VC Rocks Blog 4 - Big Shot, Punch Art & Simply Scored Projects

Hi Everyone,

Welcome to the VC Rocks Blog Hop #4, featuring projects created using the Big Shot, Punch Art with punches as well as Stampin' Up!'s Simply Scored Tool.  To view the list of blogs participating in this Blog Hop, click here to visit the VC Rocks Blog.

If you are just starting the Blog Hop here, then welcome and I hope you will enjoy all the wonderful projects that everyone will be sharing this weekend. Or perhaps you may have just come from Mary Campbell's Blog, Mimi to Jett and her amazing creations. This is my first Blog Hop ever and I am so excited to share my projects with you all.

With my 4 children starting school next week, I thought I would share with you this gift idea that would be perfect for a child to give to his/her teacher.  Isn't this petite purse simply adorable?  I just love using my Big Shot to create my projects.  It is probably my most favorite tool in my craft room.  As for my punches, well they would be a close second.

I created my petite purse and matching Thank You card using Wisteria Wonder cardstock from the 2011-2013 In Colors.  I am not normally a purple person but I really love using Wisteria Wonder and the way it pops against the Whisper White. The beauty of this project is that you can use whatever color combination you wish to suit the person receiving it.

The petite purse is created using the  Sizzix Petite Purse Bigz L die with the Big Shot. With just a couple of strips of Sticky Strip, this cute little purse goes together so simply.  Before I assembled the purse, I embossed the die cut cardstock with the new Lacy Brocade Textured Impressions Embossing Folder (from the 2012 Holiday Catalog) with just a quick pass through the Big Shot. I love the delicate texture it adds to the purse.

To create the embellishment on the front of the purse, I used the stamp set, Mixed Bunch with Wisteria Wonder Classic ink and punched out the stamped circle image using the 3/4" Circle punch. I love how the stamps in this set coordinate with Stampin' Up! punches to make quick and easy projects. I used the new 1 1/4" Scallop Circle punch (also from the 2012 Holiday Catalog) to create the base and embossed it with the Lacy Brocade Embossing Folder to match the purse.  The basic Pearl jewel in the center of the flower image adds the finishing touch to the purse.

The matching card is also created using Wisteria Wonder and Whisper White cardstock.  I embossed the Whisper White cardstock with the Lacy Brocade Textured Impressions Embossing Folder to coordinate with the purse.  The flower is created using one of the stamps from the Mixed Bunch stamp set with Wisteria Wonder Classic ink and punched out with the coordinating Blossom punch. I also punched out another blossom shape from Wisteria Wonder cardstock and attached the layers with a Stampin' Dimensional, offsetting the petals.  I stamped the circle image separately (the same one I used for the purse) and punched it out with the 3/4" Circle punch. Once again I used the Basic Pearl Jewel to embellish the center.

The sentiment is from one of my favorite stamp sets, Curly Cute.  I just love the simple elegance it brings to my projects.  I stamped Thank You with Wisteria Wonder Classic ink on Whisper White cardstock and punched it out using the Modern Label punch. I used the Extra Large Oval punch to punch out an oval from Wisteria Wonder cardstock to create a matte and also embossed it using the Lacy Brocade Embossing Folder.

You can fill your petite purse with candy or chocolate for a sweet treat.  It would also be great gift bag for jewelry for someone special.  Imagine the cute favors you could create for a Bridal or Baby Shower, not to mention for birthday parties. One of the best things about using the Big Shot and Stampin' Up!'s punches, is that it helps you create amazing cards and gifts, quickly and easily.

I hope you have enjoyed my Blog Hop share and I hope it helps to inspire you to create your own creative project.  Now it's time to move on to Loni Holt's Blog, Loni's Life and see the wonderful creations she has for you. 

Until Next Time.
Happy Stamping,
Tricia Butts
http://www.triciabutts.stampinup.net


Recipe (All Products are Stampin' Up!):
Stamp Sets: Mixed Bunch (p 94), Curly Cute (p 138)
Inks:  Wisteria Wonder Classic (p 152)
Cardstock: Wisteria Wonder (p152), Whisper White (p 156)
Accessories: Big Shot (p 186), Petite Purse Bigz L Die (p194), Lacy Brocade Textured Impressions Embossing Folder (p 6*), 1 1/4" Scallop Circle Punch (p 7*), Blossom Punch (p185), Extra Large Oval Punch (p 184), Modern Label Punch (p 183), 3/4" Circle Punch (p184), Basic Pearl Jewels (p 175), Stampin' Dimensionals (p 177), Snail Adhesive (p 177), Sticky Strip (p 177)

Page numbers are from the 2012-2013 Catalog
Except those marked with a * which can be found in the 2012 Holiday Catalog

New Challenges - Exploring the world of ATC's

Hi Everyone,

Over the summer I have been expanding my creative horizons, trying new techniques and new formats of art with Stampin' Up! products.
It all started when I joined a yahoo group called VC Rocks for the summer and started participating in their challenges and swaps to help me get out of the slump I had fallen into.  Let me tell you, it has been a wonderful experience and I have created more cards and projects in the last two months than I had in the past 6 months.
One of the swaps I participated in was an ATC swap. Now you maybe asking, what is an ATC?
ATC stands for Artist Trading Card and it is like the art version of a baseball or sports card. Artists create these cards featuring their artwork and trade it with other artists.  There is a specific size requirement necessary to qualify as an ATC.  The card size required is 2.5" x 3.5".
Now I had first heard about ATC's during my decorative painting days, several years ago, but I found it difficult to paint small enough to do justice to my small canvas.  However, I have discovered that in my new medium of papercrafting using stamps and ink, the challenge was both enjoyable and satisfying. 
After auditioning several different ideas, this is the design I came up with featuring the stamp set, Creative Elements, one of my new favorite stamp sets.

