Advent Calendar DIY

As promised on my Instagram account yesterday, I was going to share more details about my DIY Advent Calendar today. Here's the full view:

I started by punching 25 envelopes using my Envelope Punch Board and some retired Christmas paper (Trim the Tree Paper Stack). I chose my patterns from the stack and as I was creating my envelopes, I started to notice many had a green pattern on one side. The idea of creating a Christmas tree came to mind and at that point, decided to use only the green patterns.

The stitched-look circles are the new Stitched Shapes Thinlits and the numbers I cut from Red Glimmer Paper using the retired Little Numbers Thinlits.

You might be wondering how I got my envelopes so small - they measure approximately 1-1/2" square. The smallest envelope you can make according to the measurements on the punch board is 3" x 2" (gift card size). I thought surely there was a way to make them smaller. Thanks to Nina at WaffleFlower for teaching me I could make one with a 3"x3" piece of paper & scoring at 1-1/2". ;)

I wanted each envelope to contain a note/activity/kind gesture for the kids & family to do while counting down the days to Christmas. I attached tiny magnets from the dollar store and inserted my paper inside each envelope. I did trim my envelopes slightly so that I could stamp the date using the Project Life Date It stamp set.

Each card has a written note. Some list activities I already have planned, like the one above. Others are kind gestures or "pay it forward" type notes and others are things like making a Christmas craft, decorate the tree, read a Christmas story or our traditional outing - drive around to look at light displays.

The entire calendar was created on a 12"x12" piece of Real Red card stock. I stamped a few snowflakes in the same colour for a little interest using Flurry of Wishes. Once the calendar is finished, I can store it in my scrapbook album & even scrap some pages with the notes. Next year, I can take it out and do it all over again.

Until next time, stay crafty!
Steph

If you don't have a demonstrator and would like a copy of the current Stampin' Up! catalogue, please contact me. You can also shop in my online store 24/7 at www.hofkissed.stampinup.net

Craft Show Season!

Back again today with another post about craft shows. Yup, it's that time of year again and my first one is next weekend. Yikes! I had several ideas pop into my head today about my display and decided to do a mock up of it. Check it out...

Can you picture it? I know it's looking a little rough, especially without my table covers, signage or proper placement of some items, but it's getting there! Hauling all my product to and from shows really sucks sometimes. This year I'm hoping for it to be a little easier. I've repurposed several storage units from around my house that are multi purpose. They both carry my items AND display them. In years past I've hauled my products in separate tupperware type containers, plus my display containers. Not really smart, eh?! Let's take a closer look at some areas on my table:

This are is where all my greeting cards are. I've got several different varieties and price points. Picture a banner streamed along the back baskets, plus both baskets being the same size.

In this area I'll have some signage about classes and getting crafty, a handful of retired products for sale and some catalogues also. The unit in the middle has drawers (similar to the others I've faced forward) and that's where I'm keeping all my supplies - extra tags, pens & paper, tape, etc.

Lastly, this area is saved for all my gift giving and gift wrapping products. I have lots to choose from and lots more to add too... plus the appropriate signage.

What do you think?

Until next time, stay crafty!
Steph

Organization 101

I did a little re-org in the studio yesterday and swapped around some of my containers and such. I love seeing everything and having things close at hand. For about the last 10 years, I've been using those wooden storage cubes that you can configure a bunch of different ways. They've seen me through several moves and tons of reconfigurations (that's what I love about them!) and finally I think I've found a configuration that works. Here are a few shots of some of the organization...

I'm not sure what I originally bought this cube for, but I did a little happy dance when I discovered the dividers fit my ribbon spools perfectly!

Same applies for my twine & trim drawer. I just love opening these up and taking a peek inside.

This last pic is obviously not a drawer, but this container now sits inside one of the shelves. It was actually in a pile to give away and then I thought it would be a better embellishment holder for all my little do-dads. Now I can just open it up and use my little scoopers to pick what I want. Aren't those sooooo adorable?!

Until next time, stay crafty!
Steph

October Promos!

Just a quickie post today to keep you in the loop about some great promotions in October!

This promo ends today a 11:59pm MT. Be sure to check out the deals here where you can find some paper packs, adhesives & tools on sale up to 25% off!

