A Few Christmas Cards

Gate Fold Card- made by Michelle Hoffman
Tutorial: http://beate.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/2007/06/10/gate-fold-card-tutorial/

Gate Fold Card- made by Michelle Hoffman
Tutorial: http://beate.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/2007/06/10/gate-fold-card-tutorial/

Tag Punch Star Card- designed and made by Michelle Hoffman
Tutorial for tag punch star: http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/resources/tutorials/tag_punch_star/

Peaceful Wishes Card- designed and made by Michelle Hoffman

Christmas Cards Sent to Me

Unique Fold Christmas Card Swap- Made by various Stampin’ Up! Demonstrators

Christmas Card Designed by Florence Savarese
Her blog: http://flofollies.blogspot.com/

Christmas Card by Marilee L

Christmas Card Designed by Amy Jolley

Christmas Card Designed by Pat W

Christmas Projects

Peppermint Sandwiches- Idea from Rochelle Wick at http://impressionsbyrochelle.blogspot.com/
Stamp set: Holiday Tag Team
Paper: Yoyo Yellow, Ballet Blue, Real Red, Glorious Green, Whisper White
Ink: Glorious Green, Real Red, Ballet Blue Classic ink
Accessories: Scallop Punch, 1 1/4” and 1 3/8” Circle Punches, Glue Dots, York Peppermint Patties

Chipboard Art- Designed by Janet Y
Stamp set: Big Deal Alphabet
Paper: River Rock, Mellow Moss, Real Red, Old Olive, Very Vanilla, Dashing Designer Series Paper
Ink: Real Red, Mellow Moss, River Rock, Old Olive classic ink
Accessories: Chipboard Coasters (4), Paper Trimmer, Mod Podge, Foam Brush, Sanding Block, Crop-A-Dile, SNAIL adhesive, 1/4” Real Red Grosgrain ribbon


Altered Mailbox- Designed by Amy Jolley
Stamp set: Retired Christmas set
Paper: Dashing Designer Series Paper, Real Red, Mellow moss, Whisper White Card stock
Ink: Real Red, Old Olive Classic Ink, Watercolor Crayons
Accessories: Mailbox, Paper Trimmer, Mod Podge, SNAIL adhesive, Aqua Blender Pen, 1/4” Always Artichoke Grosgrain ribbon, Liquid Appliqué

Christmas Tin Pail and Tag- Designed by Michelle Hoffman
Stamp set: Holiday Tag Team
Paper: Whisper White Card stock
Ink: Real Red, Brocade Blue, Apricot Appeal, Basic Black Classic Ink, Whisper White Craft Ink
Accessories: Tin, Paper Trimmer, Corner Tag punch, Blender Pen, 2-Way Glue Pen, Romantic Red Glitter

Altered Jars- Designed by Michelle Hoffman
Stamp sets: Warm Words, Circle of Friendship
Paper: Blue Bayou “Prints” DSP, Green Galore, Real Red, Whisper White card stock
Ink: Real Red, Blue Bayou Classic Ink
Accessories: Plastic Jars, Paper Trimmer, Scallop Punch, 1/8”, 1” and 1 1/4” Circle Punches, Dimensionals, SNAIL adhesive, Sticky Strip, Green Galore Brads, 1/4” Real Red Grosgrain Ribbon, Holiday Mix M&M’s

Snowman Paper Lantern- Idea by Tracey Roy at http://www.lakeshorestamper.typepad.com/
Stamp Set: Holiday Tag Team
Paper: Whisper White, Basic Black, Real Red, Pumpkin Pie
Ink: Glorious Green, Real Red Stampin’ Write Markers
Accessories: Paper Trimmer, Crop-A-Dile, 1/8”, 1/2”, 1 1/4” Circle Punches, Coluzzle Cutting System, Paper Snips, Paper Trimmer, Glue Dots, 2-Way Glue Pen, Whisper White 1/4” Grosgrain Ribbon, Real Red 5/8” Grosgrain Ribbon, Romantic Red Glitter

Snowflake Ornament- Idea by Mary Jo Price-Williams at http://technostamper.blogspot.com
Paper: Wintergreen DSP
Accessories: Paper Trimmer, Scissors, Silver Elastic Cord, 2-Way Glue Pen, Ruler, Pencil, Stapler, Beads (optional)

Paper Lantern Ornaments- Idea from Stampin’ Up! 2007 Convention
Paper: “Dashing” Designer Series Paper
Accessories: Paper Trimmer, Crop-A-Dile, Grosgrain Ribbon, Bead (optional)
Sizes of lanterns: 4”, 5”, 6”, and 8”.

