Petals & Feathers - New Spring Supplies! HSS176

Hey crafty friend!  How's it going?  Have you recovered from Christmas yet?  As much as I love Christmas, I am very ready for some springy projects!  Here's one using some new spring mini & Sale-A-Bration goodies, as well as some regular catty stamps I have in my stash.

I'm drawing inspiration from this photo from Hand Stamped Sentiments. This is a fantastic photo because there are so many ways to interpret it.  Hearts? Pink? Nature?  I chose feathers, and a little pink!

HAND STAMPED SENTIMENTS
PHOTO INSPIRATION CHALLENGE
HSS176

Fine Feathers is a stamp set that I purchased right away, and it sits and looks pretty on my shelf most of the time.  This was a great opportunity to ink it up!  I stamped three feathers in three colors - Crisp Cantaloupe, Blushing Bride, and Soft Sky.  Cut and arranged them on a tag. A little stamp layering with two new stamp sets (Petal Parade & Simply Celebrate) and some spritzing. 

See the sequins?  You'll be seeing a lot of them!  They come in a huge roll, and I think they'll last a long, long time!  I adhered them with Sticky Strip behind the (new SAB) Sweet Sorbet DSP. They add a nice glimmery touch to an otherwise pastel card, and I love the way they catch the eye when the light hits them.  

So go on, make a spring - love - birdy - feather - whatever card!  I'd love to see what you come up with using Hand Stamped Sentiment's photo challenge!  

Have a blessed and creative day ~ Erika

Supplies:

Stamps: Fine Feathers, Petal Parade (SAB), Simply Celebrate (Spring Mini)

Ink: Basic Black, Blushing Bride, Soft Sky, Crisp Cantaloupe

Paper:  Sweet Sorbet DSP (SAB), Blushing Bride, Whisper White

Embellishments: Gold Sequin Trim, Crisp Cantaloupe Stretch Ruffle Trim, Gold bakers twine

Punches:  Scallop Tag Topper, Crop-A-Dile

Other: Stampamajig, Spritzing Tool. 

Sketch Full of Sneak Peeks! HSSSC175

Tis the season to be busy!  I've had a box full of sneak peek products from the upcoming Spring Occasions Mini and Sale-A-Bration for over a week now (even paid for expedited shipping!) and finally have had time to make a birthday card for my mom using this week's sketch at Hand Stamped Sentiments!

Most of the supplies are from a mini album kit - Mini Memories Simply Created Album Kit, and I've broken out the kit so I can use it for cards because all the elements of it are so sweet!  It has a little bit of everything...the paper bag, doily, the large sequin, and the lovely gold baker's twine are all from the kit.  I've cut apart the tulip printed bag and sanded it a bit to tone down the white, and there's plenty of it leftover for more cards.

The stamp is from the upcoming Another Great Year set, and it has the BEST birthday stamps...you'll see the largest one below on the inside. "Wish Big" is embossed with white and watercolored with Wild Wasabi and Calypso Coral. A few sequins and a bow from the twine embellish the sides of the Natural Composition DSP frame.  

I love the watercolor trend!  It was very easy and I didn't have to worry about getting things perfect.  See the muslin banner there?  It's part of a Sale-A-Brations freebie! A super lovely banner kit called Heartfelt - OMGoodness I LOVE it!  There are POM POMs in it! The top of the banner is punched with a new Scalloped Tag Topper Punch.

Inside is a show stopper sentiment with a little more watercoloring brushed on. 

So, do you have a little time set aside for stamping during this busy time?  Head on over to Hand Stamped Sentiments and play along!  

O Holy Night Subway Art Christmas Card HSSCC174

Once in a while you find a stamp that can stand alone on a piece of paper and just be stunning. O Holy Night is a beautiful stamp set, with rich text art and all the right words to celebrate Christmas!  I believe I have found a keeper!

Hand Stamped Sentiments is challenging us to use a warm color combo this week of Cherry Cobbler, Baked Brown Sugar, and Daffodil Delight.  Looks rather autumny to me, but I've got to get Christmas cards rolling out of here, so I made it work. 

I used Daffodil Delight to sponge the outside of the stamped layer, and I think it  brightened it up nicely against the red.

Gotta love that double fork bow!

Be sure to set some time aside during this busy Christmas season to satisfy your creativity!  Join us at Hand Stamped Sentiments and play along!

