HSS Anything BUT a Card Challenge

Good Morning Stampers!! I was SO excited to share this project with you this week as a part of the Anything BUT a Card Challenge over at Hand Stamped Sentiments, as you know I love the 3-D items!!! My cousin and I made this project at a group event we went to in CA a while back. I made a several of these as gift bags for a neighbors child's birthday. Hers were more princess themed, and were hot pink and chocolate. But I am in the process of making a couple of these for my kids Teachers as End of Year gift bags, filled with goodies. So lets get into the goods and spill the details. :)

Here are the items you need for this project:

*small paper bag (can find them at almost any grocery or craft store

*Black Card Stock (6.5x4.25" {scoring at 4.25"} & 1"x1" cut into a triangle)

*Real Red Card Stock (1/2"x 4.25" & 4x4.25")

*7" long piece of Black/White Gingham ribbon

* black brad
* you also need card stock scraps in Black, Real Red, and

Whisper White (for flowers, purse closure, etc.)

This project is super easy and fast-

*stamp an image on the Real Red card stock (the one used in the photo is retired, BUT the Astrix shape in HELLO AGAIN would be perfect!) using White Craft Ink.

*Then using your Mat Pack and your paper piercer make stitch holes in the black triangle pieces and around the sides of the strip of Real Red card stock.

*Using the Singo White Gel Pen make your stitching lines. (I also added this effect to the purse closure as well.)

*Using the Window Word Punch, punch a piece of Black card stock and make stitching holes and marks on ONE end, then fold it in half on itself and punch a 1/16" hole on the end for a black brad.

*Cut the top off the small sack so it measures 4.25" high, then attach the scored piece of Black card stock to the back like you see below...

*The top will fold over the opening of the bag at the score line.

*Using the paper piercer make a hole where you want your closure piece to go then using the black brad attach your closure.

*Attach the piece of Real Red card stock to the front of the bag, then secure the black triangle pieces to the corners of your bag.

*Attach the ends of your ribbon to the front flap of your bag, then cover the raw edges with the strip of Real Red card stock.

* Then add your floral embellishments, you can use punches- felt flowers- or even the stitched felt flower embellishments... or make glittery swirls like I did on my princess bags.

Here is a close up of the closure, I know my descriptions are not always the best and I usually always work better off of visual assistance.

Here is a closer look at the corners of the bag. The best part of these cute little projects is that they are not really big bags which means it doesn't take a lot to fill them with goodies. I am planning of having this as an upcoming project at my July Stamp Club.

I hoped you enjoyed today's project. I have another project that I will be posting on Thursday, possibly sooner if I can get it uploaded, that you will love. It is another ABAC item and I made them for an upcoming primary event I am helping with, they are too cute and I can't wait to show them to you. I hope you take a few minuets and head over to Hand Stamped Sentiments and play along with our challenges. We have some really creative guest designers taking part in the upcoming challenges, want to become a guest designer? Head on over and submit a project for a challenge. We hope to see you there, and until next time~ TTFN

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STAMPS:Hello Again
PAPER:Real Red, Basic Black, Whisper White

INK: White Craft Ink, Singo Gel Pen
TOOLS: Three Flower Punch, Window Word Punch, Mat Pack, Paper Piercer, Paper Cutter
ACCESSORIES: Black/White Gingham Ribbon, Black Brad

HSS Sketch Challenge #16

Good Morning Stampers!!! Finally SUN here in the HOT state of TX. I am thankful for ALL the rain we did get but I am SOOOOO happy to finally have sun, even though it is already like 500 degrees outside and it is like mid-May.

So onto our challenge for this week over at Hand Stamped Sentiments, using a sketch from the Stampin' Success Magazine. Here is the template/Sketch that we are using this week. I did 2 cards from this template, I know can you believe it! I am beside myself too- I did one pretty much TRUE to the sketch and then one more interpretive. I hope you like.

