M is for Merry

I created this card so long ago that I don't even remember now where these scraps are from, but this card was created based on scraps! Check it out:

Paper: Cherry Cobbler, WW, Gumball Green
Ink: Cherry Cobbler
Stamps: Occasions Alphabet
Tools: Big Shot, Elegant Lines TIEF, Labels Framelits, Merry Minis Punch Pack
Accessories: Gumball Green Stitched Satin Ribbon

This card came together really easily since everything was in my scrap pile, there wasn't a lot I had to do. The only thing really was to punch the trees in the label and then I put the punched trees inside my card. Can't forget about the inside!

Until next time, stay crafty!
Steph

Winter Sparkle

I bet it'll be hard for you to believe that I used the Dress Up Framelits for this Christmas card! Check it out:

Paper: Bashful Blue, Whisper White, Garden Green, Glimmer
Tools: Big Shot, TIEF: Snowburst, Elegant Lines, Woodgrain Bigz Die: Stars #2,
Framelits: Dress Up, Edgelits: Adorning Accents

All month long I've been showing you Christmas cards I've created using non-Christmas stamp sets and it has really challenged me in a way that makes me look at all my product in a different light. I've got so many ideas for future series and cards...

Anyway, to get back to this card, I did use the Dress Up Framelits to create the tree:

Can you start to see the tree in the right image? All I did was cut the shape out from the middle point in the bust and just shaped it to be inline with the bottom skirt. I ran three more dresses through my Big Shot, moving the Framelit up approximately 1/4 inch each time so that I got the different layers. Once I had my four pieces, I ran them through the Big Shot again with the Elegant Lines TIEF and then popped each layer up with Dimensionals.

Hope you like and this will inspire you to look at your products differently too.

Until next time, stay crafty!
Steph

Sunday Stamps Sketch!

I don't know about you, but May has been a crazy month! It's been jam-packed for me and after today, I'm looking forward to a little bit of relaxation time... and hopefully more stamping! I did manage to find a brief moment the other day to work on my design for Sunday Stamps this week though. I'm hosting and have put together a simple sketch:

Paper: Whisper White, Pretty in Pink, Neutrals Paper Stack
Ink: Pretty in Pink, Basic Grey
Stamps: Word Play, En Francais
Tools: Big Shot, Elegant Lines TIEF, Artisan Label Punch
Accessories: Jewels

This sketch is so versatile... and the beauty of sketches is that you can use them as a starting point for inspiration - flip them, move the elements around, change the shapes, etc. I decided to stick pretty close to the sketch, just changing out the sentiment shape.

I hope this sketch inspires you and that you can play along with us this week. We love seeing what designs you can create!

Until next time, stay crafty!
Steph

DIY Wedding

I helped my upline Leena Girsa prepare some samples for her booth at the Rockton Fair this weekend. She wanted to have a wedding display for the DIY brides out there. The colour scheme Leena wanted was Basic Gray and Daffodil Delight. Here are some of the samples I prepared for her:

Paper: Neutrals DSP Paper Stack (Basic Gray), Black, Whisper White
Tools: Big Shot, Elegant Lines TIEF, Owl Punch
Accessories: Tulle, Clothes Pins

These adorable Bride & Groom owls were CASEd from Danielle Goff off our Demo website. These are "toppers" for cupcakes, presents, etc. I decorated some clothes pins and topped them with my owls.

Tools: Big Shot, Flower Folds Bigz XL Die, Elegant Lines TIEF
Accessories: Crumb Cake Tulle, Tea Light

These tealight holders are quite popular and easy to make. I used aluminum flashing and an embossing folder. To fancy it up (and haven't seen this done before), I added some Tulle in between the petals of the smaller flower. Of course, you can't use a real flame with this one!

Paper: Basic Gray, Daffodil Delight, Very Vanilla
Tools: Big Shot, Beautiful Butterflies Bigz Die, Elegant Lines TIEF
Accessories: VV 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon

I got this idea from a 3D swap my upline received at our Regional Event in August. I'm sorry that I don't know who to credit with the original design. I had the idea to turn it into a place card setting though by adding a banner. How awesome would these look all lined up on a seating table?!

