321 Stamp: Launching Creativity

Pure Bliss

One of the most popular free Sale-a-bration stamp sets is Bliss. So much fun for vintage looks. I wanted to share a video from Stampin' Up's Shannon West with some beautiful ideas for this great set.

 

Big Shot Letterpress plates - A how-to video

I've always loved the look of old printing -- the ink was virtually embossed into the page with a Letterpress machine. Printing has come a long way -- but that antique look is now prized in crafting projects because the vintage look is so in right now. Stampin' Up's new Letterpress plates for the Big Shot give you that look.

I'm still playing with my new Letterpress plates -- because once you practice a little it works well (and the more porous the paper, the better so our watercolor paper works well). There's a bit of a learning curve, primarily because you're working with a plate that you've inked with Craft pigment ink -- and then carefully laying paper onto the inked plate -- and not having it move or smear as you roll it through the Big Shot die cutting machine. The result is a look that's "debossed" with the ink pressed into the image. So it looks a lot like a stamped image -- but it's indented into the paper slightly. For those who love to experiment and get "artsy", it's a fun new way to stretch your Big Shot machine.

Watch this video to see the Letterpress in action and for some tips about how to keep the paper in place as you roll through the Big Shot. Another trick is to work with a slightly larger piece of paper then the final size you'd like -- then you can trim your image after it's been "Letterpressed" and straighten it up on the paper if needed. I've found that I get pretty lucky laying it on the inked plate though.

 

Scrapbooking Stampin' Up Style

I wanted to share this great idea video for summer scrapbooking featuring Stampin' Up's Carrie Cudney -- and it features some of the items that can earn you a free package of specialty Brads during May. The Current Specials link on the right takes you right to the list of stamp sets that qualify for the freebie -- and also a list of the brads you can choose from. This applies for online orders as well as orders placed at my events this month.

New Summer Mini Catalog Goodies

Sorry to have been such a stranger on my blog that past month — it's been a busy time plus I was away last week on the Stampin' Up demonstrator reward trip cruising the southern Caribbean. I'm home and so excited about the new summer mini catalog. There are great new stamps and accessories available now through the end of August. You can watch this short little video that gives you a sneak peek at several of the new items. Enjoy!

Scallop Trim Border Punch Valentine & Punch Tutorial Video

NOTE: This is the post to check and read to get lots of tips on using the Scallop Trim and Pinking Hearts Border and Corner punches.

I love the new stamps and punches on this card! The I (heart) Hearts set from the Occasions Mini Catalog is so easy to use. I actually have it in our new Clear Mount version and love how easy it is to stamp the black dotted heart first on this card and then add the pretty red heart by looking right through the beautiful Clear Mount acrylic block. Plus see that great DVD sized storage case? I can fit more stamp sets on the shelf! Our cling stamp images are fabulous red rubber with a nice sponge backing and then a vinyl cling image layer that makes the stamp cling to the block. All of the smaller black hearts were stamped with images from the set and then punched out with the Heart to Heart (trio of hearts) punch or the new Small Heart punch (item #117193 in the Occasions). The greeting is the new Well Scripted set from the Occasions mini where you'll also find the hearts. This is the pretty valentine card that guests are making at my home workshops this month.

Now on to the beautiful scallop lace punches! The corner version called Scallop Trim Corner (item #118870) is found in the Occasions mini and the coordinating straight edge is a punch that you can get free right now from the Sale-a-bration booklet with a $50 purchase (item #118402). (It will eventually be for sale in our next big catalog in July -- it says that right in the SAB booklet, but why not get it now for free?!)

There is a little learning curve with any new punch so you'll want to practice with these. But it's worth it as these also are a new slimmer design that folds shut and locks so they take up less storage space. There are some sizes of mats that just line up perfectly to make a nice edge. On this card I started with a black card stock piece that was 3 & 13/16" square. That's just a tick mark past 3 & 3/4". Punch the corners first and then they line up perfectly with the picture guides on the straight edge Scallop Trim Border punch so you can fill in.

