Thursday 14 January 2010

Sweet!

Here's a card that just kind of happened - you know the ones?  You haven't decided what you want to make, who it's for, which supplies you'll use....and so on.   Well, I decided I wanted to get the Big Shot out - you see, because it's not available here (well, at least until April through SU), I have really let it sit in the studio collecting dust.  Oh yes, I've felt guilty about neglecting this wonderful tool, but it also felt like a reminder of "crafting past" so it's been an emotional obstacle as well.   Anyway, enough postulating (spelling.....ah!).



I started with Pink Pirouette Cardstock (In Colour 09/10), and ran it through the Big Shot with a Texturz plate.  It came out really nicely too!  Then I used the Something Sweet Stamp Set from the Summer Mini and stamped in Perfect Plum Classic Ink.  That's one of my favourite colours of ALL time.  I used Mellow Moss & So Saffron on the jelly beans, and threw in some Pink Pirouette to tie it all together.   There's a Rhinestone Brad in the handle on the lolly machine.  The sentiment is in Perfect Plum again, as is the Designer Series Paper (DSP).  All tied together with White Taffeta Ribbon...and a bit of silver stretchy cord.   I used the Large Oval Punch for the greeting too.  The Whisper White CS is layered onto Mellow Moss CS.

And that brings me to the Stamp Set - Something Sweet #117699 in the Summer Mini.  There's 14 stamps in the set and it's only $44.95!  That's around $3.22 a stamp!!!   What's more, it includes 4 greeting stamps and an array of little thingys to put in the lolly dispenser.  Add the fact that it coordinates with the new 1-3/4" Circle Punch AND the Sweet Treat Cups and you've got an amazingly versatile stamp set.


Sorry the picture quality is a bit off.  I was in a hurry before the battery gave up on the camera.  And yes, that's a tissue stuffed in the box.  I do that to stop the little stamps falling over (they might hurt themselves!)
A cool tip for storing your stamps and not mixing them up, losing them or putting them back in the wrong boxes, is to cut a piece of Whisper White Cardstock to the same size as the base of the box.  Then stamp all the images and keep it in the box with the set.  That way, you'll always know what's missing - especially handy if you have LOTS of stamp sets and a bad memory for what goes with what.
And that my friends is all for now.  Stamp up a storm!

Wednesday 13 January 2010

Fridge Magnet Class Schedule

I was just about to print my class schedule to email/mail to all my regulars, when I remembered seeing a fridge magnet from another crafty lady - hers just had a year calendar on it, but it gave me the idea to create something that my customers could put on their fridge door so they never have to miss another class.

I took a few pics to show the detail, and I whipped up the design based on how I printed the inserts.   What do you think?



Each one used the same layout idea but I varied the colours and embellishments.
The one shown uses the following supplies:
Stamp Sets:  Gallery (Spring Mini, so if you haven't got this one you'll just have to cry into your coffee/beer/wine or whatever you're doing right now!  Let that be a lesson to NEVER miss something in a mini catalogue.....LOL), For Everything (Summer Mini); The alphabet set used is a mini set that I've had for years.  It's not SU, but don't be deterred, we have some gorgeous sets that would look just as lovely; Cardstock - Tempting Turquoise & Whisper White, Kaleidoscope DSP (Summer Mini), Classic Ink - Brilliant Blue, Felt flower from Flower Fusion, Earth Elements Brads, Grosgrain Ribbon - I think it's Mellow Moss, but it's one I got in the U.S. - sorry :-((.

Ooh, and I popped up the label with Stampin' Dimensionals after  using the Paper Piercer and Mat to make the lovely holes next to the flower.


                                 How I fixed the pages in:


I used the Slit Punch to make the fastening and attached a strip of magnet to the back (not pictured).


If you like it, let me know....if you don't, keep it to yourself...hahaha I'm funny today!

