Freesias for you

I'm fairly sure these pretty flowers - a stamp by La Blanche called simply "Spray Flower" - are freesias. Not quite sure...anyone have any other guesses?

I stamped them on a rounded rectangle diecut (Wplus9), and colored the image with Copic markers. And then, oh so carefully, I added a pale yellow background with the help from a Copic, and then Antique Linen distress ink was sponged around the edges while the die was still in place.

I set the panel over top of a Spellbinders Fancy Tags Three die cut, and topped it with a Tiny Tag die cut (Papertrey Ink). A little vintage thread bow was threaded through the hole at the top.

I've added some pearls, and a tied on a Colleen Bow using Hug Snug seam binding in Danish Blue.

By the way, I hang all of my Hug Snug seam binding rolls (plus a few smaller American Crafts ribbon rolls) on one of these pant hangers from The Container Store:

This hanger happens to be on sale right now, too! 

Come Tour My Crafting Studio!

You are cordially invited to tour my new craft studio in the attic.

Just click HERE to visit!

Inspired By Stamping Release Day!

Today at Inspired By Stamping all the new stamps and dies are in the store!  This release is just so beautiful.  Let me show you some of the goodies.

I used Flowers Bloom for the purple wedding (or Confirmation, graduation, whatever!) card below:

I stamped the frame with Perfect Plum ink, die cut it using the new Fancy Label Dies I, then colored the flowers with Copic markers.

The pretty White Curly Flower is sold at IBS, too.

For the next card, I used Small Fancy Labels I:

Although it's still winter - and I LOVE winter! - this card has a decidedly fresh, spring-like color palette (and of course, there are butterflies!).

I used Soft Sky to ink the frame, ran it through my Big Shot with the new Fancy Label Dies I, and stamped on a sweet sentiment.  Had to add some Liquid Pearls, you know!  tee hee

The next project was oh-so-fun to dream up!  I've recently bought lots of buttons, and needed some cool storage for them.  I decided to re-purpose little candle holders from Bath and Body Works using the new set, Crafty Organization and the Fancy Label Dies I.

Here's the candle jar before (this one smells a bit like frankincense...mmm!)....

...then cleaned and filled with buttons....

...and then topped with these snazzy labels!  I kept the labels flat, so that I can stack more button jars on top as I use up the candles for more button storage.

Blog candy alert!!  For a chance to win a 4" x 8" stamp set of your choice PLUS the new dies, leave love at these blogs today:

Colleen Dietrich (that's me!)

Deb Hickman

Kendra Sand

Joanna Munster

And then tomorrow, leave love on these blogs for another chance to win:

Liz Weber

Irit Shalom

Joanna Munster

Important Stuff To Know:

• The release starts on Thursday, January 10th, when all the products will be available for purchase.
• Special bundle pricing:   buy Small Fancy Labels 1, Just Because, Flowers Bloom and Crafty Organization plus Fancy Label Dies I for a 15% discount.
• Free shipping on orders over $25 THURSDAY AND FRIDAY ONLY.
• Blog candy!  To be eligible, please leave a comment on everyone's blog, both Thursday and Friday, for a chance to win.  We will have a winner on Thursday AND a winner on Friday.  Each winner will receive (1)  4" x 8" stamp set of his/her choice and the new die.  The die set retails at $19.99!
• Become a fan on our Facebook page for a chance to win the new die set!  Already a fan?  You're eligible and are entered in the drawing.  Please share this with your friends so they have a chance to win, too.

Thanks for joining me today!  I truly appreciate your visit.  :)



Purple Special Day:
Dimensions: 4.25" x 5.5"
Stamps: Flowers Bloom - Inspired By Stamping
Paper: Pale Plum, Perfect Plum - SU; white - PTI; Old World - DCWV
Ink: Perfect Plum - SU
Other: White Curly Flower - IBS; Copic markers; purple gems - Queen & Co.; Fancy Label Dies I - IBS

Butterflies For You:
Dimensions: 4.25" x 5.5"
Stamps: Small Fancy Labels - IBS
Paper: Daffodil Delight, green and yellow patterns - SU; white - PTI
Ink:  Soft Sky - SU; Versafine Onyx Black -Tsukineko
Fibers: blue polka dot ribbon
Other: White Opal Liquid; butterfly die cuts - SU; Fancy Label Dies I - IBS

Button Jars:
Stamps: Crafty Organization - IBS
Paper: white - PTI
Ink:  Baja Breeze - SU; Versafine Onyx Black - Tsukineko
Other:  Fancy Label Dies I - IBS

Spellbinders Die Cut Storage

Good morning!  Many of you know I do not have a craft room.  I use my dining room table, which is the only table in the house.  My supplies have to be tucked away, as out of sight as possible so no one trips over the stuff during our daily lives.

I recently read about someone using magnetic vent covers for Spellbinders Die Cut storage, and thought that would work for me too.

My craft cabinet is our former TV/entertainment armoire, now located in the dining room.  The inside of the doors were transformed last night into die cut heaven!

My husband bought me a 3 pack of magnetic vent covers like these, available at hardware stores or even Amazon.com:

I added this double-sided adhesive to stick them to the doors:

Unfortunately, that 3-pack of vent covers didn't create enough storage for me, so I thought of something else.
You know those advertising magnets you get in the mail, from realtors and restaurants, or even can find on your Yellow Pages book?  These.....

I just put that adhesive on 'em and hung those up too - virtually free storage! (except for the tape)

It might not be fancy, but it beats keeping these in a box.  I like looking at everything!  And because I LOOOVE organization, I keep all of the original Spellbinders package fronts in my Big Binder like this:

That same binder holds pictures of all my stamps and punched-out pieces from all of my punches, too.
I couldn't get along without that Big Binder!

I've got another post to share later, so I'll see you soon!  Thanks for joining me.  :)

Colleen

Storage - thinking outside the box

I have plenty of small, die-cut paper pieces that needed storage.  At first, I just put them into a plastic zip-top baggie.  That wasn't good enough for me, as my collection grew.  One night I sorted them by shape (organizing is one of my favorite things to do - honestly!) and decided upon some new storage options.

These boxes came from soaps purchased at Marshall's/TJ Maxx for a couple of bucks each.  The soaps are terrific, but so are the pretty containers.  Each now holds a stash of die cuts, and they smell wonderful as a bonus!

While I was sorting through these paper shapes, some of the pieces got me thinking of card ideas.  I kept those out, and grouped certain things together.

You know when you buy rhinestone or pearl stickers in those clear envelopes that have adhesive closures?  I always carefully remove my stickers from those envelopes and save them.  I use these now to store those die cut pieces that will eventually be used on specific cards.  

And one more idea for you.
Ribbon. 
It gets messy when cut from the roll, and it can be hard to search for just the right scrap you need sometimes.

I have these clear zippered bags left over from curtains I recently bought.  I sorted my ribbon by color families and voila!  Scraps contained. 

I hope these ideas have helped you, if you are in need of storage ideas.  Thanks for joining me!

Happy Stamping,
Colleen