| Little Birdie Secrets

Saturday, October 4, 2008

happy world card making day!

As a big Stampin' Up! fan, I was so excited when I moved to Seattle to find a Stampin' Up! demonstrator in my area who holds monthly Stamp Camps. What's a stamp camp? It's a fast-paced, fun class where a demonstrator helps you make cards/projects using Stampin' Up! supplies. Our demonstrator, Anne Beale Yancey, is uber talented, and comes up with the cutest, classiest projects for us every single month. If you're local, you've got to check out her stamp camps. If you're not, you can see the projects and order the supplies directly from her web site! Many of the cards shown below are cards the Little Birdies made at stamp camp, so you can see for yourself how amazing she is!

We are so impressed by all the amazing cards that were submitted to our virtual card swap by our readers! Thank you for taking the time to send them. We know you'll be inspired as you browse these awesome ideas. Happy World Card Making Day!

Card submitted by Jenni McCord, simplebeans.blogspot.com. Supplies: card stock and embroidery floss.

Card submitted by Anne Beale Yancey, www.aby.stampinup.net.

Card by Heidi Boos. Stampin' Up! Tags & More stamp set.

Card submitted by Bonnie Rains.

Card submitted by Mandy Sybrowsky.

Card submitted by Mandy Sybrowsky. Ribbon and brad, Stampin' Up!

Card submitted by Bonnie Rains.

Card submitted by Jessica Myrup (inspired by Bonnie Rains). Stamp set, Stampin' Up!

Card submitted by Anne Beale Yancey, www.aby.stampinup.net.

Card submitted by Jessica Myrup.

Card submitted by Anne Beale Yancey, www.aby.stampinup.net.

Gift card holder submitted by Anne Beale Yancey, www.aby.stampinup.net.

Card submitted by Jessica Myrup.

Card submitted by Jessica Myrup. Paper, Making Memories; "thank you stamp, Stampin' Up!.

Card submitted by Mandy Sybrowsky. All supplies Stampin' Up! (except ribbon).

Card submitted by Jessica Myrup. Supplies: paper, Making Memories; grosgrain ribbon and "thank you" stamp, Stampin' Up!

Card submitted by Jessica Myrup.

Card by Michelle Johnnie. All supplies Stampin' Up!

Card by Andrea Saunders. All supplies Stampin' Up!. Paper: Lovely Lilac and Whisper White; stamp set: Heard From the Heart; ink: Black and Lovely Lilac; accessories: large Star and small star puches, star chip board from the On Board Something Seasonal set, Versa Mark pad, Heat and Stick powder, Orchid Glitter from the Fine Cosmo stampin' glitter set, embosser, and the Color Spritzer tool (to spray the Lovely Lilac color on the stars that were punched).

Card by Kate Dwyer. Supplies: flat card with decorative edge, envelope, and eyelet all from PaperSource; vintage 1980's swatch of fabric; Sakura micron pens/Prismacolor pencils for text and artwork; swatch is machine stitched onto the card.

Card submitted by Jessica Myrup.

Card submitted by Michelle Johnnie. All supplies Stampin' Up!

Card submitted by Bonnie Rains. Supplies: Stamp set: Baroque Motifs; ink: Stampin' Up craft ink in certainly celery and regal rose; ribbon: Stampin' Up regal rose.

Card submitted by Jessica Booth. All Supplies Close To My Heart. December Word Puzzle Stamp Set; November Stamp of the Month: All Decked Out; New England Ivy Ribbon Rounds; Holiday Red Sparkles; Evensong Paper Packet; Cranberry Ink; Olive Ink.

Card submitted by Andrea Saunders. All supplies Stampin' Up!. Paper: Riding Hood Red and Garden Green; ink: same as paper; stamp Set: Tart and Tangy; accessories: Riding Hood Red Taffeta Ribbon.

Card submitted by Andrea Saunders. Stamp Set: Perfect Party Stampin' Up!; ink: Real Red and YoYo Yellow Stampin' Up!; accessories: Red Happy Birthday ribbon.

