What 2 Stamp

Matchbox Messages Birthday Card

 

May is a big month for birthdays in my family, so this is one of several I've made this month. It uses the Matchbox Messages set, from the Occasions Mini Catalog, as well as the matching Big Shot die.

The Certainly Celery background gets its detail from a the Stampin' Up! I Texturz Plate. Just FYI, you can add a "shim" of cardstock below the multi-purpose plaform to get an even deeper impression with your Texturz Plates, but I personally like them without that extra dimension. I guess subtle works for me!

To get the shading on the flower/vine frame stamp, I sponged a Regal Rose Craft Spot over most of the border, then dabbed an Always Artichoke Craft Spot in certain places. When you start with the light color and work to the dark, you'll find that the light really doesn't rub off on the dark, so you can work with the 2 colors on the same image.

The final embellishment comes from the Boho Blossoms punch. Because the Big Shot does most of the work on this card, it was super-quick to complete, which makes me (and the card recipient) very happy!

Vacation Memory Planner

 

While on vacation, I always carry a plain, 2 pocket folder where I stuff all travel info--intineraries, maps, ticket stubs, etc. On occasion, I have also carried a notebook where I jotted down details I wanted to remember. The purpose of these items was to keep information in a central location.

Then it occurred to me: What if I combined the 2 items into 1 folder, where I could keep all sorts of information and memories, and come home ready to scrapbook my trip? From that was born this Vacation Memory Planner. In one place, I have a pocket for memorabilia, a notepad for musings, and pre-cut Top Note die cuts where I can journal my thoughts and have them ready to go on a scrapbook page as soon as I get home.

Here is how to start this project: I used 1 sheet of Sweet Slumber Textured Designer Series Paper. You can choose any pattern in this line, but I highly recommend the textured DSPs for their strong structure and durability--you are going to be traveling with this, after all!

Cut the DSP to 9 x 12. Score at the 6" line, so that it folds into a 6" x 9" folder. Take the strip of DSP you just cut off, and, with the long side parallel with the top of the trimmer, cut so that it is just short of the 6" mark, so that the piece is roughly 6" wide x 3" tall. I'm having you cut it just short (just a hair) of the 6" mark, to give a little extra ease in the fold.

You will make a pocket from this piece, so apply Sticky Strip on three sides of the piece (LEAVING THE TOP OPEN), and then mount it on in the inside of the folder, at the bottom left-hand side, right up against the fold.

Using the Enjoy Every Moment set and the Trio Flower punch, I decorated the outside of the pocket:

Next, you will create a pocket to hold the Top Note die cuts. To do this, take a clear envelope and cut the open end so that the envelope measures 5.25" long. Add small bits of sticky strip to the corners only. These are going to be covered in the next step, so you won't see them, if you keep the pieces small.

 

Mount this pocket on the inside of the folder, on the bottom right-hand side. Using the photo-corner punch, punch 4 sets of corners from scrap DSP. Mount these on top of the cello bag corners, covering the Sticky Strip underneath. Be careful not to adhere the corners over the opening, at the right-hand side.

 

Cut a few Top Note die cuts to go in the pocket. I chose Baja Breeze and So Saffron, because they were light-colored (perfect for journaling), and because they were neutral enough to coordinate with whatever layouts I might design after the trip.

I also wanted a small notepad to go in my planner. This is only a few sheets of paper, where I might make notes on layouts I want to do once I return. For instance, when we visited Paris a few years ago, I kept a running total of what we spent on various items, such as food and transportation. When we returned, I was able to do a layout describing what these items cost, but relating that the trip itself was "priceless." It was fun to have that perspective, but I couldn't have done it without keeping notes along the way.

To create the notepad, I cute a sheet of printer paper into 3.25 x 4" pieces. This gets you 6 pieces from one sheet of paper. Working along the long side, I perforated the sheets at the 1/2" mark, using the tool in our Cutter Kit, on page 189. This way, the sheets can be torn out if need be, just like in a regular notepad.

 

I stapled these pages to a piece of chipboard (which comes in all packs of DSP), and then wrapped a 1" x 4" strip of DSP around the top. Then I adhered the notepad to the inside of the folder, on the top, right-hand side.

