Making chalkboard tags ala Stampin' Up!

I'm going to start this post by showing you the finished project - reusable chalkboard tags that clip on items with a clothespin. Brilliant! I saw this idea on Pinterest and gave it a Stampin' Up! spin - instead of using chalkboard paint and painter's tape, I used Chalkboard Decor Elements Sheets (Item 118815 on page 216 of the big SU! catalog. You get two sheets measuring 14" x 24" for $14.95).

I love how decor elements can transform a room. In fact, I have many on the walls and side of the fridge at my studio. Also on the side of my fridge is a big chalkboard decor element sign that I use all the time to post info for my next class! It's wonderful. Note: The decor elements will NOT be in the next SU! catalog, coming out in June. They and the Simply Adorned line (jewelry) are being discontinued. So if you want any of these items, order them NOW!

I had a 10-card class at my mother-in-law's in the Big City yesterday, so I went to a couple of craft stores and found two 3" x 24" thin pieces of wood. Ideally, there would be wooden rectangles available to purchase for cheap. I had no such luck, so my loving hubby cut the larger pieces into 22 pieces that measure 2" x 3" this morning.

I used my rotary cutter and acrylic grid and mat to cut off a 6-inch piece of one decor elements sheet. Then it was a manageable size for my SU! tabletop cutter, where I cut the chalkboard sheets to measure 1-13/16" x 2-13/16" each, since I wanted a little wooden edge showing all the way around. Peel off the backing and stick. Easy!

To finish, I hot-glued clothespins to the middle back of each little chalkboard. I have some chalk ink pens (white). They work really well because if someone or something brushes up against them, the chalk ink stays put. It's easy to remove with a wet paper towel too!

I made some of these tags for my studio, as well as for my younger sister. She's going to have a booth at the Ruffles & Rust Vintage Market to Inspire in Monroe, WA, in May. Be sure you go if you live anywhere near. There are some fabulous finds!!!

Home Sweet Home decor element plaque

I chose this Home Sweet Home decor element for FREE when I bought $50 worth of high-quality Stampin' Up! product, because it's Sale-a-Bration time! The door to my house doesn't have a big enough flat area for the decor element, so I picked up a wood plaque and one of my downline painted and glazed it for me. Now it hangs at my studio. I had to cut about an inch from the ends of the curly lines under the words, but I think it still looks good. What do you think?

Using Stampin' Up! products in your home decor...

Look how beautifully stencils can complement your antique furnishings.

It doesn't take much stenciling to achieve a "look." Below, notice the satin ribbon and antique brads on the lampshade.

Decor elements displayed at convention...

Every year at Stampin' Up!'s convention, there are display rooms and walls showing how to use our decor elements and stencils and more for home decor.

This picture shows three Decor Elements Simple Signs (item 118246, 12" x 12", $15.95 each) with two other decor elements on top of them. The signs are chalkboard.

Though smooth walls are recommended, I placed a chalkboard decor element on the side of my studio fridge (similar to an orange peel finish) and it looks and "works" just fine.

There's a Chore Chart Large Decor Element, only available in white, that is at the top of each sign. This costs $7.95 and measures 11" x 4-1/8" (item 121675).

At the bottom of each sign is a Remember/To Do... Large Decor Element ($7.95, item 121677), also only available in white.

Decor Elements Botanical Flower (set of 3) in Crumb Cake and White colors also grace this wall. You can view the sizes and colors on page 224 of the Idea Book & Catalog.

As with everything you see on this blog, if you'd like to place an order, please click here.

Vintage ornament decor elements frame...

Continuing the countdown 'til Christmas... I made this for our American Ink Christmas party gift exchange.

It uses an inexpensive frame, Christmas Cocoa designer series paper, and Real Red Vintage Ornaments decor elements. Several lines come with the ornaments, so you can "drop" them from the top of a sliding glass door, or make them different lengths, like I did here.

To add more dimension, I adhered half pearls from the Pretties Kit with Mini Glue Dots, along with bows of ribbon.

Pearl's SNOW blocks...

Pearl made this adorable gift for our handcrafted gift exchange recently.

Our American Ink group has an annual Christmas party where we select gifts White Elephant style.

