Sunday, May 31, 2015

Oh, Do I Have A Set For You!

Boy, oh, boy...this fabulous stamp set is going to make you happy!  It's a beauty.  But you can't get it until Tuesday, June 2!  Unless you decide to join me as a Stampin' UP! demonstrator before then...Being a demonstrator has it's perks--like getting to pre-order from the new catalog!  And that's how I got my stamps. 

This gorgeous stamp set is called Floral Wings.  Does that make you think of a butterfly with flowers on it's wings?  Yes?  Well lookie here:



Yes, it's a butterfly with flowers on it's wings!  And what a beautiful stamp it is:



My son and daughter-in-law are celebrating their 9th anniversary this week.  I wanted to make them a card, and had been perusing MANY websites for some ideas, and this card was born.  Let's break it down so you can see the details.

First, it's a matchbook-style card (the top folds over and tucks behind a little strip on the bottom).  The Whisper White cardstock is initially cut to 4-1/2" x 11".  It took me two tries to get the letters cut correctly--



I lined up the Little Letters Thinlets along the very edge of the cardstock, and using a trick I learned from demonstrator Cindy Beach, ( placing the cutting plates on the tip of the letters, so you don't cut them out completely--they can then stand up), I carefully cut them out with my Big Shot.  (And yes, I had to cut the H-A- _- P-Y and then go back and cut the first P).  Then I cut them out again, using Watermelon Wonder cardstock, and carefully glued them (with Two Way Glue) over the base letters. 

Once that was done, I inked up my butterfly, using a trick from Lydia Fiedler.  She said to first stamp the roses, and THEN the butterfly.  And this worked perfectly!  Since the photopolymer stamps have a tab to line everything up, it made it easy.  Once the butterfly is stamped, you can add in the leaves.



I was going to use the Butterfly Thinlets to cut out my butterfly and embed it in my card (see another sample here), but I didn't want the missing pieces in the beautiful stamp.  So I opted instead to use the thinlets to cut out the butterfly in my card base, and mounted the stamped image UNDER it, using Dimensionals to give it depth.

I stamped the lovely fern from Butterfly Basics using Cucumber Crush, stamping off once and then stamping a few times to have the ferns "dissolve" on my card.  There are also a few of the honeycomb images stamped in Mint Macaron (stamped off once). 



Now for the fold:  That little strip of black polka-dot Designer Series Paper is from the new Neutrals Paper Stack--great patterns, and this one mimicked the dots in the butterfly.  Then the bottom of the card was scored (just about 1-1/4").  This creates the bottom of the matchbook--I stapled the two sides and the bottom.  When the card folds over, it tucks inside the "matchbook" (behind the letters) to stay closed.  "Together" comes from Crazy About You, and is stamped in Cucumber Crush.

The card is an odd size--4-1/4" x 4-3/4", so I had to make my own envelope.  This size is not included on the Envelope Punch Board, but I found The Crafty Owl (here) and plugged in my own measurements.  Using the terrific new Envelope Paper in the 2015-17 In Colors, I created the perfect fit:
I know this beautiful stamp set will quickly become a favorite;  if you would like one for yourself, you'll have to grab some friends and have a party (or splurge and order big!)--it is one of the Host Rewards stamp sets, only available with a qualifying order.  Contact me to schedule your party today!

 I hope my perfect son and his perfect wife have a very happy anniversary!  Do you think they'll like their card?  Please leave me a comment and let me know.

All items can be purchased here, starting Tuesday, June 2. 

Friday, May 29, 2015

Simple Thank You (and a sneak peek!)

Sometimes simplicity says it all:

These new Layered Letters (available June 2) make it so simple to create perfectly aligned words.  And see the colored "blocks" behind the letters?  They are part of the set!

This thank you note starts with a Whisper White base.  The blocks are stamped in the new In-Colors for 2015-2017:  Mint Macaron, Delightful Dijon, Watermelon Wonder, Cucumber Crush and Tip Top Taupe.  Each was stamped off first.

Being photopolymer (clear) stamps make it easy to line everything up!

The letters are stamped in Early Espresso ink.  The "you" is from Work of Art, and stamped in full-strength Watermelon Wonder.

This layer is popped up with Dimensionals, but first I added a tiny strip of Watermelon Wonder Dotted Lace Trim (a fabulous ribbon, soft and pliable and oh-so-pretty!):





Such a pretty and simple card!

All products can be ordered here, starting June 2!



Thursday, May 28, 2015

Altered Journal

There's a deal on the Large Kraft Grid Journal in the Weekly Deals, and I want to show you what I did with mine.  Take a look:

This useful and fun journal is a perfect size to stick in your purse for when you need to jot down a few notes.  And you can decorate it any way you want:

I started with a piece of Lullaby Designer Series Paper, and glued it to the binder (wrapped around the front and back).  I cut a banner, using some striped DSP and the Banner Framelits and layered lots of flowers from Flower Patch (so easy to cut out with the matching Flower Faire Framelit dies).  Then I wrapped a piece of Burlap Ribbon around the book and sealed it with a piece of Velcro.

And the bottom half:
That's what makes me happy!  (Cut with the Hello You Thinlets).

Save $1.00 on each journal right now!  That's right:



Large Kraft Grid Journal Item # 137865
Regular Price: $3.95 US/$4.95 CAN
Discounted Price: $2.96 US/$3.71 CAN

Order yours and then have fun decorating it to suit you!

All products can be ordered here.



Wednesday, May 27, 2015

Weekly Deals

Take a look at this week's Weekly Deals: 

137784G


Painted Blooms Designer Series Paper Item # 137784
Regular Price: $10.95 US/$13.50 CAN
Discounted Price: $8.21 US/$10.13 CAN




Birthday Bash Designer Washi Sheets Item # 137788
Regular Price: $9.95 US/$11.95 CAN
Discounted Price: $7.46 US/$8.96 CAN




Large Kraft Grid Journal Item # 137865
Regular Price: $3.95 US/$4.95 CAN
Discounted Price: $2.96 US/$3.71 CAN




Build A Bouquet Project Kit Item # 137952
Regular Price: $24.95 US/$30.95 CAN
Discounted Price: $18.71 US/$23.21 CAN




Aquamarine Colorbox Chalk Ink Pad Item # 138092
Regular Price: $5.95 US/$7.25 CAN
Discounted Price: $4.46 US/$5.44 CAN




Yellow Citrus Colorbox Chalk Ink Pad Item # 138093
Regular Price: $5.95 US/$7.25 CAN
Discounted Price: $4.46 US/$5.44 CAN




Sweet Dreams Designer Buttons Item # 137857
Regular Price: $5.95 US/$7.50 CAN
Discounted Price: $4.46 US/$5.63 CAN




Painted Blooms Cotton Twine Item # 137873
Regular Price: $6.95 US/$8.95 CAN
Discounted Price: $5.21 US/$6.71 CAN




Hello Honey 5/8" (1.6 Cm) Quilted Cotton Ribbon Item # 137864
Regular Price: $6.95 US/$8.95 CAN
Discounted Price: $5.21 US/$6.71 CAN


Some really great items here, from the wonderful Painted Blooms Designer Series Paper to the Large Craft Grid Journal,  to the Painted Blooms Cotton Twine.  Such great prices too!

Order your Weekly Deals here.