 

On the outside of the folder, adhere a 1.5" x 6" strip of DSP. Stamp the flower circle from Enjoy Every Moment on a 2.5" square of Whisper White, then use the Ticket Corner Punch on all four corners. Mount onto a 2.75" square of Not Quite Navy, and add that to the strip. Finally, punch some Baja Breeze flowers, using the Trio Flower punch. Put brads through the center of the flowers, and then layer on top of the focal image, using Mini Glue Dots.

This is a fun planner to make, and if you use it consistently on your vacation, you can scrapbook the trip in a snap when you get home. Be sure to use the Top Note journaling dies for each leg of the trip. Consider letting each member fill one out--get different perspectives on the same visit. And always remember--you want to spend more time making your memories than scrapbooking them, and this planner just makes it that much easier!

Re-work Wednesday: Page 91

 

Re-work Wednesday has become my favorite blogging day. Why? Because I get to take a card that Stampin' Up! has designed and remake it with my own stamps and embellishments. In other words, all the hard work of design is done for me--I just have to customize some simple choices.

In fact, I like this assignment so much that it has become impossible to choose a card to remake--I want to re-do them all! So this week, I let my son flip through the catalog and choose one for me, and I liked that so much, I may do it every week. This week's choice comes from page 91 in the big book, the blue card shown in the middle.

 

For my card, I chose the Always stamp set. I dabbed Craft ink onto the bird, then stamped onto Bashful Blue CS. Because this bird faces the opposite direction, I flipped the other elements on the card as well, so that the Spiral punch is used on the left side instead of the right. I didn't have the orange rick-rack ribbon that is used in the sample, so I substituted a small strip of Pumpkin Pie CS that was trimmed with the Scallop Edge Punch.

Again, I love re-working the catalog samples because all the thinking/designing is already done for me. When I saw the sample, I knew that the most important items were a large, solid-color image, as well as a small flower for embellishment. Those are the 2 things your eye is drawn to on this card, and how you get there is completely up to you.

Here's a challenge for you: Just let the catalog fall open, point your finger at a card, and see if you can determine which elements make the card interesting. What are some aspects you could easily copy? You will start to learn a great deal about design--simply by copying some great designers!

Standing Tall

 

I'm still having a great time playing with the Sticky Cuts Sweet product. These are die-cut images made from our Sticky Strip tape, which means all you have to do is punch them out, remove the sticky orange tape, and go to town with some Supernova glitter!

When I first saw the product, I loved this big flower and the big stem, but they seemed awfully large for a standard-size card. The answer? Go tall! This card is 8" x 11", folded in half length-wise. It fits perfectly in a regular, size 10 envelope.

To give the flower a home, I cut a strip of Bella Rose Designer Series Paper and fringed one edge for the grass. The little birdie is from Scene in a Garden, from the Occasions Mini Catalog.

 

I love how versatile our DSP is--it can even look like grass! Don't forget that all DSP and Textured Cardstock is on sale in May: buy 3, get 1 free (mix and match). Time is running out for this special, so email me soon!

Start Your Own Business for only $75!

Time is running out to take advantage of May's special Scrapbooking Starter Kit! This kit allows you to start your Stampin' Up! business for only $75. The kit comes with the items listed below, which can be customized. It also comes with all of the business supplies you will need to get started, such as catalogs and order forms.

Being a demonstrator is a wonderful way to earn some extra money by working only a few nights each month. Think how great it would be to earn the equivalent of a car payment each month, by doing something you love--stamping! This is the best value Stampin' Up! has ever offered on the Starter Kit, so don't miss out. Email me if you have any questions.

113510	Schoolbook Serif Alphabet stamp set*	$42.95
113059	Simply Scrappin' Petal Party	$19.95
108697	Earth Elements Assorted textured card stock (12" x 12")	$11.95
105240	Whisper White Craft Stampin' Pad	$7.50

*Substitutable for any stamp set up to $43.95 value. Please note: Each of the products listed above may be substituted for like items. 

