"New" Product Tuesday: My Favorite Things Spotlight Sentiments and Baby Cards!

Hi everyone,

Ooo... I'm cutting it pretty close for today's "New" Product Tuesday post.  I believe it's already Wednesday in most parts of the world.  Oh well... at least these cards were made on Tuesday (Pacific Time).

I don't know about you, but I seem to have a lot of friends posting exciting news about new additions to their families.  Some are going to be parents for the first time, others are on their second child and beyond.  I never seem to find unique baby-themed cards in stores, so I've slowly gathered more and more baby designs.

My new product for today is the My Favorite Things Spotlight Sentiments stamp set.  I used the "Congrats" repeating stamp to make my own background paper.  From there, I used a combination of layered paper and layered die-cutting to create two cards.  This technique is so much fun.  It reminds me of building a jigsaw puzzle... only easier!

Card #1: Featuring the handmade MFT background pattern

Card #2: Using extra leftovers from Card #1

Here is the stamp set I used from My Favorite Things:

I also used the baby onesie die cut from The Stamps of Life and the "Congratulations" word die from Paper Smooches.

Materials:

• Two white card bases: 4.25"W x 11"H, scored at 5.5" mark
• Two pink frames: 4.125"W x 5.325" H
• Two sheets of white card stock for the plain white and patterned paper (4"W x 5.25"H)
• Extra pink card stock for the "congratulations" die cut on the front of the cards
• My Favorite Things: Spotlight Sentiments Stamp
• The Stamps of Life: Baby Onesie die cut
• Paper Smooches: Congratulations die cut
• The Stamps of Life:  duck from the onesie4baby stamp set
• Simon Says Stamp: Stitched Rectangle die cut
• Tombow: Adhesive Tape Runner
• Hero Arts: Tide Pool shadow ink pad

Directions:

• Use the "Congrats" spotlight stamp and ink pad to create the patterned paper.  You may want to practice on some scratch paper to get the spacing right.  What's great about this stamp set is you can see through the stamp and acrylic block which helps line things up.  If your acrylic block has lines on it... even better!  Mine didn't.
• Lay the two pieces of white card stock on top of each other.  Line up the stitched rectangle and the onesie die and run through your die cutting machine.  See below for picture.

• Paper piece the card fronts by putting the patterned onesie on the white background paper and putting the white onesie on the congrats patterned paper.  Temporarily tape in place.  
• Now run the "Congratulations" die across these two card fronts.  Be sure to keep all the pieces and centers of the letters.  You will need these to assemble the puzzle.
• Die cut two "Congratulations" words from the extra pink card stock.
• Paper piece everything together.  This is the FUN part!!
• Glue on top of the card frame and card bases.  Now you have two baby cards to send to your friends!  Aww... how cute!

Enjoy!

Saturday Special: "Childhood Memories" card featuring Art Impressions Stamps

Hello everyone,

I was debating whether to wait until Tuesday to post these cards for NPT, but decided to post a little "Saturday Special" instead.  I was SUPER excited to use this cool "front and back" stamp and die set from Art Impressions featuring a cute little girl and little boy stamp set.  At first, I was inspired by my goddaughter who always wears bright and pretty colors... and occasionally animal prints (her mom's influence).  I didn't have an animal print stamp for the leggings, haha... too bad.

As I started to get deeper into the creative process, I started to weave some of my own childhood memories into the card. I used to look outside our dining room window and waved at my mom when she drove off to work.  As we got older, the roles reversed and now she stands at the same window and waves to me as I drive away.

If you look at the inside of the card, the little girl is standing on a log.  Seems random, right?  Well, we used to have a balance beam that my father made from an old log.  I wish I had a picture of it.  It wasn't a normal "flat" balance beam... instead it was rounded at the top which made it even harder to balance.  My brother, little cousin and I used to have balancing contests on this beam.  The three of us would stand there for hours... (okay, maybe it just seemed like hours).  I usually lost because one of them would say something to make me laugh uncontrollably and cause me to lose my balance and fall off.  Anyhow, that's a long explanation of why there's a log on the inside of the card.

After I made this card, I decided it would be more fun if this little girl had a few friends. So I made two more cards.  Each hand colored with Copic markers... yes, this project took me several hours.

Front

Inside

Here are the mini girl and boy stamp and die sets from Art Impressions.  Aren't they cute?  I'm going to make a card with the little boy image (eventually). 

