More Chipboard

Just a few more days left in SU's chipboard special. Here are a couple of samples to help inspire you.

The first is one of SU's chipboard clipboards that I altered. I have to admit that I'm not big into scrapbooking, but I do love altering items to use as picture 'frames'. This one was so easy to make... I covered the chipboard with designer paper and cut/punched additional pieces out of the same DS pack for the medallions, for the picture mat, and for the photo corners. I stamped and embossed 'Cherish' and added a couple pieces of Blue Bayou double stitched ribbon to it. Very quick an easy!

Supplies:
4 1/2" x 9" On Board Clipboard
Outlaw Designer Paper (retired)
Blue Bayou & Really Rust cardstock
Chocolate Chip craft ink
Clear embossing powder
Blue Bayou double stitched ribbon
Pewter Jumbo Eyelet
Fire Rhinestone Brad
Scallop punch
Photo corners punch
Spiral Punch
1 3/8" circle punch
1/8" circle punch
Stampin' Dimensionals

The next is an altered file folder that I made. I do have pictures in it now... they're all in black and white. I chose to use black & white pictures so that I didn't have to worry about coordinating colors in the pictures to the colors I used for the folder. This is a great tip to remember for all of your scrapbooking - black and white pictures will coordinate with any color scheme!

The file folder was first partially covered with apricot textured cardstock. The rest of the folder was covered with designer paper from the Bali Breeze collection - this is one of my favorite designer paper collections! I hid the edges by running grosgrain ribbon from top to bottom. The black rub-ons are from the Cherished Memories set - I love how well they adhere, even to textured cardstock. The chipboard pieces on the front were 'painted' with craft inks. To some I added glitter, to another I added a rub-on from A Perfect Day set (from the current Occasions Mini-catalog). The hardware that I used is from the GORGEOUS Stylized Silver Hodgepodge Hardware (also from the current Occasions Mini-catalog). The photo flaps are simply layered cardstock attached together with Prong Fasteners that you can find in any office supply store. I had so much fun making this!















Supplies:

Bali Breeze Desiger Paper
Apricot Appeal textured cardstock
Tempting Turquiose, Certainly Celery, Old Olive, Pumpkin Pie Cardstock
A Perfect Day, Cherished Memories Rub-ons
Stylized Silver Hodgepodge Hardware
Grosgrain Ribbon
Chunky Glitter
Dazzling Diamonds Glitter
On Board Blossoms & Basics chipboard

Bloom Framed Print

With only a couple of weeks left to take advantage of Stampin' Up's Chipboard promotion, I want to show a sample of what you can do with our chipboard. You're going to love the chipboard.. it's thick, it's smooth, it's awesome!

This project was made using a piece from the Ginormous Pieces chipboard set. The scalloped frame is 8" x 8" square... huge! I covered it with a piece of Afternoon Tea designer paper from the Occasions mini catalog - isn't it yummy?? I cut it close to the chipboard, then sanded the edges smooth. The stamp set is also from the Occasions mini - it's the Bloomin' Beautiful set that I just fell in love with as soon as I saw it! Then again, it's a floral set... I love floral, and I love hydrandeas!

The main image is done in three layers. The first was stamped onto the background cardstock. Two other images were stamped separately. I cut pieces of the flowers out and layered them onto the first image using Stampin' Dimensionals to pop them out of the page and give lots of dimension to them. The silver frame is from the silver Hodgepodge hardware, also from the Occasions mini catalog.

Don't forget to click on the picture above to see the project up close. It's hard to see the dimension of the hydrangea, though, so you'll have to use your imagination! ;)

Other supplies used:

Soft Sky In Color cardstock & classic ink
Chocolate Chip cardstock
Whisper White cardstock
Basic Brown classic ink
Glue stick
SNAIL adhesive
Sand paper
Paper snips

Fall/Winter Collection Sneak Peek!

