Northwest Stamper

Tag: scallop punch

  • Another card organization option – a year in a box!

    cardbox_wm1As I’ve mentioned before, I’ve been slowly trying to get my crafting supplies, partial projects, and completed projects organized so I can actually find what I’m looking for in less than 20 minutes. 🙂  Well, when my mom was visiting last month, she brought with her the instructions for a great project.  Using the Forget-me-not keeper from Stampin Up!, we created a decorated box and inserts for storing all of the cards you need to send out in a year.  Now, first I don’t know how many of you out there had seen this box in the SU catalog and were like me and thought, ” that looks just like the photo boxes you get at Michaels only in plastic”.  Well, it took me ordering one to realize they are totally different, and the SU box is way cooler!  Turns out, the boxes you get at craft stores really are made for photos and so are not quite tall enough for your standard 5.5 x 4.25 cards to be placed inside and still have the lid close completely.  The SU box is made to fit cards perfectly, plus it comes with 12 plastic inserts to help you organize the cards you make.  In our case, we used those inserts for each month.   So, now I’m totally a convert to these boxes.  They pack flat and then go together in a jiffy and actually fit my cards.  

     

    cardbox_inserts_wmSo, we placed a piece of cardstock on the inside of the box behind the the front panel to add some color and then used designer paper and ribbon to decorate the frontside.  One note if you are going to decorate one of these boxes yourself.  Definately use the red sticky strip.  The plastic has a slight texture to it, and the sticky strip really locks the paper to the plastic.  For each of the inserts, we printed out a piece of paper with the month dates on it to fill out who needs a card and for why.  We used the So Many Scallops stamp set for all of the stamping in this project and the crop–a-dile made punching a hole in the tabs for the ribbon soo easy.  Really the thing that I think makes the crop-a-dile a must have is how it makes punching thick and hard materials like you were punching through paper.  I’ve punch metal and chipboard and now thick plastic. 

     

    Anyway, when we were all done with the box project, we made four matching cards.  Again, we used some patterns she brought and I was so glad she brought them.  I would never have thought to do some of these techniques like punching out all the cardstock circles and gluing them on a cardfront of the same color – but they all turned out super cute!  We spent most of the day making theses projects because we were chatting and sharing supplies (and cutting the paper, that I think was what took the longest).  I wish my mom lived closer than 5 hrs away so we could do projects like this more often because it is really fun to spend an afternoon crafting and then end in the evening with so much completed so show for it!   Though I guess this means next time she visits it is my turn to come up with the craft project. 🙂

     

    cardbox_cards1_wm    cardbox_cards2_wm 

     

    Box Recipe
    Stamps:
    So Many Scallops
    Inks: Baja Breeze
    Paper:  Windsor Knot DSP, Baja Breeze CS, Old Olive CS, Chocolate Chip CS, So Saffron CS, Whisper White CS
    Accessories:  Forget-me-not Keeper, Double Stitched chocolate chip ribbon,  Filigree Brads, Stampin’ Dimentionals, Sticky Strip, Scallop edge punch, Scallop Square punch, Crop-a-dile

    Card Recipe
    Stamps: 
    So Many Scallops
    Inks:  Baja Breeze, Chocolate Chip
    Paper:  Windsor Knot DSP, Chocolate Chip CS, Old Olive CS, Baja Breeze CS, So Saffron CS, Whisper White CS
    Accessories:  Sage Shadow 1/4″ ribbon, Whisper White 1/4″ ribbon, Apricot Appeal 1/4″ ribbon, Chocolate Chip 5/8″ ribbon, filigree brads, glue dots, 1/2″ circle punch, Scallop edge punch, Scallop Square punch, Stampin’ Dimentionals, So Saffron marker, Chocolate chip marker, Sage Shadow marker, Old Olive marker

  • Congrats and Thinking of You Cards

    This weekend was a lot of fun.  I hosted an Open Scrap day at my home on Saturday.  I had planned on sitting an working on my personal projects while the other ladies worked on their projects; but of course, I was way to social for that. 🙂 I was playing with my new BigShot, showing folks how to use it, and other fun techniques.  So, it wasn’t until 5 of the 6 ladies had headed home that I finally sat down with my kitty scrapbook and started working.  But it was fun to have 6 crafters over.  So, I still have all my stuff out in hopes that I will make more progress on my scrapbook, but I have a feeling tonight will be filled with getting ready for my technique night tomorrow.  Tomorrow we are playing with Crystal Effects and I’m really looking forward to it! 

