At Last…..
I want to apologise for my lack of posts over the last week or so but I have been having some issues with my internet provider. I have taken steps to change my provider and I am sure that things will settle down very soon.
I also want to say a big thank you to my friend Gwen who helped me out recently by organising the purchase of some Apple Pie for a function for which I was helping to cater. The pie was magnificent and if you live on the Sunshine Coast then please try the Picnic Point Bakery. Funny thing about Gwen and I, we met through Stampin’ Up! and have become firm friends. She is a fantastic lady and I am sure that those of you who know her will agree. I guess that is one of the greatest benefits of being a Stampin’ Up! demonstrator – demonstrators are the most sharing, caring people and Gwen is one of the best.
Ok now on to business. You may have noticed that my sidebar has changed slightly. Well, Sale-A-Bration finished on the 31st March, so if you didn’t get your free sets, then I am sorry you have missed out. It is always sad to see these stampsets disappear (never to be seen again).
The Summer Mini also retired on the 31st March. However, we have a been fortunate enough that Stampin’ Up! has decided to carry over some of the great products from this catalogue.
For the Big Shot –
Square Lattice Embossing Folder (don’t know how I would have managed without this one).
Square Scallop Bigz Die
Island Floral Bigz Die (Fast becoming my favourite flower die).
Punches –
Pinking Hearts Corner
Pinking Hearts Border
2 3/8″ Scallop Circle
Itty Bitty Buttons Punch Pack
Accessories –
Bitty Buttons
Smootch Spritz
Colour Catcher
1/2″ Chantilly Lace Trim
5/8″ Victoria Crochet Trim
Ok so now you are all excited about the things we kept, you should see what is in the new Autumn-Winter Mini Catalogue released on the 1st April. Some gorgeous new things in there. I made a purse and matching card for my granddaughter Ava using the new Build-A-Cupcake Punch and Bring on the Cake Stampset.
I used the instructions I found previously on Sandy Hancock’s blog to make my Easter Basket. The colours used are Chocolate Chip, Pretty in Pink and Whisper White. I punched the cupcake base from Chocolate Chip card and the icing from Pretty in Pink card. The candle is again Chocolate Chip card and I added a Daffodil Delight “flame”. I attached the pieces to a circle of Whisper White card and then embossed the whole piece with the Square Lattice Embossing Folder. I added a circle layer of Pretty in Pink card and attached it to a Chocolate Chip Scallop Circle. I stamped “wish big” from the Short and Sweet stampset onto Whisper White card using Chocolate Chip ink and punched it out using the Small Oval, added a Pretty in Pink Large Oval and then a Chocolate Chip Scallop Oval. This was attached to the front of the box using dimensionals. The handle is a strip of Chocolate Chip card with both edges punched using the Scallop Border Punch and then a very thin strip of Pretty in Pink card is attached down the middle. I used Pretty in Pink Flower Brads to attach the handles. I used this little bag to hold a Gift Card.
The matching card has a Chocolate Chip base. I added a layer of Whisper White card which has been embossed on the bottom two-thirds using the Finial Press Embossing Folder. I attached Pretty in Pink 1/4″ grosgrain to cover the end of the embossing. To make the focal image I punched the cupcake base from Chocolate Chip, the icing from Pretty in Pink card, the candle from Chocolate Chip and the “flame” from Daffodil Delight using the Build-A-Cupcake Punch. I attached the cupcake pieces to the Whisper White 1 3/4″ circle and then embossed the whole piece using the Square Lattice Embossing Folder. I added a Chocolate Chip 2 3/8″ Scallop Circle mat. This piece is then attached to the card front over the ribbon using dimensionals. I stamped “happy birthday” from the Bring on the Cake stampset using Chocolate Chip ink in the top right hand corner of the card.
I love this new punch and I am sure you will too.
So until next time….. Bye for now, Kris.
Scallop Circle Basket
Here is another project I made using a Tutorial from Inkspirations 4U. I am really loving all of the tutorials so far and look forward each day to receiving a link to a new one. Only problem is there is not enough time to create them all.
For this little basket I cut 2 Pretty in Pink scallop circles using the Scallop Circle Bigz Die and 2 scallop circles using the same die from a piece of Lap of Luxury Designer Series Paper. Once they were assembled using the tutorial instructions, I created a handle using Concord Crush 1/2″ Stitched Poly Ribbon with Pretty in Pink 1/4″ grosgrain ribbon attached along the centre. I used 2 Flower Designer Brads to attach the ribbon to the basket.
