Stampin' Celebration #65

 
Hi all!  Happy Spring and Happy April 1st.  :-)  It's time for another Stampin' Celebration challenge!  This month  I had fun creating a 3D project.  I starting by using the picnic basket as my inspiration and then incorporated the flowers/basket as I went along. 

This basket started as just a plain white one that was meant to be embellished--it had been sitting on the desk in my craft room for quite a while and was just begging to be used.  I used some typing paper to trace one side of the basket and then used that as a guide to cut out pieces from Gumball Green card stock.  I did each side separately, so I cut out 4 pieces. 

Before I adhered the green pieces to the basket, I created the Early Espresso lattice-looking lines.  I created the lattice by first scoring (at 3/4" increments) in both directions, then folding along each score line.  While one line was folded, I ran the line through a Versamark ink pad. After unfolding, I heat embossed with Early Espresso Stampin' Emboss Powder.

The flowers were created using the Floral Frames framelits and Boho Blossom punch.  I wrapped the plastic handle with Daffodil Delight Seam Binding ribbon and then added the Early Espresso Taffeta ribbon over the top. 
 

To get the grass and flowers to 'stand up' instead of just flopping around, I cut a piece of card stock and then took an exacto knife and cut little, random slits.  Then I just poked the grass through the slits.  The 'platform' that is holding the grass is just set into the basket--it isn't actually attached to anything. 

Anyway, hope you enjoyed this project!  And, I hope you'll be inspired to play along with us at Stampin' Celebration.  And also remember to take a look at what the other design team members created!

 

To follow along on this month's Blog Hop, simply click the links below:

Allison Ohran -Sweet Impressions (you are here)

Cori Kozak - Creative Chat

Erica Cerwin - Pink Buckaroo Designs

Erin Gonzales -Hand Stamped Style

Rochelle Gould - I stamp, I create, I have fun!

Jenny Peterson - Lakeshore Stamping (taking a break in Grand Cayman this week!)

Stampin' Celebration Inspiration Challenge

You have until April 25th to play along. And don't forget to check back on the 15th for some more inspiration.  :-) 

Ink:  Versamark
Paper:  Gumball Green, Daffodil Delight
Accessories:  Score Tool, Early Espresso Stampin' Emboss Powder, Embossing Buddy, Heat Tool, Daffodil Delight Seam Binding ribbon, Early Espresso Taffeta ribbon, Pearl Jewels, Neutral Designer Buttons, Boho Blossom punch, Floral Frames framelits, Big Shot

Twitterpated Gift

Each month as a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator I get a magazine in the mail full of ideas and tips. Back in March, one of the ideas (along with step by step instructions) was this cute little gift idea.  I did change up the colors and Designer Paper, but that's where I got the concept. 

It's easy to change the length of the tube by changing the dimensions, but I started with a 5" by 5" piece of Island Indigo card stock and then scored every 7/8" along one side for a total of 5 score marks.  Note: the new Simply Scored Scoring Tool makes this job easy--especially if you are making multiples. 

Assemble the tube, and then add the ends--Fancy Flower punches.  Genius that someone figured that out!  Just score to help the 'petals' fold down easier onto the box.  Oh, and remember to fill your tube before you glue down the second end!  I put Hershey kisses in mine. 

I embellished with Twitterpated Designer Series Paper, Riding Hood Red Pleated Satin Ribbon (no longer available), and a tag. The image is from the Perfect Punches stamp set and then punched out with the Curly Label punch. The both flowers come from the Boho Blossoms punch, are stacked, and then have a pearl in the middle.  

Next time you need a 'little something' for a friend give one of these little boxes a try.  :-) 

Stamps:  Perfect Punches
Ink:  Island Indigo
Paper:  Riding Hood Red, Island Indigo, Whisper White, Twitterpated Designer Series Paper
Accessories:  Simply Scored Score Tool, Fancy Flower punch, Curly Label punch, Boho Blossoms punch, White Baker's Twine, Riding Hood Red Pleated Satin Ribbon, pearls

Sale-A-Bration Ending

I can't believe it has been almost 2 months since I last posted!  Where does the time go?  I guess part of it is having a curious crawling baby who gets into everything and keeps me on my toes.  :-) 

I've also been working on organizing my craft room with any spare time I can find. . . a scary and much needed project!  Although I'm not there yet, I am getting very close. 

Anyway, before Sale-A-Bration ends, I thought I would post a couple of my favorite cards that I've made in the last couple months.  Both of these were ones that we made at club in February and were inspired by other people.  The first one uses the Elementary Elegance stamp set and I got the idea from Shelli Gardner (CEO and co-founder of Stampin Up).  You can see her card HERE.  The only thing I changed was the center of the butterfly. 

