Stamping On The Bayou

Birdhouse in Your Soul

... it's one of my favorite They Might Be Giants songs!!! In fact, I'm listening to it now as I type this post!! It just makes me happy!

It's time for warmer weather and what better way to get you in the mood than spring projects! This little birdhouse was so easy to make with the Big Shot Mini Milk Carton die from Stampin' Up! Accented with pieces from the Eggcellent Eggs kit, Pinking Hearts Border punch, and the Extra Large Two-Step bird punch, how could you not smile! I plan on making these for my kid's teachers for Easter. I'll cover the hole from the inside with some of our Window Sheets and punch a hole in the bottom (lined with aluminum foil) to make it easy to get the treats inside - I think Robin Egg candies would be perfect, don't you?

I'd love to show you and your friends how to create this lovely project. Contact me to book your private class!

I LOVE my Big Shot!!!

Look what you can make!!!!

I had some black and gold fabric left over from the flower pins and decided I needed to make a banner for the big game Sunday using the exclusive Pennant die (113483) for the Big Shot! No... I don't sew!!! I used Liquid Stitch (a fabric adhesive) and Stitch Witchery (an iron-on bonding agent) to put it together. What I love most is that my Big Shot can cut through so many types of materials. The following materials work well when creating die cuts with the Big Shot machine and Bigz and Originals dies. Please note the maximum thickness of several materials. As a rule of thumb, you can cut a material with your Big Shot machine and Bigz or Originals dies if you can cut it using your Craft & Paper Scissors.

Thick corkboard Thick chipboard (59 mil) Colored magnet Ruffle board Paper wood Balsa wood (3/32") Bass wood (1/16") Metal mesh Aluminum (.016) Tin (.008) Adhesive and non-adhesive mat board Drawer liner Shelf liner Vinyl Static cling vinyl Shrink film Fine sandpaper Clear acetate (20 mil) Vellum Card stock Patterned paper Flocked paper Contact paper Textured paper Metallic paper Linen paper Suede paper Embossed metallic paper Basketball embossed paper

Faux alligator textured paper Self-adhesive glitter paper Fabric Canvas Iron-on fabric Soft plush fabric Burlap Velvet Corduroy Lace Heavyweight denim Terry cloth Funky fur Thin leather Quilt batting Warm & natural batting Fusible fleece Self-adhesive craft metal Self-adhesive cork Self-adhesive foam Self-adhesive magnet Self-adhesive felt Adhesive and non-adhesive rubber Pop up sponge Poly foam 100% pure beeswax (cut with parchment paper on top & bottom of beeswax.)

This was a fun project and I can't wait to add a few more things to it to make it POP! Any suggestions??? Leave a comment below with your thoughts.

 

Who Dat? Fabric Flower

Oh when the Saints, geaux to the SuperBowl!!!!!! Saints Fever is in the air and I am so excited to share my own "Saints" creations!

My upline, Michele found some FABULOUS black and gold fabric! She came over last night and we created some beautiful fabric flower pins with the Big Shot (113439) and the exclusive Flower Folds die (115970)!

Look how beautiful!!!!! I can't wait to show my Saints spirit when I wear this pin all week! There are 24 layers of fabric flowers - 3 sizes from the die. It's very easy with the Big Shot because you can cut up to 8 layers of fabric (depending on the thickness) at a time! I picked out different patterns and textures to create a very eye catching accessory! I have a jar of buttons that I have collected from various clothes that I have purchased and this satin black button was perfect! 

Here were our leftovers! We used every scrap we could because I just couldn't stand to waste an inch!

If you would like to learn how to create some wonderful Textile Art yourself, gather your friends for a Fabric Workshop! I'd love to share how the Big Shot can help you create beautiful pieces! Hurry, there are only 3 dates available in February! Contact me today! 

Look what the Big Shot can do!

I think my head is still spinning from all I learned at Leadership last week! Jill Olsen, Susan Adams, and Janet Baker shared some wonderful creations made with dies from the Big Shot!

Many of these pins were made with the Stampin' Up! Flower Folds and Scallop Circle dies. Aren't they beautiful????

 
You can make banners with any of the alphabet dies!

 

 

Baby booty ruffles and onesie appliques
 

Bags like these were all over the place! They are made witht eh Stampin' Up! Scallop Square die - I can't wait to make mine along with the cute bag tags!
 

What blew me away were the QUILTS!!!! Absolutely beautiful!

