Butterfly Bookmarks
I have been admiring the gorgeous projects that Monica Weaver makes using the Metal Sheet, and when I saw this tutorial I knew I had to make these adorable Butterfly Bookmarks for my downline, following the free tutorial Monica has on her blog.
I love how these Butterfly Blookmarks turned out. The tutorial includes the dimensions for the bottom of the box but Monica uses a pre-purchased cover, so I made a cover from Window Sheet. I did use some of the pearls from the retired Pretties Kit and of course the metal sheet but otherwise all Stampin’ Up!.
The butterflies themselves are cut from the Beautiful Butterflies Bigz Die. You cut the butterflies from cardstock, metal sheet and Sticky Sheet. There are 3 of the larger butterflies – one each side of the Jumbo Paperclip and one attached to the top with Sticky Strip in the centre only and then the small butterfly on top, again attached with Sticky Strip in the centre only.
The bookmarks are gorgeous and the presentation box lined with the gorgeous Mocha Morning Specialty Designer paper adds a real touch of luxury. Don’t you think they look beautiful?
Bye for now, Kris.
Sunny Challenge Week 19
The sketch this week at Sunny Challenges and Creations is brought to us by Vicky. As well as using the sketch Vicky has decided that no matter what type of card you make, you are not allowed to add a greeting. Seems simple, not exactly.. I had to really think hard to come up with something for this sketch and to be honest, I am not really sure that I like it. So please let me know what you think.
I stamped the En Francaise Background stamp onto Whisper White card using Wisteria Wonder ink and sponged the edges using the same ink. I wrapped the centre of the Whisper White card with Wisteria Wonder 3/8″ Ruffled Ribbon. This piece was then attached to folded and scored Wisteria Wonder card stock. I inked the large image from the Just Believe stampset using Wisteria Wonder and Old Olive Stampin’ Write Markers and stamped onto Whisper White card. 
I stamped the image the same way 3 more times and punched the same section using the Small Oval Punch. I added the stamped Whisper White card stock to Lucky Limeade card and then ran the whole piece through the Big Shot using the Square Lattice Embossing Folder. This piece was then attached to the card front using dimensionals.
For more inspiration please visit Gwen and Vicky’s blogs to see their beautiful work. Once you have created your card (or scrapbook page or whatever), then pop over to Sunny Challenges and Creations and add it to Mr. Linky. I am really looking forward to seeing all of your gorgeous cards this week.
Bye for now, Kris.
Calendar for the New Year
Today I am hosting a Christmas Party for my downline, Hostesses and very loyal customers. I like to give something to each of those who attend and I got the idea for this calendar from my friend Vicky, who very geneously shared her calendar templete with me. I made each of my downline one of these. I will share the other gifts I made for my Hostesses and customers over the coming week.
I used a piece of the cardboard packaging that comes with the Designer Series paper and cut it to A4 size. I added an A4 piece of Basic Black card stock. I embossed a piece of Whisper White card stock using the Elegant Bouquet Embossing Folder and then attached it to Real Red card stock. I wrapped the whole piece with Basic Black 5/8″ Satin Ribbon and then attached it to the left hand side of the Basic Black card stock. I embossed a piece of Real Red card stock using the Elegant Bouquet Embossing Folder and attached it to Whisper White card stock. This piece is also wrapped with Basic Black 5/8″ Satin Ribbon and then attached to the right hand side of the Basic Black card stock.
I cut the numbers from Real Red cardstock using the Timeless Type Junior Alphabet Medium Sizzlit Dies and attached them to the top left hand side of the Whisper White card stock. I cut Old Olive card using the Little Leaves sizzlit, twice and attached one to the top right hand side of the Whisper White card stock and the other to the bottom right hand side of the Real Red cardstock.
I cut Real Red card stock 3 times using the Floral Fusion Sizzlit and Whisper White card stock 3 times also. I used my bone folder to distress each of the flowers so that they could be separated into two pieces. I scrunched each piece into a small ball and then opened them up and inserted a Gold Brad through the centre of each of the flowers. I attached the Real Red Flowers over the Little Leaves on the top right hand side of the Whisper White card stock and the Whisper White flowers over the Little Leaves on the bottom right hand side of the Real Red card stock.
