Flowerbug's Inkspot

Swedish Stars in both Shimmer Vellum & Simply Marbelous Designer Paper with easy video tutorial

Have you seen some of these fancy folded stars online and thought you could never make them?  Well this one is so much easier than it looks and I made them on a FB Live recently.  

Honestly they are quite easy.  Basically you need a 6 X 6" piece of Designer paper - twelve 1/2" X 6" strips to create them.  I did add a medallion in the center but it's not necessary at all.  Here I used the brand new Simply Marbelous designer paper from the new Sale-a-Bration catalog.  It's available in 6 different colors and absolutely gorgeous!!

I also made a few in our 2021-23 In Color Shimmer seen here & Gold Shimmer vellum seen here. I used snowflakes from the So Many Snowflakes dies in the Stampin' Up! Annual Catalog.

You can see the video below; I share these beautiful Swedish stars as well as a two cards featuring a brand new stamp set; Calming Camellia! 

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Gingerbread & Peppermint fun fold cards - easy to replicate!

Merry Christmas!!  I hope you enjoy a wonderful holiday.

We made this neat card at my December Card Clubs. I love the double Z fold design. And it makes great use of both card stock and designer paper! 

I used the Gingerbread & Peppermint bundle for the stamps & dies.  Unfortunately it's sold out already.  And so is the Heartwarming Hugs designer paper. Retiring Holiday Catalog time is so hard!  

But you can use this card layout with other designs and occasions.  One thing I love about this card is that the inside accordion piece is perfectly sized to get 4 out of an 8 1/2" X 11" piece of card stock so it's great for mass producing.  

The colors are Real Red, White & Mossy Meadow.  

Measurements: 

• Red card base 4 1/4" X 11" scored at 2 3/4" & 5 1/2"
  Mossy Meadow 2 3/4" X 8 1/4" scored every 2 3/4"
  DSP 2 1/2" X 4" for front, two squares at 2 1/2"
  White 2 1/2" for inside greeting, scrap for die-cut label

Other products used here:

• Real Red 3/8" Mini Ruffled ribbon (Holiday catalog)
• Meadow dies for the pretty greeting label die-cut
• Clear rhinestones 
  
  

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December Specials:

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Use the host code above & get a free card stock sampler ring with a $50 order in December! 

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A Stunning Christmas to Remember card

The picture does not do this card justice!  It's stunning in person! 

 

I received it from Bobby, one of my Flowerbug team members.  It's elegant in the all White & Gold colors.  She added two main layers of the large pine dies; one in white & another in Gold under it offset a bit.  Then a few layered pinecones too.  

It's made with the Christmas to Remember bundle with White, Gold Foil paper, Brushed Metallic Adhesive-Backed dots, Gold heat embossing & Gold shimmer ribbon.  You can see this bundle here.  

The dies are called Christmas Pine Cone dies and can be seen here. 

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Use the host code above & get a free card stock sampler ring with a $50 order in December! 

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Peaceful Cabin; beautiful!

We made this beautiful card at my December card clubs; it features the Peaceful Cabin bundle.  Unfortunately the stamp set is already sold out and unavailable. So sad; it's just gorgeous! 

I used only White card stock and Misty Moonlight ink. A monochromatic card can be so simple & soothing to the eye.  And there's something about a mostly white card that is rich and elegant. It’s cased from a card made by Helen Reed  

 

The texture on the background is made with the Evergreen Forest 3D embossing folder.  That is also currently unavailable. But it is in the annual catalog and will be back. 

There are two pieces that you stamp first and then die-cut.  The background trees is one layer and the cabin and foreground is another.  It's so neat how the dies cut the silhouettes out so perfectly. 

Measurements:
White card base 5 1/2" X 8 1/2"
White layers - for trees - 3 3/4" X 2 3/4", for cabin 2 3/4" X 5 1/4", embossed layer is 4" X 5 1/4"

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December Specials:

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Use the host code above & get a free card stock sampler ring with a $50 order in December! 

See the last chance list here

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Star & Snowflake Ornaments; so pretty!

I had to give these gorgeous star projects a try!  Sara from Stampin' Up! made them for a tree topper but they were one sided.  I decided to turn her idea into ornaments by making them 2-sided.  

They're made with our Stitched Stars dies seen here.  I used the largest and third smallest to make these. I used the Gingerbread & Peppermint DSP but unfortunately it was on the retired list and is sold out now. 

You probably wonder where the snowflakes come from.  They are called 'Wonderful Snowflakes' and they also just sold out! The retiring list can be so hard; items you want can be gone in an instant! 

You need a good stack of Dimensionals between each layer like this: 

You can see why you need a smaller star inside; to support the stacks of Dimensionals. *There's a second stack under that smaller star.  You'll add a second large star on top of the dimensional stack seen above. 

Tips:

• I found a stack of 4 to work best.
• I added a rolled up mini glue dot to the tip of each star point to secure them together.  It's not necessary but does finish if off so they stay closed. 
• Add the cord with a glue dot to one of the star points. 

They were so fun to make I couldn't stop! I plan to add these to my cookie trays or to Christmas presents instead of a traditional bow. 

I thought this last one would look sort of ho hum in this pattern.  But once I added our Red Rhinestones to the snowflake it sure came to life!  