Here are my 2 cards, the one on the left is my interpretive one and the one on the right is pretty literal. The stamps sets I used were PUN FUN and ALL HOLIDAYS these are FAB sets to have and so completely versatile. I use PUN FUN for almost anything for anyone from kids to adults. I also REALLY like to color (watercolor and also basic traditional coloring book style coloring) so that set is perfect for that. I have to be honest, these wonderful ideas came from a swap I took part in YEARS ago. I still have a TON of photos that I have taken at different events. I could have seen or gotten the originals at Convention or my old CO team events. If they look familiar- THANK YOU for your inspiration. I love coming home and taking pics of all the swaps I receive and then I package my cards in groups of 5 and use them as door prizes and gifts at my club meetings. I started doing that when my Up-line suggested it at an event years ago, to get rid of all the excess swaps we end up with after events. Great Idea- now onto the cards lets take a closer look see...

With my first card I did a slight variation of the layout. Instead of scattering the inspired shapes so that there were 2 on one side and the 3rd on the other side I lined them up almost vertically. I thought this would be a cute kids card for ANY occasion. I can simply add a sentiment and BAM I have my Birthday, Thank You, Sympathy, or Congratulations card!

I used many different tools to create this card. I used the Marker Direct to Paper on this card, I felt that with me using such primary colors that was the way to go. I used Real Red, Brilliant Blue, and Summer Sun card stock & Ink (I prefer that yellow to the Yo-Yo- Yellow for some reason). I also used Black Staz-on to stamp the main image- so there would be NO bleeding when I colored the image in. I used the spiral punch for the trim along the side and the striped grorgain ribbon in the Real Red color.

Then I used the Spritzer tool with my Brilliant Blue marker to create this cool "Splatter" effect on the Whisper White background card stock. I used my small and large star punches for the star images. I punched out the smaller one first on my card stock and then came back and framed out the small one to give me that perfect image for my card. Then I layered the entire thing onto my Real Red card base- easy peasy!!!

Now for the second card... I jest got this stamp set and have been dying to use it and I actually had the pic of this card saved right after the top one. The first was so fast to make that I thought I could crank out two this week. Plus I had an excuse to use this stamp set. The card stock I used were Old Olive, Basic Black, Whisper White, Cameo Coral, and Vellum. I changed the sketch just slightly for this card as well. I had originally added ribbon to the card but honestly looking at it thought it was just TOO much- so very gingerly I ripped it off!

For the flowers I did a combo of felt flowers and my 5-petal flower punch using the Cameo Coral textured card stock. I finished off the flowers with a rhinestone brad from my pretties kit.

I used my markers again for the center sentiment, I just LOVE that effect and you don't have to hassle with lining up and masking and all- easy peasy. Then I just layered the stamped image onto my other pieces of card stock and using my Crop-A-Dile I made a hole that would fit the prongs for my Designer Brad- notice the phrase on the brad, "genuine"- how perfect, right.

I hope you liked the cards for today- come on over to Hand Stamped Sentiments and play along with us, it is SO much fun!!! We love seeing your creations and inspiration. We hope to see you there soon and until next time~ TTFN

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HSS Inspiration Cahllenge #15- Graduation!!!

Good Morning Stampers!! I really enjoyed this weeks theme for the Hand Stamped Sentiment Challenge, Graduations. I didn't have any image stamps for this theme, but that forced me to be more creative than I usually am. I pieced together this phrase with one stamp from the Say It With Scallops Stamp Set- which is retired but I LOVE how versatile this set is.

I also loved how simple this card was to make, this would be a simple project for a workshop that showcases Markers, Punches, Ribbons, the Stamp-A-Ma-Jig, and shows that you are not limited to only the images on the stamps. This stamps images originally only included the "Congrats" sentiment with star next to the "T" and the exclamation point at the end. Using the Marvelous Markers in the current In-Colors (Crushed Curry, Bermuda Bay & Soft Suede) I created the finished image. First I inked the original stamp using the Bermuda Bay and the Soft Suede and stamped it on Whisper White Card Stock. Then I stamped the image onto the Stamp-A-Ma-Jig which assisted me in lining up the rest of the stamp. I inked up the sections I wanted in Crushed Curry and using my SAMJ I placed the G-R-A onto the bottom, BUT to create the "D" I need to think outside the box. I inked up the "C" from the top and then came back and finished my "D" with the top of the explanation mark. Then I added another star just for good measure.

