Still Becoming

 

That's me!  ...still becoming!  I had this little frame from a Michael's bin that I thought was perfect for the sentiment I saw long ago at Brave Girl's Club...it resonated with me, and so it's stuck.

I've been under-the-weather today, so spent the day 'in' and most of it organizing & cleaning my craft space, so took a few moments just now to create a tiny little something.

SU products used on this project:
- hello honey ink is sponged in the background, though the camera didn't pick it up, really has a warm glow
- rotary alphabet stamp
- papillon potpourri stampset
- blendabilities!  ***available to the public July 1!!:)

File Tabs Edgelits - Tabbing My Catalog

I was inspired by Connie Steward to make tabs with the new File Tabs Edgelits for my new catalog this week.  I downloaded her sheet with all the tab names already typed out; however, I found the cutting instructions on her download did not work for me, so I had to rerun them a second time.  In addition to cutting a half inch off the top of the 8 1/2 x 11 sheet of printed card stock, I found I had to cut an additional 1/4" off the top and both the right and left sides, and then I could follow her cutting guide.  Each tag is cut at 1" and then run through the big shot with the centre edgelit.  I adhered the tabs to the appropriate pages of my catalog using the new fast fuse adhesive which is super stick and durable, so I thought it would be perfect for this purpose.

Here's a link to Connie's download etc. on this project.

Flower Patch Bundle - My Take on Pages 154-155 of the New Catalog

I would dare to say that one of the biggest surprises to me about the new catalog was the Flower Patch Bundle (and, yes, bundle, means there are matching framelits!!)  Confession...I haven't been a fan of photopolymer stamps, and while I still do prefer rubber the most, the Flower Patch stampset on page 156 of the new catalog got me interested in trying them again and seeing if there weren't some tricks to using them that would make me like them.

First of all, let me tell you that SU's photopolymer stamps are not the same as others you see in the market (that are often acrylic actually)...they are  much higher quality.  Still, they do not work exactly like a rubber stamp and need a little extra care at first to ink and stamp clean images...you just have to get used the them....Also, I learned a valuable trip as I sat down last week to create my own takes on the project ideas on pages 154 & 155 of the new catty...**use the Stampin' Pierce Mat** under your paper when you stamp with photopolymer stamps (and any small words/greeting stamps, even if they are rubber)!!  I knew about the small greeting trick, but I had never tried this with large photopolymer stamps and it makes ALL the difference!  You'll find the Stampin' Pierce Mat on page 218 of th enew catalog for only $5.50, but it is worth every cent! ...and if you read the description under the product, after it talks about piercing it says, "Also get even pressure and ink coverage with detailed or background stamps."  So I thought, I should try it, and it WORKS!!  The mat is also a generous size at 6 1/2" x 9 1/2".

Below is a close up of my take on each of the projects on pages 154-155.  If you want to get together to learn to make these projects...from single layer to stepped up to WOW, please let me know as I'm thinking of doing a 'try it' technique class on these 3 projects for a small fee coming up (or free with order for those in Saskatoon who are close enough to attend:)

 The colour palette I used is different than used in the catalog... I used strawberry slush, hello honey & pear pizzaz...and the greetings are in Bermuda bay.

 In the above journal (the base of the journal comes 2 in a pack for 5.95 on page 200 of the new catty), rather than Bermuda bay, I actually used coastal cabana & island indigo (same with the greeting!)

Blessed by God

Today's card was made with my *favourite* new stamp set from the new catalog, Blessed by God.  I was inspired to create this tone on tone effect on the card by fellow demonstrator from the US, Kimberley Van Diepen.  I emboxxed the backgrounding using the lacey brocade folder, which has retired over a year ago, but is still one of my favourites.  The current baroque embossing folder would also be beautiful with this.  I also used some of the *new venetian lace trim to accent this project.  The card stock colour used was pool party.

Another 'Fabulous Work of Art' ;)

Today I have another card I made with the *new Work of Art stampset thanks to a little inspiration from fellow demonstrator, Becky Roberts.  Becky had made some treat bags using this stampset that got me looking at that zig zag image differently (the treat bags come pre-stamped with stripes from SU).  Anyway, this is what I came up with.  The new colour I used was that fabulous blue, Lost Lagoon.  Here I paired it with Pistachio Pudding and Strawberry Slush.

