Guest Blogger: C.A.S.E. It!

Hi everyone, I'm Kristen, a fellow blogger and Stamper with Stampin' Up. I don't primarily blog about Stampin' Up, but I love a good idea when I see one and the Idea Book is chock full of them.

Rule number One of crafts. Copy And Steal Everything...in the most complementary way possible. Haven't you ever heard the saying "copying is the highest form of complimenting"?

Well, let's just say I got crafty today based upon an idea I saw in my Stampin' Up Idea Book and Catalog.  Page 97.

Now, I have this handy-dandy box that I got as part of the "gift" that came with my favorite Dolce & Gabbana perfume. It's gold and unfortunately says "Dolce & Gabbana" on it. I've been using it to hold my sample cards for the Stampin' Up demonstrations I have.

So, inspired by that idea so thoughtful provided by the lovely creative types at Stampin' Up, I dug out my rubber cement and went to work.

I chose rubber cement because of my college days. It's adhesive, messy, and delightfully tacky. And that sucker holds like whoa. I chose to use some of our Specialty Designer Series paper, and utilized my scoring board and my cutter. Don't forget a ruler!

After I measured the box dimensions, I started slicing and dicing. I measured out 1 1/8" wide strips for the sides on the lid, and made them a little long so they'd wrap around the corners and create a smooth corner. I did the same for the sides of the box, but with 4 1/4" strips.

The front edge of the lid all the way down the back is one continuous piece of paper. I used my bone folder to smooth the paper down and round the corners. Now, the trick with rubber cement is not to stick the pieces together while they are wet, but rather, paint a thin coat of cement on both the paper and the side of the box. Wait until they dry and then carefully align and place. Use the bone folder to smooth the bubbles out.

The front of the bottom is just one square of paper. Next, I started on the interior. I measured the pieces I'd need. A flat square for the bottom, and strips for the interior edge.

Then, I stamped letters. I double stamped -- to give the letters dimensions -- I used Daffodil Delight for the first layer, and then for the second layer I used Soft Suede. I backed my letters with more of the designer paper, and then with Pear Pizzazz paper.

Using some thread and a needle, though I recommend the baker's twine or the linen thread from Stampin' Up, I sewed the letters together. I used the snail adhesive to attach the yellow strip and the thread to the inside of the box.

All done!

Happy Stamping,
Kristen

Elegant Bird

Today I wanted to try out my new Bigz Die Elegant Bird (#125593) and use some of the DSP that I have stashed away.  I chose Timeless Portrait DSP and it dictated my color palette- River rock, Island Indigo, Basic Black, Cherry Cobbler and Very Vanilla.  I love how these colors look together!  I've used the Island Indigo very little and I'm happy to see that I'm really drawn to this color with the contrast of the cherry cobbler.  This card started with an unusual fold:

Here it is opened up so you can see it.  I took a piece of River Rock card stock 4 1/4 x 11 inches and scored with my trusty Simply Scored tool at 2 3/4" and then again at 5 1/2".  The hidden space can be used for your message or decorated to match the outside of the card.  I'm going to give this to my husband to send to his mother for her birthday so I left plenty of room for a nice message that I know he will want to write!  I finished the card with a sentiment from Teeny Tiny wishes stamp set, the word window and modern label punch, a flower with the 5 petal flower punch (in Island Indigo and River Rock), a nice bow with the white taffeta ribbon(#109070), and a glimmer brad to hold it together (#121003).  This card has a lot of impact without a lot of work!
Thanks for stopping by!
Mary

More to Sale-a-brate!

Okay, so I tried to be a little more artistic with my photo shoot- it looks to be an ongoing process.  I wanted to show some of the cool elements I used while making this card and I got some of the things in there that are important- the Everyday Enchantment Brad and Ribbon pack (I know, I love it too) and the coordinating Fresh Vintage stamp set from the Sale-a-bration catalog.  What I didn't get in the photo was the Simply Scored Scoring tool (#122334) that I used to make the nice little pleat along the bottom of the card and the Sizzix Edgelit Die (#125595 Adorning Accents) that I used to make the scallop edge.  So here's the thing, I was going for a regular box pleat so I scored every 1/4" along a strip of the Everyday Enchantment DSP but I didn't like the box pleat look with this increment so I did a half pleat at the appropriate place until I got a look that I liked.  I adhered it to the card with sticky strip to make sure it stayed in place.  I like how the pleats turned out for this project, but I'm going to keep working on the box pleat until I get it right, then I will let you know how I did it!  Remember, you can get your ribbon and brad pack, the DSP, or the Stamp set FREE with a $50 order (before shipping, handling, and tax), or order $150 and get all 3(and hostess free items too)!  Better yet, with a home workshop that totals $400 (before yada, yada) you get all 3 as well as all your other hostess items!  So many ways...

Hostess thank yous!

Hey Stampers!

I've done it again, go me!  I needed to stamp some thank yous for my latest workshop (thanks Betsy) and I wanted a valentiney theme but- not too valentiney- so this is what I came up with.  Owls seem to be all the rage and I thought this one is especially cute.  I pulled out the old color coach, found Early Espresso and Bashful Blue would make nice coordinating colors with my real read heart, and off I went.  The little hearts dry embossed in the background come from a new embossing folder found in the new mini catalog.  The punches used were the 1 1/4" and 1 3/8" circle punches, scallop circle, and heart punches.  Maybe next post I'll have some  numbers for you to order!  You can always go directly to my website from the link to the right and shop.
Thanks for stopping by!  Mary

Sale-a-bration Days!

Good

Good Morning !  After working for 3 days I have finally worked out how to upload a photo to this blog.  I can't believe how easy all those bloggers out there make it look, throwing up a post daily, in addition to creating some lovely project to write about, photographing it, etc..  I never know all the intricacies involved!  Hopefully it gets easier as you practice, as in all things.  I figure if nothing else, learning something entirely new to me will stave off the dementia yet another day!

I designed this card for a Stamp-a-stack class I gave recently, and it is timely as the Designer Series paper used for the butterflies is the Everyday Enchantment from the Sale-a-bration Brochure!  I love it!  Since I'm usually challenged trying to use the DSP I pleased to have a project that uses it.  The best part of this DSP is that is absolutely FREE when you purchase $50 in Stampin' Up! merchandise!  Gotta love that!  

I guess next thing to figure out is how to add links so you can head on over to my website and order yourself some of this great paper!  Three more days and I'm sure I'll have it!.....