Below is the video to see exactly how to make these pretty ornaments.  They're the third project I share. 

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December Specials:

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Use the host code above & get a free card stock sampler ring with a $50 order in December! 

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Origami Christmas Tree card; soooo easy!

I make one of these trees almost every year.  Why? Because they are easy & fun and we always have new Designer Paper for me to play with. 

All you need are four squares of DSP. No scoring or other measurements.  Watch the video here or below to see how it's done. 

Here are the supplies:

• Card stock - Old Olive & Mossy Meadow card bases, Real Red & Cherry Cobbler layers, White greeting strip & inside
• Designer Paper - Heartwarming Hugs (out of stock now) and Sweet Stockings
• Greeting image from the Christmas Cheer stamp set
• Star topper from the Starlit punch
• Embossing folder - Evergreen Forest (out of stock temporarily) 

Measurements: 

• Card base 5 ½” X 8 ½”
• DSP - 4 square pieces at 1 ¼”, 1 ¾”, 2 ¼” & 2 ¾”
• Textured front & White inside are 4” X 5 ¼”

Below is the video for you. I share another special card project and some pretty star/snowflake ornaments as well.  

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December Specials:

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Use the host code above & get a free card stock sampler ring with a $50 order in December! 

See the last chance list here

See the July-December catalog carry over list here

Easy Christmas Ornament card

I think this is pretty clever & unique; it's a 'faux' Christmas ornament on a card. And it's quick & easy too!  

It looks so real; like you could lift it off!  And you actually could if you use temporary adhesive; or add it to a pocket.  

I shared this project on a FB Live last week.  It's the second project I made in this video.  

Products used:

• Merry Melody embossing folder on the White CS
• The ornament is made with the largest smooth circle in our Circles dies. 
• The DSP is called Painted Christmas and is in low inventory right now.  
• Elegant Trim for the 'hanger'. 
• Brushed Metallic specialty CS for the 'hanger'. 
• Heat embossing for the greeting - from the Words of Cheer stamp set. 
• CS is Real Red, White & Evening Evergreen 

Here's a close-up of it. 

I give a few hints in the video on achieving this.  Basically you want to stamp your greeting first and add it to your DSP.  THEN cut both pieces out at the same time with your circle die. 

Below is the video for you. I share another special card project and some pretty star/snowflake ornaments as well.  

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December Specials:

Host code:  6YCWV7QN

 *click here to order 

Use the host code above & get a free card stock sampler ring with a $50 order in December! 

See the last chance list here

See the July-December catalog carry over list here

Last of the unique 'Gift Card' ideas with video!

I've shared two other special gift card ideas and today I have another.  It's the last one I shared in this video. 

It features the Penguin Place bundle seen here.   And it's now available but on low inventory; once more.  The punch was out of stock for a long time. 

This penguin is super cute and quite versatile.  Certainly not just for Christmas!

Details:

• His main body is punched out of Black glitter paper. 
• I fussy cut his scarf from Heartwarming Hugs DSP. 
• I stamped the snowflakes on the Black CS using our White Craft ink.  

This card opens up like this: 

There's a fold inside that brings up the 'gift card' when you lift up the card front.  I did use Thick White CS for this so it stands up to lots of use. Isn't it fun?  It's quite easy too!

Measurements for the Pull-Up Penguin Gift Card

• Card base 4 ¼” X 5 ½”, DSP 2” X 3 ¾”
• Black card 4” X 11” scored at 3 ½” & 8 ¾”
• Inside Thick White 2 ½” X 5 ½” or 6” scored at 3/4" from each end
• Front white 2” X 3”, Black 2 ¼” X 3 ¼”, Red 2 ½” X 3 ½”

Below is the video tutorial.  It's the third & last project I share.  

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December Specials:

Host code:  6YCWV7QN

 *click here to order 

Use the host code above & get a free card stock sampler ring with a $50 order in December! 

See the last chance list here

See the July-December catalog carry over list here

Extra special Gift Card idea with a pop up 'gift bag' inside the card!

Here's another gift card idea for you.  It looks harder than it is; honestly! It's a 'gift bag' inside the card! 

Here's the front view:  I used the angled Heartwarming Hugs designer paper piece I cut off from this card I shared yesterday.  I love it when I can use my paper efficiently! 

I kept the front very simple as you can see.  The greetings are from the Encircled in Warmth stamp set seen here.

I even added 'tissue' using the Ever Eden cotton paper!  It's a 6" piece I folded into points. 

I used our Real Red sheer ribbon on the front for both the bow and the 'handles' inside the bag. Below is a photo of the gift bag cut out.  Measurements are included. 

Pop-up Gift Bag card measurements:

• Card base 4 1/4" X 11"
• White - two at 4" X 5 1/4"
• DSP 4” X 5 ¼” cut one section off diagonally
• Purse 4” X 9 ½” scored on the 4” side at ½” & 3”, scored on the long side at ½”, 1”, 4 ½”, 5”, 5 ½” & 9”

Below is the video for 3 different gift card options.  I'll share details on one more unique card tomorrow. 

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December Specials:

Host code: Z2RQ7BB6 or 6YCWV7QN

 *click here to order 

Use the host code above & get a free card stock sampler ring with a $50 order in December! 

See the last chance list here

See the July-December catalog carry over list here