DSP Butterfiles

Good morning! Hope you had a wonderful work week. Today I hope to bring you a little inspiration for the weekend. I'm heading up north for a couple of days and this is one of the cards I'm bringing along with me to assemble. Check it out:

Originally, this was going to be a swap card for my team, but plans changed. Do you have a ton of DSP or patterned paper and you're not sure what to do with it? Maybe you have a drawer full of scraps? Well, I often grab a few of my punches and randomly punch different shapes from my scrap drawer and save the pieces in baggies to use at a later date. I usually do butterflies, flowers and circles.

For this card, I used the large and small butterflies, layered them and then used some Gold Sequins and a tiny pearl in the middle. The trick to layering the DSP pieces is to not think about or pay too much attention to what patterns and colours you're putting together. I haven't come across something that doesn't work yet!

My card base is Pool Party and my layered front is Watermelon Wonder, embossed with the Tiny Triangles TIEF. Once I glued that to the card, I wrapped some Gold Thread around and glued some circles - Crumb Cake is punched with a 1-3/8" circle and the Whisper White is a 1-1/4". I glued those randomly on the front and then popped the butterflies on top with Dimensionals.

Hope you love it and I've inspired you to use some of those scraps!

Until next time, stay crafty!

Steph

You Can Make It!

Did you see a project in the Annual Catalogue that you'd love to make, but not sure how? Of course I'm always happy to help you... but did you also know that some projects are shown in the online store and you can conveniently add things you need to your shopping list?

Check it out:

When you check out the store, look in the left-hand column for "Project Ideas". When you select that, the page is brought up and a list of 17 current projects is displayed.

These are all the projects listed. When you click on one that interests you, a larger picture is displayed and you're shown everything you need to complete the project.

Pretty cool, eh?!

I'm always happy to help you with your projects and design classes for your wants and needs. This might be a great starting place to get you excited and get inspired!

Until next time, stay crafty!

Steph

An Online Challenge

Hope you had a wonderful weekend! I was very productive getting lots done for upcoming classes, customer orders and future Blog posts. ;) I had to create some thank you cards for a baby shower and for inspiration, I turned to the online world and found a challenge at Sunday Stamps. Take a look:

I love these little guys from Zoo Babies! I stamped them on Whisper White paper scraps in Daffodil Delight, Soft Sky, Pistachio Pudding & Smokey Slate and punched them using a 1" Circle Punch. I popped them up with some Dimensionals on punched pieces of Tip Top Taupe using the retired punch, Postage Stamp. I offset these pieces and adhered them to my card front using Dimensionals again.

The sentiment is from Teeny Tiny Wishes (still one of my go-to sets!) and stamped with Tip Top Taupe on a scrap of Whisper White. I punched the end of my banner using the Banner Punch by inserting it through the top.

What do you think?

If you'd like to participate in this sketch challenge, here is sketch:

I see myself using this one again as it's so versatile!

Until next time, stay crafty!
Steph

The Reveal!

As promised in Wednesday's post, here is the complete project using the Emerging Colours Technique. The card design is from my fabulous upline, Leena Girsa. Her original design used the Sheltering Tree stamp set, and even though it was available to me at the event, I wanted to use a set that I owned. As mentioned in my previous post, the leaf image is from the Wonderous Wreath set and the tree is from White Christmas.

You'd never know it, but I screwed up when putting this card together. I was a bad student and didn't read the instructions. I did my technique (background panel) on the larger Very Vanilla piece of card stock (that was meant for the inside) and not the Whisper White piece that I was suppose to use. So when it came time to put my card together, I wondered why my leaf piece was too big for the Cajun Craze mat. :s

No worries though. All was good! When I got home, I glued a piece of Very Vanilla to the inside and the pieces I cut from my technique panel worked as perfect accents for the front and inside of my card. I'd say it was meant to be!

Hope you enjoyed this reveal. Have a fabulous weekend!

Until next time, stay crafty!
Steph

Other items used: Kraft & White Corrugated Paper, Linen Thread

Emerging Colours Technique - Picture Tutorial!

