Watermark ink is a nice way to add a subtle pattern to your projects. It almost makes your paper look like fabric. My “go-to” watermark ink is from Clear & Simple Stamps. Compared to the watermark ink by Versamark, I’ve found that the Clear & Simple stamps version leaves a crisper and more polished stamped impression. The Versamark version leaves a darker image, especially on kraft paper which is a little too intense for my preference. The Clear & Simple Stamps watermark ink also works fabulously as an ink for heat embossing!
I could probably open up a treat bag shop in my craftroom…I own entirely too many! The Glassine & Paper Treat Bags from Whisker Graphics are a must have! They have every size you could need and tons of patterns to choose from. My preference is to purchase plain white, kraft and glassine treat bags because I can stamp them with any pattern I like. Of course, if you are making a lot – you may want to purchase pre-printed patterns to make the assembly process more efficient. Check out today’s projects for creative ways to use these bags!
When building your stash, there are a few versatile stamps sets that will carry you through many occasions and projects. A basic frame stamp set is great staple that can be used in a ton of ways. I searched high and low for a frame set that contained versatile images ink sizes that could be applied to cards, gift packaging and decor. The “Frame It Up” set from Close To My Heart won me over as a great basic frame set. It includes square, oval and circle shapes with simple and elegant borders. Bonus: the CTMH stamp sets come packaged in a great plastic vellum envelope making it easy to keep them organized! Take a trip over the Tina Sutton’s CTMH shop to pick up this set along with other fabulous stamps…and keep your eyes peeled for more CTMH product coming up in the Start You Stash series.
Clean & simple is definitely my aesthetic, so I seldom use large bows on my project. Baker’s twine is the perfect accent for cards and gifts, without adding bulk. Lilly Belle Paperie (via Etsy) carries my ultimate, #1 favorite baker’s twine out there. It’s slightly firmer than other twines that I’ve tried, which results in beautiful bows that won’t flop all over the place. Bonus: LillyBean Paperie packages their twine on adorable spools that you can repurpose for lots of creative projects. Love that. Another bonus: Lilly Belle Paperie is generously offering a 15% discount to all Damask Love readers!! Just enter “DamaskLove” at checkout to receive your savings! Now go shop!!
Click through for today’s projects featuring all these wonderful Start Your Stash supplies…
With today being Thanksgiving, I decided to use my supplies to create an elegant place setting for our table. I transformed the flat kraft treat bag into a dimensional envelope using the same technique shown in this post. The watermark ink adds subtle texture and a tag made from the basic frame set finishes it off.
For my next project, I doubled up treat bags to create a windowed cookie bag for gift giving. I got this idea after seeing CD envelopes used as cookie containers for gifs…only problem is that the oil from cookies quickly seeps through the CD envelope leaving nasty oil spots…not cute. SO…here’s what I came up with, using what I already have…
1) Place a large circle die inside the Middy Glassine Bag with cutting edge facing up.
2) Slide Middy Glassine Bag into Kraft/White Paper Bag.
3) Run through your die cutting machine creating a circle cut in the front of both.
4) Adhere a piece of Clear Plastic Cardstock on the inside of the circle die cut to create a window.
- COMMENT DEADLINE EXTENDED!!!! I’ve decided to keep all commenting open throughout the Start Your Stash Series! You’ll have through next Friday to comment on each post for a chance to win the giveaway. The same goes for the exclusive Facebook giveaways, so head on over and leave a comment for a chance to win Start Your Stash Goodies
- NO POST TOMORROW: There won’t be a Start Your Stash post tomorrow. Instead, I’ll be sharing some great links for online Black Friday deals!
Fabulous tips, Amber. My absolute favorite sides are roasted root vegetables and my moms mushroom cornbread stuffing. mmmmm. Happy Thanksgiving!
Love your projects! My favorite side is sweet potato souffle. Love. Happy Thanksgiving!
Love your treat bag idea!My favorite side would have to be oven roasted garlic potatoes…and then there’s the sweet potato souffle…yum yum! Happy Thanksgiving!
I’m getting hungry just reading about everyone’s favorite side dish. My favorite is oven roasted maple squash.
Love the treat bag place settings! Love green bean casserole!
Happy Thanksgiving! Love the treat bags!
Thanks for the chance. I would need those paper bags
does pie count as a side dish??? Happy Thanksgiving Amber!
Happy Thanksgiving
Another BRILLIANT post, Amber – thank you! I too love stuffing, but of the sage and onion variety 
I love this series, but I have to disagree about the watermark ink. You’ll pry my Versamark from my cold dead hands.
My favorite side is sweet potatoes! So delicious, no matter how you cook them!
These are great suggestions. I love your cookie bags! So cute. I love green bean casserole with lots of crispy fried onions on top… mmm.
beatiful CAS projects! Love the pretty, graphic feel. Thanks for the chance to win!
