Flowerbug's Inkspot

Punch Art Wednesday - Daffodils!

Mine are blooming in the side yard & loving the rain we're getting today.  I'd show you the real thing, but am nice & dry in the house right now... so you'll have to settle for these that were cased from Joanne here:
I used YoYo Yellow & Only Orange for the daffodils, Old Olive for the leaves & stems, Bashful Blue for the main card & White & Black for the layers.

Notice the soft white/blue Top Note  background?  Just sponge some Bashful Blue ink lightly over your white card stock; looks like a sky!

The saying is from On Your Birthday.  I used Only Orange & Old Olive markers to ink up the stamp.  I punched it out with my large Oval punch & layered it on a Black scalloped Oval punch.

Here's how you make the daffodils:

You need the following tools:
Crimper, paper snips, stylus, soft mat & these punches:
5 Petal flower
1/2" circle punch
Boho Blossoms punch

You need to punch 4 of the 5 Petal flowers from Yellow card stock.  Cut them into individual petals & run them through your crimper long ways, so the crimps are from end to end.  Do this on 18 petals - 6 for each flower. 

Place a 1/2" circle punch on your work surface & add a dab of glue - I prefer Tombo Mono Multi purpose glue.
Lay three petals over the circle punched piece. 

Add the remaining three petals over the first three. 
Do all three flowers & set aside to dry.

Punch out three large orange flowers from the Boho Blossoms punch.  Adhere each one lightly onto a piece of copy paper & re-insert it into the same punch.  Rotate it slightly so the tips are even & punch again.  This gives you a jagged flower center. 

Cut a slit to the center of this flower & place on your soft mat.  I used the mat from SU's mat pack.
Use your stylus tool & press into the center of the flower.  Rub it into a circle & the slit moves into the flower & curves it upwards. 

To make the center stamen of the flower, cut a strip of Orange card stock about 1 1/2" X 1/2".  Run it through your crimper & cut it in half to make two from this piece.
Cut tiny slits between crimps, as close as you dare leaving 1/8" at the bottom to keep the whole thing intact.  Roll it up into a tight roll.  Place a dab of glue in the center of your curved round flower & add the 'stamen'. 

After the yellow flowers are dry, turn the flower over & place onto your soft mat - I used the mat from the SU Mat Pack.

Use your stylus tool to press into the center.  Rub in a circle & the petals will start lifting up.  Add the orange flower centers now. 

To make the leaves & stems, cut narrow strips of Olive card stock & round the tips - these are about 1/4" thick or less X 3-4" long. 

I ran them through the crimper also - don't you just love what you can do with this tool??!!

Attach each flower to one leaf/stem & add a few more at different heights.  Arrange in a bouquet on your card. 

Club Cards

Here's what we did for Card Club in April:

The first one is a Joy-fold card made with Basic Gray, Black & White CS.  
To make this fold, you cut a piece of card stock at 4 1/4" X 11", score it at 2 3/4" & 5 1/2" from one long end.  See the next photo to understand. 
The patterned paper is 1 3/8" square punches from the Walk in the Park designer series paper from the new Occasions mini catalog & then adhered to a 3" square.
The 'Just for You' is from the new stamp set Only Ovals also from the Occasions mini catalog.  We stamped it in Black ink on both Red & White card stock.  Then we punched it out using the large oval  & the Scalloped oval punches.  These were layered onto a Wide oval punch.  Don't you love how they layer so nicely? 

On the bottom card I added eyelets & black gingham ribbon.  You can also see the inside greeting which was done with the 'Heard from the Heart' stamp set & black & red markers.  A die cut flower from Blooms was placed on the corner.

This card is a case from one done by Stacey Schafer, seen here:

I love the colors together.

 
It uses Wonderful You & the Stems & Silhouette's jumbo wheel. 

Card stock - Turquoise, Chocolate, White
Ink - Celery, Turquoise, Chocolate Chip
Stamps - Kind Thanks, Wonderful You
Accessories - Chocolate stitched ribbon, dimensionals, white gel pen, jumbo wheel handle

Totally Awesome Tote

 

Here's a peak of one more class that is available at our May 9th event.  See this post -  Spring Stamp & Scrap Day

So if you're interested in taking this class locally, spots are limited so let me know ASAP. 
Unfortunately, this class is not available for long-distance customers - I am sorry about that! 

