Cards for Gift Cards

Our nephew is getting married this upcoming weekend and we are giving them gift cards. The bride chose colors similar to Stampin' Up!'s Garden Green with Black and White for her wedding colors. So that was the inspiration for my card. I have made gift card holders similar to this before that were singles, but this time wanted to add another folder to it as well - to accommodate two gift cards. I originally had a flap on each end to adhere it to the inside of the card base and those covered with the card liner - well it was just TOO bulky. So I started blog browsing and saw that Shelli (Stampin' Up! co-founder and President) on soshelli.com had made similar gift card holders recently and she SEWED the inside folder to the card base - brilliant! And I also found a beautiful card design for the outside. So here is my final result. What do you think?


For the front of my card, I created a mask using a 4 1/4 x 5 1/2 piece of scrap card stock. I penciled a rectangle in the center and then cut it out with my Hobby Blade, Mat Pack cutting pad and a ruler. I used Dotto Temporary Adhesive to stick it down to my Garden Green Textured card stock.


TIP: Hello beautiful texture - love this textured cardstock AND it's included in the Buy 3, Get 1 Free promotion this month! Don't forget this sale ends on May 31st.

I loaded up the En Francais background stamp with Basic Black Craft Ink and then laid it wood side down on the table so I could carefully lay my card front on top of it. I used Clear Embossing Powder and my Heat Gun to emboss it for a beautiful shine. The leaf print is from the stamp set Fresh Cuts stamped in Garden Green ink onto Whisper White. I also stamped the Mr and Mrs sentiment from All Holidays on there. This is punched out with the 1 1/4" Square Punch and a border doodled with the Black Stampin' Write Journaler. I put it a mat of Basic Black punched with the 1 3/8" Square Punch and adhered it with Stampin' Dimensionals to the center of my embossed script. Then I used Crystal Effects to add dimension and shine to each of the leaves and set it aside to dry.

For the two Gift Card folders inside, I scored and folded a piece of 4x9 Basic Black Textured card stock at 2 1/4, 4 1/2 and 6 3/4" inches. Then I used Tombow Mono Multi to seal the top and bottom inside edges on each folder. The fold side of each one is punched with a Word Window Punch twice and a Circle Punch for the thumb tab. I sewed it to the card base down the center fold line.

Stamps: En Francais, Fresh Cut
Paper: Garden Green Textured, Basic Black, Whisper White
Ink: Basic Black Craft, Garden Green
Accessories: 1 1/4" and 1 3/8" Square Punch, Word Window Punch, Crystal Effects, Clear Embossing Powder, Stampin' Dimensionals

Scrapping with DSP

Designer Series Paper can make your scrapbooking pages so beautiful with coordinating patterns or to add vivid texture. This page is a 'scraplift' from two very talented paper crafters in 2007. My favorite thing about this page is the bright contrast from the pattern paper and the Basic Black page base with the Whisper White ink and Signo Gel Pen journaling. The photos stand on their own, with no need for mats or other embellishments which would be a distraction on this page. I have another page on a Basic Black base that I love and will share later this week.

Don't forget about the great deals this month, celebrating National Scrapbooking Month. Buy 3, Get 1 Free on all Textured Cardstock and Designer Series Paper from Stampin' Up! See the link to the right for more details.

Mmmm S'Mores

Here is a sneek peek at what I'm working on right now. This yummy s'mores image is from the Under The Stars stamp set. I was playing around with ways to make the marshmallow puffy and tried a technique I saw a few weeks ago.

I stamped the S'mores image in StazOn Jet Black ink and then colored the graham cracker in Creamy Caramel and the chocolate piece in Close to Cocoa. I mixed equal parts of flour and salt and added enough water to make it about the consistency of glue. Using a toothpick, I dabbed a pretty thick amount into the center of the marshmallow image and then pushed it to the edge of the image. Finally I heated it with my Heat Gun until it puffed a little and seemed 'done' and then a little longer.

This is the beginnings of an adorable little tag for a fun S'mores pack - who doesn't love graham crackers with melted chocolate and hot gooey marshmallows!

