Star Ornament (December Class Project)

This was a kind of challenging project -- partly because I gave my class attendees the wrong measurement for the cut that needs to be made -- so that required us to use tape and fix things before we could finish our projects.  They still turned out ok, I think (see photo of my star below), but this taught me an important lesson -- ALWAYS double-check directions before getting started!!!

Another important tip . . . be sure to read through ALL of the directions before beginning the project.  I've sometimes forgotten an important step by just starting out to make my project before reading everything, and have ended up having to backtrack to pick up a missed step.

Click on image for closer look.

NOTE:  Rather than trying to explain how to make the basic star, I'm going to refer you to a You Tube video for detailed instructions.  So much easier for you to understand than my trying to explain it in words . . . .  (See link below.)

Materials:

Paper:
* Timeless Elegance Designer Series Paper ("DSP") (2 pieces, each 6" x 6")
* Gold Glimmer Paper (about 12" x 4", maybe a little more)
* Shimmery White card stock (about 4-1/4" x 4-1/4")

Accessories and Tools:
* Big Shot Die Cutting Machine
* Leaflets Framelits Dies
* Darling Doily Thinlits Die (NOTE: This item is no longer available in the Stampin' Up! catalog, but as of today -- 12/14/2015 -- it is available online at a price of $14.99 -- visit my site at http://cathyhansen.stampinup.net, and click on the SHOP NOW link.  You'll find the die under the Year-End Sale link.)
* Gold Cording Trim**
* Gold Metallic Thread
* Adhesives: Tombow Liquid Glue for paper-to-paper gluing; Tear and Tape Adhesive.

** 2015 Stampin' Up! Holiday Mini Catalog (available through January 4, 2016)


Instructions:

First thing you need to do is view the You Tube video tutorial and make the basic 4-point star.  You will need two stars -- each uses one 6" x 6" piece of paper.  You can view the tutorial at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Wgdn3piXpU.  The basic star ornament will look something like this:

(NOTE:  If you want to add the fru-fru stuff as shown above, DO NOT join the two stars quite yet.) 

(IMPORTANT NOTE:  Before gluing all of the points together, if you want to have a hanging cord, cut a length of the Gold Cording Trim, hold the two ends together, and tie a BIG knot near the end.  Snip just a teeny-tiny tip off the end of one point on one of the two stars, and stash the cord inside the point before gluing down the flap -- loop on outside, BIG knot on inside.)

To add all of the "fluff" . . . follow these steps.

1. Use the Big Shot Die Cutting Machine and the Leaflets Die to cut 8 of the long, multi-pointed leaves from the Glimmer Paper.  Also cut one Darling Doily from Shimmery White card stock.

2. Adhere the leaves to the doily with a strong adhesive (I used Tombow Liquid Glue) as shown in this photo.  There are four leaves glued to each side of the doily, so what you're seeing on the opposite side of the doily is the back side of the Glimmer Paper.  Set this piece aside until Step 4 below.

Click on image for closer look.

3.  Hold the Gold Cording Trim and the Gold Metallic Thread together and wrap them around your fingers about 3 times to make a loop.  Pinch one end of the loop together and wrap Tear and Tape around the pinched end a few times -- as you're wrapping the tape, pull it away from the backing, so just the tape itself is wrapped around the loop -- not the backing.  Adhere the taped edge to the inside of the star as shown below.  You will need a total of 8 of these loops to go inside the four corners of each of the two stars.



Click on image for closer look.

4.  Now you need to go back and pick up the doily piece made in Step 2 above.  With the front side of the star facing down, make sure the glue end of the loops stay inside the star and kind of push the loopy parts down and toward the front of the star to get them out of your way.  Then use Tombow Liquid Glue or other strong adhesive to adhere the doily piece to the back side of the star.  (NOTE:  The glittery side of the leaves facing down should fall between the star points -- see top photo -- and the glittery side facing up will line up with the star points.  So, in other words, the wrong side of the glimmer paper leaves will be glued to the back side of the star points.)

5.  Let the glue dry and set up for a few minutes before repeating Step 4 to adhere the second star to the other side of the doily.  You'll want to kind of hold everything together for a few minutes to allow time for the glue to set up and take hold.  And then just let everything rest on the table for a while to allow the glue to dry completely before hanging your star.  (How do I know this?!  Because I was anxious to view my masterpiece and didn't allow the glue to dry completely on one of my stars.  As a result the glue didn't make good contact, so as I was sitting there admiring my work . . . BOOM!!!! . . . one side of my star just fell right off!)

I sure hope you enjoy this project.  Or even just the simple stars without all the added fluff!!!

Happy Holidays!

Cath  ;D

Poinsettia Gift Tab (December Class Project)

This easy 3D gift tag will add the perfect finishing touch to your holiday packages!

NOTE:  Rather than explaining in detail how to assemble the poinsettia, I've listed the items you'll need, and then referred you to a You Tube video (see link below) to see how to assemble it.  (One picture -- or video -- says a thousand words!)




Click on image for closer look.

