Paper Pleasing Ideas

I've Been Remiss

I realize that I have not posted much this week, and I am doing laundry right now, so that I can stamp tomorrow.  I apologize, but I am working on something I hope you will like.  I am also working on a few other things that have nothing to do with stamping.  I will share that with you too, when I am a little further along.  I am really excited about it.  Please forgive me.

Time To Preview...

TILLY !!

This is the newest stamp set that Diane illustrated for All That Scraps.  I also used the Cow Prints background to make my own patterned paper.  I added a strip of black and another scalloped ballet blue layer.

The fence was stamped first, and I masked it off to stamp the cow.  I then masked everything to spray the sky.  I drew in the ground with Copics, as well as colored the image.  I matted it on black and blue.

I tied the ribbon and then attached the image with dimensionals.  I stamped the sentiment on white, punched it out with the large oval and then the black with the scallop oval.  I then added the Clear Dew Drops.  I find the BEST way to glue them to any project is to use Crystal Effects.  It makes an even layer, and since it is clear, it dries perfectly.

Head over to the ATS Blog to see more previews and for your chance to win this set.  Have fun and happy stamping!!

Brayer Blue Friend

I like the feel of this card.  The sentiment is so fun, as well as the lovely DP, and the ribbon.  But it wasn't always so coordinated.

I really like black and white DSP.  It can go with anything, but you can also make it match with any color.  Yep, that flowered DP used to be black and WHITE.  It just was not what I wanted, though.

Here is a little tip on making your B/W patterned paper match anything you need it to.

 You get out your brayer and ink, and make it work for you!  I don't know what brand of DP this is, but most places carry a selection.  I like keeping a few different sheets on hand just for this purpose.

I then made the scallop square, and used the ticket corner punch on the black and blue mats.  I used my markers to ink up the sentiment, and then added the brads in the corners.

The white satin ribbon was attached and the image panel added with dimensionals.

Thanks for all the well wishes for my fingers.  Two of them are pretty blistered and swollen, but the third is only red today - YAY! I was taking a lid off of a hot container from the microwave and it slipped in my hand.  That steam just came up so fast and burnt my fingers.  It will be awhile before I feel like going in the water.  But, I did get to stamp today.  Maybe you can have fun and happy stamping, as well!!

Spring Song

 

Every morning now, for about 3 weeks, this lovely bird greets the morning with its song.  This is my favorite sign of spring.  It is amazing how loud it is - I can hear him with all my windows closed!  This is a Western Meadowlark, and I feel very blessed to have him around.

OUCH!!

I do not have a card to share today.  I hope to stamp tomorrow, but I'll have to see how I feel.

I got a pretty bad steam burn.  3 of my fingers have prescription medication and are taped together.  No, I will not show pictures...hehehe.  Maybe they will feel better in the morning, so I can stamp.  Hopefully YOU can gave fun stamping!!

My Monogram Notes

I am always making cards for someone else.  Today, I decided to make myself some monogram note cards to send to a few ladies.  So, I guess, technically, they are not for me anyway...LOL.

 

But, they do have my initial on them!!

These are such cheap cards to make, but they look great.  I got these 8 note cards with envelopes in the $1.50 bin at Michael's, and figured I could jazz them up.  All I did was add the strip of silver CS and red grosgrain ribbon.  I used my Just Rite stamper and Trompe font (All That Scraps) for the initial stamped on vanilla CS.  It was matted onto a black scallop circle and attached to the card with dimensionals. 

The envelope was stamped with the flourish from Baroque Motifs, and the flowers and dots from Thanks X 2.  So simple, when you consider the card is already made for you.  Have fun and happy stamping!!

Special Cookie Release

  Diane, from All That Scraps, designed a special stamp set for an SCS gathering this weekend.  The best part, is that you can get it too!  You get the little mouse in the jar, as well as the tag sentiment.  I made mine as a tag to tie onto a bag of homemade cookies in a lovely box.  There is a a whole DOZEN cookies in this box, and it is so easy to make.  It is also strong enough to hold it, and more.

