My Stamping Garage

Tasteful Trim - used for Pumpkin

 
I promised more samples of things made with the ric rac from the Tasteful Trim Big Shot die - well here is one idea. Actually, I have to credit Heather Summers for mentioning to me that you could make a pumpkin - thanks, Heather! 

I have ordered the pumpkin faces die, but it is not here yet. when it arrives, I will take more pictures with the faces attached!

This is what I have for now. I did the same steps to make the base of the pumpkin as I did to make the base of the flowers, but used 2 strips of Tangerine Tango for the pumpkin base. After making the base, I attached it to a scallop circle to cover the hole on the bottom. (you could also put a circle punch inside the bottom of the pumpkin if you didn't want the scallop to show.

Then I took the flower sizzlet and cut a flower (with a hole in the middle). I rolled a strip of cardstock to make a stem and put that down through the hole - I cut tabs that I bent up and adhered to the "flower" to make a top for the pumpkin. Next, I used mini glue dots to attach a piece of butterscotch candy to the lid.I added a "vine" using the swirls sizzlit.

Next I put the candy inside of the pumpkin and put the lid in place.

 

Workshop Wow Tutorial - Flowers from Tasteful Trim Die

 Please note: I am all for freely sharing! All I ask is that if you want to share this idea with others, please link to my blog or at least make your own samples and take pictures. Please do not copy my photos to your blog - thanks!

 

 I was asked to do a Workshop Wow at the Founder's Circle St. George, UT half day regional.  This technique was actually a "happy accident". I discovered this while trying to come up with a cute way to use the large ric rac pattern as a scrapbook border. I was trying to weave two colors together, and as I started to do that, the pieces started to form a spiral. What a fun way to make a quick and easy paper chain! I played further with this idea and came up with these paper flowers.

 

You can do the flowers in a single color, or mix two colors - I like the look of the two colors. You could also sponge the edge of the ric rac pieces before weaving them together for a more natural look.

You will need at least two ric rac pieces cut using the Big Shot and the Tasteful Trim die. Place a piece of sticky strip along the top edge of one of the pieces.

Overlap the two pieces and adhere them together along the top edge using the sticky strip. Then begin weaving the two pieces together.

As you weave the pieces, force the top part of the strip to round in on itself by curling the top to the inside.

Finish the flower "body" by adhering the bottom ends to the flower using sticky strip.

To form the flower center, punch a circle from card stock using the 1 inch circle punch.

Layer 4 Stampin' Dimensional onto the back side of the 1 inch circle of card stock. (Be sure to remove the paper from both sides of each dimensional as you stack them).

Add a button to the front side of the 1 inch circle using mini glue dots.

Cut "leaves" for your flower using the Island Blossom Die with the Big Shot. This die already has a hole in the center of the piece, so slide it onto a shish-ka-bob stick.

push the tip of the stick through the center of the stampin' dimensionals that you have stacked. If possible, force the pointed end of the stick into one of the holes on the button. This keeps the stick securely in place.

Slide this "center" into the back side of your flower.

Push the center to the top of the flower (it should be wide enough that it will not come out the top of the hole of the flower). Add mini glue dots to the leaves, then bring the leaves up to the flower base and adhere to the bottom of the flower. This will keep the flower from sliding back down the stick.

 

You can make the flowers full and open like this one, or by cutting the ric rac strips in half, you can make the flowers look like they are smaller and not quite open.

   

Check back in the next few days for new ways to use this technique!
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Founder's Circle - finale

What a whirlwind of activity!  This year's Founder's Circle trip was busy, but a great time to visit with old friends and make lots of new ones!

As always, the final event was a blast!

 

We were told to wear our new bowling shirts to the final event on Saturday. When we arrived at the convention center, we were pretty curious to see what was up - especially when we saw this sign prominently displayed on the convention center!

Thankfully, it was a false alarm, and what was in store was much more fun! Here are some of the highlights:

 

The tables and decorations were wonderful, as always!

 

The main event was Wii bowling!
  

 

Our group was the "Bitty Buttons"

 

There were screens all around the room so that each team could play.

We each had our own unique "style"

 Tamie was our pro Diana Gibbs was really good as well,and I loved

her approach - she looked like a ballerina!

Patty got the award in our group for the most enthusiasm!

Caroline and Fannie got the award for the best form - HA! Fannie actually got a strike bowling backward through her legs!

Cindy wasn't really thrilled with her final score

 

Patty may not have won her round, but she was a great sport about it!

 

Even Shelli got into the action!

Strike one!

 

Strike two!

 
ALMOST strike three -

Oh the agony of defeat! Shelli ALMOST got a Turkey!

 

She fared pretty well in the end!  Hmmm.... I wonder if she practiced??

All that activity worked up our appetites, and just in time for dessert!

Shelli couldn't choose, so she took the sampling approach.  I like her style! She was kind enough to share her chocolate with several at our table, so she made some great friends!

As always, the event was so much fun, and everything was executed with great attention to detail! KelleeSue and her team outdid themselves once again!

Many of us ended our time at Founder's with a trip to Tuachan (an outdoor amphitheater) to see "Crazy for You". The performance was amazing, the scenery breathtaking, and the friendships ........ PRICELESS!

As we were leaving to get on the buses to go back to the hotel to pack, Joyce and I got a quick picture with the lead characters from the play.

Saying goodbye to friends for this year was kind of sad, but we all left motivated and hoping to return next year!
 