    Here are the other two cards I made for my card kits for Saturday.  These last two came together very quickly and have helped me be an even bigger fan of the SAB sets.  Oh yeah, and the paper in the SAB catalog is so yummy! 

    congrats_wm
    stamps:Congrats (SAB) paper:whisper white cs, night of navy cs, bashful blue cs, certainly celery dp inks:bashful blue, night of navy accessories:glue dots, fresh favorites II buttons

     

     

     

    sab_thinkingofyou_wm
    stamps: Polka Dot Punchs (SAB), Sincere Salutations paper:Very vanilla cs, bashful blue cs, delecate dots DP (SAB) inks:bashful blue, certainly celery, sahara sand accessories:certainly celery twill tape (SAB), circle scallop punch, 1 1/4" circle punch

     

     

     

     

     

  • A stamping snack to tide you over

    I finished my first week on the new job and then saturday did a day trip to Seattle to hand off some stampin catalogs and then go to the geekiest of all concerts – Video Game Live.  Yes, it is a concert at one of the large broadway theaters where there was a choir and orchestra performing soundtrack and theme music to video games of the last 15 years.  It was a complete blast!  My DH and I went with a large group of friends, which made it even more fun.  So, now I’m back and have designated Sunday “crafting day” where I am going to try to make progress on some of my projects.  But until I can get them posted, I wanted to say hello and leave you with a few more swaps I received that I think are great. 

    Created by Cindy Starns.  I love the use of the build-a-brad!
    Created by Cindy Starns. I love the use of the build-a-brad!
    Created by Michelle Canzano.  Ok, so where do I start on all the neat things about this card? The new cool Cosmo fine glitter? The great use of the hostess set itty bitty buds? (that was a lot of hand cutting, but it's a great effect) Of the way she used the large heart from the Love You Much stamp set as a background image.  Overall, a great card!
    Created by Michelle Canzano. Ok, so where do I start on all the neat things about this card? The new cool Cosmo fine glitter? The great use of the hostess set itty bitty buds? (that was a lot of hand cutting, but it's a great effect) Of the way she used the large heart from the Love You Much stamp set as a background image. Overall, a great card!
  • A non-traditional valentines’ day card

    scsbc_jan As part of my SCS blogging group, each month one of the members issues a challenge to the group.  For January, we were challenged to make a Valentine’s Day card without using red, pink, or white.  What a challenge!  I had a hard time wrapping my head around the idea that you could do such a thing. 🙂 Thankfully, when I sat down to start this challenge, I pulled out my scraps and turned up this Apricot Appeal DSP piece and suddenly my creative juices started going. 

    There are three things I’m really happy about on this card.  First, I’m using embellishments!  I love brads and buttons and ribbon and gems, but I tend to hoard them.  I end up not using them because I’m afraid I’m going to use them up.  However, I finally had that aha moment when someone else pointed out that there are always new and cute embellishments coming out, so if use up what I have, I can always get more!  The second thing is the base cardstock – Mellow Moss.  This is one of thos colors that I always looked at and then quickly moved past.  However, this time, it was perfect and I realized that I don’t need to always avoid that color.

    Finally, this is my first card that I’ve ever done stitching.  It all started because I had the bashful blue paper and thought “this needs something”.  So, I decided to go with paper piercing since I’m trying to learn when best to use it.  Unfortunately, I created the double row of piercings and hated it!  I realized that I have a box full of thread from back when I did counted cross-stich, so I figured what the heck!  I think it is a neat touch to the card and will have to try it again sometime.  I love when mistakes turn into new, even better things.

    Recipe:
    Stamps:
    Love You Much, Fun and Fast Notes
    Ink: Chocolate Chip
    Paper: Mellow Moss CS, Bashful Blue CS, Very Vanilla CS, Kraft CS, Apricot Appeal DSP
    Accessories: Antique Brass brads, Heart Trio punch, Keytag punch, Mat pack, piercer, Scallop edge punch, stamping dimensionals, Ticket corner punch

  • My card party cards – Love You Much and more

    I just finished cleaning up my kitchen after my card party this afternoon (we stamp in the dining room since right now all my stamping stuff is on tv trays and a bookcase in there).  Today, in addition to the ladies who were stamping with me, their young daughters were with us as well (ages 4 and 10).  Now, the DH’s were in the living room “watching the children” while we stamped.  But like many guys, they got distracted by TV and video games, so the girls came in and wanted to make cards too.  Thankfully I have a HUGE pile of scrap paper and old stickers that I could never bring myself to throw out because “it’s still good, I might use it one day”. 🙂 So, I let them have at those items and some of my older stamps.  I have a feeling they might grow into crafters. 🙂

    Anyway, today we made 3 cards and one magazine holder for the cards.  I was going to have us make a box or bag but decided since I was in such a groove with the holders (and they are so multi-functional) that we should do that instead.  So, I wanted to share with you what we made.  I have to admit, the cards are CASEd off of some very talented stampers on SCS.  I wasn’t in the designing mood, so I found inspiration online.  Hope you like them!

