cupcakes anyone?

I'm so glad its Friday! What a week! I've got a new work schedule (lesson learned: be careful what you ask for) and its going to take some getting used to. I'm pooped!



Anyhow, a sweetie pie friend of mine asked for some help with a cupcake box. Hey Fancy Pants! I made one last year for my Artisan Award entry but never took any pics while putting it together. So I made another one and took LOTS of pics. I tried putting it all in a Word document but I couldn't figure it out. And I can't post pics in the body of an email. So its easiest just to post it here. Maybe somebody else would like to see it too. Are you ready?

Here is the one from last year. Super cute if I do say so myself.

Happy Everything, polka dot background and cupcake from an old hostess set. Whisper white and pretty in pink cardstock. Whisper white, choc. chip, regal rose, garden green and real red inks. Scallop circle, 1 3/8" circle punches, pink chunky glitter, white organza ribbon, chipboard frame, tombow multi glue and dimensionals.

I think I made it 3"x3"x3". It really depends on how big your cupcake is.





Here is the other one I made for tonight's little tutorial. She wanted to use it for a baby shower. Since the other one I made was pink I thought I'd go blue this time.

Schoolbook Serif Alpha and polka dot background (retired). Kraft, whisper white and bashful blue cardstock. Whisper white craft ink. Scallop trim punch (SAB catty) bashful blue striped grosgrain and a transparency sheet.

It looks so much plainer than the pink one. Believe me, I putzed around with this thing for 2 days trying to figure out what it needed. It still needs something but I don't have any baby stamps and decided to leave it alone. Less is more, right?

Okay, lets get started. I decided to make mine 3 1/2" square. Now ideally you would know what size your cupcake was and go from there.

I decided to make the sides 3" tall. So I added up 3 + 3 1/2 + 3 = 9 1/2" square. Then I scored each side at 3". That left me with a 3 1/2" square in the middle.

You with me so far?

Then I cut up to the score line and trimmed off the edges on the corners. See? You're glad I took alot of pics now huh?

I used the Tombow Multi Glue because I love it. Its so much easier to use than the sticky strip and I think it holds better. You don't need much.

Now glue and fold up each side. Like this:

Okay, somehow I went out of order here. I should have the lid pics here. Oh well. Now I'm going to show you how to use the new punches.

They come flat. Makes it easy to store them.

On the bottom there is a lock. You just slide it over and it opens.

Ready to use! They are still really easy to use. The punches in the main catalog won't come this way. Just the new ones featured in the SAB catty and the Occasions Mini. This one is the Scallop Trim Punch and you can get it for free out of the SAB catty.

So you stick your paper in there and punch. See how the image is on the side of the punched area?

Line up the punched part with the image and punch again. This will ensure your pattern doesn't get messed up.

See? Cute huh? And easy. Even I can do it without messing it up.

Okay, here are the lid pics. Sorry about that.

For my lid, I wanted 1 1/2" sides and then I needed to add 1/8" to the center so that the lid will fit nicely.

So my lid measured out like this: 1 1/2" + 3 5/8" + 1 1/2" = 6 5/8" square. I then scored at 1 1/2" inches on each side and cut up to the score line. Just like I did with the box.

Okay, now I took those pretty strips of whisper white and glued them on the sides of the lid. Don't glue them to the folded part.

Does this make sense? Oh yeah, I cut a hole in the center so you could see the cupcake inside. You can barely see it here, but I glued in a piece of transparency so that the cupcake couldn't escape.

Okay, now we're gonna glue the folded tabs in. Again, not much glue is needed.

Now for the inside part. The inside is just the same construction as the lid. BUT, instead of adding an 1/8", you subract 1/8".

I'm losing you here aren't I? It sounds much harder than it is.

So for my insert I measured like this: I wanted my sides to be 1". 1" + 3 3/8" + 1" = 5 3/8" square.

I then scored at 1" on each side, cut up to the score lines and cut a hole in the middle ( so the cupcake doesn't dance around in there).

A little glue on the tabs.

Fold them in.

Put it inside. I must have measured mine a little wrong because its a little loose in there. But I don't that cupcake is going anywhere.

Decorate your lid, (but don't spend 2 days like me farting around with it) and put it all together.

It would look even better with a cupcake in there wouldn't it? Oh well...........just use your imagination with me here.

So once you know how tall and wide your cupcake is, making a box is cinchy. Its just a little math. You can do it!!

Okay peeps, I'm off to bed. I have lots of stamping to do this weekend. My big workshop is Thursday. I hope I have everything. Thanks for stopping by and keeping me company.

