Creative Card Share: Punch Bunch For You

Hi Everyone,
Today I thought I would share with you another card design created with the Sale-a-bration stamp set, Punch Bunch. This time I used the For You stamp with the 1 3/4" Scallop Circle Punch and the 1 3/8" Circle Punch.
I inked the stamp with Pretty in Pink Classic ink and then I used my Pear Pizzazz Stampin' Write Marker to color the stem and For You green using the brush tip. Then I took the Peach Parfait Stampin' Write Marker and using the pen tip, I traced the fine lines in each of the flowers and the center of the larger blossom to give it shading and definition. Both the Peach Parfait and Pear Pizzazz Stampin' Write Markers are In Colors and you can purchase the set of In Color Markers for just $14.95.

Once I had the stamp colored the way I wanted, I "huffed" on the stamp to moisten it and then stamped the image on a piece of Whisper White cardstock. Next, I punched out the center of the stamped image (the circle with the flower image) using the 1 3/8" Circle Punch, leaving the scallop circle edge behind.

I then used the 1 3/4" Scallop Circle punch to punch out a scallop circle from Pretty in Pink cardstock. Using Snail Adhesive, I adhered the circle with the stamped image to the center of the Pretty in Pink Scallop circle.

Once again I used the Pretty in Pink Designer Series paper (can you tell I love using this) and I used the Eyelet Border Punch to create a border along one edge. I then adhere it to the top half of my Whisper White cardbase and the narrow strip that was left over from punching the border, I applied to the bottom edge of the card.

Next, I centered the scallop circle with the image and adhered it to the card with Stampin' Dimensionals to create the focal point of the card.

To finish off the card, I used a piece of Certainly Celery 5/8" Satin Ribbon and I created a ruffled look by pulling a thread from each end of the piece of ribbon causing it to gather and ruffle. Once I had it the way I wanted, I trimmed the threads from each end and adhered it to the center of the top piece of Pretty in Pink Designer Series paper using Sticky Strip.

I really liked the way this card design turned out and how easy it was to put together, so I decided to make a set of 4 to use for Thank You cards. Don't you just love the pink and green combination? To me it looks very Spring like and very feminine.

I hope you have enjoyed today's Creative Card Share and I hope it inspires you to experiment with different color combinations for your Spring projects.

Remember, Sale-a-bration ends in just 7 days, so don't delay in placing your order and earning your Free Sale-a-bration product. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or you would like to place an order. Or you can 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: Punch Bunch (Sale-a-bration Free Stamp Set only available until March 31st)

Cardstock: Whisper White, Pretty in Pink

Ink: Pretty in Pink Classic Ink

Paper: Pretty in Pink Designer Series Paper (Subtles Collection)

Accessories: Eyelet Border Punch, 1 3/4" Scallop Circle Punch, 1 3/8" Circle Punch, In Color Stampin' Write Marker Set (Peach Parfait & Pear Pizzazz), Certainly Celery 5/8" Satin Ribbon, Stampin' Dimensionals, Snail Adhesive, Sticky Strip.

Creative Card Share: Thank You from the Heart

Hi Everyone,

Well, it has been a busy day today so I didn't get a chance to post this card share earlier.  This simple card, once again shows that you can create a beautiful card with the simplest of supplies. I CASEd this card from Andrea Walford on her website, http://www.andreawalford.com/ and with just a few simple changes, came up with my own twist.
The 1" squares of Pretty in Pink Designer Series paper (from the Subtles Collection) provide a sweet background for the glittery red hearts that were punched from the Red Glimmer Paper that can be found in the Occasions Mini catalog, using the Small Heart punch. I popped them up on Stampin' Dimensionals for added dimension.

The cardbase was created from Pretty in Pink cardstock and the Whisper White layer is a perfect background for this design. The bottom corners were rounded with the 3/16" Corner punch and the sentiment, from the stamp set Just Believe, was stamped in Real Red Classic ink. The two small hearts were punched using the small heart from the Two Step Owl punch, one from the Pretty in Pink Designer Series paper and the other from the Red Glimmer paper.I added 3 score lines to the Whisper White cardstock to draw attention to the details on the card.

I hope today's simple card share will inspire you to create a simple and beautiful card for someone special today.

Until Next Time.

