Stampin' Mama: A mama that stamps

Dasher Earrings & Pendant - and sign up for my "8 Weeks of Christmas"

I have been making jewelry with my stamping and scrapbooking supplies. Who knew you could use chipboard for a matching set of earrings and a necklace pendant??? I'm totally hooked on this new hobby and spent some extra dollars at the craft store on jewelry making supplies so that I can keep going with these. I'm having to much fun with all these new ideas spinning around in my head.

I got the idea to create these earrings and necklace from a new book that I just reviewed on Craft Critique. You can check out the full review here:  "Beyond the Bead" book review. There are quite a few more samples of other jewelry that I made on the review.

I used embossing techniques, ink sponging and Crystal Effects as a lacquered finish on my chipboard circles. The Dasher stamp was used on all 3...I used it for the pendant, but also used the antlers to get the design on my earrings. They were so incredibly easy to make and this is the first project I'll be showcasing as part of my "8 Weeks of Christmas" emails to my mailing list.

If you'd like to be included on my mailing list to get fantastic ideas for cards, gifts and packaging for the holidays, make sure to sign up for my list in the box all the way at the top of my blog on the right hand side of my side bar. I'll be sharing the steps in these emails, rather than including them on my blog, so make sure to sign up so you don't miss out. These emails will be coming out each Wednesday for the next 8 weeks, starting this Wednesday!

Or....you can use this box right here:

Get my Newsletter

enter your e-mail:

Have a happy Monday!

-Erika (Stampin' Mama)

Create your own ribbon & button bracelet!

Did you know that you can make jewelry with your cardmaking and scrapbooking supplies?

My sister made a crocheted necklace not that long ago using buttons and since I can't crochet (it's on my list of things to learn how to do), the idea of making a bracelet with ribbon and buttons popped into my head.

This was so incredibly easy to make and all it took was:

* a length of ribbon
* buttons
* double-sided adhesive
* sewing machine

I used my Janome Sew Mini sewing machine, but any machine will work or you can also sew the buttons on by hand if you don't have a machine or prefer to do hand stitching.

I chose buttons from the new Autumn Button Assortment and the ribbon is from the new  Autumn Ribbon Assortment (both from GinaK's new release). 

These bracelets make fun gifts for little girls and big girls, too. They're quick to make and budget friendly, so they're perfect for holiday gifts or stocking stuffers.

I created a step-by-step tutorial on how to make this bracelet, as well as a review on the different ways you can use the Janome Sew Mini on different surfaces over at Craft Critique.

I'd love to see your bracelet creations if you try this out!

Have a happy and beautiful fall weekend!

-Erika (Stampin' Mama)

The Butterfly Project - wall hanging

Have you heard of the Butterfly Project?

It's a bittersweet project, in that it's focus is to foster creativity, but also to remember the 1.5 million children that perished in the Holocaust.

The Holocaust Museum of Houston is collecting 1.5 million handmade butterflies that will eventually be on display in Spring of 2012. As of Summer 2008, they had already collected over 400,000 butterflies.

Christy Nelson, over at Christy's Craft Challenge, put together one of her amazing craft packets as the September challenge and encouraged everyone to use the supplies to make a butterfly for this project.  The sky was the limit to our imaginations.

Here's a link to what was inside the packet: September Craft Challenge packet

By the time I was done creating, the only things I had left were some left over fabric and a couple of the small ovals. I had used everything else in the packet!

I went with a hanging design. I drew a butterfly on a piece of light weight cardboard and cut it out to use as my template. I traced it out on the pink craft foam, as well as the fabric. I applied some double-sided adhesive around the edges of the butterfly and then tucked some crafting stuffing under the butterfly and pressed the edges down to hold it all in.

I used my Janome Sew Mini sewing machine to do a zig-zag stitch around the edges of the fabric and foam. I LOVE how easily the needle went into the foam and had so  much fun using my machine this way that I picked up some more fabric quarters and foam yesterday so that I could make some more creations like this.

