Valentine Countdown - Muslin Bags with Tags

Mini Muslin Bags offer more room for special treats!

Yes, another one! There are just so many cute ideas for countdowns!
Today I want to share these Mini Muslin Bags - They're 4" x 5.5" and would be big enough for a small gift or for gift cards or (a generous helping of) treats!

For the tags I used the Stacked with Love Designer Series Paper Stack, Stacked with Love Washi Tape, and the Project Life by Stampin' Up! Day to Day stamp set.

The days are marked with a little sequin.

This first bag I used one of the extra hearts I had die cut for the Hershey Kiss Countdown, And I added some scrap paper with tiny hearts, a button from the Sale-A-Bration Best Year Ever Accessory Pack, some Silver Glimmer Paper, Washi Tape, and attached it to the bag with a Mini Wooden Clothespin. Sweetly simple, I think.

Confetti Heart Punch is so fun! 

 This bag, I made Pennants from some scraps and attached them to the strip of Coral punched with the Confetti Hearts Punch. I love the bright colors of this Paper Stack: not your traditional red and pink, but with elements of those, and striking accents of black.

Rolled Paper Roses, a great accent for Valentines Day! 

For this bag, I used the papers to create a really oversize tag. This might be better on a gift bag, with a sentiment instead of a count down, but I like it none-the-less. Its the rolled roses. I love making them. Great accent for 3D items, and appropriate for Valentines. To make these its super simple ( you can use the Stampin' Up! Die :-) - you just need a square of paper, and you cut out a circle. Cut a spiral into the circle (perfection SO not necessary) all the way to the center of the circle. Then you start rolling from the outside of the circle in to the center. When you've rolled it - do it tight, it will loosen up - then fuss it into shape and glue it at the center or pop it onto a punched circle, directly onto your item, or onto the Sticky Circle Rounds (listed below).

I added at rhinestone to the center of each, and punched a heart through the top of the tag to attach it with the bag strings.

Mash Up! Its a scrap fest of Stacked With Love Papers! 

On this last bag I'll share, it really uses up my scraps. Seriously, small stuff is perfect to use up those leftover bits and still come out with something interesting! This mash up of scraps is a little different than my usual style, but I am please with how it came out! The color coordination of a Paper Stack makes random coordination easy! On this one I used another button, and some of the ribbon from the Sale-A-Bration Best Day Ever Accessory Pack.

Hope you're enjoying these countdowns, I had fun making them, and I know my kids will enjoy opening them!!
Happy Crafting!
-Angie

The items used in today's project are shown below. 

To view more information, or to purchase them in my online store, please click on any image.

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HOW TO : Valentine's Day Treat Boxes / Countdown

Celebrate the Love by using these little treat boxes to Count Down to Valentine's Day!

Another Countdown idea for you! Today its using these darling little treat boxes!! The boxes come premade, you just fold them and they're ready decorate - you'll love them! ;-)

Stampin' Up! Supplies for Valentines Countdown Boxes

I'm using these Stampin' Up! products today:
For more details or to purchase these, please see the links at the bottom of this post.

• Tiny Treat Boxes
• You Plus Me Stamp Set
• Project Life by Stampin' Up! Day to Day stamp set
• Stacked with Love Paper Stack
• Stacked with Love Washi Tape
• Real Red, Basic Black, Whisper White, Crisp Cantaloupe, and Calypso Coral Cardstock
• Heart Punch from the Itty Bitty Accents Punch Pack
• Stampin' Dimensionals and Glue Dots

Tiny Treat Boxes make great Party Favors too!! 

For these boxes I'm CASE'ing the samples in the Occasions Catalog. (Copy And Share Everything - a great way to get really cute stuff by copying a design you like, or take the inspiration and add your own twist).

To Shop the Occasions Catalog Click HERE 

I started by decorating the boxes. These boxes are about 2" square and come in a pack of 25!! Great for Class Treats because you can make 50 or more with just one pack of the Stacked With Love paper stack and Washi Tape set! Fill them with candy or what-not. They are the perfect size for Party Favors, gifts for neighbors or coworker. They're pretty enough to decorate with too, fill up a mantle or shelf, or use as a centerpiece.