The design of this card was inspired by this week's My Favorite Things Sketch Challenge (#221). I used the MFT Blueprints #14 scalloped die for the top border. The template looks like this:

Materials:

• White card base: 4.25"W x 11"H, scored at 5.5" mark
• Patterned paper: 4"W x 5.25"H (Echo Park Paper)
• Scalloped border at the top: MFT Blueprints #14, partial die-cut using scalloped border
• Square frames: Sizzix Square Flip-its dies
• Stamped Images:
• Little girl (Art Impressions - Mini Girl and Boy Stamp Sets)
• Birds (Lawn Fawn - Let's Play)
• Sentiments (Lawn Fawn - Let's Play and Milk and Cookies)
• Log (Lawn Fawn - Joy to the Woods)
• Copic Markers (many different colors... if you want to know the details, feel free to email me)
• Pearl Embellishments (Queen & Co)
• Corner Punch
• Adhesive (tape runner, foam adhesive)
• Memento Tuxedo Black ink

Directions:

• Stamp all the images using Memento Tuxedo Black Ink. This is the best ink pad to use with Copic Markers.  It doesn't react to the alcohol in the marker.
• Color all the images with Copic Markers
• Die cut or fussy cut the images
• Die cut a window on the front of the white card base and in the patterned paper
• Glue the scalloped border to the top of the patterned paper.  Add a tiny strip across the top for an accent.  Round the upper left and lower left corners with a corner rounder or scissors.
• Add three pearl embellishments to the top.
• Glue the frames on the front and inside of the card.
• Add the sentiment and birds to the bottom.
• Use foam adhesive to attach the girl's head to the back image.
• Place her on top of the log.

Close-up

Okay, that's my Saturday Special for all of you.  It's almost Sunday so I better post this soon!

Enjoy your weekend!

"New" Product Tuesday: Prima/Julie Nutting Doll Stamps and Simon Says Stamp March 2015 Kit

Hello everyone,

For all you paper crafters out there, hope you had a chance to visit the Scrapbook Expo in Anaheim this past weekend.  What a fun three-day event!  Special shout out and thank you to Demo Donna from Sparkle N Sprinkle for the guest pass.  I had so much fun making projects and shopping with Irene from Shabby Chic Crafting, met new friends, spoke with some of my favorite stamp manufacturers and discovered new products to add to my collection.  Overall, a fun time... although my bank account may argue otherwise!

Over the next few weeks, actually months, I will be showcasing some of my new goodies.  Instead of making a "haul" video -- which may be embarrassing given the amount of stuff I picked up, I figure I'll gradually share with all of you.

Today's card features a Prima Marketing Julie Nutting mixed media doll stamp (Phoebe).  I think this stamp is a year old, so it's not really "new" - but as I said before, this weekly column showcases products that are new to me.  I've always wanted to try these doll stamps and paper piece the outfits.  It reminds me of the fashion plates doll kits we had as kids.  And... as a BONUS, this stamp was on sale for $3.50.  Yay!

I was also inspired by Nichol Magouirk's Paper Doll Art Journal where she uses leftover paper from her Simon Says Stamp kits to dress the dolls.  That's what I did for this card.  I used paper from the Simon Says Stamp March 2015 kit.  I am also submitting this to the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge.

Here's the stamp:

Materials:

• Black card base: 7.5"W x 9"H, scored at 3.75" mark
• Yellow patterned paper: 3.5"W x 8.75"H
• White card front: 3"W x 8.25"H
• Julie Nutting Phoebe doll stamp
• Simon Says Stamp March 2015 card kit
• Memento Tuxedo Black ink pad
• Copic Markers:
• Skin: E00, E11, E13
• Hair: E13, E18, E39
• Dress Accents: Y21 for the sleeves, N2 for the skirt and shirt lines
• Stamps of Life postage2stamp set for the sentiment 

Directions:

• Stamp the doll multiple times on patterned paper.  I used calendar paper for the main base, yellow card stock for the headband and shoe ribbons, yellow polka dot paper for the blouse and floral paper for the skirt.
• Here's what the "mood" board looked like.  The dress pattern reminds me of something you might find in Anthropologie.  Come to think of it, I think I have a black and yellow dress from Anthro.  Haha.

• Use Copic markers to color in the doll.
• Use the die cut from the card kit and cut out the circles on the white card base.  Fill the holes with yellow circles.
• Cut the pieces of the outfit and glue to the main card base.
• Adhere the doll to the card base.  

Enjoy!

"New" Product Tuesday: Sizzix Square Flip-Its by Stephanie Barnard

Hello everyone,

It's time for another "New" Product Tuesday.  Today I'm featuring the Sizzix Framelits Square Flip-its dies by Stephanie Barnard.  I made a series of cards.  Here's the first one:

It'll walk you through how I made this card, but before I get ahead of myself, I should show you what the die set looks like (sorry, I didn't take a picture when it was still in the packaging).