It includes 4 cards & envelopes that rest in clear pockets inside.  It's just an adorable little tote!

Here it is - 20 scrapbook pages in just hours!!!

I did it!  I knew there had to be an easy way to use our Simply Scrappin' kits to create a whole scrapbook without having to think & plan each page.

I completed my Hawaii trip scrapbook in less than a day with this plan & the Sunshine Garden SS kit! 

And it also includes where to add your photos!  Talk about easy, easy scrappin'!! 

I created an easy cutting template for the six 12" sheets of Designer papers included in the SS kits along with sketches on where to adhere them on each of the TWENTY 12" pages.  As far as I know, this has never been done or shared by anyone before!  I added two 12" sheets of card stock to the kit to get twenty 12" pages from one kit.  This includes using the backs of each page also, which works so well with clear page protectors.  This reduces bulk & eliminates card stock waste.  I also added 4 sheets of assorted 8 1/2 X 11" card stock to use in layering & for die-cut alphabets (used on only two pages).  If you do not have a die-cutting machine (like my Big Shot!) you could use stickers, stamps or chip board. 

You'll still add your own creativity & personality.  The sketches are a guide on placement - you add the finishing touch with the die-cut adhesives that are included in each kit.  And I even have left-overs of those!  I think you could make even more pages if you added more card stock!

I am offering this amazing & easy 'Scrappin' 6 Sheet Wonder' plan for just $7.50 via PayPal.  It is 8 pages of the following: instructions, a cutting guide template, sketches for each layout, supplies list & photos of my completed pages - all sent to you via e-mail.  

My Plan isn't just for our Simply Scrappin' kits.  It would adapt easily to any six 12" sheets of patterned paper you choose to use.  You can change up the theme to be whatever you need!  Think - baby, wedding, holiday, vacation or even your child's school years.  I plan to make my Wedding album as soon as my next SS kit arrives.  I've wanted to do this for years, but put it off because I thought it would take so much time.  Well not with this Plan!  I know all I need is a few hours to get it done..... finally!

Update - I finished my Wedding album.  Check it out here!

Hoppin' by to say Hi!

It's Wednesday today, so you know what that means......... Punch art day!!

This is a combination of a few different cards I've seen & wanted to case.

Love the Pixie Pink flower!  To make it, fold a narrow strip of card stock in half & punch 1/3 of a small oval punch.  Open it up & sponge one end with classic ink.
The center of the flower is a 3/4" circle punch of So Saffron designer paper.

The grasshopper is done with the large Oval & the new Scalloped Oval punches.  You're wondering how you get the pointed tips on them, right?  I saw one done by Mothermark on Splitcoast similar to this.
First punch one oval out, adhere it lightly to a piece of copy paper.  Insert  both layers back into the punch again & arrange the punch to punch off part of the previously punched end piece to make it pointed.  Easy! 

I used Celery & Garden Green on the grasshopper.
His head was done with a 3/4" circle punch, punched twice to make it slightly oblong with the double punch technique described above. 
The body is a small oval punch.

For the grass, I just used my paper snips to cut tiny little cuts into the paper & curled them with my fingers. 

Card stock colors are Not Quite Navy, Bashful Blue, White, Bashful & Wasabi prints (retired).

Stamps - flower from Good Friend

Black Marker for the eye & mouth, sponge daubers

It's coming - watch for it!

I've created an awesome, new Scrapbook in a Day Plan - it's amazing, if I do say so myself! 
It's complete with scrap maps, sketches & templates.  It is sooooo easy to get 20 pages done in just one day with this Plan.  I did my entire Hawaii trip in just one day.  I am not kidding! 

I should have it ready for you this week sometime, so WATCH for it!

I don't brag very often (do I?), but I am very proud of this!  Here's a sneak peak!
I used one of our Simply Scrappin' kits - Sunshine Garden, which makes it super easy to embellish, but you do not have to use one. 

It is very adaptable - you can use just 6 sheets of 12 X 12" designer paper, plus 10 sheets of 12" card stock instead of an SS kit. 

This will not be a taught class; I am offering the whole Plan in an 8 page step-by-step, photo-filled document for just $7.50! 

WATCH FOR IT!!!

Flip Card Box Tutorial

This is the neatest project!  I wanted to give a set of Thank You cards to my nephew's fiance at her bridal shower next weekend, so I made this adorable box with note cards inside. 
The front is decorated with flowers from the Pretties kit & two 5 Petal Punches between them. 

