July Stamping Project: Canada Day Card Crafting

Happy Canada Day! I made these cards earlier in June, then I took ill with a cold that lasted forever, so I didn't get a chance to give them to anyone. They were easy to design and made with just a few supplies. Sometimes there are some stamps that one uses a lot and I find myself always breaking out the Vintage Leaves stamp set. Maybe it's because I'm a nature lover or that I love the versatility of this set for any occasion. These Canada Day cards would be perfect for invitations to a celebration or barbecue. While there is a matching die set for Vintage Leaves, I fussy cut the leaves out with Paper Snips.

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Supply list for flag card

• Real Red 8.5x11" cardstock or 12x12" sheet
• Whisper White 8.5x11" cardstock
• Real Red ink
• Powder Pink ink
• Vintage Leaves maple leaf stamp
• Stitched Shapes Framelits Dies
• Stamping Sponges
• Ruler and craft knife or Stampin' Trimmer

This is a great way to use up leftover strips of Whisper White in your scrap bin!

1. Score a sheet of 8.5x11" Real Red cardstock down the middle. Do not cut in half.
2. Stamp all over the right side of the sheet with the maple leaf stamp and Real Red ink.
3. Cut sheet in half to make a 1 4.25x6" card base (12x12" Real Red cardstock works better - it is now sold in a "best of" pack). Trim the card base to make a 4x6" front facing card.
4. Cut a 2.5x4" strip of Whisper White cardstock sheet and stamp all over it with the maple leaf stamp in Power Pink ink.
5. Sponge Power Pink ink around the edges of the white strip.
6. Stamp a maple leaf in Real Red ink on Real Red cardstock and die cut or fussy cut.
7. Die cut a stitched circle using the 3" circle from Whisper White cardstock.
8. Time to assemble! To maintain the flag ratio, adhere the white strip in the middle, about 1 5/8" from the left side. Affix the maple leaf to the circle. Use dimensionals to pop up the circle.

You could also had a white panel inside for your message or choose another sentiment stamp too.

Supply list for celebrate card

• Real Red 8.5x11" cardstock
• Whisper White 8.5x11" cardstock
• Real Red ink
• Powder Pink ink
• Vintage Leaves maple leaf stamp
• Birthday Blast celebrate stamp
• Stamping Sponges
• Ruler and craft knife or Stampin' Trimmer

Birthday Blast was a 2017 Occasions stamp set, but you can use any other similar greeting.

1. Score a sheet of 8.5x11" Whisper White cardstock down the middle. Do not cut in half.
2. Stamp all over the right side of the sheet with the maple leaf stamp and Power Pink ink.
3. Cut sheet in half to make 2 4.25x5.5" card bases.
4. Fold card bases in half and sponge around the edges of the card in Power Pink ink.
5. Stamp a maple leaf in Real Red ink on Whisper White cardstock and die cut or fussy cut.
6. Sponge Real Red ink around the inside of the maple leaf.
7. Stamp sentiment in Real Red ink on Whisper White cardstock and die cut or fussy cut.
8. Cut a 1x4.25" strip of Real Red cardstock and stamp all over it in Real Red with the maple leaf stamp.
9. Time to assemble! Centre the sentiment on the Real Red cardstock strip. Position it 1" from the bottom edge of the card and adhere. Use dimensionals to pop up the maple leaf above it.

Until next time!

New Catalogue Favourites Part 3

My last favourite product from the new Stampin' Up catalogue is the Pinewood Planks Dynamic Textured Impressions Embossing Folder. It may be a funny product to spotlight given all the new, exciting stamps, but it's exciting to me. In the past, woodgrain embossing folders and texture plates were always too detailed and weakened the piece of cardstock. The result was very bendy! I like the Pinewood Planks Dynamic Textured Impressions Embossing Folder because it leaves a realistic woodgrain background without completely compromising the cardstock. Maybe I also love it because I live in Calgary, Alberta, Canada and it's perfect for any Western themed idea!