Paper: Basic Gray, Daffodil Delight, Neutrals DSP Paper Stack
Tools: Big Shot, Fun Folds Bigz Die, MDS
Accessories: Basics Glimmer Brads

Why not decorate a cheap frame with some DSP & accessories?! I displayed mine as a table number, but you could easier put a menu, poem, picture, etc inside too! After everything was adhered, I used Crystal Effects to give it a nice shine and seal it all in.

Paper: Daffodil Delight, Basic Gray, Neutrals DSP Pattern Pack
Stamps: Mixed Bunch
Ink: Daffodil Delight
Tools: Blossom Punch, Scallop Trim Border & Corner Punch

Lastly, a wedding program, with a simply decorated front. Quick & easy. I learned how to do the cross from Frenchie Stamps. I might do a quickie tutorial in the coming days for those who are interested.

Until next time, stay crafty!
Steph

Every Girl Loves...

...A great pair of shoes! And what Bride wouldn't love a great pair of shoes with some bling?! Today I created a card featuring a great shoe from the Fabulous You set.

Paper: Pretty in Pink, Whisper White, Real Red
Ink: Pretty in Pink, VersaMark
Stamps: Fabulous You, Itty Bitty Banners
Tools: Big Shot, Elegant Lines TIEF, heat tool
Accessories: Pewter EP, Jewels, Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon

This shoe is just so girly and I think, gives a bridal feel, depending on what you do with it. I decided to heat emboss it with Pewter and then added some bling to the heal and a few more on the toe. I dry embossed the lower half of the card and then accented my banner with some handmade rosettes that my sideline Sandy taught the team to make. Aren't they precious?! So simple too!

To make some rosettes of your own, just punch the size circle of your choice and start cutting around in a spiral toward the center. Leave a small tab and then start rolling the spiral around into a tight (or loose) rosette. Secure the rolled rosette to the tab in the center with some glue or a glue dot and you're done. Simple, eh?!

Until next time, stay crafty!
Steph

Colour for The Paper Players

This week I had the opportunity to play with The Paper Players! It was a fun colour challenge because the colours are fabulous and they just look so great together! Here's the colour scheme:

Banners are all the rage now... especially so since SU! just released some Bitty Banners Framelits in the recent catty. They are so adorable! Well, I didn't use them on this card, but used them as inspiration. I cut all my banners by hand using a mix of card stock and ribbon.

For this card, I used the Basic Gray Striped Ribbon (that just retired). I haven't used it until this card... so it was time to create something with it! Then I added Melon Mambo & Lucky Limeade card stock in different widths. I embossed all the hand-cut banners with different embossing folders and my oh-so-loved Big Shot!

I accented with a Melon Mambo button (retired) and the Lucky Limeade Organdy Ribbon that I stocked up on from the last SAB. :) I thought it added a little something extra treading it through the button and fanning it out.

What do you think?

Until next time, stay crafty!
Steph

Mojo Monday!

Here's the sketch for this week's Mojo Monday:

I'm starting to really enjoy these challenges. I get great inspiration from the sketches and from seeing the other fabulous crafters who post their designs. It's amazing to see so many different creations just from one sketch! I got this one in just in time since the deadline is tonight at 8... here's my take on it:

What do you think?

Until next time, stay crafty!
Steph

For the Girls!

Woah, it's been a while! As you may or may not be aware, I'm taking part in a craft fair on Sunday (check out the sidebar for more information). I'm buried up to my head in cards & other handcrafted items - that's almost 6' of crafts! :)

Anyway, thought I'd share a quick picture of one of my favourite cards I've made... okay, one of several favourites. I thought I was quite clever using the tools I did. I created this card for the girls who are getting married. This would make a great bridal shower card.

Take a look and tell me what you think.

I used the scallop edgelit to create the ruffles on the dress and the large heart punch, trimmed, for the top. I added some ribbon, pearls, more embossing to the background and viola!

Hope to see you Sunday...

Until next time, stay crafty!
Steph