     

    Love You Much card recipe
    Stamps – Love You Much
    Paper – Candy Lane DSP, Ridinghood Red CS, Pink Pirhouette CS, Chocolate Chip CS
    Ink – Ridinghood Red
    Accessories – Stampin Dimensionals, heart trio punch

    Just for You card recipe
    Stamps – Happiness always (hostess)
    Paper – Baja Breeze CS, Kiwi Kiss CS, Chocolate Chip CS, Whisper White CS
    Ink – Kiwi Kiss, Baja Breeze, Chocolate Chip
    Accessories – Chit Chat rub-ons

    Celebrate You card recipe
    Stamps
    – Party Hearty
    Paper – Jr Varsity DSP, Old Olive CS, Rose Red CS, Bashful Blue CS, Whisper White CS
    Ink – Old Olive, Rose Red
    Accessories – stampin dimensionals, rose red grosgrain ribbon, circle cutter, scallop edge punch, scallop circle punch, 1″ punch, 3/4″ punch

  • Making door prizes for a crop

    As I’ve said in prior posts, I’m visiting my mom this week to help her out with some events (a party for her on Tuesday and a Crop where we will be demo’ing a free make and take on Saturday). So, yesterday was my day to help make sure we had everything in order for Saturday. Somehow I ended up being focused on door prize items. She has a small bag of handmade items she is going to give away and I decided that she ought to have a couple cards in the bag as well.

    doorprize_stampsSo, I whipped up a couple of cards and then “wrapped” a stamp and ink set that is going into a bigger door prize basket. After wrapping the stamps, I’ve decided I’m officially obsessed with ribbon. I love almost all of the SU ribbon and keep obsessing over how to make a good bow. I have a feeling many of my cards in the future will be including ribbon. 🙂  Oh yeah, and the card on the left is using the new Sweet Stems stamp set.

    doorprize_cards
  • A DVD holiday gift box

    Last night my DH was on the phone much of the evening so I had some free time to experiment with some more gift boxes.  holiday-shirt-box-wmThe first box I designed to be exactly the right size for a DVD or video game (its 8″x5.5″x1.5″).  The sides reach all the way to the bottom of the box.  Since I was playing with the dimensions, I grabbed a sheet of Ghostly Greetings designer paper thinking the green would be passable as a holiday print.  The one thing I forgot – when someone pull off the lid, they get to see the underside of the designer paper, which in this case is black and white skulls!! Oops 🙂 

    Recipe:
    Stamps: Say it with Scallops (retired)
    Inks: Encore Gold
    Paper: Ghostly Greetings DSP, Basic Grey CS (for the bottom)
    Accessories: Alpine Ribbon, Silver elastic cord, Circle Scallop Punch

  • Making Holiday Boxes, Bags, and Tag

    So, tomorrow afternoon I have a workshop for making holiday boxes, bags, and gift tags.  (Email me if you would like to join us, we’d love to have you!)We’ll be making some of each and like usual, it should be a good time.  I wanted to get at least one sample up online ahead of time and so I got pictures of one of the bags taken this evening to share.  I may still tweak the design but at least you can get the idea.  This is a quick and easy design, and since I use velcro to close the bag it is totally reusable! 🙂

    holidaywishesbagholidaywishesbag_side  Recipe:
     Stamps: Holiday Collection (from the Country Living Holiday Kit)
     Ink: Baja Breeze, Pacific Point
     Paper: Very Vanilla CS, Baja Breeze CS, Pacific Point CS, Basic Grey CS
     Accessories: Whisper White ribbon, silver brad, scallop punch, 3/4″ punch, snail, velcro, white lunch bag

  • Some other craft fair items

    So, this is just a quick post to share some of the other items that I made for the craft fair.  Unfortunately, there was not much traffic so I came home with most of what I took with me.  However, being mostly paper crafts, they’ll last till the next one. 🙂

    Embellished picture frame, flower pots (with actual seeds), decorated candles, chocolate filled containers, decorated york peppermint patties
    Embellished picture frame, flower pots (with actual seeds), decorated candles, chocolate filled containers, decorated york peppermint patties
  • Swap card overload!

    So, I showed you a couple posts ago about the cool gifts I was given and projects I made at the group meeting on Saturday. I also mentioned that I participated in a card swap. The other ladies made such awesome cards that I had to share!

    All the cards I got at the end of the swap plus mine.
    All the cards I got at the end of the swap plus mine.

    And here are a few of my favorites!

    Super cute card my upline Denise Rolak made.  Isn't she talented?
    Super cute card my upline Denise Rolak made. Isn't she talented?
    Super creative use of the Twill tape ribbon.  Love it!
    Super creative use of the Twill tape ribbon made by Connie Swan. Love it!
    One of my favorite stamp sets because it is so elegant.  Plus the colors are great and the glitter is a neat touch!
    One of my favorite stamp sets because it is so elegant. Plus the colors are great and the glitter is a neat touch! Created by Leilani Landis.
    )
    What a cool idea for a card! Plus it make me think of my friend Kally. 🙂 Created by Janie Bracht.