Now the swap required me to create 11 identical ATC's (I created 12 so that I would have one to keep) to send to the Swap Organizer and in return I received back 10 different ATC's cards from the other participants. Below is a photo of 4 of the ATC cards I created for the swap.
I love the new In Color, Primrose Petal, that I used for the flower image.  The new foam ink pad provided wonderful coverage and was a dream to stamp with. Don't you just love the cute little blue butterfly created with the Beautiful Wings Embosslit and embellished with a sparkling rhinestone for a little bling.

All in all, this was a wonderful experience and it was great to stretch myself to creating on a smaller size. I am looking forward to exploring the world of ATC's further in the future. Call me crazy, but wouldn't this look fantastic as a business card. Just add your details on the back and it would definitely grab people's attention when you hand them out. They would also make a great focal point on a card front or as an element on a scrapbook page. The opportunities are endless.
I hope my journey into the world of ATC's will inspire you to create something new and challenging.

Until Next Time.
Happy Stamping,
Tricia Butts
http://www.triciabutts.stampinup.net


Recipe:
Stamp Sets:
Creative Elements (p126), Language of Friendship (p74)
Classic Inks: Primrose Petal (p152), Lucky Limeade (p152), Soft Suede (p156)
Cardstock: Whisper White (p156), Bashful Blue (p154)
Accessories: Sizzix Big Shot (p186), Beautiful Wings Embosslit (p188), Designer Frames Folders (p188), Extra Large Oval Punch (p184), Sponge Daubers (p179), Rhinestone Basic Jewels (p175), Snail Adhesive (p177), Stampin' Dimensionals (p177).

Creative Card Share: Outlined Love Easel Card

Hi Everyone,

Today, as promised, I am sharing with you an Easel Card I created for Valentine's Day using the Sale-a-bration stamp set, Outlined Occasions as well as the stamp set Greeting Card Kids.  The sweet little girl is just perfect for water coloring using a blender pen Stampin' Up!'s Classic ink pads (I also colored the Love from Outlined Occasions using this technique).
The frame for the little girl was created using the new Sizzix Paper Doily Large Sizzlits Die available in the Occasions Mini Catalog. Isn't this a beautiful die cut? I just love the detail and it turns an ordinary piece of cardstock into a delicate work of art.  For this card, I used Cherry Cobbler cardstock to showcase the stamped image and the Pretty in Pink cardstock matted behind the image.

The background of the card was created using the Vintage Wallpaper Textured Impressions Embossing Folder on a piece of Pretty in Pink cardstock.  To add a vintage feel to the card, I lightly sponged Frost White Shimmer paint onto the embossed areas of the cardstock using a sponge dauber.  It added a subtle shimmer to the cardstock that helped to enhance the Cherry Cobbler Doily frame. I used Stampin' Dimensionals to attach the Doily diecut to the Pretty in Pink cardstock.

To create the base of the card, I once again used a piece of Pretty in Pink cardstock. I stamped the Love image on Very Vanilla cardstock using Stazon Black ink and water colored the image. I then punched out the image using the Extra Large Oval punch and matted it with a piece of Cherry Cobbler cardstock punched using the Decorative Label punch.  I attached it to the card base using Stampin' Dimensionals to allow it to act as a rest for the card front so that it stands up. The hearts located on either side were created using the Fashionable Hearts Embosslits Die (found on p35 of the Occasions Mini Catalog) and embellished with the medium rhinestones from the Basic Rhinestones pack.

The wonderful thing about this card is that it lays flat and is easy to mail in a regular envelope. 

This card went together so simply using my Sizzix Bigshot to do the hard work for me, diecutting the Doily and embossing the cardstock.  I just love the way this card came together and I think it has a Wow factor to it, don't you?

I hope today's Creative Card Share has helped to inspire you to create your own Easel card for someone special.  With Easter just around the corner, not to mention Mother's Day, wouldn't this be the perfect type of card to send to a friend or family member?

I hope you all have a wonderful day.

Until Next Time.

Happy Stampin',

Tricia Butts

http://www.triciabutts.stampinup.net/

P.S.  To see another example of an Easel Card I created, this time for Mother's Day, visit here .

