I Love Papercrafts

Easy and Elegant Gift - Monogrammed Cards

This week we're talking gifts and tags to help keep your Christmas crafting mojo going!

Today's project is a set of four monogrammed note cards in a cello bag.  Easy and elegant - great gifts for mass production.

The cards are Very Vanilla with a strip of Hollyberry Bouquet Designer Series Paper. By using a strip that is more neutral, these cards are for all occasions. The scallop piece is from the Tasteful Trim Die for the Big Shot. The monogram is stamped in Early Espresso ink with the Jayne's Type Alphabet. I just recently added this alphabet to my collection, but I can see it getting a lot of use - check it out:

The cards are packaged up in a large cello bag with a 4 x 6 topper made with the Holly Berry Bouquet Designer Series Paper.  The corners are rounded, and then a tag added and topped off with a button. I taught this project a couple weeks ago and the girls decided to keep the bags with the topper for treats and then use the cards for their children's teachers each with the teacher's intital!  Love how they mixed it up.  Here's the topper:

 

 

 Stamp with Me! Local to eastern Ontario? I'm a short drive from Ottawa, Brockville and Cornwall or anywhere in between....I'd love to stamp with you! Click here for upcoming events.

Shop Online 24/7 and have your order sent to your door anywhere in Canada. Receive a free class by email with a purchase of $50 or more.  This month's online inspiration class features the Christmas Lodge stamp set - check out this free class by clicking here.

Holiday Mini Sneak Peek: Christmas Lodge

It's Holiday Mini Sneak Peek day #2 - all this week I'm featuring my favorite picks from the Holiday Mini that starts on September 1st.

Yesterday, my pick was the Stitched Stockings Stamp Set and coordinating Stockings Builder Punch. You can check out yesterday's stitched stockings project by clicking here.

Today we are channeling all things holiday and snow with the Christmas Lodge stamp set.  So far, I've had lots of you tell me that you *must* have this set! I smell a winner!

This is an excellent "mass production" card - eg. one you can make 30 of and not want to stab yourself with the paper piercer!  It's truly a stamps-paper-ink creation!

 

Featured Color Combo: Cherry Cobbler - Always Artichoke - Very Vanilla - Crumb Cake

Tips & Tricks - Give the card a vintage feel by gently sponging Crumb Cake ink around the stamped panel. Step up your card with a little bit of glitter. The Two-Way Glue Pen and Dazzling Diamonds Glitter help take this card from drab to fab!

If you want more project ideas - check back all this week on my blog for my top five Holiday Mini picks.

Want even more project ideas? Sign up for my email newsletter and you'll get my new weekly Fall into the Holidays: Inbox Edition for the next six weeks.  Pictures and project instructions that will only be available by email!  Click here to sign up.

 Check out my *new* Stamps 2 Go Club. Get a stamp set every month along with three sample cards and a technique sheet mailed to you.  Register or get more info here.

Stamp with Me! Local to eastern Ontario? I'm a short drive from Ottawa, Brockville and Cornwall or anywhere in between....I'd love to stamp with you! Click here for upcoming events.

Shop online 24/7 and have your order sent to your door anywhere in Canada. Receive a free class by email with a purchase of $50 or more. 

Farewell to Bugs & Kisses

I am usually very ruthless when it comes to cleaning out my stamps once they are retired, but I don't think I'll be parting with Bugs & Kisses anytime soon. It's great for so many occasions!  I got the idea for this card on Stampin Connection, which is a great perk of being a demonstrator. Thanks to Denise Kasandra for the inspiration! 

On a totally different note, here's another way to take Bugs & Kisses from cute to adult!

Retiring Stamp Sets Now on Sale - Only Until June 30th!

Remember...if you buy one retiring stamp set, you can get the second one at 50% off, and if you buy three, get the fourth one free!  Stock up now on these great set - you can call or email me to place an order, or click on shop now below!

Tomorrow....Christmas sets that are gone for good in just a few short days!

Want to be a VIP?  You can get your NEW Idea Book & Catalog starting today!

If you spend $75 or more this month, become a Stamping VIP - be the first to get the new Idea Book & Catalog, as well as exclusive, free access to my annual Open House and Mega Garage Sale! 

 

Stamp with Me! Local to eastern Ontario? I'm a short drive from Ottawa, Brockville and Cornwall and I'd love to stamp with you! Click here for upcoming events.

Shop online 24/7 and have your order sent to your door anywhere in Canada. Receive a free class by email with a purchase of $50 or more.

Open Seas Thank You Card

I must confess when I first saw the Open Seas stamp set in the Summer Mini it did nothing for me.  After receiving a lot of swap cards showing how many different ways it can be used...I caved. I do have to say, it is going to be a great set for scrapbooking more masculine pages and ones from the Alaskan cruise!

Lots of distressing on this card - the edges were inked with crumb cake and then distressed with the distressing tool on the cutter kit! 