 
 
 

   
 
  
 
 
 
 
  

 
 

Founder's Circle 2010 - coming to an end

Several of us went on a canyoneering trip. This is MUCH more than a hike! We descended through a very narrow slot canyon. This included rappelling 6 times, as well as scrambling and even straddling between the sides of the canyon to avoid walking through some yucky water!  Here are some pictures from the trip.

 

 

The second rappel was the longest of the day. This next picture is not of me, but is one of the other girls in our group. The pictures taken from the top don't do this justice. This picture gives the best perspective. This one took the most guts to step off the edge to start your way down!

 

This is a good picture of our group of 10 that went together.

Check back later for pictures of the final event that was held on Saturday.
 

 
   

 

Founder's Circle - Friday

What a day we had Friday!

The treat for the day was a fantastic and tasty and HUGE cinnamon roll - with a choice of various flavors of course!

The day started off with a fabulous half day regional in the morning. The samples and presentations were great!  They announced a special for those at regionals. If someone joins our team from now through October 3rd, they will get a great new "Eat Chocolate" stamp set for free with their starter kit. Here are some samples from the set.

After returning, several of us went canyoneering together. This involved rappelling 6 times down into a slot canyon and then after we got to the bottom, we hiked back out. (I will be sharing these pictures a bit later, as I don't have the disc yet.

We got back just in time to join the big Pajama party/business share/card swap

Pam and I had the same jammies!

We got back to our rooms to another awesome pillow gift. This one is for the final event.

I actually presented at regionals yesterday, and I will be sharing a tutorial of the flowers that I made. Here is a sneak peak, but right now, I have to run and get ready for our final event!

 

 
 
 
 

Founder's Circle 2010 - day 2

Today was another wonderful day in St. George. Most people went on the tour of the Kanab Manufacturing facility. This is an awesome trip! I usually join in the fun of the trip, but this year I opted to stay in St. George to relax for awhile.

I starte the day off by going and doing make and takes with friends. The new stamp set and punch we got are amazing! The projects were REALLY CUTE!

After I finished my make and takes, I  went and picked out my special goodies for the day - the HUGE cookies were VERY TASTY! The decorations looked good enough to eat, too!

I spent a couple of hours soaking up some wonderfully warm sunshine by the pool.

For dinner, I went to Asanazi's with a large group of friends. We started the meal with a cheese fondue, then each of us ordered a steak which was served on a very hot lava stone. The meat came paritally cooked, and then you cut each bite and seared it on the stone for several seconds before eating it. It was REALLY GOOD! For dessert, we got a chocolate fondue. They brought us lots of yummy things to dip in the chocolate!

When we returned to our rooms, there was another "sweet" surprise waiting for us!

What was inside this adorable cupcake was even sweeter! We each got a simply adorned charm hand stamped and adorned with a ribbon and a black bauble. I LOVE it!

I am off to bed, as the bus leaves for the regional early in the morning!   
 

 

Stampin' Up! Founder's Circle - welcome dinner

We just finished the welcome dinner at Founder's Circle. Awesome as always!  They continued the retro theme with records on the tables as the center pieces. The flowers were in old glass coke bottles, and our placemats were record jackets.

They did something new this year. Each of us got a different colored scarf attached to our name tags. We had to find the other people with the same color of scarf as we had. These were the people we sat with at dinner. It was such a great idea, as we got to meet a lot of new people. It was so much fun!  We definitely laughed our way through dinner! This is a picture of me with two of my table mates - Tamie Ackerson and Meg Daves.

It never ceases to amaze me the many small details that go into every part of Founder's Circle. Tonight was no exception.  Our dinner was beef wellington (which was delicious) - but check out what it looked like when it was served!  I don't know who was given the task of cutting all of the "S's" and "U's" for the top, but all I can say is "wow"!

I had to laugh when dessert was served. Everyone at our table grabbed their cameras to take pictures.

When I returned to my room, my make and take materials were on my bed - fun!

I wish I could show a couple of the new products - they are to die for!  Unfortunately, I don't think I am supposed to show them, so you will just have to trust me that you will be thrilled when you see them for the first time!  

 
 

Founder's Circle 2010

We have arrived!!

This is what the entrance to the hotel looked like as we pulled up for the annual Stampin' Up! Founder's Circle event.

I got to see KelleeSue and Brian preparing for the first bus to arrive. Loved the cute outfits!!

The theme is obviously a "retro" theme as the name tags on our doors are put onto old records - awesome

The entryway to the hotel boasted this red leather couch

This is the theme banner in the dining area - apparently our theme this year is "FABULOUS"

Well, it has started off true to the theme name!  Here is a picture of the hospitality room where we were greeted with gourmet caramel apples, homemade toffee, and a chance to try our hand at winning prizes by playing "plinko"

Cori Hancock was the offical toffee and caramel apple server. She even cut the apples into wedges so they were easy to eat! I chose an apple with caramel, white and milk chocolate, and rice krispies with a touch of cinnamon sugar - YUM!

 
 I love this amazing decor element made especially for this event. This "girl" sure looks like Tess from our Totally Tess Stamp set. Who knew she also worked the candy counter at Founder's Circle!

 

For now, I will leave you with a couple more pictures of the hospitality room complete with tables  that look like they were taken straight out of an antique soda shop, and pillows that some kind person/persons sewed our new designer buttons onto - AWESOME! (thanks, Selma - a little birdie told me you may have had a hand in that!)

That's all for now! Be sure to check back each day this week, as I will be posting more of my adventures at the Founder's Circle retreat. I am headed to the pool for a bit of R & R until the welcome dinner this evening!