This set comes with 12 dies total!  In addition to the main flip-it die that makes the card base and the two side panels, this set also comes with nine (yes 9) different square dies.  Some of them of scalloped edges, some have dots, some have scalloped edges and dots!  So fun, right?

I started with a nostalgic birthday party scene from the Carta Bella "It's a Celebration" paper pack.  I thought the kids' faces (upper right corner) were hilarious, so I decided to cut them out and make four cards from this one scene.

Here are all of the cards (front and inside)

Materials (for one card):

• 9"W x 6"H colored card stock for card base with hidden panel
• 6"W x 6"H patterned paper for front side panels
• 6"W x 6"H white cards stock for the inside hidden panels
• Extra scraps of patterned or plain card stock for the frames
• The Stamps of Life spinner2stamp stamp set
• Ink or Embossing Powder for the sentiment
• Ribbon
• Foam Adhesive
• Adhesive Tape Runner
• Distress Ink

Directions:

• These cards are soooo easy to make because everything is measured out for you
• Use the largest die and cut the card base from plain card stock
• Use the side panel dies and cut out the patterned paper.  I made matching side panels, but you could easily choose different patterned papers to change it up
• Cut the kids faces from the image; ink the edges with distress ink
• Cut a medium and large square from the dies (I mixed it up between scalloped edges and dots)
• Adhere all the layers and attach to the card with foam adhesive
• Stamp a sentiment from the spinner2stamp set on some white or cream card stock.  I think this stamp set is perfect for these flip-it cards.  They're the perfect size!  Cut the sentiment from a medium square.  Layer the sentiment with other colors of paper cut from the large square.
• Adhere to the back of the flip-it square.
• Add ribbon and there you go!  You have a Flip-it card!
• Note: my cards also include a hidden panel.  I forgot to take pictures of the hidden panel while I was making the card, so I've included a link to Stephanie Barnard's hidden panel video.  She does a much better job at explaining this than I do anyway!  

Enjoy!

Happy Pi Day!

Hi everyone,

Today is Pi Day... March 14.  And this year, Pi Day is even cooler!  It's 3.14 '15.  Nerdy, but cool, right?  I went to a college (or an Institute) that embraces Pi Day to its fullest.  Every year, the MIT Admissions committee sends their decisions out on Pi Day -- this year, they took it one step further and sent them out at 9:26am ET.  3.1415926... Here's a fun video of the announcement.

In honor of Pi Day and all those admitted to MIT this year, I created this card... using Chibitronics stickers, of course since these circuit stickers were also developed at MIT.

Materials:

• Kraft card base: 4.25"W x 11"H, scored at 5.5" mark
• Blue patterned paper (Echo Park): 4"W x 5.25"H
• White card stock (Neenah)
• Gold Glitter cardstock (Die Cuts with a View)
• Chibitronics LED circuit stickers in white
• Copper tape
• CR-2032 battery
• Simon Says Stamp stitched rectangle die
• Simon Says Stamp "Oh Happy Day" die

 Directions:

• Print a Pi symbol on white card stock using your computer/printer.
• Use the largest stitched rectangle die and cut out the card front
• Cut out the "Oh Happy Day" sentiment die from the gold glitter paper
• Punch holes using a 1/8" hole punch in the Pi Symbol on both the white and blue card stock
• Using a pencil, mark the holes on the kraft card base.
• Place the copper tape, Chibitronics circuit stickers and battery holder on the card base... see image below for the layout

•  Add foam adhesive to the card base.
• Ta Da!  It lights up. 

Happy Pi Day... now, let's go eat some Pie!

"New" Product Tuesday: Taylored Expressions Balloons and Rainbow Brights

Hello everyone!

Welcome to my new weekly blog series: "New Product Tuesday."  Tuesdays are special in the Entertainment industry.  New albums and DVDs are released every Tuesday.  Back in the day, people used to line up and get excited about the new releases.  I'm sure some people still get as excited these days, but in the digital world... we are so used to having things at our finger tips that the idea of "waiting" for something seems to be a thing of the distant past.

In honor of "New Product Tuesdays" - I've decided to start a weekly blog series featuring a new craft product.  However, I must clarify my definition of "NEW" when referring to a new craft product in this weekly series.  These products are NEW to ME.  They may fall into a few categories:

• New Product Releases: new products that just entered the market within the last month or two.
• Products I've purchased but haven't opened: you know the feeling when you have one of those 40% or 50% off coupons at Michael's or you see something on clearance and you just want to try it out?  Well, here's where I'll try it out. It'll also force me to use the products in a creative way.
• Products I've inherited or received as gifts: occasionally friends will give me products to try... perhaps they're gently used or perhaps they've never been opened but were sitting in the closet collecting dust.  They're still new to me!
• Product I've rediscovered (i.e. stashed away in my storage closets or boxes): this just happened to me last week.  I found an unopened box of colored pencils that are probably 20 years old.  I've had a blast using them to make cards this week.  So fun! 

