With Sprinkles on Top!

Here's another project using a label and text from the "What's in Your tin? 1" set to create a super easy little candy tin. For this project you need: colored glass beads, sticky strip, a tin, my new stamps, and markers (Sakura Glaze pen optional, but boy, does it make it look yummilicious!)

I colored the different letters on my stamp using SU! bold bright markers (to match the bead assortment), huffed", then stamped. I put some Sakura glaze over each letter and added a few sprinkles to give it a "gumdrop" look. I wrapped my sticky strip all the way around the lid's edge. Then I pressed it into my container of beads until all it the sticky part was completely covered, pressing them in again with my fingers to embed them really well in the adhesive. They will NOT be falling off!

Isn't that fun? (and look good enough to eat??) I LOVE all the elements the beads add to the project: color, shine, texture, whimsy. Looking at the tin makes me think of jellybeans, sundae fixings, and the amazing glass art I saw in Venice all at once! I hadn't known what to really do with these beads before, I've had them for a few years now, but this is a really cool way to dress up the tin. I'll definitely be doing something like this with them again! TIP: This beaded trim and "candy" stamp could also be used to create a fabulous tin for storing "card candy", as well as jewelry ("eye candy")! :)

I can't wait to show you all the other tins I've cooked up with these stamps!! Gotta spread 'em out, though! ;)

See you tomorrow! (I think I need to do another blog candy soon to celebrate 30,000 hits!! what do you think??)

Keepin' it Together

It's been a long time since I've posted any pics of my desk, there's a reason for that! I'm sorry to say it was time for a serious intervention before I could possibly proceed with even one more project! So instead of a card* this afternoon, I am doing a little straightening up! (but for a great new hoppy project posted, look at Jana's frog in a box today for some inspiration! can I get a "WOW!"*)I have to say I am normally one of the last people on earth you should be getting organizational tips from! Although I like things to *look* nice and neat, there's almost always a big pile of somethin' underneath it, shoved in the closet etc! But I think most messy people have at least one or two things they love enough to take proper care of/want to create some kind of system for, and for me that is my stamps and select craft supplies! So today I share a few photos and tips...
First is this great article on how to keep your most-often-used unmounted stamps at the ready, appropriately enough, by the lovely and talented Gina K! And above is a pic of how you can keep ALL your Just So Hippys and Hoppys on one 8 1/2 x 11 holder, with room to spare! Since these sets coordinate, it makes perfect sense to store them like this to mix and match your sentiments, balloons, flowers etc. (wow, look at the hippo tushy! Now that has been a well loved/inked stamp in need of some serious UltraClean!)

Now this next tip is my own: Let's say you are working a on a card and your desk** is SO messy you can't find any of your acrylic blocks!! Now you only have ten minutes to work, and you cannot afford to spend them cleaning your desk! (be the good stamper that you are and make the right choice!) Here is a simple solution: stick your unmounted stamp to the clear lid of your ink pad(you DO need to know where that is!) and stamp away! How convenient that these are also clear, like your blocks, love the dual purpose!! At some point, I would recommend picking up and switching back to the real thing, but it will get you by in a pinch. :)

PS Did you know: spellcheck button is back in business! For awhile there I wasn't even checking anymore but then yesterday thought I'd give it a try, and BOOM! yellow boxes everywhere! This is very exciting, thanks for hanging in there with my alphabet soup every day the past few weeks!

*have you checked out my list of who's hoppy?? You'll flip! (Donna has about 2 pages worth, when you get there, just keep scrolling!!)

**not mine! ;)

This Tutorial ROCKS!*

The lovely and talented Charmaine is sharing her brilliance over at her blog with an incredible step by step tutorial of her Hippy Mention Tilt Card! Go see how easy it is, and then get your own hips ashakin'!

And speaking of rockin' tutorials, my Hippy Winner Linsey has graciously shared "the secrets of the magic lamp" over at her blog, with a list of supplies needed and just how she made those ribbons curl! I wanna see more lamps from all of you!

I give both these ladies the Great Hip Award!

Tomorrow I will be sharing a bunch of pics other 3D items that were submitted for contest, along with some other fabulous hippy sightings, thanks for stopping in!

*pun intended, hee hee!

Tips on Being Hip

After designing the Just So Hippy set, I wanted to create a tip sheet of ways to use it for anyone who purchased the set(or was on the fence about purchasing!) ;) I hope it gives you a lot of ideas and shows the versatility of the set, the combinations are really limitless! I will be posting examples of cards and 3D items using each of these tips in the future, so please check back! Please feel free to copy and print what you see below to keep as ahandy reference sheet with your set (or if you can write back and tell me how to add a word document to my blog for people to click on and download, I'd be much obliged!)

Just So Hippy Tip Sheet
By Melanie Muenchinger

Hippy greetings are intended to work with ALL animals in the set, as their hips are all proudly on display! “Bonus” greetings have been added for your monkey and giraffe.

Make masks of your animals and store them with your set. You'd be amazed what other things these animals could hold, have fun looking through your stamp collection!

Make masks of the flower and balloon to allow for stamping large bouquets.

The small greetings in the set fit on the balloon and the square sign. They also fit perfectly on the round tab punch, tag punch, and several Cuttlebug Die tags. Long greetings fit in the word window (punch twice to make it longer) or look terrific stamped on ribbon.

Write in your/sweetheart's initials on the sign or hearts.

Flower and balloon have no stem or string so they can easily be stamped repeatedly without masking to make cute backgrounds.

The flowers and balloons can be held from their mouths, tail, or hands! Have fun coming up with your own fun compositions and combinations! The possibilities are endless!

Draw in your own string or stem without worrying about getting it to line up. Stamp both images first, then connect starting from the prop to the animal using a straight edge (or just freehand to match the set.)

Stamp the heart with the arrow on one hip like a tattoo! Or stamp it on the sign to give them a Valentine card to hold.

Use the umbrella for showers, spring or get well cards.

Pop up their props on dimensionals.

Pop up the giraffe and hippos backside on dimensionals for 3-D effect.

If you have a larger greeting you want to use, sketch your own sign around it after stamping.

Put just the hippo's backside on your card front. Stamp the entire hippo inside with the greeting for a charming "peek a boo" effect.

Other fun greeting ideas (write them down inside your card or print them on your computer):
Does this make me look too hippy?

So hippy for you!
Behind you all the way!

A friend has your back!
Thanks for always having my back!

From the BOTTOM of my Heart

I'd love to hear in the comments some creative ways you are enjoying the set(or plan to use it if you're waiting it's arrival! Hopefully this sheet is still a work in progress...

Card above uses SU!'s Close to Cocoa CS, Polka Dots & Petals DP, Watercolor Crayons and Aquapainter,PT Stamper's Select WhiteCS, Palette Noir inkpad, prima and halfback pearl.