Stampin’ Addicts SU! Occasions Mini Blog Hop

Welcome to Stampin’ Addicts Occasions Mini Blog Hop.  Once again we’re ringing in the New Year by showcasing many products found in the newly released Stampin’ Up! Occasions Mini Catalog.  These items will be available for purchase beginning January 4, 2011.

If you started this hop from the beginning, you just came from InkPaperStamps where Holly previewed some beautiful projects using the Petal Cone Die.  If you’re starting the tour at my blog, you can continue on to visit all participants by using the link at the end of my post.  If you get lost anywhere along the way don’t worry, you can find links to all the participants on the Stampin’ Addicts website.  All links will remain live until Sunday evening, so take your time visiting, enjoy and come back often!

I chose the Springtime Vintage fabric as my item to showcase.  I love the colors and patterns in this fabric, so bright and cheerful and definitely scream springtime!  I haven’t used any fabric in my paper crafting endeavors, honestly never once thought about the possibilities.

I dug in deep for my first project – have to admit making that first cut into these gorgeous fabrics was darn right scary … but once I did it, I never looked back!

This 5” square card started with the puffy heart in the center and grew from there, layering scalloped circles of fabric with a circle of card stock.  For more of a vintage feel I sponged the blue cardstock, if you look closely you’ll see I even sponged the edges of the blue scalloped fabric circle.  Ink on fabric, wooohoooo!!! 

My next project is also a card.  In case you didn’t know, I LOVE cards! I also can’t get enough of butterflies so was super excited when this idea popped into my head.  It isn’t often when I am able to keep a project clean and simple, but this was one of those items that less was definitely more.

For the body and antennas I dyed white 1/8” ribbon to match the Not Quite Navy, then looped it around the back.  The butterfly is double stacked on dimensionals to give it extra lift.  I wish you could see this up close, it looks like it is really ready to take flight.

For my last creation I broke out of my comfort zone, dug out my sewing machine and dusted it off (it was REALLY dusty!).  Thank heavens it was still threaded (probably from the 1990’s) as I’m not sure I’d remember how to do it again. 

I used one of those cardboard coffee holders from a local coffee store as a template, layered felt and fabric, hand gathered a strip of complimentary fabric for the ruffle and sewed it all together.  I decided it still needed “something” for more interest so I cut some flowers using the Big Shot and layered them all together, then added one of the new big buttons.  What did I end up with?  My very own one-of-a-kind coffee cozy!  (the red at the bottom of the cup is part of the cup design, NOT a sample of the Springtime Vintage fabric line)

Thanks for stopping by and visiting, I hope you enjoyed the projects I’ve shared with you.  I’ll post more details and project recipes during the next month.  Please continue on the hop and visit Lisa, who will be sharing some fun ideas using the Easter Blossoms stamp set.

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The Christmas card that wasn’t

I had everything planned out well ahead of time, all paper cut and ready to go.  This card was not overly involved, should have been a quick and easy thing to get out in the mail.  Then all heck broke loose …..

First, I found I cut the top layers too small … went and recut it all, only to have my daughter (who is brilliant by the way!) ask me, “mom, why didn’t you just cut the lowers layer 1/8” smaller.  Not like anyone would have noticed”.  DUH!  Now why didn’t I think of that!  I put things off a little longer while I tackled some other holiday tasks, procrastination seems to be my middle name these days … then came down with the worst bug I have ever had in a long time.  It took me out of the game for close to 2 weeks, took my husband as well and now has a firm hold on my brilliant daughter.

I probably should put them all together anyway and be ahead of the game for next year … and hope I don’t lose them in the meantime.

PROJECT RECIPE:

Stamps:  Peaceful Season
Paper:  River Rock, Very Vanilla, Cherry Cobbler, Always Artichoke
Ink:  Always Artichoke
Accessories:  Blender Pen, Basic Pearls, Always Artichoke Seam Binding

 

Holiday Bag Topper

I love making toppers for cello bags.  They add a special handmade touch to your small hard-to-wrap gifts, and are another one of those fast and easy projects to pull together at the last minute. 

This is one of the toppers I made recently.  A piece of cardstock, designer paper, a punch, button and trim … strategic placement and call it DONE!  Best of all, it was made using only paper from my scrap pile! 

