Priscilla's Papercrafts: July 2025

Monday, July 28, 2025

A Birthday Banner

Last week I was invited to a birthday party for my neighbors' three-year-old daughter. We've known this couple since they were first married, having purchased a home down the street from us. And we have welcomed little Scottie since the day she was born.

I always make a special card for her, and this year I decided to try something a little different - a "banner card".

Hard to fit it all in in one photo, so hang on...I'll show you the individual panels in a sec.

Using the Party Banners dies made this a cinch! I used the largest banner, cutting it in four colors for the base. And I used the little corner die to make the holes to attach them together (it fits inside the corners of the die, making the perfect hole). There is also a "reinforcer" die to cut small circles to adhere over the holes for extra strength.

Then I had a blast decorating:

Every time I cut letters using the Mini Alphabet die (cuts the entire alphabet in one pass) I save the left--over letters. So I pulled out my box of letters and found all the ones I needed! Easy! My retired Balloon Punch made the balloons, and I used the centers of the "reinforcer" dies to create the dots. Fun!

Now I'll never get rid of my Large Numbers dies...or my old Star punches!

I was just able to squeeze in the letters for "birthday"!

And of course, it had to be personalized!

And then I had to put it in an envelope, but I didn't have one to fit. So I created a small box:

The box didn't last too long (it WAS a 3-year old trying to open it 😁) but her mom rescued the banner. She's going to hang it in Scottie's room until next year!

The Party Banners are available in my Online store. They are extremely versatile due to the sheer number of dies in the set (and the various sizes!). I'm sure you will get years of fun projects out of them!

Product List

Stripes & Dots Cling Stamp Set

[165334]

$25.00

Shy Shamrock Classic Stampin Pad

[163808]

$9.00

Strawberry Slush 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[165625]

$14.00

Shy Shamrock 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[163795]

$14.00

Peach Pie 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[163799]

$14.00

Blueberry Bushel 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[146968]

$14.00

Real Red 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[102482]

$14.00

Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[166780]

$14.00

Party Banners Dies

[165264]

$40.00

Mini Alphabet Dies

[162934]

$31.00

Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine

[149653]

$140.00

Wednesday, July 23, 2025

Color Inspiration

Where do you get inspiration for your creations? I often scour the internet (Facebook, Instagram, blogs) for ideas, but sometimes inspiration strikes when I least expect it. Like this:

Last week my husband and I enjoyed a lunch at California Pizza Kitchen. When our bill came, there was a pen for us to sign our credit card receipt. And I felt instant happiness (or maybe it was the pizza and salad I had just consumed?...Anyway...) look at this:

Now we were not in a Pediatric office, so I'm guessing this pen was left at the restaurant and the waiter was re-using it. But I loved the colors!

So home to create...

I started with a piece of Basic White cardstock and get out my Blending Brushes with some Azure Afternoon, Summer Splash, Granny Apple Green and Lemon Lime Twist inks. Blending them together on the paper was so satisfying!

It made a lovely background, and I had to decide whether to stamp over it or add something. I chose to add - I happened to have the letters "Hi" cut on my desk from a previous project, and thought they would be perfect for my card. I also decided that I needed a little interest under the top layer, so I randomly cut some triangles with the same colors of cardstock that I used for the ink blending - Azure Afternoon, Summer Splash, Granny Apple Green and Lemon Lime Twist.

Just a few retired coordinating sequins and I was done.

So where was the most unusual place you found inspiration? And what did you create? I'd love to hear.

Product List

Azure Afternoon Classic Stampin' Pad

[161663]

$9.00

Summer Splash Classic Stampin Pad

[163809]

$9.00

Granny Apple Green Stampin' Pad

[147095]

$9.00

Lemon Lime Twist Classic Stampin' Pad

[147145]

$9.00

Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Thick Cardstock

[159229]

$17.00

Azure Afternoon 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[161719]

$14.00

Summer Splash 8 1/2" X 11 Cardstock

[163797]

$14.00

Granny Apple Green 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[146990]

$14.00

Lemon Lime Twist 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[144245]

$14.00

Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock

[166780]

$14.00

Party Alphabet Dies

[165263]

$99.00

Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine

[149653]

$140.00

Stampin' Dimensionals

[104430]

$4.25

Friday, July 18, 2025

Poppin' By

Yesterday I showed you a box I made using the Party Banners dies and the Poppin' By bundle. It was given to a customer who had purchased the Poppin' By bundle so she would have ideas for her cards.

Here is one of the cards I included in the box:

This card is a gift card holder, and is perfect for a birthday (of course - because it says "happy birthday right on the front!). But if you like to give gift cards, this is a great way to present them.

I started with a piece of Thick Basic White cardstock and cut 1-1/2" off the bottom of the front, creating a flap and space to add the gift card on the inside.

The front was decorated with images from the Poppin' By bundle. Then inside:

Along the bottom of the card I used Tear & Tape adhesive to add a strip. This is stamped with one of the stamps from the Stripes and Dots set.