Those Stampin' Up demonstrators who worked hard and earned the annual Stampin' Up cruise were spoiled to no end on the latest cruise. They sailed last week to Burmuda and I am so jealous of them! They were treated to many sneak peeks of new products that will be introduced in the upcoming Fall/Winter Collection catalog that will be released in August. Some of those demonstrators were so sweet and shared those sneak peeks when they were able to get an internet connection from the ship and now I'm sharing them with you!

The first sneak peek is the new In Colors. I know you have been dying to see them! Click on the picture below for a close-up. I don't know how true the colors are, but this picture has me really excited about seeing them in person!

The next sneak peek is some of the new designer papers. Aren't they gorgeous?





How about a peek at some of the stamp sets that will be introduced in the Fall/Winter Collection? I don't know if I can stand to wait for 3 months to get my hands on these sets... and I know that I'll have to have them! I LOVE the style of those first three!! {Yes, I know... more floral. But you know how much I love floral sets!}

I have to say that in the 6 years I have been a demonstrator for Stampin' Up, they have done nothing but get better each year! I am anxious to see what else they have up their sleeve for us, aren't you?

Tutorial: Happy Bird-day Gift Card Holder

We had an intimate Coffee & Craft night this month! It was nice to have one-on-one time with a few customers and I really enjoyed getting to know them better! Glad you could make it, ladies! For those who were unable to make it, either because of other commitments or because of not being in the local area, I am posting intructions for re-creating the cute little gift card holder we made.


Isn't this little guy cute?? He comes from the Pun Fun stamp set. I just fell in love with this set the moment I saw it!

Supplies

Cardstock:
Tempting Turquoise (11" x 4 1/4")
Apricot Appeal (2 1/2" x 3 1/2")
Certainly Celery (2 1/4" x 3 1/4")
Whisper White (1 3/4" x 2")

Ink: Stazon Black, Tempting Turquoise, Apricot Appeal, Certainly Celery, Cameo Coral

Accessories: AquaPainter, Cutter Kit (Distressing Tool), Celery & Apricot Grosgrain 3/8" ribbon, Word Window Punch, 1 1/4" Circle Punch, Stampin' Dimensionals, Adhesive, Paper Cutter with Scoring Blade, rubbing alcohol

Directions

Score the turquoise card base at 3" from each end and at 5 1/2". Fold on score lines in an accordian fashion.

Adhere the center section together at the top, bottom, and back leaving the center and the fold free of adhesive.

Using the Word Window punch, punch twice about 1/4" from the top and bottom edge along the fold on the inside flap. Punch only half pieces (fold is in the center of the punch). You'll be left with a slight dimple.

Using the circle punch, punch about 1/2 of the circle, removing the dimple and leaving a notch that extends a little further back from the Word Window-punched sections. Insert a gift card into the slot to be sure it fits. If it doesn't, re-punch using the Word Window punch to lengthen the slot just a bit.

Stamp that cute little bird onto the Whisper White cardstock using Black Stazon ink. Stamp a sentiment on the inside of the card, too, if you like.

Squeeze the unopened ink pads together to deposit ink onto the lid. Open and use these as your paint palette. Fill the aquapainter with rubbing alcohol. We'll use this to watercolor instead of water - your colors will be more vibrant, they'll blend better, and your cardstock will buckle much less. Trust me... you'll love it! Watercolor the stamped image.

Distress the edges of the Whisper White cardstock and adhere to the Certainly Celery cardstock at the top, tieing a piece of Apricot grosgrain ribbon around the bottom.

Adhere the layered bird panel to the Apricot Appeal cardstock using a Stampin' Dimensional in each corner of the Celery layer.

Adhere the entire panel to the front of the gift card holder.

Wrap Celery Grosgrain ribbon around the gift card holder, threading it between the Apricot & Celery cardstock layers and tie in a bow at the side.

That's it - you're done and your gift card holder is ready to be given to that special person!

April Coffee & Craft Night!

