Paper Conversation

Apothecary Art -- Stampin' Addicts Occasions Mini Catalog Blog Hop

Edited to correct a link.

Hi There!

Welcome to the Stampin' Addicts Occasions Mini Catalog Blog Hop.  This weekend I'm joining a group of extremely talented Stampin' Up! Demonstrator members of the Stampin' Addicts on-line community to share with you some of the great new items that will be available in the Occasions Mini Catalog beginning on January 3rd. 

If you're progressing through the Hop from the beginning, you've just arrived from Sharon Field's awesome blog featuring the Rue des Fleurs stamp set.  I just love Sharon's work and her projects are just wonderful! You can click here to see her post for the blog hop.

However, if you're traveling through the Hop from the opposite direction, then you've just spent some time with my Central Florida neighbor, Adriana Benitez, and her fun projects featuring the You're My Type stamp set.  I'm always impressed with Adriana's clean style.  You can click here to return to her blog.

My stop on the Hop features the Apothecary Art stamp set.  I hope you enjoy viewing the projects.  Be sure to stop by next week for all the details about how these projects were created.

We'll begin with a very mailable birthday card.

(click on card to see larger image)

The image was stamped on Whisper White cardstock using Staz-On Jet Black ink and watercolored with the Blender Pen and Baja Breeze, Blushing Bride, Pear Pizzazz, and Riding Hood Red inks.  It's hard to see in this photo (except for the embarassing splotches), but there's Gold Glow Smooch Spritz over the stamped and colored image.  The image was die cut using the new Labels Collection Framelits dies for the Big Shot.  These are so EASY to use!  The next size of Framelits die was used to cut the Blushing Bride card front and a piece of Twitterpated Designer Series Paper.  A pretty bow of Whisper White Taffeta ribbon was adhered just below the center of the banner on the focal point.

My second project is a decorated gift box filled with gift tags.

(click on box to see larger image)

The Kraft Gift Box is such a versatile size and is so fun to decorate.  For this box, I used the Attic Boutique Designer Series Paper.  A piece of this great paper was double matted with Pool Party and Poppy Parade cardstock and adhered to each of the outside panels of the box (with the exception of the bottom) and the inside panel of the box lid.  You'll note that there's lots of sponging on this box; all done with Soft Suede ink. 

The focal point for the box lid was stamped with Staz-On Jet Black ink and colored with the Blender Pen and Poppy Parade, Pear Pizzazz, Daffodil Delight, and Pool Party inks.  The image was cut out with Paper Snips and adhered to a Poppy Parade mat cut with the corresponding size Labels Collection Framelits die.  A banner was created and placed across the center of the focal point.

(click on box to see larger image)

The inside of the box was lined with the reverse side of the Designer Series Paper used for the outside of the box.  A piece of Pool Party 3/8" Ruffled Ribbon was adhered along the top edge of the liner.

(click on tags to see larger image)

Inside the box are some pretty gift tags.  The stamped image was created using the same process utilized for the box top with the exception of the banner.  Instead, a piece of Pool Party 3/8" Ruffled Ribbon was wrapped around the center of the image and knotted.  The card base consists of two pieces of Poppy Parade (or Pool Party) cardstock cut with the Labels Collection Framelits die.  More info on how the cards were assembled will be provided next week.

I really liked that the Apothecary Art stamp set includes a stamp image that can be used for a journaling block on a scrapbook page (in addition to being a great image for a jar label).

(click on scrapbook pages for larger image)

These are 6" x 6" facing pages with a Riding Hood Red Textured cardstock base.  Pieces of striped paper from the Twitterpated Designer Series Paper were matted with Pear Pizzazz cardstock to reside along the left edge of the left facing page and the right edge of the right facing page.  The edges of the cardstock were cut using the scallop edge Adorning Accents Edgelits die.  These are way too cool and just as easy to use as the Framelits!  A piece of Riding Hood Red 3/8" Pleated Satin ribbon covers the edge of the Designer Series Paper nearest the scallop edge of the Pear Pizzazz cardstock.  A second piece of Twitterpated Designer Series Paper was die cut using the Paper Doily Large Sizzlits die.  Isn't it just beautiful??!!  The doily was cut down the center and each half was placed along the center edges of each scrapbook page. 

