Calendar
This is another project that we made at the all day class at Beachmere. If you remember last year my friend Vicky shared a calendar she made with me and gave me a template for the calendar months. This year we used a template that was part of a tutorial I purchased from Create with Connie and Mary New Catalogue 2012 Edition by the very talented designer Melissa Davies.
We used Very Vanilla card and stamped the swirl image from Everything Eleanor using Chocolate Chip ink. We stamped the “frame” image onto Very Vanilla card using Summer Starfruit ink attached it over the stamped swirl and embossed the card using the Square Lattice Embossing Folder. The ladies were impressed with this folder as it is so forgiving. 
You can emboss and re-emboss using this folder and it always looks gorgeous, so you can fix any mistakes in the joining of the pattern over larger pieces such as these. We attached the embossed pieces to Chocolate Chip card along with a strip of unembossed Very Vanilla. The join in the two pieces on the left hand side is covered by a strip of Chocolate Chip card. Both long edges are punched using the Scallop Trim Border Punch and then wrapped with Primrose Petals 1/2″ Stitched Satin Ribbon. We tied a smaller piece of ribbon to make a knot. The Chocolate Chip card was attached to a full sheet of Sahara Sand card.
The numbers for 2013 were cut using the Timeless Type Junior Alphabet (retired) from Chocolate Chip card. The flower was stamped six times onto Very Vanilla card using Primrose Petals ink and cut out, three full flowers and three partial flowers. The smaller flowers were attached to the full flowers using dimensionals and then over the swirls using Mini Glue Dots. We attached medium Basic Pearls to the centres of the flowers.
We attached the calendar pages by piercing three holes through the calendar and the Sahara Sand card and inserted Mini Silver Brads. We punched holes in the top corners and threaded through a long piece of Primrose Petals 1/2″ Stitched Satin Ribbon, tying knots at the back to create a hanger.
I love these calenders, they make great gifts and you can even add photos to truly personalise them. I’d love to hear what you think.
Bye for now, Kris.
Sunny Challenge 69
This week’s challenge has been set by Gwen. She has provided us with a wonderful sketch to use and no additional requirement. So you can let you imagination soar as long as you use the sketch.
With Christmas fast approaching and me being totally unprepared I decided on a Christmas card. I embossed Very Vanilla card using the Perfect Polka Dots Embossing Folder and attached it to scored and folded Early Expresso card. I cut strips of Be of Good Cheer Designer Series Paper, cut the ends into a point, attached them to Early Expresso card before attaching them to the card front. I inked my new stamp (I got it at Regionals just for making an ornament for the Christmas tree on display) using a Blender Pen and Cherry Cobbler and Gumball Green ink pads. I cut the image using one of the Labels Collection Framelits. I wanted to add a little bling, so I used my Two-Way Glue Pen to add glue to the edge of the framelit and then spinkled on my Champagne Glitter Glass. I pressed the glass onto the glue and shook off the excess. I am so impressed by how gorgeous this looks and now cannot understand why it has taken me a year to use this beautiful Glitter Glass. 
The image panel is attached to the card front using dimensionals.
Ok so now off the visit Gwen, Vicky and Vicki to see what inspiration they have in store for you. Once you have created your card, scrap page or 3d item pop over to Sunny Challenges & Creations and add it to Mr. Linky. This should be an easy challenge for everyone, so I look forward to seeing lots of entries.
Bye for now, Kris.
Bookmarks
I volunteer on Thursday afternoon at my grandchildren’s school. I join the library class for my two grandsons and check the books in and out. It takes a while for the children to get used to me and for me to get used to them. By the end of the year, the children all say hello when they see me and often stop to have a chat.
Its my last visit to the class today and I wanted to give them a little something for letting me become part of their school day. I made them all a bookmark. I used the stampset Bug Me, which is so cute and lets you make all kinds of bugs. The girls bookmarks are made using Melon Mambo card and ink and the boys Pacific Point card and ink. I also used a little Basic Gray ink. I printed their names on one end using the Computer and added a little note on the back from me.