STAMPS: o Holy Night

INK: Cherry Cobbler, Daffodil Delight, Crumb Cake for sponging

PAPER: In Color 13-15 stack, Cherry Cobbler, Baked Brown Sugar, Very Vanilla

EMBELLISHMENTS:  Cherry Cobbler SBR, Basic Pearls, Linen Thread

TOOLS: Framelits Apothecary Accents

Autumn Leaves Ornament / Wreath {Fall Home Decor}

Are you getting ready for Thanksgiving?  I already have guests here at the house, and am starting my side dishes...pineapple casserole, marinated carrots, and cakes and cookies.  We have a winter storm due to arrive tonight, so we all may  be snowed in!

After all the food prep today, I finished a project that I've been trying to do since LAST year!!!

Remember the gorgeous Christmas ornaments from last year?  I wanted an autumn one.  Finally, here it is...

I've updated it to use current product, including the 1-1/4" Burlap ribbon, crepe paper, and woodgrain embossing folder.  

Here's my process:

First of all, I consulted Margaret Murray's tutorial here, and tweaked it as I went along.

Cut 20 of the maple leaf (More Mustard), and 20 of the smaller leaf (Old Olive) from Autumn Accents Bigz Die.

Stamp the maple leaves with En Francais using Crumb Cake ink, then sponge edges with Cherry Cobbler.

Emboss the smaller leaves with Woodgrain TIEF and sponge with Always Artichoke.

Fold 15 of each leaf in half lengthwise, leave 5 of each for backing.

Glue 3 folded leaves back to back and glue them to a flat leaf as shown.  Repeat for 5 sets.

Same process with the smaller leaves.  

Okay, for my base I punch a 5-petal flower punch and a 2-1/2" circle punch, so you know where each leaf set will get hot glued.  

Hot glue one set of maple leaves to each "flower petal". Nestle the smaller leaves between the maple leaf sets and hot glue. 

Make a burlap rose with your 1-1/4" Burlap ribbon.  Just roll the ribbon in half lengthwise and hot glue a tight roll in the center.  Then roll and twist the burlap loosely to create a flower. I didn't glue as I went along, but waited until I was satisfied with the flower and hot glued it to a silicone sheet.  Add a Vintage Faceted Button in the center with a basic rhinestone (large) with Crystal Effects.

I thought the burlap rose needed a little softening look to it, so I traced the smaller leaf onto Crepe Paper, folding the paper into 5 layers to get all my leaves at once.

I don't know who chewed this pencil, it wasn't me :D

Sponge with Always Artichoke and Cherry Cobbler.  They are lookin' pretty!

Gently hot glue them down, tucking them in with a pencil tip.

The hot glued mess is coming together!

Add the finished burlap rose and a little ribbon to hang it with!

Time to celebrate!  Know what I'm thankful for?  My sweet boys.  My precious pup, Lizzy.  Crunchy leaves. Those smiles.  A happy home with my hardworking husband.  

Have a blessed and creative day!  ~ Erika

My November Paper Pumpkin...Love at first sight!

Like many avid Stampin' Up! papercrafters, I have been so curious about My Paper Pumpkin.  But as of a couple of months ago, I hadn't given in to the urge.  This is my third month getting the orange box in the mail, and OH, I am SO glad I got my little box on Wednesday!  Take a look at all the goodies I have made with this month's kit.  And I still have supplies leftover!

So, the kit is designed to make four cards just like this one...

But I started playing with the supplies, and decided I would see what I could get if I took it up a notch...

HOW ADORABLE IS THIS STAR GARLAND???
I TRIED TO FIGURE OUT HOW I CAN MAKE SOME MYSELF.
FORGEDDABOUTIT.  I WOULD SURELY SEW MY FINGERNAIL TO A STAR.

And then, how about a little gift box?  This will make an adorable presentation for a very special friend!  

I learned how to make this box from Connie Collins' post here.  I adjusted the measurements to use a standard card front of 4-1/4" x 5-1/2", scoring at 1"on each side.  Punching at the 1" mark at each corner. Then just embellish to your heart's content!  

Finally, I used the other half of the card I cut for the box lid to make this scrapbook layout of me and my sweet boys.  Gingerbread houses are a tradition in the Clark home!  I kept it pretty simple, just a few layers and that AMAZING STAR GARLAND!

The star cutout on the striped card base is from the Circle Thinlits Die, it's one of the extras included with the flip it card die.  The strip across the "Noel" banner is cut from the long end of the striped panel.  

One of those cute paper clip embellishments adorns the corner of the photo.  Not many extras, almost all of the embellishments are included in the Paper Pumpkin Kit!  