The label image was stamped on Whisper White cardstock using Basic Gray ink.  The first time the image was stamped to include the dotted journaling lines.  The second time, the stamp was cleaned and only the outside edge and floral design of the image were inked using the brush tip of a Basic Gray Stampin' Write Marker.  The beautiful sentiment from the Butterfly Prints stamp set was placed in the open area under the floral image.  Both images were colored with the Blender Pen and Baja Breeze, Pear Pizzazz, and Riding Hood Red inks and cut out using Paper Snips.  The images were matted with Pear Pizzazz cardstock cut with the corresponding size Labels Collection Framelits die.  A butterfly of Baja Breeze (Rock & Roll'd) with Riding Hood Red ink resides near the top right corner of the right facing page.

In addition to the Apothecary Art stamp set, you've seen a boatload of new items from the Occasions Mini Catalog.  By completing the Blog Hop you'll be able to see a whole lot more.  There's just so much deliciousness in this catalog, it's hard to take it all in!! 

I look forward to your return visit next week for more details on how each of these projects were made.

Jingle All The Way

Hi there!

A long couple of days, but good news with Mom; her surgery was successful and she's settling into the healing process.  Thanks for the prayers and good wishes.  They are so very much appreciated.

Today's post presents the fifth of the five cards designed for my annual Christmas Card class.  This one features my very favorite embellishment offered in the Holiday Mini Catalog:  the Mini Jingle Bells.  They're just so darn cute!!!  And they really jingle!

(click on card to see larger image)

We begin with a card base of Wild Wasabi.  The lower half of a Chocolate Chip cardstock panel was embossed in the Big Shot with the Stripes Textured Impressions embossing folder and adhered to the card front using SNAIL.  A piece of Very Vanilla cardstock was stamped with the ornate "Merry Christmas" from the Christmas Lodge stamp set (available in the Holiday Mini Catalog) using Cherry Cobbler ink and adhered to the upper half of the embossed Chocolate Chip Panel. 

The top and bottom edges of a strip of Cherry Cobbler cardstock was punched with the Scallop Trim Border punch and adhered across the Chocolate Chip cardstock panel just slightly above the center of the panel.  A piece of Holly Berry Bouquet Specialty Designer Series Paper was matted with a slightly larger piece of So Saffron cardstock and adhered across the center of the Cherry Cobbler strip.

At the center of the Holly Berry Bouquet paper, a piece of Cherry Cobbler 1/2" Quilted Satin ribbon was folded into a bow shape.  A Wild Wasabi button from the Holly Berry Bouquet Designer Buttons was threaded with a piece of Early Espresso/Whisper White Baker's Twine looped to hang the Mini Jingle Bells.  Here's how it's done:

1.  Apply Sticky Strip to Cherry Cobbler 1/2" Quilted Satin ribbon as shown in the diagram below.  Remove the center adhesive cover from "Front Site of Ribbon" and place ribbon at the center of the Designer Series Paper.  Remove the adhesive cover from the center at "Back Side of Ribbon".  Fold the right side of ribbon to the center and press the end into the Sticky Strip (making one of the Sticky Strips at one end of the "Front Side of Ribbon" visible).  Remove the adhesive cover and fold the remaining end of the ribbon over to cover the Sticky Strip (making the remaining Sticky Strip at the end of the "Front Side of Ribbon visible)

(click on diagram to see larger image)

2.  Thread Early Espresso/Whisper White Baker's Twine through Wild Wasabi button with ends of twine at front of button.  Knot the twine.  Using a Dental Floss Threader, thread a Mini Jingle Bell onto each tail of the twine.  Bring each tail of twine up into a loop and cross the loops to create a "bow" with one Mini Jingle Bell in each loop.  Snug up the "bow" and adjust the bells in the loops, as required.  Knot the ends of the twine on the front of the button and push a tail back through a button hole to the back of the button.  Tie the tails and knot to secure the Baker's Twine and snip the ends close to the knot.  Remove the Sticky Strip cover on the ribbon and press the button into place at the center

(click on card to see larger image)

The inside sentiment area of the card was lined with Very Vanilla cardstock.  Narrow strips of Holly Berry Bouquet Designer Series Paper were adhered to the top and bottom edges of the liner to bring the fun colors from the front of the card to the inside of the card.