Occasions Mini Share: Pretty Pink Build a Blossom

Hi Everyone,
Today's Creative Card Share features the amazing stamp set, Build a Blossom, from the Occasions Mini Catalog. I love the variety of petals and using the two step stamping method you can create beautiful flowers of all shapes and sizes.
Plus, to make our life easier, Stampin' Up! has provided us with an incredible punch, Blossom Petals Punch, so that we can stamp and punch to make quick and easy cards and projects that look like they took forever to create. You can find both the stamp set and coordinating punch on page 12 of the Occasions Mini Catalog.
To create this card I used Whisper White cardstock for my card base and I used my Big Shot and the Framed Tulips Textured Impressions Embossing Folder (page 28 Occasions Mini Catalog) to create a pretty border for my card design.
The petals of the flower were created by stamping the large petal images onto a 2 1/2" strip of Whisper White cardstock using Regal Rose Classic ink. I stamped the solid petal image first by inking the stamp and then stamping the image once on a scrap sheet of paper and then stamping the image onto my Whisper White cardstock. Next I inked the large petal detail stamp using the same color ink, but I stamped it directly onto the solid stamped image to provide a darker tone to the petal.  I created 6 petals using this technique and then I punched them out using my Blossom Petals Punch.
The center of the flower was created using the large center image stamped with More Mustard Classic ink on Whisper White cardstock. I then punched it out using the 1" Circle punch.

To assemble the flower, I punched out a 1 1/4" circle of scrap cardstock and attached the petals to it with snail adhesive, overlapping the petals slightly to create a balanced flower. Next I added the center of the flower using a Stampin' Dimensional.

To attach the flower to the card, I added a Stampin' Dimensional to the back of the scrap circle (used to attach the petals to). I put a Stampin' Dimensional on every 2nd petal so that three petals are raised to create dimension and carefully placed it on the card front and pressed down to adhere the flower.

For a little sparkle, I used my Two Way Glue Pen and Dazzling Diamonds on the outer edges of each petal and the center of the flower.  I stamped the sentiment from the Messages for Mom stamp set in Regal Rose Classic ink.

I love that you can create this gorgeous card with a minimum of supplies. Change the ink color or use a different petal size for a completely different look. Just think of all the fun you can have.

I hope you have enjoyed today's Creative Card Share and hopefully I have helped inspire you to create a pretty Spring card that is quick and simple to create. Please contact me if you have any questions or you would like to place an order. Plus, you can place your order 24/7 by visiting my Online Store. Remember, the Occasions Mini Catalog ends April 30th, so place your order soon before they disappear.

Until Next Time.

Happy Stampin',

Tricia Butts

http://www.triciabutts.stampinup.net/

Supplies Used (Stampin' Up only unless otherwise noted):

Stamp Sets: Build a Blossom, Messages for Mom

Cardstock: Whisper White, scrap cardstock

Ink: Regal Rose, More Mustard Classic inks

Accessories: Big Shot, Framed Tulips Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Blossom Petals Extra Large Punch, 1" Circle Punch, 1 1/4" Circle Punch, Stampin' Dimensionals, Snail Adhesive, Two Way Glue Pen, Dazzling Diamonds

Occasions Mini Card Share: Plane & Simple

Hello Everyone,

With April being the final month for the 2011 Occasions Mini Catalog, I have decided to showcase some of the amazing products from this fabulous mini catalog.
Today's Creative Card Share uses a great masculine stamp set, Plane & Simple, which can be found on page 40 of the Occasions Mini Catalog.
I love the combination of Cherry Cobbler, Basic Black, Sahara Sand and Whisper White cardstock and it works well with this stamp set. The vintage plane image was stamped three times with Early Espresso Classic ink and I sponged the edges of both the Whisper White and Sahara Sand cardstock with Chocolate Chip Classic ink for a distressed look.

The borders on the Cherry Cobbler card base were stamped with Early Espresso Classic ink and the Basic Black cardstock has been embossed using the Finial Press Textured Impressions Embossing Folder using the Big Shot for some extra texture. I added some Platinum Shimmer Paint to the embossed areas with a sponge dauber for a metallic look.

The ribbon border was created with Chantilly 1/2" Crochet Trim and I stamped the happy birthday sentiment (from the Plane & Simple stamp set) with Early Espresso Classic ink on Whisper White cardstock and then punched it out using the Word Window Punch. I then framed it using the Modern Label Extra Large Punch from Basic Black cardstock.  Next I used the Designer Label Large punch to punch out the shape from the Sahara Sand cardstock and sponged the edges with Chocolate Chip Classic ink to distress it. I added two silver brads and attached the framed sentiment using Snail adhesive and then attached it to the card using Stampin' Dimensionals.

This card design would be great for a male birthday or for Father's Day (there is a happy father's day stamp included in this stamp set) and works for all ages. In addition, I love that I was able to create this card with just one stamp set.

Masculine cards tend to be a challenge to create, so I hope today's Creative Card Share helps to inspire you the next time you need a card for the special male in your life.

Remember that the Occasions Mini ends April 30th.  You can contact me to place your order or visit my Online Store to place your order 24/7.

Until Next Time.