June Paper Pumpkin - Centrepiece & banner for Canada Day

I was thrilled when I received this month's paper pumpkin!  The seem to be getting better and better every month, with more and more goodies to craft with.  This month's kit has wonderful supplies to plan for a summer bbq or party or a patriotic vignette!  Yes, there was also a navy blue in the supplies in the box, but I chose to make this centrepiece and banner using mainly the red and white supplies s Canada Day is July 1st! 

I used less than 1/3rd of the kits' supplies to make my banner & centrepiece too so I have plenty left over to make other projects...or, to add to it...I'm planning on adding some creations in the blue to this display after Canada Day as Bastille Day is July 14th and France's colours are blue, white & red!:)

Below is  close up of the little banner I made for my back door.  The banner was not one of the project ideas that came in the kit, but I was inspired by a similar idea by the SU demonstrator site!:)

If you'd like to learn more about subscribing to paper pumpkin, you can leave me a comment or email me and I'll get you all the information you need!  Here's a link to the Paper Pumpkin site. 

Happy Father's Day!

This is the Father's Day card I made for my husband this year.  It was made with 2 new in colors:  mossy meadow & lost lagoon.  The stamp set I used is called 'Traveller' and is also new....and the greeting is made from one of my *favourite* things in the new catalog...the alphabet rotary stamp, don't miss it on page 191 on of the new catalog!

Perfect Pennants Card

I was so happy to see the Perfect Pennants stampset and coordinating banner framelits carried forward from the Occasions catalog to the new annual catalog.  This is a simple card I made using them.  I also used a piece of Moonlight dsp from the new paper stack.  The butterfly  from the Papillon Potpouri stampset was stamped in momento black ink and coloured using the new blendabilities which will be available to the public next month.

Another Work of Art Card

I was playing around with the new Work of Art stampset.  I thought that some of the paint blotch images looked like flowers, and that is how I came up with this tulips card.  I was also playing around with the new mossy meadow in color (you've seen me use the blackberry bliss which I did for the blooms before)...and I am loving this new green, it has a nice richness!

New Catty Workshop - Treat Pouch

This was the 2nd make & take from my new catty workshop this week.  I actually got the inspiration for this project from the new catalog premiere that SU did for demonstrators at the end of April.  I used a piece of cardstock from the new moonlight designer series paper stack which was scored as follows:
- landscape: 1, 1 1/2, 2, 4, 4 1/2 and 5
- portrait:  1/2 (and then trim down to trim off all panels except for the 2" panel between the scores at 2 & 4; consider mitering a bit for ease in completing the project)

The tags were made by stamping the globe image from the new Traveller stampset in hello honey on a piece of hello honey cardstock that had been cutout with the banner framelit.  Then we stamped the ticket with the 'that's the ticket' stampset and the 'for you' greet with the Itty Bitty Banners stampset and punched the whole thing out with the ticket punch.  The assembled tag was embellished with the new Lost Lagoon stitched satin ribbon and adhered to the project using a mini clothespin.

New Catty Workshop - Work of Art Card

I held my new catalog workshop last night and this was the card we made as a make & take.  It highlights one of the new in colors, blackberry bliss, which I'm loving.  And it couldn't be easier to make...the card base is a piece of 8 x 4 blackberry bliss cardstock folded in a half, then images were stamped on a piece of 3 3/4 x 3 3/4 whisper white cardstock.  All images come from the new Work of Art stampset which has a watercolor/artist feel.  The swooshes were all stamped with the same image, stamped only once in blackberry bliss and then stamped 3 times consecutively on the white cardstock. 

I certainly had fun playing with new products and crafting with the ladies.  I think this year's new catalog is one of my very favourite!!

2014-2015 Annual Catalog is LIVE today!!

...and here's a link.  New catalog day is always SO exciting!!:)

And here is where you can place an online order.  Just click 'shop now' in the upper right corner.

Time for some new colours! - Introducing Hello Honey!

Today's project is a little treat pouch made out of some a new dsp pack that will be in the new catalog that starts on June 2nd called Moonlight....and it feature one of the new in colors that starts with that catalog, Hello Honey...I love it!  It's warm & rich...I've actually been looking for a cardigan in that colour for some time now...maybe since it's an 'in colour' I'll see it in stores more!;)

The project is embellished with the fun clips that are retiring from the new ctalog, but everything else is sticking around...like the scalloped tag topper punch that I used on the topper, the petite petals bundle that I used to embellish the topper and the stampsets That's the Ticket & Itty Bitty Banners that I used for the tag that I punched out with the tag duo punch on the bottom.