This Paper Pumpkin offer ends in a few days on October 10th. Be sure to check out all the details and subscribe at www.paperpumpkin.com using promo code BOGO. If you don't have a demonstrator, would love it you chose me - Steph VanDorp. ;)

Lastly, this sale on select papers is on for the month of October - B3G1. What a great deal! I'll be showcasing several projects using all our pretty papers this month. I don't know how I ever lived without double-sided paper before!!

To shop all these deals and see what's happening, check out my store at www.hofkissed.stampinup.net

Until next time, stay crafty!
Steph

Sprinkles? Yes Please!

Today I'm sharing a card I designed for my Shaker Card Class on Thursday night. To create my shaker, I used real sprinkles - it's so yummy, I could eat it!  The stamp set Sweet Cupcake looks so real already, so it was a no brainer for me to use real sprinkles.

I kept the card fairly simple to allow focus on the cupcake. I used the Confetti embossing folder to frame my shaker component and some retired 3/8" Pool Party Glitter Ribbon. If you love that look, you can get the Pool Party ribbon dirt cheap on the Clearance Rack right now, or purchase the Blushing Bride & Silver combo pack from the Holiday Catalogue.

The sentiment on the front is from the Sprinkles of Life stamp set - isn't it just perfect for this card?! On the inside I used images and a sentiment from the cupcake set.

Until next time, stay crafty!
Steph

If you'd like to purchase Stampin' Up! products or would like a catalogue, please visit my online store at www.hofkissed.stampinup.net

Mixed Media

Over the weekend I was feeling inspired by something other than cards... that seems to be the case lately anyway! As I sat down to paint with my kiddos and one of their friends, I was suddenly inspired to create a mixed media piece... my first ever I think! Check it out:

I love the way it turned out! I started by painting a background on the canvas in my favourite colours. Since I was just fooling around and didn't quite know what I wanted to do, I headed to my stamp wall for inspiration. I stared until something jumped out at me - my Flower Patch stamp set. Do you ever do that when you need inspiration? Anyway, I began by stamping my larger flower with white paint, followed by the smaller flowers & sentiment in ink. I just kept adding until I was happy.

To spice it up a notch, I added some copper accents. I lightly rubbed my VersaMark pad throughout the background and along the edges. For the white flowers, I used my VersaMark Pen so that I could get the powder exactly where I wanted it. Lastly, I stamped the smallest flower on top of the other flowers that I stamped in ink and then heat those up.

What do you think?

Until next time, stay crafty!
Steph


If you'd like to buy Stampin' Up! products or need a catalogue and do not have a Demonstrator, check out my webstore at www.hofkissed.stampinup.net

Teddy Bear (Christmas)

Here is the last card I'm featuring this week for the Cookie Cutter Bundle that will be available September 1st in the Holiday Catalogue. I'll have to put this one back on my shelf for a while, but you can bet that it'll be living on my desk in the months to come! ;)

I will apologize because this card uses a lot of retired (or non SU!) products, but I was commissioned to make some baby girl cards for a client, and of course, I couldn't resist going back to this set and using the bear this time! Did you think he was only for Christmas?! The bear also fits in the punch of course, but I opted to just stamp it flat this time.

Hope you've enjoyed the sneak peek the last four days...

Until next time, stay crafty!
Steph

If you'd like to buy Stampin' Up! products or need a catalogue and do not have a Demonstrator, check out my webstore at www.hofkissed.stampinup.net

How Do You Eat Your Cookies?

Welcome to Day 3 of this featured stamp & punch set - Cookie Cutter Christmas - available September 1st in the Holiday Catalogue. I tried really hard not to use the gingerbread image again, but he's just too cute!!

How do you like to eat your cookies? Do you bite the head off or start at the bottom? I heat-embossed them in Copper Embossing Powder and then added some strips of Copper Foil and some Red Foil Twine, all from the upcoming catalogue.

Here's a better view of some of that shimmer. Isn't the copper pretty?! Oh, and that cute sprinkle DSP is also in the catalogue. ;)

Are you loving this set yet? You might want to check out my event that I'm cohosting with a friend on October 22nd.

Until next time, stay crafty!
Steph

If you'd like to order Stampin' Up! products, don't have a demonstrator &/or would like a catalogue, please contact me or visit my webstore at www.hofkissed.stampinup.net

Gingerbread Cookies!