Monday 11 January 2010

PaperLady's Christmas Cards for Australian Armed Forces - January Update

I have received  more thank you letters from our troops and wanted to pass them on so you'd all know how appreciated your cards were - and, I'm really thinking that we need to do it again this year, only we'll start earlier and maybe we can reach a bigger group of stamping ladies.
Anyway, the first was from the Headquarters Joint Task Force 633 - Afghanistan - below.



Second, from the Royal Australian Navy - HMAS Stuart.



Finally - yes, a third via email this morning is copied & pasted below:

"Dear Karen,

My name is Corporal Rob Iglesias. I am the Force Distribution Clerk of the Australian Contingent on Operation Mazurka on the Sinai Peninsula in Egypt. On behalf of all the soldiers from the Australian Contingent, I would like to thank you and your friends for taking the time to make these hand made cards. The cards you sent us were greatly appreciated by all our members, and were used to send to our families for Christmas.

All the Australian Contingent members here would like to thank you and your friends for taking the time to make these wonderful hand made cards.

All the best for the new year.


Kind Regards,
Robert Iglesias
Corporal (Australian)
Force Distribution Clerk
Multinational Force and Observers
Sinai, Egypt"

Our cards have travelled a long way to brighten the lives of those missing their loved ones!  Well done everyone.

Sunday 3 January 2010

OK, it's back to the blog.....

Well, Christmas & New Year is behind us once again.  Hope you are ready for a brand new year of exciting craft opportunities and fun fun fun!    Before I get started, I wish you a very healthy, happy & productive 2010.
That said, I've been playing with the sweet treat cups (#116802 on page 8 of the Summer Mini Catalogue), and here's what I've done....

The first card is for baby - cute eh?   I've used the rattle image from Something Sweet #117699 on page 9 of the Summer Mini.   It's part of a set of 14 stamps that coordinate beautifully with the Sweet Treat Cups & the 1-3/4' Circle Punch (#112004 on page 8 of the Summer Mini).  The colours are Bashful Blue, Brilliant Blue, Metallic Silver and Whisper White.   The stars are made by punching out card stock with the small star punch from the IB&C.  Here's a close up.  I've used the Scallop Edge Punch to do the white border and the tiny holes were made with the paper piercer and mat from the Crafter's Tool Kit.

I've used the Bashful Blue Striped Grosgrain Ribbon and tied it in a simple knot.   I made two holes about 1-1/2cm apart using the Cropadile.

The next card also uses stamps from the same set, and I found some chocolate coins that fit perfectly into the Sweet Treat Cups - it holds 3 coins.   I kept this one fairly simple with the Real Red, Basic Black & Whisper White colour scheme.
The Black & White Gingham Ribbon is threaded through the Whisper White Cardstock using the Double Rectangle Punch (#105088 in the current IB&C).   That's one punch you didn't know you needed till you used it!   To get your rectangles an equal distance apart, simply make the first punch, then line up one of the rectangles on the punch with one of the holes you've already punched and punch again.....duh that's confusing!  Call me if you can't figure it out...hahaha.   I stamped and cut out a couple of extra hearts and used the trusty Stampin' Dimensionals (#104430 $7.50 for 300....that's a no-brainer because they're the right size for just about everything) to give some extra interest.

Lastly, the yummy Smartie card.   Love the colours because they work for little boys too.   There's never enough for the boys in my view, and I always gravitate to the girlie things (maybe because I've got girls, and I am one!!).  Anyway, the colours are all Bold Brights and I've used the Kaleidoscope Designer Series Paper for the layer.   I LOVE THAT PAPER!   But  be quick, it's in the Summer Mini and it will not stay past 31 March!

In closing, I would like to add that you should use the perforating tool on the Cutter Kit (#106958 page 155 of the IB&C) to make perforations in the cardstock behind the Sweet Treat Cup.   I make a cross shape.  That way, the contents of the cup can be gotten out for munching without destroying the card.   You should also note, that each Sweet Treat Cup has a sticky edge that you can use to attach to the cardstock - yes, that's what the white paper is for, pull it off to reveal the sticky....yep, you guessed it, I overlooked that on the first attempt and all the smarties fell out and I HAD to eat them.....tut tut tut!
Happy stampin 2010.