Flowerbug's Inkspot

Four Frames with Birds

I made this card a few weeks ago considering it for either my Easter cards or April Card Clubs.  I like it but still didn't choose it for either one. 

What do you think??

I cut the Lattice die into a strip for the side instead of using it as a square piece.  The birds are punched out using the Two-Step Bird punch.  I sponged each piece and popped up the wings.  The bottom one was stamped using the Level 1 Hostess stamp set 'Punch Potpourri' before punching out.

The curved frame stamp is one of the four stamps included in April's Sneak Peak offer called Four Frames.  It coordinates with the Decorative Label punch.  You need to order $20 of catalog merchandise before you can order this stamp set.  It will be in the new Idea Book and Catalog in July 2011 too.  See this post for more details.

Supplies:

• Stamps - Teeny Tiny Wishes, Four Frames, Punch Potpourri
• Ink - Marina Mist, So Saffron - sponging
• Card stock - Bashful Blue, Marina Mist, Whisper White, Certainly Celery, Not Quite Navy
• Accessories - Two-step Bird Punch, Decorative label punch, Lattice die, Big Shot, sponge daubers, Dimensionals, markers
  

 

Stampin' Scrub is available!

Finally the Stampin' Scrub is available again.  Here's what SU has to say:  

We have replenished our supplies of Stampin' Scrub (item 102642) and Stampin' Scrub Refill Pads (item 101230) and are happy to announce these products are now available for ordering.

As a result of material issues, you may notice a slight difference.   After in-house testing, we approved the material change because we found it to be an excellent alternative.  The functionality and high-quality standards you come to expect from Stampin' Up! remain the same.

Tulip Punch Art

Punch art and flowers - it's a perfect combination!

Can you guess which three punches these tulips are made from??  Yes - it takes three punches just to make the flower part. 

And one punch for the stems. 

The tulip is made with the Owl Punch, the extra large 1 3/4" X 7/8" oval and the 1 3/8" X 5/8" large oval punches. 

Here's how:

Punch one owl - it doesn't even have to be a whole piece.  You really just need 3/4 of the owl.  Adhere it to the end of a long piece of card stock.  This is your 'reaching stick' so you can place the small owl piece inside the next punch.

You'll place the owl inside the extra large oval punch trying to get a smooth punch beside the owl's ear and bottom of his belly.  Be sure to punch out a wide enough base.

This is what it looks like after you punch your tulip petal out from the owl piece.

And here is how you put it together.  The top center piece is the smallest smooth oval. 

Of course we sponged each of our punched pieces first and you can add a little score line with a stylus if you want to. 

Now for the leaves.  You'll need our largest circle punch - it's 2 1/2".  First punch one circle out of your Olive card stock.  Then reinsert the punch next to the punched out circle moving it over slightly.  Punch again to get a narrow curved tulip leaf.  The stem is hand cut. 

Supplies:

• Stamps - Easter Blossoms, All Holidays
• Ink - Old Olive, Pretty in Pink, Perfect Plum
• Card stock - Pretty in Pink, Perfect Plum, Whisper White, Old Olive
• Accessories - Framed Tulips embossing folder, Big Shot, 2-step Owl Punch, large and scalloped oval punches, small oval punch, 2 1/2" circle punch, sponge daubers

Button Button Thank You

I made this card awhile ago and thought I'd better post it before 'Button Button' is gone.

I stamped the different colored buttons on the Whisper White piece first and then ran it through the Square Lattice embossing folder.  Stamping before embossing with a detailed embossing folder creates a patterned, textured paper in any colors and pattern you want or need. 

Isn't the ribbon treatment fun?  I used the Pretty in Pink, Certainly Celery and Marina Mist 1/8" taffeta ribbons and the Sweet Button embosslit to anchor them.

As you know I am all about color and this soft color combination is perfect for spring. 

This stamp set Button, Button is only available until the end of this month so if you haven't ordered it yet, I'd get it now.  We never know which stamp sets or accessories may be carried over into the new catalog coming out in July.

• Stamps - Engraved Greetings, Button, Button
• Ink - Certainly Celery, Pretty in Pink, Marina Mist
• Card stock - same as above plus Whisper White
• Accessories - Scallop Trim border punch, Sweet Buttons embosslit, Square Lattice embossing folder, Big Shot, 1/8" taffeta ribbons, Pearls,

Punchy Ice Cream Cones

 We made these punch art cards at my card clubs for April. 

I cased one done by Christie Daugherty. 

See the difference in the ribbon treatment?  They are done exactly the same - the left one is just turned over to hide the ends. 