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New Catalogue Favourites Part 2

My next favourite product from the new Stampin' Up catalogue is the circle tab punch. A collective oooooh went up from the crowd at OnStage when it was revealed! It's easy to forget that punches still exist in this whiz-bang world of cutting dies, but they are still very versatile and easy for little hands to use. What can you do with a circle tab punch? Plenty:

• Make tabs for your planner, sketch book or index cards
• Make quick holders for your Stampin' sponges
• Affix other die cuts to the tab for pocket cards
• Hole punch to make tabs for a mini album
• Just use as a fun shape!

There is also a matching stamp set called Tabs for Everything.

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New Catalogue Favourites Part 1

Huzzah! It's the best time of the year in Stampin' Up land - the new catalogue is officially out! I received the new catalogue back in April at OnStage, but had to keep it's wondrous surprises under my hat until June 1st. I am so jazzed about the five new in-colours. They are vivid, bold and playful. Two purplish colours? Yes please!

Even though I am a demo, the amount of items available for pre-order were limited, so I could only order things on June 1st too. They arrived yesterday, just in time for the weekend. I am going to highlight some of my favourite new items from the catalogue and I'll start with the exciting stamp set I won during the Prize Patrol at OnStage - Oh So Electic.

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I was so thrilled to win this set because I love nature designs and the variety of stamps allowed for so many possibilities, plus there's a matching die set if you want to bundle up! Once my new 2017-2018 In-Color ink pads arrived, I pulled out a sheet of Whisper White and just stamped all over the page to try them out! I don't know if this sheet will end up as cards or a background for scrapbooking, but I am so in love with Berry Burst, Lemon Lime Twist, Fresh Fig and Powder Pink. Stay tuned for Part 2!

May Stamping Project: Quick and Easy Project Life Dividers

Sometimes stamping projects don't have to be greeting cards - they can be other fun ideas too! I bought a Project Life 6x8" album and quickly realized what it was missing - dividers! This is such a great chance to just have fun with new stamps and stamp all over a page. Tip - Project Life supplies won't be carried over into the new catalogue.

Supply list for 5 dividers

• 2016-2018 In-Colour cardstock (1 8.5x11" sheet per colour)
• 2016-2018 In-Colour inks
• Your favourite stamps!
• Craft knife, cutting mat and ruler or Stampin' Trimmer
• Hole punch

How I made the dividers:

1. Measure a 6x8" album page protector against the sheet of cardstock and make a small mark where to cut. Trim the sheet of cardstock down.
2. Trace the holes in the Proejct Life page protector and punch out with a hole punch. I had to punch two overlapping circles.
3. Load up your favourite stamps with ink and just stamp all over. Go crazy!

Simple supplies!

 

Simple stamping fun!

Annnnnd that's pretty much it! You could create layers or labels or tabs as well. I only mention this project because it's so quick and simple and great for kids. Instead of cutting each sheet down to size, score and fold where you would cut. Bend the paper backwards and stick down the edges to create a pocket behind the divider. Have fun!

April Stamping Project: Birthday Blooms Floral Greeting Card

I have to get better at posting my projects at the beginning of the month instead of the end! I made a bunch of these card fronts to swap for OnStage Local 2017 and I was really pleased with the response to them. I think instead of using Whisper White cardstock, Very Vanilla could easily stand in to tone done the brightness...but that's up to you!

Hurry! The stamps and dies used in this project are retiring!

Supply list for 16 cards

• Whisper White cardstock (11 8.5x11" sheets) for card bases and flower die cuts
• Melon Mambo and Tempting Turquoise cardstock (1.5 12x12" sheets) for flower die cuts
• Brushstrokes background stamp
• Flower Fair thinlits dies
• Flower Patch photopolymer stamps
• Melon Mambo, Sweet Sugarplum, and Tempting Turquoise inks
• Simply Scored scoreboard

How I made the cards:

1. Score Whisper White cardstock lengthwise at the 4.25" mark. Do not cut or fold.
2. Sponge Daffodil Delight lightly all over the right side of the scored sheets. Follow-up by stamping the right side of the sheets with the spraypaint stamp from Touches of Texture, also in Daffodil Delight.
3. Cut the sheets in half to make 16 card bases.
4. Mask off the back of the card with scrap paper. Load up the Brushstrokes stamp with Sweet Sugarplum and stamp the front.
5. Stamp all over the front of the card with the background stamp using Crumbcake ink.
6. Now here's the fun part. You can decide to stamp the flowers however you like. As you can see from the samples, I did half Melon Mambo/solid flower and half Tempting Turquoise/regular flower. You will need to stamp a total of 28 flowers on Whisper White cardstock regardless of your colour choice. If you are careful, you can stamp 12 flowers to a sheet.
7. Once the flowers are stamped, you can cut them out by hand or with the matching die. I ended up fussy cutting them all because I took them to work to get them done.
8. Now for more flower making! Use the large flower die and cut out 28 flowers. You should have double the amount of stamped flowers. Tip: you can safely cut two sheets of cardstock with the die to save time.
9. Cut 16 flowers with the large flower die from Whisper White cardstock and stamp with a sentiment. I used the birthday stamp from Flower Patch with Tempting Turquoise.
10. Cut each stamped flower from step 6 into quarters with scissors. Don't worry about being perfectly accurate. Keep each set of quarters together, however.
11. Adhere one flower quarter to the corner of each card. You may want to fold the card bases in this case to make it easier to adhere the quarters on the left side of the card front so it lines up with the edge.
12. Now, divide your pile of non-white flower die cuts into two piles of 16 flowers each. One pile will stay solid. The other half will be cut in half.
13. Place one solid flower upside down on your workspace and then two halves (also upside down) slightly apart so that there is an upside down V shaped gap between the two halves. Adhere the halves to the whole flower. You may want to use the first flower as a template for the others.
14. Turn the assembled flower right side up and adhere the white sentiment flower to the front.
15. Place a dimensional on the back of the assembled flower and adhere to the front of the card to make it bloom!

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Remember, you can always halve my project ideas, but this is another way to stamp a stack of cards that will be a thoughtful gift or provide birthday wishes throughout the year. It may seem too like the card has a lot of steps, but they work up quick with all the stamping and die cutting. I was able to make the cards in a week by the spreading out the tasks.

Easter Stamping Project: Quick Easter Greeting Card

Spring is such a busy time and somehow Easter always sneaks up on me! Too late I realized that I needed to make some Easter cards - and quick! You can easily make 4 cards in one hour with this design.

Supply list for 4 cards

• Whisper White cardstock (2 8.5x11" sheets) for card bases
• Tuxedo Black Memento Ink Pad
• Wisteria Wonder Classic Stampin' Pad
• Stampin' Write markers in Watermelon Wonder, Crushed Curry, Baja Bay, Mint Macaraon and any other pastel or subtle shades that you prefer
• Basket Bunch stamp set
• Aqua Painters
• Simply Scored scoreboard
• Cutting mat, ruler and/or grid paper

How I made the cards:

1. Score Whisper White cardstock lengthwise at the 4.25" mark. Do not cut or fold. Turn the paper clockwise and make sure to start stamping on what will be the front of the card.
2. As you can see, I used the eggs, chicks, basket and rabbit, but you can use any stamp combination you like. First I stamped the egg rows - top and bottom. Then I stamped the chicks. This gave me just enough room to add a row of bunnies. Your mileage may vary. I used a ruler and grid paper to make sure that I lined up my rows.
3. Colouring time! I coloured in all the areas that I wanted to in subtles colours along with Bermuda Bay, Watermelon Wonder, Mint Macaron, So Saffron and Crushed Curry markers. Feel free to use your own choices. This would be a great step for kids to do while you stamp.
4. For the background I lightly wet a puddle of Wisteria Wonder and brushed between the images. You may want to practice on paper first to get just the right amount of water and ink for the background of your card. Press the Wysteria ink pad to make a puddle on the inside of the stamp pad. Make sure your brush is just a little wet - too much water and the paper will buckle. Brush between the stamped images and use your finger to smear the colour if it gets too wet.
5. Cut sheet in half and fold cards. You can also stamp a sentiment inside. Although I love the Basket Bunch set very much, it does need a Happy Easter stamp :-)

Have a happy and blessed Easter!