Happy Home

I like when Stampin' Up! offers new sets that coordinate with thinlits I already have in my collection. This is the new Happy Home stamp set in the Occasions catalog that coordinates with the Hearth and Home Thinlits. I added some Blushing Bride color to the tree to make a spring scene. We've had so many blizzard days lately that thoughts of spring are welcome!

Another Welcome Card

Big expression stamps make for easy, quick cards. This stamp comes from the new Welcome Words stamp set. It has lots smaller word stamps that can be added for new home, baby, etc. It's not easy to see in the photo but I paper pierced the white card stock top and bottom to give a little more interest to the card.

Same Layout Different Spin

This is the same layout as yesterday's card. Just used the scrap of the Big Note die and switched things around a bit. The butterfly was made using the Big Shot with Butterfly Thinlits. I used my new Precision Base Plate made to use with thinlits that have lots of intricate cuts and the Big Shot Die Brush. Both are in the Occasions catalog. If you watch the video for using the Precision Base Plate it recommends that you do not use it with the magnetic platform because they both are magnetic and can really get stuck together. So I didn't do that but not thinking I put them in the same storage basket, unfortunately side by side and it did take quite a bit of work to get them apart. So, have made a special place on my die shelf for the Precision Base Plate. Lesson learned!

In The Meadow Again

This card features another image and sentiment from In the Meadow stamp set. I used markers to color the image before stamping on card stock. It's paired with the Wildflower Fields Designer Series Paper from Sale-A-Bration. And I used the retired Big Note die with my bigshot and then trimmed it to the size I wanted. I got this layout from Leisure Arts book, Card Sketches for Paper Crafters.

This is the inside of the card using some more stamps from In the Meadow.

Top Note Gift Card Holder

This is another CASE of Linda Heller. I get so much inspiration from her Stamping School website. I treat myself to a subscription every year. This gift card holder is easy than it looks and uses the Big Shot Top Note die. You just have to make a zig zag fold in a large piece of cardstock and then align that folder edge inside the Top Note so that you aren't cutting that edge. Then you use the Word Window punch to make the slit for the gift card before gluing that fold together.
I've used the On Point Impressions Embossing Folder on the front of the cut Top Note piece only and more All is Calm Designer Series Paper, Glimmer Paper and Frosted Sequin Snowflakes to decorate the card. And even though it doesn't look like it the middle photo is the same card. My camera battery was getting very low! LOL

Tri-Fold Gift Card Holder

I've been making this design of gift card holder almost as long as I've been stamping. I used the retired slot punch to make the tabs to hold the gift card but you could either use an Exacto knife or a small circle framelit by positioning it at the edge of the platforms.
The sentiment comes from the Mingle All the Way stamp set. I'm still using the All is Calm Designer Series Paper and I got the idea for the tree from Linda Heller. I covered a rectangular piece of white cardstock that was slightly larger than the tree punch with All is Calm washi tape and layered that under the punched tree. I wrapped a little baker's twine around the bottom and topped it with a Vintage Faceted button. Usually I use a small piece of self stick velcro to make the closure for these tri-folds but I have a few of the little clips still in my stash so used one of them instead.

Slider Gift Card Holder

Here's a fun slider gift card holder. When you open the card the piece holding the gift card slides and pops up. I've used the All is Calm Designer Series Paper again. This is a special silvery one-sided piece of paper in the pack. Very pretty! I used the Envelope Punch Board to make the notches on the front of the card.

Envelope Gift Card Holder

This week I'll share some gift card holders that I've been making. Today's was made with a sheet of All is Calm Designer Series Paper and the Envelope Punch Board. You just cut an 8x8 inch piece of DSP and then punch and score as directed for the card size 4-14x5-1/2 on the Envelope Punch Board. Fold the envelope into shape and then fold it in half. Then adhere just one half of the envelope completely flat. I then used another piece of DSP to layer over that flat part of the envelope. The other halp of the inside makes the pocket for the gift card. This went together in less than 5 minutes. Quick and easy, using the Good Greetings and Festival of Trees stamp sets and the tree punch. I added a little silver ribbon to tie it closed by punching a small hole in bottom and running the ribbon through the hole.

Coaster Calendar - May, June, July and August

May's flower is punched card stock using the Boho Blossoms punch and topped with a button from a retired assortment. 

June's butterflies are cut using the Big Shot Beautiful Wings embosslit.

July's stars are punched and topped with a rhinestone.

August's ice cream cone was stamped using the retired Sock Monkey Accessories stamp set and colored with Blendabilities markers.

This Year's Coaster Calendar

Here's the cover and first four months for this year's "Coaster" calendar. Instead of coasters I use the white tag board backing the comes in the packs of Designer Series Paper. Yes, I save those, too. I have a small space on one of my studio shelves where I store them.
I use that tag board cut to 4"x4" to make the cover and back of the calendar. The month pages are just a piece of 4"x4" card stock.
When I'm making these calendars I pick a pack of DSP that has at least 6 different colors in it and then pull card stock in those six colors. Each monthly page has a small piece (1.5"x4") of DSP glued to the bottom of the cardstock. I usually think about what ribbon I have to trim the pages, too. This calendar is made using the retired Sycamore Street DSP. Then I decide what little stamp, punch or embellishment I can use that goes with that month.
Once you have those things decided the work goes pretty quickly. Since I was making a couple of these for the church's Holiday Fair I stamped and cut everything multiple times and then got busy putting the pages together.
I used my Crop-a-Dile to cut the holes for the rings.

