Have a fun flight of fancy creating this adorable birdhouse box and coordinating cards using bright colors and the versatile Good Friend stamp set!

With this tutorial (or class kit), you will make one Birdhouse Box to hold cards and four coordinating cards with envelopes. The whimsical style and bright colors in this project are sure to make you smile.

This project uses the Good Friend stamp set and circle punches (plus a good pair of scissors – I highly recommend our Paper Snips).

For a slightly different look, here is an alternative project layout using the same directions and templates!

Choose from the tutorial instructions alone, or order the class kit which includes all of the card stock, ribbon and brads - you supply the stamp set, ink pads and punches.

Do you remember this post where I created the recessed window card for my Step-Mom's birthday? As I mentioned, the instructions were a little difficult for me to follow (I'm a very visual learner), so I finally created a video tutorial to show all of you visual learners how to create the recessed window (with my own spin on the technique, so you can easily mail your card without it getting smashed in the mail).

Here is the card I made in the video:

I also tried narrating the video for the first time (my camera doesn't pick up audio very well, so until now I've relied on music and text on the screen to help describe the technique). So please let me know whether you like the narration, or would prefer that I stick with text and music. J

I mention in the video, but I want to say it again here, that I do not recommend starting with dry embossed card stock for your first recessed window project. While it worked and I love the final card, it was not the easiest to work with. J

Here's the video:

Thanks for visiting and I hope you find the video useful!

- Kari

Sorry it's been so long since my last video. I purchased some new software and the learning curve is steeper than I expected. I think in the long run it will be worth it, but it has been a bit frustrating these past couple of weeks.

Anyway, enough of the whining (though a little cheese with my whine wouldn't be bad). J

We made this project during November's Christmas card stamp-a-stack. It's a nice way to give a gift card to someone.

I hope you enjoy this clever little gift card holder made from a standard envelope:

- Kari

Since I posted my second video tutorial previously, I've had a number of people ask me where my first tutorial was. That video was a special video for my newsletter subscribers (October's issue). Since it's been over a month since that newsletter released, I figured it's time to post that video here for anyone who is interested in different ways to use your Stamp-a-ma-jig (there really are numerous ways).

The Stamp-a-ma-Jig stamp positioner is useful for many different things you may do in your stamping day.  Check out this video for different ways to use it:

(Remember, this was my first video, so I'm still in the learning stages. )

If you want to be the first to see new videos, projects, etc., sign up for my newsletter (upper-left corner of my website).

Happy stamping!
- Kari

Happy Friday, Stampers! In this post I shared some of these cute Box-in-a-Bag creations I made for Halloween treats. Some people requested that I share more details on how to make them, so I created my second video tutorial! For the original bag I shared, I made it in Halloween-themed colors. For this video tutorial I was thinking Christmas, so I used our beautiful Holiday Treasures DSP!

So grab your 12" paper trimmer, bone folder, Sticky Strip, a couple of punches and join in to create these fun bags!

I hope you enjoyed this. Please let me know if you like these video tutorials, and if the response is positive, I'll start work on creating some more (I think the next one will have to be how to make the gift card holders out of an envelope – love those!).

Happy stamping!

Welcome to my weekly feature – quick card of the week. These are cards that you can make in 10 minutes or less. The techniques used are simple, fast and easy, and still result in a beautiful card. So next time you need a card in a hurry, look no further than my Quick Card of the Week.

This week's card was made for a dear friend of mine. Her birthday was last week (and would you believe that I forgot to send her card in time – ouch!). Hopefully she can forgive me for being late. You've probably noticed that I'm enamored with the Big Shot (#113439) and the Top Note die (#113463). It's so easy to use and very versatile. So this week's card uses the Top Note and the Upsy Daisy stamp set (#111710) and the beautiful Bella Rose DSP (#112041); throw in a little Dazzling Diamonds glitter and a cheater bow and you have a quick, elegant card!

Now I just have to share how easy this "cheater" bow is. You'll need your Crop-a-Dile (love this tool!) and your ribbon.

First, punch a hole in your card stock where you want your bow to be:

Then, place your ribbon on the front of your project (you will be wrapping the ribbon from the front to the back).

Pull the ends to the inside and feed one end through the hole from the back to the front:

Do the same thing with the other end (so now both ends of the ribbon are through the hole feeding from the back to the front):

On the front, place a ribbon end on each side of the ribbon on the front:

Then tie your ribbon as desired (I like a simple overhand knot – left over right):

Here's what it looks like from the inside:

I hope you enjoy this easy, quick bow technique!

Happy (quick) stamping!

Julie asked a question about how I created this card and I decided to provide a mini-tutorial on using the Cuttlebug embossing folders with our new BigShot die-cutting system!

