my first class + a huge sale!!

Hello, old friends!  How have you been?  Happy summer!

I've got a few things I wanted to tell you about, and let you know what I've been up to over the last few months.  I'm still knocking around Instagram, and you can find me on the 6th of every month over on Nichole Heady's blog for my Papertrey Ink Packaging Ambassador post.  I've really been enjoying that.  I'm also still on the Pinkfresh Studio DT so you can find me there about once a month, too.  I'm definitely staying crafty!

Before we get too far into the crafty business, I do want to let you know I'm having a GIANT sale in my Etsy shop.  It's my biggest sale EVER and the entire shop is 50% off!!! I'm cleaning it out and letting things go for a steal so if you've been eyeing anything in there, now is the best time to get it.  Quantities are limited to what's listed and most of the items will not be restocked once they are sold out.  There is no coupon code necessary, either, so you don't have to hassle with that!

{Peach, Green, Copper + Gold Kit: $15}

There are several gift wrap / paper / embellishment kits for sale in the shop and if you like the way I use trims, tassels, and tags to dress up packages, the kits are a fantastic source for those items.  They're definitely made up of my favorite things to use for packaging, and most are selling for $10-$15 currently.  That's a great deal!!

{Valentine Kit - $12}

And once you've ordered your kit(s), head on over to Big Picture Classes for my inaugural class on card packaging!  I'm so excited for the opportunity to develop and teach this class over there.  It's called Outside the Envelope and it's all about foregoing a basic envelope for something a little bit more fun and unexpected when you're giving a card--make an impact before your recipient even sees the card!

This class was a whole lotta fun, along with a whole lotta work to put it all together so I do hope you'll take some time to check it out.  There is quite a bit of information packed into it, including:

- 4 Step-by-Step Card Packaging Samples
- 4 Step-by-Step Cards
- My favorite supplies
- Tips for mailing/hand-delivering the final products
- A deep look into my thought process when I'm creating packaging
- And much, much more!

Even if you don't make a lot of cards--or any cards at all--the ideas in the class will be helpful for adding layers, textures, and soft touches to any of your projects or special gift wrappings.  With 5 videos, tutorials, and more photos than I can believe, you'll get a ton of insight into how I put my cards and packages together.  And, yes, you read that right: There are EIGHT total projects in this class--aside from 4 start-to-finish card coverings, there are also 4 start-to-finish cards!

I had a lot of fun putting the projects and class together so I hope you'll check it out and let me know what you think.  I'd also love to see any projects you make that are inspired by the class, so don't be shy--share!!

You must be a member at Big Picture Classes to take the class; the fee is $9.95 per month and there's a free 2-week trial when you sign up.  They offer a varied selection of craft classes, ranging from beginner to expert-level, and with topics that cover scrapbooking, DIY, stamping, mixed media art, and card making.  If you aren't a member already, it's a valuable investment!  (I totally recommend Janna Werner's Crazy Clusters class, too. Hint: You might come across a familiar name during one of the lessons in her amazing class!)

I'm fairly certain I may pop up again at some point this year with another class...perhaps in a different venue...and I'll be sure to fill you in on that if/when it happens.

And, still, there are one or two more things I have up my sleeve before the summer is over and I really cannot wait to share those with you (though, I must wait, unfortunately).  I hate to keep you waiting, so here's a sneak at the latest Papertrey Ink Packaging Ambassador Post...You can find it on Nichole Heady's blog on July 6th!

And here are a few more 50% off steals in the Etsy shop:

{Pink, Gold + Beet Kit: $10}

{Pink + Gold Kit: $13.50}

{Aqua, Rose Gold + Yellow Mini Clothespins: $3.30}

{Pink Glitter Mini Clothespins: $2.70}

{Pink, Chocolate + Rose Gold Mini Clothespins: $3.90}

You'll find A LOT more in the shop so please go have a look!

Enjoy the rest of your week, friends!

papertrey ink :: guest blogger :: packaging ambassador introduction

Hey, guys!  I want to direct your attention to Nichole Heady's blog today.  I'm introducing my new role as the 'Packaging Ambassador' over there.  You can find out just exactly that is, get some background on why I love gift wrapping so much, and see a few more photos.  On the 6th of each month I'll have a new post on Nichole's blog, as part of that series, also known as Paper & Package.

I'm fulfilling a bit of a dream in this role, wherein I get to dig deep into my affection for all things Paper & Package and share them with you.  It's an in-depth look into gift wrapping and will provide you with more than just a pretty picture.  I'll share tips, tricks, techniques, tutorials, and favorite products so I encourage you to check it out each month.

There are some really exciting things coming to my series in the next few months!  I hope you'll have a look and let me know what you think!

~Rebecca

xoxo

winnie & walter giveaway winner!

Hello, all!  My apologies for the late post, but I have a winner for the Winnie & Walter gift card giveaway I hosted in February.  Thank you to everyone who left a comment and played along.

*The winner is: DEE EARNSHAW

Such pretty projects. My go to technique would have to be embossing and distressing. I love how they produce amazing results:)

Congratulations, Dee!  If you'll just send me your email, I'll pass it on to the lovely Shay at W&W and she'll get you your prize.  ( Email me: thurstonpostblog(at)gmail.com )  Happy shopping!!

Again, it was such an honor to be a big part of the Winnie & Walter community last month.  I DO plan to reply to the comments you took the time to leave me because I truly appreciated each one.  It will probably happen over the next week and in batches, but I will reply.  Thank you so much for your patience!