Of course I had to make one for each of the teachers and the teacher’s aid. These are corner bookmarks and lots of fun to make. I used the Finishing Touches Edgelits on the bottom and embossed using the Delicate Designs Folders. I used my newest favourite stamp set Everything Eleanor to decorate. I used Midnight Muse, Primrose Petals, Raspberry Ripple and Gumball Green ink and the matching 1/2” Stitched Satin Ribbon.
I think they turned out really lovely, what about you?
Bye for now, Kris.
Beachmere Classes
Last week I had an all day class with the ladies at Beachmere Retirement Resort. We started the day around 9am (or should I say we were supposed to but I got almost to the class and had to turn around and go home because I suddenly remembered that I hadn’t packed the clear blocks – round trip of an extra 40mins!) and finished at about 4.30pm.
Today I want to share a couple of photos I took on the day, although Mary is missing from the photos, somehow she must have always been on a different table.
Cindy showing off her “Noel” blocks.
Jan, Cathy and Josie.
Jenny, Margie and Sue.
Jenny and Pam.
We made six projects including the Cherry Cobbler Christmas ornament I shared with you here. A few of the ladies commented that it would make a lovely gift, so this week we made a special box to present the ornament.
I made the base using Naturals Ivory card 6 1/4″ x 6 1/4″ scored at 3/4″ all the way round. The lid is Soft Suede card 6 1/4″ x 6 1/4″ scored at 3/4″ all the way around but this time using the Box Making Shim that Connie Stewart shares on her blog here. Using the Shim means that the lid is every so slightly larger than the base and I don’t have to do any maths calculations – maths not being one of my strong points! To decorate the lid we embossed a piece of Naturals Ivory card 4 1/4″ x 4 1/4″ using the Petals-A-Plenty Embossing Folder. We sponged the edges and the embossing using Soft Suede ink. The embossed card is attached to Cherry Cobbler card 4 1/2″ x 4 1/2″ and then cut the centre using the 3rd smallest Window Frame Framelit. This actually smooths out the embossing but because it has been sponged with colour you still get the effect. This piece was then attached to the centre of the lid and cut using the 2nd smallest Window Frame. Window sheet is attached to the back of the opening using Mini Glue Dots. We stamped one of the images from the Delicate Doilies stampset over some White Tissue Paper using Cherry Cobbler ink and scrunched it into the bottom of the box. 
I think the ornament looks lovely in its little box and makes a lovely gift for a friend or family member. Of course the box would also be great filled with any other gift you can think of.
What do you think, would you like to receive this gift?
I have a couple of other projects to share with you so will pop back soon.
Bye for now, Kris.
Sunny Challenge 68
The challenge this week has been set by Vicky. She has given us a great sketch and all we have to do is add something from the Holiday Mini Catalogue. Such an easy challenge as there are so many great products in this mini.
I embossed Crumb Cake card using the Stripes Embossing Folder , wrapped it with Always Artichoke 1/2″ Seam Binding and attached it to an Always Artichoke card base. I stamped the base tree image from the Evergreen stamp set (Holiday Mini) using Crumb Cake ink and over stamped with the outline image using Early Artichoke ink. I punched a strip of Red Glimmer Paper using the Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border Punch and attached it to the left hand side of the image panel. I punched one long edge of a piece of Champagne Glimmer Paper (Holiday Mini) using the Scallop Edge Border Punch and attached it to the right hand side of the image panel. The image panel is attached to the card front over the ribbon using dimensionals. I stamped “Christmas Blessings” from the More Merry Messages stampset onto Very Vanilla card using Always Artichoke ink and used one of the Framelits Apothecary Accents to cut around the greeting. I cut another framelit from Always Artichoke card, cut it in half and trimmed down the ends. 
I attached one half behind the top edge of the greeting and one half behind the bottom edge of the greeting. The greeting is attached over the image panel, again using dimensionals. I tied a bow in Always Artichoke 1/2″ Seam Binding and attached it over the ribbon on the left hand side of the image panel.
I really love the vintage, oldy worldy feel this card has, what do you think?
Ok, so for some more inspiration pop over and see what Vicky and Vicki have in store for you. Once your have created your card, scrap page or 3d item, pop into Sunny Challenges and add it for Mr. Linky. I’m looking forward to being inspired by your creations.
Bye for now, Kris.