I made the embossed sections of the Whisper White and Real Red card stock large enough to accommodate photos, but, if my downline are like me and never get the photos attached, the embossing ensures that they still look complete.
I didn’t take a photo but I punched two holes in the top of the calendar and threaded Basic Black 5/8″ Satin Ribbon to make a hanger for the calendar. My grandchildren loved the calendars and requested one each for their teachers as end of year gifts.
Check back over the next week to see what other gifts I have been making.
Bye for now, Kris.
My Advent Countdown
For the last couple of years I have made little boxes to hang on our Christmas Tree to count down the days till Christmas. My grandchildren love coming and opening the boxes and of course there is chocolate inside (and more in the cupboard to cover however many children there may be visiting at the time).
This year I decided that I would make little matchboxes. Since I don’t have a matchbox die for the Big Shot, I had to make these from scratch. I have a tutorial which I found quite some time ago by Kristen Aune and this gives the dimensions to make the matchboxes. You can get 2 from 1 A4 sheet of cardstock. I cut the boxes from various colours – Old Olive, Real Red, Ridinghood Red, Garden Green and Cherry Cobbler. I left the box plain only punching a hold in one end with my Crop-a-Dile to add the ribbon to hang them from the tree. The covers have been rolled using matching ink and the Starburst Jumbo Wheel. I inked the image from the Four Frames stampset using Early Expresso ink, stamped onto Whisper White card and then punched them out using the Decorative Label Punch. The numbers are cut from cardstock using the Timeless Type Junior Alphabet Medium Sizzlit Dies. I will have to change the decoration on the front as the double digits do not work with the image I used for these boxes.
I have actually only made 9 of these, just enough to get them onto the tree when the Grandchildren helped me put it up last week. So I had better stop procrastinating and get the rest done.
Bye for now, Kris.
December Frenzy
From today until the end of the month, Stampin’ Up! is having a huge sale with current product up to 50% off!!! How fantastic. Click on the photo to see which products are discounted so that you don’t miss out.
Bye for now, Kris.
Two more tutorials
from Craft Project Central.
This Tooth Fairy Tin & Wand set is sure to delight any little girl. This gorgeous tutorial was designed by Heidi King. Please visit Heidi’s blog to see more of her fabulous work and don’t forget to let her know how much you love it.
This fabulous Field Flowers Stationery Gift Set is designed by Eileen LeFevre . The beautiful colours and distressing give an truly gorgeous vintage feel. I thoroughly recommend a visit to Eileen’s blog to see more or her amazing work and of course leave her a comment to let her know how much you have enjoyed your visit.
Unfortunately these are the last two projects for November but there is still time for you to visit Craft Project Central and subscribe. At only $10.00 for 10 tutorials why not give yourself and early Christmas present.
Bye for now, Kris
A Pretty Happy Birthday
Here is another card I made using the Creating Pretty Card Sketch for November at Craft Project Central.
I punched a large oval from Tempting Turquoise card stock, a 1″ circle from Pacific Point card stock and a small oval from Real Red card stock. I attached linen thread to the back of each punched shape and then attached the shapes to a piece of Whisper White card stock. I punched both long edges of a narrow piece of Pacific Point card stock using the Scallop Edge Border Punch. I attached the linen thread to the back of the strip of Pacific Point card stock and then attached it to the Whisper White card stock. I ran this piece through the Big Shot using the Square Lattice Embossing Folder which embedded the images into the Whisper White card stock. 
I love this technique and I love how the linen thread remained “unattached”. I inked the image from the Happiest Birthday Wishes stampset using Real Red, Pacific Point and Tempting Turquoise Stampin’ Write Markers and stamped onto Whisper White card stock. I punched the image out using the Extra Large Oval Punch. I cut Real Red card stock using one of the tags from the Lots of Tags Sizzlit Die Set and the Big Shot and attached it behind the image and then to the card front using dimensionals.
