Storing Stamps and Dies

The market is filled with rubber and acrylic stamps that have matching dies. I, for one, am a huge fan, since it means no more fussy cutting! BUT, storing them is not quite as convenient.

I store my stamps in several different containers. Some are kept in pocket pages, like these …

Others are kept in storage containers like these …

I love my stamps stored this way and I want the matching dies kept close by. However, if I put dies in any of these systems, I am afraid they will bend.

I have my dies in Art Bin boxes like this …

I love this system, but I am afraid if I put stamps in with the dies, they would get squished.

Fortunately, I have amazing friends. My friend Jill came up with a brilliant idea that has worked perfectly. It starts with an empty case from Stampin’ Up. (please ignore my messy desk. It is my creative mind at work …)

I tucked the stamp set inside the box. Then I cut a piece of adhesive-backed magnetic sheet and adhered it inside the box.

The magnetic side holds the dies in place. The stamps stay tucked in on the other side, where both are safe and secure.

 

I trimmed the sheet that came with the stamps and tucked it inside the front pocket.

 

And, I used my label maker to create a label for the side.

Now they all fit nicely on my shelf with my Stampin’ Up stamps. Thanks for the great idea, Jill!!

I do not sell Stampin’ Up products, but if you would like to purchase any of the other storage options mentioned in here, let me know. I can order them for you!

 

Handmade Holiday Blog Hop 2012

Welcome to the 2^nd Annual Handmade Holidays Blog Hop!!!

 

Calling all crafters! We’ve gathered designers from some of our favorite manufacturers to show you ways to create something from the heart this holiday season.

This 3-day Hop includes more than 60 stops with inspiration brimming from every corner. Explore all of the thoughtful and frugal handmade gifts you could create for the holidays, all in one place, during our second-annual Handmade Holidays Blog Hop!

To sweeten the Hop, we’re offering a gift for you! For every comment you leave on the blogs in the Hop, you’ll be entered to win a prize pack from one of the participating manufacturer sponsors! Use the Rafflecopter widget on the Clearsnap blog to gain extra entries each day.

You can also gain extra entries by “Liking” Globecraft & Piccolo on Facebook. After you Like Us, return here and tell us you did so for the extra entry.

View the list of blogs below and leave a comment on each by Nov. 27, 2012 at 11:59 p.m. PST. Each day we’ll be sharing a brand new list of blogs with brand new projects for you to explore, be inspired by, and create from!

Here’s today’s list …

Clearsnap – http://clearsnap.blogspot.com

Hampton Art – http://blog.hamptonart.com/

Graphic45 – http://g45papers.typepad.com/

Fiskateers – www.fiskateers.com/blog

Donna Salazar Designs – http://donnasalazar.typepad.com/

Tombow USA – http://blog.tombowusa.com/

Authentique Paper http://authentiquepaper.blogspot.com/

The Twinery – http://www.thetwineryblog.com/

Eileen Hull for Sizzix http://eileenhull.blogspot.com/

Globecraft Memories – http://globecraftmemories.blogspot.com

Diana Gonzalez – Clearsnap – http:// www.arteypoemas.com

Melissa Cash  – Tombow – http://inkclinations.blogspot.com/2012/10/handmade-holiday-blog-hop.html

Monika Wright – The Twinery – http://www.iloveitallwithmonikawright.com/

Gretchen McElveen – Hampton Art – http://gretchenmac.blogspot.com/

Megan Aaron – Clearsnap-  http://thoughtsoftraveling.blogspot.com/

Tania Willis – Fiskateers- http://throughtrialsiambeingpurified.blogspot.com/

Gloria Stengel – Graphic 45 – http://www.gloriascraps.blogspot.com/

Suzanne Austin – Clearsnap – http://whatsinalousyananut.blogspot.com/

Shellye McDaniel – Authentique Paper – http://paperedcottage.blogspot.com/

Natasha Naranjo Aguirre – Donna Salazar Designs –  http://www.moments-of-tranquility.com

Jen Carter – The Twinery – http://jensinkspot.blogspot.com/

Laura Denison – Graphic 45 – www.lauradenisondesigns.com

Candy Spiegel – Globecraft Memories – https://candyspiegel.wordpress.com/

Cheers to creating gifts from the heart this holiday season!

Happy Hopping!

For my entry I created a snowman wreath. (Click on the photos for a larger view).

I started with a simple grapevine wreath and wrapped Honeydew Baker’s Twine from The Twinery around it. (I tied the ends on the backside around one of the branches to secure it.)

Then I added a large Accent flourish by Globecraft & Piccolo that I covered in 3D Enamel Gel in Metallic Silver. (I also coated some birds in the gel and added them toward the end. I love the swirly tone of the silver.

Next, I created the poinsettias. I used the new die by Tim Holtz/Sizzix and paper from Authentique’s Festive collection. I first added Fired Brick Distress Ink, but that didn’t provide enough contrast, so I added Walnut Stain Distress Ink around the edges.

I then glued the layers together, folded the leaves so they would be dimensional and added Globecraft’s Pure Sparkle Silver Glitter to the centers. Even though I was making a rustic, country snowman wreath, I wanted it to have some of the bling of Christmas!

Then came the snowflakes … I used a sheet of sticky-back paper and punched out the snowflakes with a punch from Fiskars. Then I coated them in Pure Sparkle Silver Glitter. Don’t you love that sparkle and shine!?! The glitter is made up of different-size particles that offer a sparkle closer to that of Mother Nature.

I added another snowflake to the tag that hangs from the bottom. This is made by stamping with Memento Ink in Bamboo Leaves onto kraft cardstock with a stamp by Hampton Art. I used my Crop-A-Dile to add an eyelet to the top.

