Tuesday, March 18, 2014

Telescoping Technique - Starburst Sayings

This gate card was a Stamp Night project from February and a little out of my comfort zone with all the bright colors.  My ladies loved it though...some of them are all about the Brights!  Lots of dimensionals on this one to layer everything for the telescoping effect.


Stamp Sets:
  • Starburst Sayings
Colors:
  • Daffodil Delight
  • Rich Razzleberry
  • Pacific Point
  • Whisper White
 Tools / Extras:
  • Starburst Framelits Dies
  • Circle Punches
  • Triangle Punch
  • Tea Lace Paper Doilies
  • Scallops embossing folder
  • Candy Dots
  • Dimensionals
  • Uni-ball Signo Gel Pen - White
When you do the Telescoping Technique with a word stamp, it helps if you punch your circle out of scrap card stock first and center the scrap circle on top of your stamped image to trace where to punch.  Then, just punch carefully to punch inside the pen marks.  If your image has a center to aim for like the one in the Technique Journal below, there's no need to trace first.

Have fun doing this technique with different shapes.  It doesn't have to be just scallops & circles...try some Framelit shapes too!

Happy Stampin'

Tuesday, March 11, 2014

Scalloped Tag Topper Used as a Card Belly Band

This is another Stamp Night project using great things from the Occasions catalog (Celebrate the Everyday).  I used a strip of card stock that was 11" x 2" before punching with the Scallop Tag Topper punch.  I did one in Cantaloupe Crisp too, but the blues and greens were my favorite.


After punching, just score at 2 5/8"  &  8 1/4" (To make it a little tighter around the card, shift paper slightly so it is really between 8 1/8" and 8 2/8" when u score that second line).  It will fit in the envelope better this way.

TIP:  When cutting your paper for these tag topper punches, cut barely under 2" wide so they slide into the punch easily.  The punch bed is exactly 2" so the paper needs to be slightly under 2".

Stamps:
  • So Very Grateful
       {Wow!  I only used one stamp set...call the press!}

Colors:
  • Smoky Slate (on belly band)
  • Basic Gray (greeting and on top of designer paper)
  • Pistachio Pudding
  • Pool Party
Tools / Extras:
  • Scallop Tag Topper Punch
  • Banner Punch
  • White Baker's Twine
  • Watercolor Wonder Designer Series Paper
  • Rhinestone Basic Jewels (colored with Sharpies)
  • Small hole punch (you could use the Owl Builder or Cupcake Builder if you don't have a small handheld hole punch)
I love stamping line art images over this kind of designer paper.  It's a way to "color" in the images without any coloring.  I tried using the Basic Gray on the belly band, but it was too dark and distracting.  However, using the tone on tone with the Smoky Slate ink worked out perfectly.

This was inspired by another card I saw using the belly band.  I love that there are so many ideas using this punch.

Happy Stampin'



Thursday, March 6, 2014

Burlap and Blooms Wreath Class - Fun with Friends!

I decided I wanted to make the Burlap & Blooms Wreath as soon as I saw it in the Occasions Catalog, but I wasn't sure how I would do the class.  I finally thought, well, I'll just have everyone buy the kit from me with no class fee...we'll just make them together and have fun!

It was so much fun that I'll probably do more like this.  I ordered the kits ahead of the party and everyone just came with hot glue gun loaded and ready...lol.  Anyone could do a get together like this.  Just order 3 kits and invite over a couple of friends for instant fun.
Here's my finished wreath except I haven't put a piece of burlap to hang it by or maybe I'll add a burlap bow.  It came with an extra piece of burlap ribbon for hanging it by.  Some of us also had a good-sized piece of burlap leftover from the spool after wrapping our wreath.
The flowers are easy after you watch Stampin' Up!'s video below of how to make them plus the kit has everything cut, punched, and ready for you to hot glue.  The fringe ones that require sticky strip even already have the sticky strip on them!  Love that!

We gabbed about everything under the sun, and I just interrupted occasionally to teach them how to do the next type of flower that I learned from the video.

I hope you order one of these kits and try it out.  Here's a link to order if you're interested.

Happy Craftin'


Monday, March 3, 2014

Hexagon Hive Thinlit - You Make Me Happy!

The Hexagon Hive Thinlit Die from the Celebrate the Everyday catalog makes a cool, quick background.  Since it makes thin borders, it works best if you put a piece of waxed paper between your card stock and your Thinlit similar to using the Thinlits we had in the Holiday catalog.  Also, I found that I just needed the waxed paper every other time.
The color scheme was inspired by the Sweet Sorbet Designer Series Paper in the Sale-a-Bration brochure.  And, if you need a lot of small hexagons, the Thinlit will cut 2 at a time of designer paper.  These are smaller hexagons than the ones you get with the Stampin' Up! Hexagon Punch so they will layer for projects using the punch.

Stamps:
  •  Perfect Pennants (Celebrate the Everyday Catalog)
Colors:
  • Pool Party
  • Summer Starfruit
  • Basic Black
  • Cantaloupe Crisp
  • Whisper White
Tools / Extras:
  • Hexagon Hive Thinlits Die
  • Banners Framelits Dies
  • Petite Petals Punch - 5 Petal Flower - LOVE!
  • Itty Bitty Shapes Punch Pack - Small Flower
  • Linen Thread
  • Basic Jewels Rhinestone (colored with Sharpie)
  • Sweet Sorbet Designer Series Paper (Sale-a-Bration)
  • Snail, Dimensionals & Glue Dots
I also like that there's enough solid area on the back of the Hexagon Hive shape to use mostly snail to stick it down.  Along with the snail, it really only needs a glue dot on that bottom right corner. 

Don't forget to crumple up your flower shapes before sticking them on if you like that look!

Happy Stampin'