The You Plus Me stamp set is great for decorating for Valentines Day.
TIP: When Using Clear Stamps I like to line a straight edge up through my clear block when I adhere the stamp. I have a much better chance of stamping it straight if its at least squared up to the edges of my block!! I like to line up the block on my Stampin' Grid Paper, then add my stamp, lining it up with one of the lines I can see through my block.

TIP - Line up stamp on grid through the clear block

To get just the Be Mine part of this stamp, I'm going to ink it up with my Stampin' Write Marker in Real Red. TIP: when you are inking up a stamp with the marker, and you've got a larger area to cover, be sure you're using the sides of your brush tip so you don't damage the pen, and so you can speed through the coloring! For smaller areas or details, carefully use the tip.

Inking part of the stamp with my Stampin' Write Marker

Clear stamps make lining up images easier than traditional wood block stamps.

While I do love the ease of clear stamps - storage space, lining up images for stamping, etc. - I was frustrated with their 'clinginess' to the blocks. TIP: What I've found works best for me, is to warm the block up in my hand, and warm the stamp up in my other hand, for about 30 seconds to 1 minute. When they are both warm they seem to have better attraction. For larger stamps I like to also breathe onto the clear block, causing a little fogging of the block and providing a little moisture to aid the stickability. For smaller stamps, or stamps I will need to use for a while, maybe cleaning and changing colors, I add a little glue dot and stick the stamp to that on the block. Definite stickiness, but requires a little more cleaning, and care in removing your stamp. Not a big sacrifice for clear, sure stamping.

Decorated Treat Box - easy peasy!!

I added the washi tape and ended up adding some punched hearts instead of the stamped and fussy cut ones like the catalog used. If you have the old small heart punch, it works OK with the stamps in this set, but the current heart from the Itty Bitty Punch Pack has a little swoosh to it that doesn't match. If I want to do these for favors or class treats, I'm not going to stamp and hand-cut umpteen hearts. I'll punch and stick and be done with it! #lazystamper For comparison - see the image below:

Punched Cardstock - Stamped and Punched - Stamped and Fussy Cut

Once you have your boxes decorated, you can start filling them for gifting!
If you'd like to use them for a Countdown to Valentines Day, here is an easy way to number them for the countdown:

Using the Project Life by Stampin' Up! Day to Day stamp set, I added a February tag, and then tags for each day. Stapled to a strip of cardstock, a few punched hearts, and Voila!! A Special Countdown! Simple! This set is pretty darn useful outside of Project Life! ;-) Use it to make anniversary / shower / wedding / party favors with a special date, save the date cards for a wedding or other special event, use it in your planner or Filofax... Useful! #JustSayin ;-)

The Stampin' Up! items used for this project are shown below, 

Click on any image to view more info 

 or to purchase them in my online store. 

February will be here before you know it - start your countdowns now!!
Happy Crafting!
-Angie

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HOW TO : Valentine Countdown Kisses - You Plus Me

You're Sweet, but another little chocolate kiss won't hurt!!

It coming! Valentines Day! Many people say that we should show our love EVERY day, not just one day a year, but really, for most the day-to-day stuff often gets in the way. At least, you could make it a Countdown and really be intentional about showing your love! This week I've got some different Valentines Countdown ideas for you!

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Occasions Catalog 2015 SWAP CARDS

Card Ideas from Stampin' Up! Occasions Catalog 2015

My up-line arranged a card swap featuring some of the new items from the Stampin' Up! Occasions Catalog! I'm pleased to share their cards with you for inspiration. Such talented stampin' sisters!!

SHOP THE OCCASIONS CATALOG HERE

I've included links to blogs, where applicable, 

if you'd like to pop over and say Hi to these talented ladies! 

I also have links to some of the products used in these cards, 

scroll down to see the bottom of the post!

First is a card by Kim Molesworth - I'm partial to the Sheltering Tree set, it is just so pretty! Kim used Sheltering Tree, You Plus Me stamp sets; Confetti Heart Punch; Irresistibly Yours Sale-A-Bration Designer Series paper, sponged with Blushing Bride ink; Decorative Dots Embossing Folder; Cotton Ribbon; and Rhinestones.