As I mentioned on Monday, I attended a business event last weekend. Part of that event was creating projects, of course! Here is a quick picture tutorial of a technique we did called Emerging Colours (also known as Joseph's Coat or a form of colour resist embossing). Check it out:

On a whisper white piece of paper, sponge three colours (I like three anyway, but I suppose you can do more, depending on the look you want). This is completely random and the result will look different every time you do this technique!

Next steps:
1. Very important!! Be very generous with your Embossing Buddy and coat the entire surface.
2. Ink your image in VersaMark. I chose to use the leaf image from the Wonderous Wreath stamp set.
3. Heat emboss your images with Clear Embossing Powder and your Heat Tool.

The final step, once your heated images are dry, is to sponge the entire surface with a dark ink. I chose Early Espresso. Be generous and sponge until you're happy with the look. From the image above, you can start to see the areas where the clear embossing is resisting the dark ink... and the colours underneath are emerging. :)

For the finished project, make sure to tune back on Friday!

Until next time, stay crafty!
Steph

It's Twins!

Good morning! I hope you had a wonderful weekend! Mine was quite busy finishing up some customer orders and attending a business event. I left the event feeling inspired and excited to continue to grow my business!

One of the orders I'm sending out this week contains a custom card I was asked to create for a set of twins (gender not known) with a special message inside. Take a look:

I pulled out the Something for Baby stamp set for the adorable images and stamped a onesie in Pistachio Pudding and the other in So Saffron. They were cut out using the Baby's First Framelits and then glued on top of the hanger images that I stamped in Smokey Slate.

The banner along the top was easily created with some scraps of DSP and the Banner Punch. The sentiment is from a retired set and was also punched with the same punch, but elongated.

The tiny bow is from the Mini Treat Bag Thinlits Dies that I'm happy to have picked up when they were on the Weekly Deals a few weeks ago. If you don't know what those deals are, they run Tuesday to Monday every week and you can get product at 25% off retail! Definitely something to keep in mind to help with your crafting addiction hobby. ;)

On the inside, a custom sentiment created with the awesome Alphabet Rotary Stamp. You can create any text you want with that awesome tool!

Until next time, stay crafty!
Steph

Birthday Balloons

Believe it or not, I'm already in full swing creating holiday cards and prepping for my fall shows. It's always a very busy time for me and this year, I'm trying to get ahead even further. At this years shows, and in my online store, I'm going to be offering boxed sets of cards. I'm thinking of offering a variety of small and large sets with between six and 12 cards and envelopes.

Here is one design I created - a boxed set of six birthday cards.

Each box will contain a variety of patterns that are mostly gender neutral. This is a very simple design, but I think it'll be popular. Since the balloon is popped up, it appears as though it's floating away.

I think I will add some ribbon and a tag to the completed boxes, not only for presentation, but also so that they can easily be given as a gift.

Until next time, stay crafty!
Steph


Stampin' Up! Items Used: Whisper White Thick Card Stock, Big Shot, Balloon Framelits, White Baker's Twine, Window Sheets, Designer Series Paper, Dimensionals

Creatures for Kiddies

Sorry I was MIA on Friday, but thought I would post a quick one today in case you missed me! I haven't had much time for creating lately as we're still working through these renos! However, I was doing a few science activities with the kiddos though over the weekend from the 365 Science Activities book from Usborne Books and we came across these "water creatures". All I saw were some cute cards for kids, so I adapted them to fit in an A6 envelope, pulled out some paper and drew my creatures. Take a look:

A dinosaur.

A ladybug.

A turtle.

I scored the tops of all the feet because once you pull the card out of the envelope, you bend at the foot to make it more lifelike and 3D. I thought they were simple but cute!

Until next time, stay crafty!
Steph

Hoarding

I don't know about you, but there are two three types of crafty things I like to hoard - paper, buttons and ribbon. I don't know why I can't stop buying all the new pretty colours and patterns. Oh wait, just thought of another one... Washi Tape.

