Thursday, February 13, 2014

Heartfelt Banner Designer Kit


Valentine's Day Banner


I "LOVE" this Valentine's Day Banner I created using the new Heartfelt Banner Designer Kit!
You too can create a banner like mine, or Stamp Your Way and create your own banner with this kit. Even better is that the kit is FREE with a $50 purchase, now through March 31, 2014. The kit comes with instructions to make a banner featured on the front cover of the kit. So you could make a banner like that one if you'd rather, and use it to display some of your treasured photos. Sometimes I like to follow the instructions step by step and other times I like to be creative and see what else I can come up with using the given supplies. This was one of those extra creative times and my Valentine and St. Patrick's Day banners were the end result. (Yep! I made a St. Patty's Day banner too! Check out the photos below.)
To learn how I made my banners, check out my tutorial video and instructions below. As always, I've added additional photos and a supplies list so read on for all the details.

Video Tutorial

Heartfelt Banner Kit



Instructions


1. Finish raw edges of each fabric pennant piece to prevent them from fraying. To do this you can either sew a zig zag stitch using a sewing machine, or hand sew a whip stitch. (Google how to sew a whip stitch if needed). If you'd rather not sew, you could alternately apply a fabric glue designed to stop fraying.

2. Stamp images using Real Red Stampin' Ink and Whisper White card stock. All pieces adhered to fabric pennants using Tombow Multi-Purpose Adhesive.


3. Make three pennants like the one pictured above:

  • Create a border using the Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border and Scalloped Edge Border punches. Layer borders and apply to top of pennant.
  • Cut a 2" x 2" piece of Real Red cardstock and apply to back side of pennant over the heart cut out area.
  • Stamp images from the Hearts a Flutter stamp set and cut out using matching Hearts a Flutter Framelits. Punch out center of lacy heart image using the Full Heart punch to create a heart frame. Apply heart frame to front of pennant around the heart cut out. Apply smaller multi-heart cut out to the center of the heart using a Stampin' Dimensional.


4. Make four pennants like the one pictured above:

  • Stamp horizontal stripe pennant image from the Hearts a Flutter stamp set and cut out using coordinating Hearts a Flutter Framelits. Adhere cut out pennant to fabric pennant.
  • Create borders using the Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border and Scalloped Edge Border punches. Layer borders and apply to fabric pennant as illustrated.
  • Cut out letters to spell L-O-V-E using the Typeset Alphabet Bigz Die and Big Shot Die-Cut Machine. Die cut each letter from Real Red cardstock and some of the chip board that is included in the kit. Adhere cardstock letter over the corresponding chip board letter and apply to fabric pennant.



5. Make two pennants like the one pictured above:

  • Color emboss fabric hearts (included in the kit ) using Real Red Stampin' ink, the Perfect Polka Dot embossing folder, and the Big Shot. Adhere hearts to fabric pennant.
  • Stamp images from the Banner Blast stamp set: 3 horizontal striped images and 2 polka dot images. Punch out images using coordinating Banner punch. Adhere to fabric pennant as illustrated. 
6. Sew fabric pennants together using the linen thread and sewing needle, which are included in the kit. Make sure thread lays across the backside of each pennant, so that it is not visible from the front of the banner. Tie over hand knots with the thread at each end of the banner to create loops for hanging. 
Attach 4 mini clothespins to the top of banner and space them out as illustrated in picture. Enjoy!




St. Patrick's Day Banner


Instructions


1. Finish raw edges of each fabric pennant piece to prevent them from fraying. To do this you can either sew a zig zag stitch using a sewing machine, or hand sew a whip stitch. (Google how to sew a whip stitch if needed). If you'd rather not sew, you could alternately apply a fabric glue designed to stop fraying.

2. Stamp images using Garden Green Stampin' Ink and Whisper White card stock. All pieces adhered to fabric pennants using Tombow Multi-Purpose Adhesive.




3. Make three pennants like the one pictured above:



  • Cut a 2" x 2" piece of Garden Green cardstock and apply to back side of pennant over the heart cut out area.
  • Cut out letters "L", "C", and "Y" using the Typeset Alphabet Bigz Die and Big Shot Die-Cut Machine. Die cut each letter from Garden Green cardstock and some of the chip board that is included in the kit. Adhere cardstock letter over the corresponding chip board letter and apply to fabric pennant.