I created the flowers that are hanging from the butterfly the same way, except that I didn't add any stuffing underneath them. I cut the flowers directly from the fabric, adhered them to the foam and used the flower as a guide to cut the foam. I added some of the seed beads to the flowers to give them some dimension.

I attached the yarn all around the butterfly using a little bit of hot glue. I also used the yarn to wrap around two of the small ovals to create fuzzy antennae.

I painted the large oval with some light blue acrylic paint and then glued a bunch of seed beads all over it and then glued the ovals to my butterfly.

I wanted to use as much of the packet as I could, so I glued the little beads all around the butterfly to dress it up. The beads add so much sparkle and visual interest to the butterfly.

To finish it all up, I glued the butterfly and the flowers to a long length of yarn and then tied a loop at the top of the yarn so that it can be used as a wall hanging or to suspend from something.

Christy is going to be putting all the pictures up of the butterfly submissions that were done with her Craft Challenge packet and people will get to vote for their favorite! Make sure to check over at her blog for more details: Christy's Craft Challenge

Craft Critique sponsored this month's challenge for Christy's site and they've generously put up a huge prize with all sorts of crafting goodies. Make sure to check out their site for lots of great reviews on your favorite and soon-to-be favorite crafting items.

If you'd like to take part in the Butterfly Project, the Holocaust Museum website has the details on how big your butterfly should be, what to use and what not to use, as well as the address to use in sending your butterfly to them.

This is a great way for YOUR children to become involved in history and a great lesson in compassion. Have them craft a butterfly of their own and talk to them about what the Holocaust was about.

You can check out all the details here:

The Butterfly Project

Happy Creating!
-Erika (Stampin' Mama)

Tree Trimmings treat box - Stampin' UP

I recently had to pick out a couple new holiday sets so that I could plan my upcoming Stamp-a-Stacks and classes. I also picked out some new holiday paper to play with, as well.

I fell in love with the Tree Trimmings set from Stampin' UP, along with the Merry Moments Designer Series paper. (I got another set, but I'll leave that for another upcoming post.)

I recently went to the Stamping Around Vermont retreat and Cindy Lawrence taught an amazing class with the cutest box that are perfect for cards or even candies, a silk scarf, candles, etc. She has generously shared the directions and dimensions on her blog and also shows pictures of the project that we made at the retreat. You can check it out here: Cindy's card box instructions

I started off with Real Red for my box. I then stamped my ornaments with Real Red and Garden Green on a piece of Whisper White cardstock. I added the strings with Basic Black ink.

I applied some 2-way glue to the ornaments and then dusted them with  Dazzling Diamonds glitter.

On the bottom half of the Whisper White cardstock, I adhered a piece of paper from the Merry Moments Designer Series pack. I have to admit that I don't often use Garden Green, so it was nice to use something in that color with this patterned paper. I think I really need to branch out of my color comfort zone and use colors that I haven't touched in a very long time.

I stamped a greeting from the Sincere Salutations set on Whisper White cardstock with Basic Black ink and then mounted it on top of a piece of Real Red cardstock. I mounted this on the box with some Stampin' Dimensionals.

I added a length of Black grosgrain ribbon around the box and finished it off with a bow and the ends trimmed on an angle. 

These make great teacher's gifts for the upcoming holidays, or make a few to bring to work for your co-workers. You can even tuck some cash inside for college kids or as a stocking stuffer. There are so many things that you could add to these boxes!

Happy Creating!

- Erika (Stampin' Mama)

Sneak Peeks Day 2 - GinaK Designs

It's day 2 of the GinaK sneak peeks and the Design Team has two new sets to let you peek at.

Don't forget to put the Release Party on your calendar for Thursday night from 7-10 pm (CST). It'll all be happening over at the GinaK Forum over on SCS.

The first set that I'm sneak-peeking for you is a new set from Melanie Muenchinger, called "School, Sports, Spirit!" It's a great set if you've got special people in your life that are in school, on the sports team or have school spirit!

For my project, I created a package of locker room essentials to tuck into a gym or sports bag. I started off with one of GinaK's clear boxes (great for packaging cards in, as well). I tucked some mouthwash, shampoo, conditioner and a bar of massage soap (all in mini sizes) into the box. I then added a belly band with some patterned paper and a length of coordinating ribbon. 

