Guneaux Designs by Beverly Polen

FIRM RELIANCE ON DIVINE PROVIDENCE!

ENJOY MAKING STAMPIN' UP! GREETING CARDS AND OTHER PAPER CRAFTS!

Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Stampin' Up! Specials for August

August Stampin' Up! Specials End Tomorrow, August 31!

AUGUST SPECIAL #1

One of my biggest struggles in life was when I was dealing with breast cancer approximately 7 years ago. Praise God I am a survivor. I suspect you know someone who has or is fighting this ugly disease. Would you like to help stamp out breast cancer? I'm sure you answered, "Yes". You can help by contributing to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF).

Stampin' Up! is partnering with the BCRF to raise funds for its research. If you want to help in this noble cause, you can purchase the Stampin' Up! Strength and Hope stamp set. From each purchase of this stamp set, Stampin' Up! contributes $2.00 to the BCRF. What an easy way to help! Purchase this set here to make your contribution. You have until August 31th.
_______________________________________________________

AUGUST SPECIAL #2

Did you know that if you purchase 3 packages of selected Designer Series Paper (DSP) during the month of August, you'll get 1 package FREE? Who passes up something FREE? Not me! And I venture a guess that you don't either! Wouldn't you like an extra package of the very popular Paisley Petals DSP? What about an extra package of the Letters to Santa DSP for creating your Christmas cards and other projects? Well, you have until August 31th to get your free package. All you need to do is click here to learn the details and make your purchase.

God's Blessings!

Guneaux Designs by Beverly Polen

Stampin' Up! Demonstrator in FL

FIRM RELIANCE ON DIVINE PROVIDENCE!

ENJOY MAKING STAMPIN' UP! GREETING CARDS!

Monday, August 29, 2011

Stampin' Up! Mocha Morning Purse, Wallet, and Birthday Card

Do I have a Stampin' Up! cutie for you today!! It is a paper purse that I personally designed with the gorgeous Stampin' Up! Mocha Morning Designer Series Paper (DSP), a small matching wallet, and birthday card. I wish you could feel the black velvet on this DSP - such a luscious DSP. If you do not have this DSP, you must buy it. It is so gorgeous and you certainly will be happy with your Mocha Morning DSP creations!

The pictures below are of each item in the set. Unfortunately, my camera is on its last leg and isn't taking very good pictures. I guess it's time for a new one!

This picture shows the small wallet and Happy Birthday Card inside the purse. As you can see, there is plenty of room for them as well as other cards or items (i.e., keys for your daughter's new car!).

The purse is 7" x 4-1/2" x 1", and the wallet 4" x 2-3/4" x 1/2". The purse has an outside pocket in which a gift card could be placed. The small matching wallet will hold easily a gift card, money, etc. The set would be a great birthday gift for a daughter or special friend.

The Stampin' Up! products used for the set are (buy these products by clicking on the links):

Stampin' Up! Mocha Morning DSP
Black and Crumb Cake Cardstock
Perfect Pennants Bigz Die
1 3/4" Scallop Circle Punch
Scallop Trim Border Punch
Crumb Cake 1/2" Seam Binding Ribbon
Bring on the Cake Stamp Set (the sentiment)
Antique Brads
Black Pearls

The black pearls are Stampin' Up! Black Flourish Designer Jewels that were available in the Sept 2010 - Jan 2011 Holiday Mini Catalog. I am lucky to have some left for embellishing the ribbon on the front of the purse and wallet and the corners of the card.

GET THIS DSP - YOU WILL LOVE IT!

God's Blessings!

Guneaux Designs by Beverly Polen

Stampin' Up! Demonstrator in FL

FIRM RELIANCE ON DIVINE PROVIDENCE!

ENJOY MAKING STAMPIN' UP! GREETING CARDS AND OTHER PAPER CRAFTS!

Thursday, August 25, 2011

More Tips on the Stampin' Up! Blossom Box

As a result of my post yesterday regarding the Stampin' Up! Blossom Box, I received a lot of questions regarding how to get the box top to stay down and how to add embellishments to the box top so the box will open freely. I made another box to demonstrate what I think will answer these questions; or maybe I should say, at least it works for me!