Materials:

Stamp Sets:
* Reason for the Season**
* Happy Scenes (noel)**

Paper:
* Crumb Cake card stock (4-1/4" x 2"; about 3" x 3/4")
* Cherry Cobbler card stock (about 1/2 sheet)
* Always Artichoke card stock (about 4" x 2")
* Delightful Dijon card stock (about 2" x 3/4")

Ink:
* Cherry Cobbler Classic Stampin' Pad
* Always Artichoke Classic Stampin' Pad
* Black Memento Ink Stamp Pad

Accessories and Tools:
* Festive Flower Builder Punch**
* Scalloped Tag Topper Punch
* Project Life Corner Punch
* Stampin' Sponge
* Baked Brown Sugar Thick Baker's Twine (NOTE:  Not available in current catalog, but as of today - 12/14/2015 -- available online; check out the Year-End Sale at http://cathyhansen.stampinup.net - click on SHOP NOW link at top of page)
* Rhinestone Basic Jewels
* Adhesives: Tombow Liquid Glue

Miscellaneous:
* Mustard-colored Sharpie Pen

** 2015 Stampin' Up! Holiday Mini Catalog (expires January 4, 2016)


Instructions:

Tag:

1.  Use Scalloped Tag Topper punch to make tag from 4-1/4" x 2" Crumb Cake card stock; use Corner punch to trim bottom corners of tag.

2.  Use Memento Ink to stamp "NOEL" on scrap of Crumb Cake card stock; position word near right side of opening, and punch out with Washi Label punch. 

3.  Use Stampin' Sponge to apply Always Artichoke ink around edges of label and label.

Poinsettia:

4.  To assemble Poinsettia, you will need the following pieces:
* From Cherry Cobbler card stock, punch 8 of the large petals
* From Cherry Cobbler card stock, punch 4 of the smaller petals
* From Cherry Cobbler card stock, punch 2 of the two-petal pieces
* From Always Artichoke card stock, punch 3 of the large petals
* From Delightful Dijon card stock, punch 3 of the "x"es

The following link has a very good video tutorial on how to assemble the flower:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KTRP5cvrgrg

Once you've assembled the poinsettia, adhere it to the tag with one Stampin' Dimensional right in the middle of the back.  Then tuck the label under the flower and adhere to the tag with a bit of Tombow Liquid Glue.

Oh . . . one last thing:  I used the Sharpie Pen to color a small Rhinestone, and then placed it right in the center of the poinsettia.  Adds just the right bit of flash to the flower.

The Thick Baker's Twine is to attach your tag to a gift for your favorite person!

Enjoy!

Cath  ;D

Joy Greeting Card (December Class Project)

This was the last of my 2015 Christmas cards . . . using lots of different products from the 2015 Stampin' Up! Holiday Mini Catalog.  (Note:  Many of these items will retire January 4, 2016.  Check out my Stampin' Up! website at http://cathyhansen.stampinup.net and click on the SHOP NOW link at the top of the page to check out the year-end sale, including some of these items!)



Inspired by www.regalstamping.com

Materials:

Paper:
* Mossy Meadow card stock (8-1/2" x 5-1/2"; 3-1/2" x 1/2")
* Very Vanilla card stock (5-1/4" x 4")
* Cherry Cobbler card stock (about 3" x 2-1/4")
* Season of Cheer Designer Series Paper ("DSP") (poinsettia design - 4" x 2")**
* Home for Christmas DSP (music design - 3-1/2" x 2-1/2")**

Ink:
* Soft Suede Classic Stampin' Pad

Accessories and Tools:
* Big Shot Die Cutting Machine
* Bows and Berries Textured Impressions Embossing Folder**
* Wonderful Wreath Framelits Dies (Joy)
* Gold 3/8" Glitter Ribbon (4")**
* Reindeer Paper Clips**
* Linen Thread
* Gold Metallic Thread
* Stampin' Sponge
* Paper Snips
* Bone Folder
* Adhesives:  SNAIL Adhesive; Tear and Tape Adhesive; Mini Glue Dot; Fine Tip Glue Pen or Tombow Liquid Glue

** 2015 Stampin' Up! Holiday Mini Catalog


Instructions:

1. Score 8-1/2" x 5-1/2" Mossy Meadow card stock at 4-1/4"; fold away from score line to create card.

2. Use Big Shot and Embossing Folder to add embossing to Very Vanilla card stock.

3. Use Paper Snips to cut "V" shape at each end of 3-1/2" x 1/2" Mossy Meadow card stock.

4. Use Stampin' Sponge to apply Soft Suede ink around all edges of card front, Very Vanilla embossed card stock, both pieces of DSP, and 3-1/2" x 1/2" Mossy Meadow card stock.

5. Use SNAIL Adhesive to adhere Very Vanilla embossed card stock to front of card and to adhere poinsettia DSP over Very Vanilla at bottom.

6. Use Tear and Tape to adhere ribbon across top edge of DSP.

7. Use Bone Folder to slightly curl up bottom edges of music DSP and to edges of 3-1/2" x 1/2" Mossy Meadow card stock.  Use small amount of SNAIL Adhesive to adhere Mossy Meadow strip across top of music DSP; add Reindeer Paper Clip.  Use SNAIL Adhesive to adhere music DSP to front of card at an angle as shown.

8.  Holding linen thread and metallic thread together, make a small bow.  Adhere to paper clip with a Mini Glue Dot.

9.  Use Big Shot and Framelits Die to cut "Joy" from Cherry Cobbler paper stock.  Apply over music DSP with Fine Tip Glue Pen or tiny dots of Tombow Liquid Glue.

Now you're ready to add a holiday greeting on the inside and share with one of your favorite people!!!

Cath  ;D

December Class Projects

Saturday, December 12, is my last class date for the year!  Here are photos of the fun holiday things we'll be making.

Inspired by www.regalstamping.com

3D Poinsettia Tag

3D Star Ornament

Hope you can join me!  RSVPs are requested by Wednesday, December 9.

Cathy