Clearly Different

In mid-May, I'm teaching a new class at the Stamping By The Sea convention called Box It, Bag It, Can It. One of the projects is an acetate box, which is made with Clear Cardstock. Since we now have these heavyweight sheets in stock, I thought it would be fun to make a see-through card for today's blog post:


After cutting one in half and scoring it to make an A2 card, I stamped 10038F Star Point Background on the front with StazOn Opaque Ink in Cotton White.

Then I used the oval Nestabilities to die cut my saying, 10230E Time To Slip, from a piece of scrap white cardstock. Next, I die cut a second oval in the next size up from a piece of scrap black cardstock. I matted the saying onto the black oval and adhered it to the inside back panel of the clear card:


As an accent, I die cut two pink scalloped ovals and glued one of them onto the back of the clear card so it was positioned behind the matted saying:


With the same oval dies I used for the matted saying panel, I created a matted image panel for the card front featuring 10289G Slip. You can see how I attached it to the card so it matched up with the saying panel:


The second pink scalloped oval was placed on the inside left side of the card, again so it lined up with the saying panel:


And that's all there is to it. Very simple, yet just a little different from your usual paper cards!

Hiya Cookie

Today I made a sample using the X2-2940 Square Box Template to replace the Easter version in our convention booth:


The image is 10855E Hiya Cookie, and I cut it out and layered it with the Nestabilities Labels One dies. The dots on the cookie's cheeks were made with the Inkssentials White Opaque Pen...it's a neat trick I learned from Michelle to add that "little something" as a cute finishing touch.

The inside of the box features 10844D Sweet Treat as the sentiment, and I used Basic Grey's Magnetic Snaps as the closure (boy, those sure do come in handy!):


The cookies were from the dollar store. Although they're not homemade, these bite-size goodies fit nicely inside the box. I don't know about you, but I've never met a cookie I didn't like!

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I'm going to the airport this afternoon and will return on Monday evening, so I'll see you back here again in a few days. Hope you have a terrific weekend!

Another Tall Bag Project

The best thing about template stamps is that you can use them to create an endless variety of projects from the same pattern that look completely different, depending on how you decorate them. Look at how Debbie Fisher used the 10189X Tall Bag Template featured in yesterday's post to make this:


She kept the tab intact on one piece and then added Basic Grey's Magnetic Snaps for the closure:


The stamps are 0298H Max and 0141D Computerized Birthday. She also used other designs from the Robot Collection for this adorable party ensemble:


This would be so much fun for kids of all ages...or kids at heart!

You're The Cream In My Coffee

I've been putting together class kits for the past couple of days in preparation for the Akron convention this weekend. I hadn't posted since Friday, though, so I took a break this morning and made a sample project with our 10189X Tall Bag Template to display at the show. I started by stamping it twice on a sheet of cardstock:


I cut out the pieces, omitting the optional tab in the handle area. Then I used the Scor-It Board on the dotted lines:


After folding on the scored lines, I turned one piece to the "right side" and added a thin line of Zip Dry Paper Glue to the side tab:


I placed the glued tab underneath the non-tabbed side of the second piece:


I did the same with the remaining tab and closed up the bag. After this photo was taken, I also glued the bottom flaps closed:


With the Fiskars Threading Water Border Punch, I created two strips of decorative trim. First I punched along the entire edge of my patterned paper. (The short side of an 8 1/2" x 11" sheet would be long enough for this project, but I was using 12" x 12" paper. This was easy to do because the punch has printed guides on it, so the punched scallop pattern can be matched up perfectly.) I used my paper trimmer to cut 1/2" from the scallop edge to make the strip. Then I repeated the process for the second strip:


I attached the trim strips to the top and bottom of the bag. The image was stamped with 10858E Cream In Coffee and cut out with an oval Nestabilities die, which I also used to dry emboss the border before adhering it to the front:


Then I put a trial-size packet of coffee in the bag. Later I may also add a candy-dipped plastic spoon to go with it. There you have it...an "instant" gift that's sure to "perk up" someone's day!

Dog & Cat Triangle Treat Boxes

While I was designing the 2261S Bunny Maker Clear Set to go with our 10215V Triangle Treat Template, it got me thinking about other critters that would be fun to make. Because we live in a zoo (well, not really...but we do have two dogs and two cats so sometimes I feel like it), canines and felines seemed like a good choice to complement the bunny boxes. Here's the result:


The kitty box reminded me of my dear Rutger, who is sadly no longer with us:


Can you see the resemblance? ;-) He was such a good boy! I still miss him.

But back to the clear stamp set: It contains several elements to decorate the dog and cat boxes, including spots, tabby markings, a kitty tail, and a collar. I've also included two sayings and small objects such as a bone, paw print, and yarn ball so you can create coordinating cards or gift tags. I used the sayings with my Nestabilities dies to make bag labels:


It may seem a bit superfluous to put a gift box in a cello bag, but my intention was to add some crinkle shred. (Except I didn't have any, so I'll need to pick some up this weekend. You get the idea, though.) I think it makes them look even cuter all wrapped up! And you can't really see this in the photos, but I applied Diamond Glaze on the noses, dog's tongue, and collar tags to add dimension.

This new set will be introduced in person at the Adventures In Stamping show in Akron next weekend, but I wanted to give our blog readers the "first look." If you don't live in Ohio or cannot come to the convention, you can order 2321S Dog & Cat Maker Clear Set online and we'll start shipping them in just a few days.

You can also download a .PDF file of these instructions. Stay tuned for more sets to coordinate with the Triangle Treat Template, which will be available in upcoming months. We've got several ideas up our sleeve for this versatile stamp!

