Simply Elegant Gift Box

Hi Everyone,

Well, it is another crazy day so this will be a quick post and I will hopefully be back later to post another card share for Saturday's Creative Card Buffet. My eldest son has a doctor's appointment this afternoon and I have no idea how long it might take.

So, today I thought I would share with you a 3D project that I made in preparation for Mother's Day. This sweet little box would be perfect for anyone making Teacher Gifts ready for the end of year and you can place notecards inside it or chocolate as a sweet treat.
The top and bottom shape of the box are creating using the Big Shot and the Top Note die (exclusive to Stampin' Up) and I embossed the top piece again using the Big Shot but this time with the Finial Press Textured Impressions Embossing Folder (another Stampin' Up exclusive).

I decorated the top with a pretty 3 dimensional flower created using two scalloped circles punched with the Scalloped Circle punch. I used the faux suede method to separate the layers of each of the scalloped circles so that I had 4 pieces altogether. I then inked the edges of each of the circles and poked a hole through the center of each one with my Paper Piercer. Next I placed a gold brad through the center of all 4 scalloped circles and folded the legs back to anchor it. To create the dimension of the flower, I scrunched each scalloped circle up around the brad to create a blossom similar to a carnation. The leaves were created with the Little Leaves Sizzlit with the Big Shot.

To create the box, I used the tutorial here on Splitcoast Stampers by Angie Tieman. The wonderful thing about this tutorial is that not only does it provide you with written instructions and photos, but it also has a short video clip at the bottom of the page if you are a visual learner (like me).

This gift box can be personalized to suit any occasion and is a wonderful way to surprise someone special.

I hope you enjoyed this project share for today. As you can see, paper crafting is not limited to just cards and scrapbook pages. There are so many possibilities out there and I hope this one helped to inspire you to try making one for yourself.

Until Next Time.

Tricia Butts

Creative Card Buffet: Day 3 Card Share

Hi Everyone,
I am back to share with you two more card designs that will be available to make during Saturday's Creative Card Buffet. Once again, these cards demonstrate how different colors and designs can suit different occasions and how you can create cards to suit the special people in your life.

The first card is bold, bright and happy. With this card design you will get the opportunity to try out the new Stampin' Around Builder Wheels that are in the new Summer Mini Catalog. This new product allows you to mix and match these new wheels to create your own personal design to suit your card. The two wheels we will be using in this card are So Many Stars and Candle Crazy, and they can be used with the Wheel Spindle and Spacers kit with the Stampin' Around Jumbo Wheel Handle. These Builder Wheels are also great for creating borders and backgrounds for your scrapbook pages.
The Texture for this card is created with the new Square Lattice Textured Impressions Embossing Folder with the Big Shot. I just love this new embossing folder and it is fun to experiment with using the embossed and debossed sides for different effects.

The second card is soft, subtle and serene. Unfortunately the photo just doesn't do this card justice, but no matter how I tried I just couldn't seem to capture the beauty of this card. The card design is created with the new Elements of Style stamp set from the new Summer Mini Catalog and the images are heat embossed using Bashful Blue Craft ink and Clear Embossing powder. The subtle color to the floral design is achieved using the Stampin' Pastels. If you have never used Stampin' Up's Pastels before, you will love using them with this card.
So there you have it. I hope you have enjoyed today's peek at Saturday's Creative Card Buffet. I hope you will come and join me for a fun and relaxed time with me in my home studio. Please contact me to reserve your spot.
Until Next Time.
Happy Stampin',
Tricia Butts

Saying Goodbye to Color Favorites

Hi Everyone,

Today I wanted to share a card that I created using one of my favorite colors, Barely Banana, which will be retiring as of June 30th. I love this shade of yellow and I was so happy with how this card turned out. I also used Crushed Curry Classic Ink which is one of the current In Colors that will also be retiring June 30th and I loved the way the two tones of yellow combined to create this sunny card.

The card is a traditional 4 1/4 x 5 1/2 size and I used Barely Banana cardstock to create the card base. I then stamped the background with the En Francais Background stamp (item #109521) using the Crushed Curry Classic ink. Next I took a piece of Whisper White cardstock and I used the Scallop Trim Border punch (hopefully you got this during Sale-a-bration) and created the border on both sides. To add some texture to the cardstock, I then used the Finial Press Textured Impressions Embossing Folder with my Big Shot to emboss the Whisper White cardstock.

The focal point of the card was created with Barely Banana cardstock using the Cherry Blossom Embosslit with my Big Shot, which does an amazing job of cutting and embossing the flower at the same time. I then used a sponge dauber and applied Crushed Curry Classic ink to the edges of the flower and also in the center embossed area to give it depth.

