From Rooftop to Home Decor

If you happened to visit my Stampin' Up! Facebook page last night, you may have seen my question about incorporating roofing material into home decor. I know, sounds completely crazy, right? I would have thought so too...until I came across this particular project and immediately had to try it.

Here's a pic of my finished project:

Top view:

Without the tealight:

Isn't it gorgeous????   Can you guess what it's made from??? Would you believe it's cut from a piece of aluminum flashing? Yup, the same stuff that's used on your homes roof!  I KNOW!!!

I've seen it around "blogland" recently and of course I had to jump on the bandwagon and give it a go!

I popped into one of our local hardware stores and picked up a roll of silver aluminum flashing.  I picked up the narrowest roll I could find (6") but they all come in 50' lengths!!!  Let's just say I've got LOOOOOTS left!

Using my Big Shot and my Snowflake #2 Bigz die, I cut out a snowflake. 

Now, that may sound simple enough, but I will say it was a little tricky.  Aluminum flashing is a little thicker than a soda can, so to make sure the blade would cut all the way through and not just "dent" it, I needed to use a few paper shims.  Each Big Shot is a little different, but for me I needed a total of 4 additional layers.  Fewer than that didn't cut the flashing all the way through and more than that and the sandwich just felt too thick and I didn't want to force it through.

Please Note:  You can ONLY use the Bigz or Original dies to cut anything other than paper.  If you attempt this with a sizzlet die, you'll ruin it.  Bigz and Original dies are steel and so they're extremely strong.  Sizzlets have a chemically etched blade which allows a much more detailed design, but are ONLY made to cut through a single layer of paper at a time.

Once cut out, I used my stylus to help push out the smaller pieces.  I chose to wear gardening gloves while doing this.  The cut snowflake wasn't sharp, but the outside piece was and I didn't want to take any changes of slicing open my fingers!

All punched out:

I cut out a 2nd snowflake and layered it on top of the first.

I then pushed the top snowflake "arms" down and pulled the bottom snowflake "arms" up. 

Then, I added a few mini glue dots to the center between the two snowflakes and squished them together.  I chose to add the glue dots after I'd woven the snowflake arms together just because I found the arms didn't want to cooperate if the center was already glued together.

The final step was to place a tealight in the center and pull the upper snowflake arms around it to cradle it in place.  That's it!

It's not a difficult project, but it was time consuming. 

Maybe you're interested in trying it out yourself but don't really think you want to commit to buying a 50' roll of aluminum!  Because I highly doubt I'll be using the entire roll I purchased anytime soon, I would be happy to sell some at only $1/foot.  Each snowflake used a 6" piece.

Are you interested in seeing how I added the snowflake image to the top of my tealight?  Check back soon and I'll show how quick and simple it is.

Happy Stamping!

A Christmas Keepsake Box Class

Christmas Keepsake Special Offer

Stampin’ Up! is currently offering this kit to stamp this absolutely gorgeous box which includes the box (obviously), all precut cardstock and designer paper, all embellishments, a full sheet of our adorable self adhesive pearls, a full container of Champagne glitter, fabric and even one of our Simply Adorned Baubles.  These kits are available for $24.95 for a limited time and only while supplies last.

This box is HUGE measuring approximately 6" x 8"!

 

NOT included in the kit are:


o Pines & Poinsettias stamp set
o Early Espresso Stampin’ Write Marker
o Real Red Stampin’ Write Marker
o Wild Wasabi Stampin’ Write Marker
o Adhesives
o 3/16" Corner Punch
o Paper Cutter
o Paper Snips
o Needle
o Glue gun

Click here for a link to see Shelli and Sarah assembling this box!

129024 Christmas Keepsake Box $24.95


Because I have all the additional required supplies to complete this box, I am offering this keepsake box as a class in December!  If you're interested, definitely let me know right away as I will need to order the kits this week! :) 

The cost of the class will be $35 and will include your Christmas Keepsake Box kit, all additional materials required to assemble the box, yummy Christmas goodies to nibble and of course a guaranteed fun evening out!

Christmas Keepsake Box Class
Monday, December 12, 2011
7:30pm

$35 (RSVP & payment required by November 23rd!


Hope you can make it!!!

JOYful Ornaments

Here's another card I quickly put together the other day but never got around to posting it. I wouldn't say it falls into the "traditional" category, but nowadays it seems anything goes! ;)

Once again I used the "Letters to Santa" designer paper. This particular piece is actually printed off my home printer after I purchased the Letters to Santa My Digital Studio download. I just printed the design on a piece of Whisper White cardstock. I love this pattern and now I never have to worry about running out (well, unless my printer is out of ink!). ;)

 

After layering it on a piece of Early Espresso cardstock, I finished it off with a piece of Marina Mist Scallop Edge ribbon. I just love those little polka dots!  Then, I adhered it to a piece of Blushing Bride cardstock.

Once again I added a snowflake cut with my Northern Frost sizzlet die. I added one of our clear rhinestone brads to the center for a little sparkle and adhered it to the cardfront with a dimensional

The letters are stamped using my "Lovely Letters" stamp set, punched out with my 1-1/4" square punch and layered on a piece of Marina Mist cardstock I'd punched out with my 1-3/8" square punch. Each letter is adhered with a dimentional as well to give them a little height. 

I finished off the card by added three small pearls to the bottom left corner.

Quick, simple and I think it's cute! :)

Happy Stamping!

Snow Swirled

Wow, what a day! I've been hearing reports of falling snow around us, but so far we've only got rain here (which I'm ok with at the moment!).

Of course, the rain certainly hasn't put a damper on my "festive" mood and I was quite happy to have a quiet (which is rare!) opportunity to sit down and stamp a Christmas card.  This past week I was eagerly awaiting the arrival of my new Northern Frost sizzlet die, so when it finally arrived yesterday evening, I was so excited to try it out and was thrilled to have the opportunity this morning.

Would you like to see what I've come up with? Here it is!

I started with a piece of our Riding Hood Red cardstock for the base which I stamped with the large snowflake from our Snow Swirled stamp set.  I added a piece of our "Letters to Santa" designer paper and pulled the colors from that.  I find it so easy to coordinate colors when I use our designer paper - it's like a custom little color palette all ready to choose from!

The main image is stamped using the tree from our Snow Swirled set and using our 2-way glue pen, I added some Dazzling Diamonds glitter for sparkle.  You can't go wrong with glitter!  It's a little difficult to tell from the picture, but I can assure you it's super sparklie (is that even a word?).

To finish it off, I used one of the large snow flakes which I cut out of Whisper White cardstock.  Some of the snow flakes have a hole in the center and so I just threaded my ribbon through the hole and tied a knot.

I absolutely LOVE the intricate detail on these snowflakes!  They are so pretty.  I can't wait to cut them out of the decor elements vinyl I just ordered and adhere them to our windows this year.

Have you been inspired to stamp any Christmas cards this year?  I would love to see them!

Thanks for popping by!

Happy Stamping!