Video Tutorial: Easy Christmas Hot Chocolate / Cocoa Packets

I am trying to get this tutorial filming down and this is the second video I have done. Please forgive my bloops and bobbles.

To watch this video on YouTube {Click Here}

French Foliage Happy Birthday

I got a new Stampin' Up order today and when I picked out a couple of new stamps I had two rules...no flowers, no flourishes. I have plenty of stamp sets with these features and I tend to always build cards that are feminine. So when looking through the catalog, I came across the French Foliage stamps. It fit a couple of things I had in mind including fall cards and masculine cards, which the latter I struggle to make. Masculine cards are always one of the first sellers at my craft shows and I have many requests for male birthday cards. The next few posts will feature this stamp set.

French Foliage Stamp Set

https://www.etsy.com/listing/114449893/the-paper-hen-fall-foliage-birthday

Here's the Stampin' Up! supply list for the 

French Foliage Happy Birthday Card:

• Stamps: French Foliage c#121166, w#120845, Sincere Salutations (retired)
• Ink: Basic Gray #126981, Soft Suede #126978
• Card Stock: Basic Gray #121044, Soft Suede #115318, Very Vanilla #101650
• Tools/Accessories:  Extra Large Oval #119859, Decorative Label #120907, Ribbon from Pebbles Inc. 

CLICK {HERE} TO ORDER ONLINE 24/7

Matchbox Nugget Easel Top Gifts

I have been busy working on making items for some upcoming craft shows and a new consignment shop that I have recently visited with. Tonight I used the <retired> Sizzix Matchbox Die from Stampin Up. I guess I was slow on the uptake that this die was SO much fun to work with. I added one of my favorite card features...the easel...to display the greeting and very sparkly snowflake. Inside the box are four Hershey's nuggets that make a nice gift for a friend, co-worker or anyone else that you want to get a little inexpensive something for during the holiday.

I also have to tell you one more thing that just thrilled me. The Sizzix Bigz dies from Stampin Up work in the Cuttlebug (incase you have one of these and not the Big Shot from Stampin Up). 

On the bottom of the box I have used a pull tab. I think it helps people to know that #1) It does open and #2) Where to pull. I find that helps to save the box from wear and tear with the constant opening and closing of it. 

Tomorrow (after Cinderella gets her work done), I plan on making a set of magnets that will coordinate with this project. I will post the pictures here as well as my FB page:

https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Paper-Hen-Laura-Davis-Independent-Stampin-Up-Demonstrator/246429138779180?ref=hl

If you would like to follow my posts, please click my LIKE button on FB. I post there much more often than here on Blogger. 

If you have questions about my project, please feel free to leave a comment on FB. 

Happy Crafting ~ The Paper Hen

The Paper Hen: Owl Happy Birthday Handmade Card HB2

Inside Card

https://www.etsy.com/listing/112378942/the-paper-hen-owl-happy-birthday

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CARD: "Happy Birthday" on ivory backed with midnight blue. Ivory card base featuring wood grain embossing for texture. Paper pieced owl. Inside reads "I hope it's a hoot!" Comes with an ivory envelope. Size A2 (4'x5.5"). 

Purchase a qty of 6 or more from my selection of card listings and shipping is FREE.

See all my cards for sale: http://www.etsy.com/shop/ThePaperHen?ref=si_shop

The Paper Hen: Happy Birthday Handmade Card

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CARD: "Happy Birthday" on white banner with punched cupcake. Inside reads "There's something fabulous about your birthday {must be you!}" Comes with a white envelope. Size A2 (4'x5.5"). 

Purchase a qty of 6 or more from my selection of card listings and shipping is FREE.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/111925238/the-paper-hen-happy-birthday-handmade

The Paper Hen: Congratulations Handmade Card

CONGRATULATIONS CARD: Double stamped card with with daisies. Three rhinestones accent the lower right hand corner. Stamped on light teal with black mat. Dark teal card base which is BLANK on the inside. Comes with a white envelope. Size A2 (4'x5.5"). 

Purchase a qty of 6 or more from my selection of card listings and shipping is FREE.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/111923799/the-paper-hen-congratulations-handmade

Praying for You

https://www.etsy.com/listing/111896547/the-paper-hen-praying-for-you-handmade

With Heartfelt Sympathy

https://www.etsy.com/listing/111888029/the-paper-hen-with-heartfelt-sympathy

Square Punch Tile Card

It is not too often that I create a card of this size. The card measures 5 1/2" tall by 8" wide. I had an envelope to use so I made the card to fit. This card was a two part greeting. One of my card making friends is moving away and today is her birthday. You can see on the leaves that I stamped "Best Wishes" for the move. 

Now I went a little wild on materials here and my supply list below will be extensive. The one thing I would like for you to notice are the squares. The squares are made using the 1 1/4" square punch. I used alot of my scraps...you know the ones you just cant throw away? I folded the blue mat in half both ways so it would give me the center of the mat and I added my first square lining it up with the vertical and horizontal creases. I wasn't worried about the fold lines showing since I was going to glue squares over the top of the folds. 

Now with the huge size of this card I had to pick elements that wouldn't "disappear". So I chose the Quint Essential Flower stamp and stamped it in five different colors, cutting each color with a different punch (as shown in the catalog on page 110). Click on the picture to see the larger version.

Want to view the entire catalog for more crafty inspiration?

Click {HERE} to go to the catalog. 

It will load and then you can use the up/down arrows on the right to change pages.