Retiring DSP Feature - Afternoon Picnic

I made this little lidded box out of some basic grey cardstock and decorated with the lovely afternoon picnic dsp that is retiring.  As you know I'm addicted to making roses with the Spiral Flower die (see recent posts!), and so I made 3 in coordinating colors that worked with this dsp for this project (wisteria wonder, coastal cabana & basic grey),  I also made a little tag with the Occasions Alphabet stampset that is retiring and punched it out with the ticket punch and adorned it with a bitty flower from the itty bitty punch pack that is retiring.

Retiring DSP Feature - Lidded Milk Carton

The other day as I told you I was inspired by Sam Donald as I was playing with using up some of my dsp, well, then I saw this adorable project and I knew I had to make my own.  This time I followed her formula to a 't' and got the darling boxes I'm posting today:)  I will admit this one is a bit trickly particularly the lid, but the result is cute and I like how easy it is to get into the box:)

The above one was made with the Afternoon Picnic dsp that is retiring  & I embellished with the Petite Petals bundle (stamps and punch), the 'for you' greeting from 'Itty Bitty Banners' & some flowers from the itty bitty punch pack which is retiring.  The wisteria wonder ribbon I used on the bottom is already retired, but I have seen some on the clearance rack not too long ago if you're looking for it.

The version of the box above is made the same way as the one at the top of the post except I used the Soho Subway retiring dsp and some summer starfruit card stock (a color that is also retiring).  The flowers come from the Petite Petals bundle and are embellished with the retiring dalias accents. 

Retiring DSP Feature - More Modern Medley's

This adorable milk carton box is about 1 1/2" x 1 1/2" in the cubed area and would be cute for a chocolate or for a pot of lip balm etc.  I got the idea from Pootles when I was looking up dimensions for yesterday's project...It's almost done the same as this project of hers, so go to that link if you want to make one too!:)

I used the Petite Petals stampset & coordinating punch to decorate & more of that retiring baked brown sugar stretch trim.  Also the little bitty flower come from the punch pack that is also retiring...I don't plan to retire mine however, they're too sweet!

Retiring DSP Feature - How many gift bags/boxes can you make from a piece of DSP?

So this week, I'm going to feature some projects using designer series paper (DSP).  There are quite a few packs retiring at the end of May, and I determined a number of years ago not to be a hoarder, which for me means, **I  have to use my supplies, so if I want the new paper coming out in the new catty, I have to use the paper I have, so I can get the new stuff!;)  That might be just me...and after playing with the Modern Medley pack for this project, I'm tempted to buy more of it because it's just so  beautiful, so I want to continue to play with it for a long time even though it is retiring, *but in order to buy more, I must be using up my stash, so that's what I'm doing;)

Today I was inspired by Sam Donald to see if I could get 3 bags/boxes out of my dsp and these projects were inspired by her.  I believe she's gotten as many as 5 bags/boxes out of one piece of dsp...see her cute tutorial here.

What I used:
- 1 12 x 12 sheet Modern Medley dsp...I cut one strip at 4 x 12 to make the small box (score in landscape at 4.75, 5,75, 10.5 & 11.5; score in portrait at 1")...then I cut an 8 x 8 out of the remainder to make one of the bags (score in landscape at 1 7/8, 3.75, 5 5/8 & 7 1/2; turn and score in portrait at 1 17/8 & 7 1/2" ...thanks to Sam for the measurements...I  wasn't figuring out the 1/8ths on this one!)  and then made the other bag out of the remaining 4 x 8 piece  (score in landscape at 1, 3.5, 4.5, 7; turn and score in portrait at 1")
- I tied the bags shut  (and dolled up the box too) with the adorable baked brown sugar gathered stretch trim which is retiring
- Stamps used come from the set 'A Fitting Occasion' which is a real 'go to' set for me.

Club Project #2 This Month - Amazing Family Quilted Cards

Our second project his month was this quilted card.  Here is the process to create a quilted effect on the card:

- first punch squares of dsp (in my case, I used the Fresh Prints DSP paper stack).  I punched 4 squares of 4 different patters to achieve the effect above.