(click on envelope to see larger image)

The back flap of the Medium Very Vanilla Envelope was stamped with the ornate "Merry Christmas" from the Christmas Lodge stamp set.

I have a few more Christmas Cards to share with you and we'll be making Gift Card Holders and tags this weekend at the SASS Stamp Club.  I look forward to sharing these projects with you.

Stamps:  Christmas Lodge; Inks:  Cherry Cobbler; Cardstock:  Cherry Cobbler, Chocolate Chip, So Saffron, Very Vanilla, Wild Wasabi; Designer Series Paper:  Holly Berry Bouquet Specialty; Embellishments:  Cherry Cobbler 1/2" Quilted Satin ribbon, Holly Berry Bouquet Designer Buttons, Early Espresso/Whisper White Baker's Twine, Mini Jingle Bells; Adhesives:  SNAIL, Sticky Strip; Tools:  Paper Cutter/Scorer, Paper Snips, Bone Folder, Scallop Trim Border punch, Big Shot w/Standard Cutting Plates, Multi-Purpose Platform, Stripes Textured Impressions embossing folder; Other:  Medium Very Vanilla Envelope; Non-Stampin' Up!:  Dental Floss Threader

Christmas Lodge

Hello!

A strange kind of day today.  I'm still at the hospital with my Mom and she is currently in surgery.  I'm praying that two hours from now finds her at the beginning of a journey that has a whole lot less pain.

Today's post presents the fourth of the five cards I designed for my annual Christmas Card class.  This one is the one that I struggled most to work out, the simplest of the designs, and ended up being my favorite of the five cards.  It always amazes me where the design process will take you.

(click on card to see larger image)

This card features the Christmas Lodge stamp set and the Frostwood Lodge Designer Series Paper (both from the Holiday Mini Catalog).  We begin with a card base of Naturals White cardstock scored and folded to create a gate fold. 

(click on card to see larger image)

This means that for a piece of cardstock measuring 5 1/2" x 8 1/2", score the cardstock at 2 1/8" and 6 3/8" along the 8 1/2" length.  Then the cardstock is folded along the score lines so that each flap folds to the center.  Each of the "gates" are adorned with one of the fun plaid papers from the Frostwood Lodge Designer Series Paper matted with a slightly larger piece of Garden Green cardstock.

(click on the belly band to see larger images)

The closure for this card is a belly band of Cherry Cobbler cardstock folded and adhered to a circle die cut with the Big Shot and the 3 1/2" circle Originals die.  [Place the band horizontally on the tabletop and center the folded card base on the band.  Fold each side of the band over to toward the center of the card base.]  A scallop circle of Naturals White cardstock was die cut using the larger of the two scallop circles on the Scallop Circle #2 Bigz die with the Big Shot.  The house image from the Christmas Lodge stamp set was stamped in the upper half of the scallop circle using Garden Green Craft ink.  The stamped image was covered with Clear Embossing powder and melted with the Heat Tool.  Dazzling Details glitter glue (from the Holiday Mini Catalog) were added to the embossed image over the snow areas of the house (roofs, porch rails, chimney tops, just under the shrubbery and trees surrounding the house).  The "merry Christmas" sentiment from the Petite Pairs stamp set was stamped in the open area below the house using Cherry Cobbler ink.  Once the Dazzling Details were dry (approximately 30 minutes) the scallop circle was adhered to the belly band.  I used Sticky Strip to adhere the belly band to the Cherry Cobbler circle and to the back of the Naturals White scallop circle because I wanted to make sure that the belly band stayed intact with repeated movement of the belly band as it is removed and replaced on the card base (by sliding the belly band up or down on the card base).

(click on card to see larger image)

Since the card base is Naturals White, there was no need to line the inside sentiment area of the card.  A 1 3/4" scallop circle was punched from a scrap piece of Garden Green cardstock and adhered near the upper center of the card interior.  The Christmas greeting from the Petite Pairs stamp set was stamped on a scrap piece of Naturals White cardstock using Cherry Cobbler ink, punched out using the 1 3/8" punch, and adhered to the center of the Garden Green scallop circle.

The two birds on a branch image was colored with the brush tip of Garden Green, Cherry Cobbler, and Chocolate Chip Stampin' Write Markers and stamped just to the upper left of the Garden Green scallop circle.

