Flowerbug's Inkspot

Holiday Fest Gifts Class

I have some fantastic Holiday gift ideas for you. 

On November 14th at the Vegas Hotel, I'll be offering these class projects.  If you live locally (here in Minot, North Dakota) I hope you can attend.  

There will also be tables set up for those who just want to come & do their own projects, but please RSVP so I can hold a spot for you.

****If I get enough interest I will also offer these projects on Saturday, December 5th here at my home. 

1.  The first one is very special to me - I call it Pat's Advent Envelope book. 

 

This is just like the book I received from my friend Pat last year for Christmas.  It had a little gift tucked inside each envelope - for 25 days I could open a fun little surprise!  Very, very special - I looked forward to seeing just what she put in each envelope.  I didn't cheat ... really, not once!

When empty the book is fairly thin, about 3 inches - but with 25 gifts inside it can be pretty darn fat!  The accordian binding makes this possible.  I plan to tuck gift cards, packs of gum, chocolate of course!, greeting cards, special photos, cocoa & tea bags, & more.  It will be a blast to fill!

I think this is such a special way to show someone you care. 

This class costs $12 & will be offered at 10 am.  Space is limited so sign up ASAP!

2.  Name Frames!

 

This frame has a Holiday theme, but I think it'll be fun to have you create your own with colors you prefer.  I will have lots of assorted Designer paper & ribbons available to personalize your frame.  I also will have sheets of wood veneer - think of how amazing these letters would look done in beautiful wood tones!

Or how about last names, baby/kids names, or a 'Welcome' like the one I did for a friend here:

 

The Name Frame class is also limited to the # of frames I have already purchased. 

Class is at 11 am & costs $12.  

3.  A unique Pop-up Tree in a box!

 

You can add photos on the squares for a treasured keepsake. It's quite large - about 6" square. 

 

This class is $10 & there will be an assortment of Christmas papers for you to pick from to personalize your own Pop-up Tree in a Box. 

This class is scheduled at 1 pm on the 14th.

4.  Memo Board

The final item is a memo board I did as a swap for the Bermuda Cruise.  I think this would make a perfect gift for anyone - young or old.  It's cute & useful!  It's quite easy & once you make one, you'll want to create more.

   

It's about 12" square & can hang from a hook or you could leave the ribbon off & place magnets on the back to put on your fridge.  

This project class is at 2 pm & costs $12.  It includes everything you see here - the tear-off calendar, notepad & pen & the cork board with clear marble stick pins. 

It's adorable if I do say so myself!

For those that prefer die-cut letters, we now have that option for the title too!

To RSVP for any of these projects, please send payment to me by November 6th to reserve your spot, indicating which projects you plan to make.

Remember these projects are limited to supplies on hand, so get back to me quickly to save one for yourself.

 

One Sheet Wonder update

Thank you to those who have already ordered my One Sheet Wonder class via e-mail!  I hope you've enjoyed using my templates.

What is a 4 Sheet Wonder?  My husband & I created these 4 templates years ago and I still love making cards using them!  It's the fastest and easiest way to get 10 quick & beautiful cards done. You know why?  No planning layouts or measuring - the only decisions you have to make is to choose your stamp set and then your colors.

First you print out a template on one side of a neutral sheet of card stock and then stamp the other side with various stamps & coordinating ink. I chose Regal Rose, Melon Mambo, Early Espresso & Crumb Cake with Vanilla.  After stamping the entire piece of card stock, basically making your own designer paper, you will then cut on the dotted, printed lines on the other side. Each piece has a number on it from 1 - 10.

Next you'll print out 3 other templates (A, B & C) on 3 different colors of card stock.  Each of these templates also have numbers from 1 - 10.  You'll cut these out and start making piles of cut pieces from 1 - 10. Then all you need to do is put them together adding border punches & ribbons as desired. I stamp tags or greetings last. One customer told me it's like making 'cards by number'.

 

Cost is $7.50 for all 4 templates, sketches, photos & instructions. And this class now includes 6 different bunches of cards using 6 stamp sets.

Click here to get to my Stampin' Shop to purchase or see all 6 bunches of cards.

Punch Art Pumpkins ala Scallops

Here are a few cute pumpkins you could make for centerpieces or even place-cards for the Thanksgiving table.

The smaller two are made with SU scallop punches - the scallop circle on the right & the scallop oval in the front.  The larger one in the back is made with the Sizzix Scallop Circle #2 die & the Big Shot.

I used Pumpkin Pie card stock - 12 scallop oval punches, 8 scallop circle punches & 14 large scallop die cuts for these.  Sponge the edges with Pumpkin Pie or Really Rust ink before assembling.

Just score them in half & adhere together back to back continuing until you get enough fullness.  Leave the last two ends open to add the cinnamon stick in the middle for the stem.  I used my Tombow mono-multi glue to adhere it.  Glue dots or sticky strip would also work.  I was surprised how easy it is to break a cinnamon stick to the length you need. 

I then used my Swirly Sizzlits Decorative Strip die to cut some Old Olive 'vines' for the top & also some for the bottom of each.  

To see all of my Punch Art, click here!

Last Deal of the Week!

And here is the last deal of the week..... good only until October 31st, late evening.  Contact me ASAP if you'd like me to add any of these onto my next order.

These kits are the easy way to host a fun, themed party for your little Princess or Pirate!  Kits include enough for 8 invites, tons of decorations & even little treat boxes or food toppers.

Item	Page	Description	Regular Price	Special Price
116214	174	Princess Party Kit	$15.95	$9.99
116213	175	Pirate Party Kit	$15.95	$9.99

 

October's Card Clubs

Just thought I'd show you what we did at my Card Clubs this month. 