Asian Feast Cookbook

Last weekend I posted about the dinner we served to Chad and Amy. I thought it would be fun to make a cookbook of the recipes I'd listed plus additional ones I wanted to share with you. Here's the finished project:


And remember how I'd been meaning to make a video showing how to use the CarlaCraft Binding System? It's not very fancy because I don't have an editing program yet, but I did it! Take a look:


The cookbook measures 5 1/2" x 8 1/2", and I decorated the cover with 10825H Soup Pot Chef and 10810F Gourmet Background. The oval and scalloped oval were cut with Nestabilities dies.

If you'd like to make your own copy, you can download the .PDF file of my Asian Feast recipes. Print the first five on 8 1/2" x 11" cardstock, then turn the paper around, print the other five, and cut the sheets in half. Enjoy!

Impressabilities Are Here

We've just received the Spellbinders Impressabilities templates, so I've been busy adding them to our website along with a some of the new Nestabilities die sets. The Impressabilities were released at Winter CHA but didn't start shipping until this month, so I haven't even gotten my hot little hands on them yet. I'll get mine in a couple of weeks when I go to the Akron show. However, you can order yours now...and even combine them with other items to take advantage of this month's special offer for a free bottle of Ultra Clean!

The Impressabilities templates allow you to make cool embossed backgrounds with your die-cutting system, similar to the Cuttlebug embossing folders. Because they're made of very thin metal, you can cut them apart and use only a portion of the design on your project. Or ink up the template to color and deboss your cardstock at the same time. Use them as a stencil, too , and apply color in a reverse pattern. There are sample projects illustrating these techniques on the Spellbinders blog, which you can check out by clicking here.

Spellbinders shows them with their Wizard machine, but I'm going to use my Cuttlebug and layer the "sandwich" like this (stacking from bottom up):

A Plate
B Plate
Tan Embossing Mat
Cardstock
Impressabilities Template
Thin Cardboard Shim (or 3 Pieces Scrap Cardstock)
B Plate

I can't wait to play with them and share some Inky ideas with you!

Happy Easter

Happy Easter wishes to you and your loved ones from me, our dog Daisy, and all of us at Inky Antics!

Online Again

My cable modem issues have finally been resolved by Comcast, and I'm so glad to be back online. I was going through Internet withdrawal for a few days there!

In the meantime, one of the things I did was to prepare for last night's make & take at Stamp Garden. We had 70 participants, including these ladies:


Here's the card we made, which features 1638G Shaker Chef and 0430D Season Day:


The salmon panel on the left was run through the Cuttlebug with an embossing folder. I borrowed my friend Keri's idea for the flower again, using a knotted ribbon in place of a brad for the center...how neat is that?!

Late Congrats

Here are your random numbers:

10

Timestamp: 2009-04-07 00:35:54 UTC

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Sorry I'm late in posting our "What's For Dinner?" blog candy winner. We moved my home office downstairs yesterday so I could have a larger room with more storage space and add a stamping table. That's the good news.

In the process, though, something has gone awry with my computer and I'm not able to get online. Comcast can't deliver a new cable modem until Wednesday, either, so I've been going through a bit of online withdrawal. That's the bad news.

Tonight I'm using Steve's laptop and work aircard to post this entry, so I'd better get to my point since my time is limited: Congratulations to QC! Please email me with your name and mailing address, and I'll get that Recipe Clear Stamp Set sent out to you.

Thanks to everyone who played. From gourmet to comfort food, your dinners all sounded yummy. I'm looking forward to writing more entries later this week once everything gets fixed, so hopefully I'll see you here again real soon!

What's For Dinner?

Tonight Steve's brother and sister-in-law, Chad and Amy, are having dinner with us. I'm making a selection of tried-and-true recipes to create what we've fondly come to refer to as Asian Feast. Once in a while I might rotate in or out a particular dish, but for the most part these are the usual players:

Thai-Style Steamed Dumplings with Cilantro Dipping Sauce
Mongolian Beef (with 1 T. soy sauce added at end)
Peanut Chicken (with 1 T. hoisin added and 3 T. chunky peanut butter instead of peanuts)
Sweet & Spicy Green Beans (with 1 T. rice vinegar and 1 t. fresh minced ginger added)
Napa Cabbage Salad
Sesame Noodles
Sticky Rice
Almond Cookies (with butter instead of lard)

They'll be arriving around 6:00, so I'm going to get started shortly. But first I wanted to ask, "What are YOU are having for dinner?" Let me know in the comments section of this post. And just for kicks, we'll throw in this blog candy prize:



I'll take entries until tomorrow, April 5th, at midnight Central time. I will randomly choose the winner on Monday morning, who gets the Recipe Clear Stamp Set shown above.

As usual, be sure to add your name if you post anonymously (in other words, without signing in) or we won't be able to include you in our drawing. It will be the winners' responsibility to contact me via email no later than April 10th. If I don't hear from the winner, I won't be re-drawing; please remember to come back and check by the deadline.

Good luck, everyone, and bon appetit!

Happy Hugs

There are some days when you just need a hug! Sending stamped hugs is a great alternative, of course, for friends and loved ones who don't live close by. Like this, which was created by Debbie Fisher:


Or this, made by Dawn Lusk:


Wishing you a hug-filled and happy Thursday! :-)

RAK Congratulations!

Here are your random numbers:

4

Timestamp: 2009-04-01 05:42:14 UTC

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Congrats to Deloris, who entered Marie's RAK Challenge and whose card also happened to be posted last week! Please email me with your mailing address, Deloris, and I'll get your prize sent out right away.

And thank you so much to our other bloggers who participated. I'm sure the recipients of your stamped RAKS would agree that you are all "winners" in their book (and ours, too)!