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

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

Easter Blessings

Hello Everyone,
It's a beautiful, sunny day here in Colorado and the flowers are bravely starting to poke their heads above the earth's surface in search of the sun.
Today's card is a reminder that Easter is only a few weeks away and now is a good time to get started on your Easter cards for friends and family. I chose the stamp set, Abundant Hope, which can be found in Stampin' Up's Occasions Mini catalog (p24). I love the elegance of this stamp set and while it is technically meant for Easter, I think it would also be perfect all year round for birthdays, Anniversary, Thinking of You, Get Well and Sympathy cards. The flower image can be colored using a wide range of techniques including watercoloring with watercolor pencils, watercolor crayons, chalk pastels, and inks. It would also make a lovely tone on tone image.

For my card, I decided that I wanted my flowers to be the main focus of my card design. I wanted the colors to capture your attention, so I chose to color the image with my Stampin' Write Markers.

Using Stazon Jet Black ink, I stamped the floral image onto a piece of Very Vanilla cardstock. Next, I colored the image using Old Olive for the stems and leaves, Crushed Curry for the flowers and added detail with the fine tip of the Dusty Durango marker.
I then matted the image onto a piece of Crushed Curry cardstock. My card base I created from Very Vanilla cardstock and I added a piece of Dusty Durango cardstock that I had embossed with the Finial Press Textured Impressions Folder using my Big Shot.
I wrapped a piece of Very Vanilla Satin ribbon (also available from the Occasions Mini Catalog) around the middle of the Dusty Durango cardstock and adhered the ends to the back and adhered the Dusty Durango cardstock to the Very Vanilla card base.
For the sentiment, I once again chose Jet Black Stazon ink and stamped it on a scrap of Very Vanilla cardstock. I then punched it out using the Modern Label punch and matted with an oval cut from Crushed Curry cardstock using the Large Oval punch before attaching it to the card.
Simple, but classically elegant and perfect for the occasion. You could use this card design to create a set of Thank You cards for someone as a lovely gift. Change the colors of the cardstock and flowers for a new look for a different occasion. There are so many possibilities that would make this a wonderful stamp set to add to your collection.
I hope you enjoyed today's card. Please contact me if you have any questions or you would like to place an order.
Until Next Time.
Happy Stampin',
Tricia Butts
P.S. This was the final card from Saturday's card class. Stay tuned for new card shares.

Products Used (All Stampin' Up):
Stamp Set:  Abundant Hope - Clear Mount Stamp   118547  Price: $13.95
                                                      Wood Mount Stamp  117054 Price: $17.95

Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Crushed Curry, Dusty Durango

Ink: Jet Black Stazon ink

Accessories: Big Shot, Finial Press Textured Impressions Folder, Stampin' Write Markers Crushed Curry, Dusty Durango (from the In Colors set of 6 Markers) & Old Olive, Modern Label punch, Large Oval punch, Very Vanilla Satin ribbon, Snail adhesive.

Celebrating Spring

Happy Wednesday Everyone,
What a beautiful day we had here in Northglenn, Colorado and I am so glad I got to spend time outdoors in the sunshine and soak up my quota of Vitamin D. My children had a wonderful time playing in the playground after school and I am hoping the fresh air will lead to tired, sleepy heads at bedtime and sweet dreams tonight.
Today's card share is also one of the cards for my upcoming Creative Card Class, Spring Fever. I think we are all eager to embrace the warmer weather that comes with Spring along with the pretty flowers that start to appear in our gardens.

This card provides a little of everything - stamping, embossing, punches and embellishments to create a lovely card suitable for a Spring Birthday, Thank You, Thinking of You or even a Get Well Card.

Would you like to learn how to create this beautiful card? Then join me Saturday March 13th, at my Home Studio, for a 2 hour class where we will create this card and 4 other Spring themed cards in a relaxed and fun setting.  Choose from two time slots - morning or afternoon to fit with your schedule. Details can be found here on my Stampin' Up website.

Contact me today to save your spot. I am looking forward to seeing you.

