Archive for the ‘Build-A-Bear Collection’ Category:
Watercolor How-To: Magic Tips to Use
The most common thing I hear when I demonstrate watercoloring is that people can’t seem to make it look “right”. Guess what? There are some easy tricks that will make your watercolor look ‘right’ every time. Here’s a card that we made at stamp club last week, using the soon-to-be-retired Beary Best Friends stamp set (see it online).
Beary Best Friends and the matching Beary Nice Wishes set (see it online) will be available along with the rest of the Build-A-Bear Product Suite (see it online) but only until May 31st (learn about the retiring items & sale).
The bear is on the inside of the card — peeking through the window!
Tips to make your watercolor look fantastic:
- Use Stampin’ Up! Watercolor Paper for best effects. I know, it sounds like I just want you to buy paper from me… but I’ve tried other papers from big craft stores, and they just don’t work right. If you want to be successful, it’s important to start with good quality materials.
- Draw a small line with a Stampin’ Write Marker where you want color to be darkest.
- Use Aqua Painters to wet the line and move the color around on the paper – leave blank spots to get an authentic watercolor effect.
- Remember that you can always add more color, but it’s tricky to remove color if you start with too much.
- Outline with River Rock Stampin’ Write Marker & blend to finish. This will keep your image ‘anchored’ to the paper and add dimension to the background so that it doesn’t look flat.
Looking for more Build A Bear ideas? Here are several on my blog.
Or more watercoloring technique samples? Here you go! Or if you’re looking for ideas on Watercolor Wonder Crayons, here’s a how-to video tutorial from my blog.
Happy Watercoloring! (and stamping)
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Subscribe to the comments for this postBack to School with Build A Bear
This past week at Summer Scrap Camp we actually had a BOY join our group of stamping girls!
The ages for this fun troupe of stampers ranges from 9 to 13, and every two weeks we’ve gotten together to make 4-6 pages for our scrapbooks plus a couple of other fun projects. So far the girls had made Father’s Day cards, the Fabulous Fleece Flowers (check out the Video Tutorial), the Faster Fleece Flower bracelets (another Video Tutorial) and several other fun projects.
Definitely the hands-down favorites were both fleece flower varieties, but with a BOY joining us for one of the Scrap Camp sessions, I figured fleece flowers weren’t going to go over well 
But everyone loves Build-A-Bear, right? And everyone needs back to school notebooks, right?
This notebook features the Build-A-Bear dies for the Big Shot diecut machine. For the name, I used a variety of Stampin’ Up! punches: Extra Large Fancy Flower Punch, Scallop Square Punch, 1-3/4″ Circle Punch & Curly Label Punch.
The background is cut with the Top Note Big Shot Die, and the bear is created with the Stampin’ Up! Bear die, and the clothes are cut with Beary Essentials. Cute, isn’t it? Good to note–the clothing die also includes pants, sneakers and a little jacket so it’s perfectly boy-accepted.
Everyone loved the project, girls and boys alike, and I think there will be a nice collection of Build-A-Bear notebooks when school starts next week!
Looking for more Notebook Projects? I love them! Be sure to check some other ideas here…
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Stamps: alphabet
Inks: Pacific Point, Cherry Cobbler
Accessories: Bear Die (117977), Beary Essentials Die (117978), Top Note Die (113463), Big Shot (113439), Extra Large Fancy Flower Punch (118073), Scallop Square Punch (119884), 1-3/4″ Circle Punch (119850), Curly Label Punch (119851)
Build A Bear: Dress Your Own
You should have seen the look that I got when I told a friend I was headed to a Build-A-Bear Party where 18 kids were going to stamp. Oh, and did I mention the kids ranged from ages 3 to 12?
Well it turned out to be a great gathering! The kids really enjoyed the 2 projects I prepared (yes, both the girls AND the boys).
We dressed up our own Build-A-Bears, using the Big Shot dies–the Stampin’ Up! Bear and the Beary Essentials.
Keep in mind that this is a simple card created for little little kids. They also stamped the background with the “MOM” stamp from the Messages for Mom stamp set (only available til April 30th!).
Here’s another card idea for the Messages for Mom stamp set, using the Beautiful Wings Embosslit (also gone after April 30th).
Everyone also stamped a cute crayon Activity Pack project that was shared by my friend Tami White (thanks Tami!).
So if you’ve considered holding a stamping party for kids, I highly recommend a Build-A-Bear party!
Be sure to check out my other projects with the Build A Bear Collection!
To Order Stampin’ Up! Products On-Line 24/7, CLICK HERE!
Stamps: Beary Best Friends (118052), Beary Nice Wishes (118050), Seal of Pawthenticity (118054), Message for Mom (wood mount: 117016 or clear mount: 118580),
Big Shot Build-A-Bear Collection: Stampin’ Up! Bear (117977), Stampin’ Up! Beary Essentials (117978)
Scrapbooking with 250 Princesses
Key words: BRING GLITTER!