I stamped the school jacket image on a piece of Pure Luxury white cardstock with black ink and then colored it in with Copic markers and a Copic blender.

I used a circle cutter to cut around the image and also to cut a larger circle from Bashful Blue cardstock to layer underneath. I mounted the image on top with some pop-dots.

I stamped the "back 2 school" image (also from the new set) with black ink on a scrap of white cardstock, then layered it on a scrap of Bashful Blue cardstock and trimmed around and mounted it on top of the jacket image. I let it hang off the image just a tad.

The MVP image also comes from Melanie's new set.

My second sneak peek comes from Rupa Shevde's newest set, "Back to School." This is a great time to think about scrapbooking those "first day of school" photos that you've just taken (or in my case, will be taking next week).

 I finally printed off some pictures that I took back in 2007 that have been waiting to be scrapbooked.

I used a piece of Pixie Pink for my 8x8 page. I mounted the picture on Pumpkin Pie cardstock. The border on top and bottom was done with the paper clip border stamp (all stamps are from Rupa's new set) with black ink.

I ucked a piece of coordinating ribbon behind the photo and around the back of the layout. I love how the colors go with everything else going on in the layout.

I stamped the backpack and book images on white cardstock and colored them in with Copic markers. I trimmed them out and then layered them on top of Pumpkin Pie cardstock and then trimmed again. I popped the book image up with some pop-dots.

For more inspiration with the stamps previewed today, visit Gina's blog as well as Melanie Muenchinger, the illustrator of Sports, School, Spirit.

 For even more projects with tonight's two stamp sets, these Senior Design Team Members are participating in previews today: Carolyn, Cindy, Donna, Emily, ErikaJessica, Lee, Lynn, and Theresa as well as our CenterStage Spotlight Design Team members: Tina Gilliland and Vicki Dutcher.

Don't forget about our Release Party on SCS starting at 7pm CST on Thursday, August 27th. There will be contests, challenges, lots of chatter as well as a ton more samples shared by the Senior Design team members and our CenterStage Spotlight team too. We'd love to have you join us!

Bombshell Stamps Challenge - Wine Bottle Gift Tag

OK, we have a really fun challenge for you today over at PaperCraft Planet -- it's an inspiration challenge, sponsored by Bombshell Stamps.  To play along, simply pick something that you think is "the bomb" and make something! 

Post your project in the Paper Craft Planet photo gallery, and use the tag "PCPBOMB". (Here is a tutorial on adding pictures to the gallery, if you need it.)  Shannon, at Bombshell Stamps has generously offered TWO stamps sets as a prize -- Pinstriping and Speed Shop.

My inspiration was a wine bottle that has been sitting on our counter for a LONG time.

I used the Man's Ruin stamp set for my project. This is such a different style for me, but it was a great way to stretch myself and use something I normally would never have thought to. And as I was creating this project, I realized that I have a lot of friends that would love this kind of art! (*thinks of ideas for gift projects to give my friends*)

I created a tag to hand off the neck of the wine bottle.

I stamped the main image and the words on a piece of white cardstock and colored it in with my Copic Markers. I went around the outside of the image with the Cool Shadow marker to add some depth to it.

I added some glitter to the bubbles, the rim of the martini glass and teeth on the skull. 

I mounted my tag onto a piece of Real Red cardstock and then onto Basic Black. I used a 1/4 inch hole punch to put a hole in the corner, then ran a red gingham ribbon through as a slip knot and tied it onto the bottle. So incredibly easy, but a fun way to present a gift bottle of wine when you're invited to someone's house for dinner.

Here is what the rest of the Super Novas came up with:

Adela Rossol

Lynn Mercurio

Melanie Muechinger

Kim Burmeister

Wendy Price

Jen Tapler

Diana Gibbs

Erika Martin

Lori Tecler

Jessica Fick

Sankari Wegman

Susanna Boyd

Now, it's your turn!  Take the challenge and let's see what you make!