The instructions for the tag is also included in the tutorial. I used Pretty in Pink card and added Very Vanilla 1 3/4″ Scallop Circles to the front and the back using dimensionals. Before attaching the scallop circles I stamped “a gift for you” from the Bring on the Cake stampset using Concord Crush ink. I also sponged the edges with Pretty in Pink ink. The hearts are punched from Pretty in Pink and Concord Crush card using the Heart to Heart extra large punch. I ran two of these through the crimper to give texture and stamped one of the floral images from the Tiny Tags stampset onto two of the hearts as well. The tutorial called for 1/8″ tafetta ribbon to be added behind the hearts. As I didn’t have any of this I cut slivers of Pretty in Pink and Concord Crush card and curled them and added them behind some of the hearts.
I think this is such a gorgeous little set. Filled with chocolate it would make a fabulous small gift.
Bye for now, Kris.
A milk carton or two
I signed up for the Inkspirations 4U Spring and Easter session and boy is it amazing. This tutorial uses the Milk Carton die to make this absolutely adorable little box.
I have used Concord Crush cardstock to create the basic box. I decorated the panels by stamping one of the images from Silhouette Sentiments (level 1 Hostess set) onto Very Vanilla cardstock using Concord Crush ink and then using Pretty in Pink ink to give a kind of shadow effect. I added Pretty in Pink cardstock mats. The little box is tied together using Concord Crush 1/2″ Stitched Poly Ribbon. The box is actually hexagonal and super cute. I thoroughly recommend joining this site you will not be disappointed.
Bye for now, Kris.
Karen’s Hostess Gift
I held a workshop recently for a good customer and friend of mine (Hi Karen). I always like to give my Hostesses something personal from me and this is what I made for her.
This is called an Undercover Book of Cards and I purchased the tutorial from LeeAnn Greff. The basic construction of my box is done in Basic Black cardstock. I decorated the front by taking a piece of Whisper White card and embossing the bottom section only with the Square Lattice Embossing folder. I added a narrow strip of Basic Black card which has both edges punched with the Scallop Trim Border punch. I also wrapped the Basic Black card with Old Olive 3/8″ Taffeta Ribbon before attaching to the Whisper White card to mask the end of the embossing. To make the embellishments I cut Real Red card using the Floral Fusion Sizzlit. I also punched two leaves for each embellishment using Old Olive card and the Two Step Bird Punch. I attached the leaves behind the largest of the Real Red flowers and then attached them to a square of Whisper White card punched using the 1 1/4″ Square punch. Then I ran the piece through the Big Shot using the Square Lattice Embossing Folder to embed the flowers and the leaves onto the Whisper White square. I attached these squares to Basic Black squares punched using the 1 3/8″ Square punch. I took the two smallest flowers and using my bone folder curled them on both sides until the flowers separated. I scrunched the flowers and then stacked them onto a small Rhinestone brad making sure that the petals were staggered. I scrunched them again around the brad and opened them out. I attached these little flowers to the centre of the embossed flower using mini glue dots.
This shows the inside of the box. I have decorated the inside cover to match the front of the box without the embellishments. I also decorated the spine and back of the book in the same manner.
The box holds 4 cards and envelopes.
The cards are made in the same manner as the front of the box, except I added a greeting from the Cute By The Inch stampset (level 2 Hostess Set). These are stamped with Real Red ink onto Whisper White card, punched out with the 1 1/4″ Square Punch and matted with a Basic Black square punched using the 1 3/8″ Square Punch. I used the “Thinking of You”, “For You”, “Friends” and “Eat Cake” images from the Cute by The Inch stampset.
I absolutely love the way this set has turned out. I did have to make a few adjustments to the box dimensions to fit our Australian sized cards but it is a really simple box to make and could be used for lots of things other than cards.
If you would like to receive a gift like this then contact me and schedule a workshop and I would be happy to give you one of these or something equally gorgeous.
Bye for now, Kris.