Happy Stampin',

Tricia Butts

http://www.triciabutts.stampinup.net/

Supplies Used (Stampin' Up! unless otherwise noted):

Stamp Set: Plane & Sample

Plane & Simple - Set Quantity: 7
Wood-Mount 121903  Price: $21.95

Clear-Mount  121964  Price: $16.95

Cardstock: Cherry Cobbler, Basic Black, Sahara Sand, Whisper White
Ink: Early Espresso, Chocolate Chip Classic inks
Accessories: Big Shot, Finial Press Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Platinum Shimmer Paint, Silver Brads, Chantilly 1/2" Crochet Trim, Word Window Punch, Modern Label Extra Large Punch, Designer Label Large Punch, Sponge Daubers, Snail Adhesive, Stampin' Dimensionals.

Autism Awareness Day

Happy Saturday Everyone,
Well, it is an absolutely gorgeous day here in Northglenn, Colorado and perfect baseball weather. Which is just as well because baseball season has just started and this year they opened at home. I'm not much of a baseball fan but I do enjoy all the excitement involved with Opening Day at Coors Field and with Colorado's fickle weather, it is nice when it chooses to cooperate and provide wonderful weather to enjoy it.
As I was checking my email this morning, I noticed an email from a fellow demonstrator by the name of Wendy Hawkinson. She was getting the word out that today is Autism Awareness Day and April is Autism Awareness Month. The theme is "Lighting it up Blue for Autism Awareness' and she asked us all if we could add a little blue to our cards today to show support for the many families who are effected by Autism.
So, when I chose today's card share, I picked a card that not only displays the color blue proudly, but it also is a perfect card for a child.
This cute punchy cupcake card is so bright and cheerful, just perfect for a child's birthday card. The colors I chose for this card are Tempting Turquoise, Pacific Point, Night of Navy, Pumpkin Pie and Whisper White cardstock and the cherr was created from the wonderful Red Glimmer Paper in the Occasions Mini Catalog.

I used one of my favorite punches, the Build a Cupcake punch, and I added the sprinkles to the frosting using the Create a Cupcake stamp set that coordinates perfectly with this punch. I used Sahara Sand Classic ink to stamp the sprinkles.

The cupcake has been layered onto circles punched using the 1 1/4" Circle punch from Tempting Turquoise, Pacific Point and Night of Navy cardstock. I used Stampin' Dimensionals to raise the cupcake up for a bit of extra dimension.

The card base is created from Tempting Turquoise cardstock and the Whisper White layer has been embossed using the Perfect Polka Dots Textured Impressions Embossing Folder with my Big Shot. The "ribbon" has been created using the Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border punch with Pacific Point cardstock.

The sentiment is also from the Create a Cupcake stamp set and I stamped it with Pacific Point Classic ink onto Whisper White cardstock and punched it out using the Word Window punch. I then layered this onto Pumpkin Pie cardstock punched using the Modern Label Extra Large punch. To finish it off I punched an oval from Pacific Point cardstock using the 1 3/4" x 7/8" Oval Large punch to help the sentiment stand out better.

This is a very versatile card design and just by changing the colors used you can create a card that is unique as the person who receives it.

Now April is the final month for the Occasions Mini catalog, so now is the perfect time to place your order before they disappear.

I hope today's card share inspires you to create a special project for a special person in your life and to say a prayer for the families who face the challenges of Autism in their lives. Hug your loved ones a little tighter and a little longer as they are truly life's most precious gifts.

Until Next Time.

Happy Stampin',

Tricia Butts

http://www.triciabutts.stampinup.net/

Supplies Used (Stampin' Up unless otherwise noted):

Stamp Set: Create a Cupcake

Cardstock: Tempting Turquoise, Pacific Point, Night of Navy, Pumpkin Pie, Whisper White

Paper: Red Glimmer Paper

Ink: Pacific Point, Sahara Sand Classic Inks

Accessories: Big Shot, Perfect Polka Dots Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Build a Cupcake Punch, 1 1/4" Circle Punch, Word Window Punch, Modern Label Extra Large Punch, 1 3/4" x 7/8" Oval Large punch, Dotted Scallop Ribbon Punch, Stampin' Dimensionals, Snail Adhesive

Creative Card Share: So Happy For You

Hi Everyone,
Well, we are down to the final days of Sale-a-bration and today I decided to share with you a card design created using the Sale-a-bration stamp set, So Happy For You. The sentiments in this stamp set are wonderful and the font used to create them is very cheerful and carefree. The accent stamps that coordinate with the sentiments are a great way to add your own personal touch to your own creative projects.
This card design is a CASE of a card created by another Stampin' Up! Demonstrator, Amy Braunscheidel. I really liked the Clean & Simple design of her card and decided to make my own using Cajun Craze cardstock for the card base to add a little spice to this card. Using the Framed Tulips Textured Impressions Embossing Folder with my Bigshot, I embossed the border onto my card base. I combined the Cajun Craze with layers of Basic Black, Very Vanilla and Sahara Sand cardstock.

The ribbon embellishment is actually created using the Very Vanilla 5/8" Satin Ribbon as the base and then I layered the Basic Black 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon on top to run down the center of the Very Vanilla Ribbon. I loved the way the combination works together to add another level to the card design.