Create your own Pencil Toppers ("Bug Me Anytime" set - GinaK)

I've been having so much fun with these felt flowers I've been making and got a great idea for using them with one of the new GinaK Designs stamp set.

And this is something you can do with your kids this summer. My daughter is always looking for something to do (she even has an "I'm bored" song and dance that I'm subjected to on a constant basis daily. I'm going to sit her down tomorrow and hand her a big pile of felt and let her at it. 

So, I made these really cute pencil toppers and added stamped images to them. I'm thinking they would make really great birthday party favors....or even bridal shower favors. 

They're super easy to make and it's a great way to introduce your kids to a little bit of hand sewing, which seems to be quickly becoming a lost art.

You can check out the video tutorial I created to learn how easy it is to make these felt flowers. Have your kids watch it, too. They'll be itching to make them as soon as they see how easy it is. ---> Felt Flowers video tutorial

I created three different flowers by cutting the felt in different shapes. The purple flower is the one that I created in the video tutorial. I cut the purple felt with rounded peaks. I cut the yellow flower in straight-edge peaks. The pink flower was cut in a scalloped pattern.

I used some hot-glue to attach a green pipe cleaner to the backs of each of the flowers. I make sure to roll the pipe cleaner in the hot glue so that it encases it. You could add a felt leaf if you wanted to.

To continue decorating my flowers, I stamped a bunch of the bug images from the new "Bug Me Anytime" set (designed by Nina Brackett) on Pure Luxury base weight white cardstock (I wanted some extra sturdiness) and then colored them in with Copic markers. I cut them out with a pair of precision tip scissors.

I used a small bit of hot glue spread onto the back of the images and then adhered them to the flowers.

I took some pencils out of my daughter's pencil/marker/crayon basket and wound the pipe cleaners around them. They would certainly make schoolwork and homework much more fun for kids. And....why not wind them around some of your pens. It might make paying your bills a little more pleasant. *wink*

I was also thinking that these could easily be wound around chopsticks or small dowels and tucked into a flower pot with floral foam in it and used as a centerpiece. For Halloween, you could make orange and black flowers and hang stamped images of spiders from them (in fact,there's a hanging spider in the "Bug Me Anytime" set). There's also some images in the set that could be used as centers of the flowers if you didn't want to use the mini pom-poms. Make a bunch and put them in a vase with some glass marbles in the bottom. The possibilities are endless!

So....any other creative ideas to do with these cute flowers? Share your ideas here!

Happy Creating!

-Erika (Stampin' Mama)

Create your own Felt Flowers with my video tutorial!

Do you remember the felt flowers that I made for my brother's Box full of "flours?" I told you I would create a video tutorial to show you how to make those cute felt flowers and I have!

These felt flowers are super easy to make, they only require a few materials and chances are, you already have them in your crafting stash! They can be used for dressing up scrapbook pages, put on cards, for use on a little girl's barrette....or put a pin-back on the underside and create your own flower pins!

To see what I did with a bunch of these flowers...check out my Box full of "flours" post.

Bake it, Make it & Take it - Stamped Cupcake Toppers (GinaK Stamps)

I was in the baking mood yesterday and made a big cake for my brother-in-law's birthday. I had a little bit of cake batter left, so after I put a little aside to eat raw (yes, yes, I know...I shouldn't do that because of the raw eggs, but it's one of the best parts of making a cake), I took out these cute little Wilton silicone cupcake Silly Feet and filled them with batter and baked them. Yup, you can put these silicone cupcake molds right in the oven! Oh, the wonders of silicone!

I decorated both and made sure I didn't forget the sprinkles. I know my kids are going to want those later on when they eat them.

The new GinaK set by Rupa Shevde, "100% Sweet", is such a great set to use for making your own cupcake toppers. Remember those little cupcakes toppers that used to come on the store/bakery bought cupcakes? Making your own are so much more fun and you can personalize them! With some stamps, cardstock, scotch tape and a long toothpick or skewer, you can have homemade cupcake toppers that look WAY nicer than the plastic store bought toppers.