A new blog…
…and a new tutorial. My friend Gwen sent me the link to this great new blog call Three Sisters which is owned by Maggie Skerrett (Gwen’s sister). There is a tutorial on this site for a cute little star box which as Gwen says would be fantastic to hang on the Christmas tree filled with a little treat as a countdown for the children (or grandchildren in my case).
The template is printable, so I just printed mine onto an A4 sheet of Wild Wasabi card. The instructions for assembling the box are easy and despite the complicated look of the template, the box is suprisingly easy to assemble.
I haven’t embellished the box very much, just added some ribbon to hang it from the tree or wherever and a small embellishement to the front. I used the cupcake from the Party Hearty stampset. I inked the cupcake using my Chocolate Chip and Wild Wasabi Stampin’ Write Markers and stamped onto Whisper White card. I coloured the icing with my Two-Way glue pen and added Dazzling Diamonds. I love how the glue pen comes out blue and dries clear, so you can see exactly where you are putting the glue. Once the glue does dry you do get the faintest impression of the colour underneath. I punched the image using my 1 3/8″ circle punch and added a Chocolate Chip Scallop Circle mat.
You should be able to see the Dazzling Diamonds and faint Wild Wasabi colour coming through.
Be sure and pop over to the Three Sisters blog and try out this great little box. I am sure that I will be making more of them in the future.
Bye for now, Kris.
Sudsol Design Case
Every week Sudsol has a design case challenge where you have to CASE a card from the US Stampin’ Success magazine.
Although I didn’t have some of the stampsets, I decided to have a try. I used Night of Navy for my base card. I used Whisper White for the main panel with a little strip of Ridinghood Red card which has been punched along the edge using the Scallop Edge Punch. I stamped the bird from Punch Potpourri onto Whisper White card using Night of Navy ink and punched it out using the Two Step Bird punch. I also punched the Old Olive leaves using this punch. I inked the “happy birthday” from the Perfect Punches stampset using my Old Olive marker and stamped onto the card front. I stamped the small “fleur de lis” type image from the Tiny Tags from tn the top and bottom right hand corners using Old Olive ink. I attached the leaves and the bird image. Lastly I tied some Old Olive 1 1/4″ striped grosgrain ribbon around the card front and tied it in a knot.
I am glad I decided to play along with this one, the card is really pretty.
Bye for now, Kris.
Happy Birthday Sean
It is my son-in-law’s birthday today and this is the card I made for him.
I used the Extreme Elements stampset and the Motorcycle single stamp from the Autumn/Winter mini catalogue which will be released on the 1st April. I created my background by stamping various images from Extreme Elements onto Whisper White card using Sahara Sand, Night of Navy and Pacific Point ink. Then I cut this card into 2.5cm strips and attached it to a piece of Night of Navy card. I wrapped a length of Night of Navy 5/8′ Satin ribbon around the centre and then attached it to my Sahara Sand base card. I stamped the large image from the Extreme Elements stampset onto another piece of Whisper White card using Sahara Sand ink and overstamped this with the Motorcycle stamp using Night of Navy ink. I added a Pacific Point cardstock mat and then attached this to the card front using dimensionals. I stamped Birthday Wishes from the Occasional Quotes stampset onto Whisper White card using Night of Navy ink and punched it out using the Word Window punch. I added a Night of Navy Modern Label and attached the greeting to the card front again using dimensionals.
I love the way this has turned out. I am really loving the Extreme Elements stampset and the new single stamps in the Autumn/Winter mini are all fabulous.
Bye for now, Kris.
Technostamper Sketch 165
Well today I am sharing a card I made using the sketch from Mary Jo’s Technostamper blog. I also used my Colour Coach to select the colours. I wanted to use Sahara Sand and when I looked at the Colour Coach the Creative Combination -Sahara Sand, Bravo Burgundy and Pink Pirouette – sounded really pretty.
I used Sahara Sand card as my base. Then I took a strip of Pink Pirouette 5cm wide and ran it through the Big Shot using the Perfect Polka Dot embossing folder. I added a mat of Bravo Burgundy card which has one edge punched using the Scallop Trim Border punch. I used the Punch Potpourri (Level 1 Hostess) stampset to create the focal images. I stamped the heart, bird and flower images onto Pink Pirouette card using Bravo Burgundy ink. I punched each image using the co-ordinating punch – Full Heart Extra Large, Boho Blossoms and Two Step Bird. I sponged the edges of the heart and all three flowers.