The flower and flying butterfly designs are from the So Happy for You Sale-a-bration stamp set and I stamped them on Very Vanilla Cardstock in Cajun Craze Classic ink to tie in with the card base. The center of the flower is embellished with a gold brad and I punched it out using the 3/4" Circle Punch and then matted it onto another circle punched with the 1" Circle punch from Sahara Sand cardstock. I used a Stampin' Dimensional to attach it to the card front.

The Birthday Wishes sentiment is also from the So Happy for You Sale-a-bration Stamp set and I stamped this onto the Very Vanilla Cardstock with Basic Black Classic ink below the flying butterfly.

I really liked the clean and simple feel to this card but I wanted to see how this card design would look if I "stepped it up" another level. This time, I decided to emboss the Basic Black cardstock using the Finial Press Textured Impressions Embossing Folder.

Next, I used a sponge dauber and the Champagne Mist Shimmer Paint and I lightly dabbed the shimmer paint onto the embossed areas of the Basic Black cardstock. I loved the elegant look it gave to the card and how it changed the feel of the card from something simple and carefree to something more elegant and classical.

I hope you have enjoyed today's Creative Card Share and I hope it inspires you to try looking at your card designs in a different way and seeing how you can "step it up" for a whole new look.

Remember, Sale-a-bration ends March 31st, so don't forget to place your order and earn the So Happy For You Sale-a-bration Stamp set or any of the other wonderful Sale-a-bration products before they disappear for good.

Contact me to place your order or visit my Online Store to shop 24/7.

Until Next Time.

Happy Stampin',

Tricia Butts

http://www.triciabutts.stampinup.net/

Supplies Used (Stampin' Up! Only unless otherwise noted):

Stamp Set: So Happy for You Sale-a-bration Stamp Set

Cardstock: Cajun Craze, Sahara Sand, Basic Black, Very Vanilla

Ink: Cajun Craze, Basic Black Classic Inks

Accessories: Big Shot, Framed Tulips Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Finial Press Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Very Vanilla 5/8" Satin Ribbon, Basic Black 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon, Gold Brads, 3/4" Circle Punch, 1" Circle Punch, Stampin' Dimensionals, Snail Adhesive, Sponge Daubers, Champagne Mist Shimmer Paint.

Quick & Easy Bookmark to Brighten Your Day

Hi Everyone,
While we are on the subject of owls, I just couldn't resist sharing with you a sweet bookmark I created using the Two Step Owl punch and some scraps of cardstock and Designer Series Paper I had left over from other projects. There are so many ways to use this Two Step Owl punch, whether it is with the Sale-a-bration stamp set Punch Bunch that I shared in the previous post, or just used with cardstock and Designer Series paper to create a cute punched art owl like this bookmark.
The base of the bookmark was created from Pretty in Pink cardstock using my Big Shot and the Two Tags Sizzix Bigz die (exclusive to Stampin' Up!). I then punched out a scallop circle from Melon Mambo cardstock using the 1 3/4" Scallop Circle punch and attached it to the bookmark with a Stampin' Dimensional.

The Owl is punched from Chocolate Chip cardstock and the lighter parts of the eyes are punched from Naturals Ivory cardstock. The heart is punched from Real Red cardstock and the vest is punched from a scrap of Pretty in Pink Designer Series Paper (Subtles Collection).

The verse is a stamp from the Level 3 Hostess stamp set Occasional Quotes, stamped in Melon Mambo Classic ink.

Once again, you can create this project from whatever color or color combinations you choose and it is a perfect way to use up the scraps you have lying around. Bookmarks make a perfect gift to add to a card and this one will bring a smile to your face everytime.

I hope you have enjoyed this quick little project and I hope it inspires you to see the possibilities in all the scraps you may have lying around and create a new project of your own.

Until Next Time.

Happy Stampin',

Tricia Butts

http://www.triciabutts.stampinup.net/

Supplies Used (Stampin' Up! Only unless otherwise noted):

Stamp Set: Occasional Quotes Level 3 Hostess Stamp Set

Cardstock: Pretty in Pink, Melon Mambo, Naturals Ivory, Chocolate Chip, Real Red

Designer Series Paper: Pretty in Pink (from the Subtles Collection Pack)

Accessories: Big Shot, Sizzix Bigz Two Tags Die, 1 3/4" Scallop Circle punch, Two Step Owl Punch, Snail Adhesive, Stampin' Dimensionals.

Creative Card Share: I Love the Punch Bunch Owl

Hi Everyone,
Well, it is a warm and windy Spring day here in Northglenn, Colorado and my kids are enjoying Spring Break and the freedom of being outdoors.
So this is a perfect time for me to share with you my absolute favorite stamp from my favorite Sale-a-bration stamp set. Of course that would be the cute little owl stamp from the Sale-a-bration stamp set, Punch Bunch. This stamp set is so amazing and the best part is that each stamp coordinates with a Stampin' Up! punch so you can just stamp and punch for quick and easy cards that look fabulous.
Today's cards feature a style of card that I love to create called the Scrappy card. This is where you get the opportunity to use up those scraps of cardstock and Designer Series Paper you have lying around to create fun, simple and colorful card designs.
This first card uses two of the stamps from Punch Bunch. The Happy Birthday is stamped in Old Olive Classic ink on Whisper White cardstock and then punched out with the Scallop Square punch. The owl is stamped with Soft Suede Classic ink and punched out with the Two Step Owl punch. I added the punched circles to make his eyes stand out (also from the Two Step Owl Punch) and I punched out a cute little vest from scrap Designer Series Paper with the same punch to dress him up. The wings are punched from the Two Step Bird Punch from Soft Suede cardstock and I sponged the edges with Soft Suede Classic ink.

