JAI #210 : MASCULINE EASTER BASKET

This week at Just Add Ink, Kim has challenged us to make an Easter bag, box or basket.

Easter really hasn't been "on my radar" this year, as hubby and youngest son are following the Paleo eating plan.  Refined sugars, and chocolate, are off the list altogether.  My eldest son is way past the age of appreciating cutesy Easter packaging, so this challenge spurred me on to make a somewhat unconventional Easter basket - one with a masculine twist.

I created a basket, using Early Espresso Core'dinations cardstock, following this fabulous tutorial from Deb Valder.  Stampin' Up!'s Envelope Punch Board is FANTASTIC for those of us who are 3-D challenged!  I decorated parts of the basket with Soho Subway Designer Series Paper, and added ribbon and brads in co-ordinating colours.  The basket handle is embossed with the Square Lattice embossing folder - a favourite of mine, for masculine projects.

Here's the basket, filled (for display purposes only!) with chocolate bunnies that will be eaten by me at Easter:

The sentiment is stamped on an Easter Egg-shaped (ie, oval, LOL) label:

The back of the basket is simply decorated, with DSP and a (retired) brad:

.....  and my final photo is of the handle, created using the Small Scallop Rotary Cutting Blade (on my Stampin' Trimmer), and Square Lattice embossing folder.  A couple of ribbons tied together add a bit more detail, without too much 'fuss':

 

Stamps: Delightful Dozen, Polka Builder Wheel

Card: Early Espresso Core'dinations cardstock, Naturals Ivory

DSP: Soho Subway Designer Series Paper

Ink: Early Espresso, Island Indigo and Summer Starfruit stampin' pads

Other: Envelope Punch Board, Small Scallop Rotary Cutting Blade (in Stampin' Trimmer), Square Lattice embossing folder, XL Oval punch, sponge dauber, In Color brads (retired), Summer Starfruit stitched satin ribbon, Early Espresso 1/4" stitched grosgrain ribbon, glue dots, Multipurpose Liquid Glue

The rest of the Just Add Ink Design Team have come up with some adorable Easter projects, so make sure you take a look here.  We hope you'll play along with us!

JAI #184: JUST ADD BOWS

Our challenge this week at Just Add Ink is to "just add bows" to a papercraft project.

I LOVE to tie bows, but wanted to think a little differently to my usual use of ribbon bows.  A happy discovery, in my neglected stash of non-Stampin' Up! products, was two little bow dies (one to cut a solid bow, and one to create an outline).

Here's what I came up with for this challenge:

Stamps: Delightful Dozen

Card: Crisp Cantaloupe, Very Vanilla smooth and Core'dinations

DSP: Birthday Basics Designer Series Paper

Ink: Crisp Cantaloupe stampin' pad and marker, Crumb Cake stampin' pad

Other: Hearts Collection framelits, Occasions Paper-Piercing pack, Paper-piercing tool, Stampin' Pierce mat, basic pearls, sponge daubers, Pistachio Pudding stretch ruffle trim, Tasteful Trim XL Bigz die, stampin' dimensionals, Petals-a-Plenty embossing folder, sanding block 

 

 

 

There are some AWESOME samples from the rest of the Design Team at Just Add Ink - make sure you check them out!  We hope to inspire you to play along with us this week.

 

 



MERRY MONDAY #75, TAKE TWO: STAMPIN' UP!'S ORNAMENT KEEPSAKES

Today my sons are not home, and hubby is holed up in his study, so I am "getting my craft on"!  I've managed to put a few loads of washing on and change bed linen as well, so a pretty productive day all round.