Until Next Time.

Stampin' Hugs,

Tricia Butts

Card Share: Things I Love

 Happy Tuesday Everyone,

I am back with a Card Share for you today, using one of the stamp sets you can earn for free during Sale-a-bration. The stamp set, Things I Love (which can be found on p54 of the 2009-2010 Idea Book & Catalog) is one of 77 sets listed on p11 of the Sale-a-bration Mini Catalog (the inside back cover) and is fast becoming a new favorite with me and my two daughters. How can you not love a stamp set that features chocolate!

I decided to use Stampin' Up's In Colors to give my card a little kick, so to speak. I used Soft Suede for the card base and embossed it with my Sizzix Finial Press embossing folder using my Big Shot. 
I then added a piece of Melon Mambo cardstock to the lower section of my card, after I stamped the background using the Sweet Swirls wheel with Melon Mambo Classic ink.  Before adhering the Melon Mambo cardstock to the base card, I wrapped a piece of the Soft Suede Polka Dot 1/2" Grosgrain ribbon across the top edge of the cardstock, so that it will give the card a seamless look. Then with a shorter piece of the Soft Suede ribbon, I tied a knot to give the appearance of a bow. I adhered the Melon Mambo cardstock with snail adhesive to the Soft Suede card base.
Next I stamped one of each of the images from the Things I Love stamp set ( shopping bag - Bermuda Bay, Chocolate - Soft Suede, Heart - Melon Mambo, and new shoes in Rich Razzleberry, all In Color Classic inks) on Whisper White cardstock.
Using the 1" Circle punch, I then punched out each of the images and matted them on 1 1/4" Circles punched from Bermuda Bay cardstock.  I arranged them on the upper half of the Soft Suede card base using Mini Glue Dots.
The Happy Birthday sentiment is from the stamp set, Well Scripted (available in traditional Wood Mount or the new Clear Mount option), which can be found in the Occasions Mini Catalog. I stamped it on Whisper White cardstock using Soft Suede Classic ink and then punched it out using the Wide Oval punch. To add a little fun to the card, I embellished the sentiment with a cute little brad from the Chocolate Chip Sending Love Epoxy Brads (also in the Occasions Mini Catalog p13). The little flower on the brad fit perfectly with the theme of the card without overpowering the sentiment. I adhered the wide oval to the Melon Mambo cardstock with dimensionals to finish off the card.

Here is a close up view of the sweet, little flower brad I used for embellishment. This brad set contains two different designs and you get 8 of each design (a total of 16 brads) for just $3.25 and is a wonderful and very affordable addition to your paper crafting supplies. They would make a great addition to your cards, scrapbook pages and many other papercrafting projects.
My biggest challenge is that both of my daughters have fallen in love with this card and want it for their next birthday.

I guess there is only one way to solve this problem. I will just have to make another one, lol. 

I hope you have enjoyed this card share today as much as I had creating it. It really is a fun card and would be perfect not only as a birthday card, but also a Thinking of You or Friend card.

Until Next Time.

Stamping Hugs,

Tricia Butts

Products Used (All Stampin' Up): 

Stamp Sets: Things I Love 115229  Price: $15.95  Set Quantity: 6

* Free Sale-a-bration Reward with Purchase of $50 in Stampin' Up products (excluding S&H and Taxes) Use Item #120208.

Well Scripted Wood Mount 117072 $19.95   Set of 6

                          Clear Mount 118601 $14.95
Sweet Swirls Wheel 115523 $6.50

Cardstock: In Colors - Soft Suede, Melon Mambo, Bermuda Bay; Whisper White

Inks: Bermuda Bay, Melon Mambo, Rich Razzleberry, Soft Suede

Accessories:Big Shot, Sizzix Finial Press embossing folder, 1" Circle Punch, 1 1/4" Circle Punch, Wide Oval Punch, Soft Suede Polka Dot 1/2" ribbon, 1/4" Chocolate Chip Sending Love Epoxy Brads, Mini Glue Dots, Dimensionals, Snail Adhesive.