Next I took my paper piercer and poked a hole in the center and added my gold brad. Then I decided my flower need a little sparkle and bling. I used my two way glue pen and traced around the outer edge of the flower petals and the center of the flower and sprinkled the flower with Dazzling Diamonds.

Now it's assembly time! Using Snail adhesive I attached the embossed Whisper White cardstock to my card base and then added my glittery, embossed flower to the center of the Whisper White cardstock using a glue dot.

The final finishing touch is the sentiment and I chose my favorite stamp set, Teeny Tiny Wishes and stamped the Happy Birthday in Barely Banana Classic ink on Whisper White cardstock. I then punched it out using the Small Oval Punch and adhered it to the lower part of the card with Snail adhesive.

This is a relatively quick and easy card to put together and it would look great using other color combinations. The elements of this card could also be used to create a wonderful look for your scrapbook pages by providing dimension and texture without a lot of bulky embellishments.

I hope you have enjoyed today's card share and I hope it will help to inspire you with your crafting projects. Remember, Stampin' Up is retiring 30 of its colors June 30th, so hurry and place your order now before they disappear.  There has already been a huge demand for a lot of the items and as of June 1st, it will they will be available while supplies last, so please don't leave your order until the last minute and be disappointed.

Contact me today to place your order or visit my Online Store to place your order. To see the list of retiring colors click here to download the PDF file or click on the icon in my sidebar.  You can also find the PDF file with the details of the new color collections for the new catalog here and also in my sidebar.

Until Next Time.

Happy Stampin',

Tricia Butts

Creative Card Buffet: Day 2 Card Share

Hi Everyone,

As promised, I have returned with another card share showcasing this Saturday's Card Buffet. Today I have decided to share two of the card designs that will be available to help show you the variety of cards that I provide with my classes.

With Father's Day just around the corner, I thought it would be a great opportunity to share a card design that is perfect for the men in our lives. This card is created with the Motorcycle stamp from the new Summer Mini catalog and the textured background is created with the new Lattice Square Textured Impressions Embossing folder. You can personalize this card with the sentiment of your choice to suit the occasion.

The second card I want to share with you today is as feminine as the first card is masculine. This pretty pink card is created using the new Watercolor Trio stamp set from the Summer Mini Catalog. The tone on tone look gives the card a soft and pretty look. This card design works well for many occasions whether it is a birthday, Friendship or even a Get Well card. The choice is yours.

I hope you have enjoyed today's Card Buffet card shares and would love to have you join me this Saturday for a fun and relaxed class. Visit here to for details. Please contact me today to reserve your spot. I look forward to seeing you soon.

Until Next Time.

Stampin' Hugs,

Tricia Butts

P.S. Don't forget to visit tomorrow to see more card designs available at this month's Creative Card Buffet.

Motorcycle 117657 Price: $8.95

Set Quantity: 1

Watercolor Trio -
Clear-Mount Stamp 120084

Price: $16.95
Wood Mount Stamp 117050

Price: $22.95
Set Quantity: 7

Fellowship with Crafts

Hi Everyone,

Hope you are all enjoying a beautiful Spring day. It is a gloomy, overcast sort of day here in Northglenn but at least it is not cold, so I am happy. Colorado weather tends to be like a yo-yo, constantly up and down, but never one for very long before it changes again. I think it reflects my life at the moment, lol.

Today I wanted to share with you some simple card designs that I came up with last week. We will be creating these cards at our Church's Womens Group Meeting tonight and I am so excited to share them with the group. We are making early preparations for our Holiday Craft Bazaar in the Fall and we will be taking turns in creating items with different crafts to sell at the Bazaar.

The first card is created using the Medallion stamp as the focal point of the card. The sentiment is from my favorite set, Teeny Tiny Wishes. This card is so versatile and can be created in a variety of colors and what ever sentiment you would like to create a simple card set.

The second card I have to share today is created with the new stamp set, Elements of Style, that can be found in the new Summer Mini Catalog. This set is already a favorite of mine and I am enjoying experimenting with all the different ways that I can use this stamp set. To add some texture to the card, I embossed the stamped image with the new Sizzix Square Lattice Textured Impressions Embossing folder (available exclusively from Stampin' Up) using the Big Shot and it gives the white cardstock the look of woven fabric. The sentiment is from another new stamp set, Watercolor Trio, which can also be found in the Summer Mini Catalog.

The final card I have to share with you is created with one of Stampin' Up's large background stamps. Bella Toile is a wonderful design and I love the way you can create a card where the background is the main focus of the card. The sentiment is from the stamp set Upsy Daisy. I wanted to have it stand out without taking away from the background so I used the Designer Label punch to create a matte and I stamped it with the Bella Toile stamp to create a tone on tone pattern. Then I punched out the stamped sentiment using the Modern Label punch and matted them together.  I chose to place the sentiment towards the center of the card, but you could position it wherever you would like.