(click on envelope to see larger image)

The lower left front corner of the Naturals White envelope was stamped with the "merry Christmas" image using Cherry Cobbler cardstock.  The two birds on a branch image was colored again with the Garden Green, Cherry Cobbler, and Chocolate Chip markers and stamped above the "merry Christmas".

I'll be back soon with the final card designed for the Christmas Card class.  I look forward to your visit!

Stamps:  Christmas Lodge, Petite Pairs; Inks:  Cherry Cobbler, Garden Green Craft; Stampin' Write Markers:  Cherry Cobbler, Chocolate Chip, Garden Green; Cardstock:  Garden Green, Naturals White; Designer Series Paper:  Frostwood Lodge; Embellishments:  Dazzling Details; Adhesives:  SNAIL, Sticky Strip; Tools:  Paper Cutter, Simply Scored scoring tool; Paper Snips, Bone Folder, Embossing Buddy, Clear Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, 1 3/4" scallop circle punch, 1 3/8" circle punch, Big Shot w/Standard Cutting Pads, Scallop Circle #2 Bigz die, 3 1/2" circle Originals die; Other:  Medium Naturals White Envelope

A Retro Type of Christmas

Hello!

Here's the third of the five cards designed for my annual Christmas Card Class.  I was trying to achieve a retro look for this card.  What do you think?

(click on card to see larger image)

This card begins with a card base of Real Red cardstock.  A piece of Holly Berry Bouquet Specialty Designer Series Paper was adhered to the upper third of a panel of Wild Wasabi cardstock.  Adhered along the seam between the Designer Series Paper and the cardstock is a strip of Very Vanilla cardstock punched with the Lace Ribbon punch.  [Note that you'll need three whole circles and some overhang on each side for this card, so it helps to punch a 5 1/2" length to make sure you've accomplished this goal.]  Three 1" circles were punched from Real Red Glimmer paper and adhered to the back of the three whole circles using SNAIL.  SNAIL was applied to the back of the Real Red Glimmer Paper circles, then the punched ribbon was placed over the seam and the three circles centered across the Wild Wasabi panel.  (An adhesive remover was rubbed over the three whole circles to remove any exposed SNAIL.)  The overhang at each end of the punched ribbon was trimmed to approximately 1/2", folded under the Wild Wasabi panel, and SNAILed in place.  The Wild Wasabi panel was adhered to the card front using SNAIL.

Real Red ink was applied to two of the stockings from the Stiched Stockings stamp set and stamped on Very Vanilla cardstock.  The stockings were punched from the cardstock using the Stocking Builder punch.  The stocking cuffs, heels and toes were punched from Silver Glimmer paper and adhered to the punched stockings using SNAIL.  I just love this Glimmer Paper!  It SIGNIFICANTLY minimizes the glitter mess!  For the stocking with the snowflake, I added a small Basic Rhinestones Jewel to the center of the snowflake.  A small piece of gold elastic cord (Retired) was threaded through the bottom hole punch between the left and center circles and adhered to the back of the stocking using Mini Glue Dots.  The stocking was adhered to the Wild Wasabi panel using Stampin' Dimensionals.  The second stocking was hung from the punched ribbon in the same manner as the first, this time using the bottom hole punch between the right and center circles.

The "Merry Christmas" sentiment from the Four the Holidays stamp set was inked with Real Red ink and stamped on a piece of Very Vanilla cardstock matted with a piece of Real Red cardstock.  The sentiment was adhered to the exposed center of the Designer Series Paper using Stampin' Dimensionals.

(click on card to see larger image)

The inside sentiment area of the card was lined with a piece of Very Vanilla cardstock.  Two strips of glitter-embedded striped paper from the Holly Berry Bouquet Specialty Designer Series Paper were adhered to the top and bottom edges of the liner using SNAIL.  The top piece was punched with the Scallop Edge Border punch. 

(click on envelope to see larger image)

The "Merry Christmas" sentiment was inked with Real Red and stamped at the upper left corner of the Medium Very Vanilla envelope.  The snowflake stocking was also inked with Real Red and stamped with the upper left corner of the stocking just below the "y" in "Merry".  The pen tip of an Early Espresso Stampin' Write Marker was used to "hang" the stocking from the loop in the "y".

