Simple Tag Using An Instagram Photo

I love Instagram! It's got to be my favorite app on my iPhone.

Last month, Kalino went to a birthday party for Lillie, my friend Nadja's daughter. A while back, Nadja posted an awesome photo of Lillie dressed as an Jedi. I love girls that love Star Wars. I loved the photo so much, I used it to make the tag for her gift bag. I love that Nadja has a chalkboard wall in her house. I didn't add "Jedi" and the arrow, that was on their wall. I wish I had a chalkboard wall. So cool!

I used the editing tools in Picasa to add the Happy Birthday text. Before I could add any text, I had to "erase" their light switches in the photo because it was right where I wanted to put the happy birthday sentiment. I downloaded a free Star Wars font. I glued the photo onto a plain shipping tag and I was done. Very simple! Thanks for stopping by.

Happy 1st Birthday - A Gift Bag and Tag

Hi everyone!


I made this gift bag and tag for my niece who celebrated her 1st birthday party yesterday. The inspiration for the gift bag design was a photo I took with my iPhone and ran through the Instagram app. She is the cutest little thing. I get to babysit her once in a while. She's pretty good when her mom drops her off.


The patterned papers are from the Martha Stewart Valentine's Day collection and the larger paper is an older piece of paper from My Mind's Eye. The stamps and rickrack border die are from Papertrey Ink. I used VersaMark ink (the most versatile ink on the planet) and I embossed the words with white embossing powder. I cut the number "1" with my Silhouette SD. The light blue paper and button are from Stampin' Up. The twine is from The Twinery.

Here's the matching tag I made for the gift bag. The white tag is from the office supply store. I just added scraps of rickrack and patterned paper. The felt butterfly is from and older pack of Making Memories felt shapes.


Thanks for stopping by! 

A 3D Christmas Tree Tag

Happy Christmas Eve! I'm drinking some eggnog and eating my favorite Danish butter cookies. I wish it was snowing outside, but it's sunny and cold here in Northern New Mexico.

Here's a tag I actually made over a year ago when I was visiting Ericka last year. She had this great Martha Stewart tree paper punch. I punched out 3 trees from Basic Grey paper and scored the trees in half before adhering them to each other. I wish I more time this fall to make more tags like this. I added some ribbon and some more Basic Grey paper to a die cut tag.

I gave this tag to our dentist and her staff with a large jar of mixed nuts and cranberries I bought at Target; easy and simple!

Thanks for stopping by! I'm still not done wrapping gifts, so I better get busy.

Turkish Lentil Soup and a Tag

Reminder: I have a giveway going on. See here.

Last year when I visited my friend, Ericka, in Seattle, she served me the most delicious Turkish lentil soup. I think I ate it at 3 different meals. I loved it!

I made a batch the night before the last day of school and I got the idea to give the principal a large Mason jar full of soup as a gift. He is a vegetarian, so this recipe was perfect since you can use water or broth.

I used Papertrey Ink stamps, paper, and a doily metal die to make a quick gift tag to make the packaging. This particular doily die looks like a snow flake to me, so I thought it was perfect.

Thanks for stopping by. If you make this soup, let me know what you think.

A Sweet Treats Gift Tag

Here's a gift tag I made using a tag from the office supply store, some Stampin Up scraps of patterned paper, and a Papertrey Ink stamp. I also used the Papertrey Ink metal die for the leaves and some felt finished off with some red buttons.

Thanks for stopping by!

A Happy Birthday Tag

(Edited to Add: I already posted this tag in October; sorry!)
Long time no see! Sorry for the lack of blog posts. There were none in November; oh my...that's never happened before. Nadja, this blog post is for you! Thanks for reminding me that it was Halloween since my last post.

I find it hard to purge smaller pieces of paper, so I find a perfect way to use up scraps is to create gift tags. The kraft tag was cut with my Silhouette SD digital cutter. How many of you have purchased the new Silhouette Cameo? Lucky!

The papers, stamps, and button are all from Papertrey Ink. The baker's twine is from The Twinery.

Happy Easter Tag

Hi dearies! I'm still in vacation mode, even though vacation has been over for several days. Maui, I miss you! I've got several Easter projects to post this week, so let's get started.

Here's a closeup of the tag. This tag would be cute on an Easter basket. I used PSA Essentials Little Bunny set for the bunny image and the Topiary set for the sentiment.

Have a great day!

Tag Ingredients

Finished Size: 3.75” x 2.75”

Stamps: Little Bunny, Topiary (PSA Essentials)

Paper: White, Summer Sunrise, & Hawaiian Shores patterned paper (Papertrey Ink), Gable Green (Stampin’ Up)

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black (Tsukineko)

Tools: Big Shot with Mat Stack 5 metal die (Papertrey Ink), Scalloped Scallop punch (EK Success), Crop-a-Dile (We R Memory Keepers)

Other:  Copic marker (YR32), Tombow Mono Multi Liquid Glue, Hawaiian Shores ribbon (Papertrey Ink), rhinestones (Michael’s), baker’s twine (Etsy)

Tag Instructions

1. Use die cutting machine to cut tag from 3 colors of paper. Trim and piece together to form one tag.
2. Stamp bunnies on white cardstock and color with Copic marker. Cut out bunnies.
3.  Punch out scalloped green cardstock. Use scissors to create the look of grass.
4. Adhere grass and bunnies to the tag.
5. Add ribbon and rhinestones.
6. Stamp Happy Easter sentiment. 
7. Punch hole in tag and add an eyelet. Add baker’s twine to the eyelet.