The decor elements and blocks needed to make this fun display are offered in the Holiday Mini Catalog till Jan. 4, 2010.

Decor elements vinyl is on sale now through Dec. 22, so you can make your own letters with a Big Shot alphabet (there's one on sale now also) and colored vinyl of your choice! Email me at ericandterry@comcast.net if you'd like to place an order. I've got orders going in all the time.

And though there are 13 days 'til Christmas, we're going to share our 12 Days of Christmas starting today... and we'll end with a bang on the 13th.

Christmas Jingle Simply Scrappin' Kit...

I made up a couple of these candy jars for the Holiday Bazaar Saturday.

They each have a "Jingle All The Way" decor element in Real Red on the side of the jar, as well as 3/4" Real Red polka-dotted ribbon, and chocolate inside.

For the lid, I used the Clear Cicle Die for the Big Shot to cut the Real Red circle, then the Scallop Die for the Old Olive layer, and the top layer is a self-adhesive diecut from the Christmas Jingle Simply Scrappin' Kit.

I plan to sell these jars for $10 each.

Noel decoration...

There are some cute and easy holiday decorations you can create with products from the Holiday Mini Catalog. These blocks are one of them!
You get four 3" square Decor Elements blocks for $9.95. Then you can purchase Holiday Mix Decor Elements in black, chocolate, Real Red or white.

I borrowed the design directly from the mini catalog, and this was a cinch to pull together!

I first used some white acrylic paint and a foam brush to cover each block. I found two coats ideal.

If you have a side that doesn't look too great, that's a good one to cover with card stock. he he he

Don't have the right paper or ribbon? Use what you have!

I can still spell out JOY and SNOW, and have another ornament, snowflakes and holly and berries to use.

Having fun with Decor Elements...

If you haven't played with Decor Elements yet, you're missing out!

My 8-year-old daughter easily applied two sets of Rose Red Upsy Daisies on the side of my studio refrigerator.

I've had the Create Definition on this So Saffron wall for more than a year. But just recently added the Chocolate Chip butterflies, called Flutter. They were easy! One point, though - the butterflies don't come in the formation shown in the brochure. You need to put them on that way. I stuck on one butterfly at a time, and saved an inexpensive brown Wal-Mart frame (removing the white mat and glass first) to frame the largest butterfly for a 3d effect.

My tip for adhering the vinyl rub-ons: refrigerate them first.

I love the way this wall looks now. It's really striking when you walk into the studio, and is the first thing you see. The butterflies fly from the flowers on the fridge, over the Create Definition, to the bathroom.

There's even a butterfly that made it onto the neighboring wall where a plaque hangs (bottom photo).

2 more Razzle Dazzle stamp camp projects...

I'm a big fan of texture. This card uses textured Crushed Curry card stock for the flower (made using the Flower Folds die for the Big Shot), and I used a texturz plate on the Whisper White card stock.

I punched 4 1-3/8" squares from a couple pieces of Razzleberry Lemonade paper, and layered them on a square of Rich Razzleberry card stock. I added the flower, a 1-1/4" Rich Razzleberry circle, then a 1" circle from the dsp pack, and a white jumbo brad.

The "happy birthday" comes from the Teeny Tiny Wishes stamp set and was punched out using the Modern Label punch. It's layered on a larger piece I made using the Movers & Shapers die with one of the four Punch Windows pieces.

The final touch is a knot of Rich Razzleberry ribbon knotted in front.

Kim designed this decorative jar for the stamp camp. She bought a case of jars at Wal-Mart for approximately $8. She added three Rose Red decor elements flower (a demo bulk item), then used a mini glue dot to hold on the button.

In addition to the Melon Mambo knot of ribbon on the lid, there's a circle of that card stock on the lid, along with a flower from the Flower Folds die, and a polka-dotted circle stamped with the For All You Do stamp set and punched out with the 1" circle punch.

Sorry, I'll add a photo of the lid later.....

I also used Chocolate Chip decor elements (flowers again), along with a variety of colored buttons - celery, white and turquoise - with Soft Suede ribbon and the same lid design. That one proved more popular with my customers Wednesday by a 3-1 margin.