Another Shaker Card
I had such a lot of fun making my first Shaker Card for the Sunny Challenge, I decided to make another. This time, I have gone a little more elaborate.
I stamped the tree image from Lovely as a Tree across the top of a piece of Whisper White card using Always Artichoke ink, using the second and third impressions, to get the lighter look on the right hand side. I stamped the same image on another piece of Whisper White card only going in the opposite direction. I held these two pieces of card with the wrong sides together and punched a hole through both pieces using the 1-3/4″ Circle Punch. I scored and folded a piece of Always Artichoke card so that it had a right hand opening. I placed the piece of Whisper White card with the hole in the right hand side on top and used my Scoring Tool to make an impression around the punched opening. I used the 2-3/8″ Scallop Circle punch to punch a hole in the Always Artichoke card around the embossed circle. This created a space that would be open right through my card.
I stamped the round bauble image from the Ornament Keepsakes stamp set three times onto Whisper White card. I also stamped two other images onto Whisper White card using the same ink. I punched a 3/4″ Circle from one of the round baubles and then used the matching framelits from the Holiday Ornaments collection to cut all of the images out. I stamped the greeting from the More Merry Messages stamp set onto the card front using Always Artichoke ink. I drew the hangers for the two ornaments on the left using the narrow end of a Cherry Cobbler Stampin’ Write Marker before attaching the ornaments to the card front. I punched a 1″ Circle from Window Sheet and attached it to the back of the round ornament with the hole punched in the centre. 
I took a Shaker Frame and attached it over the Window Sheet so that it would not be visible from the front. I poured a small amount of Champagne Glitter Glass onto the Window Sheet, removed the backing from the Shaker Frame and attached another round ornament to the back, making sure that the image was visible from the front. I attached a length of Cherry Cobbler Baker’s Twine to the back of the ornament and then attached the last round ornament over the top to make a double sided image. I attached the Baker’s Twine to the back of the Whisper White card so that the ornament could hang in the cut out circle. This whole piece was attached to the Always Artichoke card front.
I took the other piece of Whisper White card with hole in it and stamped the greeting from the More Merry Messages stamp set using Always Artichoke ink. I stamped the two ornaments on the right hand side using Cherry Cobbler ink and drew the hangers using the narrow end of a Cherry Cobbler Stampin’ Write Marker. I attached this piece to the left hand side of the inside of the card, matching the punched holes where the ornament hangs.
I decided to dress up the right hand side so that I could write a message. Again I stamped the tree image using Always Artichoke ink and the ornaments using Cherry Cobbler ink. The hangers were drawn in the same manner as before. This creates a place to write a message and ties the whole card together. Of course this card took a little time to put together and so I will use it for someone special this Christmas.
There is still plenty of time for you to play along with the Challenge this week, I’d love to see what you can create.
Bye for now, Kris.
Sunny Challenge 67
The challenge this week has been set by me and all you have to do is make a shaker card. No sketch, no colour combo, you can go wild with your imagination.
The card I made for this challenge is fairly simple but uses a product I have had since Regionals last year and haven’t used.
I cut a window in a piece of Whisper White card using the Labels Collection Framelits and then embossed the card using the Perfect Polka Dots Embossing Folder. I cut another frame one size larger from Window Sheet and attached it to the back of the Whisper White card. I cut Real Red card using the same size frame and stamped the image from Lovely as a Tree and also the little Reindeer from the Joyous Celebrations stamp set using Versamark ink. I embossed the images using Gold Embossing Powder. 
To make my shaker frame I used the long edges from a sheet of Stampin’ Dimensionals and attached them to the back of the embossed Whisper White card, making sure that there were no gaps. I poured some Champagne Glitter Glass onto the Window Sheet and then removed the backing paper and attached the Real Red frame making sure that you would see the image through the window sheet from the front. I attached the Whisper White card to scored and folded Real Red card using dimensionals to accommodate the shaker frame. I stamped “Merry Christmas” from the More Merry Messages stamp set onto a strip of Whisper White card using Real Red ink. I cut the flag ends and then attached it to Real Red card, again cutting the flag ends to match. I attached the greeting to the card front using dimensionals in the centre and Mini Glue Dots on the ends.