Kim Molesworth - www.alaccardcreations.com

Next, Cary Farrugia shares the beautiful Butterfly Thinlits Die - destined to be a fantastic success, so delicate! This card is CASE'd from the Sale-A-Bration Catalog and uses the Simply Wonderful Stamp set; Gold Fancy Designer Vellum Foil, Butterflies Thinlits; Stacked With Love Designer Series Paper Stack; Dictionary Word Mount background stamp; Gorgeous Grunge stamp set; Mini Metallic Clothespins, Linnen Thread, annnnnd Stacked With Love Designer Washi Tape.

Cary Farrugia - www.carysonyourcase.blogspot.com

Karen Flores brought the Hearts Collection Framelits; One Tag Fits All stamp set; Itty Bitty Accents heart punch; Gold 1/8" Ribbon; Beautifully Baroque Textured Embossing Folder; Confetti Hearts punch; and Basic Hodgepodge Clips.

Karen Flores - www.StampPalKaren.stampinup.net

The popular Butterfly Framelits, brought to us by Barbara Howard, also uses Vellum Specialty Paper; Good Thoughts a special Hostess bonus stamp set; Paper doilies, and Something Lacy background stamp. Pretty colors in this one:

Barbara Howard

Margaret Van Vliet shared the really neat new Chalkboard Paper and Color Box Chalk Ink, Big On You stamp set; Flower Patch stamp set and Flower Fair Framelits.
 I have to admit, so sorry Margaret, that my son knocked over my drink onto this card and some others I was working on. The upside to this - discovered that new Ink and Paper are REALLY durable!!! This is the photo I took AFTER the water had been mopped up, the regular cardstock did absorb some of the water and warped. That Chalkboard Paper is hardy stuff though, a big puddle on it and not a wrinkle or warp. The yellow ink of the sentiment did dab off when I was drying it, but so little that you can't really even tell! Color me impressed! And embarrassed. One should know better than to have kids and liquid around projects. Here is her fun and fantastically durable card:

Margaret Van Vliet - www.StampWithMargaret.stampinup.net

Last, but definitely not least, Lorraine Toll shared a shimmery butterfly card. She used Basic Butterflies stamp set; Gorgeous Grunge stamp set; Doilies; Calypso Coral Chevron Ribbon; Butterflies Thinlits; Banner Thinlits; and Vanilla Shimmer Spritz. Really lovely with that pop of color!

Lorraine Toll - www.LorrainesStampinCorner.blogspot.com

I hope you enjoyed these cards - I Sure Did!! My Swap is shared HERE, if you'd like to see it. :-)
Happy Crafting! -Angie

To find out more about the products used, CLICK ON AN IMAGE To view it in my Stampin' Up! online store:  www.MidnightCrafter.StampinUp.net

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Flowers, Flowers, Everywhere! DIY Paper Flowers - How To

The Stunning Cover Bouquet - DIY Divine - Paper Flowers

SHOP THE OCCASIONS CATALOG NOW - CLICK HERE 

The Stampin' Up! Occasions Catalog has a couple GREAT new items I'd like to share with you! The Build a Bouquet Project Kit and the Bouquet Bigz L Die. These are perfect to make decorations for a Shower (baby or bridal), make great gift box and bag decorations, and would make a stunning centerpiece for Mother's Day or Easter!! #DIY delight!!

From the Stampin' Up! Occasions Catalog, page 29

The first is the Build a Bouquet Project Kit. $24.95
Each kit will make 25 flowers, 5 each of 5 different flowers. That's just about $1 per flower! The kit provides you with all the pre-cut pieces for the cotton-paper flowers, die cut card stock elements for leaves, floral wire stems and floral tape, ribbon, thread, and a gift tag.
The coordinating stamp set, Bouquet Builder,  is not included, but will add texture and detail to the paper flowers in the kit, making them look more lifelike. You also need a few ink pads, and Hot Glue, and wire cutters, not included in the kit.

Supplies needed to complete the project as shown in the catalog.

This would be a great group craft, get together and each of your friends can make a little bouquet of 5 flowers to decorate their table, desk at work, or add to gifts!
Here is a Video of how to assemble the 5 different flowers:



These are the Items you will want to get if you'd like to make this project yourself, click any image and you can see more information and purchase them in my online store. I'd be happy to provide all the extras, if you and your friends want to get together for a craft session! Contact me for more details!!