 
Stampin' Up! gave everyone in attendance a quilt square to show what the Big Shot can do! The petals for the flower in the next photo were made with the 5-Point 3D star... you just invert the pieces to make the petals! How clever!!!! 

The Big Shot can cut 8 layers of fabric at a time! Want to learn more, why not host a Big Shot Fabric Workshop! Contact me today for more information. 

Catch Up...

... on your scrapbooking this holiday weekend. I know I have a few photos from Halloween that I can scrapbook. This was a page I made at my sister's workshop about a month ago. She has 2 kids so I made a place for her to crop and drop the adorable photos of her babies. And, the title says it all - they are TOO CUTE TOO SPOOK!

Here's a close up of the die cut letters I used - I blinged a few of them up a bit with Iridescent Ice embossing powder. These are the exclusive Alphabet Simple Bigz die cuts to use with the Big Shot. I just ordered the numbers last week and they came in today... woo hoo! These letters also make creating school projects a breeze! And, the best part of all, they are part of Stampin' Up!'s Gift Giving Guide promotion! Purchase the Simple Alphabet and Simple Numbers and you can get 2 Decor Elements (maximum $16.95 value each) for FREE!

 
 

Thanksgiving Table Setting

Need a few ideas for your Thanksgiving tablescape? The Big Shot allows you to create beautiful die cut pieces for quick and easy assembly. I love the new Stampin' Up! Table Setting Bigz XL die (116819) in the Holiday Mini. This versatile die features napkin rings, place cards, pinecones/roses, leaves, and tags to help you create a lovely place setting or centerpiece.

With this die and the Gobble Gobble stamp set (116535), also from the Holiday Mini, I created this cute napkin ring for a nice addition to any table. Stampin' Write markers made it easy to make this turkey shine, and don't forget the Dazzling Diamonds glitter!

To make things really special, create a lovely favor or place card for your guests... WOW, will they be impressed! I dressed up freshly popped popcorn with the Fancy Favor Bigz XL die and Bridesmaid Specialty Designer Series paper. Of course, the sentiment says it all. It is from the Grateful Greetings stamp set (116511) and the other images are from the Autumn Days (115452) stamp set.

For more information on these projects, please contact me.
 
 
 
 

Spring is in the air!

With spring approaching, we have many reasons to celebrate... baby and wedding showers are the top of the list. My cousin is getting married in about a month and I made invitations to a family shower my mom and aunts are throwing her. I tried to use her colors and combined them with Basic Grey for a truly elegant look.

 

I used the new Texturz Plates (Stampin' Up! Backgrounds I - 114512 featured on page 203 of the IB&C) to create an embossed flowery impression. Isn't it pretty? These Texturz Plates are so great and you get 6 Stampin' Up! exclusive backgrounds for only $11.95. Another set of plates is available, Texture Plates Kit #4 - 114531 for $9.95.

 

To use the Texturz Plates you will need the Big Shot(113439), Texturz Impressions Pad(114614), and the Texturz Silicone Rubber (114615). Contact me today for information on my Big Shot club.

Happy Thanksgiving!!!!

I wanted to share with you today my Thanksgiving setting from last Friday with my inlaws.

 

I created the napkin ring using the Big Shot and Top Note Bigz die. I love this die!!! It can be used for so many things! Hope you enjoy this day with your family - Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Sizzix Alphabets are not just for Stampin' Projects

They are also great for school projects and posters!!! My daughter who is in 2nd grade had to make a timeline of her life for a Social Living project at school. We used the Big Shot, Serif Essentials Bigz die, and Bella Rose designer series paper to highlight her name at the top of her poster. It was very easy and my daughter had fun creating her timeline. It turned out nice, don't you think.

 

(She doesn't normally wear her hair like that... it was Crazy Hair day at school.) There are so many ways to use these alphabets. Contact me to order your Big Shot and alphabet dies today.

Big Shot Gift Bag

At the Regional Conference I attended a few weeks ago, a fellow demonstrator swaped this lovely bag for one of my cards. I was shocked and very appreciative as usually you swap like items. Look how pretty!!! And, it would be easy to create. First, you need the Big Shot and the Tulipe Bigz Die.

 

She ran a Pretty In Pink piece of card stock through the Big Shot and saved the negative image from the die. She then backed the image with Chocolate Chip card stock. If you look at the tag on the bag, this demonstrator also saved a piece of the Pretty In Pink die cut from Tulipe (the part that looks like an open tulip bud) and used it as an embellishment for her tag. What a beautiful presentation for any gift!