Stamps:  Elementary Elegance (only available during SAB)
Ink: Elegant Eggplant, Luck Limeade, Elegant Eggplant marker
Paper:  Wisteria Wonder, Lucky Limeade, Very Vanilla, First Edition DSP, Every Day Enchantment DSP (only available during SAB)
Accessories:  Curly Label Punch, Boho Blossoms Punch, Beautiful Butterflies Bigz Die, Big Shot, Wisteria Wonder Ruffled Ribbon, Everyday Enchantment Brads (only available during SAB), Color Spritzer Tool, stapler

The second card uses the Fresh Vintage stamp set and was inspired by Debra Currier.  You can see her card HERE.  The only thing I changed up was that I used my new Labels Collection Framelits to cut out the main image (instead of a circle).   

Stamps:  Fresh Vintage (only available during SAB), Thank You Kindly

Ink: Soft Suede, and Calypso Coral, Lucky Limeade and Pool Party markers

Paper:  Pool Party, Very Vanilla, Every Day Enchantment DSP (only available during SAB)

Accessories:  Framelits Labels Collection, Big Shot, Everyday Enchantment Brads (only available during SAB), pearls, cutter kit, sponge

So if you have still been meaning to take advantage of Sale-A-Bration, now is the time since it ends on Saturday the 31st.  With each $50 purchase you can choose an item from the Sale-A-Bration Catalog for FREE! 

Have a great day.  :-)   

Stampin' Celebration #4

It's another Stampin' Celebration challenge! This week's inspiration piece is all about celebrating Memorial Day weekend--and picnics!

As I looked through my stamps, the only food-related stamp set I own is Tart & Tangy. Fortunately, I thought it was perfect for this challenge. ;-)

I stamped the apple images, and then used my Boho Blossoms Punch (the smallest flower) to create the bites out of the apple. The sentiment is from the Thoughtful Friend builder wheel (found in the Summer Mini Catalog)--I just used my markers to color the part of the wheel that I wanted.

Finished card size is 3" by 5 1/2". The apples and the Chocolate Chip layer are up on dimensionals.

Thanks so much for stopping by! Make sure to check out THIS post to see what the other Design Team members have created this week. And then, please play along with us! We would love to see what you create using this same inspiration piece. :-)

Stamps: Tart & Tangy, Thoughtful Friend builder wheel
Ink: Chocolate Chip, Old Olive, and Real Red markers
Paper: Chocolate Chip, Real Red, Whisper White
Accessories: Old Olive grosgrain ribbon, Boho Blossoms punch, dimensionals

Two Challenges, Two Cards

Yesterday over on Splitcoaststampers there was a Clean and Simple (CAS) sketch challenge and a Technique Lovers (TLC) challenge. Both caught my eye so I went to work! I had so much fun that I ended up making two cards--both fill the requirements for both challenges.

The TLC challenge was to make a five layer button. Basically you use paper layered on top of each other with Crystal Effects on top to make a button. How simple! You can make the 'button' in any color or shape. See the post HERE for more detailed instructions.

To make the 'buttons' on the card above, I punched out 12 flowers with my Boho Blossoms punch. (I did 4 layer buttons instead of 5.) I adhered the flowers together and then used my paper-piercing tool to poke the holes. I topped it all with a coat of Crystal Effects--being careful to not fill the holes. While I let that dry, I worked on the rest of the card. The sentiment comes from the set All Holidays. The stamp actually says "My dear kind & wonderful friend" so I used my Rich Razzleberry marker on the "wonderful friend" part since that was all I wanted. Finished card size is 3 3/4" by 5 1/2".

Stamps: All Holidays

Ink: Rich Razzleberry marker

Paper: Rich Razzleberry, Whisper White

Accessories: 1/2'" Rich Razzleberry Polka-Dot ribbon, Boho Blossoms punch, paper-piercing tool, Crystal Effects, Linen Thread, glue dots, dimensionals

The second card I made uses the set Pumpkin Patch from the Mini Catalog. Instead of using linen thread to tie through the button (like I usually do!) I used my Tabletop Cutter to cut a very thin strip of Old Olive card stock. I carefully pulled it through the button, tied it once and then curled it a bit. I wanted it to look like those curly things on the top of the pumpkin. Anyone know if there is a name for those things?? Anyway, once I had the card together, I added Crystal Effects to the pumpkins too--with the button so nice and shiny, the pumpkins looked a little bare. :-) Finished card size is 3 3/4" by 5 1/2".

Stamps: Pumpkin Patch

Ink: Pumpkin Pie, Old Olive, Chocolate Chip

Paper: Old Olive, Whisper White, Pumpkin Pie

Accessories: paper-piercing tool, 1/2" circle punch, Crystal Effects, 5/8" chocolate chip grosgrain ribbon, glue dots, dimensionals

Top Note Bag Tutorial

As promised--a tutorial for the Top Note Bag! You can see the original bag that won Stampin Up's July Art Contest (Flutter by Butterfly) HERE. I had quite a bit of fun making another bag. :-)

Begin by cutting 8 Top Note Dies. (I used Kraft paper here.) These will become the front and back panels of the bag. Next you will need to cut 4 partial Top Note Dies that become the sides of the bag. To do this, Take a sticky note and place it directly on the Die to mark your place. I placed mine approximately 1 1/2" away from the side tip/edge of the Top Note. The exact measurement isn't important as much as the consistency. If you would like a wider bag, just place the sticky note further away from the edge.