I'm hoping to have another card for you tomorrow.  I'm writing this while sitting with my Mom at a local hospital.  We're waiting for some surgeons to visit her and hope that they'll be able to alleviate some back pains that she's been having.  Wish us luck!

Stamps:  Four the Holidays, Stitched Stockings; Inks:  Real Red; Cardstock:  Real Red, Very Vanilla, Wild Wasabi, Real Red Glimmer Paper, Silver Glimmer Paper; Designer Series Paper:  Holly Berry Bouquet Specialty; Embellishments:  Basic Rhinestones Jewels, Gold Elastic Cord (Retired); Adhesives:  SNAIL, Stampin' Dimensionals, Mini Glue Dots; Tools:  Paper Cutter/Scorer, Paper Snips, Bone Folder, 1" circle punch, Scallop Edge Border punch, Lace Ribbon punch, Stocking Builder punch; Other:  Medium Very Vanilla Envelope

A Delightful Christmas

Hi there!

I'm so jazzed!!  I just finished a Skype conversation with my son and daughter-in-law.  How cool is that!!!  He's in the USNavy and stationed in Sicily.  They are pretty much settled in now and looking forward to visiting all there is to see in Europe.  You can bet that my husband and I are busy tucking away the $$ so that we can visit them.  My husband is really itching to go...he was stationed in Sicily some years ago when he was in the USNavy and has many happy memories of the time he spent there.  We've been speaking to my son on Skype since he and his wife arrived in Italy a few months ago, but this is the first time that I was able to speak to my daughter-in-law and it was so good to see both of them at the same time.  What a great birthday present!

OK, now back to work.  Today's post is the second of the five cards I designed for my annual Christmas Card class.

(click on card to see larger image)

This card features the Delightful Decorations stamp set and the Letters to Santa Designer Series Paper.  We begin with a card base of Riding Hood Red cardstock.  Adhered to the card front is a panel of Old Olive cardstock embossed in the Big Shot with the Perfect Polka Dots Textured Impressions embossing folder.  The edges of the panel were sponged with Old Olive ink.  Near the top of the panel is piece of Riding Hood Red cardstock.  Adhered to this panel is a piece of Letters to Santa Designer Series Paper matted with a piece of Early Espresso cardstock.  Wrapped around the top of the Early Espresso cardstock/Letters to Santa Designer Series Paper is a piece of Chocolate Chip 1/2" Scallop Dots ribbon.  The starburst ornament from the Delightful Decorations stamp set was inked with Old Olive ink, stamped on a piece of Whisper White cardstock, and punched with the Ornament punch.  The ornament was adhered to the Letters to Santa Designer Series Paper with Stampin' Dimensionals.  A 5mm Basic Rhinestone was adhered to the center of the starburst.  Note that the top of the ornament was tucked under the ribbon.  A second piece of Chocolate Chip 1/2" Scallop Dots ribbon was formed into a bow and adhered to the wrapped ribbon at the top of the ornament using Mini Glue Dots.

A scrap piece of Riding Hood Red cardstock was punched with the Modern Label punch and adhered near the lower center of the Old Olive panel using Stampin' Dimensionals.  The "Merry Christmas" sentiment, from the Teeny Tiny Wishes stamp set, was inked with Old Olive ink and stamped on a scrap piece of Whisper White cardstock, punched with the Word Window punch, and adhered to the center of the Riding Hood Red cardstock Modern Label using SNAIL.

(click on card to see larger image)

The inside sentiment area of the card was lined with a panel of Whisper White cardstock.  The ornate snowflake from the Winter Post stamp set was stamped three times at the lower left corner and once at the upper right corner of the panel using Old Olive ink.

(click on envelope to see larger image)

The ornate snowflake was stamped three more times near the lower left front corner of the Medium Whisper White envelope.  The "Merry Christmas" sentiment was stamped among the snowflakes using Early Espresso ink.

The piece of Letters to Santa Designer Series Paper used for this card is 2 1/4" x 3 1/8" which means that with careful cutting you can cut 18 pieces from one 12" x 12" sheet.  If you used both sheets in the package, you'd be able to make 36 Christmas cards very quickly since this card design is perfect for bulk production.