I shared earlier today a card I'd made, using Stampin' Up!'s Ornament Keepsakes, for this week's Merry Monday challenge.  I had a couple of extra ornaments stamped, embossed and die cut, so will make some more cards.  One of them has found its way onto a card that I am also going to enter in Merry Monday Christmas Card Club #75.  Here's the brief:

.. and here's a cleaner, simpler, card that I came up with:

Here is a closer view of the shimmery centerpiece on the ornament:

 

Stamps: Ornament Keepsakes, Delightful Dozen

Card: Cherry Cobbler, Very Vanilla, Champagne Glimmer Paper

DSP: Jolly Holiday Designer Series Paper (retired)

Ink: Versamark inkpad, Early Espresso stampin' pad, Crumb Cake stampin' pad

Other: Holiday Ornaments framelits, Ovals Collection framelits, 7/8" Scallop Circle punch, 1/2" Circle punch, Metallic brad, sponge dauber, Stylish Stripes embossing folder, Cherry Cobbler stampin' emboss powder

JAI #179 : STAMPIN' UP!'S SWEATER WEATHER FATHER'S DAY CARD

It's Friday, which means Just Add Ink challenge time.  Here's the sketch Mae has set as this week's challenge:

 

I broke open my new packet of Sweater Weather Designer Series Paper (available in the Holiday Catalogue, 29th August).  The papers dictated my colour scheme, and I decided to use this opportunity to make a Father's Day card.

 

 

Stamps: Gorgeous Grunge, Delightful Dozen

Card: Chocolate Chip, Soft Sky, Very Vanilla, Vellum cardstock

DSP: Sweater Weather Designer Series Paper (out 29th August)

Ink: Chocolate Chip, Soft Sky and Crushed Curry stampin' pads

Other: Clear stampin' emboss powder, Basics Glimmer brads, Essentials Hardware clip, sponge dauber, hexagon punch (to make flag tail)

 

 

We hope you'll make a card using the sketch, and link up to our challenge at Just Add Ink!  There's plenty of inspiration from the rest of the Design Team over on the Just Add Ink blog.

 

 

 



STAMPIN' UP!'S "SENT WITH LOVE" PROMOTION

Stampin' Up! has a great new promotion for us, in the Australian/NZ market.  Until 15th June, we are able to purchase a couple of very cool limited-time-only products.  Take a look:

 

 

As pictured above, the Sent With Love stamp set (8 images, available only in clear mount) is $33.95.  The GORGEOUS Sent With Love Designer Series Paper is $18.95 if bought on its own.

 

Or, if you love a discounted bundle (who doesn't?!), you can get both the stamp set and Designer Series Paper, along with a packet of Calypso Coral baker's twine, for only $46.25 - that's 20% below retail!

 

 

I have had great fun playing with the bundle that I was able to pre-order (one of the many perks of being a Stampin' Up! demonstrator!).  Over the coming week I will share some projects with you.  To start off, here are a couple of cards I have made with the Sent With Love products:

 

 

 

Stamps: Sent With Love

Card: Calypso Coral, Whisper White

DSP: Sent With Love Designer Series Paper

Ink: Calypso Coral, Pool Party and Sahara Sand stampin' pads

Other: In Color Designer brads, Bitty Banners framelits, White Tea Lace doily, Pool Party ruffled ribbon, 2 1/2" Circle punch, Perfect Pennants Bigz die, stampin' dimensionals, glue dots, sponge dauber

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stamps: Sent With Love, Delightful Dozen

Card: Island Indigo, Whisper White, Pool Party Core'dinations

DSP: Sent With Love Designer Series Paper

Ink: Sahara Sand and Calypso Coral stampin' pads, Island Indigo stampin' pad and marker

Other: Postage Stamp punch, XL Oval punch, Chevron embossing folder, Tasteful Trim XL Bigz die, sanding block, paper snips, Natural Trim ribbon, stampin' dimensionals, sponge dauber, glue dots

 

 

Come back tomorrow, and I'll have another Sent With Love project to share with you!

 

 

 

 

 

 



CHRISTMAS CLASS CARDS

Try saying that title three times quickly!!  I thought I'd share with you a couple of the cards we made in my Christmas card classes this month.

This first one was a bit time-consuming, but well worth it; I'm pretty sure everyone who made it was happy with it.  I love it!  Stampin' Up!'s Ornament Keepsakes bundle makes it very easy to make great Christmas cards.  This is the front view, when the card is closed .....

