Here are the second week of kids' projects from our Kids' Stamping Class. This first project, a flower lollipop, actually has very little stamping, but it didn't seem to bother the kids!! I I introduced them to the Big Shot and they LOVED it!!! In this sample, they die cut flowers out of felt.
In the card this week, we used the Big Shot again, but this time with the embossing folder. It was a pretty simple card, and it had snowed earlier in the day, so the theme was perfect!!!
These are actually Emily's samples this time around!! Be sure to come back next week to see what we'll do this week. (I still don't know what we'll do yet. Yes, I know the class is tomorrow, but I'll figure it out!!!)
Be sure tosign upfor my FREE Stampin' Up! e-Newsletter to receive coupons, recipes, stamping tips, ideas, and subscriber-only contests!
I am teaching another stamping class this year at Emily's school. It is for first and second graders and I have a few of the same students as I did last year, so the pressure is on to come up with new techniques and new projects!! And to make things a little more complicated, I realized the day of the class that I was just about OUT of glue sticks, so I had to try to create 2 projects - one card and one 3D item - without using adhesive!!
So, first up was a one-layer card where were used sponging & masking. Here was my sample. (Emily already gave her sample away, otherwise I'd show you hers.)
And our 3D project was a covered notebook. I told the kids they can use it to practice their spelling words. (I bet they loved that!!!) Again this was my sample, but I promise to share Emily's samples in future weeks!! We used the collaging technique where we layered lots of stamps in different colors on top of each other, and then we added some sponging.
I don't have any plans for this week yet, but I do know I will have glue sticks by then, so chances are it will be more than one-layer this week. If you have any good ideas, please let me know!! I have 5 more weeks of projects to figure out!! :)
Need a great baby gift? I have a great idea for you!! And it's easy enough that your kids can do it too!!
How cute are these onesies???
My girls and I made these onesies for my great nephew, Logan, who is just three weeks old and is cute as can be!!! He is so tiny, and is a rare boy in our family, so I thought I'd give him a unique personalized gift. At first I was going to stamp both onesies myself, but the girls came down and insisted that they be part of the fun too, so I figured why not??
I did stamp his name on the first one above, and then Emily stamped the rest of the front and Erin stamped the back. (Can you tell how proud she is in the photo above?) And then my BORING onesie is on the bottom. :)
If you have never stamped on fabric before, here are a few tips:
First, wash and dry the item without fabric softener. (I let the onesies air dry.)
Ink your stamp using craft ink (or other pigment ink) and instead of stamping quickly, let the ink soak in for a few seconds. I had my girls put the stamp down and count to 10 before they lifted it up.
Let the ink air dry for 24 hours.
Turn inside out & heat set in the dryer on medium heat for 30 minutes.
Then for future care, it's best to wash it in cold water and air dry, but if you don't mind a little fading, you can just wash it with your regular laundry. (That's what I usually do - who can be bothered with all that extra stuff!!!)
Be sure tosign upfor my FREE Stampin' Up! e-Newsletter to receive coupons, stamping tips, ideas, and subscriber-only contests!
Stampin' Up! has announced another great promotion for the month of August - and it's all about the kids!!
You can purchase the brand-new Décor Elements Growth Chart (#117519) for just $24.95, and as an added bonus, receive a free applicator
tool with your purchase (a $1.95 value). This adorable Growth Chart is self-adhesive vinyl and part of our Definitely Decorative (formerly Decor Elements) line. It features the colors Taken with Teal, Old Olive, and Chocolate Chip. The Growth Chart is only available
August 1-September 30.
* AND/OR *
Spend
$35 on stamp sets from the Growing Up section of the 2009-2010 Idea
Book & Catalog (pages 74-90) and receive a FREE package of Designer
buttons (Playground, Sherbet, or Button Latte)--a $7.95 value!
There is no limit, so you will receive a free container of buttons for every $35 that you spend!!
In order to take advantage of these great offers, order on my website or email me your order!!
Be sure tosign upfor my FREE Stampin' Up! e-Newsletter to receive coupons, stamping tips, ideas, and subscriber-only contests!
What is an All Occasion Card Class without a kids' birthday card? This card would be great for a birthday boy or a birthday girl from 1 year-old to 7 years-old!! Heck - it could even make a good baby shower card if Sesame Street is the theme!
Since there is very little stamping on this card, the star of the show is the Scallop Punch. Here is how to create each character.
