Instructions for the box:

Cut a piece of Perfect Plum Card Stock at 6" x 11-1/4".

Score it at 3/4"  & ^-1/4"along the 6" side

Along the 11-1/4" side score it at 3/4", 5-1/4", 6" and 10-1/2".

You need to cut the tabs where shown on the diagram in red. Cut only to the scored lines.

The bottom scored line,  add Sticky Strip and fold it up. This edge will help to reinforce the box once constructed.

Box Diagram:

For the box, I made the lid separate.  I wanted to feature the Stampin' Up! new Labels Collection Framelits.  The innovative, thin, wafer-like design of these dies lets you see where you’re placing the design before you cut! Layer dies inside each other to cut frames for stamp images. And, as you can see the Labels Collection coordinates with this Stampin' Up! Apothecary Stamp Set.

For the lid I used the largest Label die with my Big Shot and cut one label out of Perfect Plum Card Stock.  With the next die, which nested nicely on the Perfect Plum, I cut out of Very Vanilla Card Stock. On the Very Vanilla label, I stamped the large wreath image from the Apothecary Stamp Set in Always Artichoke Ink.  I layered the two labels together and scored the lid with two score lines in the middle, so the lid would fit nicely from the back of the box to the front. On the back and top I placed Sticky Strip to really secure the lid.

The front  and back of the box, were each decorated with a 4" x 4" piece of  Always Artichoke Designer Series Paper. Foran added embellishment I cut one 2-3/4" label out of Perfect Plum and one 2-78" one out of Very Vanilla. On the Very Vanilla label I stamped part of the floral image from the Fresh Vintage Stamp Set in Always Artichoke Ink. I layered the two as shown and added two Basic Pearls to either side and one pearl to the lid flap.

To tuck inside the box we made two 4" x 4" Very Vanilla Cards. I used the same design on the front of the box, adding a piece of Always Artichoke Seam Binding.  

Oh, to keep the lid closed a self adhesive magnetic closure was used. I alway reinforce these with Crystal Effects. I find the closure tend to not hold and the Crystal Effects seems to do the job. These boxed sets are perfect for tucking in someone's Easter basket or make them for Mother's Day.

Have a great weekend and don't forget to check back on Sunday for a birthday card I made for someone very special. See you then…

Hugs,

Order the Apothecary Stamp Set and the Labels Collection Framelits and I'll send you a card especially made by me.

This banner was made using, Real Red, Whisper White, Regal Rose. Melon Mambo and Pretty-In-Pink Card Stock.

The stamp set used was the Take It to Heart set.

The Inks I used were Black Stazon for the large heart, Real Red for the Medium Large Heart, Regal Rose for the medium Heart and Melon Mambo for the smallest heart.

I cut out all the different size hearts using the new Heart Collection Framelits Die from Stampin' Up!.

Whisper White Satin Ribbon was used to hold all the hearts together and the bow was made from Whisper White Taffeta ribbon.

After all the hearts were layered I added Basic Rhinestone for some extra bling. I have mine hanging on one of my kitchen pantry doors and it looks great. I need to make another one for the other door. The large heart was colored in Stampin' Up! Watercolor Pencils.

For the large heart I used Water Color Pencils and colored in the bird to look like a Robin Red Breast, which is what I believe the bird is. It was fun blending in all the colors to try and get a realistic looking bird. I added the large scallop heart in Real Red for the background heart.

The Medium large heart was stamped in Real Red Ink and two rhinestones were added to the middle of each bicycle wheel and one to the middle of the heart

For the medium and small heart the additional Basic Rhinestone were added as shown.

I hope this banner inspires you to make one or two of your own. If you don't own the Stampin' Up! Heart Collection Framelits, make sure to order them. Using them is addictive. Remember I warned you!!!  

This post was to appear before Valentine's Day, but the launching of my blog took longer as you all know, so I decided to share this with you anyway. You can incorporate this banner in different colors to use as a house warming gift, wedding gift, Mother's Day gift or as bridal shower favors.

Stampin' Hugs to all of you,

My Digital Studio FREE 30-Day Trial…

This is another reminder to take advantage of this FREE 30 day trial. Remember if you like the trial and choose to purchase My Digital Studio you always have me to help you with your Digital Designing. And, if you want me to work with you or answer any questions during the trial, just EMAIL ME and we'll set a time aside.

With the FREE 30-day trial, you’ll get:

* Full access to the software at NO COST for 30 days.
* Full design functionality.
* Exclusive artwork that comes with My Digital Studio Express—that’s $50 worth of content!
* Opportunity to purchase additional downloads from designer templates to stamp brush sets–and everything in between.
* Access to Stampin' Up! professional print services.