 

 

....... but when opened, you can see it's an easel card:

 

 

 

 

Here's a full shot of the inside of the card:

 

 

 

Stamps: Ornament Keepsakes, Delightful Dozen

Card: Midnight Muse, Whisper White, Brushed Silver, Bashful Blue

Ink: Versamark inkpad, Midnight Muse stampin' pad

Other: Holiday Ornaments framelits dies, Finishing Touches edgelits die, Silver Sparkle Dazzling Details, Basics Glimmer brad, White baker's twine, Midnight Muse stitched satin ribbon, Silver Stampin' emboss powder, Essentials Paper-Piercing Pack, Stampin' Pierce Mat and Paper-piercing tool, Lacy Brocade embossing folder, stampin' dimensionals, glue dots

 

 

 

 

The second card I have to share with you was made using the gorgeous Evergreen two-step stamp set.  We stamped the solid tree design in Crumb Cake ink, then gold-embossed the script overlay.  Lots of new bits and pieces on this one!

 

 

 

 

 

 

..... and a close-up of the gold-embossing on the tree:

 

 

 

 

Stamps: Evergreen, Teeny Tiny Sentiments

Card: Crumb Cake, Very Vanilla, Cherry Cobbler smooth, Cherry Cobbler Core'dinations

DSP: Festival of Prints Designer Series Paper stack, Champagne Glimmer Paper

Ink: Crumb Cake and Cherry Cobbler stampin' pads, Versamark inkpad

Other: Gold Stampin' Emboss powder, Labels Collection framelits dies, Holiday Collection framelits, Festive Paper-percing pack, Stampin' Pierce Mat and Paper-piercing tool, sponge daubers, Stamp-a-ma-jig, Lacy Brocade embossing folder, Woodgrain embossing folder, Dotted Scallop Ribbon border punch, Scallop Edge border punch Designer Sanding Blocks, Bitty Banners framelits dies, stampin' dimensionals, sticky strip

 

 

 

 

 

SC 061/12: STAMPIN' UP! PAPILLON POTPOURRI

Today is my last post as a Guest Designer for Sunny Challenges & Creations, which makes me rather sad - I've had a ball!  Thanks to Vicky, Kris and Gwen for having me as part of the team these past two months.

This week's challenge is to make a card or other papercraft project using the sketch below, AND using something from Stampin' Up!'s new Annual Catalogue.

 

 

I've used a few new "somethings" on my card, because I have lots of pretty new toys to play with, and couldn't quite narrow it down!  My starting point was the beautiful papers from the Floral District pack; they determined that I'd use Rich Razzleberry and Baja Breeze together.  I have used the must-have Papillon Potpourri stamp set, and matching Elegant Butterfly punch.  Another of my favourite new stamp sets is Delightful Dozen - a great mix of sentiments, one of which is that used on my card.  The gorgeous Delicate Doilies Sizzlits die features on this card; just LOVE that die (it cuts three different sized doilies, of which this is the largest - perfect for cards).  The last of the new products I've used (and which you can barely see - but I know it's there!) is Dazzling Details glitter glue, on the embossed dots beneath the stamped butterfly.

 

I think I've managed to fulfil the brief to use "something new" - don't you?!

 

Here's my card:

 

 

 

Stamps: Papillon Potpourri, Delightful Dozen, En Francais

Card: Rich Razzleberry, Baja Breeze, Very Vanilla, Watercolour paper

DSP: Floral District and First Edition Designer Series Papers

Ink: Jet Black Staz-on inkpad, Rich Razzleberry and Baja Breeze stampin' pads, Rich Razzleberry marker

Other: Elegant Butterfly punch, 2 1/2" Circle punch, Delicate Doilies Sizzlits die, Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder, blender pens, sponge daubers, Baja Breeze seam binding, Dazzling Details, glue dots, paper snips

 

 

Make sure you check out the rest of the Design Team's samples.  We hope you'll play along with us!