Line up your folded card stock with the edge of the sticky note. I used a piece of (approx) 3 1/2" by 4" Kraft paper (scored down the middle). Run the Top Note Die through the Big Shot to make the first side piece. Repeat 3 more times making sure to the keep the sticky note in the same place so that all of your side pieces are the same width.

So after you've cut 8 full Top Notes and 4 partial Top Notes, stamp or embellish as desired. Here I ran the Top Notes through the Big Shot again with the Perfect Details Texturz Plate, sponged with Soft Suede Ink, and used my Soft Suede marker around the edges to finish the stitching on the Top Note.

Next score along the edges of the Top Notes. Again the exact measurement is not as important as the consistency of the scoring measurements. I lined up the 'valley' of the Top Notes with the black border of my scorer and then scored.

Score along all four sides of 4 of the full Top Note dies, and 2 of the partial Top Note Dies. On the other 4 full Top Note dies, score along both short edges and only 1 of the long edges. On the other two partial Top Note dies, score along both of the long sides and only 1 of the short sides.

Cut out the little 'square' sections wherever there is an intersection of scored lines. (4 per bottom Top Note and 2 per top Top Note.)

Adhere the Top Notes together as shown in the pictures below using a strong adhesive. I used Tombow Mono Multi (remember a little goes a long way).

Now you have the main part of the bag together! To make the bottom of the bag, place it on a piece of card stock (here I used Soft Suede) and trace along the bottom. You'll have to push down lightly with one hand and trace with the other. Another note, I didn't force the bag to a perfectly rectangular shape, I let it bow out a bit on either side to give it a more natural shape.

Cut out your pattern and adhere to the bottom of the bag. Trim if necessary.

Depending on what you want to use the bag for, you may want to add supports to the bottom and/or sides of the bag. If the bag is just to look pretty :-) you may not need any supports. Here I used 4--2" by 1" pieces of paper scored down the middle for supports. After you've added as many supports as desired, prepare your handles. Here I used approximately 11" of Twill Tape (3/4") with 1/2" Soft Suede Polka-Dot Grosgrain ribbon adhered (with Sticky Strip) on top.

Adhere your handles. If you are going to use brads, grommets, etc add those now. After you adhere the handles, start adding the inside of the bag.

Each bag may be a little different (depending on how you scored), but for the insides of this bag I used two 8" by 5 3/4" pieces of Soft Suede card stock and two pieces of 2 1/4" by 5 3/4" card stock. To make the bottom piece, I turned the bag upside down and traced the pattern. I cut that out and then trimmed down as necessary until it fit in the bottom of the bag.

Now embellish as desired! Here I used the Circle Scallop Punch, Boho Blossoms Punch, Antique Brass Build-A-Brad, and Antique Brass brads.

Finished!

Stamps: Trendy Trees (for dots on Build-A-Brad)

Ink: Soft Suede ink and marker

Paper: Kraft, Soft Suede, So Saffron, Very Vanilla

Accessories: Top Note Bigz Die, Big Shot, Perfect Details Texturz Plate, Scallop Circle Punch, Boho Blossoms Punch, Antique Brass Build-A-Brad, Antique Brass brads, sponge, dimensionals

Bold Birthday

Can you tell my Big Shot has been getting a workout lately? :-) This is another project using the Top Note Die and the Big Shot. We made this at a workshop I did last Friday. We ran the So Saffron paper through the Big Shot and then scored and folded in half.

A really cool thing with the Top Note Die. . . . For this project we folded the short way and used the small cello bags. But, if you fold the other way (long way) you can use the medium cello bags. Don't you just love how everything works together so well. ;-)

So after we folded the Top Note and filled our bags with candy, we stapled it shut and tied around the Pacific Point grosgrain ribbon. Next we used the set Big Bold Birthday to stamp the bottom part of the cupcake. (This is one of the sets that is 20% off. . . see the flyer HERE.) The scallop circle punch was used to make the top part of the cupcake. The small flower was punched with the Boho Blossoms punch.

Stamps: Big Bold Birthday
Ink: Pacific Point
Paper: So Saffron, Whisper White
Accessories: Scallop Circle Punch, Boho Blossoms Punch, Big Shot, Top Note Bigz Die, small cellophane bag, stapler, Tempting Turquoise brad, Pacific Point 5/8" Striped Grosgrain Ribbon, 1/16" circle hand punch, dimensionals