Here's another view of it, you can see how dimensional it is - however when I cook marshmallows for s'mores - mine have lots of black on them! I like to get my char on!

Wednesday

This is one of my favorite scrap pages, featuring an often used saying by my youngest son, 'Wednesday'. We created this 12x12 page in a Scrap A Stack class I have done. The layout was inspired by another page I saw with the circle element and clock theme. I used a large card stock circle, traced and cut from a dinner plate, to loosely trace with my Signo White Gel Pen. Then we stamped the numbers in White Craft Ink with the (retired) Type Set Numbers.

TIP: By stamping the 12, then the 6, then the 3 and then the 9 first, followed by all the in-between numbers, we were able to have the correct spacing for our clock numbers.

I stamped the title- for my page Wednesday, everyone else came up with different titles - over three lines in Night of Navy Craft Ink with the Big Deal Alphabet set. Then I used my Signo White Gel Pen to add highlight details to each of the letters. TheSilver Brads were added and lined up straight with the help from the Mat Pack and Paper Piercer. You can't see it in the photo, but I also paper pierced the Night of Navy cardstock around the border. I framed the page with pieces from the Photo Corner Punch. Finally my journaling around the outside of the clock is done with the Black Stampin' Write Journaler.

For me, the most difficult part of scrap booking (other than actually getting my photos printed - I have issues) is journaling. I really feel that the journaling is the most important part of scrap booking and that it will be the most meaningful element in your scrap books in the years to come. I will have tips and tricks and ideas for you to get some great notes and memories jotted down in your scrap books over the next few weeks.

Journaling: "I'll do that on WEDNESDAY.' 'Trace's favorite procrastination phrase is 'I'll do that on Wednesday.' Wednesday is an undetermined time in the future when he'll get to all those pesky chores and anything else he doesn't want to deal with riht now. Such as tying his own shoes, picking up his toys, eating green (or any) vegetables or making his bed."

Stamps: Big Deal Alphabet, Typset Numbers
Card stock: Certainly Celery, Night of Navy, Bravo Burgundy
Ink: White Craft, Night of Navy Craft
Accessories: Silver Brads, Photo Corner Punch, Signo White Gel Pen, Mat Pack, Piercer, Black Stampin' Write Journaler

Chunky Bird with Bella Birds

This card is another quick and easy one with a background of Paper Pierced contrasting pieces of Bella Birds DSP. Then another piece of DSP punched with the Scallop Edge Punch and layered under the sentiment piece from Best Wishes & More. Two Designer Buttons from Button Bouquet to anchor it and another circle image from Cheep Talk tucked in behind.

Stamps: Best Wishes & More, Cheep Talk Cardstock: Bordering Blue Textured, Whisper White, Chocolate Chip, Bella Birds DSP Ink: Bordering Blue, Chocolate Chip, Really Rust marker (bird's beak and legs) Accessories: Button Bouquet, Linen Thread, Scallop Edge Punch, 1 1/4 Circle Punch, 1 3/8 Circle Punch, Tool Kit with Mat Pack and Paper Piercer

Parade of Paper!

Welcome to the Parade of Papers Blog Hop, showcasing EACH of the beautiful Designer Series Papers from Stampin' Up! You have arrived at Stop # 11 and probably hopped over from Patti's Blog A Touch from the Heart.

{ETA All Blog Hop links have been broken.}

Remember, you may start at any post, stop and pick it back up later, or visit all of them in succession. You will eventually wind up back at the blog where you started. Just like Cinderella at the ball, however, all the fun ends at midnight on Sunday, May 10th. The tour will be over and the blog links will be broken. We hope you will be inspired by all the creative projects and beautiful scrap pages and cards. Also, be sure to check out the Stampin' Addicts website - Positively Creative!

Bella Birds Designer Series Paper - only THE MOST beautiful paper pack in this catalog! I love the soft and beautiful patterns in this Designer Series Paper - with Bordering Blue, So Saffron, Close to Cocoa and Pink Pirouette. There are several different patterns from soft leaf images to repeating tulipes to stripes and even background flowers and line drawn birds.