I've got a whole lot happening behind the crafty scenes in March, and April, too, so stay tuned for some big news dropping in that period of time.  I'm really excited about it all and I hope you will be, too.  I can mention that I'll be a monthly guest blogger for Papertrey Ink starting Monday, March 6th.  I'm over the moon about this opportunity--you have no idea!  I'm taking on the role of Packaging Ambassador (yeah, like that title didn't go to my head or anything :).  Packaging, gift wrapping, et al, is totally my jam and I'm looking forward to sharing some tips, tricks, and favorite products with you.  My first post, again, is Monday March 6th, over on Nichole Heady's blog, so give it a look if you have a moment.

There are a few other things going on, too, but I can't say much about them yet.  Soon, though!  I wish you all a fantastic weekend!  We are celebrating my daughter Nemy's 4th birthday on Sunday which entails a drive to LA and a visit to the American Girl store to pick out a playmate and a pet for her Bitty Baby Alice.  "Baby" Alice, incidentally is also 4 years old, never wears clothes, and is repeatedly mean to Nemy's other dolls, thus frequently ending up in timeout.  Don't ask me why we're getting Alice a playmate and a pet.  She clearly doesn't deserve either of them!

winnie & walter :: february leading lady, part 4 :: diy embellishments

Oh, I'm sad!  It's my last Saturday with you wonderful folks at Winnie & Walter, being their Leading Lady.  I've had a blast, challenged myself in more ways than one, worked with amazing products, and connected with a bunch of new friends--it's been an awesome month!  (**Don't forget the giveaway!  Keep scrolling for details!)

I'm leaving you with a few fun little DIY tricks.  The beauty of many paper crafting products is all the different ways you can use them.  A designer may have one intention, but then another creative comes along and shows us all a different way to work with it.  Those are my favorite products because of their versatility.  So I took one of the best W&W dies and used it in a few different ways, essentially making do-it-yourself embellishments.

If you don't have the Lulu Fringe cutaway, go and buy it right now.  It is the best thing ever!  I started by using it to make the fringe hearts that are all the rage right now.  I'm sure you've seen them, so here's one way to make your own...(okay, two ways ;)

I started by cutting a heart out of white card stock using the True Multifaceted Heart cutaway.  Then I picked a few papers to fringe.  All the papers seen here today are Pink Paislee's Fancy Free line by Paige Taylor Evans.  I used prints with smaller patterns from the 6x6 paper pad.

I cut small strips for the hearts, approximately 3/4" by 6".  When I had a few strips cut, I lined them up on my heart, starting from the bottom up.  Be sure to put adhesive only on the flat, un-fringed part of your strip or the fringe won't stick up and be fringy!  You can trim the excess as you go or trim all at once in the end.  Either way, when you've finished, you have a pretty fringe heart!

(*Here's a tip that might be even easier, but it was one of those things that didn't dawn on me until I was writing up my post: Take a 4"x4" piece of white card stock and adhere your fringed strips to it, just as I did with the heart.  When you've reached the top, run it through your die cutting machine with the heart die.  Done!  Way less trimming, and much faster!  But, if you don't mind taking your time, you can try my first way!!)

To show it in use, I've simply used it as a gift topper here with some seam binding and a simple tag, also cut from Fancy Free paper.  The hearts are pretty enough to not need much else on a small package.

The second embellishment I made with the Lulu Fringe cutaway is a paper tassel.  If any of you stopped by my blog during the W&W World Card Making Day Blog Hop, you saw me use them on a card there.  It's still my favorite thing to make with the die and it's so easy!

Again, trim your papers--longer this time, around 1 3/4" long.  If your paper stock is thin, 6" is a good width; if it's thick, 5" is best.

You will need some tassel caps--I've used these small gold plated pieces here, which are 4mm in diameter.

Starting at one end, start rolling your strip.  It should look like this when you're done:

Pop your cap on (some adhesive inside the cap will ensure that your paper doesn't slip out) and you're done!  Super easy!

I made a fringe tag next, similar to the heart.  I actually had white shipping tags that I used, but the tag from Essentials: Katharine Cutaways would be a great die to use if you wanted to do it the card stock way.  Again, had I thought of that trick earlier, I would have done it!!  But, honestly, this way is not hard.  I didn't put fringe all the way up, but opted instead to use coordinating paper for a hole reinforcement.

It's all about the fringe on this present!  Yup, I absolutely did cover the box top with fringe strips, too, because once you start fringing, it's difficult to stop fringing!

For my last DIY embellishment, I made a little bow clothespin.  While I didn't use the Lulu Fringe die to make it, I'm including it because it still qualifies as a DIY embellishment.

I used the Take A Bow cutaways to make the big looped bow and adhered it to a chunky wood clip.  That's all.  Easy, again, but effective, especially with a few fringe scraps on a plain white gift box.

That's a wrap!  I hope you try some of these fun DIY embellishments!  Thank you so, so much for welcoming me into the W&W family and being so hospitable.  Don't forget to enter the giveaway!  You have until Monday, February 27th to leave a comment on this week's post or last week's to be eligible for the $30 W&W gift card.  I'll announce the winner on Tuesday, February 28th.

Your comments on last week's post were awesome and so many of you had terrific ideas for last-minute cards.  This week, I'd love it if you'd tell me one thing about yourself--your favorite season (give me autumn, please!), the state, city, or country you live in (Southern California here), your guiltiest pleasure (mine are donuts and Roxette :)...any little nugget you'd like! 

Thank you, thank you, thank you, Winnie & Walter (and friends) for making my February AMAZING!!

~Rebecca xo