A Tree for Thee

 

I'm still loving the Branch Out set, with all its fun scene-setting images. I know we're way past winter (especially in Florida), but this card is for someone who loves snowflakes, so snow it is!

 

To get the shading on the tree's branches, I colored the entire tree with a Close to Cocoa marker, then added some quick swatches of Chocolate Chip at random, only on a few branches.

This card also uses the Top Note die cut, which I used on Monday's post as well. I trimmed around the perforated edge of the Vanilla die cut, and then mounted it to another Top Note die, cut from Riding Hood Red. It's interesting to see how different this one die can look, depending on how it's used. That's what makes it such a great value!

Re-Work Wednesday: Page 68

 

Today is Re-Work Wednesday, where I choose a sample from the catalog and make my own version. Today, I chose the card on page 68, which features the Just Jawing set. The original card is shown below.

When you first see this card, you might focus on the skull and think, well, I don't have that stamp, so I can't make that card. But, most of the card design focuses on the various circles, which you can certainly make, using whatever Designer Series Paper you happen to own. Other than that, you just need a large image of some sort to have a strong impact. I chose the flower from Petal Pizazz. I love that large flower and I often use it when I just want a really big image for impact.

I didn't have the exact same button or ribbon shown on the original, so I substituted a piece of Hodgepodge Hardware and a different ribbon.

Finally, I made my card on textured Chocolate Chip cardstock, rather than black--I just liked the color combo better. You'll notice that the various DSP's and the textured cardstock really make this card. Be sure you have plenty of coordinating papers by taking advantage of our May special: Buy 3 packages of DSP or Textured Cardstock (mix and match), and get 1 for FREE!

A Matchbox for Matches

 

While reading through a magazine this weekend, I saw a designer package of matches on sale for $4--no, I'm not kidding! The magazine suggested you could take this designer pack and a nice votive holder as a hostess gift when you are invited to a lovely party this summer.

No way would I ever spend $4 for a pack of matches, but when I looked at the photo, I thought, hey I could make the same thing with my Big Shot Matchbox die. Now, the really funny thing is that with all the ideas I've seen for this matchbox die, I've never seen anyone actually put matches in it! Maybe that's because you can't actually strike the side, the way you could with a real matchbox. But, many people strike their matches on something else anyway, so I like the idea of giving these--and a nice votive holder, probably decorated with a rub-on--to a hostess.

I love the summer colors of this Pink Flamingo Designer Series Paper. When choosing paper for your project, don't forget that Designer Series Paper and Textured Cardstock is on sale in May--buy 3 (mix and match), get 1 FREE!

Log Cabin Top Note

 

Someone with more insight than me recently came up with the idea of making a "quilted" version of the Top Note die cut. I have seen a few versions made with simple squares, similar to a 4-patch or 9-patch quilt, but I wanted something a little more detailed. I decided to finally put my quilting books to good use (not getting much sewing done these days!), so I got one out and I hunted up a pattern for a Log-Cabin style quilt.

To make this version, I gathered some light- and dark-colored scraps, and cut them into half-inch strips. The center of the "quilt" is a 1.5" square, and the strips are placed around the square. I got all the strips laid out onto a piece of cardstock, following the pattern, then glued them down. To do this, you will need a glue that provides all-over coverage, such as a glue stick or the 2-way glue pen, which is what I used. Give the glue a little time to dry before you run the piece through the Big Shot.

Once you've cut the Top Note, trim off the perforated edge. Cut a second Top Note out of Chocolate Chip, then mount the quilted version to the CC one.

 

This is a fun way to use your scraps, since small pieces are all that's needed. And, I finally got some use out of my quilting books!

Fruit of Life

 

With summer in full force here in Florida--temps are already in the 90s--I had to get out my summer fruit set, Tart & Tangy, and put it to work. This set is just adorable, and at $12.95 for four fruits, er uh, stamps, it's a great value! I finished off this simple note with a scrap of Good Morning Sunshine DSP that I punched with the Word Window Punch, and dressed up with a Square Ice brad.

 

Don't forget that in May, our DSP and textured cardstock is buy 3, get one free. Email me if you have any questions, or would like to place an order.