JENNI'S 30TH BIRTHDAY FAVORS...

Catching up on some of the projects made this summer...

Back in July, only a day after getting home from my second (unexpected) hospitalization this summer, we were hosting my daughter Jenni's 30th birthday party at our house.   I had planned to make some birthday favors for her party during the week before.  Since I was in the hospital all week, I only had a very little bit of time to make these - especially since I could only sit up for a short while.  So they had to be very quick and easy favors - even with a bit of help from my very "uncrafty" mom and daughters.

I had bought some black "50 sucks" lollipops for my husband's 50th birthday last year and decided to take that idea and make my own version for Jen's party.  Just two punches, some crimping on one and punching a hole in the center of each punch was all it took to dress up some Tootsie Roll Pops and make a cute centerpiece.  The little medallion was made with My Digital Studio.

My second project was a little treat bag for everyone to take with them when they left.  I used the adorable It's a Wrap Occasions stamp set to stamp "happy cake day" on 1" x 2-3/4" piece of Whisper White card stock.   Then I just wrapped the pieces around Hershey Nuggets.  So simple!

Here is a picture I took at the party:

30 SUCKS CENTERPIECE SUPPLIES:

• Stamp Sets – It's a Wrap Occasions (W#123590 $27.95, C#123592 $19.95)
• Card Stock – Whisper White, Basic Black, Brights Designer Series Paper Patterns Stack (#117155, $21.95)
• Ink – Melon Mambo
• Punches – Blossom (#125603, $16.95), Fancy Flower (#118073, $16.95)
• Tools – Paper Crimper, Crop-A-Dile
• Misc. – Nuggets, Lollipops & Tootsie Rolls, Organza Gift Bag

LOYALTY REWARDS - When you purchase $50 or more, you qualify for my Loyalty Rewards program!  This Frequent Stamper program is my way of saying "thank you" to my returning customers in appreciation of their business and is in addition to other Stampin' Rewards.  Earn FREE stamps with MarieStamps.com!

GARDEN PARTY PETITE PURSES: Tips on Keeping the Pattern Straight with the Petite Purse Die...

Tomorrow night it is my turn to host my monthly Bunco group.  I always make little favors for everyone to go home with.  This year my theme is a Garden Tea Party, so I decided that the adorable purses made with the Petite Purse Die were just the the thing!   Two Ghiradelli Chocolate Squares will fit perfectly inside the purses.  Unfortunately I didn't check the pictures I took and they are a little fuzzy.  So there are two photos, one with the front four purses in focus and one with the back purses in focus.  Sorry about that!

I used the Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border Punch for the base under the purse handle for added strength and a lacy touch.  Most of the brads I used are retiring on May 31.  They are available while supplies last only and many of them are on sale!  

The cutting pattern for the purse is tipped at an angle on the die.  That is not a problem when cutting solid colored card stock.  However, when using Designer Series Papers with patterns that are not random, if you place the DSP straight on the die, your purse pattern will look crooked once it is assembled. 

How can you cut the paper so that the pattern will be straight?
Try this tip for placing DSP on the die, so that your purse pattern will be straight.  Be sure to bookmark this post, so that you can use it once you can order these dies again on June 1.

1. Place a strip of masking tape on your die that is parallel with the straight part of the bottom of of the die cut and about 1/2" away from it.  This will allow the paper to completely cover the cutting area of the die.  Use a ruler to be sure it is perfectly aligned.  Please note:  I allow for a very narrow margin in covering the cutting area on my die.  The measurements given are a bit more than you see on my die.   You may be more comfortable with an even more generous allowance. 
   
   
2. Place another strip of masking tape perpendicular to the purse bottom.  I used a square to determine the angle.  Be sure to allow for enough space that the paper will completely cover the cutting area.  
   
   
3. You can place another strip of masking tape on the left side perpendicular to the purse bottom, if desired.  After you have placed all masking tape, you can trim the outside edges until even with the edge of the foam as I did.
   
   

4. Cut a piece of DSP to 5-3/4" x 8".  Place the DSP so that it just meets up with the bottom and right pieces of masking tape and cut.
   

GARDEN PARTY PETITE PURSES SUPPLIES:

• Card Stock – Melon Mambo, Pumplin Pie, Paisley Petals DSP, Flirtatious Specialty DSP (retiring)
• Accessories – Clear Rhinestone Brads (#113144, $8.21 on sale-retiring), Ice Circle Rhinestone Brads (#109111, $8.21 on sale-retiring), Flower Designer Brads (#112579, $5.95 retiring), Filigree Designer Brads (#112577, $3.57 on sale-retiring), Neutrals 5/8" Brads (#112533, $4.17 on sale-retiring), Basic Pearl Jewels (#119247, $4.95), Large Pearl Basic Jewels (#125577, $4.95)
• Punches – Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border (#119275, $15.95)
• Tools – Big Shot, Petite Purse Die (#125606 , $32.95 beginning June 1)

LOYALTY REWARDS - When you purchase $50 or more, you qualify for my Loyalty Rewards program!  This Frequent Stamper program is my way of saying "thank you" to my returning customers in appreciation of their business and is in addition to other Stampin' Rewards.  Earn FREE stamps with MarieStamps.com!

GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY FANCY FAVOR BOXES...

Next weekend is my parent's 50th Anniversary.  I've been working all week on these favors for their Golden Anniversary Party.  I finally finished them today.  When I made the sample I was thinking that they were pretty easy and could easily make many of them.  And they are if making one or two for a gift, etc.  However, when making them in mass, I would leave the flowers off.  Punching and shaping 22-23 flowers for each one took a  LOT of time!  Next time...

I can't tell you how much I love our new Framelits!  They are perfect for this type of project where a punch can't get far enough in to cut the hole or it's not large enough.  I could cut a heart out right in the middle of the the Fancy Favor die cut. 

Next, I embossed the box with a Baroque Motifs stamp and gold embossing powder.  Then I adhered a window sheet behind the heart cut-out on the inside of the box.  I punched out the flowers and shaped them into a bowl shape by pressing them onto the end of a White Signo Gel Pen.  I put a dot of Dazzling Detail in the center of each flower and then quickly dipped it in the Galaxy Gold Glitter.  Then I adhered them around the heart opening with Mini Glue Dots and glued the 5 0 on the window sheet with Multi glue.  I put 50th Anniversary candies in a cello bag and tied a ribbon on and they were done.  Can't wait to see how everyone likes them!

GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY FAVOR BOX SUPPLIES:

• Stamp Set – Baroque Motifs (#113490, $27.95)
• Card Stock – Brushed Gold
• Ink – VersaMark
• Punches – Itty Bitty Shapes Punch Pack (#118309, $16.95)
• Ribbon – Crumb Cake 3/8" Taffeta (#122966, $6.95)
• Accessories – Dazzling Details (#125580, $2.50), Medium Flat Cello Bags (#102757, $4.50), Galaxy Gold Fine Stampin' Glitter (#114286, $13.95)
• Tools – Big Shot, Fancy Favor Die (#115965, $39.95), Hearts Collection Framelits (#125599, $26.95), Timeless Type Alphabet Junior Sizzlit Dies (#115951, $74.95), Sticky Strip (#104294, $6.95), Mini Glue Dots, White Signo Gel Pen

LOYALTY REWARDS - When you purchase $50 or more, you qualify for my Loyalty Rewards program!  This Frequent Stamper program is my way of saying "thank you" to my returning customers in appreciation of their business and is in addition to other Stampin' Rewards.  Earn FREE stamps with MarieStamps.com!