The balloon I created by punching out a 1" Circle from Real Red cardstock using the 1" Circle punch and the small part at the bottom is actually one of the owl's feet punched from Real Read cardstock and attached to the circle with snail adhesive. The string is created with Stampin' Up!'s Linen Thread.

The cardfront is created with Naturals White cardstock and it is my new favorite for making cards as it has a little more body than the Whisper White Cardstock. I embossed the cardfront with the Framed Tulips Textured Impressions Embossing Folder using my Big Shot.

The second version of this card, changed the colors a little and stamped the Happy Birthday with Tempting Turquoise Classic ink and the little vest was punched from a scrap of Crushed Curry Designer Series Paper (now retired). For his eyes, I punched out the circles with the Two Step Owl Punch using Basic Black and Whisper White cardstock to give him the look of wearing glasses. I also shaded the Real Red balloon with Real Red Classic ink to give it a bit more definition and dimension.

As you can see, from this one card design you have endless possibilities just by changing the colors you use and you only need one stamp set to create this design.

To see more details about the Sale-a-bration stamp set Punch Bunch, as well as other fantastic Free Sale-a-bration products, Click Here to download a digital copy of the Sale-a-bration Mini Catalog.

I hope today's card share has inspired you to see the many possibilities that are available with the Punch Bunch stamp set and how quick and simple it can be to creative wonderful cards for family and friends with stamps and punches.

Until Next Time.

Happy Stampin',

Tricia Butts

http://www.triciabutts.stampinup.net/

Supplies Used (Stampin' Up! only unless otherwise noted):

Stamp Set: Punch Bunch Sale-a-bration Stamp set

Cardstock: Naturals White, Whisper White, Real Red, Basic Black, Soft Suede

Designer Series Papers: Real Red (from the Brights DSP collection), Crushed Curry (retired)

Inks: Soft Suede, Old Olive, Tempting Turquoise, Real Red Classic Inks

Accessories: Two Step Owl Punch, Two Step Bird Punch, Scallop Square Punch, 1" Circle Punch, Big Shot, Framed Tulips Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Linen Thread, Stampin' Dimensionals, Snail Adhesive, Sponge Daubers

Sale-A-bration Card Share:Pretty Pink Punch Bunch Owl

Hi Everyone,
Today I want to share with you a card I created for my Open House last weekend. Let me just say that I fell in love with this cute owl stamp in the new Sale-A-Bration stamp set, Punch Bunch which coordinates perfectly with Stampin' Up's Extra Large Two-Step Owl Punch (found on page 201 of the 2010-2011 Idea Book & Catalog).
My inspiration for this card came from an amazing Stampin' Up demonstrator by the name of Mary Fish. She created this cute card on her blog here including a wonderful video tutorial showing how to create the circle rings behind the owl.

I used Melon Mambo Classic ink to stamp the owl and the Happy Birthday Scalloped Square on Whisper White cardstock. The Happy Birthday stamp is also from the Punch Bunch Sale-A-Bration stamp set and coordinates with the Scallop Square Punch (item #119884). This wonderful Sale-A-Bration stamp set contains 5 great stamps and each coordinates with a Stampin' Up punch to make creating cards and projects quick and easy.

The large circle was created from Pretty in Pink cardstock using the 1 3/4" Circle Punch (item #119850) and the 2 1/2" Circle punch (item #120906). I embossed the circle ring using the Perfect Polka Dots Textured Impressions Embossing Folder (item #117335) using the Big Shot and embellished it with Dazzling Diamonds using the Two Way Glue Pen. 

The small circle was punched from Melon Mambo cardstock using the 1 3/8" Circle punch (item #119877) and embossed with the Finial Press Textured Impressions Embossing Folder (item #115963). The small flower embellishment was punched from Pretty in Pink cardstock using the small flower punch from the Itty Bitty Punch Pack (set of 3 punches item #118309) and I added a small rhinestone from the Basic Rhinestones jewel pack (item #119246). I attached the flower to the embossed circle using a mini glue dot.

The card base was created using Naturals White cardstock and I embossed the card front with the new Framed Tulips Textured Impressions Embossing Folder (item #121809) found in the new Occasions Mini Catalog.

I popped the Owl and the Happy Birthday up on Dimensionals to add a little extra dimension to the card and I just love how this card came together. You can create this card with your choice of colors and embellishments to suit the person you are giving it to.

I hope you have enjoyed today's Sale-A-Bration card share and I hope it has helped to inspire you to create your own Sale-A-Bration project.

Remember, with just a $50 order of Stampin' Up products (not including S&H and Taxes) you can choose your own Sale-A-Bration product for free.

Contact me today to place your order or visit my Online Store to shop 24/7.

Until Next Time.