If you haven't explored Stampiin' Up!'s high-quality digital software program, it's definitely time, because My Digital Studio makes digital designing extremely simple.

For use beyond 30 days, purchase My Digital Studio Express or the   My Digital Studio disc version.

Mardi Gras means "Fat Tuesday" and is celebrated on the day before Ash Wednesday. Fat Tuesday is the last day of indulging for Catholics before Lent begins. Mardi Gras is the final day of Carnival, a celebration which begins on January 6, the Feast of the Epiphany.

Mardi Gras is observed in cities around the world, but the biggest and most famous Mardi Gras celebration in the United States takes place in New Orleans, Louisiana.  With big celebrations come great foods, such as beignets.  Beignets, in French literally means, "Bump."  I can't help but think of Peter Sellers in the Pink Panther Moveies  saying, "Bimp."  Beignets are fried yeast dough squares, yum, which are then sprinkled with confectioner's sugar. In the U.S., beignets are associated with the city of New Orleans, where they are served at all cafes. These beignets are also the state doughnut of Louisiana. Must be wonderful to live in a state where you have a state doughnut! Here's the recipe I have and will be serving my gang…

New Orleans Sweet Beignets                                                

1 teaspoon plus 1/2 cup sugar, divided

1 envelope active dry yeast

1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

4 cups flour, plus extra for work surface, divided

1 cup whole milk

4 tablespoons unsalted butter

 1 large egg, at room temperature

Peanut or vegetable oil for deep-frying

At least 2 cups powdered sugar for dusting

1. In a small bowl, combine one-fourth cup warm water and 1 teaspoon of the sugar. Sprinkle the yeast over the mixture. Let sit 5 to 6 minutes; if the yeast is not absorbed, stir lightly until the mixture is creamy.

2. Combine the remaining one-half cup sugar, salt and 3 cups of the flour in a large bowl with a whisk, or in the bowl of a stand mixer with the whisk attachment.

3. Combine the milk and butter in a small saucepan and heat over low heat just until the butter is melted.

4. If you are using a standing mixer, swap out the whisk attachment for the dough hook. In a slow, steady stream, mix the milk mixture into the sugar-salt-flour mixture. If mixing by hand, stir with a fork or wooden spoon. Add the egg, the yeast mixture and the remaining 1 cup of flour. Mix until a soft dough forms (you may need to scrape down the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula). Cover tightly with plastic wrap and set aside in a warm spot until the dough doubles, 1 to 2 hours.

5. Heat about 3 inches of oil in a deep fryer or Dutch oven until the temperature reaches about 370 degrees.

6. Divide the dough into thirds. Working in batches on a floured work surface, knead each piece briefly. Using a rolling pin, roll the dough out into a rectangle less than one-fourth-inch thick. Cut the dough into roughly 3-inch squares and gently drop them, 2 or 3 at a time, into the hot oil. Cook 1 to 2 minutes, until golden brown, then flip them over carefully with a slotted spoon. Cook 1 to 1 1/2 minutes longer, until the beignets are puffed and evenly browned. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the beignets to paper towels to drain off excess oil. Dust with powdered sugar and serve hot or warm.

Hugs,

It seems like forever since I've blogged. I have missed it and I'm thrilled my blog transfer is finally done. I still need to tweak things here and there, but at least I'm able to share with all of you projects I've been designing and working on.  This enormous blog transfer and re-design could not have been possible without the help of my invaluable friends Heather of blogsbyheather.com and Amy of WebsByAmy.com 

Now, let's get down to business, if you can call this business! Besides being a Lakeside Stamper, I'm a quilter as well. For the longest time I wanted to play around with the Stampin' Up! Fabric, but never got around to it. Owls are BIG right now. Back in the day I also loved owls and had a collection of them. My daughter Megan is now the owl fanatic and she has them tucked away all over her house. I guess the apple really doesn't fall from the tree! At any rate, this owl project I'm going to share with you was inspired by my love of owls and the owls that hang out around the lake.

To begin making this little fabric owl, I drew a simple outline of an owl's body and wings. I cut the pattern out of mylar. You can use a manilla file folder to draw your pattern on. Once drawn simply cut the pieces out and use them to trace around on your fabric. The fabric I used is the Stampin' Up! Spice Cake.

I then traced out the owl's body and  wings on to a the backside of the fabric. You need to cut out two bodies and two wings.  I used two corresponding fabrics, one for the body and another for the wings.

I placed the cut fabric wings on the right side of the owl's body as shown and hand appliqued them.

Once I had the two wings appliqued, I place the two body halves right sides of fabric together and sewed them together. MAKE SURE TO LEAVE AN OPENING TO TURN YOUR LITTLE FELLOW RIGHT SIDE OUT!