Stamps:  Delightful Decorations, Teeny Tiny Wishes, Winter Post; Inks:  Early Espresso, Old Olive; Cardstock:  Early Espresso, Old Olive, Riding Hood Red, Whisper White; Designer Series Paper:  Letters to Santa; Embellishments:  Chocolate Chip 1/2" Scallop Dots ribbon, Basic Rhinestones Jewels; Adhesives:  SNAIL, Mini Glue Dots, Stampin' Dimensionals; Tools:  Paper Cutter/Scorer, Paper Snips, Bone Folder, Ornament punch, Modern Label punch, Word Window punch, Big Shot w/Standard Cutting Plates, Multi-Purpose Platform, Perfect Polka Dots Textured Impressions embossing folder; Other:  Medium Whisper White Envelope

Warmest of Wishes

Edited to add a missing link.

Hello!

Today begins a series of posts presenting the Christmas Cards I designed for my annual Christmas Card class.  We'll begin with a simple design using the Warmest of Wishes Hostess stamp set.

(click on card to see larger image)

The focal point for this card is the "NOEL" image from the Warmest of Wishes Hostess Stamp Set from the Holiday Mini Catalog.  The image was inked with Marina Mist ink, stamped on Whisper White cardstock, then punched out with the Decorative Label punch.  The punched image was matted with Riding Hood Red Textured cardstock (you'll find instructions for making the mat here).  The focal point was adhered to a piece of Old Olive cardstock embossed in the Big Shot using the Snow Burst Textured Impressions embossing folder.  Frost White Shimmer Paint was lightly brushed across the raised embossing using a Sponge Dauber and then the cardstock was adhered to the right side of a piece of Early Espresso cardstock.  One edge of a piece of Riding Hood Red Textured cardstock was punched with the Eyelet Border punch and adhered to the Early Espresso cardstock along the left side of the Old Olive cardstock with the punched edge sitting on top of the Old Olive cardstock.  Next, a piece of Letters to Santa Designer Series Paper was adhered to the left side of the Early Espresso cardstock.  Note that the Old Olive, Riding Hood Red Textured, and Designer Series Paper is sized such that there is a 1/16" border of Chocolate Chip cardstock visible around the outside edges of these items.  To finish, a piece of Marina Mist 1/4" grosgrain ribbon was wrapped around the Early Espresso cardstock and knotted on the front to cover the overlap of the Designer Series Paper and the punched border.  The completed piece was adhered to the Marina Mist card base using SNAIL. 

(click on card to see larger image)

The inside sentiment area of the card was lined with Whisper White cardstock.  A piece of Letters to Santa Designer Series Paper was punched with the Eyelet Border punch and adhered along the left side of the liner.  The "Warmest of Wishes" image was inked with Riding Hood Red ink and stamped near the upper center of the remaining white space of the liner.

(click on envelope to see larger image)

The lower left front corner of the Medium Whisper White envelope was stamped with the "NOEL" image using Marina Mist ink.

I really like how the Letters to Santa Designer Series Paper adds a great punch of color to the card front.  Since the piece used on the card front is 3" x 4", a single 12" x 12" sheet will yield enough paper pieces for 12 card fronts.  The coordinating paper used for the inside sentiment area of the card is 1 1/4" x 4", which means that you'd need a 5" x 12" piece of the Letters to Santa Designer Series Paper.  Since the ornaments contain all the colors used for this Designer Series Paper, you can choose any one of the double-sided papers in the package for the inside of the card and know that you'll be matching the paper used on the card front.  Stampin' Up! Designer Series Papers make it so easy!

If you're still looking for ideas for your own Christmas cards, check back next week for a few more ideas as I continue to present the remaining cards from my annual Christmas card class.

Have a great weekend!

Stamps:  Warmest of Wishes; Inks:  Marina Mist, Riding Hood Red; Cardstock:  Early Espresso, Marina Mist, Riding Hood Red Textured, Whisper White; Designer Series Paper:  Letters to Santa; Embellishments:  Marina Mist 1/4" Grosgrain ribbon; Adhesives:  SNAIL, Stampin' Dimensionals; Tools:  Paper Cutter/Scorer, Paper Snips, Bone Folder, Decorative Label punch, Eyelet Border punch, Frost White Shimmer Paint, Sponge Dauber, Big Shot w/Standard Cutting Plates, Multi-Purpose Platform, Snow Burst Textured Impressions embossing folder; Other:  Medium Whisper White Envelope