Happy Stamping,

Tricia Butts

http://www.triciabutts.stampinup.net/

Happy New Year - Welcome to 2011

Happy New Year Everyone,

I hope you all had an enjoyable New Year with family and friends. We had a very quiet New Year celebration, that is if you exclude the loud bangs from the poppers my children insisted on letting loose at midnight, lol.
Already I have heard the talk about New Year Resolutions and the commercials for the latest and greatest diet programs and exercise equipment to help us all start a healthier New Year.
Now while I don't actually make resolutions because I tend to not stick to them, I do try and set myself a few simple goals to help me get started with the New Year. For example, this week my goal is to survive the children going back to school and getting the family back into a reasonable routine again. For me, that is a challenge, but one I see as doable and it will benefit the whole family.
Another goal I have set for myself is to set aside some time to create projects with my new Stampin' Up products that my family gave me for Christmas. This one will be even trickier when combined with my first goal, but I believe that I am up to the task.
So while I don't have anything new to show you that I have created recently, I do have a beautiful card that is featured on my Stampin' Up website that relates nicely with the New Year. This elegant card is actually a New Year's Invitation but when I saw it, I immediately thought engagement, wedding or even anniversary card.

You could replace "You're Invited" with an appropriate sentiment and you could also change the stamped image as well as the color theme to suit the occasion.

I just love the embossed background created with the Big Shot and the Elegant Lines Textured Impressions Embossing folder and the cute embellishment added to the stamped glasses created with a punch from the Itty Bitty Shapes Punch Pack and a sparkling rhinestone from the Rhinestones Basic Jewels.

Here is the list of supplies used to create this beautiful card:

Stamps

• Cheers to You
• Inviting

Paper
• Basic Black Card Stock
• Brushed Silver Card Stock
• Very Vanilla Card Stock
• Marina Mist Textured Card Stock

Ink
• Jet Black StāzOn® Ink Pad

Accessories
• Basic Black 5/8” Satin Ribbon
• Linen Thread
• Rhinestone Basic Jewels
• Stampin’ Dimensionals®
• Mat Pack
• Paper-Piercing Tool
• Decorative Label Punch
• Scallop Trim Punch
• Wide Oval Punch
• Itty Bitty Shapes Punch Pack
• Big Shot™
• Elegant Lines Textured Impressions Embossing Folder

Remember that today is the last day to place your order for the 2010 Holiday Mini catalog so don't delay. Contact me to place your order or visit my Online Store here to place your order.
I hope you have enjoyed this card share and I look forward to having some new and exciting cards to share with you to help inspire you with your projects for 2011.
Until Next Time.
Happy Stampin',
Tricia Butts
http://www.triciabutts.stampinup.net/

Christmas Card Share: Cute Little Cardinals

Hi Everyone,
I am back with another Christmas card share for you that we created in one of my holiday classes this year. I just love these cute little cardinals and the Little Cardinals Builder Wheel available in the Holiday Mini catalog makes this card an easy card to create multiples to save time. I used Jet Black Stazon ink to stamp this image to make sure that the image doesn't smudge.
I used my Stampin' Write Markers to color my cardinals with, and if you wanted to you could color each of you cards differently to make each card unique. I chose Real Red for my Cardinals and Baja Breeze, Pacific Point, Wild Wasabi and Daffodil Delight for the accents of this particular card.
The cardbase is created from Baja Breeze cardstock and embossed using the Big Shot and the Northern Flurry Textured Impressions Embossing Folder. The cardinals are stamped on Whisper White cardstock and matted with a strip of Cherry Cobbler cardstock, which has a sweet border created using the Pinking Hearts Border punch.

The sentiment is from the stamp set, Teeny Tiny Wishes, stamped on Whisper White cardstock with Cherry Cobbler Classic ink. It is punched out with the Modern Label Extra Large punch and matted with Cherry Cobbler cardstock also punched with the Modern Label Extra Large punch. To create the matte, just cut the Cherry Cobbler piece in half and attach to each end of the Whisper White punched sentiment (on the reverse).  I then added two Gold Brads to make the sentiment pop.

For a little sparkle to the snow, I used my Two Way Glue Pen to add Dazzling Diamonds to the stamped image to finish off the card.

This card would also make a cute winter birthday card or even a get well card to cheer someone up. These cute little birds can't help but bring a smile to your face when you see them.

I hope you have enjoyed this Christmas Card Share and I hope it helps you to get creative with your cards and projects.

Until Next Time.