Other sizes will give you a complete set of scallops but may require you to punch more than once to fill in between corners. Those sizes include: 4 & 3/4" square; 4 & 1/4" square; 3 & 1/4" square; 2 & 7/8" square; 2 & 3/8" square; and 1 & 15/16" square which lets you punch only the corners to make a pretty mat. You can of course combine a shorter length on the top and bottom of a mat and a longer measurement on the sides and make a perfect;y edged rectangle. Just practice. I find that because there is no v-shaped corner stop you want to make your corners using the punch upside down and using the paper edge guides and then also looking to make sure your corner is in at a nice right angle.

Here's a link to a great blog from fellow SU demonstrator Gretchen Barron who has some wonderful photos of the squares above -- and who calculated these sizes. UPDATE: The fabulous Gretchen has also calculated sizes that work easily in the Pinking Hearts border and corner punches and you can click here to see those. As Gretchen explains, we all might use the punches a little differently in practice, so experiment and see what works best for you. I like using the border punches right side up and the guides pictured on the front when I can -- and then I'll punch from the back as needed when filling in empty space.With the corner version of these punches, I find I need to use them upside down so I can make sure my paper is in the corner at a nice right angle. There is no corner V-stop -- and that's for a reason. You can actually use the corner punch in a row along the edge of your card stock to get a neat triangle lace look. I also love just punching the corners of a mat for a pretty look that reminds me of a quilt block.

SU demonstrator Anne Beale also has shared some great photos and tips on using the Scallop Trim and Pinking Hearts punches and since I believe in sharing and not re-creating a good thing, just click here to see her ideas.

Want to make a mat in a size not listed? Here's a video created by the Stampin' Up home office that demonstrates another way of using these. You start with a larger piece and then design the size as you go.

To see photos of the technique that Bonnie demonstrated in the video, click on the file name I've uploaded at the end of this paragraph for a photo tutorial of how to make the mat where you punch, then measure and cut as you go. Take a look, practice and it's easier than you might think.Download Border & Corner Punch How to

Movers and Shapers Box Video Tutorial

 This box has been a big hit at my Big Shot die-cutting classes. As you see this post I'm swapping these at the Stampin' Up convention and wanted to share a video tutorial so everyone can see how to make them. These hold a bunch of Hershey Nuggets and those mini size candy bars fit great also -- you can stack two rows of those on top of each other in these!

VIDEO NOTES: My 9-year-old daughter is my photographer -- and she does a great job trying to zoom in so you see great close ups -- but she moved around a lot this time so don't get dizzy -- just back up from the screen a little!

Also, very important -- as you watch the video you'll see that I go back and finish a step out of the logical order. Add the window plastic on the inside over your die cut window -- before you glue the side edge of your box "wrapper" together! Just don't want anyone to stop watching early and then have their candy fall out that hole!

I got the inspiration from Kerin's blog here -- with one change. I adjusted the bottom of the box that slides in for just a little more snug fit. So here are my measurements:

- Box bottom: 5 & 1/4" by 6" card stock, scored 7/8" from each edge
- Movers and Shapers card stock to cut window in for box "slider lid": 4 1/4" by 10" (you will lay it in the magnetic "well" of the Movers and Shapers die and then it will stretch up across the middle score line and be 1" short of the cutting line on the other end.) After cutting and embossing, this will be scored at 1", 4 & 1/2" and 9" from the short end closest to the cut out window.
- Medium weight Stampin' Up window plastic: 2 1/2" by 2 3/4" (for heart window -- size depends on the window you cut)

Supplies I used: Lavender Lace card stock; Movers & Shapers Die (item #114506); Magnetic Movers & Shapers (the heart window, item #115953); Full Heart & Heart to Heart Punches; Simply Said stamp set; Finial Press embossing folder (item #115963); Window Sheets Medium (item #114323); Organza Ribbon (item #114319)

Watch the video and it will all make sense. Enjoy!