Blessings, b.

oh boy!

I have lots to share today. First of all check this out:

You can click on it to see it bigger

Isn't SU! awesome! I'm so proud to be a part of this company! Here's a close up of the images:

I love this set and just ordered it 2 days before they made this announcement. The hearts match 3 different punches you can buy separately. The Heart to Heart punch, the Full Heart Punch, Small Heart Punch (in the Occassions Mini Catalog).

Of course I don't own any of these punches. I like making things harder on myself.

So if these images are speaking to you and you have a mind to help out the people of Haiti then just click on any of those images and it'll take you right to the online store.

NOW, my order came yesterday but I didn't get to play with anything until this afternoon. Lookee:

1 of those stamp sets and the 6x6 pack of DSP are FREE because of SAB right now. See that bird punch? I'm so excited to try that out. And I did get the stamps in the new Clear Mount option because for 1, they are cheaper and 2, I just want to make sure I do my best to try them out so I can give you my educated opinion on them. Maybe I'll get the chance to play before bedtime.

Although Biggest Loser is on tonight. Speaking of Biggest Loser, my hubby eats ice cream the whole time its on. Do you do that too? I laugh at him everytime. Because he could use Jillian ripping on his butt a little. Well, so could I, but I'm not the one eating ice cream, and Jillian scares the crap out of me.

Anyhow, one of the things I got was the D size block. I'm cheap and didn't buy the whole package. I'll be sorry I didn't later, I'm sure. Here I wanted to show you the cool grooves that are all around it. See how the stamp clings to it?

When you get the stamps, you can put a sticker on the back so that when it sticks to the block you can see what you're stamping and where. Well kinda. I still use the stampamajig just to make sure. I'm special that way.

The blocks don't feel heavy like I thought they would. They actually feel about the same weight as the wood does.

And now for your viewing pleasure, for the very last time, (until next Christmas anyway), here is the December Daily album totally finished.

TADAH!! That ribbon ties so nicely. I know its not real practical and will get smooshed when I put it on the shelf. But for a while its going to sit on display and look pretty.

Okay peeps, thats it for now. I'll get to play and stamp tomorrow. Thanks for stopping by and keeping me company.

Blessings, b.

thank yous

Howdy peeps! Once again I'm a little off schedule. The boy and I both have started to feel yucky. Grace was nice enough to share her cold with us. So I'm a little slow, well, slower than normal, and just getting this posted.


Anyhow, these are the thank you cards I made for the kiddos to send to the grandparents. I made them all the same. Just used different colors and stamps. I'm not sure what you'd call them, note cards? quarter cards? They are just 1/4 sheet of cardstock. No fold, just the front.

Robin card: Cheep Talk set. Choc. chip, real red and confetti white cardstock. Choc. chip, basic black and ruby red markers. Paper piercer.

Tree card: Trendy Trees set. Soft suede, basic black and whisper white cardstock. Soft suede and old olive inks. Paper piercer.

Flower card: Hello Again set. Tempting turquoise, elegant eggplant and whisper white cardstock. Tempting turquoise, old olive and summer sun markers. Paper piercer.

These are really simple to make. Makes it a little less daunting for the kids to jot down a thank you.




This one is for Grace. She picked out the colors and stamped the flower herself.

This one is for the boy.

And this one is for Robin. I inked her up in choc. chip and then used a tissue to wipe off her chest and legs. Then I used the ruby red and basic black marker, huff and stamp. Cute eh?


Now, just to get them to write on them and send them off. HA!


I have a very special thank you card I'm making for my SIL. Its kinda racy so I'll put up a warning before I post it. It would have been done today but I needed an old stamp set that is upstairs and I was too lazy to go search for it. She just cracks me up and well, I'll just explain when you see it.


Okay, thats it for today. I'm pooped and going to bed. Thanks for stopping by and checking up on me.


Blessings, b.

randomness

is that even a word? If not, then just pretend with me.


I stayed home from work today. Gracie Poo hasn't been feeling that well and since So. Cal is going to be under water today, I decided to keep her home. I like making those executive decisions. And that way I don't have to risk my life driving through the river they call a freeway.


I have stamping to finish today and I'll show you later what it is. But for now, I'm just gonna ramble a little.


Speaking of the rain, my weeds are so happy! It has rained every day this week. It never rains here. We are the epicenter of mild weather. Well, except for the summer when it feels like we live on the surface of the sun. I love the rain. The sound, the smell, thunder and lightning, feeling cozy inside the house, making soup and oatmeal cookies.