March sure went by quickly! I don't know if it's just that I've been so busy with work and life and trying to plan some upcoming events, but I am just stunned that it's already April. It seems as if we just had our March Coffee & Craft night when here is April's coming up in just a couple of days. Hopefully you'll be able to stop by!

This month, we'll be making a gift card holder very similar to the one shown here. When opened, there's a center panel that a gift card slides into. It's really a very clever design that I wish I'd thought up, but someone else out there in 'stamping land' did instead. I think it was another demonstrator named Patty Bennett, but am not entirely sure. Whomever it was... THANK YOU!

As it is every month, Coffee and Craft Night will be held on Tuesday April 8th at the Eaton Rapids' Evelyn Bay Coffee Shop from 6:00 - 8:00 pm. For $5.00, you'll get your choice of one of Evelyn Bay's YUMMY specialty drinks (coffee, latte, cappucino, smoothy, etc.) and you'll make the craft of the month. Even better, you get a fun night out on the town with your stamping buddies! Come have fun, see old friends, and make new ones! No RSVP is necessary.

Easter: A card and rub-ons redux

I think it's been a while since I've posted a card on my blog! Easter is only a week away and I've got both a card and a home decor project to show you....

First the card. I am really pleased with how it turned out. I used Wild Wasabi textured cardstock for the base. Actually, this is from the Wild About Wasabi promotion going on through the end of April. Check out the details HERE. I am IN LOVE with textured cardstock, by the way - I can't get enough of it, but I'm finding that it's one of those things that I hoard... you know... want to use it, but if I use it I won't have any for when I REALLY want to use it. How silly is that? So I am trying diligently to hoard less and use more!

For the main image, I watercolored the leaves using the Garden Green watercolor crayon & the Aquapainter. For the center of the flower, the Apricot Appeal WWC & Aquapainter. For the flower itself, I simply added Dazzling Diamonds glitter to the petals. What a WOW effect! Make sure you click on the picture to see the full-size version!

Supplies
Stamps: From the Garden (Hostess), All Holidays
Cardstock: Wild Wasabi textured, Apricot Appeal, Whisper White, Shimmery White
Ink: Black Stazon
Accessories: Watercolor Crayons, Aquapainter, Dazzling Diamonds Glitter, Silver brads, 2-way Glue, Round Tab Punch, Stampin' Dimensionals


And now the home decor (I know - you really wanted to see this first, but I was holding out on you!). My inspiration for these decorated eggs and crate came directly from Stampin' Up's Spring Summer 2008 Collection - page 27. I really wanted to recreate the item to use for spring & Easter decoration. Stampin' Up's rub-on's made it so easy! A rub-on on each egg, whitewashed acrylic paint and ribbons on the crate, a bit of paper shreds - and you end up with a really cute project!

Here's a close-up of a few of the eggs...

Supplies
Accessories: Eastern Elegance Rub-ons, Apricot & Pink grosgrain ribbon, Soft Sky & River Rock Double-stitched Ribbon

Have a wonderful, blessed Easter!

Basket Weaving, Anyone?

First, let me tell you that I have never, ever done basket weaving before! But I found directions on weaving a basket using patterned paper and I couldn't resist!

Would you believe that this basket used just one single 12"x12" sheet of patterned paper? I used a sheet of the new Afternoon Tea Designer Paper from the Occasions Mini Collection. This paper is to die for! It works beautifully for this basket. I haven't tried it yet, but I think that Stampin' Up's textured cardstock would give a fantastic look, also.

The basket took about an hour to do... I'm talking an hour from start to finish, taking my time because - yes... I've never done basket weaving before! So don't let what looks like a complex project stop you from trying this... you'll be so glad you tried this out!

I'm not going to even try to give directions here. Mainly because I want to make sure that Laura Canale, the creative mind behind this, gets credit for it, but also because she's got it laid out so nicely on her blog. So click HERE for the directions and let me know if you try it.

Supplies:

Afternoon Tea Designer Paper
Silver Brads
Wild Wasabi Double Stitched Ribbon
Glue Stick
Paper Cutter