I made this

I know, right?  Here it is off its base (did you guess what it is?)

Yup, that's a plain old dollar store wine glass!  And into it you place one of those ever-useful battery operated votive candles and you have yourself an adorable nightlight, a super gorgeous gift or just something elegant and romantic to put on the dinner table.

And you know what else?  It was SUPER easy!  You know me - I am an instant gratification girl; if it's not instant, it's not all that gratifying!  So this was made with nothing more than some fabric, a pair of sharp scissors, some sticky strip, vellum for the support and that delicious seam binding.  No, seriously, THAT'S IT!

We will be making one of these at the Holiday Stamp Camp that will be announced in my customer newsletter. If you aren't on that mailing list, get on it!  And I have just migrated all of my newsletters to a new program so you will be sure to get all the latest and greatest information from me, no more than twice a month, packed full of tips, ideas, information, classes, reader questions and answers and a whole lot more!  Go ahead - sign up!  Be the first to know!

Annniversary Party Votives!

The other day I showed you how I made the placecard/favors for Mum & Dad's party; today I am showing you how I made the votives.  Here's a closer look  at these super pretty battery operated votive candles -

 
These were made with the same flowers from the favors except instead of putting a gold brad through the center of the flower once it was formed, I used my Crop-A-Dile to punch three holes in a triangle formation in the center of each flower and gold scallop grouping so I could push the entire assembly down over the "flame".  I wrapped a length of the White Organdy Ribbon around the circumference of the votive and added those little (non-Stampin' Up!) gold glass Dew Drops to dress them up a little.\

The favors and these little votives were actually very easy to make!  They were a little time consuming because you really have to be patient when you break down and split the scallops for the flowers, but that's what Bravo TV is for!

The party was amazing!  My younger brother gave the most wonderful, heart warming toast to my parents.  He said that fifty years ago when they were first married, he imagined that they sat at their table, full of hope and excitement and promise, imagining what their lives together would bring them.  And now he encouraged them to look around their table at their children and grandchildren and to revel in the joy that their union has brought them, and us, all through their love and devotion to one another.  There wasn't a dry eye in the room!

Then Mum and Dad brought out a tray on which sat four wrapped gifts.  My mom called her four grandchildren to them and explained that the gifts were for them and asked them not to open them until everyone had their own; Mum and Dad explained that these were not toys, that they were grown up gfts that she wanted them to keep to remember this day.  Mum and Dad had each child stand in front of them and Mum spoke to each child, telling them what values and qualities she and Dad saw and admired in each child.  Again, all of us were in tears listening to my Mum articulate their love and insight to our children.  And, oh my, were Mum and Dad DEAD ON right about our kids!

When the kids opened their gifts, the boys received beautiful watches, "liftetime watches", each chosen with features that appealed to each boy's interests.  And the girls received gold lockets in the shape of hearts with two intertwined hearts engraved on the front.  Of course, the FOUR YEAR old was the one to point to the hearts and say "Look, Gramma and Papa on my locket!".  We died!  More kleenex was sacrificed!

And then MORE packages! Mum and Dad made a toast to all their "kids", my brothers and me and our spouses.  The men received monogrammed money clips and we girls were given beautiful strands of natural and colored fresh water pearls, each tailored to our personal styles.

It was all very emotional, very beautiful and very inspiring!  I hope that each and every one of you readers can at some point in your life experience the kind of love and devotion shared by my Mum and Dad!  Go hug your honey!
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Tropical Storm (nee Hurricane!) Irene is on her way so if you don't hear from me for a couple of days it's because we've lost power.  Here's hoping that's NOT the case!  Larry starts high school (GULP!) Monday and I would hate for him to have to start out the year behind......  Be safe, my East Coast friends!

Instructions for the Prettiest Table Favors EVER?

Last week I gave you a peek at the favors I made for my parent's 50th Anniversary Party.  Here is a photo where you can see the entire thing!

Isn't that pretty?  Believe it or not, it was so easy!  It is based on a project that people outside of my are call "sour cream containers" which I had never heard of before but boy is it a handy little package!