4. Make two pennants like the one pictured above:


    • Cut out letters "U" and "K" using the Typeset Alphabet Bigz Die and Big Shot Die-Cut Machine. Die cut each letter from Garden Green cardstock and some of the chip board that is included in the kit. Adhere cardstock letter over the corresponding chip board letter and apply to fabric pennant.


    5. Make 4 pennants like the one pictured above:


      • Stamp horizontal stripe pennant image from the Hearts a Flutter stamp set and cut out using coordinating Hearts a Flutter Framelits. Adhere cut out pennant to fabric pennant.
      • Create 4-leaf clovers: Punch out pansy shape from Pansy punch. Cut away one of the pansy petals to create a stem for the clover. (Use template below to create your own cardstock template for creating 4-leaf clovers.)
      • Punch out circle using the 1/2" circle punch. Attach Stampin' Dimensional to one side of the circle, and adhere to back of clover. Apply Tombow adhesive to the circle on the back of the clover and adhere to the fabric pennant. (See images A and B below.)





      Image A

      Image B


      6. Sew fabric pennants together using the linen thread and sewing needle, which are included in the kit. Make sure thread lays across the backside of each pennant, so that it is not visible from the front of the banner. Tie over hand knots with the thread at each end of the banner to create loops for hanging. 
      Attach 4 mini clothespins to the top of banner and space them out as illustrated in picture. Enjoy!


      Shopping List


      Heartfelt Banner Kit (retail value $19.95)
      FREE with a $50 purchase. 
      Enter item number at check out: 133514



      Banner Blast Stamp Set
      FREE with a separate $50 purchase.
      Enter item number at checkout:
      133551 - wood stamp set (retail value $19.95)
      133554 - clear mount stamp set (retail value $13.95)


      Banner Punch (retail value $12.95)
      FREE with a separate $50 purchase.
      Enter item number at checkout: 133519













































































































































































































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      Friday, February 7, 2014

      Seasonal (Battery Operated) Candle Belly Bands



      So what is a "Seasonal (Battery Operated) Candle Belly Band"?

      Whew! Yes that is a very long name, but then, what else should I call it? I'm open to your suggestions so please feel free to leave a comment if you have any better ideas.

      Basically, it's a decorative wrap for your battery operated candle. You can make one to fit any holiday, season, or decorating theme. I love to change my household decorations to fit the season or holiday. Many of the battery operated candles in the marketplace are plain white or ivory, which is great since they will blend in with any décor. However, if you're like me and would like to change it up by making them festive for holidays and such, then this post is for you.

      I really like the idea of the battery operated candle. It's safer, there's no soot to dirty my walls or lungs, and I can place them anywhere in my home without the fear of fire. These candles can go where no candle has gone before!
      However, they don't often come in a variety of colors and patterns like real candles do. The white and ivory varieties are beautiful in their simplicity, although they can be a little boring too.
      I've tried using rub on stickers in the past to liven them up, but the stickers wanted to keep lifting off since the candles are coated in real wax.
      Then I saw some posts on the internet that demonstrate how to decorate a candle by embossing on tissue paper and then heat setting the tissue paper so that it melts into the outer wax of the candle. Like many battery operated candles, mine have a real wax exterior. So I thought about trying the embossed tissue paper technique on my battery candles, but that would make the decoration permanent. If I emboss snowflake patterns on my candles, then I won't want them displayed in July. I don't want to buy additional candles for all my seasonal decorations, nor do I want to store all the off season candles.
      So then what?...
      The creation of the Seasonal Candle Belly Band (or whatever you want to call it)! A non-permanent way of decorating your battery candles. Totally reusable too! They don't require much storage space either. Just store away, flat, until next year.
      I really love how they turned out and I can't wait to make more for all my seasonal decorating. Read on for a video tutorial, instructions, and additional pictures below!

