Love that Crystal Light!

 I try to watch my weight.  In 2007, I gave up soda pop I started drinking Crystal Light.  Soon I had collected quite a collection of empty Crystal Light containers.  Not wanting to fill up the landfills with needless waste, I saw an opportunity to turn trash in to treasure.

Here are a couple of empty Crystal Light containers I covered with Stampin' Up!'s Wintergreen Designer Series Paper (RETIRED).  I used a hostess stamp set I earned for FREE, Perfect Presentation (RETIRED) for the stamped images on the front.  I filled the short container with Christmas candy and the tall container with homemade cookies.

If you want to learn how you can earn FREE stamps and accessories from Stampin' Up!, CLICK HERE.

Blessings,

Didi

Peaceful Wishes

  I purchased Stampin' Up!'s Peaceful Wishes (RETIRED)  stamp set in 2006 to make Christmas cards for our landscaping company.  I got it out to play with again in 2007 and couldn't seem to stop making wonderful holiday creations.  This card was made using the Retro technique.  I went outside and came back in with the little branch with pine cones to incorporate into my creation.  The picture doesn't do this card justice.  It is absolutely stunning in person.

I have found that the best adhesive to use when incorporating nature into my paper crafts is pop up glue dots.  My family thinks they look like "boogers", but they are so easy to use and work well with 3-D elements.

Whether you send out cards to family or friends or are a business looking for unique hand-made cards, I can help you choose a design, customize colors, and if you wish, complete them for you.  Please CONTACT ME for more information.

Blessings,

Didi

A Little Christmas Gift

I made this little gable box with my Ellison Die Cut machine and Stampin' Up!'s Dashing Designer Series Paper (RETIRED) back in November 2007.  I added a 2-1/2" x 3" piece of card stock in the inside of the box to reinforce the bottom.

I wrapped the box with a belly band made of 5/8" Old Olive grosgrain ribbon, the scallop circle punch, and my favorite stamp set from Stampin' Up!'s 2007 Holiday Mini Catalog, Merry & Bright (RETIRED).  I think the little snowman is just the cutest!

This box would be perfect for classroom treats, party favors, or for husband's to give their wife's jewelry (HINT, HINT).  The best part is this project was quick and easy and literally went together in just a couple of minutes.  I filled mine with Christmas candy to give to friends who came by to visit over the holidays.

I have over 20 packaging dies from Ellison and AccuCut for my large die cut machine that my customers can use when they join my paper club.  Contact me for more details and you can be on your way to making quick and easy Christmas packaging in no time.

 Blessings,

Didi

Christmas in July

This is a card I helped create in 2007 for a friend's Christmas cards. We used one of my favorite holiday sets, Festive Favoites (RETIRED #107385).  I love the vintage feel of the artichoke and burgundy colors, along with the faux stitching and paper piercing.

Contact me if you would like a private consultation to help design your cards for any occasion. I also have classes where you can create a variety on handmade cards. See my calendar for more information.

Blessings,

Didi

Altered Hodgepodge Hardware Tin

I love using Hodgepodge Hardware!  There is something that makes me giddy as I open up a the tin and view all the buckles, photo turns, brads, shaped clips, ribbon charms, and label holders.  Instantly I start dreaming of all the cards, scrapbooks pages, and 3-D projects I can use the hundreds of Aged Copper, Antique Brass, and Pewter pieces. When all my creating is done, I am left with an empty tin.  Instead of throwing it away, I think of it as a bonus and wonder what I can do to alter it into a usable piece of art.

After our prize miniature dachshund, Millie,  died in 2007, I made this Remembrance Tin with an accordion album inside.

I used a Stampin' Up! Simply Scrappin' Kit to decorate the turquoise tin.  The kit I used was an exclusive Hostess kit, "Flowers and Friends" (RETIRED).  It is easy to change the color of the tin to match any Simply Scrappin' Kit with spray paint available at your local craft store.

 I cut the card stock and background paper to 4-3/4" X 6-1/2" to cover the top of the tin.  I used my paper snips to round the corners to match the corners of the tin.  To line the inside of the tin I cut card stock to 4-7/8" X 6-3/4".  I used a Tag Corner Punch on all four corners. The inside pocket was made using coordinating background paper cut to 4-7/8" X 3".  The tag inside the pocket is 4" X 5-1/2".  To create the accordion album,  I cut three strips of card stock to 6" X 12" and scored every 4".  After I decorated everything with my photos and coordinating self-adhesive die cuts, I tied the accordion album shut with a piece of coordinating ribbon.