I made SO many projects using a single package of this DSP - do you know how hard it is to USE UP an entire package of Designer Series Paper?! I think the best thing about the Stampin' Up! Designer Series Paper packs is that they coordinate with my Stampin' Up! card stock and inks and ribbons and also, the beautiful patterns stand on their own so well, that my projects are FAST and EASY and BEAUTIFUL!


This card is the one I am sending my dad for Father's Day - the colors are just right for him and the layout is clean and simple with no frills. It is a 6x6 piece of Chocolate Chip Textured Card Stock to create a 3x6" card that fits perfectly into our Small Open End Envelopes - I love the dimensions of this size card.

Stamps: Baroque Motif Cardstock: Chocolate Chip Textured, Very Vanilla, Bella Birds DSP Ink: Chocolate Chip Accessories: Crafter's Tool Kit (Paper Piercer and Mat Pack)






Here is another super quick and super easy card using the beautiful Bella Birds DSP. This is a 5 1/2 x 5 1/2 Square card, which fits into the Stampin' Up! Medium Square Envelopes. I added four strips of Bella Birds DSP to the card base of Sage Shadow. Across the bottom I tied a bow in a piece of Pink Taffeta Ribbon and wrapped it around a strip of Bordering Blue card stock. The sentiment is from Spring Song.

Stamps: Spring Song
Cardstock: Sage Shadow, Bordering Blue, Whisper White, Bella Birds DSP
Ink: Sage Shadow
Accessories: Pink Taffeta Ribbon, Stampin' Dimensionals





A completely different look, but also quick and easy is this card with an Almost Amethyst card base and just a touch of color. I used a Blender Pen to add color to the stamped image and of course used my Stamp-A-Ma-Jig to ensure my sentiment was straight! I punched a hole through the front of the card and tied a knot of the beautiful Organza Ribbon to the edge of the card. The DSP pieces are punched with the 1 3/8" Square Punch and adhered with Stampin' Dimensionals.

Stamps: Embrace Life
Cardstock: Almost Amethyst, Whisper White, Bella Birds DSP
Ink: Black Stazon, Pretty In Pink, Almost Amethyst, Sage Shadow
Accessories: Organza Ribbon, Blender Pen, 1 3/8" Square Punch, Photo Corner Punch, CropADile, Stampin' Dimensionals
This card is cased from one by Betty Wright 2007.





Is this a fun and easy gift package or what? The So Saffron Card Stock is Crimped and then adhered with Sticky Strip to a canister {formerly known as Lipton Powdered Iced Tea.} I used my Circle Scissors to cut a piece of So Saffron to cover the lid and a narrow strip of Bordering Blue Card Stock is adhered to the rim of the lid with Sticky Strip. For the frills on the lid, I used our Large Star Punch with Close to Cocoa Textured Card Stock, Bordering Blue Textured Card Stock and the Bella Birds DSP and adhered them to the ends of 1" x 5" strips of a Window Sheet. I stacked these with several strips of Bella Birds DSP scraps and stapled them together at the bottom. I Crimped the Bella Birds DSP and curled the ends around the Paper Piercer. Then used my Hobby Blade to cut a hole in the lid for the frills to stand up.

Stamps: Define Your Life Cardstsock: Bordering Blue Textured, Close to Cocoa Textured, Pretty In Pink, Whisper White, Bella Birds DSP Ink: Basic Black Accessories: Pink Pirouette Striped Grosgrain, Large Star Punch, Crimper, Sticky Strip





This card is one I made several weeks ago for a Dinner Swap at the Stampin' Up! Regionals event in Minneapolis. This is one of my favorites prints from Bella Birds DSP. The scallop bottom of the card is shorter than the card base, so that the inside Bordering Blue card stock shows to the front. I made several extras of these for a gift set as well.
Stamps: Branch Out, Define Your Life
Cardstock: Bordering Blue, So Saffron, Close to Cocoa, Whisper White
Ink: Close to Cocoa, So Saffron, Pretty in Pink Bordering Blue
Accessories: Pink Piroutte 1 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon, Latte Buttons, Pretties Kit, Ticket Corner Punch, Scallop Edge Punch, My Way Punch, Stampin' Dimensionals