We used the Petal cone die to create both the crunchy cone and the insert for the ice cream scoops. Here's how you can make a perfect insert for the cone.

Once you have your cone cut out with the Petal Cone die insert it into the 1 3/4" circle punch with the tip end out of the back side.  Punch for a perfect round cone shape.

To make the scoops of ice cream, punch out three different colors of 1 3/4" circle punches leaving just a sliver of one edge flat. 

Or cut off 1/8 - 1/4" of your circle so you get a flat edge.  Now you can insert the circle into your Scallop Border punch and get 4 perfect scallops on each one.  See below.  We then sponged the scallop edges of these with coordinating ink. 

 

To make the cherries punch out one 1/2" circle from Poppy Parade card stock and add a curved little line with your White gel pen.  To get the stem, first punch out one 1/2" circle from Pear Pizzazz card stock. Then insert the cardstock into the punch moving it over slightly and punch once more. 

Supplies:

• Stamps - On Your Birthday, Word Play
• Ink - Early Espresso, Pretty in Pink, So Saffron
• Card stock - Early Espresso, So Saffron, Blushing Bride, Very Vanilla, Crumb Cake, In Color prints pack (Level 1 Hostess choice)
• Accessories - Punches - Curly Label, 1 3/4" circle, Scallop Border, 1/2" circle, Petal Cone Bigz die, Square Lattice embossing folder, dimensionals, sponges, markers, white gel pen, So Saffron wide grosgrain ribbon, Early Espresso narrow taffeta ribbon

Playful Polka Dots Buckle Box

Here is the promised tutorial for the Buckle Box I posted here.

To make the box itself you need a 5 1/2" X 8" piece of card stock.  Use this template to cut the flaps & score it.

Here's a photo of mine after scoring the lines and cutting the flaps.

You'll fold up the side flaps adhering them over each other approximately 1/2" on the sides. 

For the front I cut out part of a Scallop Envelope die using the designer paper included in the Playful Polka Dots Simply Scrappin' kit and adhered it onto the front of the box. 

Here's the side view:

I inserted my Word Window punch down into the front of the box as deep as I could and punched once.  This gives you the opening for your buckle strap.

I chose a few long adhesive die-cut strips to wrap around and embellish the base of my box.

To make your buckle strap cut a piece of coordinating card stock measuring 1 1/2" X 5 1/2".  Add a strip of designer series paper measuring 1" X 5 1/2" long.  I used my new Postage Stamp Punch to add a little bit of fun to the ends of each of these strips before I adhered them together and onto the inside back of my box.  You could easily just round the corners on the front flap. 

Here's the box and the cards I made by cutting 4 different colors of 3" square cards in Old Olive, Pumpkin Pie, Daffodil Delight and Rose Red.  They fit our mini square white envelopes perfectly. 

I embellished them very simply by using the adhesive die-cuts provided in the Simply Scrappin' kit.

 

Sneak Peak Freaks Hop

It's that time again for a Control Freaks Blog Hop.

We're featuring Sneak Peaks from the upcoming Summer Mini Catalog.  This catalog is full of new and beautiful items so you may want to start a new wish list!

It won't take you long to see all of the projects as we try to keep our posts short and sweet.  But you may want to grab a soda or a cup of coffee and relax and enjoy everyone's amazing projects!

You may have just arrived from Lisa Martz's blog. 

First up is a card we made at my downline meeting.  It uses two of our newest punches:

Sweet isn't it?  Our new Blossom Bouquet Triple Layer punch is so cool!  You actually get four different pieces from this one punch.  It's like a 'dial a punch' since you pick which one you want! 

I punched out three white blossoms and layered them onto the Postage Stamp Punch  pieces in Turquoise, Real Red and Old Olive.  I am so happy to report that this new Postage Stamp Punch layers onto our 1 1/4" and the 1 3/8" square punches perfectly.

I also used the Postage Stamp punch to punch a border along the bottom of my Whisper White layer.  The sentiment 'Thanks for being a friend' is also new.  It's called 'Happy Greetings' and you can find it on page 26 of the Summer Mini catalog.

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Do you remember making these cute Buckle Purse Boxes for 3 X 3" cards a few years ago?  I loved making and giving them for gifts. 

This one features the new Simply Scrapbook kit called Playful Polka Dots.  I love these SS kits because everything included coordinates so easily. 

Stop back in two days on Good Friday to see the free tutorial on how to make this cute & easy box. 


Inside the box are four 3 X 3" cards and envelopes.  I embellished each card simply using adhesive die-cuts from the kit.  I also used the die-cuts on a few of the envelopes.