Happy Stampin',

Tricia Butts

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

Supplies Needed (Stampin' Up! unless otherwise noted):
Stamp set: Just Believe

Cardstock: Whisper White, Pretty in Pink

Papers: Red Glimmer Paper, Pretty in Pink Designer Series Paper

Accessories: Small Heart Punch, Two Step Owl Punch, Stampin' Dimensionals, Snail Adhesive

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

Holidays in July Card Share - Happy Thanksgiving

Hi Everyone,
I am back with two more cards from last weekend's Creative Card class, Holidays in July. Today's card share focuses on Thanksgiving, that wonderful holiday spent with family and friends.
I love the colors of Fall and for the first card I used a Very Vanilla card base and gave it a lift with More Mustard cardstock embossed with the Square Lattice Textured Embossing folder using my Big Shot.

The top half of the Very Vanilla was stamped with the leaves image from the new stamp set, Confetti, to create a Fall background using the new In Color, Peach Parfait Classic ink. This stamp set has six different images suitable for holidays throughout the year. It is a great set and I am looking forward to playing with this set more in the future.

Once my background was stamped and the More Mustard cardstock was adhered to the bottom half of the card base, I used my new Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border punch to create a paper ribbon for my card from the new Cajun Craze cardstock. I love this color and I can see it being perfect for my Fall projects this year.

Let me tell you, this punch is so cool! It punches out the scalloped strip in one punch (no punching one side then flipping it over and trying to match it to punch the other side). You don't even have to cut a separate strip of cardstock to use it. I just punched it from a large piece of Cajun Craze cardstock and it left a neat straight edge on the remaining piece. Quick and easy to use and you have this neat paper ribbon to use on your cards, scrapbook pages and gifts.

I adhered the paper ribbon with Snail adhesive to cover the seam between the More Mustard and Very Vanilla cardstock.

Next I used my second stamp set for this card, Falling Leaves, to create the sentiment and the circle embellishment. I stamped the acorn Thanksgiving image using Cajun Craze Classic ink on Very Vanilla cardstock and then punched it out using the 1" Circle punch. I adhered this to the Cajun Craze paper ribbon using a Stampin' Dimensional. 

Finally, I stamped the Grateful sentiment with Cajun Craze Classic ink on Very Vanilla cardstock and then used the Word Window punch to punch it out. I adhered it to the More Mustard cardstock with Snail adhesive.

I love the informal, fun feel of this card and this design would be great to use to create a set of cards or to use for an invitation for a get together.

The second card we created has a more elegant, almost formal feel to it. This card really does showcase how amazing heat embossing looks on a card to create a tone on tone look that can be dramatic.

For this card we used the stamp set, Autumn Splendor, a wonderful leaf set that is perfect for the Fall and we combined it with the Jumbo Stampin' Around Wheel, Bright Blessings. For this card I chose to use Cajun Craze cardstock for my card base and Chocolate Chip cardstock for the accent strip.

The leaf background on the Cajun Craze card base was created by stamping the image using Versamark in randomly over the cardstock. Then I applied clear embossing powder to the images and heat embossed to bring the leaves to life. I love heat embossing, it's like watching magic happen as the embossing powder heats and melts to leave a raised, glossy image. Too Cool!

The next step, I used my jumbo Stampin' Around Wheel, Bright Blessings, with the Versamark ink and rolled my stamped image onto the strip of Chocolate Chip cardstock. Once again, I sprinkled embossing powder onto the image and heated it with the heat tool until the embossing powder melted to create the desired effect. I adhered the Chocolate Chip cardstock to my card base using Snail adhesive.

The last step is to create the acorn embellishment for the top of the card. Once again we will be heat embossing but this time we stamped the acorn stamped image (also from the Autumn Splendor stamp set) using Chocolate Chip Craft ink on Whisper White cardstock. Craft ink has a longer drying time and is perfect to use with embossing powder and gives you the option of many colors to choose from.

After stamping the image, I again sprinkled it with embossing powder and heated it with the heat tool. I then used the 1 1/4" Circle punch to punch out the image. Next I punched out a circle with the 1 3/8" Circle punch from Cajun Craze cardstock and adhered it to the back of the Whisper White circle to create a matte.

Finally, using the Scallop Circle punch, punch out a scalloped circle from a piece of Chocolate Chip cardstock and adhere it to the back of the Cajun Craze circle with a Stampin' Dimensional. The last step is to attach it to the top part of your card using a Snail Adhesive.

This is another great card design that would be great for making multiple cards at one time. It would also make a great masculine card and you could change the theme of the Stampin' Around wheel to suit the occasion.