This past weekend I had the privilege of making scrapbook pages with about 250 little girls at the Champaign Park District’s annual Daddy Daughter Princess Ball.
I’ve found that when 200+ princesses between the ages of 2 and 12 need to make a project, it’s best to keep it simple 
This page features the Beary Best Friends stamp set from the Build-A-Bear collection, plus lots of Dazzling Diamonds Glitter, applied with the 2-Way Glue Pen. The hearts are cut from the Stampin’ Up! Hearts & Brackets die for the Big Shot, and the Whisper White cardstock was cut with the Top Note die.
Each girl at the Ball got to make her own page to take home, all set for adding a picture with Dad.
When 250+ kids have access to Dazzling Diamonds Glitter, the results are definitely full of sparkle!
I had lots of terrific help at our table from several Park District volunteers–they went home covered in glitter, but we all had a good time!
To Order Stampin’ Up! Products On-Line 24/7, CLICK HERE!
Stamps: Beary Best Friends
Ink: Basic Brown
Paper: Pretty in Pink, Whisper White, Rose Red
Accessories: 2-Way Glue Pen, Dazzling Diamonds Glitter, Top Note die, Hearts & Brackets Die, Big Shot
Build-A-Bear Goodies: Kids Can’t Resist
This past Friday night I held my LovenStampfuls demonstrator group Holiday Stamp-A-Thon. Wahoo! Hooray for sleepover stamping nights, and staying up past 2 am stamping with friends!
Oh, and of course the snacks… so many yummy snacks, so many fun project ideas (we held a Shoebox Swap), and so much coffee and Diet Coke!
Since there was plenty of time to relax and stamp, I put together the Build-A-Bear bookmarks 
I’d been planning for my daughter’s kindergarten holiday party gift bags. Of course their goodies need to include a stamped gift!
Each bookmark is cut from the Stampin’ Up! Table Setting Bigz XL die (Holiday Mini Catalog), but you could also use the darling Two Tags Bigz Die (115954, on sale until Dec 22 for $18.66!)
The bookmarks feature the Scallop Circle Punch and the 1 3/8″ Circle Punch, and the super-cute Seal of Pawthenticity stamp set.
The girl bookmarks feature the Melon Mambo and Pretty in Pink color scheme. I also added a Clear Rhinestone Brad and some Polka Dot Grosgrain Ribbon for each girl bookmark–every little girl needs some ‘bling’, right?
The boy bookmarks use Dusty Durango and Bermuda Bay for colors, and their brads are the Designer Circle Brads. The backs of all the bookmarks have “Seal of Pawthenticity” stamped on them.
To Order Stampin’ Up! Products On-Line 24/7, CLICK HERE!
Stamps: Seal of Pawthenticity (118054), (alphabet & sunglasses – retired)
Inks: Basic Black (101179), Melon Mambo (115656), Bermuda Bay (115655)
Cardstock: Whisper White (100730), Melon Mambo (115320), Bermuda Bay (115317), Pretty in Pink (100459), Dusty Durango (115321)
Accessories: Big Shot (113439), Stampin’ Up! Table Setting Die (116819), Scallop Circle Punch (109043), 1 3/8″ Circle Punch (104401), Melon Mambo Polka Dot Grosgrain Ribbon (115611), Bermuda Bay Polka Dot Grosgrain Ribbon (115610), Clear Rhinestone Brads (113144), Designer Circle Brads (112571),
Kooky Spooky Goes Triple Fold
As promised, here’s another fun Halloween-themed project, although of course you can do these popular Tri-Fold Shutter cards in pretty much any style. In fact, you can check one out from my recent Stamps in the Mail Club Round, with no Halloween themed products in sight
This is the 2nd project we’re making at Stamp Club with Meg during September. You can still join us on Monday night–just send me an email! The bear uses the Build-A-Bear Stampin’ Up! Bear die and the Stampin’ Up! Kooky Spooky die, both for the Big Shot. If you’re enjoying these, be sure to check out my other Build-A-Bear projects!
Tri-Fold Shutter Card Instructions:
- Cardstock: 5-1/2 x 12”, Score at 2, 4, 8 and 10”.
- Cut the long way at 1-1/2” from each side between the 2 and 10” score lines so you have three strips connected at the ends.
- Fold the whole card zig-zag on the 4 and 8” score lines, then invert the top and bottom strip at the 2 and 10” score lines as shown.
- Decorate each panel as desired.
To Order Stampin’ Up! Products On-Line 24/7, CLICK HERE!