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Next is a card that shows how beautiful one of my favorite color combos can be. 

It's Melon Mambo and Pumpkin Pie with Black & White. It features the stamp set called Fabulous Florets.  It has gorgeous images.

I stamped the leaves stamp in Black ink on the Whisper White layer.  Then I stamped the small outline flower with Black Stazon ink onto Watercolor paper and colored it in with Rose Red and Pumpkin Pie water color crayons  and my blender pen.  I cut it out and popped it up with dimensionals over the leaves.

The 'Imagine the Possiblities' sentiment is from the set called Word Play in the Idea Book & Catalog. I inked it with Black Stazon and stamped onto Vellum card stock.  The ink stays wet longer on Vellum so I embossed it with clear embossing powder and attached it to the card stock layers with black brads.

Do you see the embossing peaking out on the Black layer on the left?  That is our newest embossing folder called 'Flower Garden'.

*****If you want to see more of our previous Blog Hops, click here.

Now you're off to see what Debra Currier has to share with you.  Enjoy the tour!

April Technique Class

This month we're doing some beautiful techniques.

It snowed again this weekend!  I am trying to bring in a bit of spring with flowers so that's what we'll be making.

I call this one Textured Flowers but it could almost be called 'Faux Fabric flowers' too.  The petals look so soft and almost real.  I used the Fun Flowers die currently in the Occasions mini catalog.

 And this one is called Faux Mother of Pearl.  There are a few steps to creating this beautiful technique, but they're all easy to do.  This technique was inspired by my friend France Martin.

This is Waxed Embossing Resist.  It features the Finial Press embossing folder. 

If you're local and would like to come to class here in my Studio in Minot, ND class is on Tuesday, April 26th at either 3 pm or 5 pm.  Or you can choose Wednesday, April 27th at 6:30 pm.  The fee is $10 per person.  Remember we also make the technique sample cards for each one too.  These are great to put on a ring or in a binder for easy reference when you need ideas.

For those of you who live further away from me, you can still create these cards on your own with my instructions and templates.  Via e-mail, you'll receive the photos, step-by-step directions with measurements for each piece along with the supplies list and the templates for the Technique sample cards. 

These classes are perfect for either the hobbyist or a demonstrator to use in her classes.  All of the work is done for you!  Just make your own samples and use my ideas & directions.  The directions are written for my customers at class.  

It's just $4.00 per month.  You can order this class here. 

Or get 12 months of Technique for the price of 10.  I have bundles of 12 months for the price of 10. See them all on this link.

*There won't be a technique class in May as I'll be on the Alaska cruise couresy of Stampin' Up! 

Four Frames

As you may know the April Stampin' Up! special is the Spring is Blossoming promotion. 

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If you spend $20 anywhere in the current catalogs you can choose to get the Four Frames stamp set and/or the Paisley Petals designer paper.  These two products are Sneak Peaks from the upcoming Idea Book & Catalog in July 2011. 

The Four Frames stamp set coordinates with the Designer Label punch perfectly! 

Here are a few of the cards I made with these products:

Gorgeous colors aren't they?  Melon Mambo, Black, White and Old Olive. 

This card was cased from someone, but I cannot find who it was!  Let me know if it was you!

This card evolved from the beautiful design and colors on the Paisley Petals dsp - designer patterned paper.  Certainly Celery, Bravo Burgundy, Not Quite Navy with Vanilla.

It's just a 2 1/2" circle punched out from the dsp and adhered over the Not Quite Navy card stock.  I did add a bit of DTP - Direct to Paper technique here.  To get the faux suede look, just rub the card stock with the open ink pad. 

Aren't these colors pretty together?  Daffodil Delight with Marina Mist. 

We made the scallop card using the Clear Scallop Square die leaving the fold 'underneath' the top of the scallop cutting lines.  This leaves you with an intact folded card that also fits inside an A2 envelope.  This Designer paper is from the Greenhouse Gala pack.

Lastly is this one.  You can see the beautiful design on this sheet of Paisley Petals paper here.  I used Early Espresso with Old Olive.  I used my Scallop Squares duo die to reduce the size of these two scallop trim pieces. 

I embossed this beautiful Four Frames stamp using white embossing powder before punching out with my Designer Label punch.

******Stay tuned for May's Scrapbooking special - 30% off certain stamp sets, Digital printing services and Digital Download Bundles! 

Don't forget to stop in this Wednesday to see the April Control Freaks Blog tour showing you Sneak Peaks from the upcoming Summer Mini catalog!