CAS - SNEAK PEEK

Just a little teaser for you today.  I haven't had time to do any of my normal sponging favourites, but I did have time to whip up this Clean and Simple Birthday card over the weekend.  It also includes a sneak peek of a new stamp set due for realease on the 1st September!

I have also pulled out my Simply Scored Board and scored a few detail lines across the side and bottom of the card.  A great way to add a little visual interest to an otherwise simple card.

PUSHING THE BOUNDARYS

Every now and then, I like to try something that really takes me out of my comfort zone, so this post is a little different to what you would normally expect to see!!

As you know, Stampin' Up! have the most delicious range of product.  But it doesn't just end with cardstock and Designer Papers.  They also have fabric!!  If you are a quilter or like to make your own home decor or clothes, then you will be delighted with the beautiful prints SU have on offer.

I decided to try my hand at a Rag Quilt Tote Bag and here it is!!  I don't have much knowledge or practical skills when using a sewing machine, but these little bags are just so easy to put together with Stampin' Up! product.  It also helped to have this fabulous video by the very generous and talented Angie Kenndey Juda!

I haven't had to use a Rotary Cutter or scissors to cut the fabric squares either!  I just ran fabric through the Big Shot using the Scallop Square Bigz Clear die to do the cutting for me.  Did you know you can cut 8 pieces in one go?!!  That's right!  So much faster than cutting by hand.

Add some batting and backing material, sew them together and you are done!  Of course I also used Stampin' Up ribbon and a button from my retired stash to finish the bag.

I am actually quite proud of myself for trying this project.  I just needed to make sure I could, lol

A SPLASH OF RED

My lovely friend Diane Taylor lent me her Rue Des Fleurs stamp set a couple of weeks ago.  It was one of those sets that I only liked one or two stamps in and really couldn't justify buying for that reason.  Well, I think it is safe to say, I am going to have to get it for myself now!

I used another gorgeous photo I pinned on Pinterest was the inspirational for this card.  I was struck by the hazy background and then the bright splash of red in the umbrellas.  While I didn't want to recreate the scene, it was the idea of the colour splash that spoke to me.

 

The images in the Rue Des Fleurs stamp set are a real vintage mix, not really the style I go for.  If you have a look at the umbrella, you will see I only inked up part of the image to make it look more modern.  I love the versatility of the Stampin' Up! stamp sets! 

You can also see a another card I made using this lovely set HERE, which also includes a mini tutorial for your pleasure!

FOR THE OTHER MAN IN MY LIFE!

That would be my Dad, of course, who is celebrating his Birthday today.  HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD! 

I pulled out a real "man's" stamp set which I love, but haven't used a lot since I got it.  Of course, I also pulled out my trusty sponges and Post-it-Notes too, lol

I decided to keep this all in monotone, using only Basic Black and Basic Grey.  I am really pleased with how this turned out.  It is hard to create depth when not using colour, but I was lucky enough to achieve this look on the first try!

Hope you have a wonderful day Dad.  Love you heaps! ♥

THANKS - A mini tutorial

To thank everyone for the wonderful comments I have been receiving lately (your comments are always appreciated!), I have put together a wee tutorial for you.  This is a Clean and Simple (CAS) Note Card and Envelope set I have just completed for some of my customer's.

Unfortunately, the day I made them, the sun was not playing ball and the photo's are not as lovely and bright as I would like, but beggars can't be choosers - right?!

To make the Note Card you will need:

3" x 6" Sahara Sand card base, scored at 3" (along the 6" side)
2 3/4" x 2 3/4" Sahara Sand Mat (for stamping on)
Rue Des Fleurs stamp set
Chocolate Chip Classic Ink
Stamp-a-ma-jig
Dimensionals
Basic Pearls
 

1.  Using the border stamp from the Rue Des Fleurs stamp set and Chocolate Chip ink, stamp your image on the imaging sheet using your Stamp-a-ma-jig.

2.  Line up the imaging sheet on your 2 3/4" x 2 3/4" Sahara Sand Mat so the image is along the bottom of the cardstock.  Place your Stamp-a-ma-jig tool down, remove the sheet and stamp your image.

3.  Repeat step 2, carefully aligning the stamped image to bring the design across the entire card base. 

4.  Use your Stamp-a-ma-jig to stamp a sentiment on the right side of the card, evenly between the top of the card and your stamped border.
5.  Using Dimensionals, adhere the mat to the front of your cardbase.
6.  Add a wee Basic Pearl embellishment to the left of your sentiment.

To make the Envelope, you will need:

Simply Scored Board & Diagonal Plate
Plain paper (I use everyday copy paper) 5" x 5"
Double sided tape
Paper Snips or a 1 1/4" Square punch
Bone Folder

Using the diagonal plate on your Simply Scored board, place a marker at the 2 1/4" mark.  Place your paper square into the corner and score on all four sides from that mark.  Use your bone folder to crease your scorelines well.

You will have a little triangle in the middle of all four sides of your paper after you have scored.  Either snip or punch all four out, as I have shown you (on two sides) above.

Fold in two opposite flaps to meet in the middle.  Place adhesive along the inside edges of the bottom flap, fold up and stick to the side flaps (see top photo).  Place double sided tape on the inside of the remaining flap - but don't secure until you have placed your card inside!

Just to tie the two together, I also stamped the same border on the outside flap of the envelope and rounded the point to soften the top flap.

Well I hope that was clear as mud! 

HOLD ON TO YOUR HATS!

I actually managed to get a scrapbook page done over the weekend!  I came across a page on Pinterest that was created by Karina Beck.  I thought it was such a fantastic way to use up scraps that I just had to have a go myself.  So here is my version:

I chose all the colours from the photo for all my little circles.  You should have seen the mess on my desk!  I also chose to add a journal pocket beneath my photo.  The great thing about this pocket is that the journal tag stops before you can pull it all the way out.  Such a clever little mechanism so you will never lose a tag!

 I hope you enjoyed this page.  Makes such a change from my typical card posts!

MILFORD INSPIRATION

I have been happily pinning some lovely inspirational photos on Pinterest (you can see my board HERE), when a gauntlet was thrown down the other day! I pinned a photo of Milford Sound, mainly for the gloriuos colours and the reflection.  I absolutely had no intention of recreating , or should I say, putting my take on it.  HOWEVER, a fellow Demo (you know who you are!) said she couldn't wait to see what I came up with.  Well, I have never been one to resist a challenge.  Out came my sponges, my brayer, my beloved post-it-notes and my inks.  Here is the completed project:

Do you think I managed to capture the essence of this gorgeous piece of New Zealand?  I hope so, although it was a huge ask!  My harshest critic (aka husband) reckons it is the best yet.  High praise indeed!