Fancy Bag in a Flash

Happy Monday Everyone,
I hope you all had a wonderful weekend. Can you believe that it is truly, officially Spring? That means wonderful sunny days mixed with sudden snowstorms here in Colorado. The good news is that the snow doesn't hang around long and the sunshine isn't far away to warm us up again.
Today I am going to share with you a cute little bag that I created with my Big Shot. This sweet little bag really does go together quickly and simply and is a perfect way to give a gift to a friend, teacher or family member.

Using the Sending Love Specialty Designer Series Paper (DSP), I cut a piece 5 1/4" x 12" from one of 12" x 12" sheets. I chose the glittered pattern side to face outwards to add a little sparkle to the bag. Creating a sandwich with the Sizzix Fancy Favor die (exclusive to Stampin' Up), the Extended Cutting Plate and the Extended Premium Crease Pad, I ran the DSP through the Big Shot to cut out the bag. The die not only cuts out the shape of the bag, it also creates the crease lines so that it is easy to fold and create the bag.

Once all the crease lines had been folded, I used Sticky Strip to assemble the bag, as it is a very strong adhesive and provides the bag with strength and stability.
Now comes the fun part, the decorating of the bag. This is where you can personalize the bag to suit the person you are giving it to. I chose to add a simple stamped greeting using the Vintage Labels Sale-a-bration stamp set in Real Red Classic ink. I used the square shaped frame stamp and the Best Wishes stamp on Very Vanilla cardstock and then punched it out with the Curly Label Punch. I adhered it to the bag using Snail adhesive.

Next, I took a piece of Real Red Satin ribbon (in the Occasions Mini catalog) to create the handle for the bag. I attached the ribbon using two of the Pretty in Pink Sending Love Epoxy Brads (found on p13 on the Occasions Mini catalog) to anchor it to each side of the bag. I used the Paper Piercing Tool to poke holes through the side of the bag and through the ribbon and put the brad through the holes and anchor it by bending back the legs.

Finally, I created a small flower using Pretty in Pink cardstock that I punched twice using the Scalloped Circle Punch. Using the Faux Suede technique, I separated the two scalloped circles with my bone folder (as described in this Post ) to create four scalloped circles, and then scrunched them up into small balls. After carefully unscrunching the circles (is that a word?), I put a hole in the center of each of the circles, using the Paper Piercing Tool and threaded them onto a 5/16" Very Vanilla Brad (from the 5/16" Neutrals Jumbo Brads) and folded the legs behind the bottom circle. Make sure the faux suede surface is facing up.

Next I carefully scrunched each of the circles up around the brad to create ruffled petals. You can carefully move the circles to offset the scallops to add additional dimension to the flower. I then attached the flower to the front of the bag in the upper corner with a Dimensional.

So there you have it. A great little gift bag that is fun and easy to make. Add a little tissue paper to the inside of the bag along with your gift and it's ready to go. This would be a great little bag for Easter or Mother's Day, both of which are just around the corner.

Contact me today to place your order or visit my Online Store where you can place your order 24/7. Just Click Shop Now.

Until Next Time.

Happy Stampin',

Tricia Butts

Products Used:

Stamp Set: Vintage Labels (Sale-a-bration Set available for free with $50 purchase of Stampin' Up products -Ends 31st March, 2010)

Paper: Sending Love Specialty Designer Series Paper, Pretty in Pink Cardstock, Very Vanilla Cardstock

Ink: Real Red Classic Ink

Accessories: Big Shot, SU Fancy Favor Die, Extended Cutting Pads, Extended Crease Pad, Real Red 5/8" Satin Ribbon, Pretty in Pink 1/2" Sending Love Epoxy Brads, 5/16" Neutrals Jumbo Brads, Scallop Circle Punch, Curly Label Punch, Paper Piercing Tool, Snail Adhesive, Stampin' Dimensionals.

Blissful Birthday in Blue

Happy Monday Everyone,
Well, the morning has been pure chaos but I finally have a moment to sit down and add today's card share. This card was another card from Saturday's card class and I like to have at least one of my cards for my classes have a masculine theme, because, let's face it, males have birthdays too.
Most people, myself included, struggle with what to create when it comes to a card for the men in their lives. So, I took the challenge when creating this card, hoping to come up with a design that not only would work as a masculine card but that would also work for various age groups.
Now, besides being my favorite color, blue tends to be a safe bet when it comes to guys. After all, aren't we told "blue for boys, pink for girls". So with that in mind, I chose my new favorite combination from Stampin' Up's Bold Brights color family, Brilliant Blue and Tempting Turquoise to create my card.

I also decided to incorporate two of Stampin' Up's birthday stamp sets that can also be found on the Sale-a-bration free product list that expires March 31st, Starring You and Birthday Bliss.

I created the card base from a piece of Tempting Turquoise cardstock cut at 4 1/4" x 11" and scored at 5 1/2" to create a top fold card. Next, I took a piece of Brilliant Blue cardstock and stamped the image from the Starring You stamp set randomly over it with Brilliant Blue Classic ink to create a tone on tone pattern.

Then I decided to add a little texture using the faux suede technique. I punched out two circles in Tempting Turquoise cardstock, one 1"and one 3/4", and then did the same from Brilliant Blue cardstock. I then used my bone folder to break down the fibers in the cardstock by rubbing the bone folder across the cardstock on both sides of the circles until the cardstock begins to separate around the edges.

Next, I carefully peel the two layers apart until I have two circles, with each circle having a smooth side and a rough or faux suede side. Repeat this for all your circles and you will have a total of 8 circle. Taking the 3/4" circles, scrunch them up and then flatten them out again. Then apply ink to them with a sponge dauber or lightly rub them accross the ink pad  of the corresponding color (i.e. Tempting Turquoise Classic ink on Tempting Turquoise cardstock).

Using glue dots to attach the smaller circles to the larger circles, I paired up the Tempting Turquoise circles with the corresponding Brilliant Blue circles. I arranged them on the front of my card until I was happy with how it looked (making sure to leave a space large enough to fit my sentiment). I applied a small amount of adhesive to the back of each of the large circles and adhered them to the card front.

To complete the card, I stamped the sentiment using the Birthday Bliss stamp (from the stamp set of the same name) in Tempting Turquoise Classic ink onto Whisper White cardstock and then punched it out using the Wide Oval punch. I attached it to the card using dimensionals.

So there you have it. A male birthday card that works for most age groups and comes together relatively quickly so that you could make several at a time to have on hand for birthdays through out the year. Change the colors for variety (I think this card would look great in varying shades of brown or combine shades of red and orange for a bold look).

I hope you have enjoyed today's card and please, don't forget to take advantage of Sale-a-bration and the opportunity to earn free Sale-a-bration products. Contact me today learn mor or to place your order. Plus, you can place your order online through my Stampin' Up Online Store by clicking Shop Now.

Until Next Time.

Happy Stampin,

Tricia Butts

Products Used (All Stampin' Up):

Stamp Sets: 

Birthday Bliss 115442   Price: $15.95  Set Quantity: 4 *

Starring You  111696    Price: $13.95  Set Quantity: 4  *

* Earn either Stamp Set Free during Sale-a-bration with the purchase of $50 in Stampin' Up products. Purchase $100 in Stampin' Up products and earn both sets free. (Excludes S&H and Taxes) 

Cardstock: Tempting Turquoise, Brilliant Blue, Whisper White

Ink: Tempting Turquoise, Brilliant Blue

Accessories: Wide Oval Punch, 1" Circle Punch, 3/4" Circle Punch, Bone Folder, mini Glue dots, Snail Adhesive, Stampin' Dimensionals