Card size 5 1/2" x 8"

Quint Essential Flower Stamp

Summer Smooches DSP

Summer Smooches Designer Series Paper

Here's the Stampin Up! supply list for the 

Square Punch Tile Card:

• Stamps: Petite Pairs w#122495 c#122497, Quint Essential Flower (wood only) #126790, Betsy's Blossoms w#126004 c#126006, Curly Cute w#117014 c#120510
• Ink: Daffodil Delight #126944, Real Red #126949, Rich Razzelberry #126950, Tempting Turquoise #126952, Lucky Limeade #126984
• Card Stock: Whisper White #100730, Summer Smooches DSP #125409
• Tools/Accessories:  1 1/4" Square Punch #119865, 2 3/8" Scallop Circle Punch #118874, 1 3/4" Scallop Circle Punch #119850, 1" Circle Punch #119868, 3/4" Circle Punch #119873, 1/2" Circle Punch #119869

{CLICK HERE}

Order Online 24/7

2012-2014 In Colors Card Set using Beautiful Wings Embosslit

This group of cards was inspired by a post on another blog called Jennifer's Stamp Pad. I thought they were simple to make cards with great colors. I made a few adjustments according to the stamps that I have. You might notice the upper right card has a few more butterflies...these are the extra butterflies in the Embosslits Beautiful Wings Sizzix folder. The Sizzix folder cuts and embosses in one step. You can see the embossing a little better in the upclose photos. Plans are to make several versions of these simple cards and sell them as a set. I varied the sayings thinking of who I could send them to.

The greetings are done with the Petite Pairs stamp set. This set just came in my order and it is what I call an "outside/inside" set because for each outside greeting, there is matching inside stamp.

2012-2014 In Colors:
Colors from top left to right: Midnight Muse, Summer Starfruit, Gumball Green
bottom left to right: Primrose Petals, Raspberry Ripple

Primrose Petals

Gumball Green

Here's the Stampin Up! supply list for the 

In-Colors Card Set:

• Stamps: Thoughts and Prayers w#113252, c#127805, Petite Pairs w#122495 c#122497
• Ink: Midnight Muse #126860, Summer Starfruit #126991, Gumball Green #126861, Primrose Petals #126858, Raspberry Ripple #126859
• Card Stock: Whisper White #100730,  Midnight Muse #126843, Summer Starfruit #126839, Gumball Green #126840, Primrose Petals #126841, Raspberry Ripple #126842
• Tools/Accessories:  Beautiful Wings Embosslits #118138

CLICK HERE TO:

Here are pictures of the stamp sets used:

Thoughts and Prayers Stamp Set

Petite Pairs Stamp Set

So Happy...

It's a BOY!! Dirt and worms for everyone!

Boy or Girl? Altered Photo Books

Tomorrow (August 9th) is the day we find out if we are having a boy or girl. My husband still insists there are twins, but we have already had a sonogram that showed one so twins would be a huge surprise if he ends up being right. 

I made these altered photo books as part of the reveal tomorrow for the grandparents-to-be. I made two of each gender. I plan on putting the first sonogram picture along with tomorrow's picture in these. I picked up the books at Alco for $1.00 each. They will be good enough for carrying around in a purse or whatever they decide to do with them. This post will come late since I want this little brag book to be a surprise to the g-parents. 

This project uses the new stamp set Baby Boutique. I really like stamp sets that have solid color and I couldn't resist the little turtle. I plan on making shower invitations and thank-you notes from this set in the future.

Baby Boutique Stamp Set
W#126350
C#126352
pg. 63

Here's the Stampin Up! supply list for the 

Altered Photo / Brag Book:

• Stamps: Baby Boutique w#126350 c#126352, Quint Essential Flower wood only #126790, Petite Pairs w#122495, c#122497
• Ink: Gumball Green #126861, Raspberry Ripple #126859, Daffodil Yellow #126944
• Card Stock: Whisper White #100730, DSP Twitterpated #125406, Floral District #126919, Baha Breeze #111352
• Tools/Accessories:  1 3/4" Scallop Circle Punch #119854, Scallop Oval #119856, Large Oval Punch #119855, 2 3/8" Scallop Circle Punch #118874

Shop Online 24/7

Photos of other stamp sets used:

Petite Pairs
pg. 134

Quint Essential Flower

pg. 110

Take a look at what they have done in the catalog with this stamp on the bottom of page 110!!

There is a link to the catalog on the right-hand side of the blog.

**Free** SPOOKTACULAR HOWL-O-WEEN PROJECT KIT

This kit is FREE to those who decide to join my team in August. The kit is in addition to the the fully customizable $99 start-up kit. 

Once you are a consultant you will receive instant savings of 20% on Stampin Up products. There is consultant access to what is called "Stampin Connections" (consultant side of Stampin Up) that contains products examples and video tutorials. Get early product sneak peaks and a free monthly magazine with lots of beautiful photos and project ideas! In addition, new demonstrators are eligible for two free months for Demonstrator Web Services (your own website, online store, blog access, calendar, monthly e-newsletter, project gallery, and e-cards). Just sign up for web services within 21 days of becoming a demonstrator to qualify for the two free months. 

The offer for the free Halloween Kit 

is only good through August 31st.

Click here for more information

Celebrate You

My nephew, who turned 8 on July 23rd, has Pinterest to thank for his birthday present. We are headed to his party tomorrow. This idea worked perfectly...I don't know what an 8 year old boy wants...Oh wait, yes I do! MONEY!! Works for me. I don't think he will mind the candy either. The gift bag was made from one sheet of 12"x12" cardstock. As of my last post, I promised myself no more buying gift bags! I will post all the details soon including links to where I found these amazing ideas (to give credit where credit is due). The Snickers assembly fit perfectly in the gift bag.

Wonder if he will notice the money when he opens it??

Thanks for stopping by to take a look!! Happy Crafting!!