Anyhow, enough of an introduction.  This week's post features some fun products from Taylored Expressions: the Up Up and Away Cutting Plate and Rainbow Brights Paper and Sequins.  Here are the cards:

Balloon shaker card

Balloon Distress Ink Card

These products haven't been out too long -- the Up, Up and Away cutting plate was released in September 2014 and the Rainbow Brights paper and sequins were released in January 2015.  

                

 

The cutting plate is so cool.  It also comes with two separate balloon dies (a round one and an oblong one) which you can layer on top of the cutting plate, or you can die cut you own designs.  I also love the paper and sequins!  These remind me of my rainbow loving days of yesteryear -- wait, who am I kidding?  I still like rainbow colors today!  My old sticker album from 3rd grade featured pages and pages of rainbow stickers... some things just don't change!

Directions on how I made the cards are listed below.  Enjoy!

Balloon Shaker Card:

• Materials:
  • Pink cardstock: 4.25"W x 11"H, scored at 5.5" mark
  • White card stock: 4"W x 5.25"H
  • Taylored Expressions:
  • Up, Up and Away Cutting Plate
  • Rainbow Brights Patterned Paper (rainbow striped pattern)
  • Rainbow Brights Sequins
  • Happy Birthday Stamp
  • Simon Says Stamp Stitched Rectangles die
  • Adhesive tape runner
  • Foam adhesive
  • Pink pen for the balloon strings
  • Acetate sheet for the window
  • Liquid adhesive
• Directions:
• Use the largest stitched rectangle die and cut the card front
• Use the stand alone balloon dies to cut three balloons on the white card
• Using the pink pen, draw balloon strings down towards the bottom of the card
• On the back of the white card:
• Cover the balloon windows with acetate.
• Use foam adhesive and section off the areas for each balloon
• Carefully fill each well with Rainbow Brights sequins.  I paired two colors for each balloon (pink+purple, yellow+green, blue+white)
• Add foam adhesive to the rest of the back of the card.
• Cover the back with the striped rainbow patterned paper.  Make sure the patterned side shows through the windows.
• Stamp the "Happy Birthday" greeting on a piece of white card stock.  Cut this down to a strip approximately 3.5"W x 1"H.  Cut a fish tail on the left side.
• Cut a piece of rainbow striped paper slightly larger than the sentiment banner to add a decorative border.
• Adhere the sentiment to the front of the card and curl the ends up by rolling the ends around a pen or pencil.
• Place the card on the pink card base and you're done!  Shake it up, up and away!

Balloon Distress Ink Card:

• Materials:
• White cardstock: 4.25"W x 11"H, scored at 5.5" mark
• White card stock: 4"W x 5.25"H
• Taylored Expressions:
•  Up, Up and Away Cutting Plate
• Happy Birthday Stamp
• Distress Inks
• Three shades each of red, blue, yellow and green
• Adhesive tape runner
• Versamark Ink Pad
• Ranger Liquid Platinum Embossing Powder
• Directions
• Use the stand alone balloon dies to cut two oblong balloons and two round balloons
• Use the Up, Up and Away Cutting Plate to cut the front panel of the card
• Use Versamark Ink and the embossing powder to cover the balloon strings on the front panel.  It's okay if you cover some of the balloons, because we will cover them with the colorful balloons
• Stamp the Happy Birthday sentiment in the lower right corner with Versamark and emboss this as well.
• Use Distress Ink and shade the balloon die cuts.  Here are the colors I used for each set of balloons:

                      

                  

• Adhere the balloons to the front of the card.  You're done!

Hope you enjoy these cards!

Card Challenge Entry: A Bunch of Flowers

Happy March!  Is it March already?  When I think of March, I think about the Daffodil Days fundraising sales we had in high school to benefit the American Cancer Society.  Did your school participate in that program? I think they happened the first or second week in March.  I don't have daffodil stamps in my collection, but I decided to create this floral-themed card.

I am also submitting this card to the My Favorite Things Sketch Challenge #217 and the Simon Says Stamp "Anything Goes" challenge.  You can read more about the challenges by clicking on the links below:

• My Favorite Things: Sketch Challenge
• Simon Says Stamp: Anything Goes Wednesday Challenge

For this week, here's what the MFT sketch looks like: 

To create this card, I rotated the MFT sketch 90 degrees and used the My Favorite Things Die-namics Fresh Cut Flowers dies to create this card. I also used the Simon Says Stamp Stitched border dies and a Stamps of Life "Happy Birthday" sentiment.

Enjoy!