321 Stamp: Launching Creativity

Petite Pocket Big Shot Die Becomes a Box

In my last post introducing the Petite Pocket die I promised to share a box made from the die. It's so easy to do. Here's what it looks like dressed up with a paper band -- and it's big (considering it was made from something called a Petitie Pocket!) It's 4 1/4" tall and each side is about 2 1/4" wide.

You first cut out four Petite Pocket shapes using your Big Shot machine. Just cut out the whole envelope -- four times. I used Marina Mist card stock for mine.You're going to then use a paper cutter to cut off one skinny side flap from each one -- just be sure you cut the same side flap off of all four. You're also going to shorten what would be the back wide flap if you were making an envelope. Shortening it to 2 1/8" turns them into perfectly angled box bottom flaps. (I just lined up that bottom score mark on the 2 1/8" mark on my cutter and then sliced them off -- easy to measure and make them the same length.

Then it's time to glue the remaining side flaps to the side of each envelope that you cut the flap off. I used Tombow Multipurpose glue. This photos shows all four glued together right before I glue that last flap to make the box rectangle.

I got this idea from Fran Sabad at a demonstrator idea booth during convention and I just altered the length of the bottom flaps so they more closely matched the width of the box. They make a very sturdy bottom by folding in all four and gluing them to each other.

For that top you can see in the larger photo I just folded in the two opposite top flaps and punched holes in the other two flaps and added the little reinforcement circles cut by the die and then threaded through some Crumb Cake Seam Binding.

These are so fun to make and I know will hold a nice cello bag of homemade candy or fudge for neighbors at Christmas time.

Petite Pocket Envelope Gift Card Holder

I noticed the new Petite Pocket Big Shot die immediately when the new catalog came out. And my first question was — will it hold a gift card? Here's visual proof of the answer!

It sure does and here's a look at the front all gussied up with punched flowers and bling. I punched an oval window in the front before assembly so the front of the card showed through -- just wish I'd had one that was a better match for my Blushing Bride card stock.

The die also cuts two little circles that are designed to be attached as the closure -- sort of like those work place envelopes that you don't seal but instead send items around to different people and they unwind the string to get inside. (remember those and the distribution lists on them? They're still around but boy has the internet and the ability to share documents electronically decreased the need for those!) So instead of the circles here I attached more punched flowers as the closure. Just be sure to attach the one on the envelope before you assemble it! My brads are from the Vintage Trinkets and check out how the medium size stick on rhinestones fit perfectly in the recessed space that is really a little faux button brad. I just tied the Baker's Twine to the brad on the flap and then you wrap to close.

Love this die and I'll be back with more ideas of things to make with it -- including a pretty big box!

 

Designer Frames Embossed Card

I love teaching my Big Shot die cutting classes each quarter as they're filled with lots of creative ideas and quick tips to help my customers get more out of their die cutting machine experience. So the recent class has a make and take project that focused on using the Letterpress Plates and the new Designer Frames Textured Impressions Embossing Folder set.

The Crumb Cake card stock on the front was "debossed" with the beautiful new Fancy Fan Letterpress plate. Letterpressing does "de-boss" or press a pattern into your paper just like old time letterpress printing presses did. I like to ink the plate up first with clear Versamark ink for a vintage tone on tone look. The clear ink is so easy for beginning Letterpress as it's very forgiving if you need to move the card stock a little to make sure it's straight on the plate. You can also ink the plate with a colored pigment ink -- and our Craft Pigment Inks are best. But you can imagine that red ink on the plate gives you one shot at getting the paper on straight or it will smear.

The front focal point is a piece of Naturals Ivory card stock that was impressed with the oval frame from the set of two Designer Frames (the other is a rectangle and you can see the patterns below). I then tore around it for a pretty feathery edge. The inside of this oval is a perfect match to the Extra Large Oval punch, item #119859 (once known as our Wide Oval Punch). Thanks to the punch the greeting from Petite Pairs (my new favorite greeting set) could be stamped and then punched and popped up in the frame for a nice touch. A Rich Razzleberry punched flower and bow finish this off. I like my sympathy cards relatively simple so the focus is on the heartfelt message and not the "look at me" card design.

I did put a little special touch inside -- the same frame embossed inside with the second half of the greeting from Petite Pairs and a second small flower. And of course I added some of our stick on pearls.

 
Letterpress Fancy Fan Plate - item #123129 $7.95 US

Designer Frames - set of two Textured Impressions Embossing Folders - item #123130 $8.95 US

Petite Pairs Stamp set - clear mount Item #122497 $20.95 US; Wood Mount item #122495 $28.95 US

 

An Origami Shirt Card

I know that Father's Day was in June but everyone needs masculine card ideas throughout the year for birthdays and such. I made this for Father's Day using the great stamp set called "Best Dad Ever" that is in the Summer Mini Catalog and also in the 2011-2012 Idea Book. It has a stamp containing five tie designs (so the one on this shirt was inked with a marker -- stamped -- and then cut out and is the perfect size for the shirt.) And it has four great "dad" sayings.

I'll share the origami how to as a download later in this post.

I love the simple accents on the right made by punching out Cherry Cobbler and Not Quite Navy card stock with the Postage Stamp punch. The little edge grooves are perfect for holding the wrapped Baker's Twine accent in place.