I wrapped Cappuccino twine around the tag. I secured it in the back with a Power Adhesive Tab from Tombow and then added a scrap of paper to the top to cover the rest of the adhesive. I hung the tag from the wreath with additional twine.

I coated a couple of keys from Globecraft in Vintage Silver Enamel Powder and added them, and a bead from Maya Road, onto the bottom of the wreath. I thought they went well with the “Do Not Open Until Christmas” saying on the tag — especially since I plan to hang this on my front door. (My odd sense of humor!)

Now for the ornament in the center … this is a kit from Globecraft & Piccolo. First, I used a large dauber sponge to paint the inside of the back globe.

I used the same paint to paint the snowman so no brown color shows through when I flock him.

Next, I painted the rim in red paint, the nose with 3D Enamel Gel in orange and the arms with 3D Enamel Gel in Burnt Umber. I also put a bit of Metallic Silver at the base of the snowman to cover up a mistake I made … Then, I used Stampendous Fun Flock to cover the snowman and his hat and scarf. Once dry, I added a tiny black rhinestone eye.

I used Vintage Silver Enamel Powder to cover the rings and then assembled the ornament. To do that, I laid the inner ring down, placed the globe on top and then dry fit the ring. Once I got it where I wanted it, I carefully removed the ring and applied liquid glue right along the edge of the globe. I placed the ring back on top and used binder clips to hold it in place while the glue sets. (You don’t want to leave them on for more than a few minutes because they may mar the surface if left on longer)

Finally, I used Gilded Rose Enamel Powder to color a couple of flourishes, attached them to the front and then strung the ornament in the middle of the wreath.

Thanks for stopping by … I hope I have inspired you to create a wreath of your own!

Enjoy the hop and don’t forget to leave a comment for a chance to win!

When frustration strikes …

If you scrapbook long enough, you are bound to reach a point where your vision vanishes, your idea fails and you cannot possibly see how the page will ever be finished.

I have stacks of pages that fall into this category — ones I started, became frustrated with and gave up, shelving them for another day.

At a recent crop, one of my friends found herself in this position. In typical Marty style, she conjured up a commercial — a parody of the Viagra commercials — all related to scrapbooking.

While we all laughed, her frustration was very short lived — Scrapagra provided that extra boost she needed and she finished her project without any further setbacks.

I thought it would be fun to make some real Scrapagra (in the form of candy) to bring to crops to help us out when we hit that frustrating paper wall. My first attempt, in a really cute jar that I realized after it was finished still smelled like the artichokes it once contained, had to be scrapped. No one would want to eat artichoke flavored candy, after all.

So then I grabbed a pail made by Stampendous and came up with this …

The nice thing about Stampendous pails (vs. other companies’ pails) is that they are food safe, so I knew I could fill it with candy.

I used a die, Distress Ink and background stamp from Tim Holtz, papers from DCWV, stamps from Studio 490 and letters from QuicKutz to create the jar.

I added a hitch to the top as a handle on the lid and added purple flowers from Prima.

The blue flower is also from Prima, but I airbrushed it with Copic Sketch Markers so it matched the blue in the paper.

A few brads and some tulle from my stash and it’s ready to go to the next crop! Thanks for the idea, Marty!

 

Thank you all

I’m going through a difficult time in my life. One might call it a midlife crisis on steroids, I suppose.

Anyhow, what has amazed me is how wonderful my friends have been through all of this. They have been so supportive — providing listening ears, shoulders to lean on and offers to do all sorts of things for me. I can’t seem to find the right words to say, but I wanted to publicly thank them for everything.

So, I decided to make a thank you card.

This uses one of the jumbo stamps from Stampendous. I colored it in with Copic Markers, cut it out and attached it to a card made with American Crafts cardstock and Prima papers. Then, I used Art Glitter Designer Dries Clear and some clear beads to add a bit of dimension and a touch of texture to some portions of the flower. They remind me of little tiny bits of dew.

Finally, I stamped the word thank you on a scrap of paper, cut it out and inked the edges with Distress Ink.

When my husband photographs my projects for me, he usually gives me two shots. One tends to show colors better and the other tends to show glitter, sparkles, gems and gloss better. So, here’s the other version to look at … click on either picture for a closer view.

 

S’mores, please

Our latest challenge for Scrap Wars at my favorite local scrapbook store, Scrap Tales, was a team project.

Each member of the team was given a different size plastic pail made by Stampendous. We then had to coordinate our project so they all went together.

Our team, led by Sarah, came up with the most brilliant idea (probably because I was not part of the brainstorming session, lol). They decided to make all of the pieces that went into making s’mores. Starting from the bottom, Sarah took the large bucket and filled it with marshmallows and added a stick to the outside for roasting. Then, Janet filled the next size with graham crackers. I got the next one and was assigned chocolate. And, Marty got the top, which was fire. Hers is topped with flames and filled with matches.

The paper they chose couldn’t have been farther from my own style. One side was glittered leaves and the other, bold stripes.

But, I accepted the challenge to work with what I had and to make it beautiful.

I used the stripe section of paper around the bottom of the jar and found some ribbon by American Crafts that matched perfectly to add to the top.

For the top of the jar, I colored a piece of leftover Bo Bunny paper with Distress Ink and adhered it to the lid. Then, I used attached a Tiny Hinge from Tim Holtz as the handle on the lid.

The label is cut from white cardstock using a Stackers die from Dies Direct and then colored with Distress Inks. Some parts are darker to represent the burnt marshmallows.

The letters are cut with Olivia by QuicKutz and then colored with Distress Ink to resemble marshmallows at their different stages of browning.

I accented the label with a button and brad by Bo Bunny. I attached the button with Mini Brads by Tim Holtz.

I then filled it with mini Hershey bars.

I am so pleased with the results, I think it will become my new candy jar on my desk at work!