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If you want to get REALLY DIY, there is also the Bouquet Bigz L Die.

You choose the colors, create anything your heart desires

With this new item, for use with the Big Shot die cutting machine, you can cut the flower pieces as in the kit - but customize the colors to fit any occasion, theme, or party color scheme! And, for $39.95 you'll have DIY flowers at your beck and call all year long! Gift bag and gift wrap embellishments, hair accessories ( the Bigz Die will cut fabric and felt, along with a multitude of other materials!),  birthday bouquets, Graduation bouquets (in the school colors no less!!), pins and corsages for special events, table decor, holiday decor, make beautiful wreaths and home decor... I can go on and on, but you get the picture: You choose the colors and make what you need for your project. Awesome!!

Here is a video of this cool die in use:


Here are the products you will need to cut with the die, you can use almost any paper or material in these dies, so let your creativity loose on the town! Click on any image for more info in my online store:

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Happy Crafting!
-Angie 

SHOP THE OCCASIONS CATALOG NOW - CLICK HERE 

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Let The Sale-A-Bration Commence!!!

New Season, New Products, New Reasons to Get Together and Make Some Memories!

Its Here!! The biggest event of the year! 

And this year, the Sale-A-Bration starts as soon as the Occasions Catalog goes live!

SHOP NOW - CLICK HERE

You are going to Love the Occasions Catalog!

CLICK HERE TO OPEN A PDF OF THE CATALOG
Available January 6th - June 2nd, 2015

Love those flowers on the cover?! You can MAKE THEM!! There is an awesome new kit in the catalog! Make the whole gigantic bunch, or parcel it out into little May Day bouquets, or corsages for your sweet Moms, beautiful gift adornment, or just amazing on your desk at work!! #DIY for Spring!!

Some of my FAVORITES?!? Ohhhhhh.... So hard to choose. I really love this catalog. (Can you tell?!)
Ok, Top Three:

There is the new Sheltering Tree stamp set, so gorgeous! And super easy to two-step-stamp because its Photopolymer! Clearly destined to be popular! Hahaha... Look how versatile:

Every season - you'll be ready!!
Love this Sheltering Tree Stamp Set

You will surely find a 142 uses for the Painted Blooms Designer Series Paper. It was actually created by an artist, painting the flowers and then taking the paintings in for the designers, who took the painted designs to press and created the coordinating stamps set! You'll have quite the masterpiece just cutting a nice 8x10 piece and framing it!!

From the 2015 Occasions Catalog - Framed Flowers
Giftable, Enjoyable, Beautiful!!

Perfect Patterns for Spring!!
(Even if you're still under snow, DREAM of spring with this set!!)

 Ahhhh! Last one to share?!? Which one... which one...
So, you know I am alllll about easy, right? Big On You Photopolymer stamp set is the one. I think you just can 't beat this stamp set for some EASY, Quick, and WOW cards:

Super big stamps that will fill your Clean and Simple card right up the with one stamp! No guessing what else to go with, its Done!! Pick a pretty ink (the new Chalk Inks are soooo pretty!), some pretty paper, add your greeting and call it Awesome! Doesn't get much easier than this, if you're talking handmade greeting cards.

Well, if you are still reading this :-D and you haven't run off to oooh and ahhhh over the Occasions Catalog, let me tell you about the And Then!!

AND THEN - you can earn FREE stuff because its ALSO Sale-A-Bration time!!!!!

CLICK HERE TO SEE A PDF OF THE SALE-A-BRATION CATALOG
Earn Free Products!

What is Sale-A-Bration, you ask??
Its the time of year where you earn FREE exclusive items with every purchase of $50 or more!!
Ready to stock up for Valentines Day? $50 in products will earn you an additional FREE item of your choice from the Sale-A-Bration brochure! No limit on these, each $50 lets you add on another Sale-A-Bration item!

Party AND Play! Hosts get even more Rewards during Sale-A-Bration!!
Online, Catalog, and Facebook Parties are available - book your party today!

Want to earn more free products?!? Host a Party! Lets gather you and your friends together!! Brunch, lunch, a girls night - we will look through the catalogs, make a little something, and with qualifying sales you and your guests will enjoy Sale-A-Bration products! And, as the hostess YOU get more Host Dollars to spend on anything you like! **I can also do a Facebook Party, or a Catalog Party, or even just set up a Hostess Code for you to send to family and friends anywhere in the USA. All orders placed online with a Hostess Code ship directly to the customer, and with qualifying orders they are eligible to add Sale-A-Bration products too!!