Stamps: Teeny Tiny Wishes (115370), Beary Nice Wishes (118050), Seal of Pawthenticity (118054)
Ink: Pumpkin Pie (105216), Chocolate Chip (100908), Basic Black (101179),
Paper: Cast-A-Spell Designer Series Paper (115677), Close to Cocoa (101341), Pumpkin Pie (105117), Old Olive (100702), Chocolate Chip (102128), Basic Black (102851), Creamy Caramel (102514), Whisper White (100730)
Accessories: Big Shot (113439), Stampin’ Up! Bear Die (117977), Stampin’ Up! Kooky Spooky Die (117979), Paper Cutter (104152) Cutting & Scoring Blade Refills (104154),
Kooky Spooky Fun for All Ages
I hope you had fun this past long weekend–we definitely had a good time at our house. And much of that good time involved kids and Build-A-Bear dies for the Big Shot! Wow, give a kid (ages 5 through 12 at least) a pile of construction paper and don’t plan to do much else for the next 2-3 hours
This card uses the Stampin’ Up! Bear Die, plus the Stampin’ Up! Kooky Spooky Die to make a fun Halloween Card. What kid (of any age!) wouldn’t love getting this little guy in the mail?
The greeting is from the always-handy Teeny Tiny Wishes stamp set (aka Teeny Weenie Wishes–I say it wrong all the time). The background paper is from my favorite Razzleberry Lemonade Designer Series Paper pack. And to help define the bear, I used Stampin’ Sponges to sponge some matching Classic Ink around the edges of the bear and the pumpkin. Somehow he just seems more 3-d with a little extra highlighting.
To Order Stampin’ Up! Products On-Line 24/7, CLICK HERE!
Stamps: Teeny Tiny Wishes (115370),
Ink: Pumpkin Pie (105216), Chocolate Chip (100908), Basic Black (101179)
Paper: Razzleberry Lemonade Designer Series Paper (115675), Close to Cocoa (101341), Real Red (102482), Pumpkin Pie (105117), Green Galore (101768), Basic Black (102851), Creamy Caramel (102514), Whisper White (100730)
Accessories: Big Shot (113439), Stampin’ Up! Bear Die (117977), Stampin’ Up! Kooky Spooky Die (117979), Modern Label Punch (116630), Stampin’ Dimensionals (104430)
Video Tutorial: Build-A-Bear Shaker Cards
One of the first things I thought when I saw the new Stampin’ Up! Bear Big Shot Die was, “wow, wouldn’t that make a cute shaker card?”
And even better, you can make as many of these shaker cards as you like, whereas with the Die Cut Rubber Shaker Cards (check out that video tutorial) you can only make one.
I hope you enjoy making these cute little guys (or gals!) as much as I did!
Don’t forget to check out my other Build-A-Bear project ideas!
To Order Stampin’ Up! Products On-Line 24/7, CLICK HERE!
Stamps: Beary Nice Wishes (118050) Ink: Real Red Stampin’ Write Marker () Paper: Whisper White (100730), Creamy Caramel (), Certainly Celery (), Pawsitively Prints Designer Series Paper (118060) Accessories: Big Shot (113439), Stampin’ Up! Bear Die (117977), Window Sheets Medium (114323), Scallop Circle Punch (109043), 1-3/8″ Circle Punch (104401), 1-1/4″ Circle Punch (104403), Certainly Celery 5/8″ Grosgrain Ribbon (109050), Pretty in Pink Taffeta Ribbon (109067), Tombow Multiadhesive (110755)
Build A Collection: Build-A-Bear
One of my favorite new product lines in the Holiday Mini Catalog is the Build-A-Bear Collection! Oh my goodness, if you haven’t seen these yet, you’re going to just curl up and expire from the ‘cute-ness’ factor
Stampin’ Up! has partnered with everyone’s favorite teddy bear experience to bring Build-A-Bear supplies to your Craft Room! Not only can you get “beary” fun stamp sets (such as Beary Best Friends, 118052), perfect for watercoloring, but you can also order Big Shot dies to create as many bears as your heart desires! And with that little heart on each bear, I can tell you that your heart is going to desire a LOT of these furry friends.
You can download the Holiday Mini Catalog and start browsing the Build-A-Bear collection, beginning on page 34.
I created this beary cute friend for a little girl’s birthday party last weekend. The card features the new Stampin’ Up! Bear Big Shot die, plus the Stampin’ Up! Beary Essentials clothing die. Her outfit is created from scraps of the Pawsitively Prints Designer Series Paper, and I added a few cupcakes from the Sock Monkey stamp set. Oh, and no Build-A-Bear card is complete without a saying from the Beary Nice Wishes greeting stamp set.
Finally, on the very back, I added my own “Seal of Pawthenticity“, from the stamp set by that name. I used a pen to put my initials right on the seal.
I can tell you right now, these little guys are addictive! I can barely contain myself as I sit here typing, looking at the cute cards… I need to go stamp!!
To Order Stampin’ Up! Products On-Line 24/7, CLICK HERE!
Stamps: Seal of Pawthenticity (118054), Beary Nice Wishes (118050), Sock Monkey
Ink: Chocolate Chip
Paper: Pawsitively Prints Designer Series Paper (118060), Creamy Caramel, Basic Black, Whisper White, Pretty in Pink
Accessories: Big Shot (113439), Stampin’ Up! Bear (117977), Stampin’ Up! Beary Essentials die (117978)