A Gift Tag & Some Gift Card Holders

Wow, the hours each day pass by too quick! I started this blog post this morning and it's already after 10 PM. Yikes!

Instead of finishing this blog post, I was a regular Martha Stewart in the kitchen today (well, not really..you'll see why in a second). I baked a raspberry cheesecake for Sweetie's party at work tomorrow. It's almost done. It's chillin' so I can add the raspberry layer before the night is done. I roasted eggplant and red, green, and yellow bell peppers. I burned the eggplant! What a waste. I didn't burn the peppers. I made what I call a Martha Stewart pressed sandwich. I'll have to give you the recipe here at another time. It's yummy!

Today, this tag and some gift card holders I created for PSA Essentials were featured on their blog today.

Here's a gift card holder that I cut using my Silhouette cutter. The reindeer stamp comes from a set called Smirk Merry Christmas.

Here's how the gift card holder looks on the inside.

This next gift card holder is from a template from Kristina Werner. Love this template! I've used before (here and here). The reindeer stamp is from another Smirk set called Smirk Happy Holidays.

Here's a view of the inside. Go forth my dears and make some gift card holders and tags!

There are several ways to win some PSA Essentials products. You have until tomorrow night (Wed, December 15th @ 11:59 PM EST) to enter this giveway. Paper Crafts Magazine and PSA Essentials also have a giveaway on their Facebook pages, but you have to hurry!

Well, I've got to get to bed early. I'll be on an all-day field trip tomorrow with Kalino and his classmates. Later!

PAPER PINWHEEL TAGMaterials UsedStamps: Christmas Tree (PSA Essentials)
Paper: Kraft (CA Paper Goods), Very Vanilla (Stampin' Up), patterned paper (Stampin' Up) Ink: Hunter (PSA Essentials)
Tools: Silhouette digital cutter and tag design, Tim Holtz Paper Distresser (Tonic Studios), Crop-a-Dile (We R Memory Keepers), 1" circle punch (Stampin' Up), 1 1/16" circle punch (EK Sucess), 1.75" circle punch (Stampin' Up), Scoring Board (Martha Stewart)
Other: foam tape (3M), ribbon (Stampin' Up), Tombow Mono Multi Liquid Glue, button (Papertrey Ink), baker's twine (Etsy), Copic marker, Zots adhesive

MERRY CHRISTMAS - TREE GIFT CARD HOLDER Materials Used
Stamps: Smirk Merry Christmas (PSA Essentials)Paper (all by Stampin' Up): Jolly Holiday designer series paper, Kraft, Very Vanilla, Old Olive, Cherry Cobbler
Ink: Cabernet (PSA Essentials), Tuxedo Black (Tsukineko)
Tools: Silhouette digital and giftcard design, 1.75" Circle punch (Stampin' Up), 1.25" circle punch (All Night Media), Scoring Board (Martha Stewart)
Other: Tombow Mono Metal Liquid Glue, baker's twine (Etsy), red rhinestone (Michael's)

REINDEER GIFT CARD HOLDERMaterials Used
Stamps: Smirk Happy Holidays (PSA Essentials)
Paper: patterned paper (American Crafts), white (Papertrey Ink), Kraft (Stampin' Up) Ink: Black (PSA Essentials)
Tools 1 1/16" circle punch (EK Success), 1.25" circle punch (All Night Media)
Other: baker's twine (Etsy), rhinestone (Michael's), gift card template (Kristina Werner), Tombow Mono Multi Liquid Glue, foam tape (3M), Copic marker, brads (Making Memories), Velcro

Hello Kitty Gift Bag & Matching Tag

Hello friends! I have so many projects to show you in the next weeks. Here's a gift bag and gift tag I made for PSA Essentials using their Hello Kitty Reindeer Games set of Peel & Stick stamps. I'd like to encourage you to check-out the PSA Stamp Camp blog and become a follower. Each week, Libby posts items from the design team members. Today, she posted my gift bag.

Here's a closer look at the tag. I found this gift bag in an expensive pack at Michael's. I loved the mustard color. It goes very well with my favorite Crushed Curry paper from Stampin' Up.


For those of you asking, PSA Essentials products are available online at places like FineStationery.com, CambriaCove.com, and Expressionery.com. They are also available in stores like Papyrus. For a complete list of stores, check here.

Have a great day!

Hello Kitty Gift Bag & Tag Ingedients
Stamps: Hello Kitty - Reindeer Games (PSA Essentials)
Paper (all Stampin' Up): Very Vanilla, Crushed Curry, Melon Mambo, patterned paper
Ink: Grapefruit (PSA Essentials)
Tools: 1 1/16" circle punch (EK Success), 1.25" circle punch (All Night Media), 2" circle punch (Fiskars), Crop-a-Dile (We R Memory Keepers)
Other: gift bag (Michael's), Tombow Mono Multi Liquid Glue, pink lace, foam tape (3M), Silver thread, eyelet (Making Memories), Copic markers, glitter pen (Sakura), button (Papertrey Ink)