 

May's Sweet Deal! Pressed for time?  Drowning in pictures?  My Digital Studio is the answer! You can get Stampin' Up's digital scrapbooking product AND two stamps sets, markers, ink and paper for only $150.50 - no tax, no shipping.  Email me and I'll get you set up!  Plus, you can come to a free training night in June to help get you started!

Stamp with Me! Local to eastern Ontario? I'm a short drive from Ottawa, Brockville and Cornwall and I'd love to stamp with you! Click here for upcoming events.

Shop online 24/7 and have your order sent to your door anywhere in Canada. Receive a free class by email with a purchase of $50 or more.

Fun Friday - Fall Punch Art Pumpkin and Sunflower

 

Happy Friday! Here's some fun punch art that you can easily use on a card or scrapbook page.  Have a great weekend! 

Stampin' Up Supply List

• Stamps: Teeny Tiny Wishes (115370)
• Ink: Chocolate Chip Classic (100908)
• Paper: Very Vanilla Cardstock (101650), Crumb Cake (120953), Pumpkin Pie (105117), Chocolate Chip (102128), Old Olive (100702), So Saffron (105118)
• Accessories: Old Olive Satin Ribbon (117292), SNAIL (104332), Stampin' Dimensionals (104430)
• Tools: Big Shot Die Cutting System (113439), Square Lattice Textured Impressions Embossing Folder (119976), Word Window Punch (119857)

Cardstock Dimensions for this Project

• Crumb Cake
  • Card Base: 5.5 x 4.25
• Old Olive
  • Piece for Embossing: 4.25 x 2.5
• Very Vanilla, Chocolate Chip, Old Olive, Pumpkin Pie, So Saffron
  • Scraps for punch art
    

Technique Directions

To create the punch art pumpkin, punch paper as shown:

Assemble pumpkin by layering middle oval on top of other two using SNAIL. Affix stem on back side and add leaf.

To create the punch art sunflower, punch paper as shown:

Cut scallop circles on each scallop, stagger them and affix together using SNAIL. Curl up petals on top layer. Attach circle to middle of flower and then layer tiny flowers on top.

Finishing Touches

1. Take card base and fold in half.
2. On bottom right corner stamp greeting as shown in Rich Razzleberry.
3. Run 2.5 x 4.25 Old Olive panel through Big Shot with Square Lattice Embossing Folder. Tear to create grass and attach to base with SNAIL.
4. Attach pumpkin on top of grass using Stampin' Dimensionals.
5. Attach Old Olive ribbon to card base with SNAIL, tucking bottom edge under the grass.
6. Attach sunflower on top of ribbon with Stampin' Dimensionals.
7. Stamp "happy thanksgiving" in Chocolate Chip Classic Ink on Very Vanilla Cardstock and punch out with Word Window Punch. Attach to cardbase with SNAIL.

Punch art is just another fun way to get more out of your tools! Punches help save you time when creating your pages and projects, and the added bonus is there are so many other possibilities!

 

Five Minute Friday: Grunge Rock Birthday Card

Isn't this a fun color combination? I love it! Expect to see a lot more of it. This combination of Tempting Turquoise, Old Olive and Rich Razzleberry is fresh and can be used for kid or adult cards, and will still work for a more masculine card.

This card combines simple elements, including background stamping using the Grunge Rock (W117080/C120555) and Extreme Elements (115181) stamp sets. Come to my monthly card class and make lots of samples just like this to help kickstart your creativity! The next one is on Wednesday September 29th at 7 p.m. and we'll be making six cards for you to use as samples or send out.  The cost is a $25 order or $15 flat fee!   Plus, there's an add-on Big Shot class where we make three Big Shot projects. If you'd like to sign up just email me at maggie@ilovepapercrafts.com

Step by Step Directions

1. Cut Old Olive card base to 5.5 x 8.5 and fold in half.
2. Cut Tempting Turquoise to 4 x 5.25 and randomly stamp images all over in Tempting Turquoise Classic Ink.
3. Stamp greeting in Rich Razzleberry in upper left corner as shown.
4. Attach Rich Razzleberry Satin Ribbon using SNAIL, hiding ends around the back of the stamped panel. Attach panel to card base using SNAIL.
5. Stamp guitar image in Old Olive on Whisper White and cut out with Paper Snips. Attach to card with Stampin' Dimensionals and top off with a Rhinestone.
6. Add three rhinestones to ribbon on right hand side as shown.

Stampin' Up Supply List

Stamps: Grunge Rock (W117080/C120555), Extreme Elements (115181)

Ink: Tempting Turquoise (100814), Rich Razzleberry (115658), Old Olive (102277)

Paper: Tempting Turquoise (102067), Old Olive (100702), Whisper White (100730)

Accessories: Basic Rhinestones (119246), Rich Razzleberry Satin Ribbon (119752), SNAIL (104332), Stampin' Dimensionals (104430)

Tools: Paper Snips (103579)

Take out your stamps and ink and see what stamped background you can create to add visual interest to your projects. Tone on tone stamping as used above is a great way to get more out of your cardstock for scrapbooking as well. Go shopping for some background stamps below and have them shipped right to your door anywhere in Canada - and if you spend over $50 you get a tutorial by email. This month's tutorial features the fantastic Just Believe stamp set! 