I hope you have enjoyed these two Thanksgiving cards and hope that it inspires you to start thinking about your Thanksgiving projects. After all, Thanksgiving is a wonderful holiday to spend with family and friends, so why not get your cards and projects done early so that you have the chance to enjoy a stress free holiday.

Until Next Time.

Happy Stampin',

Tricia Butts

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

Supplies Used (All Stampin' Up):

Card 1 Grateful Thanksgiving

Stamp Sets:

Falling Leaves 115368  Price: $21.95  Set Quantity: 9

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Confetti Wood Mount 116960  Price: $16.95  Set Quantity: 6
               Clear Mount 120465  Price  $12.95
 

  Cardstock: Very Vanilla, More Mustard, Cajun Craze
  Inks: Peach Parfait, Cajun Craze Classic Inks
 Accessories: Big Shot, Square Lattice Textured Embossing Folder, Dotted Scallop Ribbon punch, 1" Circle punch, Stampin' Dimensionals, Snail adhesive







Card 2: Autumn Splendor Thanksgiving
Stamp sets:
Bright Blessings Jumbo Stampin' Around Wheel 115626 Price $8.50
Autumn Splendor 116503  Price: $20.95  Set Quantity: 4

Cardstock: Cajun Craze, Chocolate Chip, Whisper White
Inks: Versamark, Chocolate Chip Craft ink
Accessories: Clear Embossing powder, Heat Tool, Stampin' Around Jumbo handle, 1 1/4" Circle Punch, 1 3/8" Circle Punch, Scallop Circle Punch, Stampin' Dimensionals, Snail Adhesive.

Holidays in July Card Share - Happy Halloween

Happy Friday Everyone,
I can't believe another week is over already. This summer really feels like it is flying by at lightning speed. This weekend I have to brave the stores to do my kids Back to School shopping. Who knows, maybe I will find some good deals for crafting while I am there, lol.
Today I thought I would share with you the cards that I created for last weekend's Holidays in July Creative Card class. It was so much fun to design these holiday cards and I am already coming up with new ideas for next month's classes. Stay tuned for details.
The first card share I have for you is a cute Halloween card made with one of my favorite stamp sets from Stampin' Up, Batty for You. This stamp set has 8 different stamps that will make creating Halloween projects so much fun. It works great with the 1 3/8" Circle punch and the Scallop Circle punch so that it is as simple as choosing your stamp, stamping it and then punching it out.
For this card I wanted to try out a new color combination for me using 2 of the new In Colors, Concord Crush and Pear Pizzazz. They work so well with the Pumpkin Pie card base and the Basic Black really made the colors pop.

I chose to use just one stamp, Batty for You, stamped in Basic Black Classic ink, to create my card but when we had the class I told my students to have fun and choose their own stamps and color combinations. They did a fabulous job and gave me so many great ideas to try. No two cards looked the same and I loved when they used the coordinating classic inks to stamp their images.

Everyone was amazed at how quick and simple this card was to put together and it is a perfect design for making multiple cards at the same time without taking a lot of time.

I hope you enjoy this card and hope it gets you inspired to start creating your own Halloween cards and projects. Batty for You is a great stamp set that works great for cards, scrapbooking and gift ideas. It is quick and simple to use and great for kids to create their own Halloween Treats. So why not get started today? Contact me to place your order or visit my Stampin' Up website and click Shop Now to place your order through my Online Store.

After all, Halloween will be here before you know it.

Until Next Time.

Happy Stampin',

Tricia Butts

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

Supplies (All Stampin' Up):

Stamp Sets: 

Teeny Tiny Wishes 114968  Price $36.95  Set Quantity: 24

Batty For You 116576 Price: $23.95

Create crazy tags or accents for cards or scrapbook pages with the adorable images from the Batty for You set. This set also coordinates with the Batty wheel and our Ghostly Greetings Designer Series paper for a monstrously fun combination.
Set Quantity: 8

Cardstock: Pumpkin Pie, Pear Pizzazz, Concord Crush, Basic Black, Whisper White
Inks: Basic Black (optional - Pumpkin Pie, Pear Pizzazz, Concord Crush)
Accessories: 1 3/8" Circle Punch, Scallop Circle Punch, Scallop Edge Border Punch, Stampin' Dimensionals, Snail adhesive

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

Tuesday Share: A Note of Thanks

Hello Everyone,
Today I thought I would share with you a project that I came up with by accident. I was playing around with my Big Shot and the Box #2 die one afternoon and started thinking that it would make a great Note Card Holder. My husband when he saw it, thought it would be a great Business Card Holder (but that's a story for another day).
So, I decided to create some Thank You notes that are quick and easy to create while still providing variety (if you are like me and don't like to make a lot of things exactly the same). The Thank You cards are inspired by Dawn Griffith, a wonderful, creative demonstrator.
You can customize your Thank You notes by varying the colors used as well as the stamps to create your design.

