Wednesday, May 28, 2014

Washi Tape Birthday Candles

  Are you as excited as I am to see the new Stampin' Up! catalog go live on June 2?  I had my last stamp club meeting with the old catalog yesterday.  We're sad to see some old favorites retiring but my ladies were very happy to get their hands on their own copy of the 2014-2015 catalog.

  But for now I'll show this quick and easy birthday card using washi tape as the main element.


 Just use strips of washi tape for the candles and then use the bird punch to punch the flame out of champagne glimmer paper.  The candle flames are popped up on dimensionals for some added zing!

  Can't get any easier than that can you?

  Thanks for looking!  Did you stamp today?

Stamps: Bring on the Cake

Ink: Basic Gray

Paper: Naturals White, Basic Gray, Champagne Glimmer paper

Accessories: Epic Day washi tape,  bird punch, dimensionals

Sunday, May 25, 2014

Chalkboard Teacher Thanks

  Here is a little thank you that I made for the teachers at the boys' school for Teacher Apprecation week.  I know teachers can always use some magnetic clips so I wanted to incorporate a little gift to go with the thank you.  The washi tape covered clothespins with a strong magnet attached to the back seemed like a good idea!


  I made about 14 of these to give to the regular classroom teachers as well as all the other teachers and staff my kids have regular contact with.

  The chalkboard technique was the perfect thing to go with for this project.  First, I cut out black cardstock and thin cardboard (from the DSP packs) with the Top Note die.  Then I used the awesome "thank you" from the Dude, You're Welcome kit and embossed it on black cardstock with white embossing powder.  I smudged some white craft ink across the black cardstock to mimic chalk dust.  Next,  I punched a hole in one end for the ribbon and tied it off with some Sale-a-Bration thick baker's twine.



  I used a white gel pen to write a message to each teacher and then finished it off with 2 washi covered clothespins.  I glued on tiny but super strong magnets to the back.  Functional but cute!

  We made a similar project at my What to Washi class a few weeks ago.  We used DSP instead of the chalkboard technique but the clips were the same.  It's a great little thank you gift for anyone special you'd like to recognize.



  Thanks for looking!  Did you stamp today?

Stamps: Dude, You're Welcome

Ink: Versamark, white craft ink

Paper: Basic Black, thin cardboard, Watercolor Wonder DSP (bottom project)

Accessories: Top Note die, Retro Fresh washi tape, Epic Day washi tape, clothespins (non-SU), magnets (non-SU), assorted ribbon
 

Friday, May 23, 2014

Under the Sea - Fab Friday 42

  I don't know how 2 weeks can fly by so quickly but here we are again at another Fab Friday Challenge!  It's crazy how fast the last month has gone.  Ryan comes home every day from school letting me know how many days are left....14!!!  Why do I feel like I haven't accomplished anything at all this past school year?  I had so many grand plans to get my house in order and complete some large projects....please don't ask to see how many items have been crossed off that to-do list!

  But for now at least I can show you my Fab Friday accomplishment!  Here is our color challenge this time!  Crisp Cantaloupe, Summer Starfruit, Coastal Cabana and Pool Party


 These are some great colors to use to start your summer projects and maybe one last project to wish Summer Starfruit farewell!  I still have most of a pack of paper left so I should be good if Summer Starfruit shows up in any stamping challenges over the next few year!  =)

  I need to send out a few thank you cards so I decided to use Sea Street, one of the demonstrator preorder stamps from the upcoming new catalog to get going on those cards.  I hope everyone isn't too tired of this set yet!  I've barely gotten started with this one.  I can see some great boy cards in its future at least at my house!


  My first step was to emboss the adorable little school of fish across the Pool Party panel using Whisper White embossing powder.  Then I used some of the Summer Starfruit thick baker's twine left from Sale-a-bration (but which will be making an appearance in the new catalog!  Yay!) to make a cute little sailor's knot.  I used this super easy tutorial I saw a bit ago.  Thank you Barbara!

  I stamped the octopus in Crisp Cantaloupe (even though for some reason in the picture it looks like Calypso Coral!) and cut it out with a Circle framelit.  For the sentiment from Lots of Thanks it was also embossed in white on Coastal Cabana cardstock.  Both circles are popped on dimensionals.

  Are you in or out??  Head over to Fab Friday, check out the rest of the samples and then jump right in!  You know you have cards you need to make and send out...might as well make one a Fab Friday card!  =)

  Thanks for looking!  Did you stamp today?

Stamps: Sea Street, Lots of Thanks

Ink: Versamark, Crisp Cantaloupe

Paper: Whisper White, Coastal Cabana, Pool Party

Accessories: Circle framelits, white embossing powder, thick baker's twine, corner rounder

 

Wednesday, May 21, 2014

Work of Art Birthday

  After going to the Stampin' Up! catalog premier a few weeks ago I've only had limited stamping time so I haven't really gotten to make too much with the free set we received that night.  It's a fun set to make backgrounds and whatever else you can dream up!  I can see myself using Work of Art a lot like I use Gorgeous Grunge.