Basically, you make a tube out of cardstock or any one of the gorgeous Designer Series Papers from Stampin' Up! (which are on sale for just six more days!).  I cut a piece of Whisper White Cardstock to a standard cardfront size, 4 1/4" X 5 1/2".  I ran it through my Big Shot using the Perfect Polka Dot embossing folder and then gently curled it with my hands (to encourage it to stay closed once assembled) into a 5 1/2" tall tube, sticking it together with Sticky Strip.  Then what you do is pinch one end closed side to side and the other end closed back to front, so you end up with this pyramidical (is that a word?) shape rather than a flat package.  A little sticky strip inside your "pinchies" and this is good to go!  Now some people run the two pinched ends into a crimper for an inch or so, which is adorable!, but I wanted these to be more elegant than cute so I left the ends crisp.

These are filled with three large disks of Lake Champlain Milk Chocolate and obviouslt you can put anything you want inside.  Can you see these for Halloween?  Or Valentine's Day?  Or on a Thanksgiving table?  Or at any holiday?  Wait, I think it might be fast or easier to list any of the occasions where this adorable little packet would NOT work, don't you think?

So then of course, I had to make them pretty!  Those gorgeous flowers are made of nothing but more Shimmery White Cardstock and a brad!  I chose Shimmery White because it is a little heavier than the Whisper White and it does have just enough of a shimmer that it added texture and depth to these flowers.  I punched three scallops per flower and then spritzed them with water, crumpled them up like they were trash, let them dry a bit, UNcrumpled them and then worked them over GOOD with my bone folder and sort of rolled them over on themselves until they split.  I carefully peeled them apart, leaving me with six very fine scallops.  More crumpling, then stacked them up, pierced the center and inserted a gold brad.  Then I just pinched each layer individually up and around the brad and ended up with these fat fluffy blooms! 

I stuck each flower on a scallop punched from Brushed Gold cardstock and added leaves from Build a Blossom embossed in gold on the Brushed Gold and punched with the Blossom Petals Builder punch; these were all stuck together with Glue Dots.

Now these served as place cards as well so I had to add each person's name to them.  What I did was print out all the names in a bold script onto Whisper White cardstock and then traced over the print with my Versamarker and embossed the names in gold.  Then I punched them out with the Modern Label punch and backed them with another Modern Label punch on one end in the Brushed Gold. A whole punch of glue dots and Stampin' Dimensionals and I was DONE!

Can't you just see using these EVERYWHERE?  If you would like to make some of these with your friends, call me and we can have a party where we can make a handful of these for each person for different occasions!  How much fun would THAT be?

Supply List
Whisper White Cardstock, Item #100730
Shimmery White Cardstock, Item #101910
Brushed Gold Cardstock, Item #102935
Big Shot, Item #113439
Perfect Polka Dots Textured Impressions
        Embossing Folder, Item #117335
1 3/4" Scallop Circle Punch, Item #119854
Blossom Petals Builder Punch, Item #121808
Modern Label Punch, Item #119849
Build a Blossom Stamp Set, Item #121923
VersaMark Ink Pad, Item #102283
VersaMark Marker, Item #100901
Gold Stampin' Emboss Powder, Item #109129
Heat Tool, Item #100005
Paper Piercing Tool, Item #116631
Gold Brads, Item #104337
Stampin' Dimensionals, Item #104430
Sticky Strip, Item #104294
Glue Dots, Item #103683
Bone Folder, Item #102300

A Quick Teaser - Part 2!

As promised, here's a teaser of the favors that I made for my parents' 50th Wedding Anniversary party this weekend.

Check back later this week to see them in full and learn how you can make them too!

A Quick Teaser - Part 1!

I am off for a couple of days celebrating my parent's 50th Wedding Anniversary but I wanted to give you a little teaser of the table decorations I made for them.

Check back tomorrow for another teaser and then next week for full pics and how I made them!

Where Do You KEEP Your CARDS?