Anyway, my point is, I need to start using these things more in my card making. Here's one way I came up with to use some ribbon:

I'm sorry to say that almost all of the items I used to create this card (and sorry for the dim lighting!) is retired. But I guess that's what happens when you hoard. ;)

I wanted to showcase this simple card to you because I think it still offers a lot of punch with the various ribbon textures, colours and patterns, plus, the embossed panel & baker's twine.

Inside I kept it just as simple with a peek of the baker's twine and a sentiment.

What do you like to create with your ribbon?

Until next time, stay crafty!
Steph

For the Girls

Happy Monday. Hope you had a wonderful weekend! As I promised in Friday's post, today I was going to share the girl cards I created for a customer recently. Here's a look at the bunch:

I use the note cards and envelopes (the watercoloured ones are retired) for simple, yet beautiful cards. These are for young girls, so I used bright colours, feminine designs and colours and of course some bling!

Here's a closure look at card one:

These cute little cupcakes are from a retired set, but just the perfect size for these little note cards and a 1" circle punch. ;) For added colour and texture, I used some Cherry on Top Washi Tape.

For the second card (and perhaps my favourite), I stamped the ballerina image three times and then colored each slightly differently with Stampin' Write Markers and alcohol based ones for the skin tones. I also couldn't forget the bling, adding a few jewels to the ballerinas' waists.

The third card uses the awesome Triple Banner Punch (but you can actually make 4 different sizes if you saw my Instagram post yesterday) to created quick and easy banners. I adhered them with a tiny staple and lastly used the AWESOME stamp set Stampin' Up! released this year for RMHC called Sprinkles on Top. It also has a coordinating punch. So many possibilities!

Lastly, a cute little purse card. What girl doesn't enjoy carrying around various purses with random toys, chapstick or a few dollars in it?! I stamped them in Soft Sky, Watermelon Wonder, Wisteria Wonder and Mint Macaron and added a large jewel to each. For the sentiment, I used Petite Pairs and popped it up on a punched piece of silver paper for a little extra sparkle.

Until next time, stay crafty!
Steph

For the Boys

I was recently asked to create 25 birthday cards for a customer. I love using the note cards and envelopes because they are just the perfect size and my customers love the simpler designs and lower cost I can provide for large orders.

Today I'm going to show you the designs I created for the boys. Come back Monday to see the uber cute ones I designed for the girls! ;)

Here's a look at the three different designs:

I haven't had a chance yet to purchase any new "kid" stamp sets from the new catty (there are some AWESOME ones in there!), but I love to keep my favourites around, even when retired, because I'm asked to create cards for kids often.

Here's a look at the first design. It's actually the first time I inked up this set (from the recent Occasions Catalogue) and sad it didn't carry over. I just love them!

This set is an oldie but a goodie! Having a little boy myself who LOVES "mighty machines", this one will stay in my stash for years to come.

Aside from the sentiment and punch on this last one, the items can still be found in the Annual Catalogue. The background was easily and quickly created using the stars masks. I just sponged using Cucumber Crush & Hello Honey inks and then stamped the lego image from the Boys Will Be Boys stamp set in the same colours.

Have a wonderful weekend and don't forget to check back on Monday for the girly designs. ;)

Until next time, stay crafty!
Steph

Happy Day!

Not only is today Canada Day, but it's also the first day I'm back after a loooong hiatus! I told you last week that I was switching things up a bit. You will now be able to find me, blogging, Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. For daily doses of creativity, you can find me on Instagram or Facebook. :)

Since today is Canada's birthday, I decided to share with you the decor wreath I created. Originally I wanted it to hang on the front door, but since it's been a little humid and rainy, I didn't trust that this mostly paper wreath was going to survive! Take a peek...

It's currently hanging on my "communication centre" at our front door with a Canadian Flag print from the local paper. This project cost me well under 10 dollars as I found the wreath at a thrift shop for $3 and then just used DSP, card stock, buttons and ribbons I had lying around. All in shades of red & white of course!

Here's a closure look:

I was also inspired to create this wreath because I have a class running on July 9th featuring projects created using the Simply Scored Tool. We won't be doing this wreath, but instead, a rosette. Using them on a wreath is only one of many possibilities. Maybe I'll show you some other ideas in the near future. ;)

Until next time, stay crafty!
~Steph