Here's another post using my favourite new bundle in the upcoming Holiday Catalogue (available September 1st!). As promised in yesterday's post, I'm sharing some projects with you all week using this awesome new bundle. ;)

Clearly I didn't make a card... but a little home decor piece with some new DSP (a new 6x6 Paper Stack!) and some Crumb Cake punched Gingerbread people. I opted not to use the stamp for this one, just the punch and then "iced" them up using a White Gel Pen. I wanted them to look like traditional cookies and was inspired by the real cookies over at Gimme Some Oven.

I wrapped them around one of my LED flickering candles & I think these would look so pretty as part of my Christmas/Winter decor - imagine the reindeer, Santa, bear & Eskimo too. Super cute!!

 

By-the-way, did I mention there was a Fall/Halloween set for this punch also? ;) More on that another day... ;)

Until next time, stay crafty!
Steph


Interested in buying Stampin' Up! products in Canada? Check out my online store - www.hofkissed.stampinup.net and contact me anytime you have questions, or would like a catalogue.

Cookie Cutter... Christmas??

Hello! Sorry for the late post - I was having some difficulty with Blogger. Anyway, here, as promised on Instagram yesterday, is one of four posts you'll see this week featuring my new favourite bundle in the upcoming Holiday Catalogue - I - though, the first card I'm featuring here is not Christmas. Check it out:

I made a boy & girl gingerbread, and used some new Christmas paper from the holiday catalogue, but turned it into a "lovey dovey" or maybe Valentine's card instead. I love taking products further than what their intent is. Cool, right?!

Are you thinking there's a new die set coming out for letters? Wrong! I punched those with the gingerbread... do you see how? The hearts are also from the punch and the stamped heart background is done by using my Happy Heart Textured Impressions Folder... did you know you could do that? Again, multi purpose! ;)

Until next time, stay crafty!
Steph


Interested in buying Stampin' Up! products in Canada? Check out my online store - www.hofkissed.stampinup.net and contact me anytime you have questions, or would like a catalogue.

Thoughtful Branches Baby Card

I'm sorry I didn't post this yesterday, as I promised on Instagram... life got a little hectic! Anyway, here's the full card using Thoughtful Branches an exclusive bundle that will be available August 2nd, while supplies last!

This was a special card I made for my dear friend who's having her first baby. I created the card in the colours she chose for her nursery (grey, pink & teal) and designed it in a way so that she can easily frame it - I only adhered the grey front with a couple of glue dots and made it 5x7".

Of course a little stamping on the inside too... even though that will be recycled, I couldn't leave it blank. The little banners are from a long ago retired baby set.

Every baby card should have a little sparkle! I added lots of Wink of Stella on the letters...

...and on the hydrangea leaves too, though it's harder to see in this picture.

If you missed it on Instagram the other day, this is what my complete gift looked like - among other things, I included some handmade thank you cards for her as well. ;)

To purchase Stampin' Up! products, be sure to visit my webstore: www.hofkissed.stampinup.net and don't forget to check out my Facebook Page too - www.facebook.com/hofkissed

Until next time, stay crafty!
Steph

Colour Challenged?

Hello! As promised, here's my second post today. It's another fairy card and it was created for Sunday Stamps colour challenge (SSC129). Check it out:

All I used to create this card was a Whisper White Note Card, Fairy Celebrations & Stampin' Write Markers. The colours I chose were Wisteria Wonder, Pear Pizzazz, Pistachio Pudding, Wild Wasabi, Crumb Cake, Blush Blossom (my neutral for skin tone) and Chocolate Chip.

The trick to colouring with Stampin' Write Markers is to go over  it twice, when colouring. This gives you a perfectly blended image!

A sweet sentiment on the inside finishes things off... with a little fairy dust, of course!

I really enjoyed this soft colour pallet, why don't you give it a try too? If you struggle with colour choices, colour challenges such like this one are the perfect thing for you to try!

If you'd like to purchase Stampin' Up! products, visit my online store at www.hofkissed.stampinup.net and never hesitate to contact me should you have any questions!

Until next time, stay crafty!
Steph

Fairies for CAS(E) this Sketch!

I'm having lots of fun with some online challenges... and lucky you, this will one of two posts today! ;) I created this card using sketch #178 over at CAS(E) this Sketch.

To create this card, I used a few basic items - Blooms & Bliss Designer Series Paper (DSP), Fairy Celebration Stamp Set, Baker's Twine, Vellum Card Stock, Bitty Butterfly Punch & Jewels.

