Stamping On The Bayou

Back to School... already?

It's getting to be that time again, especially in my neck of the woods. School starts August 6th in south Louisiana... YUCK! To make things a little better, I think I'll be using these ideas as inspiration for my Back to School projects! I took over 1000 photos this year at Stampin' Up!'s 2011 Convention! Here is a collection of Back to School project samples...

 
Wouldn't this make a really cute first day of school gift for any teacher? It's also featured on page 95 of the 2010-2011 Idea Book and Catalog and uses the Teacher's Pet stamp set. The stamp set itself would make a wonderful gift for a teacher!

 

The First Day stamp set is perfect for cards and scrapbook pages for school days! I'm inspired by the sample on page 25 of the Summer Mini to create a school picture scrapbook for each of my kids.

Who wants a notebook with their name written with a black marker? Make your child's school supplies stand out when you cover notebooks and such with Stampin' Up!'s designer series paper, stamps, embellishments, stencils, Decor Elements, and MORE! This one features the fleur de lis image from the Elegant Trio stencils. Being from Louisiana, it's one of our most treasured symbols!

The Demonstrator Theater was totally awesome. These are samples from Michelle Theriault's presentation on checkin day. She is amazing and used many products from the Family Organization Suite to create these projects. She also used Decor Elements to create To Do, Chore Charts, and Menu boards! I'm all about organizing my family so this presentation spoke to me in a PERSONAL way!

This last idea is from a main stage presentation from my friend Shannon West! She is so awesome and I love her ideas. She used some of the raw materials for the Big Shot, the Cork Sheets from page 205 in the IB&C, spray painted them black, and put them in a frame to create her own cork board.

I think I'll make one of these to showcase some of my favorite cards! What will you create?

Save the Date: The iCraft Class series is BACK! This fall, the iCraft classes will be held once a month at my home. The theme for August will be Back to School and will be held on Thursday, August 26th at 10am and again at 6pm. Details will be sent to mailing list subscribers first, so don't forget to get on the Stamping on the Bayou Mailing List! 

Flip Flop Flair

Just in time for summer... check out the cute "toppers" I created using the Daisy #2 flower die, fun foam, and the Big Shot!

 
I used 2 colors of the self adhesive fun foam that you can find it in any craft section or store. Alternate the covers and remove the self adhesive "tape" to hold the flowers together. Sew on a button (mine are from the Button Latte designer buttons (114333). I used some of the elastic cord that was featured in the Holiday Mini.

Using the cord, tie directly to flip flop! Or, you could attach a clip of some sort so you can change out your flip flop flair - WOW, try to say that 3 times real fast!!!

Purchase your Big Shot supplies for summer projects today from my online store!
  

Big Shot and Raw Vinyl

 
The gifts of appreciation that I sent to the kids' teachers today was so much fun to make! I found these day planners and thought they would be perfect for a little personalization! Stampin' Up! has raw vinyl that can be purchased in many colors to make your own Decor Elements with the Big Shot. I used the new Island Floral die (118871) from the Summer Mini and embellished them with Pumpkin Pie corduroy buttons (114342) and half pearls from the Pretties Kit (109114). I personalized them with a monogram letter from the Serif Essentials Alphabet die (113464).

Want to learn more about Decor Elements, raw vinyl, or the Big Shot? Host a private Decor Elements party in June and I'll show you and your friends what you can create! Book now by emailing me at nickole@stampingonthebayou.com .

The Summer Mini is AWESOME!

I love the new Summer Mini! The sets and accessories are absolutely beautiful! I had a little snafu with my mailing of these catties, if you'd like one contact me!

At my last team meeting, we created some pretty tropical projects using the Tropical Party stamp set (118515), Party Favor Boxes (117178), Island Oasis designer series paper (117173), and the Island Floral Bigz die (118871) for the Big Shot!

The card was a direct CASE (Copy And Share Everything) from a very talented demo, Connie Babbert. Thanks for the inspiration Connie! It features the Tropical Party stamp set (offered in either wood or clear mount options) and highlights the use of Stampin' Write Markers - they are so versatile!

The sample of the Party Favor boxes shown in the mini was perfect inspiration! I love not having to think of projects to create - I can just copy! That's why I save all my minis and big catties!

 
I used the Island Floral Bigz die to create these floral accents, perfect for your Tropical Party Tablescape or addition to an invitation or scrapbook page! The flowers are made from several layers of the 3 petal flower. Curl the petals of each layer with your Bone Folder and attach with any coordinating brad. I attached the leaves with Mini Glue dots.

To order items for your Tropical Party, visit my online store or contact me at nickole@stampingonthebayou.com.
 
 
 
 

Elegant Trio Decor Stencils

CEO and Co-Founder of Stampin' Up!, Shelli Gardner has been traveling the country on her Workshop of a Lifetime tour. Demonstrators who stepped up to the challenge earned this fabulous reward. Anyway,  I loved the latest projects that she demonstrated at her last workshop so much, that I just had to case them for my hostess club free classes this month! They are truly elegant and so easy to create!

This project uses minimal supplies that you may have on hand already! The Elegant Trio decor stencils (118262) are found in the latest edition of the Definitely Decorative brochure. For $9.95 you get all three stencils! I've used them on cards here, but they can also be used to transform plain into pretty and give you the decorating edge your home needs to be the best on the block!

The flower is stunning! I love how you can create shading with just one color source (Regal Rose in this case)! I used a sponge on all these cards. For the middle of the flower, I added the Basic Small Grommets and a Clear Rhinestone Brad after running the white card stock piece through the Big Shot with the Perfect Polka Dots Textured Impressions Folder!

I used the Almost Amethyst color for the scroll image on this card. It is splattered with Elegant Eggplant using the Color Spritzer tool, which is my favorite tool (this week anyway)! Because this card is only one layer, I clipped the prongs off the Clear Rhinestone brads using my Craft and Rubber Scissors and applied with a Mini Glue Dot. The Basic Black satin ribbon and Groom Specialty designer series paper and another layer of elegance!

This one is my favorite! I love all things Fleur de Lis! Here, I stenciled the image in Sage Shadow Classic ink and stamped the "gratitude definition" image in Jet Black StazOn before lifting up the stencil. The StazOn Cleaner can clean your stencil when you are done. Again, add some splatters with the Color Spritzer tool and Basic Black Stampin' Write marker. The paper is one of the patterns from the Nouveau Chic designer series paper collection.

This has got to be one of the cutest projects that I have created. I may have been inspired by another project, but for the life of me, I don't think I've seen it done quite this way. First I used the Big Shot and the Scallop Circle die to cut out my "cone". Then, spritz with a little water to break down the fibers of the card stock. Run the scallop circle through the Big Shot again (I did it twice) with the Perfect Details Texturz Plate. Your scallop circle will naturally curl because of the water. Use this opportunity to form your shape (make sure you used Sticky Strip to hold it together) and VOILA, a waffle cone!

I decorated a plastic Easter egg with rubons and flowers to achieve the ice cream look! They are stinkin' cute! I think I will make these for my kids' friends for Easter!

Hope you enjoy! My hostess club classes made these projects this month. Want to join? I take new members anytime!
 
 
  
 
 

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!