This is a shaker card at it’s most simple, but I am sure that one of my Grandchildren will love receiving this at Christmas.
Ok, so now for some more inspiration, pop over and visit Vicky and Vicki, then once you have made your card, scrap page or 3d item, add it to Mr. Linky. As always I am looking forward to seeing your creations.
Bye for now, Kris.
A Christmas Tag
As you all know I am a designer for this round of the Stampin’ Fun and Friends – Cards, Cards, Cards. As well as getting the tutorials for a whole bunch of great cards CherylAnn posts challenges. The challenge at the moment is a colour one, Green/Red/Silver and I thought I would use these colours to create a Christmas Gift Tag.
I cut the top of a piece of Always Artichoke card using the Window Framelits in the Holiday Catalogue and added a layer of Very Vanilla. I punched a narrow strip of Silver Glimmer Paper using the Scallop Edge Border Punch and attached it behind a piece of Cherry Cobbler card embossed using the Petals-A-Plenty Embossing Folder, before attaching it to the Very Vanilla card. I stamped the “25” image from the Merry and Type stamp set onto Very Vanilla card, punched it using the Extra Large Oval Punch and attached it to an Always Artichoke Decorative Label. This piece is attached over the embossed Cherry Cobbler card. I stamped the “christmas bauble” from the Tags Til Christmas stamp set three times onto Very Vanilla card using Cherry Cobbler ink. 
The baubles were punched using the Ornament Punch. I folded them in half and attached them back to back before attaching them to the Very Vanilla card. Lastly I punched a hole in the top of the tag and tied a length of Cherry Cobbler 1/2″ Seam Binding in a bow.
I think this is a great tag and will definitely be dressing up someone’s parcel under my tree this year.
I’d love to hear what you think.
Bye for now, Kris.
Happy Birthday Jason
Yesterday was my son-in-laws birthday which we celebrated with a family breakfast, with six grandchildren aged from 2 to almost 8 it can get a little chaotic but I love it. Anyway here is the card I made for Jason.
I embossed Whisper White card using the Perfect Polka Dots Embossing Folder and attached it to a base card of Night of Navy. I punched one long edge of Marina Mist card using the Scallop Edge Border Punch and then embossed it using the Woodgrain Embossing Folder before attaching it to the card front. I cut Night of Navy card using the Apothecary Accents Framelits. 
I cut Whisper White card using the same Framelit and then cut the Framelit again to make it a little smaller. This is a technique shared by the very talented Tanya Bell in a video here. I stamped the race car image from the Need For Speed stamp set using Marina Mist ink and then stamped the greeting from the Bring on the Cake stamp set using Night of Navy ink. The stamped Whisper White card is attached to the Night of Navy Framelit and then to the card front using dimensionals.
This is a fairly quick card to make but I think it has a fair amount of impact. What do you think?
Bye for now, Kris.
Sunny Challenge 66
This week we have another great sketch from Gwen and the only other requirement was to use Perfect Plum. Now this has been a much neglected colour by me of late, so it was fun to get it out and use it.
I embossed Whisper White card using the Perfect Polka Dots Embossing Folder and attached it to scored and folded Perfect Plum card. I attached a layer of Perfect Plum Designer Series Paper from the Subtles Designer Series Paper Stack to Rose Red card and attached it to the left hand side of the card front. I inked the greeting from the Merry and Type stamp set using Old Olive, Rose Red and Perfect Plum Stampin’ Write Markers and stamped onto Whisper White card. I attached the greeting to Old Olive card and then to the card front. 
I stamped the bird image from the Beautiful Season stamp set onto Whisper White card. I coloured the leaves using the Old Olive Stampin’ Write Marker and a Blender Pen and the berries using the Rose Red Stampin’ Write Marker and a Blender Pen. I attached the image to Perfect Plum card and attached it to the card front using dimensionals.
It’s a very different kind of Christmas card but I am pleased with the way it turned out.
Now for some more inspiration visit Vicky and Gwen and when you have created your card, scrap page or 3d item, pop over to Sunny Challenges and add it to Mr. Linky. 
I can’t wait to see what you do with the challenge this week.
Bye for now, Kris.
Stamping with Kris 