Each of these cards can be stepped up and enhanced by adding embellishments such as ribbons, brads or even another stamped image and it will give you a completely different look. I chose to create these cards using a monchromatic theme, but they could be just as easily created with a combination of colors.

Another interesting idea is that each of these card layouts would work well on a scrapbook page to enhance your photos and personal memories. Stamps can be used to create backgrounds for your pages as well as focal points and embellishments to accent your photos.

I hope you have enjoyed today's card share and I hope I have helped to inspire you in your own projects whether they are cards, scrapbook pages or crafting ideas.

Until Next Time.

Stamping' Hugs,

Tricia Butts

Creative Card Buffet - Summer Mini Style

Hi Everyone,

With the release of the new Summer Mini Catalog and all the wonderful products that it contains, I decided that this month's Creative Card Buffet would be a great opportunity to showcase how to use these new products.

Today's card share is one of the card designs available for this month's Card Buffet and showcases the stamp set Sentimental Journey and is accented with a brad from the Circle Designer Series Brads that you can earn free with the purchase of Sentimental Journey stamp set.

This stamp set is so versatile and works well for cards and scrapbook pages. With Father's Day less than a month away, this stamp set would be perfect to create that special Father's Day card and this would also work well as a Graduation or Retirement Card.

Think of all the wonderful scrapbook pages you could create using this set or choose a special moment and create a page to be framed and hung on the wall.

Like this card? Then I hope you will join me this Saturday at my home studio to create this card as well as other wonderful designs using the new products from the Summer Mini Catalog. Visit my Events Calendar for further details.

Tomorrow I will be sharing another card design that will be available at this month's Creative Card Buffet, so I hope you will return soon to see what I have to share.

Have a wonderful day.

Until Next Time.

Stampin' Hugs,

Tricia Butts

Sentimental Journey - Clear-Mount Stamp 120075 Price: $17.95

                                 Wood Mount Stamp 118513  Price: $23.95                                  Set Quantity: 8

May is National Scrapbooking Month

Hello Everyone,
Sorry I have been MIA for so long. April was a crazy month and this month I am chasing time with end of school activities, so I apologize for not posting to my blog for the past month. Only 2 more weeks of school and then things should calm down a bit, I hope.

May is National Scrapbooking Month and Stampin' Up! has a fantastic special to celebrate and help you with your papercrafting projects.
Just purchase a qualifying scrapbooking stamp set (see list below) or the My Digital Studio software and receive a FREE package of Designer brads--choose from four designs!

Qualifying Stamp sets


Page     Description   Wood-Mount Item   Wood-Mount Price  Clear-Mount Item  Clear-Mount Price

81     Extreme Elements    115181                     $26.95                      ---                            ---
119   Framed with Love** 114389                    $27.95                      ---                            ---
128 Certified**               113706                   $27.95                      ---                            ---
129 Circle Circus               115778                  $28.95                       ---                            ---
12* Elements of Style        118611                   $27.95                     120045                    $19.95
13* Memento                    119910                   $27.95                     120105                    $19.95
13* Elements de style        119900                   $27.95                     120099                    $19.95
14* Rough Type             118659                  $26.95                     120072                    $18.95
22* Sentimental Journey    118513                   $23.95                     120075                    $17.95
25* First Day                    118521                  $23.95                     120051                     $17.95
25* Camino a la Escuela    120152                  $23.95                     120154                     $17.95
*From Summer Mini Catalog
**Last Chance stamp set!
My Digital Studio software
Page   Description             Item        Price
32*      My Digital Studio 118108    $79.95
*From Summer Mini Catalog
Designer brads (free with purchase of qualifying stamp set or My Digital Studio)
Page  Description                  Item  Retail Price  Price with Qualifying Purchase
179   Flower Designer brads 112579     $5.95      FREE
179 Filigree Designer brads   112577    $5.95       FREE
179 Circle Designer brads     112571    $5.95       FREE
179 Star Designer brads        112572   $5.95       FREE

Don't forget, the stamp sets Certified and Framed with Love will both retire soon and will appear on the Last Chance List that will be released June 1st. They can be found in the current 2009-2010 Idea Book & Catalog.
Plus, there are some great new stamp sets in the new Summer Mini Catalog that will be perfect for your Summer crafting projects and the designer brads can provide the finishing touch for your cards, scrapbook pages and crafting projects. Don't have a copy of the new Summer Mini yet? Please contact me and I will be happy to send one out to you or you can download a free digital copy Here or click on the icon located in my side bar.
Hope you all have a great day.
Until Next Time.
Stamping Hugs,
Tricia Butts