Have a fabulous weekend - I have lots of stamping and time at the campground in store! 

 

Elegant Lines Embossing Folder - All Occasions Card

This is a super quick card we did at this month's card class - the ladies loved this one, as the Elegant Lines Embossing Folder does the heavy lifting for you! A big thanks to all of you who came to Wednesday's class and I can't wait to stamp with all of you again soon.  I am fortunate to have so many fun customers!

I absolutely cannot get enough of my embossing folders, so I am pretty excited that there are two new ones coming out in the Holiday Mini that starts September 1st. If you aren't on my mailing list already, and are in Canada, I'd be happy to mail one to you - just email me to request a copy.

This card combines Whisper White and Basic Black cardstock, along with Melon Mambo Classic Ink to create a simple, yet elegant card.  The greeting is from the Favorite Thoughts set from the Summer Mini - this set will be gone for good in four days!   Everything is topped off with Basic Black Taffeta Ribbon and Basic Rhinestones.   Easy, peasy!

Later this week I'll have more video (think: Holiday Mini!) as well as lots of new projects to share. My newsletter goes out on the 1st, so if you aren't on my list - sign up here - to get ideas and projects emailed to you twice per month.

Five Minute Friday: Every Little Bit Birthday Card

This week's Five Minute Friday card features two of my absolute favorite new sets in the Idea Book & Catalog - Every Little Bit and Fabulous Phrases! These sets are probably not ones that you noticed right away, but they are both extremely versatile. There's pretty much endless combinations when you are using these two sets!

This is a card I made for another demonstrator's birthday - we are both into our shoes and purses, so I figured this was perfect.  The image is watercolored with classic inks, and the image was stamped with Basic Grey Classic Ink.  It was then punched with the 1 inch circle punch and then layered on a punched scallop circle.  The Cherry Cobbler mat was embossed using the Perfect Polkadots Textured Impressions Folder.   As a finishing touch, the purse is topped off with a Basic Rhinestone.  That's it - easy peasy!

The envelope was also lined as a finishing touch.  I adore the Love Letter Designer Series Paper! 

Have a great weekend. We're off to Halifax for a weekend of fun. I love that city and can't wait to visit with our maritime peeps!

Five Minute Friday: Artistic Etchings & Vintage Wallpaper

Here's this week's five minute Friday card. I've been doing this one at all my events this month and it's been a hit.  Everyone seems to love this new embossing folder - Vintage Wallpaper and the stamp set Artistic Etchings.

I use a lot of the embossing folders for the Big Shot and they are always popular. I love how you can get so many different looks. If you don't have a Big Shot - you NEED one!  It is truly a must-have item for all of your crafting - card making, scrapbooking, sewing/quilting and more!

Here I've sponged Crumb Cake Ink on stop of the embossing to help it bring up the texture.  The stamped image is sponged around the edges too.  Colors used on this card are Crumb Cake, Early Expresso and Baja Breeze!   Love it - it's vintage and modern all at once.

Five Minute Friday: Elements of Style Butterfly

Here's a quick and easy card this Friday. With a bit of simple stamping using Elements of Style (W118611/C120045) and the Big Shot, you have a elegant card for pretty much any occasion.  You can easily switch up the colors and be good to go.  This is the card that my customers who placed orders over the past few weeks will receive in the mail soon!

Here's how to make this card:

1. Cut Melon Mambo Cardstock to 8.5 x 5.5 and fold in half.

2. Stamp flourish in lower left and upper right hand corner in Melon Mambo.

3. Cut large butterfly using Big Shot out of Kraft (soon to be renamed Crumb Cake), stamp flower image from Elements of Style in Rich Razzleberry.

4. Stamp "just for you" (from Teeny Tiny Wishes) or any other greeting on bottom left in Rich Razzleberry.

5. Add Rich Razzleberry grosgrain  ribbon to card base with SNAIL; cut off at edges.

6. Attach butterfly using Stampin' Dimensonals.

That's it!  You "need" this stamp set - it's so versatile! You can order it by clicking Shop Now below.

I have a special little bonus project for you with the Butterfly Die for the Big Shot.  While you have it out, why not make a few of these little guys:

 

All you do is cut the Butterfly out with the Big Shot using whatever paper you'd like. I used Cottage Wall Designer Series paper, and then coordinated the lip balm, lol.  To hold the lip balm, take a thin strip of cardstock and then attach on one end with sticky strip to the back of the butterfly.  Then using the lip balm to size it, attach the other end with sticky strip - that way you know how tight to make it.  Easy peasy!  Perfect for a party favor this summer, because who can't use lip balm?  I made these last week at my team's PJ party, and they were a hit!

Have a fabulous weekend.  Lots in store here - going out for my anniversary and then the next night with my peeps to see Sex and the City...and then Sunday I have a bunch of six year old boys joining my son to celebrate his birthday.  Let's  hope it is sunny so they can play outside and the pinata portion of the event turns out safely. (boys with sticks and bindfolds = danger!).