All in all a very simple card but I think it is quite cute.
Bye for now, Kris.
Holiday Garland and Tree Decor
Here is another fantastic decorating idea for the Holiday Season. This latest project at Craft Project Central was designed by Sandra Farrell and it is truly gorgeous. I so love the neutral shades she has used in this project so it is sure to fit with any decor. Please take the time to visit Sandra’s blog and let her know how much you love her work.
Well there are only two projects left to be released for November, however, there is still plenty of time to visit Craft Project Central and sign up. You will be very glad you did.
Bye for now, Kris.
Something New
I am ashamed to say that I have had the Bevelled Windowpanes since they were first released but have never used them. When I attended Regionals recently one of the presenters used them to create a focal point for a wheeled image. I thought it was a fantastic idea and decided to give it a try.
I used Whisper White card stock for my base and embossed the bottom half only using the Perfect Polka Dots Embossing Folder. I wheeled a piece of Whisper White card stock using the Friendly Words Jumbo Wheel and Early Expresso ink. I added this piece to Early Expresso card stock which has been punched along one long edge using the Scallop Trim Border Punch. I wheeled Friendly Words onto Whisper White card stock but this time using Real Red ink. I cut the section of words I wanted to highlight from this panel and attached it to the back of a large Bevelled Windowpane using Mini Glue Dots. I cut slits in the cardstock matching the ones in the Bevelled Windowpane and threaded Real Red 5/8″ Satin Ribbon through the slits. I attached the Bevelled Windowpane to the Early Expresso image lining it up and then tied the ribbon into a knot. This piece was then attached to the card front.
Its a very simple card but the Bevelled Windowpanes give a real WOW to the card. Hopefully, I will be able to come up with some more ways to use these to share with you.
Bye for now, Kris.
Sunny Challenges Week 18
I cannot believe how quickly the weeks are flying at the moment. As usual at this time of the year there are all the end of school year activities (and as a doting Nanny I don’t want to miss any of them) as well as all the seasonal celebrations. Anyway,…. this week the sketch at Sunny Challenges and Creations is brought to you by me and as well as using the sketch you must use the Upsy Daisy stampset.
Here is the sketch. It is one that I love to use and I hope that you are inspired to play along with us this week. My card starts with a base of Basic Black card stock and to this I have added a layer of Whisper White which has been embossed using the Stripes Embossing Folder. I love this folder but do notice that it embosses so deeply that there is a tendency for it to cut through the card stock, so I do not use any tabs on my Big Shot when embossing with this folder and I still get beautiful deep embossing without any damage.
I stamped the daisy image from the Upsy Daisy stampset using Versamark ink onto Whisper White card stock, sprinkled it with White Embossing Powder and heat set it. I sponged ink over the top of the image starting at the top of the panel with Regal Rose ink and then Melon Mambo ink in the middle and Rich Razzleberry ink at the bottom. I also sponged the Rich Razzleberry ink lightly around the edges of the image panel. I used a tissue to remove any residue ink from the embossed flowers, attached it to a layer of Basic Black card stock and then the card front. 
I embossed a strip of Whisper White card stock using the Perfect Polka Dots Embossing Folder and attached a strip of Basic Black card which has been punched using the Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border Punch behind both long edges. I love the scallops created when you use this punch, they are so tiny and cute. This piece was then attached to the card front over the bottom of the image panel. I stamped “birthday wishes” from the Sincere Salutations stampset using Melon Mambo ink onto Whisper White card stock and punched it out using the Large Oval punch, attached it to a Basic Black Scallop Oval and then the card front.
Well now it’s time for you to visit Gwen and Vicky and see what gorgeous creations they have for your inspiration. When you are ready then pop into Sunny Challenges and Creations and add your card to Mr. Linky. I cannot wait to see all your gorgeous cards this week.
Bye for now, Kris.
Stamping with Kris 