Oh! And stuffing is my favorite part of this yummy meal
Great suggestions. I have to try this watermark ink. Happy Thanksgiving.
I guess pumpkin pie isn’t exactly a side dish, but is my favorite Thanksgiving dish nonetheless. Sweet potatoes are pretty great too!
How can I pick a favorite side dish?!!!! Too many great things to eat. Today my daughter-in-law fixed a delicious mac and chez … ate more than I should have, but isn’t that what Thanksgiving is all about?!!
I love all the veggies on the side
Cream Spinach is my favorite special side dish except I have never made it. I always enjoy eating it though.
Sweet potatoes are my fave!!
I’ve heard such great things about that Watermark ink! Your treat bags are very cute!
Great project ideas! My fav side dish is my mother’s secret family recipe turkey stuffing smothered with her gravy.
I love those super cute treat bags!
My favorite side dish is a family favorite ukrainian dish. They are little breads filled with potato and cottage cheese, baked, then smothered with a cream and dill sauce….mmmm and only calorie free on special holidays…lol!
I love having homemade macaroni and cheese as a side dish to steak. AWESOME!
My favorite is stuffing with cranberries!
I love making stuffing with sausage, apples and sage. It’s so yummy. Hope you had a wonderful turkey day!
Wonderful ideas and tips! I love stuffing!
My sister’s Mac and cheese is amazing! She only makes it for holidays, so I enjoy it while I can.
Honestly, it differs depending on the occasion/holiday, but for Thanksgiving, it’s my sister’s sweet potatoes. I actually don’t like any other sweet potatoes, but I lover her recipe.
I know it may sound old fashioned but I love me some “Snap Green Beans w/White potatos” just like the ones my grandma used to pick from her field. Any also our family sought after “Mac ‘n Cheese”
Sweet potatoes. Our family recipe is not the usual cassarole topped with marshmallows. You cut cooked sweet potatoes in half and put in an orange/brown sugar/butter sauce.
It’s funny that my sister and brother always request that I bring my green bean casserole to their homes when they’re hosting dinners … but for me, I like the plain and simple variety of veggies: I had sides of sweet peas and corn yesterday!
I would have to say Mac and Cheese. I would be very disappointed if it was not on the table.
does wine count as a side dish?
Garlic Red Mashed potatoes!
lol – I’m kinda plain and simple – give me mashed potatoes and gravy, and I’ll be happy.
Love my Mom’s squash casserole. Lovely projects too!!
Let me see – so many great sides but I will go with mashed potatoes and gravy!! Yum!
I love stuffing, too!! Since Thanksgiving isn’t my culture, I’m still learning the traditional Thanksgiving foods, so my BF is in charge of all and I’m an assistant. The best part is I get to sample while he is cooking!! Happy Thanksgiving weekend
My favorite side dish for Thanksgiving would have to be the traditional green bean casserole – I could make a complete meal of it!
We had corn bread stuffing too but my favorite is corn bread casserole! Yummm! Thanks for the super series! Can’t wait to see what you feature next
Sweet potato casserole! LOVE.THIS.STUFF!
so glad you got em subscription back
My favorite for Thanksgiving is Sausage Stuffing! Turkey dinner just doesn’t take right to me without it! Thanks for an awesome series. Even though I’m not a beginner, I’m still learning about some great new sources of materials. Loving it!
My favorite side dish for the holidays is Baked Macaroni and Cheese casserole. My mom always baked it on the holidays along with a ton of other dishes. We had Kraft mac n cheese all the time but we only had the baked casserole on the holidays and it will always be my favorite.
We make a sweet potato casserole that it soooo good. Tastes more like dessert than a side dish – maybe that’s why we like it so much!
Thanks for sharing your awesome info..
Without a doubt – cornbread dressing! I only make it once a year but it is my absolute favorite!
Love your idea ! thanks for the chance !
I love the cookie bags all decorated up for a special treat! My favorite side dish would be the corn pudding – and I love the cranberry salad too!
I just tried two new dishes (I always do that just to add some drama)- sweet potato casserole and homemade cranberry sauce, saw these on the cooking channel, sooo good and really easy – got to love that!
My favorite special occasion side dish has to be the sweet potato caserole!
my favorite side dish would be this Sausage and Rice Dressing that my grandmother used to make! Yummy!
Never knew you could do so much with the bags. My fav. special occasion side dish is my Father-in-laws sausage stuffing.
Great place settings! I’m going to use something similar for Xmas!
I love stuffing!
hmmmm I have a lot of favorite sides, but I think roasted red potatoes might be my favorite!
So hard to pick..I just love food!
Nothing can beat stuffing that was cooked inside the turkey!! I look forward to it erery Thanksgiving.
Your packaging is so cute .love those stamps you have told us about today !
I love the stuffing and cranberry sauce.
Thank you for a great packaging idea. Your blog is so inspiring. I love these must haves.