Would you like to be able to make this quick box?  Perfect, I have a tutorial for you.

I started with a 12 X 12 thin chipboard sheet from the back of a DSP pack of paper.  Score on each side at 4 inches.  Then you need to cut at 3.5 inches only until the score line, also on each side.  See below for how it should look.

Then you cut each piece out and fold the little flaps up.  I put sticky strip on each flap, and scalloped the top edge.

  Then  you peel off the red liner, folding each side in to put the box together.  That's as easy as it is.  You could even add jumbo eyelets to the side with ribbons for a handle.

Decorate as desired, and you are ready to fill it up with homemade treats.  Have fun and happy stamping!!

OH MY GOSH - NO WAY !!

Here are some pictures of the boys when we were outside on Wednesday, it was so beautiful.

It was warm and windy, a perfect day for flying a kite.  Look how far up that kite is!!  I love the kites from Costco, they are such a good deal, and strong enough for little boys.

It was so nice, I think I was outside for like 3 hours that afternoon with the boys.  I took a picture of just the kite, and it turned out so awesome, I am using it for my destop.  You want it?  Here is is for you.

  Doesn't that look so nice?  Bright blue sky with the vivid red kite.  Click on the picture to enlarge it, and then right click to set it as desktop wallpaper.

Doesn't this look like a lovely day? 

Then, you are really going to like this picture I took today!  It changes the whole feeling.

 

And a little later, no more playing.

 

Enjoy YOUR spring !

Celebrate Birthdays

 

Today is another Review Preview of the latest sets released from All That Scraps.  The sets I am reviewing today are Gingersnaps Celebrate and AmyR's Birthday Sentiments.  I colored the little Gingersnap on watercolor paper using This Tutorial Or Video.  I used some Sweet Always along with the Apricot Prints DSP.  I cut her out and attached her with dimensionals, so it looks like she is sitting on the ribbon. Now for the inside...

  I used my new Pop-Up Cake die from Stampin' Up!, along with one of the sentiments from Amy's set.  Click on it to read what it says, it is so perfect.

Now, head over to the ATS Blog to see the rest of the Design Team came up with, they did an awesome job!  Have fun and happy stamping!!

Surprise Gift Card !

  From the outside, it just looks like an ordinary card.  In fact, it is kinda plain, but I was more worried about the inside, and that is where the tutorial comes in.

Set this up by your craft table and let's start making my Surprise Gift Card!

First, you will need a piece of CS that measures 5 X 11.  This needs to be scored on the long side at 4 1/4 and 8 1/2.  You also need a piece of DSP that is 4 7/8 X 6 3/4.  This one needs to be scored on the long side at 3 1/2.  Choose a back and front side (if it is double sided).  The one side is 1/4 inch shorter, and you need to draw a line at 6.5 inches from the end, like in the picture.  Make sure you do this on the BACK SIDE!

You place the flat edge of the slot punch on the line, and punch above it.  You need to punch twice, about an inch in from each side.  Then cut 1/4 inch off each side up to the score line, as pictured above.

On the small flap of CS, you need to put some sticky strip.  I had 1/4 wide , but I cut it in half with my craft knife right on the roll.  Then fold it in to make a pocket.  Take the DS, and add glue to the side that is NOT cut and punched.

  Glue the DSP to the top of the card (not the pocket).  DO NOT GLUE IT TO THE SCORE LINE!!  You need to glue it about 1/8 of an inch down from the top (it should have an even border along the top and sides).  It will be about 1/2 - 3/4 of an inch shy of the score line.  You want it that way, and you will see why soon.

Tuck your gift card under the punch flap, then tuck the DSP with the card inside the pocket.  Now, go ahead and close it...

  The card will tuck inside the pocket, as you close the card.  When the card is opened, it pulls the gift card out of the pocket - HOW COOL IS THAT!!  I got the idea from another gift card, and had to figure out how it worked.

Have fun and happy stamping!!