Happy Stampin',

Tricia Butts

http://www.triciabutts.stampinup.net/

Supplies Used (All Stampin' Up unless indicated):

Cardstock: Baja Breeze, Cherry Cobbler, Whisper White

Ink: Stazon Jet Black, Cherry Cobbler Classic ink

Stamps: Little Cardinals Builder Wheel*, Teeny Tiny Wishes

Accessories: Big Shot, Northern Flurry Textured Impressions Embossing Folder*, Stampin' Around Jumbo Wheel Handle, Builder Wheel Spindle & Spacers, Pinking Hearts Border punch, Modern Label Extra Large punch, Stampin' Write Markers (various colors), Dazzling Diamonds, Two Way Glue Pen, Gold Brads, Dimensionals, Snail Adhesive

Christmas Card Share: Sparkling Peace

Hi Everyone,
Well it is just 3 days until Christmas and I thought I would share some of the card designs that I created this year for the holidays. This was one of the cards we created in this year's holiday cards classes and it was a big hit. I love the hint of sparkle the Dazzling Diamonds adds to the snowflake and the adhesive rhinestone jewel just finishes it off.
This card has a wonderful snowy winter feel to it and the great thing is that it can be changed to use beyond the holidays simply by varying the sentiment used. This would be a wonderful card design for a thank you card and would also work as a birthday, thinking of you, anniversary or a winter wedding card.

This card design can be changed by varying the colors used to give it a whole new look as well. This is the card design I used to create my husband's Christmas cards for his team at work. The only thing I altered was the sentiment, using instead Merry Christmas from the stamp set Four the Holidays.

Using the Big Shot to help you create your cards really does help to cut down on the amount of time it takes to create multiples of a card design. With this card I used the Big Shot to emboss the Whisper White cardstock background with the Northern Flurry Textured Embossing Folder (exclusive to Stampin' Up) and to die cut the snowflake using the Northern Frost Sizzix Decorative Strip (also a Stampin' Up Exclusive) from Marina Mist cardstock.

The great thing about the decorative strip is that there are 8 different snowflakes of varying sizes that you can choose from, so you can make each card a little more unique by varying the snowflake die cut that you use.

I hope you have enjoyed this Christmas card share and hope it helps to inspire you.

Until Next Time.

Happy Stampin',

Tricia Butts

http://www.triciabutts.stampinup.net/

Supplies Used (All Stampin' Up unless otherwise indicated):

Cardstock: Marina Mist, Whisper White

Ink: Marina Mist

Stamp Set: Peaceful Season (Level 2 Hostess Set from Holiday Mini Catalog)*

Accessories: Big Shot, Northern Flurry Textured Impressions Embossing Folder*, Northern Frost Sizzix Decorative Strip*, Dazzling Diamonds, Two Way Glue Pen, Basic Rhinestone Jewels, Snail Adhesive.

* These products are available from the 2010 Holiday Mini Catalog which ends January 3rd, 2011.

Fun with Black & White Tags

Hi Everyone,
Sorry I have been absent for so long. My kids are all back in school and we are slowly getting into a regular routine. With my husband away on business, I have been taking care of everything which has meant very little time for stamping and creating.
So today I thought I would share with you some tags that I created for a swap that I participated in recently. I belong to a wonderful group called Art of the Creative Mind, where we explore creating art using mixed media. It is a lot of fun and really has given me the opportunity to think outside the box.
Anyway, this particular swap was to create two Black & White Tags. Now, I have never really played with this combination before as I tend to gravitate towards color, so this was a fun challenge for me.

I decided to have one tag be black and the other white to explore the different contrasts. I also decided to use two different embossing techniques - heat embossing and dry embossing using my Sizzix Big Shot.

For the Black Tag I used the Stampin' Up Background stamp, En Francais, and stamped it with Whisper White Craft ink. Using white embossing powder and my heat gun, I heat embossed the tag and loved the texture and look of the bold white script on the black cardstock.

To embellish this tag, I used my Scallop Circle punch to punch out my flower shape and then cut between every second scallop towards the center to create the petals. I stamped the pattern using a stamp from the Elements of Style stamp set from Stampin' Up, using Basic Black Classic ink. The small black center flower was punched from black cardstock using the Boho Blossoms punch and I used a clear rhinestone jewel to accent the center of the flower.

The small white tag was dry embossed using my Big Shot and the Vintage Wallpaper Textured Impressions Embossing folder that is exclusive to Stampin' Up. Then I created my sentiment using the For You stamp, also from the Elements of Style stamp set with Basic Black Craft ink and heat embossed it using black embossing powder to add some dimension. I matted it onto a slightly larger circle of black cardstock. The ribbons were some scraps I had left over from another project and just seemed to finish it off.

For the white tag, I decided to again use my Big Shot and the Vintage Wallpaper Textured Impressions Embossing folder to emboss the background to add texture. I created the border across the top using the new Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border punch from Stampin' Up.  The flowers were punched from white and black cardstock using the Boho Blossoms punch and I accented the centers of each of the flowers with Dazzling Diamonds for a little sparkle.

The letter F and friends were stamped in Basic Black Craft ink and heat embossed using black embossing powder. The stamped images were created with the Vintage Vogue stamp set from Stampin' Up. I carefully cut out the letter F to help it stand out against the white embossed cardstock. I again used a scrap of black ribbon to create the tie for the tag.

These tags can be used for many different projects. You can use them as gift tags, bookmarks, or as an element for your card or scrapbook page. I had so much fun creating these tags and they really are a wonderful way to explore new techniques and color combinations.

I hope you have enjoyed today's creative stamping project and I hope that it will inspire you to try experimenting with tags. Have a wonderful day.

Until Next Time.

Stampin' Hugs,

Tricia Butts

http://www.triciabutts.stampinup.net/