Click here to download directions for the shirt which was made from the Nautical Expedition Designer Series Paper -- going away August 31 and on sale this month as part of our paper sale. There are so many great masculine patterns in this paper pack so I know I will need one more package for my stash before it retires. 

 

 

Manly yes...but I like it, too!

I'm dating myself but I remember growing up when some advertising campaign for Old Spice or something was the title of this post. Masculine cards can be some of the toughest cards we make as paper crafters and that's why I love The Open Sea stamp set from the Summer Mini Catalog -- only available through August 31. It's so easy to make beautiful cards. I combined that set with a greeting from the fun set Word Play for a card that would be great for graduation, retirement or a birthday. This idea was inspired by my friend Dawn Olchefske a few months back -- then I changed it up with no layers for a flat, very "mailable" card as I like to day. Plus I loved the way this greeting that I used just went with the nautical feel of the card and the compass.

See that Crumb Cake rectangle layer that ties the whole collage together? Easy to do by inking up SU's size D clear block with ink -- and then stamping right on the Vanilla card stock. Then I added the ship in Not Quite Navy; the globe in Cherry Cobbler; and the compass in Early Espresso (be sure your compass is pointing north!) The greeting was inked using markers for the two-tone look. Cherry Cobbler Baker's Twine is my idea of a masculine-friendly "bow" -- just make a simple knot and you can get away with it.

Be sure to add this great nautical set to your stamp stash before it's gone at the end of this month!

A "Fascinating" Challenge

Carrie Gaskin is an amazing stamper and Stampin' Up demonstrator who I've long followed online. During convention this summer she wore a series of "Fascinators" -- those great little "hats" that are all the rage since the royal wedding. And she had a contest going on her blog related to when she wore each adorable head adornment. I happened to take this photo of her on Saturday, the last day of convention, wearing this spiffy number:

Is she not so gorgeous in this? Love it. And would you believe my name was picked as a winner on her blog for guessing the right day for this fascinator. Too fun! Thanks Carrie!

Waving the Pennants

So have you been seeing pennants everywhere in papercrafting lately? They are the rage. I love Stampin' Up's new set Pennant Parade -- and best of all the coordinating punch that makes two different little pennant shapes. The stamps are so easy to use and the set even includes a little stand so you can turn the pennants into a Christmas tree (isn't a tree just an upside down triangle afterall?)

Here's the pennant set used a more "normal" way for a birthday card. I cased this off an idea online and forgot to record where as I always like to share the inspiration so if anyone recognizes the source please leave a comment and I'll add that in. I did add in our new mini brads on the greeting label -- they are so petite and cute when you need a smaller brad. The paper on the card is from the Just Add Cake set of designer paper.

Happy stamping -- and be sure to check out the Pennant Parade set and punch in the new catalog or my online store.

New email feed service

Thanks to an email from a nice blog reader I realized that my old sign up box in the left column that lets you receive my blog posts via email was not working anymore. So I've added a new sign up box through Feedburner and it should work like a charm (just go fill in your email and click Subscribe). This is just a change for the blog feeds via Feedburner -- so you get an email whenever I've posted new content. The newsletter sign up box to the left is the same -- and if you've not signed up for that extra monthly newsletter before, do so now because the August issue will go out soon and you don't want to miss my custom newsletter special project this month (and every month in the newsletter.)

Designer Paper : Inspiration and a Great Special

That's right -- buy three packages of our Designer Papers that are priced at $10.95 per package and get a 4th package free! This special lasts all of August and applies to online orders or orders direct from me.

• There is no limit to the number of free packages of Designer Series Paper you can earn.
• Specialty Designer Series Paper and Hostess Designer Series Paper are not part of this promotion and cannot be redeemed through this offer.

Now for some inspiration! I wanted to show you some of the great designer series papers on display at the recent Stampin' Up convention. In some cases you'll get a wider view of the papers then the little snippets that are in the catalog -- and you'll see them used in some pretty creative ways.

Here is the fun Letters to Santa paper -- and then check out the North Pole post office treatment!

Domestic Goddess is a fun paper set that captures 50s and 60s chic -- complete with bright ginghams, ironing boards and fun food images.So what better way to show it off then a dressed up vintage ironing board.

Halloween will be here before we know it and Frightful Sight paper with it's fun colors will make cute holiday treats. Colors in this one are Whisper White, Cherry Cobbler, Cajun Craze, Basic Gray, Old Olive and Basic Black.

Vintage-look Beau Chateau paper may win the award for prettiest paper -- perfect for baby projects, weddings or just anything with a vintage feel.

And here's one that I was not sure was on my wish list UNTIL I saw it in person. I now love the bright colors of Berry Blossoms. This captures some of this year's new In Colors, including Lucky Limeade, Calypso COral, Wisteria Wonder, with White and Early Espresso thrown in for a nice balance of neutrals. This paper is going on my order during the August special!

Well Worn was one of my favorite new paper the minute I saw it in the catalog because the muted colors are perfect for lots of projects -- both feminine and masculine (and great for cards to give teenagers). I loved this lamp shade dressed up with flowers cut from the Well Worn paper with our Flower Folds Big Shot die.

There are many more beautiful papers on the August sale list so check your catalog and get in touch with your order -- or order online anytime.