Big Shot!

I created some fun candle holders for our neighbors for Christmas using the Big Shot Snowflake die and Coke cans!  I cut the can open using my craft and rubber scissors (be careful the can will be sharp).  I laid the open can onto the big shot, created my sandwich adding a piece of cardstock for shim and ran it through.  The snowflake comes out smooth and safe to handle.  I layered two using glue dots. I attached a tea light candle with a glue dot as well.

Bottom showing a Diet Mt. Dew and Diet Coke can

You can get a different look by spray painting the snowflakes or even running them through the big shot with an embossing folder.  It was a very fast and easy project!

Frankenstein Box!

My sweet friend Valerie came over last night to stamp and we got a lot accomplished. One of the projects we worked on was this cute Frankenstein Box using the big shot. His face is the top note in green galore and elegant eggplant. We also attached him to the Big Shot Box #2. I will be raffling him off in October at my Christmas Card Stamp a Stack!! =)

More images of the cookie sheet calendar!

Come join me on July 18th at 10am for a fun calendar class! Cookie sheet, paper, stamps, ink and snacks provided and you bring a paper cutter, adhesive, friends and a covered drink. Cost for the class is $20. Please RSVP and pay by July 10th so I can have time to order enough supplies.

The calendar contains magnetic numbers and months as well as holidays that can all be stored on the back of the sheet when not in use. We will be using the Big Shot for some of the project as well as fun punch art! You don't want to miss out on this awesome class. Once complete the calendar can be hung on a wall or door.

**Color and paper will vary slightly from shown due to changing of the catalog.

**Due to the nature of this class, please no children.

Please email or call for directions to my "NEW" Stamping Shack!

I am really excited about this class and hope you can join me!

Happy Birthday Invite!

Cooper got an invite to a birthday part from my fellow stamper Valerie and I just have to share it!

She is having a Pizza Party for her daughter! How cute is this slice of pizza!
The pizza uses the Sizzix pennant die, baskets and blooms, and punches.

The inside is done with a Sizzix alphabet die and the 3 is stamped.

I am looking forward to this fun party! Doesn't it make you want to come along too?

Great job Valerie!! Check out her blog...there are some neat things on there!

Same materials, Different card!

I have made a challenge with my fellow demos to post each week so you are going to start seeing more stamping, I hope! :-)

My last club meeting for one of my groups was on Thursday night. I was at a loss on what to do for the final projects. Fast forward to the Tuesday before the Thursday club meeting when I sprained my knee and put myself on crutches for the next two weeks. I was so not in the mood to sit and cut out paper...mini pity party that week. I found some already cut out cardstock from a workshop in December and decided to work with it. Here is what I came up with...

Sock Monkey Love!

Thanks to my awesome stamping buddy Valerie, I also created this adorable top note bag to go along with the card. I had the idea but she really helped me bring it to life! (thank you Valerie)


Stamps: Sock Monkey, Just B
Ink: Riding Hood Red
Paper: Close to Cocoa, Very Vanilla, Riding Hood Red
Accessories: Alpine Ribbon (Holiday Mini)

Here is what the original card looked like and then my Valentine change!

The top note Monkey Bag was very easy to create! The small bags can be bought at most craft stores and then cut down to 3 inches tall. I adhered the top note with sticky strip and used the large oval to cut the handle. Be careful when punching that you fold the outside edges out so you don't cut the bag.

Stamps: Sock Monkey, Holiday and Wishes
Ink: Riding Hood Red, Close to Cocoa
Paper: Riding Hood Red, Close to Cocoa
Accessories: Cocoa Marker, small white paper bag, large oval punch, word window punch, Alpine Ribbon.

SIZZIX BIG SHOT!!

Some of you have asked me about the newest tool that Stampin' Up! has now added to their product line: the Big Shot!! So, I thought I'd just give you a little bit of info although I know that there is tons around, but you may not have seen it yet. You can click on the picture above to see some of the dies that will be available on September 2nd and some that will be offered in the Holiday Mini on October 1st.

The Big Shot is a die cutting machine, manufactured by Sizzix for Stampin' Up! It is not a new tool to the market, although I've heard that this design is slightly different than what you can purchase at your regular craft stores. Don't quote me on this, but I believe that Stampin' Up's tool is made out of one piece whereas the ones you can purchase at other stores is made in three pieces. This means less chance for breakage! The Big Shot is a nice stable platform. I do have a Cuttlebug and must admit that the Big Shot is easier to use. I don't have to fold down the flaps, it's stays stabler on the table, there's a handle on the top that is easy to grasp. The handle turns easily and the sandwiches are easy to make. If you don't know what I mean by a "sandwich", I mean that every die you run through the machine needs to be put between different items so as to protect the machine mechanisms as wells as allowing it to do it's desired function whether that's cutting or embossing. So, a large die, like the Top Note die, is about 3/4" thick whereas the Swirls die is about 1/4" thick. The instructions for making your sandwich are handily located on the materials to sandwich with!

Stampin' Up! will be offering this machine and accompanying dies in September, on the 2nd. There will be some dies that are completely exclusive to Stampin Up but there are also several that will be found in your regular craft stores. The Big Shot works with ALL competitive dies, and the steel rule dies can cut through an impressive list of 50 different materials, including fabric, foil, and chipboard.

As to price, this machine is very competitively priced. I actually did some price comparisons with other competitors and found that our prices are considerably cheaper. Although we cannot compete with the 40% off coupons, you can't get hostess benefits from the others or a fabulous demonstrator to show you how it all works!! :-)