Then at the lower right side of the card I took my large Star Punch and used it on the card front. I punched out a small star (using my small star punch) out of Bermuda Bay and placed it in the center of the star adhering it to the inside of the card flap. It is somewhat difficult to see from this angle.

Here is a better look at the technique. It is a cute element that is seen when the card is open and an added layer when the card is closed. I really like this effect. I embellished the card with a piece of So Saffron 5/8" grosgrain ribbon, which is a slightly lighter hue and I think adds a bit of dimension to the card.

I hope you enjoyed my project for today and I hope you come to Hand Stamped Sentiments to play along. We love to see every one's creativity! Have a great day and until next time~ TTFN

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STAMPS: Say It With Scallops
PAPER: Kraft, Crushed Curry, Bermuda Bay, Whisper White
INK: Crushed Curry, Soft Suede, Bermuda Bay Marvelous Markers
TOOLS: Large Star Punch, Small Star Punch

ACCESSORIES: 5/8" Grosgrain Ribbon

HSS Color Splash Challenge 14

I can't believe it, it's been a week and no sign of any sickness on my end- whew!!! I am so glad that i got to take part in this weeks Color Splash challenge. I think these colors are just a blast!!! I am SO excited that summer is around the corner... OK in all honesty summer has already arrive basically here in San Antonio- my kids and I have been heading to the pool since like early April, gotta love this warm weather.

Here is my card for this weeks challenge. I love these colors and as if 4 colors were not enough, I threw in 2 more for good measure. :) I used a very basic card layout and tried to really focus on the colors instead of all the bling and extras that I sometimes put on my cards.

I love, love, love the wide 5/8" grosgrain ribbon Stampin' Up! carries. I have it in EVERY color available. I can't wait to see which ones they add in the NEW catalog that will be here in July... not long now. So I started with my Melon Mambo card stock for my card base, then layered a piece of Certainly Celery card stock on top of that stamped to create the illusion of patterned paper. I then took a long slender piece of Old Olive card stock and at the very bottom stamped my sentiment, then layered a piece of Pumpkin Pie card stock on top of that.

Using my scallop edge punch I created a scalloped edge along the bottom of my Pumpkin Pie piece. I used my paper piercer to make small holes in the center of each scallop for a sweet texture to the scallops. I used Old Olive Classic Ink along with the Simply Said Stamp Set to create the patterned paper feel and my sentiment was stamped using Basic Black Classic Ink and the Short & Sweet Stamp Set.

I LOVE the felt flowers that we have and the Melon Mambo color is so vibrant and FUN! I paired that flower with a smaller Old Olive 5 point flower and then secured them both with a Saffron brad. Using a glue dot I adhered the entire embellishment to a scallop circle (made using the Scallop Circle punch... the names of these things are ingenious, huh?) using the Regal Rose card stock. I also created those small holes in the center of the scallops with my paper piercer.

I think it took me all of 10 minuets to complete this card, like I said it was a simple design- but anyone receiving it would think it took forever. I just love that about handmade items. I had such a blast creating this card and I hope that you come over and join in the FUN over at Hand Stamped Sentiments and play along with us this week! You don't have to make a card, it can be ANYTHING!!! I hope you enjoyed this weeks challenge and I promise I will get better at adding more projects during the week. I have been trying to get back on track with working out and cleaning my house... a gal can try- huh? Until next time~ TTFN


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STAMPS: Simply Said, Short & Sweet
PAPER: Old Olive, Certainly Celery, Pumpkin Pie, Melon Mambo, Regal Rose

INK:Old Olive Classic Ink, Basic Black Classic

Ink

TOOLS: Scallop Edge Punch, Scallop Circle Punch, Paper Piercer, Paper Cutter

ACCESSORIES: Felt Flowers, Earth Elements Brads, 5/8" Old Olive Grosgrain Ribbon