Speaking of oatmeal, I made some delicous oatmeal this morning. Cinnamon, brown sugar and pecans. But, I made too much. Can you save oatmeal and reheat it later? I'm gonna find out.

Like everything else in our house, the backyard is a work in progress. We have a hill/slope that is just dirt and the weeds have been starting to poke their little bodies up the last few weeks and I didn't get to them. Now they are being bathed in perfect clean water and growing by the minute. It rained so hard the other day that the backyard overflowed into the pool. Now I have mud in the pool. Mud bath anyone?


Grace is listening to Miley Cyrus right now. I will confess that I like Miley. I like her songs. I know there was some controversay about pole dancing but we didn't see it. I also like Michael Buble. Sway with me, bend with me, stay with me................................



Do you ever notice when you make a sympathy card just to have in your stash that someone dies, like immediately? When I was making cards for my MIL last week I made her some sympathy cards and a few extra for myself. And danged if one of our friends' mother died. She was very sick and we knew it was coming, and it was actually a relief to her family to see her in peace, but geez man. Note to self: don't make anymore sympathy cards ahead of time.



I put in an order the other night. I have a big workshop coming up and I needed supplies. Wait till you see what I got! I gotta tell you about this new punch. Its a 2 step punch. Its a bird with a separate wing and branch. I'm really excited to use it on something. And I got new DSP from the SAB catalog and a new heart set and other more boring stuff. I got the stamps in the new Clear Mount option and ordered one of the clear blocks. I like getting new stuff. Probably won't come until Monday though. Well, unless the UPS man has a boat.


See this stuff here?
I like this stuff. As I was making the December Daily album and my MIL's cards I realized I used it more than anything else. It works so well on anything. Okay, not ribbon but anything else. I like how I have a little wiggle room to get things perfectly straight before its stuck. And once its stuck, it ain't coming off. I especially like to make boxes with it. So much better than sticky strip. And I think its cheaper since it seems to last forever. You don't need much to get things stuck down. Little dots and you're good to go. AND, if you let it dry before you stick it somewhere, it will act like a sticky note. Repositional. Groovy eh?



Okay, I'll get off and get busy now. Its getting cold in here and I need to turn on the heater again. Its not used to us being home right now. I'll be back on later to show you the thank you cards I'm making for the kids to fill out and send to grandparents.


Thanks for stopping by and honestly, if you've stayed with me through this entire post, God Bless You!


Blessings, b.



edited to add: Okay, so I haven't started stamping anything yet. I decided to clean out my emails and start laundry. Anyway, did you know our fearless leader, Shelli Gardner (founder of SU!) has a blog? Look here to see what SU! is doing for the Haitian people. Makes me tear up and I'm so proud to be a part of a company that cares.


SU! has announced that they will donate $2 from the sale of each of this stamp set that are sold from now until Feb. 28. I just bought it! I don't have it yet, but I just bought it! If you'd like to help out and get a fabulous stamp set then just click here . You'll be part of an awesome group of stampers that have the biggest heart.

Thank you :)

ahhhh.........

..........finally gettting a little computer time.


We've had a 3 day weekend here and what a busy weekend it has been!

Saturday was spent cleaning and grocery shopping and I did get the rest of the Dec. Daily done. YIPPEE!!! Oh yeah, and we had friends over for dinner. Good times!


Sunday was spent with laundry and the hubs got the new computer desk installed! WOO HOO!!
Our computer guru neighbor came over and got the computer hooked up and everything. Its just beautiful, the cabinet, not the computer. He still has a cabinet and shelves to do for me and then I'll take pics of everything.


And then today, the hubs had off. He hardly ever gets extra days off and when he does he never stays home. Not that he doesn't want to stay home. But he always promises himself to other people or projects. Anyway, he stayed home and finished moving my old shelves.


BUT when he stays home I never get anything done that I've planned. You know how it is. Husbands and children are very distracting.


Okay, here are the rest of the pages for the December Daily: See here for the original Dec. Daily post

title page

Christmas classics set. Whisper white craft ink. Kraft, old olive and whisper white cardstock.

I've been thinking for awhile now of what I wanted to do for a title page and finally got this idea.
I typed up the title and printed it on the kraft cardstock. Then asked each person what the best thing about Christmas vacation is/was and typed out their answer.

Next year I'll do this page at the end of the book and not have a title page. We'll just start with page 1.



Then I got busy on the cover.

Headline alpha (retired). Old olive craft ink and whisper white craft ink. Merry Moments DSP, kraft and old olive cardstock. Scallop trim punch, top note die, real red satin ribbon, 2 way glue pen, dazzling diamonds, dimensionals and crystal effects.