Big Shot Matchbox Die Video Tutorial

I love Stampin' Up's exclusive Matchbox Die for the Big Shot die cutting machine. It makes the cutest little boxes. To give you an idea of the size, one box will hold four of the Hershey Nugget size chocolate bars. Or three normal size lip balms will fit inside. It's very versatile for little gifts or a set of little gift tag style cards.

The photos I'm showing are of three of the Matchboxes stacked together to make a little chest of drawers. I just glued the three sleeve-style covers together and then wrapped Designer Series Paper (in this case Good Morning Sunshine from SU) around the sleeves. The little handles for my drawers are SU Summer Sun corduroy buttons and so the brad's legs wouldn't show, I put them on before I folded down the inside end flaps so the brads are hidden between the two layers of that flap. (that will make more sense once you've watched the how-to video coming up!)

To see how easy it is to put the basic box together, there's a new video tutorial on my Stampin' Up website.  Just click here to watch it. Plus the video has some cute ideas for other ways to use this great box.

Here's a peek at what's inside my little treasure chest -- the bottom drawer has 4 little nuggets covered in pretty coordinating paper:
The middle drawer has a chocolate-dipped shortbread cookie that I brought home from the Mauna Loa macadamia nut plantation in Hawaii. That was a great stop on our Stampin' Up reward trip to the Big Island.
And the top drawer has little Macadamia Nut Hershey Kisses that just happened to be wrapped in Pacific Point blue foil that's a perfect match for the SU paper. The Mauna Loa folks send their nuts to Hershey, Penn. to have these made but they are not sold on the Mainland -- only shipped BACK to Hawaii for sale there! Too yummy and my stash from Hawaii is running low!
Finally here's a peek at the back of the little paper chest so you can get another view of that paper wrapping. I just glued as I wrapped -- easy peasy and so much fun to give as a little gift. The cute little tag was made using images from the coordinating stamp set called Matchbox Messages -- currently in the Occasions Mini Catalog through June 30.

Scrapbooking with Designer Paper

It's National Scrapbooking Month and I think our Designer Series Papers make it so easy to make beautiful memory pages and mini albums. This month, the Designer Papers are even on sale -- buy 3, get the 4th free -- so you can SHOP NOW using my link for that in the upper right corner of my blog. The special applies to any Designer Series Paper -- plus Textured 12 by 12 card stock. I want to share a great video from Stampin' Up with some wonderful ideas on using Designer Paper for your scrapbooking projects. Enjoy!

Circle Treat Holder Video Tutorial

 It's been too long since I posted so I'm back and with a video tutorial that shows how to make this cute circle treat holder that includes a little 3" square note card with a Ghirardelli chocolate square inside. It starts out with a 6 inch circle -- cut with the SU Circle Scissor then embossed with the Texturz embossing plates in the Big Shot. The video will show how to do both. Also -- I do say the measurements for things on the video -- but here they are as well. You'll see how I cut off just a tiny edge of the circle which was not embossed -- then scored 1 3/4" from that. Use that line as your horizontal guide to score 1 1/4" from each side of the circle. You'll see that concept in action when you watch the video. Enjoy!

Big Shot Embosslits & Sweet Stems Card

I wanted to share another video tutorial, this time featuring the Big Shot Embosslits, which emboss and cut out beautiful designs. Stampin' Up has several new exclusive Embosslits in the Spring/Summer 09 catalog. You'll see how I made the little stem accent on this card, which also features Kiwi Kiss Textured card stock; Rasberry Tart Designer paper that's had one edge finished with the Scallop Border Punch; the Sweet Stems stamp set on Shimmery White card stock; and the most delicious Kiwi Kiss satin ribbon that reverses to Vanilla.

You'll also see how I made this two-tone look on the Simple Flower Embosslit that highlights this card. The trick is solid designer paper so it has a white core and you can sand the embossing and reveal a little of that white. The stamp set used for this one is the Yummy set that's a free set during Sale-a-bration. Just spend $50 and you can choose it. Or how about the special edition designer paper that is the striped piece on this card -- it's also a free choice during Sale-a-bration.

Enjoy the video! If you have any questions, just send me a note and thanks for stopping by.