I keep mine in my new CARD KEEPER!!!  Yes, one of the fabulous new things in the Holiday Mini Catalog is an incredibly easy to put together kit that, with some customization, could look like this

 

How fun is THIS????  Here's a better look at the top

This goes together so easily - I was sort of confused actually by how easy it was - I kept thinking that I was missing something!  And the kit includes templates for the top, sides and bottom of the box so you can customize the box with the Designer Series Paper or Stampin' Up! fabric of your choice.  And it was FUN to do!  Some projects, well, you love the final product but the process isn't necessarily all that rewarding.....this time it was a blast to do because it's so easy!

I don't think I am done yet - I want to add a pop of color and I am thinking that a big poofy flower in either red or hot pink would look good.......What do you think?  The red from Timeless Portrait or the hot pink from Flirtatious?

These Card Keeper box kits are just $8.95 and will be available starting September 1st. AND I will be offering a class where you can come and make and decorate your OWN box and make some cute cards to start off a collection.  Classes will be announced in my newsletters first, so subscribe for the latest updates!

Now I am off to put the finishing touches on another project I worked on using the AWESOME new tool also available in the Holiday Mini - you are going to LOVE it!

Desktop Box For Notecards

Yesterday I showed you these cute little notecards that went together in a snap.  I wanted to take them one step further and turn them into something that was gift-worthy so I created this little desktop box to hold them. 

(Ignore the little crunch on the bottom; DH was looking at it up close and he gave it a little squeeze.  If this happens to you just wait a couple of minutes and the paper will relax back into position.)

Here's an up close look at the little emblem on the top. You know how I like to modify punched shapes; can you spot what modification I made here?

I used the Modern Label Punchfor the Textured River Rock shape under the white oval but I thought it was too wide for the layered Decorative Label shape underneath. So I chopped it in half, overlapped the cut ends a little and - voila! - shorter Modern Label custom fit to my project!

This box is a great size because it will hold six notecards with envelopes and you can package it up in nothing more than a cello bag with a ribbon tie and a gift tag and you have something gorgeous that anyone would love to receive. 

Oh, and the piece of Paisley Petals Designer Series Paper on the top of the notecard box was a scrap as well!  So remember, from your scraps mighty projects can grow!

Project Ingredient List
Marina Mist Card Stock, Item #119682
River Rock Card Stock, Item #108640
Old Olive Card Stock, Item #100702
Whisper White Card Stock, Item #100730
Textured River Rock Card Stock, Item #121078
Paisley Petals Designer Series Paper, Item #122367
Whisper White Tafetta Ribbon, Item #109070
Always Artichoke Classic Stampin' Pad, Item #105219
Teeny Tiny Wishes Stamp Set, Item #115370
Stampin' Dimensionals, Item #104430
Modern Label Punch, Item #119849
Decorative Label Punch, Item #120907
Small Oval Punch , Item #120908
Scallop Trim Border Punch, Item #118402
Sticky Strip, Item #104294
SNAIL Adhesive, Item #104332

Introducing Friday Fab in Five!

I am experimenting with various ideas here at Up All Night Stamper and one of the things that people ask for are projects that can be done in just a few minutes.  Hence Friday Fab in Five!

As I was tidying up after a fun stampin' session the other day I had some scraps of the beautiful paper from Paisley Petals Designer Series Paper, Item # 122367.  I noticed that six of them were the same size and wanted to challenge myself to use them rather than chuck them in the package and forget about them.  So I came up with these

Here's one close up

In less than 10 minutes I made SIX of these!  I just cut Marina Mist cardstock to a standard card size, layered on some Whisper White, attached those strips of the Paisley Petals Designer Series Paper at the top and tied off the band with some Whisper White Taffeta Ribbon, Item #109070 (which ties beautifully!). Then I stamped the birdcage from Nature Walk, Item #121925 in Always Artichoke after stamping off once on scrap paper after inking the stamp.  They were so easy and make a super cute set of notecards to package up as a gift.

And speaking of which, if you would like to see the cute little desktop box I made for this set of notecards, come back tomorrow! 

So, are these something you think you could whip up?  The next time you are cleaning up your area, take a good look at what you have leftover from another project.  You might just find your own Friday Fab in Five!