The large button can be found in the new Stampin’ Up! Occasions Mini catalog, available for purchase January 4, 2011.  It is actually the Pear Pizzazz color, yet still coordinated perfectly for this project.  Ok, I will admit I didn’t pick up on this fact until now. <sigh>

PROJECT RECIPE:

Stamps:  Bright Christmas
Ink:  Old Olive
Paper:  Old Olive, Cherry Cobbler, Very Vanilla, Jolly Holiday designer series paper
Accessories:  snowflake punch, button, gold cord, dimensionals

Embossed Snowflakes

Arrrrrgh … the last few weeks before the holidays is NOT the time to be sick!  Whatever this bug is that has decided to take up permanent residence in the family, has successfully zapped every ounce of energy from my body (not that there was much there to begin with).  In a valiant attempt to get back to my blog (I’m sure ya’ll have missed me terribly!), I’m going to try to keep this short and sweet.

This is another card that was made at my holiday card stamp camp, inspired by many other creations I have seen.  I have this thing for snowflakes, just can’t seem to get enough of them.  When Stampin’ Up! released the Northern Flurry embossing folder, I swear my neighbors could hear me squeal with delight!

The snowflakes are embossed on vellum cardstock.  The heavier weight of this paper didn’t shred during the embossing process and is still light enough to give the desired effect.  I added several of the new self adhesive rhinestones in various sizes to give it a touch of bling, along with a bow made with matching satin ribbon.  Did you notice the sentiment?  I love how the new Decorative Label punch layers with the Holiday Windows movers and shapers die – perfect!

PROJECT RECIPE

Stamps:  Snow Swirled, Serene Snowflakes, Northern Hearts
Paper:  Marina Mist, Not Quite Navy, Whisper White, vellum cardstock
Ink:  Whisper White craft, Marina Mist
Accessories:  Northern Flurry embossing folder, Decorative Label punch, Holiday Windows movers & shapers, Big Shot, satin ribbon, Basic Rhinestones, dimensionals

It’s a Party!

I know I’ve been teasing you for over a week now, as to what that mega project I was involved in actually turned out to be.  Welllllll, without further ado … they are birthday invites for my grand daughters 1st birthday! 

My grand daughter has a security blanket which is a combination blanket and stuffed owl – she carries it with her everywhere.  Actually, she has several of these just in case one is forgotten somewhere, misplaced, in the wash, whatever – we do not want our little darling to be in distress!  Since Cam is so enamored with Owlie, her mom really wanted to do an owl theme for her birthday.  I didn’t have to be asked twice to be in charge of the invites, I was truly excited to have the opportunity to play with my new 2-step Owl punch.  Those that know me well, know I don’t think in “simple” mode.  I also tend to be somewhat of a perfectionist, am not happy leaving well enough alone. <sigh>  So what should have been a quick and easy 26 invitations, turned out to be quite an ordeal – but here is the finished product:

This started out as bits and pieces of several other cards I had viewed online, then off in my own direction I went.  The silliness kicked in when trying to figure out what wording we wanted on the front … I think my idea is rather self explanatory.  <grin>  I couldn’t find any current designer papers in Pretty In Pink that looked right on this card.  My neighbor let me dig through her stash of retired papers and I found a few pieces that were perfect!  I love the polka dot balloon, which is covered with crystal effects for more dimension; pink crochet thread added for the balloon string.  The party hat is a small pennant shape cut from a scalloped square punched piece.  Prior to punching and cutting, I lightly brayered Melon Mambo ink on the Square Lattice embossing folder and ran it through the Big Shot – LOVE how the design turned out!

The invitation is a postcard style, this is the back.  I designed it using the Stampin’ Up! My Digital Studio software.  I honestly could not believe how quickly this portion came together. 

After completing the graphics and text boxes, I selected all elements and copied/pasted this design three more times so I ended up with a total of four invitation sections per page.  I then printed it on Pink Pirouette card stock and trimmed each quarter page to fit the back of the invite.  No embellishments were added to this side.  Since all the details were typed in the MDS program, all my daughter-in-law had to do when I turned these over to her was to put them into a stamped envelope and drop into the mail.

For my public blog posting, I did edit out all the personal info … am pretty sure my son will not be thrilled with me if you all show up on his doorstep. <grin>