 The numbers were cut using a Big Shot die The back is made the same as the front except I just overlap the ribbon on the inside so it lays flat.

 Snowflakes are from a retired Big Shot die.

 The heart is from two Big Shot dies layered together.Hearts a Flutter and a retired heart Embosslit.

 I fussy cut this shamrock from the retired Got Treats stamp set.

The umbrella comes from the retired Every Little Bit stamp set and is mounted on a punched 1-1/4" scalloped circle that I ran through the Big Shot using the retired Cloudy Day embossing folder.

Notebooks and Pens

These cute little notebooks and pens are some of the items I've made to donate to the church's Holiday Fair. I used the Confetti Celebration Designer Series Paper from Stampin' Up! and some of the washi tape I had in my stash. You take the Pentel pens apart and roll a little piece of DSP and stuff it into the barrel before putting the pen back together. The little composition notebooks were found at Walgreen's. I'm hoping people will think they make great stocking stuffers or little gifts for office mates. I tied them up with ribbon from my stash... I'm trying to get rid of all my non- Stampin' Up! ribbon. We like to use it to tie up all our gifts and packages.
The little cello bags are recycled. When I get new stamping accessories they usually come in cello bags. So I carefully remove the product and have a bag hanging in my studio closet where I store them. When I make a gift or these type of items I can usually find a cello bag that is the right size. My family will be saying it's a "Aunt Nina" thing!

Christmas Designs

These are the remaining cards from the shoebox party; all with a Christmas theme. The top three were designed by nieces, three sisters. One niece designed the two middle cards so the youngest sister could come and create with us. I love the hexagon punch tree on top and the Gorgeous Grunge tree below. Creative ways to use non-holiday supplies.
The third card had a similar layout to mine. Sometimes it is eerie how alike we can all be!
The bottom card was made at our hostess' station. She's not even related to us but we have come to just treat her like one of the family. She had lots of paper and shapes and stamped images and stamp sets out for us to make a card. She was a great hostess, inviting us to come early for soup and sandwiches. She had lots of liquid refreshments, too and pumpkin gooey butter cake. A new twist on a St. Louis favorite! I hope we keep planning these parties. We always come up with some memorable expressions and plot ways to drive each other crazy!

Scraps!

Last week I made Banner Thanksgiving cards that used the Oval framelits and Autumn Accents Die. So I had scraps of ovals and acorns and leaves on my table and challenged myself to use them to design some Thanksgiving cards. The expression I used is from a retired set but could easily substitute the Thanksgiving expressions from this year's  Merry Everything or Mingle All the Way stamp sets.

A Banner Thanksgiving

This cute banner idea is a case from Dawn Olchefske. You use the Oval framelits to make the banner. It sounds more complicated than it is! The leaves were cut using the Autumn Accents Die Cut. I love the metallic buttons from the holiday catalog. So pretty! Sadly I have used all but one 6x12 piece and a few little scraps of my color Me Autumn Designer Series Paper.

Color Me Autumn for Thanksgiving

I'm working on a few more Thanksgiving cards this week. Here's one that uses the For All Things and Good Greetings stamp sets with the Color Me Autumn Designer Series Paper. It's all tied together with some Hello Honey ribbon. I love the texture of this ribbon!

Give Thanks

This card uses Color Me Autumn Designer Series Paper to create a background and a piece of Cajun Craze cardstock double cut with Banners Framelits to make a focal point. The expression comes from the Good Greetings stamp set. Candy Dots add a little more dimension to the card. CASE from Mary Fish.

I'm Thankful For...

This card uses some of the new things I got in my latest Stampin' UP! shipment. The stamped image is just a portion of the I'm Thankful For stamp. This is a single stamp sold in the Holiday catalog. The YOU letters were cut with the Little Letters Thinlits.  I used Color Me Autumn Designer Series Paper for the background and pulled the Mossy Meadow, Cajun Craze and Crushed Curry color trio from it.

It's Your Birthday

The stamped images from this card are part of the Big News set. I like using DSP to come up with color combinations. This cared is Rich Razzleberry, Daffodil Delight and Tempting Turquoise. The strip of DSP is from the Sweet Taffy pack.

Petite Pairs Stamp Set

Here's two cards using the Petite Pairs stamp set that is currently on sale October 1-6 from Stampin' Up! It's a great set as the expressions can be used paired or alone. The top card also uses the Age Awareness stamp set and the layout design is a CASE from Linda Heller. 

The bottom card is a repeat design from a previous post. But if you missed that one it uses the Homemade Holiday framelits to make the arrows. Just use the tall skinny house framelit and cut of the chimney after you run the DSP through the Big Shot. I've used up some retired DSP scraps and the last of my retired More Mustard cardstock. Yippee! More room for other card stock and it's on sale now, too until October 6th!

Happy October! Happy stamping!

Birthday presents!

Here's a fun card to make with your Designer Series Paper scraps.

My squares for the packages measure 1-1/4" and 1-3/8". The bow on the presents is made using a retired punch but the 7/8" scallop circle punch (129404) could be used to top off the presents. (CASE: inkinginidaho.blogspot.com)

I think the sentiment from Remembering Your Birthday (131350 c, 131347 w) works perfectly with this card. The party hat inside is from a retired set but Birthday Surprise (134120 c, 134117 w) has a party hat and lots of other fun birthday images that could be used. Before I mail this card I'll probably add some little bows using 1/8" Taffeta ribbon (page 206) to one or two of the packages. The new Thick Baker's Twine (page 207)would also make fun bows.