Napkin Rings and Place Cards

This past year, I decided to get crafty for Thanksgiving. Here are some simple ideas to decorate your table using 2 colors of cardstock, a Versa Mark pad (embossing ink), Versa Marker (embossing marker), gold embossing powder, a seasonal stamp, decorative hole punch, heat tool and a Cuttlebug diecutting/embossing machine (to dry emboss the paper). If you do not have a Cuttlebug, you can dry emboss with a metal stencil and a stylus or skip this step all together.



For the napkin ring, I cut 2 squares of coordinating paper. One will need to be a 2 inch square and the other will need to be a 1 3/4 inch square. You will also need a 1inch strip of paper that is big enough to fit around your napkin. If you choose to dry emboss, you can run the 1 inch strip of paper through your Cuttlebug or dry emboss with your stylus and metal stencil. This will just create some texture for your napkin ring. As an alternative, you can even just crumple up your paper and smooth it back out to give it a little bit of distressing. For a ring (like a paper chain ring) with your 1 inch strip. Staple the ends together allowing enough room for your napkin. Stamp your seasonal image (mine is a leaf on this one) on to the smaller square of cardstock using Versa Mark ink. Cover with embossing powder. Tap off the extra and heat with a heat tool until the power has melted. Glue 1 3/4 inch square and 2 inch square together creating a frame. Glue this onto the actual napkin ring you made in the previous step. Insert napkin.



For the place card, you will need all of the same tools as above. I cut cream cardstock to 1 3/4 inches by 2 3/4 inches and green cardstock to 2 inches by 3 inches green paper. I then ran the green piece through the Cuttlebug just like before. Then I folded it in half lengthwise. I then took the Versa Marker and wrote a name on the cream cardstock. I covered it with embossing powder and tapped off the extra. I then heated it up with a heat tool just like before. Glue cream cardstock to the green cardstock. You can embellish it with punch outs from a decorative hole punch.

Bear with me!

I know it's been a while since I've posted tips, tricks and techniques. The last few months have been incredibly busy at our house. Never fear! More stamping is coming soon!!!! :o) As always, don't forget to check out the gallery (scroll down. It's on the right.) for cool ideas on how to make your crafts fun and easy!

Sale-A-Bration (February 1-March 17)

Promotion dates: February 1-March 17, 2008

Our Sale-A-Bration promotion gives everyone a reason to celebrate!

Promotion Details:

Customers: For every $50 purchase they make, customers will receive a free Sale-A-Bration product.

Hostesses: In addition to our regular hostess benefits, hostesses will receive a free Sale-A-Bration stamp set for workshops that reach $300 or more.

Recruits: Anyone who joins as a demonstrator during Sale-A-Bration can choose any stamp set--a value of up to $47.95--from the current catalog.

You can view the Sale-A-Bration brochure here.

Current Promotion: Paper Party

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My very first workshop!

This past Friday was my very first workshop.



There were 14 ladies there and we made 3 different projects. See below:


This was the first card that we did using the "Fun & Fast Notes" stamp set (and also "Itty Bitty Backgrounds"). It was super easy and we ended up using Stampin' Pastels (chalks) on it to color in the bird and flower.


This was really fun too. It's a Christmas treat bag. The chocolates are Hershey Nuggets covered in address labels that have been stamped with a snowflake stamp from the "Simple Snowman" stamp set. The "Merry Christmas" stamp is from the "Loads of Love" stamp set.


And this last one is my very favorite. You can't see the glitter at all but in the light it is beautiful (Click on the photo to see a larger version). We used the "Simple Snowman" stamp set for the snowman, bird and greeting. Then we ripped white paper, dabbed the edge with a glue pen and dipped it into iridescent glitter turning it into snow drifts.

The workshop was such a hit. I ended up selling a lot and also reaping the hostess benifits, too! I already have 4 workshops booked from that one workshop! Whoo hoo! :o)

Tutorial #1: Stamping on Candles

This is a tutorial that I found on Splitcoast Stampers last night. It was incredibly easy. The only thing that I did wrong was that I used aluminum foil instead of wax paper. I'd really suggest using the wax paper. The foil leaves a texture on the candle, I was able to read the words "Reynolds" after heating and the foil got hot! :o) Either way, it only took about 30 minutes to do and it's so fun! Enjoy!

Tutorial #1: Stamping on Candles

Stamped Candles
By Jenni Mouer

Supplies
Candle - preferably white or cream
White Tissue Paper
Stamps
Ink Pads
Markers or some other type of coloring medium
Scissors
Wax Paper
Embossing Gun

Step By Step
Step 1.
Stamp on tissue paper. Use images that can be colored-in or solid images, in the ink color of your choice.

Tip: Stamp extra images on the tissue in case of a mistake.

Step 2.
Color in stamped images using some form of coloring medium, but be careful and test the medium used. With Twinkling H2O™s™ (as in this example), you will want to make sure your Aquabrush™ is not very wet but has a fair amount of watercolor on it. If you would prefer not to color just use a solid stamp with your choice of ink.

Step 3.
Cut out your stamped images fairly close to the edges.

Step 4.
Take a piece of wax paper and cut it so that it is not any taller than the candle being used and long enough so that it wraps completely around the candle and then some.

Step 5.
Take your first stamped image and place it on the candle. Then place the wax paper on top and wrap the wax paper around the candle. Wing out the extra wax paper and pinch close with your fingers making sure the wax paper is tight against the candle.


Step 6.
Heat up your embossing gun for 30-40 seconds until it is nice and hot. Moving quickly, wave it over the area where the stamped image is; be sure to keep the wax paper nice and tight. Every candle will have a different wax melting point, but you should see a change begin to take place within a few seconds. As the candle heats up, the pressure from the wax paper should push the image into the melting wax of the candle, embedding the image and leaving your image intact.

Slowly peel the wax paper off the candle. Remember: every brand is different so if you are switching between brands you may need to adjust your heating times a bit.


Here's how mine turned out! :o)

Current Promotion: Stampin' Up! Holiday Glitz

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Welcome!

I am a new Stampin' Up! Independent Demonstrator and wanted to give you a place to get fresh ideas. I hope you enjoy!