I realized AFTER I colored and put the toppers together that I had colored the cupcakes wrong on the bottom, but it's no biggie. The toppers are still cute and the cupcakes are still delicious!

I used a boxed cake mix for the cake and then made the frosting using my dad's recipe, which has always reminded me of eating "sparkles." I don't know how else to explain it but that recipe makes THE best buttercream frosting in the world! It's got the perfect taste, is so smooth and has the perfect texture. As a kid, I always felt like my mouth was full of sparkles when I was eating that frosting. Trust me! Check out the recipe here: My Dad's Buttercream Frosting (and check out that red, white and blue Flag Cake that I made, too - the one I made yesterday for my brother-in-law's birthday. Yes, it's my mom's post, but those are my baked goodies and pics!)

For the toppers, I cut out a couple ovals from Pure Luxury white cardstock and stamped them with images and sentiments from the "100% Sweet" stamp set and colored them in with  Copic markers. I added some Dazzling Diamonds glitter to the frosting on each (for that "sparkly" feeling) and mounted them on top of cardstock ovals that I puched with the Giga Scalloped Oval punch (I used Pumpkin Pie and Tempting Turquoise cardstock).

A piece of scotch tape over a skewer on the back of the toppers and you're all set to go. I cut long skewers in half to create my toppers, but you can buy smaller skewers in most grocery stores or kitchen stores. 

Typing this all up made me hungry.....I'm gonna go have a cupcake now!

Happy Creating!

-Erika (Stampin' Mama)

A box full of "flours" - yes, you read that right!

My brother and I recently did some creative scheming on a gift that he brought on his visit to his girlfriend. I can finally show pictures now that he's delivered his gift in person and we don't have to worry about her discovering photos online before they were handed over.

My brother wanted to give his girlfriend something thoughtful and that she could display so real flowers weren't something that fit the latter qualification. Since he owns a wholesale bakery and has a quick wit, it was only natural that he was going to think outside the box.

If you've ever seen the movie, "Stranger Than Fiction," you might remember the scene where Will Ferrell's character brings the bakery owner "flours." (Check out the clip here ---> "I brought you flours") My brother asked if I could help him dress them up a bit since he didn't want to bring them in little paper bags like Will Ferrell did in the movie and my creative wheels started turning and I was imagining a box of "flours" that also looked like "flowers." 

I used an old cigar box that my brother had given to me years ago to use on a project (guess it came full circle, eh?) and covered it with patterned paper (I used the Delicate Dots from Stampin' UP). I adhered a length of So Saffron grograin ribbon around the box and added a bow to the front.

I filled 5 little half pint jars with 5 different flours that my brother had provided. I punched out a tag for each one and wrote the names of the flours on them, then tied them onto the jars with silver elastic cord. Since the lids of the jars were a hideous plaid pattern, I cut lengths of patterned paper so that they looked like grass and wrapped them around the lids.

I had thought about stamping some flowers to put on top of the jars, but I've been wanting to try this felt flower idea for a while, so I decided that this was a perfect time to do it. They're a little hard to describe, so I'm planning on doing a video tutorial to show you how easy they are to create.

I hot glued the flowers to some green pipe cleaners and added some felt leaves. I twisted the pipe cleaners so that they looked "springy" and hot glued them to the lids of the jars. I put some purple easter grass on top of the lids to further hide the horrid plaid pattern.

I had so much fun creating this gift and was looking forward to my brother coming to pick it up on his way to RI to go see his girlfriend. He loved it! I had to take a picture of him holding them because he was looking so happy to be making the trip and was looking forward to presenting his "flours" to his girlfriend.

He told me that when he gave them to her, she was confused, at first, as to what they were. When it finally clicked, she laughed. I was told that she really likes them and she's going to display them on a shelf and that she thinks I'm an artist. :) That totally made my day...as well as the fact that I could do something for my Big Little brother. :) (he's 19 months younger than I am, but definitely MUCH taller than I am).

Be on the lookout, next week, for a video tutorial to show you how to make those adorable felt flowers.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Happy Creating!

-Erika (Stampin' Mama)