How about dressing up a little tin for those gift set cards? It couldn't be easier with just scraps of the Bella Birds DSP. I added a few strips of the Bella Birds DSP to the lid of a {former} Pretties Kit and included several of my Bella Birds cards inside for a gift to my aunt. The clear window of the tin gives a peek to the cards inside. She loves sending hand crafted cards and will go through them quickly - I'm sure I'll be refilling this soon- how easy was this?!

Stamps: Sweet Little Sentiments Cardstock: Bordering Blue, Whisper White, Bella Birds DSP Ink: Chocolate Chip Accessories: 1 1/4 Circle Punch, 1 3/8 Circle Punch, Tool Kit with Mat Pack






Want to see more Bella Birds? Here's a link to another project I made with this SAME package of Bella Birds Designer Series Paper - Covered Note Pad Holders. And also, check out these swap cards I made with this package as well - Branch Out Swap Cards. You really won't believe how many projects you can create with just one package! I'll have more cards, projects and scrap pages using Bella Birds Designer Series Paper over the next few weeks as I continue to use up all the paper in this package!

I hope you fell in love with the Bella Birds Designer Series Paper as much I have - there's no better time than right now to stock up on Stampin' Up! Designer Series Paper and Textured Card Stock with the Buy 3, Get 1 Free Sale - be sure to check with your Stampin' Up! Demonstrator for details.

To see the rest of the beautiful Designer Series Papers on this Parade of Paper Blog Hop, go next toCandace's blog at cj lawlor designs - she is using the bold Pink Flamingo Designer Series Paper. Enjoy the rest of your blog hopping and don't forget that all the Parade of Paper links will be broken at midnight on Sunday, May 10!

{ETA: All Blog Hop links have been broken.}

Occasions Mini Catalog - new fun beautiful!

This set Sense of Time from the new Occasions Mini Catalog makes me happy! I love the clock image and can't get enough of the sentiments in this set. There are lots of fun new accessories in the Occasions Mini Catalog as well - this paper is from the new Walk in the Park DSP. The card below has a new Jumbo Grommet and a new Baja Breeze Corduroy Button as well!

I used the colors in the Designer Series Paper Walk in the Park as inspiration for my card. (Walk In the Park DSP is included in the Buy 3, Get 1 Free Promotion!)The card base is Basic Gray, layered with this Baja Breeze pattern paper from Walk in the Park DSP. I stamped the clock image in Basic Gray ink onto a piece of Whisper White card stock and then cut it apart, just off center. I also stamped the sentiment in Basic Gray ink onto a strip of Whisper White cardstock. I matted all the stamped pieces onto Cameo Coral cardstock. The sentiment strip is wrapped with a piece of the Pink Pirouette Striped Ribbon and finished off with a Rhinestone Brad and the Ribbon Pull from the Stylized Silver Hodge Podge Hardware.

For the inside I just used a Whisper White card stock lining, stamped with the clock gears image in Pretty in Pink ink.

Stamps: Sense of Time
Card stock: Basic Gray, Cameo Coral, Whisper White, Walk in the Park DSP
Ink: Basic Gray
Accessories: Stylized Silver Hodge Podge Hardware, Pink Pirouette Striped 5/8" Ribbon, Rhinestone Brad


Here's another variation of the same card with the addition of a Baja Breeze Corduroy Button in the center of a Jumbo White Grommet - both new accessories in the Occasions Mini Catalog.
















Don't forget to come back here on Friday May 8th, beginning at 8:00 am, we'll be doing the Parade of Paper Blog Hop, showcasing several different blogs and EACH of the beautiful Designer Series Papers from Stampin' Up! You'll be amazed and inspired by the creativity of this group of Stampin' Up! demonstrators.