To shape the flowers I used my bone folder to fold the edges of the petals outwards ever so slightly and then using my mat pack and the back end of the Paper Piercing Tool, I shaped them slightly so that they cupped upwards. I attached the heart and the flower using mini glue dots. I used dimensionals under the body of the bird. The bird wing is Pink Pirouette card which has been sponged with Bravo Burgundy ink and attached to the bird body using a mini glue dot. The greeting is from the Bring on the Cake stampset (released in the Autumn/Winter mini on 1.4.11). I used my stamp-a-ma-jig to position correctly and stamped using Bravo Burgundy ink.
I really like the way this card has turned out and I love that the Colour Coach is always right when it comes to selecting colours.
Bye for now, Kris.
A Sneak Peak and a Challenge
Ok for those of you who love to get excited about what is coming up then this is for you. The card I created for the Stamping 411 challenge this week uses some new product from the Autumn/Winter mini.
The cupcakes are made using a stampset called Create a Cupcake and the sentiment is from a great new set called Bring On The Cake. Both of these are absolutely fantastic sets and the Create a Cupcake set has a matching punch. Yes you can actually stamp the image and then punch them out or just create your cupcake using the punch.
Ok now for the details… The base card is Early Expresso to which I have added a layer of Whisper White card. At the bottom I have added another layer of Whisper White card which has been embossed using the Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder. To this layer I have added a strip of Early Expresso card which has been punched with the Pinking Hearts Border Punch. Each of the cupcakes has been stamped with Early Expresso and Pretty in Pink ink onto Whisper White card and attached to a mat of Certainly Celery. The little heart, flower and cherry have been inked using my Rich Razzleberry and Certainly Celery Stampin’ Write markers onto Whisper White card and cut out before attaching them to the cupcakes. The greeting has been stamped using Early Expresso ink.
Here is a close up of the cupcake and the punched border. This border punch is in the current mini which ends on the 31st March.
I think I am going to find lots of ways to use this little stampset.
Bye for now, Kris.
An Easter Basket
I have been experimenting with a mini tutorial that was shared on Sandy Hancock’s blog. I think the little box was actually made by Cheryl Lefore. The mini tutorial was for a little box with 3 x 3″ note cards. I thought the box would make a great little Easter Treat Basket.
I cut two Chocolate Chip Scallop Circles using my Scallop Circle Bigz Die. I added a circle of Wild Wasabi and Whisper White cut with my Circle Scissors. I embossed the Whisper White card with the Square Lattice Embossing Folder. The strip of card to make the box in the mini tutorial is cut 2″ wide. For this box I cut the strip 2 1/2″ wide. The bottom of the scallops is cut off at about 3 1/2″ to give a flat edge. For the front of my basket I stamped “Easter Wishes” from the Occasional Greetings stampset using Pretty in Pink ink onto Whisper White card. I punched the greeting using the Wide Oval Punch and then sponged the edges with Pretty in Pink ink. I punched 2 Pretty in Pink Wide Ovals and layered them behind the greeting and attached it to the bag. I stamped the 3 flower image from the Punch Potpourri stampset using Pretty in Pink ink onto Whisper White card and punched them out using the Boho Blossoms Punch. I also punched one set of flowers using Pretty in Pink card and the Boho Blossoms punch.
I sponged the edges of the stamped images with Pretty in Pink ink to add a bit more colour. Then I simply attached the flowers around the greeting and added some small and medium Basic Rhinestones to the flower centres.
The back of the basket is decorated with a “bunny behind” which I cased from Kim Score. You might remember these bunnies from this post. All the pieces are punched from Pretty in Pink ink and sponged with the same ink. Punches used – 1 3/4″ circle (body), 1 3/8″ circle (head), small oval (ears) and Butterfly punch (cut in half for legs). I punched Whisper White card using the Boho Blossoms Punch and inked the edges of the flowers with Pretty in Pink ink. I scrunched the flowers and then stacked them adding a Pretty in Pink brad to the centre. This is attached to the bunny using a mini glue dot. I cut a 3cm strip of Chocolate Chip card and punched both edges using the Scallop Border punch. I added a .5cm strip of Pretty in Pink card to the centre and attached this to the box using Pretty in Pink brads to make a handle.
All the box needs now is chocolate.
Bye for now, Kris.