The whole project was very easy to make and only took me a few hours.  When I was done, I had a family keepsake that we will cherish for years to come.

Blessings,

Didi

Do you ever feel like you've opened a can of worms?  Here is a project I made in 2007 that is perfect for those occasions.  This would be a fun party favor for a child's birthday party or small gift for your favorite fisherman.

The silver "can" is made using brushed silver card stock, the Coluzzle cutting system, and Stampin' Up!'s Bugs and Kisses stamp set (RETIRED).   I created the pattern myself as I couldn't find a template for a can.  The can is filled with one of my family's favorite treats, gummy worms.  The worm rubber stamp was inked up using the direct to rubber technique with makers to imitate the coloring of the gummy worms.

Blessings,

Didi

June Takes the Cake

What do millions of people have in common every day?...Birthdays!

You can make birthdays and other celebrations extra special for those you love with this cake-shaped card box and coordinating cards.
Your friends and family will be amazed by your calorie-free cake box that can be used to gift a set of cards or other small gifts. You’ll have so much fun using the Make a Cake and Itty Bitty Banners stamp sets with the Patio Party Designer Series Paper that you may just need to plan a party to show off your creative genius!

During June new Stampin' Up! demonstrators not only get to choose the products for their fully customizable Starter Kit, they'll also get products from the band-new Patio Party Suite for FREE, including the Make a Cake Set, Patio Party Designer Series Paper, and the Patio Party Digital Collection DVD!  That's up to $48 in additional FREE projects.  Plus I will give you the instructions to make all these projects.

Contact me for more information or CLICK HERE to visit my website and join the Stampin' Up! family.

Blessings,

Didi

Product Spotlight

Simply Scored Diagonal Plate (#125586)
 Do you ever feel guilty about covering up one of the designs on Stampin' Up!'s beautiful double-sided Designer Series Paper?  If so, you are not alone, it’s something I hear a lot!  Well, Stampin' Up!'s scored the perfect answer for this particular dilemma – the Diagonal Plate for the Simply Scored Scoring Tool!  With the Diagonal Plate, it is a snap to create envelopes, boxes, fancy folds, and embossed backgrounds.  When you use the Diagonal Plate to make boxes and envelopes from Stampin' Up!'s fantastic variety of coordinating double-sided Designer Series Paper, you take full advantage by showing both sides of the paper!  No more guilt!

You’ll love how this inexpensive add-on for the Simple Scored fits 12” x 12” paper, works with the full rulers across the top and down the left side of the Simply Scored, and has grooves for scoring at every 1/8”. Plus, the Diagonal Plate comes with handy instructions and measurements for creating four popular sizes of envelopes, making it simple for you!  The Diagonal Plate just made Stampin' Up!'s already popular Simply Scored an even bigger hit!  You need to get your hands on this amazing tool and say goodbye to the trauma and guilt of using only one side of the Designer Series Papers!

Tip:  Be sure you have Sticky Strip on hand since you’ll find making boxes and 3-D projects so much easier!

To purchase the Simply Scored Diagonal Plate, CLICK HERE.

Blessings,

Didi

Summer Smooches& Bright Blossoms

These projects showcase the Bright Blossoms stamp set and the Summer Smooches Designer Series Paper, along with the new Diagonal Plate for the Simply Scored Tool. You’ll love knowing the Simply Scored Tool and Diagonal Plate products give you three times the value as you can make great textured backgrounds, super-fast boxes, and envelopes that show off both sides of our fabulous Designer Series Paper.  Make a purchase from me in June and I will give you detailed instructions FREE to create all these projects.

Blessings,

Didi

Welcome!

Welcome to Stamp with Didi (formerly Strawberry Stampers)...a place where I can express my creativity through rubber stamp art.  Here I will share my creations along with tips and techniques to get your own creative juices flowing.  You will also be able to view the latest Stampin' Up! catalog, promotions and a calendar of my rubber stamping and scrapbooking events.

I have not blogged since 2008 due to some major health challenges and life changes.  Please be patient as I try to pick up where I left off, just now on the East Coast instead of the West Coast. To start with I am going to repost some projects from my old blog as I am currently recovering from two surgeries in the past five weeks (that makes a total of six hospitalizations in the last twelve months...ugh!).  A lot has changed since 2008 and I have to get up to speed on my blogging skills.  Meanwhile I hope to be able to get creating and share my love of papercrafts.

Be sure to visit my website: http://www.didi.stampinup.net/ where you can find ideas, view specials, and shop for Stampin' Up! products 24/7.

Blessings,

Didi