Faux Wax Seal

Because we couldn’t think of a creative gift for the fathers in our lives, we’re giving the usual gift card this Father’s Day. What makes this gift card holder unique is the beautiful copper faux wax seal!

I don’t usually include instructions, but I decided it might be worth sharing how to make the faux wax seal. Imagine the possibilities with all our stamp images and powders!

1. Using the VersaMark pad, dab a 2”x2” square of ink near a corner of the Silicone Craft Sheet.

2. While holding the opposite corner, pour about 1/2 teaspoon Copper Emboss Powder in the size of a quarter onto the inked up spot of the Silicone Craft Sheet.

3. Holding the Heat Tool in your other hand, heat the powder from underneath the Silicone Craft Sheet, directly under the powder. This prevents the powder from blowing all over. (This may work better when you’re standing.) Once the powder is mostly melted, you can finish heating from the top.

4. Heating the powder takes about 2 minutes, depending on the thickness of the faux wax seal.

5. Ink stamp with VersaMark to prevent sticking.

6. Stamp into the heated powder...slightly cooled, and then gently lift stamp off. (If it doesn’t work or cools down, just reheat and repeat steps 5 and 6.)

7. Wait for the embossed image to completely cool before lifting off the Silicone Craft Sheet.

8. Your image and the embossing shouldn’t be a perfect circle. Let it happen naturally for a unique look!

9. Splatter the project with VersaMark refill (watered down), dust with Copper Emboss Powder, and heat.

10. Using Multipurpose Liquid Glue, place the faux wax seal onto the crossed and stapled Burlap Ribbon.

Most Relaxing Week

We missed our family vacation at Lake Powell last year, and this year’s trip more than made up for it! It was the most relaxing week we can remember! We woke up without an alarm clock, took a nap almost every day, read a lot, enjoyed watching everyone else play behind the ski boat, and usually ended the day with a movie, popcorn, and Hot Tamales. A highlight for me was our Sunday devotional after a boat ride up the lake. Sterling made assignments to all the grandkids, and they did an awesome job—simple and sweet.

The weather was absolutely gorgeous, and the water was refreshing and warm enough to swim in…maybe more so than any other June I can remember! Not everyone in our family was able to go, but those of us who went will count it as one of our favorite trips to Lake Powell.

Mediterranean Cruise

We returned early this morning from the Stampin’ Up! incentive trip to the Mediterranean—a week of beautiful weather and scenery! There was so much to see and do that we had to settle for hearing about everyone’s adventures, hoping to return someday to more fully enjoy.

While visiting cities like Rome, Florence, and Cannes was wonderful, visiting with demonstrators was the reason we went! It’s crazy, but we were seeing people for the first time in the airport in Barcelona at the end of the trip. With over 800 people on a huge ship, all going in different directions, we felt lucky to say hello and give a quick hug if there wasn’t time for a visit.

Congratulations to all our achievers, and thanks for a great time! I’m already looking forward to next year’s trip to Thailand!

Two Gift Packages

We’re getting ready to sail away from Barcelona on the Stampin’ Up! Grand Vacation, but I wanted to post one last post for the week. Cameron’s birthday was on Friday, and Shelby’s was yesterday. We dropped their packages off the day we left, but Cameron was shaving and Shelby wanted to wait until she looked cuter—she’s adorable anytime, but I understand! I didn’t receive the photos but wanted to share these two gift packages anyway.

Congratulations Brandy

Brandy is our newest million-milestone achiever, and we’re so excited to welcome her to an elite group of demonstrators! Brandy is humble enough to tell you this milestone is an entire family effort. She’ll also tell you her husband is her partner in business. I’ll never forget meeting him on the sidewalk one year at convention and how he couldn’t stop bragging about her…so sweet! We’re looking forward to spending time with Brandy and Doug when they come to celebrate.

For those of you who know Brandy, you recognize that this over-the-top card Sara and I sent her matches her personality—bright and cheerful! Congratulations Brandy and big hugs for an incredible accomplishment!