- then lay them out on your cardstock base, leaving the odd square blank/white (this makes all the difference when you quilt it!).  I find it works the best when I start in a diagonal line from the left corner to the right (perfectly vertical/horizontal can achieve a less authentic effect).  I was going for a patchwork effect:)

- then glue your squares down one you are happy with the layout

- trim any squares hanging over your card base

- emboss the card front.  I pulled out several of my embossing folders for club to use.  The most popular for this project were:  arrows textured and mosaic madness.

- stamp & embellish with a greeting!  The greeting above came from the Amazing Family stamp set which is sadly retiring.  I really luv this set as it is so versatile.  I did 'amazing mother' above as it's mother's day was coming up (and is in fact the day I chose to post this project...happy mother's day ladies!!)  Below you can see, that I did several of them too with 'amazing friend'.

 

Be sure to let me know I you decide to make a quilted card too!:))  I'd love to see:)

May Club Project #1 - Out of the Salt Shaker...Paper Roses

The first project I taught at this month's stampin club was this little bouquet of paper roses.  We made each of the roses using the spiral flower die and then attached them to a wire stem using a small flower I cut using the fun flowers die.  We punched a whole in the small flowers that I cut in old olive (as I ran out of gumball green...all of the retiring color cardstock seems to be sold out already!).  Then we punched a small hole in the middle and fed the wire through, bent 1/4" of it over at a 90 degree angle and adhered everything with glue dots.  It's just that simple!  Did I mention the rose is adhered with only glue dots too...each rose takes exactly 3 glue dots, that's it!!

The stems were then arranged in salt shakers, which is an idea I saw on pinterest.  I thought is was a genius way to help give the little bouquets structure, and I bought these salt shakers very reasonably at the dollar store.  We actually used the pepper shaker in club and I set the matching salt shaker home with each member to create something else with!

We finished off the project by embellishing with some retiring gumball green satin ribbon and a tag that was stamped in raspberry ripple (retiring) with an image from the Four Frames stampset and punched with the coordinating label punch.  Then we stamped in gumball green (retiring) either 'x is extra that's how special you are' or 'y is for you that's who this is for'.  Both of these images come from the Occasions Alphabet stampset that is also retiring.  We punched this image out with the large oval punch and popped it up on the frame with a dimensional.

April's Paper Pumpkin...*new* Prepaid Paper Pumpkin Subscriptions!...& Retiring Products Reminder!

I squealed when I opened this month's paper pumpkin...loved the project...a framable piece complete with frame & wrapping (in case you wanted to give it away for say mother's day or something;)  and supplies to make a ton of tags too:)

I didn't love the colours, I'll admit...a little tired of peachy tones, but no worries, I pulled out my stash and grabbed some real red coordinations card stock and my hearts a flutter framelits and created the darling heart you see above:)  That's one of the things I love about Paper Pumpkin, you can make them the way they come or do your own thing:)

BTW Paper Pumpkin can now be ordered as a subscription, meaning that you can prepay and order 1, 3, 6 or 12 months at a time and if you use the codes below hostess benefit is available too!  So you can subscribe for 3 months say using this method at your friend's workshop and it can add to their hostess benefit OR you can subscribe for say a whole year and since the amount is over the $200 minimum for hostess benefit, you can do it as your own workshop (contact me and I'll help you out if you want to see how, but it can even be done in an online order) and you'll earn a minimum of $35 of free products of your choice for yourself! Plus (as below) you'll be saving money on your Paper Pumpkin subscription too!!:)

Item#s -  Paper Pumpkin Prepaid Subscription Price (Shipping Included)
137858 1 month $24.95
137859 3 months $74.85
137860 6 months $143.70 -- save $1 per month
137861 12 months $275.40 -- save $2 per month

Paper Pumpkin also makes a great gift, so you can give it as a gift subscription to someone for their birthday or mother's day or just because:)

If you're a current Paper Pumpkin subscriber, this works for you too!  When you place your order for a prepaid subscription, you'll receive an email with a code that you simply redeem on mypaperpumpkin.com!  You can only redeem one code at a time, so if you were to buy or receive 2 subscriptions, you would load them consecutively.

Also, I'm just reposting the retiring lists because many items are selling out.  The lists at the links below are updated daily for items that are sold out.
- retiring stamps
- retiring accessories
If you are placing an online order and would like my current hostess code, it is:  UAVFZRVH