I know I've shown you some of my awesome Founder's Circle swap cards already, but I knew my Club gals would like to do them too.

I loved this card that Colleen Magnus made for the swap.  I changed just a few little things on it. 

Punch 3 wide ovals from Mustard cs & sponge Pumpkin Pie ink around the edges before popping the whole pumpkin up onto Confetti cream cs.  Add a bit of white gel pen for dimension to one oval.   

My very favorite part of this card is the punched border on the bottom.  You use your slit punch to punch all the way in on the Teal cs three times.  Fold it over & insert a piece of Mustard print dsp behind it.  Isn't that such a neat punched border trick?  

The striped paper is from the Autumn Meadows dsp in the Hoiday Mini catalog.  Happy Thanksgiving is from the Teeny Tiny Wishes stamp set.  The curly vine is done with the Scribbles sizzlit die.

And here is the second card we did.  Another favorite color combo - Bermuda Bay, Black & White plus polka dots from the Night & Day DSP!  Click on it to see the pop-up lattice detail.  

Cindy Peterson created this one - I left the front just as she had it - I couldn't improve on it!  But I did add a fun pop-up fold to the inside.  My clubs like to learn new & fun folds.

We cut an extra lattice die-cut & scored it three times in each of the 'valley's of the lattice.  Then we folded it like a 'W' & adhered it to the inside of our card. 

Now here's a tip when you do this pop-up lattice fold - open & lay your card down flat.  Lay the scored lattice down matching up the center fold on the lattice with the center fold on the card.  The lattice center fold should be the raised part of your 'W' but at this point it is not raised, but flat on your card.  No adhesive is applied to this area.  Only the end pieces of your lattice have adhesive on it. 

Stamps - Great Friend, Matchbox Messages

Ink - Black

Card stock - Bermuda Bay, Black, White, Night & Day & also Bermuda prints DSP

Accessories - Lattice & Flower Folds dies, scoring tool, Big Shot, 1 1/4 & 1 3/8" circle punches, Butterfly punch, slot punch, 2-way glue, dimensionals, Bermuda polka dot grosgrain ribbon 

Pumpkin Patch - not just for Pumpkins!

 

This stamp set makes the cutest little pumpkins!  I love the grass, the vine, the stem (which I now realize I stamped upside down!).

The DSP (Designer Series Paper) is Cast-A-Spell from the main catalog.

But look what else you can do with it! 

Balloons!! 

And the little curly vine is perfect for the strings on a balloon, isn't it?  I hand drew the strings with a black marker. 

The green patterned paper is from the Kaleidoscope DSP in the main catalog.

Colors are Only Orange, Turquoise & Gable Green.

And here's another great idea - beautiful & easy ornaments! 

I used Rich Razzleberry, Pale Plum & Handsome Hunter here.  The DSP is the beautiful Cottage Wall in the main catalog.

Seasons Greetings is from the set 'Four the Holidays' in the Holiday Mini catalog.

Notice the pine boughs on the top - that is from the Autumn Days stamp set - the one with the pheasant.  It also has pine cones on it, but those are covered up with the ribbon. 

Punch Art Star Wreath

Check out this simple wreath made from stars!

I used our small star punch & a 1 3/8" circle punch to create this.

Place the circle punch in the center of a 3 1/2" square of card stock.  Position & adhere the stars one by one around that punch.  

I did not intend to leave the circle punch there in the middle, but I messed up the 'very merry' done with markers so I re-did it on a scrap, punched it out & placed it over my mistake. 

I died the white taffeta ribbon with Taken with Teal classic ink & a sponge dauber. 

Stamps - Short & Sweet

Ink - none

Card stock - Ruby Red, White, Taken with Teal, Holiday Lounge designer series paper

Accessories - white taffeta ribbon, sponge dauber, ticket corner & 1 3/8" circle punches, Star punch, scallop edge punch, mini glue dots, Taken with Teal marker, 2-way glue, chunky glitter, white gel pen 

Remember that if you like punch art or fun & different ways to use our fabulous punches, check out the Punch Art link on the right side of my blog - tons of ideas in there! 

Deal of the Week #3

Here are the SU deals for this week:

Item	Page	Description	Regular Price	Special Price
114348	179	Basic Jumbo grommets	$6.95	$4.49
109857	179	Mini Library clips	$12.95	$8.99
112571	179	Circle Designer brads	$5.95	$3.99
112581	179	1/2" Library clips	$6.95	$3.99

These are good from today through late Sunday the 21st.

  

I love this weeks deals!  Who doesn't want/need more embellishments!?? 

Remember that you can order online, or if you're local send me an e-mail to have me order it for you.  

Founders Circle swap favorites

Here are a few more of my favorites - not that there weren't tons more - but I cannot post them all!

 

This beauty is by Winona Semler

This was done by Glenda Travelstead

Check out the shimmer on her card!  There's a close-up below.

You can get it with our new Shimmer Paint.  Just mix 1/2 teaspoon of Shimmer Paint (so far I love the Champagne Mist best) with rubbing alcohol in a small travel size 2 oz spritz bottle.  (The rubbing alcohol cannot be pure - around 70-80% is best.)  Shake & spritz from about 14" away. 

It dries fast & makes any card stock shimmer!  Love, love it!

by Debbie Naylor - amazing stamp technique - perfect for these sets!

 

And last, this one by Rebecca Bernzweig.  Can you believe that cat is a solid stamp?  It's from the set 'C is for Cat' on page 61 of the main catalog. And check out how she used the Tulipe die cut around it!