Animal Stories Waterfall Card

Thursday, June 25, 2009

Another club/SS challenge project - a birthday card. Our June club theme was baby/wedding but gave them the option to turn this card into a birthday one if they chose. This used SU's new paper Tall Tales and new stamp set Animal Stories. I wan't sure if I would be happy with this paper but it is ADORABLE! (I'm SOOO happy to see more things in the new catalog for little boys!!! So much more now to use for scrapbooking)

Animal Crackers Gift Box

Tuesday, June 23, 2009


This box served two purposes. We made this for my June stamp club. And it also is the 2nd of the Designing D's Secret Sister challenge: To make a box we haven't done before.

My sweet friend Vicky made this from the directions on the Scor-Pal website for Easter and put a cupcake in it. The original directions requires using a piece larger than the standard 8 1/2 X 11 sheet. Since I was cutting 20 for my clubs, I readjusted the scoring and cutting to fit the 8 1/2 X 11 sheet. The dimensions aren't at even numbers and took some time to adjust! Unfortunately, I didn't write down the specs or leave one unassembled so I would have to figure it out all over again if you want the directions, sorry!
This size probably wouldn't fit a cupcake but for a baby gift, it would be cute to fold a onesie like a little flower to put inside.

Bon Voyage Blog Candy Winner

This summer has proved to keep me from my blog and craft room! Many apologies for posting this so late! I appreciate all who visited during the blog hop and left such amazing comments!

The winner is:

Bev Dahl said...
I love your little gel card! I haven't tried that yet but will now!visit my blog at http://bevsdahlhouse.blogspot.com for inspiration!

I'll be contacting you!

"I Spy" Game Tutorial

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

I'm so glad you all told me the official name of this game. I had no idea what to call it! I'm not a big tutorial poster so this will be very primitive. (Also, as far as I know, I have not seen one of these made with SU products. It's fun to come up with something unique and I'm happy that so many like it. Just asking that if you decide to duplicate this idea, use it for workshops or to sell, please make sure to give credit where due and direct them here. Thanks!)

What you will need:

Textiles: Clear Shrink Paper (Shinky Dink), Thick Felt, Thick Plyable Plastic

Inks/Colors: Colored Pencils, White Stazon Ink, White Craft Ink, White Embossing Powder

Accessories: Sizzix Scallop Circle Die and Machine, Sewing Machine, MicroBeads, Circle Cutter, Cropadile, Ribbon

First, stamp your images with StazOn ink on rough side of shrink paper. I chose white as my images were bold but if you have line art, I would use black. Then color them in with colored pencils, cut out and bake to specifications on your shink paper instructions. Remember the pieces become 1/3 of the original size so be care not to use images that may be too small or too big.For the blog hop I was limited to the set I was using. I only have about 16 pieces here but I've seen these games that have 30 to 50 so go for it!

I then used my circle cutter and cut out two large circles of the plyable plastic. (I recycled a bag from a comforter I just bought). Then machine stitch (very close stitch) your two pieces of plastic together leaving an opening to put in your shrink pieces and microbeads. Don't over fill with the microbeads as you need to leave room for the pieces to shift and move easily.Next, stitch your circles completely shut. This was a challenge as the microbeads kept creeping to the opening. You may have to stitch a bit, take it off to shift the pieces away from your needle and start again. As you can see by my oh-so-wonderful sewing, I had to do that several times and even stitched around it again just to make sure it all stayed inside.This is the point where I stopped taking pictures of the process but the rest is fairly simple. I cut two pieces of felt with the circle cutter at exactly the same size that the plastic was cut. (I'm thinking you could use craft foam as well). I then stamped on the felt with white craft ink and heat embossed with white embossing powder. The felt I had was very thick and as long as you keep your gun moving, it won't hurt your felt a bit.

Then, take your Sizzix die and cut the scallop out of the middle of one of the felt circles for your front piece. I found the center of my felt circle by folding it two ways and marking on the back where they intersect. Then found the center of the die by measuring two ways and making a mark.

I then printed a list of the "I Spy" items on cardstock and cut a piece of the thick plastic to the size of my list. I placed the end of a piece of ribbon about 6 inches inside the list and used the heat gun to melt the edges together.

Take your back piece of felt, fold in half and cut a slit just large enough to fit your list into.Next, sandwich your plastic pouch between the two felt circles, insert the other end of ribbon attached to your list and sew together making sure that you stitch a bit further out than you stitched your plastic pieces together. That is important as you will then use your cropadile to punch holes on the outside to lace your ribbon - be careful not punch into the inside of the pouch and lose all the beads! (The pieces may slide as you sew so use pins if needed! And make sure to keep your list free of the needle so you only sew in the end of the ribbon)

Punch holes along the edges with your cropadile, then thread in your ribbon using a whip stitch. Tie the ends on the back and Voila! All done!

Bon Voyage Blog Hop Port #18

Saturday, June 13, 2009

Hi all - thanks for stopping in! If you were following the Stampin' Addicts Bon Voyage Blog Hop (a highlight of stamp sets SU that will be retiring from their 2009 Spring/Summer Catalog), the tour has ended. Hope you were able to get some great inspiration!

The set I chose is "Life's A Breeze". There is a coordinating wheel that is also retiring called "Something Fishy". I love this picture of my little boy when we traveled to California and he was still a baby... And had to scrapbook it!

Paper: Basic Gray, White, Real Red and Night of Navy Prints DSP, Ink: Real Red, Night of Navy and So Saffron, Accessories: Star and various circle punches, dimensionalsI still get very fascinated by gel cards! This one was made with a pocket so you could pull out a card to write on.

Paper: Bashful Blue, Mellow Moss and White, Ink: Bashful Blue and Chocolate Chip, Accessories: Circle Scallop and various circle punches, Circle Cutter, Chocolate Ribbon, hair gelThis is an idea I've had rolling around for awhile. It is one of those toys that kids can play with (hopefully for some time!). There is a list of items that they need to search for and they can shake and spin it to find each of the items. This particular one is quite easy but would be great for little ones who are learning shapes and colors.
This is the view of the back. I cut a slit so the list could be hid behind when not needed. I will post a tutorial of this after the hop so come back after the 16th.

Ink: White Stazon, White Craft; Accessories: Scallop Circle Sizzix, Circle Cutter, Cropadile, White Embossing powder, Shrink Paper, Riding Hood Red Ribbon, Felt, Colored Pencils, Heat Gun, MicrobeadsAnd on to the Blog Candy fun! Want to win this vinyl art Decor Element? First post on YOUR blog a link to MY blog with a little blurb about the blog hop and this specific post. Then leave me a comment here including a link to your blog. Comments will be accepted through 11:59 p.m. Mountain Time on June 16th. Then check back on Wednesday to see if you won! One entry per person/blog.

Back in the Saddle and Just in Time...

Friday, June 12, 2009

For another Blog Hop! Stampin' Addicts are saying Bon Voyage to the stamp sets Stampin' Up! is retiring. The "Tour" will begin tomorrow, June 13th at noon and continue through midnight, June 16th. Come back tomorrow to see which set I chose and a chance for some blog candy!

On another note, many apologies for my lack of blogging lately. I spent nearly a week and a half gutting my stamp room and reorganizing. Let's say it hasn't had that kind of attention in over 3 years! Found a lot of things I thought I lost and others I forgot I even had! It is certainly fun to play with my stamps now that I know where everything is!