Do I have you enticed to try this kit?  As you can see, you can take the kit very literally and simply, getting four cards completed in 30 minutes.  Or you can let your creativity soar, and play for hours.  

Here's a peek at what it's like to get your kit in the mail!

Upon opening the box, you find a sweet Pumpkin tag and careful wrapping.

Next layer holds your monthy stamp spot, cling mount stamps, and a bit of that star garland!

The next layer reveals your paper supplies with the full color sample sheet.

Here are all of the supplies, opened up and waiting for me :)  I set it all out on the dining room table while I prepared dinner, as incentive to get it all done and escape to the craft room!

By the way, I have a lot of star garland leftover.  It was a very generous amount!  And the stamps sets, of course, will last forever.  

Are you ready for your escape in the mail?  Contact me if you'd like to sign up.  $20 a month gets you the kit, including shipping, to your door.  inkypinkies@hotmail.com

Have a blessed and creative day!  ~Erika

Deck the Halls With Boxes & Punches! HSS173

I've been keeping my new Envelope Punch Board very close at hand lately.  This week, I made a bunch of these "candy wrapper boxes" or they're also called cracker boxes.  I learned to make them from this video by Dee Slater.

I followed the basic idea of her tutorial, but I used a 4.5" x 6.5" piece of patterned paper from the Festival of Prints Stack.  Just tear one off the pad and here are my measurements on scoring and punching:

- Using a 4.5" x 6.5" piece of DSP from paper stack

- Score on 6.5" side at 1", 2", 3", and 4".

- Fold on each score line.

- Using the same technique in her video, punch on Envelope Punch Board at the 1-1/2" mark at each score line and the wider outside edge, not the skinny one.  Repeat on both ends.

- Apply Sticky Strip to the 3 flat sides of the inside of the smallest strip and fold into a box.

- For this size box, I find that scoring the punches is not necessary.  A bit of ribbon cinches the ends nicely.

So here's the fun part!  See those little punches made when creating the cracker box?  They look like ornaments, don't they?  Can you see how I used them on my cards below?

Cute! They fit just right on a 1" circle punch of Silver Glimmer Paper, and dangle from 1/8" Silver Ribbon.  I made one to match Hand Stamped Sentiments' Sketch Challenge #173, and another just playing around.  I plan to save all these little punches!  

Inside of the card:

Hop on over to Hand Stamped Sentiments and check out the challenge.  Very interesting sketch!  I'd love to see your take on it!

SUPPLIES:  Card:

Stamps:  Christmas Messages, Pop N Place Photopolymer Stamp Set

Ink:  Cherry Cobbler

Paper:  Cherry Cobbler, Whisper White, Festival of Prints Paper Stack

Embellishments:  Cherry Cobbler Chevron Ribbon, 1/8" Silver Ribbon

Big Shot:  Chalk Talk Framelits, polka dot embossing folder

Punches:  1" circle punch 

Tools:  Simply Scored, Envelope Punch Board

Pop N Cuts Simple Gift Card Holder - CCMC276 Color Challenge

Here's a simple and fun gift card holder for the holidays - whipped up in 10 minutes with the Pop N Cuts Card Base!  This cute little snowman from Best of Snow is keeping a surprise...

A gift card! Yay!  Make mine Cheesecake Factory, or Sephora, please.

Just a few strategic score lines and a Word Window punch, and you're ready to gift.

I'm playing along with Create With Connie and Mary's color challenge:

Hope you're having a great crafty day!  It's supposed to snow here today.  That means homeschooling in our jammies!  Thanks for stopping by :)

SUPPLIES:

Stamps:  Best of Snow August, Christmas Messages

Ink:  Coastal Cabana, Real Red, Soft Sky, Basic Black

Paper:  etcetera DSP, Real Red, Smoky Slate, Very Vanilla

Embellishments:  red glimmer paper, Delicate Details EF

Tools:  pop n Cuts Die, Word Window Punch

Warmth & Wonder Christmas Shadowbox Card

I'm going with a clean look for my latest Christmas card!  White on white woodgrain with a little evening scene featuring the reindeer stamp from the Warmth & Wonder hostess set. 

A little sponging and stamping off, then a bit of glitter to light up the scene. 

Playing along with Freshly Made Sketches...

And the Friday Mashup!  Woodgrain and wildlife...

Hope you'll find some time to create this week! Christmas is right around the corner, you know!  

Have a blessed and creative day ~ Erika