And NOW - definitely run off to check out the Occasions Catalog and get your wish list started!! These items are available January 6th through June 2nd, but Sale-A-Bration rewards will end March 31st. Product quantities are limited, and will NOT be available at later dates on Clearance, so shop early for your favorites and BRING ON SPRING!!

Happy Crafting!
-Angie

Items mentioned in today's post are shown below. 

Click on any image to see more information 

and to order in my online Stampin' Up! store. 

All orders ship to you directly, and Hostess Codes are available upon request 

to increase your rewards when friends and family shop using your code!

 My Stampin' Up! online store is open 24/7 and offers 

secure shopping, speedy shipping, and superior quality supplies! 

Please visit www.MidnightCrafter.StampinUp.net 

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You Plus Me Stacked with Love

You Plus Me stamp set and Stacked With Love Designer Series Paper Stack

No innuendo intended, those are the lovey-dovey names of a couple of our new products being released tomorrow in the Stampin' Up! Spring Occasions Catalog!!

Starting tomorrow, January 6th, 2015, we also begin our annual Sale-A-Bration event!! You can earn FREE products from the Sale-A-Bration catalog with every $50 purchase from either the Annual Catalog or the Spring Occasions Catalog! Set yourself up for Valentines Day; Easter wishes and celebrations made easy, get ready to rock Graduation parties and announcements; Mothers Day and Fathers Day we've got you covered! You'll love the new stamp sets, project kits, and accessories being released in the new catalog tomorrow, be sure you stop by & check it out!

Today's cards are Valentines. I know, its the first week of January! But really, the perfect time to think about what you want to make for V-Day. Class treats? Cards for Teachers? Tags for gifts for friends and family? You CAN do it, just start thinking about it now...

So, as I was saying, today's cards are Valentines. I used the new stamp set You Plus Me, and a piece of the Stacked With Love Designer Series Paper Stack. I started with a card base of Calypso Coral, topped with a front of Crisp Cantaloupe. I punched the border with the new Confetti Hearts punch, and then embossed it with the Perfect Polka Dots Textured Impressions Embossing Folder. I layered a piece of the Stacked with Love DSP over a piece of coral card stock, and tied a ribbon from the Sale-A-Bration Best Year Ever Accessory pack. The circles are rolled over the Coral ink pad to darken the edges, and the Whisper White card stock was stamped in Crisp Cantaloupe and popped up over the DSP with Stampin' Dimensionals.

This is a kind of fancy fold, the card base in Coral is 4.25 x 5.5", not folded - just a flat card. I cut a piece of Crisp Cantaloupe to 4 x 9.25", and scored and folded it at 5.25" This was to give the Confetti Heart Punch a peek through of the darker Coral, and to create an interesting card - special, just like its recipient!

I rounded the corners of all the edges, and layered another piece of Whisper White card stock inside, with more stamps in Coral and Cantaloupe. You can see the inside is shorter, and opens at the Cantaloupe layer. I like how this stamp set includes some front-of-card sentiments, but they can also be used inside the card. Options! ;-)

The second card is similar, I skipped the inside stamping. and added the ribbon in a different way, with a button from the Best Year Ever Accessory pack, embellished with some of the heart Confetti!

Be Mine with Best Year Ever Accessories in Coral

You can see how the top layer lifts up and you can see the inside of the card through the hearts. I used a Cantaloupe circle behind the sentiment, and didn't roll the edges of the circles. The circles are also stacked flat, like all the layers. The inside I left plain:

Fun stuff coming tomorrow! Can't wait 'till you see all the goodies in the Occasions Catalog!
Happy Crafting!
-Angie

The supplies used in todays cards are shown below. 

You can click on any item to be taken to my online store, however please note

**The items from the Occasions Catalog and Sale-A-Bration 

will not link to live pages until TUESDAY JANUARY 6th** 

As always, my Stampin' Up! online store is open 24/7 with secure shopping & speedy shipping
 please visit www.MidnightCrafter.StampinUp.net 

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