In the Stampin' Success magazine (demos get this) there was a cover like this that I pretty much copied. Imagine that there is Old Olive Striped Grosgrain ribbon tied around the end. I still need to order that. I'll do it as soon as I'm done here. edited to add; See that spot on the cover? Its just more proof (not that you needed any) that we are slobs around here. After I got it done and was showing it off to anyone who would look, it got something on it. I'm not sure what it is but it doesn't come off. Oh well.......just keeping it real.




Remember how I made the little top note tag? Here is the "how to" on that. I made another one and put glitter around the edges. I also used some Crystal Effects on the berries.
Its very pretty and sparkly.



I've seen this little ribbon treatment done alot lately. I thought it finished off the tag very nicely. I used the old olive craft ink and clear embossed the numbers. Then cut them out.

But you figured that out already huh?





Oaky doaky. Thats it for today. The Boy and The Hubs went to go see Avatar. I don't see what the appeal is to this movie. I'm sure they'll like it though. But they went to see it in the IMAX 3D theater. I'm afraid the boy will get sick. He gets car sick easily. I'll keep you updated on how things go. I know you'll want to know ;)


Thanks for stopping by and keeping me company.


Blessings, b.

December Daily................almost done

I know, its the middle of January and I'm still not done. Well, I can't help it. I wasn't here between Christmas and New Years.


Anyhow, I'm almost done. I saw this idea on Ali Edwards' blog about what she does with her Christmas cards.




I usually keep all the Christmas cards we get rubberbanded with the date and put them in with the decorations. Who knows how many years worth I have up there. It just feels wrong to throw them away.


So I thought this was a cool idea. This way I could make them into a page for the Dec. Daily. I gotta tell you though, it was way scary to cut into the pics. If you mess up....oh well.


I like the way it turned out though. We didn't get a whole lot this year so I easily filled up my page.


Here is the almost last page in the book.

Christmas Classics and Warmest Regards (retired) sets. Old olive, whisper white and real red inks. Old olive, whisper white, kraft and real red cardstock. Round tab punch, scallop square die, scallop oval punch, lg. oval punch, real red satin ribbon.

I know you're probably sick of seeing this pic of us. I wanted to show the Christmas card that we sent out. I never keep one of my own and why not?


Okay, so I didn't want to leave the back side of this page naked, I did this:

Its the letter my grandma sent with her card. I thought it would be nice to show it. I know its a very plain page but thats okay.

I still have 2 more pages to show you. They are both 1/2 way done. I have the cover to show you and the title page. I'll get crackin' on that this weekend. And then I'll be done with Christmas I promise.

See here for the original December Daily post.

Thanks for stopping by and keeping me company.

Blessings, b.

warts?

Hey peeps!

Sunday we had Christmas with my inlaws.

I didn't get as many cards done for my MIL as I wanted. I just ran out of time. So I only made her one more set of 4. (See here and here for the others I made.) She still ended up with 12 cards...........I was okay with that.

Branch Out and Warmest Regards (both retired). Soft suede, old olive, more mustard, crushed curry and basic black. Kraft, soft suede and whisper white cardstock. Sponging and dimensionals.

I needed some sympathy cards and some manly cards. A tree works for that, right?

Then, I decided I needed something cute to put them all in. So I made a box. It was 6" x 5" x 2 1/2".

Flight of the Butterfly. Pretty in Pink, melon mambo and whisper white inks. Old olive, whisper white, kraft and bashful blue cardstock. White organdy ribbon, polka dot texture folder, white gel pen and scallop edge punch.

She likes butterflies and I thought that maybe she could use the box for something after all the cards are gone. I know, I didn't use this set for any of the cards I put in the box. Yeah, well......maybe next time.

First of all I gotta say, I know things look better in 3's. I had originally made the top with 3 butterflies and Grace said Gramma liked them so much that we needed 4.

Okay, so we're at my inlaws house and we're opening gifts, (we take turns), and my BIL is looking at the cards and the box and says, "Hey, how'd you get these warts on here?"

"Huh? What are you talking about?"

"The warts on here. How'd you do it?"

So now forever more it is no longer a "polka dot folder", it is now a "Wart Maker". Make a note of that.


Yep, I married into this family.

I added some envelopes and stamps. I think she liked them all. She sent us one to thank us for her presents. Kinda weird getting one of your own cards in the mail. At least they are getting used.

Alrighty, I have another page to do for the Dec. Daily that I hope to have done by Friday. And, I have a big workshop I need to get ready for.

Thanks for stopping by.

Blessings, b.