Here's how you do it:

You need two pieces of card stock to make your box.  I used Brocade Blue.

Cut each piece at 8" X 8 1/2".
****Now, because I was using note cards, which are smaller than an A-2 (4 1/4 X 5 1/2") I cut mine down to 7 1/4" X 8 1/2".

Score on three sides at 2" from the edges.  Leave one short side un-scored.

Sorry for the blurry photos!  They get better from now on.

With the un-scored side on top, cut up to the 2" fold on just two fold lines. 
Add glue to these 2 X 2" flaps & glue to the wider bottom flap.  Do this to both of your box pieces.

By the way, I prefer to use Tombo Mono-Multi glue for boxes.  Another great option is Sticky Strip.  Both of these hold wonderfully!

You should have two of these 'half-boxes' now. 
Insert one inside the other to form a complete  tall box with an open top.  Glue together. 

To make the lid, cut a piece of coordinating card stock at 4 1/2 X 6".  (Mine is Pink Pirouette.)
Score it at 2" & 4" along the 6" side. 
Scallop one edge. 
Insert the other edge into the box & adhere.

I added patterned paper to all of my sides. 
Cut 2 pieces at 4 1/4 X 5 1/4" for the front & back.  ****This is the measurements for the Note Card size box! 
For the full card size box, I believe the measurements would be 4 1/4 X 6".

For the sides, cut 2 pieces at 1 3/4" X 5 1/4" for the Note Card size.
Cut them at 1 3/4" X 6" for the full card size box. 

I wrapped ribbon around the front & continued behind the box.
I added another strip of ribbon under the Pretties flower to tie the bow on top of the lid. 
No un-tying of the bow to open the box, just velcro securing it closed. 

Here are the note cards I made to put inside. 
You can order these note cards & envelopes from Stampin' Up!  You get 20 cards & 20 envelopes in each package for just $5.95.  

I decided to make her Thank You's using her monogram on the front & a Thank You inside.  The 'L's are from the alphabet set called Lovely Letters.

Stamps - To Have & To Hold, Lovely Letters, Great Friend (leaf & stem inside)
Card stock - Brocade Blue, Pink Pirouette, Brushed Silver, Pink Pirouette & Pretty in Pink prints
Ink - Regal Rose, Pretty in Pink, Silver
Accessories - Pretties kit, 5 Petal flower punch, Scalloped edge punch, new white satin ribbon from the Occasions Mini catalog, Scalloped circle punch, 1 1/4" & 1 3/8" circle punches, mini glue dots, scoring tool & paper cutter, velcro, sponge dauber to color one of the Pretties flower

Perfect Drawers

Here's one of the items we made at my last down-line meeting.  It was cased from Gretchen Barron on Splitcoast Stampers.  She has such neat ideas!

Isn't it sweet?   We used the new Matchbox Bigz XL die in the new Occasions mini catalog. 
You just make three matchboxes, stack them up & wrap a length of Designer Series paper around them all.  I used the Walk in the Park paper also in the Occasions mini catalog. 

I added a bit of wide grosgrain ribbon & a few butterflies & leaves to the top.

The 'handles' on the drawers are made with three colors of 1/4" grosgrain ribbon and our new Flower brads.

Can't you imagine giving some special girl a bunch of pretty doo-dads in each drawer?   

Google Reader - I recommend it!!

If you are one of those people that just love to read blogs but don't like your e-mail filling up with blog post announcements, you should consider using Google Reader.

First of all it's FREE!  Second - it's easy!

Google Reader can host a list of your blogs that you like to frequent. When a blog is updated the name is highlighted in bold. Then you simply click on the blog name and you can read the blog update.

When you find a new blog that you like, it's as easy as clicking the "Add Subscription" button and putting in the blog's name or web address. The new blog gets added to your list of blogs.

It's so much easier than receiving so many emails each day.

I think you will love it!!! It's very easy to set up.

To check it out, go to the Google home page seen here:  http://www.google.com/

Click on the pull down word 'more' & then click on 'Reader'.

You just type in the name of the blog you want (like 'flowerbug's inkspot") to the 'add subscription' area & once confirmed, you'll receive all blog updates in your own Reader list.   Bookmark your Reader page & you've got your own 'Blog List' to look at anytime you'd like!