Big Bird 1- Yoyo Yellow Scallop Punch 2- Whisper White ½” circle punch 1- Yoyo Yellow Small Oval Punch 1- Pixie Pink Small Oval Punch - cut in half 2- Basic Black ¼” circle punch Cut strips in yellow rectangle (about 1" x 1/2") to create hair Elmo 1- Real Red Scallop Punch 2- Whisper White ½” circle punch 2- Basic Black ¼” circle punch 1- Only Orange ½” circle punch 1- Basic Black 1-1/4” circle punch – cut in half
Cookie Monster 1- Brilliant Blue Scallop Punch 2- Whisper White ½” circle punch 2- Basic Black ¼” circle punch 1- Basic Black 1-1/4” circle punch – cut so mouth is more than half the circle 1- Close to Cocoa ½” circle punch - use Black marker to make chocolate chips, punch out 1/4" circles for bite marks
Oscar the Grouch 1- Green Galore Red Scallop Punch 2- Whisper White ½” circle punch 2- Basic Black ¼” circle punch 2- Close to Cocoa Horizontal Slot Punch 1- Real Red ½” circle punch – cut in half 1- Basic Black small oval punch – cut so mouth is more than half the oval
Hope you enjoyed today's sample!! Come back tomorrow for another one!!
Be sure tosign upfor my FREE Stampin' Up! e-Newsletter to receive coupons, stamping tips, ideas, and subscriber-only contests!
I had a very busy weekend with lots of parties & sports, so I had hoped to post the card I made for Mother's Day BEFORE the weekend, but that never happened. So instead, I'll still show you the card, but I'll also show you a little surprise I had in church yesterday.
First, here is the card. Unfortunately it's not the best picture, because at first I forgot to take it, and when I remembered I was sitting in a gym watching my kids take swimming lessons (one of the various sporting events this weekend), so I apologize for the poor quality, but I think you get the "picture." (get it??? LOL!!)
It's a really simple card using Fifth Avenue Floral and Pink Pirouette, Riding Hood Red, Kiwi Kiss, and Chocolate Chip. Can you really go wrong with this set and those colors????
Okay, now onto the surprise from church. On Saturday, Emily went to church because they had a "Mother's Day Craft Extravaganza" for the kids. (Erin had a birthday party otherwise she would have gone too.) They made various things and Emily presented me with lots of gifts from there yesterday morning. But when we walked in to church, I saw this BIG poster on the wall and Emily wanted to sit right by it.
So we did, and I started reading it. All the kids had colored in their handprints and added a reason why their mom is so great. One kid said his mom was a great cook and another said she was good at folding laundry (I personally thought that was pretty funny - she must have been thrilled!! LOL!!), but here was what Emily said about me:
How did she know that was the perfect thing to say????? Ya gotta love it!!!
Be sure tosign upfor my FREE Stampin' Up! e-Newsletter to receive coupons, stamping tips, ideas, and subscriber-only contests!
Here is another week's worth of projects from my Kids' Stamping Class this past month.
In this class the kids learned about the Polished Stone Technique, which is a background technique using rubbing alcohol, dye reinkers, and metallic reinkers on glossy paper. The card we made used this technique.
Our 3D item was a lollipop holder. It was the easiest thing EVER to make!! (The hardest part is finding "flat" lollipops.) I was inspired to figure this out based on Stampin' Up!'s pocket notes. The covering is made from a 7” x 2.5” strip of white cardstock that we punched with a slit punch and folded. We added a small circle punch (actually half of it) at the bottom for our lollipop stick to go through & had fun decorating the outside. I used two retired sets - Buttons, Bows, and Twinkletoes and Treat Yourself for the stmaping.
Both samples above are the ones created by my daughter during the class. It's amazing how well the kids follow directions. They have really done an excellent job!
Be sure tosign upfor my FREE Stampin' Up! e-Newsletter to receive coupons, stamping tips, ideas, and subscriber-only contests!
Today is Emily's 100th Day of School and it's a BIG DEAL!!!! When I was little, we never celebrated the 100th day, but now it's almost like a holiday!!! Starting from the very first day of school, the days are counted. In kindergarten & first grade, they use straws to count the days, and every time they get to a multiple of 10, the straws get tied in a bundle. SO not only are the kids learning to count to 100, but they learn to count by 10s to 100. Pretty clever concept, huh?