  I made this one for my husband's birthday a few weeks ago.  The stamps give a nice watercolor wash look.  They make for a nice custom background.



  I kind of just went to town on the background.  I used Pacific Point ink with one of the "swoosh" stamps and didn't rein but kept stamping right down the side of the Crumb Cake cardstock.  Then I stamped the chevron stamp in Crumb Cake.  Next I added some polka dots in Crumb Cake but stamped off once on scrap paper before stamping my cardstock.

  For the sentiment I used Chalk Talk and embossed it in white on Crumb Cake.  Then I colored in the "Big" with a blender pen and Pacific Point ink.

  My natural chevron ribbon has been sorely neglected since I bought it and I thought it worked with this look so I flagged the ends and popped my embossed sentiment over the top.  I added a retired Pacific Point (I think??) button for another pop of blue.

  Thanks for looking!  Did you stamp today?

Stamps: Work of Art, Chalk Talk

Ink: Pacific Point, Versamark, Crumb Cake

Paper: Crumb Cake , Whisper White

Accessories: white e.p., Chalk Talk framelits, natural chevron ribbon, button, linen thread, blender pen, dimensionals

Monday, May 19, 2014

Washi Tape Tealights & Candle Holder - Sunday School Teacher Gifts

  A few weeks ago I did a "What to Washi" class with my customers.  We had a good time creating some cards and gift items using washi tape.  One of the projects was tea light candles with a matching glass candle holder.  This is such a quick project that you can keep the supplies on hand and make one up when you need a little something for a hostess gift, thank you or birthday present.

  I decided to make up a batch of these to give to the boys' Sunday School teachers to say thank you for "Shining Their Light" all year long.  The Gold Watercolor Wonder washi tape from the Occasion catalog was the perfect look for these.  And I'm happy to let you know that this item is carrying over into the new 2014-2015 catalog which is coming soon!



 The most narrow roll of washi tape fits perfectly around the base of these dollar store tea lights.  Just wrap it around the metal cup and snip for a clean finish.

  We packaged the lights in one of the 4"x6" cello bags with a piece of Brushed Gold cardstock.  I didn't take a picture of it but the underside of the cardstock is decorated with the washi tape as well.  To finish off the little package just roll the edge and tape it down with another piece of washi tape.

  For the glass candle holder I just alternated the 3 different tapes all the way around the 4 sides.  I used the paper snips to get clean cuts.  You could use all the same design or just 2....whatever you want...it's that simple!

  I couldn't get a good photo but when the tea light is lit the pattern of the washi tape stripes looks really cool.  These candle holders would be perfect to make if you had to host a dinner or wanted to change up your look for different seasons and holidays with investing in a ton of new items.

  Thanks for looking!  Did you stamp today?

Stamps: none

Ink: none

Paper: Brushed Gold cardstock

Accessories: Watercolor Wonder Designer Washi Tape, 4x6 cello bags, Tea light candles (non-SU), glass candle holder (non-SU)

Friday, May 16, 2014

Girly Birthday - Fab Friday Re-Do

I'm trying to get back on track to posting more than just every other week for Fab Friday!  It seems lately I just don't have the time to stamp, take photos, edit photos and write a post!  Something has to give sometimes.  I hope the next few weeks will be less busy and I'll be able to share more.

I used the current Fab Friday sketch to make another card last weekend.  I needed a little girl birthday card and wanted to try the sketch on a happier card.  Here's the sketch:


And here's my card:



  I thought this was a fun girly color combination.  I embossed the sentiment on Tempting Turquoise and cut it out with my oval framelits.  The flowers are punched out with the small scallop circle punch and crumpled up for some texture.

  I rounded opposite corners on the different layers for some extra interest.  And do you see the colored rhinestones?  How cool is it that the new Blendabilities markers color the rhinestones and pearls?  So cool!

  Hope you have a terrific weekend!

  Thanks for looking!  Did you stamp today?

Stamps: Geometrical

Ink: Versamark

Paper: Strawberry Slush, Whisper White, Tempting Turquoise, Pink Pirouette, Quatrefancy DSP

Accessories: corner rounder, Decorative Dots embossing folder, rhinestones, Coastal Cabana Blendabilities, scallop circle punch, dimensionals, 1/8" taffeta ribbon

Friday, May 9, 2014

Sympathy Sketch - Fab Fri 41

Join us over at Fab Friday to see what you can do with this sketch!  I can't wait to play with it some more to make something a little more cheerful.  Unfortunately I needed a sympathy card this week and I used our sketch to get me started.



  Not going to chatter to much about this one other to say that the Daffodil Delight panel is a piece of the Watercolor Wonder DSP with the birds and branch stamped right on it with Smoky Slate ink. And for details on how to make this fork bow check out my tutorial.


Don't forget to look at the rest of the Design Team creations at Fab Friday....they are so talented aren't they??

  Thanks for looking!  Did you stamp today?

Stamps: Serene Silhouettes, Thoughts & Prayers

Ink: Smoky Slate, Basic Gray

Paper: Smoky Slate, Watercolor Wonder DSP, Whisper White

Accessories: Basic Gray taffeta ribbon (retired), pearls, oval punch