Vellum Lantern Ornaments- Idea by Julie Buhler at http://paperpleasing.typepad.com

Stamp sets: Frosty, Holiday Tag Team
Paper: Vellum
Ink: Versamark Embossing Ink
Accessories: Paper Trimmer, Crop-A-Dile, Silver Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, Grosgrain Ribbon
Size of lanterns: 4”

Scalloped ornament- Idea by Lisa Somerville at http://lisasomerville.blogspot.com/
Paper: Dashing Designer Series Paper
Accessories: Scallop Punch, Scoring Tool, 2-Way Glue Pen, Beads from Pretties Kit, Elastic Cord

Christmas Chipboard Ornament- Made at demonstrator meeting November 2007

Stamp set: Punch Pals
Paper: Dashing Designer Series Paper, Real Red Textured Card Stock, Whisper White Card Stock
Ink: Stampin’ Write Markers in Basic Black, Real Red, Old Olive, Pumpkin Pie
Accessories: Cardboard Square, Paper Trimmer, Crop-A-Dile, Sticky Strip, Stampin’ Dimensionals, red Gingham Ribbon, Fibers

Treat Pouch- Idea from Stampin’ Success magazine, June 2006 issue
Stamp set: Holiday Tag Team
Paper: Dashing and Holiday Harmony Designer Series Paper, Always Artichoke, Old Olive, Real Red, River Rock, Very Vanilla Card Stock
Ink: Real Red, Old Olive, Rose Red Classic Ink
Accessories: Paper Trimmer, Bone Folder, Sticky Strip, Glue Dots, Scallop Punch, 1 1/4” and 1 3/8” Circle Punches, Small Cellophane Bag, 1/4” Grosgrain Ribbon, Assorted Candies, Shredded Card Stock

Altered Picture Frame- Designed by Michelle Hoffman
Paper: Wintergreen Designer Series Paper
Accessories: Paper Trimmer, Hobby Knife, Mod Podge, Foam Brush, Sanding Block, White Craft Paint, Ribbon Originals “District”

Christmas Candle- Designed by Michelle Hoffman
Stamp sets: Peaceful Wishes, “So Swirly” Stampin’ Around Jumbo wheel
Ink: Bravo Burgundy Stampin’ Around Jumbo Cartridge, Always Artichoke Classic Ink
Accessories: 6” Candle, Tissue Paper, Wax Paper, Heating Tool, Cellophane Clear Wrap, String, Purely Pomegranate Satin Ribbon

Holy Triptych Card with Removable Pin

The angel on the front of this card is a removable pin. This card was made and given to me by Kay M. Thank you for this beautiful card, Kay!

Removable angel pin

Back of the pin with magnet pulled apart.

Magnet back together.

Stamping on Candles Tutorial

Stamping on Candles
By Michelle Hoffman

Supplies:
Candle- any size- for this tutorial: 6” x 2.8”
Tissue paper- 1 strip 9” long by 2 1/4” wide & 2nd strip 9” long by 1 1/4” wide
Wax paper (not shown)
Stampin’ Around jumbo wheel- So Swirly
Stamp set containing greeting- Peaceful Wishes
Stampin’ Around jumbo cartridge- Bravo Burgundy
Classic ink pad- Always Artichoke
Cellophane clear wrap- 24” x 20”
Ribbon- Satin Purely Pomegranate- 24”
String- 12”
Heating tool

Step By Step

Step 1
Remove candle from packaging. Wheel stamp across first strip of tissue paper (9” x 2 1/4”). Set aside.

Step 2
There are two ways to do step 2:

A: Using the smaller strip of tissue paper, 9” x 1 1/4”, stamp greeting at the left edge of the strip of tissue paper. Stamp the greeting again, this time 3/4” to 1/2” away from the right edge of the strip. This will allow you to place your greeting both on the front and back of the candle. By allowing a 3/4” to 1/2” space at the right edge of the strip, you will have an appropriate space between the front and back greeting when you attach the strip to the candle. Set aside.

B: Cut the 9” x 1 1/4” strip of tissue paper in half. Stamp the greeting on the two halves. Set aside.

Step 3
Look the candle over for imperfections, choosing the least marked side for the front of your candle. Wrap the strip of tissue paper with your wheeled image around the candle, placing it where you want it. The seam of the tissue paper should be on the back of your candle.

Step 4
Cut a piece of wax paper the height of your candle. Wrap the wax paper around your candle, being careful not to move the strip of tissue paper on the candle. Smooth the wax paper over the candle, gathering the ends at the back of the candle. This will be your “handle” to hold to avoid burning your hand when using the heat tool.