TIP 1. After assembling your box, push the top down, and with your fingers pinch tightly each fold along the top to ensure it is crisply folded. As a result, the top stays down without any adhesive. (My final box was made with a different cardstock than that in this picture.)

TIP 2. If you choose to add an embellishment around the circumference of the box, it cannot be glued to the box or the box won't open. I chose to add ribbon around the box. To add ribbon, measure the circumference of the box. Use this measurement to cut a piece of ribbon (or another type of embellishment). Glue the ribbon ends together and add an embellishment to the ribbon if desired.

TIP 3. Create another embellishment for the box top (I created a butterfly). You want to strategically add the embellishment to the box top in a manner that allows the box to open. To accomplish this, I added crystal effects to the center of ONE fold, ensuring that I did not get it anywhere but on the one fold. I then placed the bottom left wing of the butterfly to the adhesive. You will determine where on one fold to add your embellishment, depending on what it is.

TIP 4. After adding your embellishment, catch one fold with your finger and pull. Volia! The box opens with the embellishment attached and not in the way. The box is ready for you to insert a piece of jewelry, candy, or any small gift.

TIP 5. Fold the box back together and push the top back down.

TIP 6. Add your embellishment around the circumference of the box. I pushed my ribbon onto the box from the bottom up to the center. The ribbon fits snugly.

TIP 7: The assembled box is 1 1/16" deep and 2 1/2" wide. I can easily place two bite-size candy bars inside and it is perfect for a bracelet or necklace that is flexible and just falls into a "pile" when placed in the box. This picture shows the box with two necklaces and matching earrings inside.

Now, how perfect is that? And what a beautiful gift box to give to a special someone.

The following picture is a top view of the box.

God's Blessings!

Guneaux Designs by Beverly Polen

Stampin' Up! Demonstrator in FL

FIRM RELIANCE ON DIVINE PROVIDENCE!

ENJOY MAKING STAMPIN' UP! GREETING CARDS!

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Stampin' Up! Blossom Box and Tips for Cutting

Wow! Have you tried to assemble the Stampin' Up! Blossom Box yet? My first one went together quite well, but then the next ones were somewhat of a struggle for me. However, I managed, as I'm sure you will, to assemble them, and here they are:

FRONT VIEW

TOP VIEW

I think they turned out beautifully. What do you think? Can you image receiving one of these from your husband or boyfriend with a ring inside? Or maybe a necklace and/or bracelet from a friend or family member? I think they would be so cute for that.

I glued the tops down so I could embellish the boxes with pieces cut with the Stampin' Up! Beautiful Butterflies Bigz Die, Flower, Daisies #2 Bigz Die, Island Floral Bigz Die, and Beautiful Wings Embosslit Die. I love the Stampin' Up! Big Shot Dies! I hope you have them all to create beautiful art! If not, click on these links and they will take you directly to the product on-line for you to buy.

Would you like some Tips for Using the Stampin' Up! Blossom Bigz Die? Let me provide some.

TIP 1. The most important thing about the TWO pieces that you cut with the Die is to ensure you have well-defined creases/folds. If you don't, you'll find it difficult to fold and assemble.

TIP 2. Because Designer Series Papers (DSP) are thinner than the Stampin' Up! Cardstock, they will crease better, making it easier to fold. However, handling the DSP while making the many folds seems to cause the folds to fray somewhat, leaving the white part of the paper showing (or at least this happened for me). I found the cardstock to work better, although it takes more effort to fold.

TIP 3. If your creases don't show up well on cardstock after cutting, you can cut the pieces one of two ways (there may be others):

1) place a thin piece of paper on top of your Big Shot sandwich to provide a bit more pressure when cutting the pieces, or

2) run the sandwich through the Big Shot about three times (that worked well for me).

If you follow 2), don't remove the sandwich from the Big Shot; roll it though to the end and then roll it back, etc. And don't put an extra piece of cardstock on top of the sandwich or your creases will be cuts instead of creases (or at least that happened to me).

Have great fun making yours!

God's Blessings!

Guneaux Designs by Beverly Polen

Stampin' Up! Demonstrator in FL