First, for those of you who haven't seen our new Big Shot yet, I thought I'd share a picture:

I know the angle is a bit strange – that's because of the photographer (that would be me). This picture was taken with the Big Shot sitting on my desk – but I didn't count on all of the other "stuff" on my desk, so I tried to just grab the Big Shot only. Anyway, you hopefully get the idea. On the cutting platform are the multi-purpose spacer platform and the 2 cutting plates. The multi-purpose spacer platform is really neat, because you can use it with other companies' dies and embossing folders (like Cuttlebug!).

Now the original card I made I used my Cuttlebug, because I didn't have the Big Shot yet (in fact I didn't even know Stampin' Up! was partnering with Sizzix at that point). But to recreate the card, I just *had* to use my new Big Shot (have to justify the cost some how – don't you agree?!).

To start, you need to place a piece of card stock inside the Cuttlebug embossing folder like this:

By the way, please pardon the different colors you'll see in these pictures. The original card I was making was pink, but the pink didn't show up very well in the pictures, so I created another card using some of my left over Wild Wasabi. I already sent both cards to some dear ladies and I hope they liked them!

Next, you will make a "sandwich" to run through the Big Shot. Start with the multi-purpose platform and you want to use Tab 1 (you can see it in the picture to the right). Then layer one of the cutting mats, then the embossing folder, and last (on the very top) the second cutting mat.

That's it – just start cranking the handle to run everything through the machine.

When you remove the sandwich from the Big Shot and the card stock from the embossing folder, you will have a really cool, embossed piece of card stock:

Here's a close up:

Now you can use this embossed card stock however you choose. Here is how I used the green piece:

And a close up so you can hopefully see the Dazzling Diamonds glitter that I used in the center of the flower:

And here is the card I made using the Pink Pirouette card stock and our new Dreams du Jour stamp set:

And as I frequently mention, I love decorating my envelopes to match (though I didn't get a picture of the envelope for the green card):

You can view our Big Shot "catalog" here.

I hope you enjoyed my little embossing "tutorial". Please let me know if you have any questions.

Happy Stamping!

Okay, this has to be the best self-control I've ever had. My order finally arrived and I told myself that I had to post this tutorial before I opened any of the boxes. Can you believe that restraint?! LOL! I'm having trouble typing this; the boxes are calling me…

Charlotte, this tutorial is for you – thanks for submitting comments with your feedback and questions. I greatly appreciate it!

I call this technique Layered Sunsets (or sunrise if you prefer), hopefully for obvious reasons.

Supplies:

• Card stock: Glossy white (I also used Basic Black – 4 x 5.25" - and Kiwi Kiss – 5.5x8.5")
• Accessories: rubber brayer & handle, typing weight paper (the thinner the better)
• Inks: your choice of 3 complementing colors (I used Baja Breeze, Lovely Lilac, and Pacific Point)
• Stamps: your choice

Step 1 – Brayer lightest color of ink (Baja Breeze) over entire piece of Glossy White card stock (3.75 x 5"). You may need to apply 2-3 coats of ink to get the coverage you desire.

Step 2 – Tear typing weight paper in a jagged line (you don't want it straight). Be sure the paper is as larger, or larger, than the Glossy card stock. This will be your mask for brayering the next 2 layers of ink.

Step 3 – Lay the torn mask over the Glossy card stock, leaving approximately 2/3 of the card stock showing. Brayer the second color of ink (Lovely Lilac in my sample) over the mask and glossy card stock. When you have the desired color, the card stock will look something like this:

Step 4 – Move the mask up so it covers about 2/3 of the card stock, leaving 1/3 showing. Brayer with the darkest color ink (Pacific Point in my sample).

Step 5 – Stamp as desired.

Here I used Lovely as a Tree with both White StazOn and Pacific Point ink. Then I stamped the saying from Heard from the Heart in Pacific Point. Last I took my Itty Bitty Backgrounds and added "snow" with White StazOn. (Note: I used the White StazOn because this ink will dry on the Glossy card stock. If I used White Craft ink, I would have had to emboss it, otherwise it wouldn't dry.)

Here's a close up so that hopefully it's easier to see the white "ghost" trees:

Now, you may be asking yourself, why did Kari title this post as Christmas Card of the Month? Well, I decided that to make it easier to get my Christmas/holiday cards ready that I'm not going to procrastinate this year (okay, it's a goal), and make at least 10 holiday cards every month. In case any of you want to join me, I decided to post my cards here for you to copy as you please. I hope you will enjoy this new monthly feature!

This is my first tutorial, so please leave me a comment and let me know what you think of it. Would you like to see more? Should I change something? Was anything not clear? Are there specific tutorials you'd like to see me create? I honestly do value your feedback, so please let me know what you're thinking. To entice more of you to comment, be on the lookout for upcoming Blog Candy!

I think this is plenty for the day, plus my boxes are calling me!

Happy Stamping!