I then stuffed the owl, sewed up the opening and added beads! How much fun is this? I'm sure if you look you have beads in your stash somewhere. If not, this gives you the perfect opportunity to buy some. Make sure your needle is thin enough to fit through the beads you're using.

When I was happy with the beading, I then moved  on to the owl's eyes. I used Stampin' Up!'s Large Spice Cake Designer Buttons. These were available in the 2011-12 Holiday Mini. I'm hoping Stampin' Up! includes them in the New Idea Book and Catalog next year, because these buttons are fabulous and make great owl eyes. Don't you agree??? I layered on, a few more buttons for effect.

Stampin' Up!'s Fabric comes in, "Fat Quarters." A fat quarter is still a quarter of a yard of fabric, but it's cut differently. I created a diagram that showa how a, "Fat Quarter" of fabric is cut compared to a regular quarter of fabric. Fat quarters ar used by quilters, because the way fat quarters are cut they enable you to use larger patterns.

Thanks for stopping by. Here's looking to a long  creative friendship.

Stampin' Hugs,

What can I say, except this new Stampin' Up! mini is amaaaazing! If you have ordered from me in the past six months, you should have received your Occasions Mini and Sale-A-Bration catalogs in the mail.  If not and you would like one, EMAIL ME and please include your address and I'll mail one out to you.

This Occasions Mini feature three different product suites. To view each suite click on the appropriate photo.

ATTIC BOUTIQUE SUITE

TWITTERPATED PRODUCT SUITE

SWEET SHOP PRODUCT SUITE

I'm holding the first 2012 Workshop on Sunday, January 22, so mark your calendars. More information will follow in about a week with details. 

See you on the other side on January 9, when my Lakeside Stamper will have a whole new design and blog platform.

Here's hoping 2012 is better for all of us.

Stampin' Hugs,

Without you none of this would be possible. It is you who inspire me each and everyday to push myself outside of the box. It is you who I want to share this love and passion I have to create. So, from the bottom of my heart thank you and Have a Blessed Christmas and the Healthiest of New Year's.

I'm taking some time off until the week of January 9th. I'm still working behine the scenes as well as, spending time with my family and closest of friends. Look to January 9, for a new blog face lift and new format. I've been working hard to get the design and transfer done. I'm sure there's going to be a learning curve for me on a new platform and adjusting on your part to the new look. I'm doing this in preparation of offering you new tutorials, classes and much more.  Be patient with me and soon we'll all feel at home once again with the Lakeside Stamper. 

Hugs and Blessings,

December 20, 2011

Stampin' Up!'s occasion-specific mini catalogs allow the opportunity to share the latest seasonal products with you. Stampin' Up! often carries over products from their mini catalogs into the following Idea Book & Catalog. This time, however, Stampin' Up!  decided not to carry over the Stocking Builder Punch (item 124095) from the 2011 Holiday Mini Catalog into the next Idea Book & Catalog. Instead they will offer other great designs in its place–not to mention a trendy, new design planned for next holiday season.

Once the current inventory of this punch has been depleted, it will no longer be available for purchase. I hope many Stampin' Up! stockings will adorn cards and brighten holiday projects this season and look forward to seeing what you create with the next seasonal design. 

 Click here to order the Stocking Builder Punch

Click here to order the coordinated Stitched Stockings Stamp Set

Order them both now and put them away for next year before the punch is no longer available.

Creative thinking builds on itself and

increases the creativity of the thinker…

You can't use up creativity.

The more you use, the more you have."  -Maya Angelou

 WELCOME to the Lakeside Stamper official blog site! 

Why Lakeside Stamper you ask? Well, I am blessed to live on a lake. In the Mohegan Lake community everyone who lives on the lake knows each other. Living on the lake has given me an appreciation for life, not only in nature's beauty but, also in the serenity and the perfect balance of it all. I can't help but be inspired by the lake. The lake is the common bond that becomes our "Gathering Place." The lake and it's shoreline is common ground, shared by all who live here and all who visit. I love, respect and I'm grateful for the lake.

So, stop by from time to time to see all of the inspirations the lake has given me. I now reach out to you who are passionate about creating. Let me help you connect with your creative spirits. Visit frequently and drop me a comment from time to time. I would love to hear from you.

As I end here and remember all the things which are most important; my family, friends, health, my home on the lake, I have to include creative "Gatherings." I urge you to take time from your hectic schedules for your creative spirit. You know you all have one. I firmly believe if we take the time out we can better take care of those who need us.

Here's to creative spirits and gatherings on the lake!!!

Stampin' Hugs,