I used a combo of a Circle Punch and Circle Framelits to create my opening and coloured the fairy with Stampin' Write Markers in colours that I pulled from the DSP. I brushed some Wink of Stella on the fairy wings and created a decorative edge on my sentiment using the Decorative Label Punch. The Baker's Twine is a retired colour (Crisp Cantaloupe), but it works well. For a whimsical feel, I pulled the twine apart before wrapping and tying it on my card.

In the inside, I added a little fairy dust and a sweet sentiment.

Hope I've inspired you today - why don't you give this sketch a try?

To order Stampin' Up! visit my website at www.hofkissed.stampinup.net

Until next time, stay crafty!
Steph

Colour Challenge for ColourQ

I have a quick post for you tonight because I wanted to enter an online colour challenge over at ColourQ - the colours to use were Going Gray, Chocolate Chip, Blush Blossom, Peach Parfait and white. Here's what I came up with:

I used a retired stamp set (By the Tide), but there are some fabulous new ones in the new catty that would work just as well! As some of the colours from the challenge are long retired, I used Smokey Slate in replace of Going Gray and Peekaboo Peach in replace of Peach Parfait. I happened to have some Blush Blossom still.

To add a little more texture to the card, I stamped with some bubble wrap, popped up one of the fish and added some twine. I also tore the paper and then used the photopolymer stamp set from the June 2016 Paper Pumpkin kit (Banner Surprise) - did you know you can bend photopolymer stamps?!

Hope you're inspired to go create something and maybe enter it into a challenge. They're fun!

To check out all of Stampin' Up!'s products and order online, visit me at www.hofkissed.stampinup.net

Until next time, stay crafty!
Steph

Banner Surprise Paper Pumpkin Kit

I had some fun yesterday putting together the June 2016 Banner Surprise Paper Pumpkin kit... well, more like taking it apart I guess. You'll see why below. ;)

Above is the only banner I created with the kit - my business name - that I'm proudly displaying under some past Paper Pumpkin samples. The kit is meant to make six banners with cards, but I opted not to make those (I'm not big on banners). Below you'll find some of the samples I've created so far. If you head over to my Facebook Page - www.facebook.com/hofkissed - you'll find a video I posted explaining everything.

All the samples you'll see only use pieces from the kit, other than some notecards and envelopes, no other special tools or punches were used. I wanted to focus on just the kit, especially since some of my subscribers don't have a lot of tools.

The left card above most closely resembles the cards you're suppose to make (but I only used one cello pennant) and then the card on the right has a special stamped background (using bubble wrap!!) and the negative of the gold foil letters. Seriously, go check out the video!

If you're willing to cut up one card and one envelope from the kit, you can make these five cards (with the notecards & envelopes) - really, go check out the video for a how-to. ;) 

These last two cards I think are really out-of-the-box thinking. On the left one, I 'painted' the flower using my Stampin' Spots (oops, I did use a punch to add some gold foil dots to the center of the flower) and I did a happy dance when I thought up the right one. A shaker card using only pieces from the kit. SERIOUSLY, go check out the video to see how I did it - www.facebook.com/hofkissed 

I hope you enjoyed these extra projects - I'll be making a few more this week I think. I always have so much fun turning the project kits into something completely different!

To purchase Stampin' Up!, visit my online store at www.hofkissed.stampinup.net 

Until next time, stay crafty!

Steph

Best Birds

Last night, I created two "Make & Takes" for my team meeting. Here's one of them using the new Best Birds stamp set with coordinating Birds and Blooms Framelits.

I just loved this set when I saw it in the catalogue! Fun images with lots of sentiments (gotta love that!) and the coordinating Framelits come with dies to both cut out the images, and extra detailed ones too, like the bird on this card.

I used the linen/burlap image in the background and embossed in white on Whisper White. Then I sponged over it with Flirty Flamingo and Sweet Sugarplum. After that, I tore the edges (love the crisp white edge!) and embossed the sentiment in gold.

I used the Framelits for the bird and branch. The bird I cut out in Sweet Sugarplum, glued on a piece of Flirty Flamingo (fussy cutting around the detailed bird) and then used Gold Wink of Stella over top. For the branch, I stamped in Crumb Cake and then sponged using Crumb Cake & Mint Macaron.

Hope you're inspired by today's card!

If you would like to purchase Stampin' Up!, please visit my online store at www.hofkissed.stampinup.net

Until next time, stay crafty!
Steph