      Video Tutorial

      Seasonal Candle Belly Bands (for Battery Operated Candles

      Instructions

      What you'll need:
      • Battery Operated Candle(s)
      • Seamstress tape measure
      • Stampin' Up Window Sheets
      • Stampin' Up Paper Trimmer
      • Fabric softener dryer sheet
      • VersaMark pad
      • VersaMarker
      • Stampin' Emboss Powder. I used Cherry Cobbler.
      • Stampin' Up Heat Tool
      • Hearts a Flutter stamp set (or other Stampin' Up stamp for your desired pattern).
      • Small paint brush.
      • Sticky Strip

      1. Measure your candle with the tape measure to determine the desired size of your belly band. (Select an area of the candle where the diameter is consistent. The belly band won't lay flat if attempting to wrap it around an area of the candle that tapers or widens.)
      2. Use Paper Trimmer to cut window sheet to size needed.
      3. Remove static and oils from window sheet using a new, unused dryer sheet.
      4. Stamp heart images onto the window sheet using VersaMark. (It will be difficult to see the clear VersaMark ink on the clear window sheet. See Tips below.)
      5. Pour generous amount of Stampin' Emboss powder over the stamped images and shake off excess. Use paint brush to carefully dust off any emboss powder where you don't want it.
      6. Heat images with heat tool set to high heat. Don't over heat window sheet. It will melt!
      7. If you encounter any blank areas within your heart images, simply color in the blank areas using a VersaMarker. Then add more emboss powder and heat again.
      8. After embossed images cool, wrap belly band around candle and adhere with sticky strip. (Don't apply sticky strip over embossed images, because it will pull embossing off when you remove the belly band.)
      9. Enjoy! Then make more! (Winter, Spring, Summer, and Fall) (St. Patrick's Day, Easter, 4th of July, Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas/Hanukah/Kwanzaa!...)

      Tips:
      • Don't rub too hard with your dryer sheet or you might scratch the window sheet.
      • Stamp and emboss one side of the window sheet at a time so you have a place to hold the sheet without burning your fingers during the heating process.
      • Stamp straight down and straight up for best results. The window sheet can be slippery when stamping.
      • When stamping images on the window sheet, get your head down and eyes at table level so you can see the VersaMark . That way you'll know where to continue stamping, and won't overlap your images.
      • Try not to touch the window sheet where you are stamping. Your finger prints will attract emboss powder where you don't want it. You could use another tool, such as the bottom end of a pen, to hold the sheet down while lifting your stamp up.
      • Leave one end of the sheet empty so that you can add your sticky strip without it touching any embossed images.
      • Don't hold the heat tool to closely to the window sheet while heat embossing or the sheet will melt.
      • When finished, check out the back side of the belly band. Which ever color Stampin' emboss powder you use, it will appear lighter or muted on the back side. Two looks in one! Choose which you like best to display on your candle.







      Shopping List






      Medium Window Sheets - 7 mil thick - 12x12 - 2 sheets













      Stampin' Trimmer










      Hearts a Flutter Stamp Set - Wood Mount

      Hearts a Flutter Stamp Set - Clear Mount











      VersaMark Stamp Pad












      Stampin' Emboss Powder - Cherry Cobbler













      Stampin' Up! Heat Tool












      Sticky Strip adhesive
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      Tuesday, February 4, 2014

      Valentine Frames


      Hello Valentine!
      Once again, I'm changing up my house decor for the holidays. I've had these frames for some time now and each holiday or season I change the center image to keep my home looking festive.
      This craft decorating tip was so simple and quick. I simply heat embossed a stamped image on some cardstock, center-mounted it in my frame, and Voila! Almost instant Valentine Frames! 
      For the Christmas season, I embossed images for these frames using a Snowflake stamp from the Festive Flurries stamp set, Cherry Cobbler cardstock, and White Stampin' Emboss Powder. I liked the look so much, that I decided to do the same for Valentine's Day. So, this time I used the new Flowerfull Heart Stamp, and Real Red cardstock. 
      This decorating tip is so simple it almost needs no instruction, still I created a video anyway. Check it out, especially it you are new to heat embossing. More pictures and supply list below...

       (Don't forget it's Sale-a-Bration time! That means Freebies with each $50 purchase! Learn More, CLICK HERE!)

      Video Tutorial

      Close up image of the Flowerfull Stamp!


      Shopping List





































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