Card submitted by Crisanne Durrant. The colors of card stock are SU! kraft, real red, and night of navy. I used SU! stamps Toy Box (for star and baseball glove) and SU! Sporting (champ). Inks used were SU! close to cocoa, real red and Staz-On cotton white. Chalked the baseball mitt with brown chalk, and used a red sharpie for the stitching on the ball. Tied with hemp twine.

Card submitted by Andrea Saunders. All Stampin' Up supplies, Paper:Tangerine Tango, Basic Black, Whisper White. Stamp set: Tart and Tangy. Ink: Tangerine Tango and Summer Sun. Accessories: Scallop Circle Punch and Tangerine Tango Striped ribbon, embosser, and iridescent ice embossing powder.

Card submitted by Andrea Saunders. Stamp set: Citrus set (Close to my heart); Ink: Tangerine Tango, Green Galore, YoYo Yello. Accessories: Sponge to do bottom green part.

Card submitted by Koloud “Kay” Tarapolsi, www.acraftyarab.net.

Card submitted by Mandy Sybrowsky. All supplies Stampin' Up! (except gray card stock).

Now if that wasn't enough card ideas for you, check out all the cards that have been posted to the World Card Making Day web site!

Thank you to everyone who participated in our virtual card swap. We love all the creativity that went into these submissions! Now go make some cards, before the day is over!

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Friday, October 3, 2008

reversible grosgrain ribbon watches

If you made one of our ribbon belts this week, you probably have ribbon left over for a matching watch band! Okay, maybe don't wear them at the same time--that might be a little much. But these grosgrain ribbon watches are just as easy and fun as the belts!

Start with a wide grosgrain ribbon of your choice, a watch face, and D-rings no bigger than the width of your ribbon. You can buy watch faces at your local craft or jewelry/bead store. You can also find them online. We found ours at JCaroline.

Follow our ribbon belt tutorial to make your strap, except make it shorter. Use a measuring tape to measure your wrist and add about 5 inches (it will need to go through the D-rings and then fold over). To make your strap reversible, just sew two different ribbons of the same width together. JCaroline also has a great tutorial for these watches, plus all the pieces to make them.

Photo copyright JCaroline

The nice thing about these straps is not only that they can be reversible, but you can buy one watch face and use it with multiple straps for a variety of colors and looks. You know, I think it's time to make a new watch!

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Thursday, October 2, 2008

cereal muffin recipe

This is a great, very simple recipe for muffins. I love it because I always have all the ingredients on hand and can whip them up in a moment's notice. They are a great addition to almost any dinner, as well as a simple breakfast. This recipe is also a great way to use up any "almost gone" cereal. You can use any cereal you have on hand, but my personal favorites have been Blueberry Morning, Raisin Bran, or Honey Bunches of Oats. They are delicious served with honey and butter...or honey butter!

Cereal Muffins

2 c. flour
1/2 c. sugar
3 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. salt
1 c. milk
1/4 c. oil
1 egg
1 c. ready-to-eat cereal

Mix all ingredients together, adding the cereal last. Pour batter into a 12 cup, greased muffin pan (or use muffin liners). Bake at 400° for 25 minutes.

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Wednesday, October 1, 2008

button hair bands / pony tail holders

We wanted a bright and cheery way to dress up girls' hair as the gray clouds settle in for Fall in Seattle. These fabric-covered button hair bands are just the thing.

If you saw our tutorial on fabric-covered button thumbtacks and magnets, you'll notice this is the same process minus one step. Instead of removing the metal loop on the back of the button, leave it in place. Then cover your button with your fabric of choice. To add the elastic, thread one end part way through the metal loop, then slip the other end of the elastic through the loop it formed and pull it tight. So darn easy we hardly believe it ourselves.

Make a fun variation by using a silk flower. Position your elastic on the back of the flower, then cover it with a small piece of felt that has been coated with a strong craft glue to secure. Easy peasy!