I chose my colors from the Soft Subtles color family from Stampin' Up and used the large flower from the Vintage Vogue stamp set (from the Occasions Mini catalog) to create the background on the note card and I created the border by using the Scallop Trim Border Punch (Free Sale-a-bration Product with $50 purchase of Stampin' Up products) on a scrap of cardstock to make a stencil.  The sentiment is from my faithful favorite stamp set, Teeny Tiny Wishes. I used Whisper White cardstock for the base for a crisp, clean look and I chose Bashful Blue, Pretty in Pink and Barely Banana Classic inks to create the card variations.
For the Note Card Holder I chose Barely Banana cardstock and cut out the box shape with my Big Shot and the Box #2 die. I then decorated one side of the cardstock with the Sweet Swirls wheel and Melon Mambo Classic ink for the inside of the box and on the other side I used the vine stamp from Vintage Vogue stamp set with Barely Banana for a tone on tone pattern for the outside of the box.

I put the box together using Sticky Strip adhesive to give the Note Card Holder extra strength and stability. I decorated the front of the box by stamping the fabulous friend stamp from the Oval All stamp set in Barely Banana Classic ink on Whisper White cardstock. I then punched it out using the Large Oval punch and then matted it onto a piece of Barely Banana cardstock punched with the Scallop Oval punch. Using Stampin' Dimensionals, I attached it to the front of the box.
Now wouldn't this look cute sitting on your desk,  full of note cards just ready for when you need them? It would be a great gift idea too (I am thinking it would be a great Teacher Gift for the end of the school year).
Hope you enjoyed today's project share and hope it inspires you to get crafty in your craft room.
Until Next Time.
Stampin' Hugs,
Tricia Butts

Products Used (All Stampin' Up!):
Stamp Sets: Vintage Vogue, Teeny, Tiny Wishes, Oval All, Sweet Swirls wheel
Cardstock: Whisper White, Barely Banana
Inks: Barely Banana, Pretty in Pink, Bashful Blue, Melon Mambo
Accessories: Big Shot, Sizzix Box #2 Die, Scallop Trim Border Punch (Sale-a-bration Free Product with $50 purchase of Stampin' Up Merchandise - ends March 31st), Large Oval Punch, Scallop Oval Punch, Sponge Daubers, Sticky Strip, Snail Adhesive, Stampin' Dimensionals

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

Clean & Simple With Circle Circus

Hello Again,
I decided to get in an extra post today to share with you all a simple card I created recently for a class. If I had to describe my style of cardmaking at the moment, I think I would have to say I tend towards clean and simple cards. With a busy family life, I don't get a lot of time to spend making cards, so when I do get the chance I like to create cards that are relatively quick to make but still have a little wow factor when you look at them.
Today's card is another one of those cards that would work for many different occasions as well as being suitable for a masculine or feminine card. I was inspired by a SU demonstrator, Janice Webb, who creates amazing cards. You can see the cards she created here. The stamp set I chose is Stampin' Up's Circle Circus. I love the geometric designs in this set as well as the variety of sizes of the circles.

Now I don't know about you but I am always needing birthday cards at the last minute and usually get caught having to throw one together at a moments notice because I don't have any on hand. So this year I am trying to do better and put together a supply of cards for birthdays and other everyday occasions to help take the pressure off.

For this birthday card I chose from Stampin' Up's In Colors to create this design. The cardstock I chose for the card base is Bermuda Bay and I layered a piece of Soft Suede to provide a contrasting matte for my Whisper White Cardstock.

The design is stamped in Bermuda Bay Classic ink using two of the circle stamps from the Circle Circus stamp set. I chose a large and a small circle of contrasting designs for my design but you could choose which ever stamps appeal to you. To add a little pop to my card I stamped the large circle stamp in Crushed Curry on a scrap piece of Whisper White cardstock and then punched out he center design with a 1 3/8" Circle punch. I then adhered them to the center of two of the large Bermuda Bay circles with snail adhesive, the circle on the outer edge I trimmed flush with the edge of the Whisper White cardstock.