So anyway, when they get all the way to 100 it's HUGE!!!! Last year in kindergarten we had to bring in 100 of something in a bag. Emily brought in 100 flower petals since she had just been in my niece's wedding. But this year in first grade, they had to make a 100 Day Project. The project had to include 100 of something, but it had to be some kind of a display, not just 100 things in a bag.
So since Emily is queen princess of the Big Shot, she decided she wanted to die cut 100 felt flowers and arrange them on a piece of paper. We went to the store and bought sticky felt (I thought that would be easier). We only bought 5 sheets of felt, and realized it wasn't going to be enough. The die I had for flowers (Flower Layers w/ Leaf) made BIG flowers, so we could only get 12 out of one sheet (60 flowers total). Hmmmm..... So we decided to use the leaf also (which is on the same die - 20 leaves) and I also got out my butterfly die (Stampin' Up! Beautiful Butterflies) and we were able to squeeze out 20 butterflies from the scrap. 60 flowers + 20 leaves + 20 butterflies = 100 diecuts!!!!
Also since the shapes were so big, we decided to attach them to fabric, so I got out my fabric stash from 100 years ago and let her pick out what she liked (she picked white satin) and I sewed up the edges to make it neater (and I made her help me - her first experience with a sewing machine). And then of course we had to iron the fabric because it had some pretty nasty creases in it from being in a box for those 100 years. :) (I made her do the ironing too - didn't want to lose the opportunity to teach some domestic tasks that I could use to my advantage in the future!!!)
Then finally all the pieces were ready and it just had to be assembled. Jeff helped with that part & even Erin put on a few things.
Here she is this morning holding up her project (notice the flowers make the number "100"):
She was SO excited for today. She didn't even give me a problem getting out of bed. Can't wait to hear what the other 100 Day Projects were!!
My daughter Erin wasn't the only one in the family making Valentines this year!! Emily (who is almost 7) hand stamped her own Stampin' Up! Valentine cards, too. They were a lot like Erin's but Emily actually did all the work by herself, other than cutting the paper. Every single one was colored differently. Here are a few samples:
You might notice that sometimes Emily puts the card together backwards. (The first two cards open backwards.) I think that is SO CUTE!! I know someday she won't do it wrong anymore, and I'll probably forget she ever did it wrong, but for now, it reminds me of her innocence and how stamping should be all about being FUN and not making it perfect. Oh to be 6 1/2 again!!!
And here is one more sample for you. I actually made Jeff a card this year!!! SHOCKING!!! That almost never happens. (Mostly because I really feel like Valentine's Dy should be all about ME - well, it is my birthday!!) But I have been dying to take the heart from the Always set stamp and make it into a Valentine's card. And since this isn't for a class or a workshop, I pulled out my Cuttlebug folders, too. I think it might need a greeting, but I don't have any stamps that I like, so I'm just going to write a bunch of gushy stuff on the inside.
Here is a quick recipe: Stamp set: Always Paper: Very Vanilla, Riding Hood Red, Close to Cocoa, Candy Lane DSP Ink: Versamark Accessories: White Detail EP, Script Cuttlebug Folder
Hope you get a chance to make your own Valentines this year!! They have been so much fun!!!
Be sure to come back tomorrow for a little Valentine candy gift idea. (That is assuming I get it finished!!!)
As a parent, you don't really notice subtle differences in how your kids' abilities improve, but when you compare those abilities from one year to the next, you can see big improvements!! For example, this year's Valentine's to last year's Valentine's.
Here are some of Erin's Valentine's this year (at 4 years old). If you want to compare, check out this post for her work last year (same concept, same stamp set, just the improved coloring from one year to the next).
So if you are here looking for ideas for your kids to make this year (and it's approaching the 11th hour), grab your rubber stamps and some 12 x 12 cardstock. Cut the cardstock at 6 x 3 and fold it in half. You end up with a great 3x3 size card, just right for little hands. If you do the stamping, you can let them do the coloring and it keeps them busy, and they stay relatively clean. If you don't have rubber stamps (you should get some!!!), but you can also draw a heart on the front and have them color that in.
And most of all, don't forget to save one or take a picture of them, so you can compare their motor skills from year to year!!!
The stamp set used on this card (and for last year's card) is Happy Heart Day. It's too late for this year, but if you want to purchase this for next year, click here and it will be shipped right to you!!
