I'm Back with a Fun New Project!

Hello everyone! I apologize for my absence this past week. I've been traveling and at the Stampin' Up! Convention in Salt Lake City and have had very spotty and unreliable internet access. So, if you've been wondering what happened, now you know! Speaking of Stampin' Up! and convention, I just need to say what a wonderful group of people Stampin' Up! Demonstrators are! I've been connected with Stampin' Up! now for almost 3 years and in that time period, I've met such wonderful, friendly and caring people from across the United States and around the world. I've been overwhelmed with the number of you, faithful blog followers, who have come up to me during this week at convention, to let me know how much you appreciate my blog and the project ideas and inspiration I try to provide for you here. Thank you, thank you, thank you, from the bottom of my heart. You will never know how much it means to me! I even met one person last night who went to the same high school that I did and who rememberd my performance (if you can call it that) so many years ago as Mother Superior in The Sound of Music! WOW! What a small world!

Before moving on to a very cute and fun project for you, I want to congratulate Martie Shea and Susan Troxel for receiving the Heart of Stampin' Up! Award yesterday at the morning session! If you follow my blog, you know how I feel about the work and ministry that these two women organize through From Our Hearts! This fabulous organization (and hundreds of stampers throughout the country) has sent more than 58,000 hand-made greetings cards to US troops in Iraq and Afganistan in the past two years. The cards are blank so that the service women and men can write their own messages back to their families, helping to keep them connected through a very difficult time of separation. Susan was not able to attend convention and I hear that Shellie Gardner personally called her yesterday afternoon to congratulate her! Congratulations, Martie and Susan! And thank you to everyone who contributes to this meaningful and important service!

Okay, ready for a fun new project! One of the SWAPS that I participated in at convention was Robin Merriman's Go-Divas SWAP. In addition to cards, we also swaped Gift Card Holders and I must say each and every one was just fabulous! Here's the project that I came up with for this SWAP. It's a Tart & Tangy Test Tube gift card holder, complete with tiny candy fruit! How fun is this!

The colors are Real Red, Pumpkin Pie, Pear Pizzazz, Cherry Cobbler and Whisper White.

If there's enough interest, I might be convinced to put this project together as a kit which would come with the test tubes and cork stoppers, along with all the cut cardstock and instructions to make 6 of these darling Gift Card holders. Let me know if you're interested and we'll see what I can come up with.

For those of you who just can't wait for a kit, here's how I made this fun & fruity gift card holder! Keep in mind that the dimensions will be different for different sized test tubes, so experiment on some scraps before you get started!

I started with a 3.5 x 12" piece of Real Red Cardstock and scored at 4.25 and 8.5". I then made score lines at 9/16" (just a hair over 1/2") (ignore the 5/16" reference shown on the photo)on either side of the 4.25" score. Fold on the 4.25" score line and using Paper Snips, cut from the fold to the score line at about 1" from both top and bottom. As you hold the card folded from the front, pop the center "tab" in and the top and bottom "tabs" out to form the holder for the test tube.

Now, working on the other end, from the 8.5" score line, cut down on the score line (using Paper Snips) 1.5" from the top and cut off that top part from the 8.5" score line to the right edge of the cardstock. Using a Wide Oval or Circle punch, punch out a half shape to provide a place to grab the gift card this project will eventually hold. Run a line of Sticky Strip along the bottom of the cardstock, from the 8.5" score line to the edge. Remove the backing from the Sticky Strip and fold on the score line. This will make the card holder!

All that's left now is to decorate with colorful fruit images on the front and back and fill your test tube with fun and tasty fruit-shaped candy! How cute is this!

Remember, let me know and if there's enough interest, I will offer this project as a kit in the future!

Well, that's going to be it for today!  Thanks for hanging in there with me during my long absence this past week and come back soon for more Inspiration in Action!

Comments

[Michelle Krstyen]

I love this project and would be interested in a kit. Thanks for the instructions though. Where do you get the test tubes with the corks? Michelle

[Elaine Moore]

This is soooo cute - would be interested in a kit - where in the world do you buy test tubes?????

[MaryS]

Gretchen, I absolutely interested in getting a kit for making this darling project. Where did you get the tiny test tubes, and what size are they? Blessings, MaryS

[Beth]

This project is awesome. I would definitely be interested in a kit. Where did the test tubes come from? They're great!!!

[Missi]

Darling project! The colors are so vibrant and fun!! I would be interested in a kit too.

[Kay Jantz]

Love the project! Thank you for posting the instructions! I had hoped to see you, but 1 in 2700 woment was worse than a needle in a haystack. I have been a hobbyist going on 3 years as well, but saturday in the book a workshop class, Shannon pushed me off the cliff. I came home with 2 workshops booked in August! Wahoo and you have been one of my greatest encouragers on it is a simple business with the ability to be a great one!

K

[Stephanie A]

These are cute! I would be interested in a kit
(or 2!)

[TeresaC]

This is very cute. I would be interested in a kit, too.

[Kelley]

I would be interested in a kit!

[Mickey Roberts]

Hi Gretchen!
I stopped by to see my upline, Catherine Harwood, who was kind enough to take my swaps to Convention for me. Imagine my surprise when she handed me a stack of swaps that included this project! I was so excited! I HAVE A GRETCHEN BARRON SWAP! OMG!! Thanks so very much for the swap. It's so cute. I can't wait to CASE it!
Mickey

[Whitney Richardson]

Gretchen:

I love this project! I used the test tubes in project a couple of yrs back when Martha Stewart sold the test tubes in a local hobby store. But ever since then myself and a couple of customers have been searching for these test tubes hi and low. We really wanted to use them in a Breast Cancer Crop for the goody bags we are doing this year. Can please email me or post where you got the tubes from. I would be ever so grateful we are running out of time, the crop is at the end of the month. I think this would make a great kit on the go!

Thanks in advance if you can share,
whitneyrichardson1969@gmail.com

[Olivia Studley]

Love your project. I have also searched for the test tubes...could you share where you found them?
A thank you ahead of time.
Olivia

[Susan]

Please let me know where to purchase the cute test tubes! Thanks,
Susan

[Kristi]

Thanks for sharing the pattern. These are adorable!

[Marla]

Too cute! Love your work. Could you please let me know where you got your test tubes and the size? Marla

[ann]

Hi Gretchen

What a fun project. Would you consider sharing privately where you get the test tubes?
thank you
Ann

[Amy]

love he project -- where do you get the test tubes?

[marti finsterwalder]

I love this idea and would love to make these for halloween for grandkids. Where do you get your test tubes?