Finally I stamped my sentiment in Soft Suede using the Well Scripted stamp set from the Occasions Mini Catalog.  Isn't this a beautiful stamp set? I see so many wonderful possibilities for card designs using this set in the future. Stay tuned for future posts.

So there you have it. A very simple card that is quick to put together but has a little wow to make it special. I can see this card design working well with other color combinations depending on the occasion and the person you wish to give it to.

Hope you have a great day. Until Next Time.

Stampin' Hugs,

Tricia Butts

Products Used (All Stampin' Up Products):

Stamp Sets: Circle Circus 115778  Price: $28.95 Set Quantity: 10

                    Well Scripted  Clear Mount 118601 Price: $14.95

                                            Wood Mount 117072  Price: $19.95  Set Quantity: 6

 

Cardstock: Whisper White, Bermuda Bay, Soft Suede
Inks: Bermuda Bay, Crushed Curry
Accessories: 1 3/8" Circle Punch, Snail adhesive

A Little Something for Someone Special

Yesterday I shared with you the Letter that I decorated for my Valentine's swap partner. Today I am going to share with you the other little goodies I added to her package to help her feel special for the big heart holiday.

I got the idea for the bookmark after visiting Madeline Morcelo's blog and viewing her tutorial for creating this cute corner bookmark here. In keeping with the Letter theme, I created a monogram for the bookmark using the Letter C from Stampin' Up's Jayne's Type Alphabet and gold embossing powder. The background was created using the Very Vintage Jumbo Wheel from the Occasions Mini Catalog.
I taught this bookmark at a class in January and it is one of my favorite projects to teach.

Now everyone knows that chocolate is as much a part of Valentine's Day as hearts and flowers are. So I created a simple little topper for a ziplock snack bag to give it a little taste of Valentines.

The topper is made from the Top Note die cut with the Big Shot from Real Red Cardstock.  It is decorated with hearts stamped with a stamp from the I (Heart) Hearts Stamp set in the Occasions Mini Catalog using Pretty in Pink Classic ink on Very Vanilla Cardstock. I then  punched the hearts out using the coordinating Heart to Heart punch.

The sentiment is from the stamp set Whimsical Words, which is one of the free Sale-a-bration sets available with a $50 purchase. It is stamped in Pretty in Pink Classic ink on a piece of Very Vanilla Cardstock punched with the Curly Label Punch.  Fill the bag with chocolate and you have a pretty way to dress up a zip lock bag!

Last but by no means least, I created a Valentine's Card to send a short note to my partner.

I got the idea for this card from a wonderful demonstrator by the name of Dawn Griffith. The border is created using the new Pinking Hearts Border Punch on a scrap piece of cardstock to create a stencil. Using this technique you create the border for the top and bottom of the card by applying ink with a sponge dauber in Real Red Classic ink.  The hearts from the I (Heart) Hearts stamp set, were stamped with Pretty in Pink and Real Red ink, slightly off center to allow space for the sentiment, which is from the Whimsical Words stamp set stamped in Basic Black Classic ink.

So there you have it. Three pretty Valentine's gifts created from a few simple supplies that were a lot of fun to make.  The great thing is, anyone can make them and with a few simple changes of color, you can customize these gifts to suit anyone for any occasion. Contact me today and I will be happy to help you design your projects to suit your needs.

Until Next Time,

Stamping Hugs,

Tricia Butts

Supplies Used (All Stampin' Up):

Stamp Sets:

I (Heart) Hearts (found in the Occasions Mini Catalog)

Wood Mount #117010 $26.95   Clear Mount #118571 $18.95

Whimsical Words (Sale-a-bration free set)

Wood Mount #118386    Clear Mount #119119

Jayne's Type Alphabet #114401  $43.95

Circle Circus #115778  $28.95

Very Vintage Jumbo Wheel  #117693 $8.50
Cardstock: Real Red, Pretty in Pink, Very Vanilla, Whisper White
Ink: Real Red, Pretty in Pink, Basic Black, Versamark

Accessories:

Sizzix Big Shot, Sizzix Top Note Die, Sizzix Petal Card die, Trio Flower Punch, Round Tab Punch, 1 1/4" Circle Punch, 1 3/8" Circle Punch, Scallop Circle Punch, Heart to Heart Punch, Curly Label Punch, Pinking Hearts Border Punch, Heat Gun, Gold Embossing Powder.

Order Online 24/7 Here Just click Shop Now