Step 5
Turn your heat tool on and allow it to warm up before you aim the heat at the candle. Once you feel it is sufficiently heated, aim the heat at the candle, keeping the tool straight and level. The tip of the tool should be about a 1 1/2” to 2” away from the candle. Heat the candle with a slow and even stream of heat, being sure not to concentrate the heat for too long in one place. You will be able to see your progress beneath the wax paper. The melted image will be shiny and the ink will spread out a tiny bit. If you miss any spots, you will be able to see the dull tissue paper through the wax paper. Simply go back over that spot with your heat tool, being careful not to aim the heat at the other areas already completed.

Step 6
When you need to reposition the wax paper, carefully peel it off the candle. If you have an unfinished area, such as seen above on the right side, it is best to peel the paper off starting at the melted part and working your way to the end of the tissue paper that has not yet been melted into the candle. When you reposition the wax paper, be careful not to use the part of the wax paper that has melted wax on it. Find the unused portion of the wax paper and apply that to your candle. Otherwise, the candle wax on the wax paper will get melted back on to the candle and you will get unsightly wax puddles on your image.

Step 7
When you have sufficiently melted your image on to the candle, peel the wax paper off. Repeat steps 4 to 7 to melt the greeting on to the candle. Your candle will then be completed and should look like the above picture.

Step 8
Cut the cellophane clear wrap to 24” x 20”. Lay it on your work table and stand the candle in the center of the wrap, with the front of the candle facing you. Pick up the upper left corner of the cellophane wrap and gather the diagonal corner (lower right corner) to it. Repeat with the remaining two corners.

Step 9
Tie the string tightly around the cellophane just above the top of your candle. Tie your ribbon around the string, gathering the ribbon into bunny ears to make your bow. Trim the ends of the ribbon with a “blue ribbon” edge or a diagonal cut.

*Tip:
Since the ribbon used here is wide, fold it in half and then tie it around the candle. Return the ribbon to its original width to make the bow.

Step 10
Your project is now complete!

Variations
-Place another wheeled image in place of the greeting.
-Instead of wheeling your pattern, stamp images onto the tissue paper, cut the images out and melt them into the wax.
-Use colored cellophane in place of the clear, keeping in mind the stamped images will not be visible through the colored cellophane.
-Hang beads, a charm, tag, or other embellishments from the ribbon.

Card: Lovely As A Tree- Masculine Birthday

This card was created using a sketch made by Maria Bell on her blog, Stampin' Inspirations By Maria. This sketch can be found at http://stampininspirations.blogspot.com/2007/12/blog-candy-challenge-day-2.html


Supplies:

Stamp sets: Lovely As A Tree, God's Blessings

Outlaw Designer Series Paper


CS: Blue Bayou and Kraft


Classic Stampin' ink: Close to Cocoa, Mellow Moss, Basic Black, Blue Bayou


SNAIL adhesive


Vintage brad


Sanding block


Stampin' sponge


Techniques: Distressing, direct to paper, sponging


If you have any questions, please be sure to ask.


Have fun stampin' and creatin'!

Dyeing Fabric Flowers

Dyeing Fabric Flowers

by Michelle Hoffman

Supplies
Fabric flower from Pretties Kit
Small stamp container
Paper towels
Spray bottle
Reinkers- 1 light color with 1 contrasting color
Paintbrush or Watercolor brush
Tweezers

Step by Step

Step 1
In small stamp container, add a few drops of water or two sprays of water from a spray bottle. Add approximately five drops for medium to dark colors, and ten drops of the lighter colors.

Step 2
Swirl the reinker and water so they mix. Then add your fabric flower in to the mix.

Step 3
Using your tweezers, push the petals down into the mixture for even coverage. When you are satisfied with the shade, take the flower out of the container and lay on triple folded paper towel.
*Note: You do not need to turn your flower over as the ink will saturate both sides.

If you do not want to add shading to your flower, skip step 4 to step 6.

Step 4
Taking your contrasting reinker, add a couple of drops to the lid of the stamp container.

Step 5
Dip a fine tip paintbrush or watercolor brush in the reinker and apply it to your flower, starting from the flower center and going towards the tips of the petals.

Or for a different look, apply the contrasting color with the brush along the edges and tips of the petals.

Don’t panic at the major contrast in colors. The next step will dilute the color.

Step 6
Mist the flower with one spray from a spray bottle and use the watercolor brush to smooth out the color. This will help disperse the color evenly.

Step 7
Set the flower on paper towels to dry. The colors lighten as the fabric dries.

After the flower is dry, you can add more color to the flower if you want. Just repeat the steps mentioned above.

Additional suggestions:

Add an embellishment to the middle of your flower for a finishing touch. A brad, button or bead will work nicely. If the flower does not have a hole in the center, use a 1/16” circle punch to add the hole. Then attach your brad through the hole.