Easter Twisted Gate

Today’s card is being featured on Stylin’ Stampin’ Inkspiration. The challenge was to create an unusually shaped card. I chose to make the twisted gate fold. It looks complicated, but promise it was super easy to make. Do a quick Google search to find a tutorial. For my embellishments, I just added a few punched flowers to the outside. The inside features a simple Easter message. A fun shaped card for today!

• Stamps: Love and Affection; Suite Sayings
• Inks: Watermelon Wonder; Daffodil Delight; Night of Navy
• Cardstock: Affectionately Yours DSP; Night of Navy; Watermelon Wonder; Daffodil Delight
• Accessories:
• Tools: Pansy Punch

Stamp Sets to Use:

• Birthday Blooms
• Celebrate Today
• Build a Birthday
• Love and Affection
• Foxy Friends
• No Bones About It
• Watercolor Wings
• Papillon Potpurri
• Jar of Love
• Petite Petals
• Seaside Shore
• Suite Sayings
• Friendly Wishes
• Flower Shop
• Timeless Textures
• Playful Backgrounds
• Work of Art
• Blooms and Wishes
• Botanical Blooms
• Kinda Eclectic
• Labeler Alphabet
• Cookie Cutter Christmas
• Paisleys and Posies
• Endless Birthday Wishes
• Dragonfly Dreams
• Cool Treats
• Bookcase Builder
• Birdcage Builder
• Tasty Trucks
• Hey Chick
• Designer Tee
• Reverse Words
• Four You
• Four Feathers

SSINKMC30: Easter Baskets

Today’s card is being featured on Stylin’ Stampin’ Inkspiration. The challenge was to create a project using at least three of the items below. For this month's mystery challenge, I chose four of the items: non-card project, all the colors, 2 or more punches/dies, and Easter theme.

I made a simple Easter basket to use this coming March. I finally bought the Berry Basket die and just had to make an Easter/spring basket. After assembling the basket, I went about decorating it. I didn't want to go too crazy, so I just added some stamped and punched flowers finished with candy dots. Very simple, but such a great little 3D project. The February stamp club ladies made their own versions last week.

• Stamps: Flower Shop
• Inks: Wisteria Wonder, Bermuda Bay, Blushing Bride, Daffodil Delight
• Cardstock: Cucumber Crush, Wisteria Wonder, Bermuda Bay, Blushing Bride, So Saffron
• Accessories: Candy Dots
• Tools: Pansy Punch

Archives: One Sheet Wonder

Originally published on March 22, 2014 While on Pinterest, I kept running across these "One Sheet Wonders."  I was very lost...  And so I went hunting and found a ton of tutorials of how to make the most cards out of a sheet of DSP (12x12, 8 1.2x11, 6x6).  I found this particular template from Crafty Steals:

I love that the template uses 12x12 paper and makes at least 11 cards.  This got me to thinking about what I wanted to do with the OSW.  I didn't want to make 11 cards using the same DSP just for me.  But this would be a great way to make card sets for gifts.  And so a master plan was born.  My plan is to use the OSW method (using various various templates) to make sets of a dozen cards.  Each OSW would be for a different occasion or holiday (e.g. Christmas, birthday, thank you, etc).  Once I finish all 12 sheets, I will have 12 sets of cards to give as gifts for next Christmas.  So simple!

I started my first sheet and ended up making four sheets worth of cards this first week.  My first set is an Easter card.  I ended up using Stampin' Up's Birds of a Feather DSP, Summer Starfruit, Primrose Petals, and Raspberry Ripple cardstock, random Easter stamp, polka dot embossing folder, and patterned scissors.  I love the variety of designs.  I didn't follow the example cards exactly, but used them as guidelines for my own designs.  My favorite of the bunch is actually the very first card (first picture, top left).  I love the focus on the cute DSP.

My second set is a Birthday set.  I used another sheet from the Birds of a Feather DSP pack.  The colors and paper are the same as the Easter cards.  I just threw in a birthday stamp I just bought from Michaels.  I really love the squares card (first picture, top right).

The third set is for Father's Day cards.  I love the masculine color and prints of the SU Parker's Patterns DSP.  Perfect for Father's Day cards.  I used a chevron embossing folder, random Father's Day stamp, Marina Mist cardstock and ink, Not Quite Navy cardstock and ink, and some kraft paper.  My favorite card is the simple two pieces of DSP with a sentiment in between (third picture, bottom right).

The fourth set is for Anniversary cards.  I wasn't going to make another set, but I had so many left over pieces from cutting two Parker's Patterns sheets that I could make another.  The opposite side from the very masculine print was a cute little floralesque print in Marina Mist and Cherry Cobbler.  I thought the print was perfect for Anniversary cards.  Not too masculine, not too feminine, just right.  I added in some Not Quite Navy and Cherry Cobbler ink as well as brown and kraft cardstock and a baroque embossing folder to complete the cards.  My favorite is the simply embossed card with the strip of DSP (first picture, bottom left).

Four sheets of DSP, some cardstock for bases, and a few scrap pieces for sentiments and I have 48 cards done!  I plan on using a different OSW template for my next set of cards.

Archives: Cards #33

Originally published on March 16th, 2014Crafting: 

• PL Swaps (easter eggs, scraps, rainbow) -- I love the use of washi tape on the rainbow cards.  For the scraps swap, I decided to make pocket cards with washi tape.  And the easter egg cards made use of my SU Birds of Feather DSP.

• Book of lists notebook -- Tons are people are participating in the 30 Days of Lists this March, but I just don't have the time or energy to commit to that.  Instead, I thought I would create a notebook, decorate it, and then have various lists.  The idea is to do a list a week (or so).  I love putting my own spin on the project.  I ran across this perfect little binder on clearance at Target the other day.  I set about cutting cardstock and patterned paper down to the sizes I would need.  When it comes time to make a list, I'll select a topic, pick a stamp set to decorate (and any embellishments), and cut a piece of white cardstock for the actual list.  I love that it's ready to be used.  I don't have to start from scratch every time!

• PL W9-10 -- I finished these weeks yesterday.  Check out my blog post here.
• Punch Guide -- I also made a handy guide to all my punches using some random blank playing cards (from old teaching supplies).  I got the idea from Pinterest and immediately put it on my to make board.  This will definitely come in handy when I need to figure out the best punch to use or the relative sizes.  No more digging through the drawer!
• Stamp Guide -- Making my punch guide led me to want to create on for all my stamps.  I have so many now (both loose and SU boxes) that I often forget what I have.  I spend way too much time digging through all of them to get ideas.  So, I decided to stamp all my stamps onto white cardstock to act as a handy guide.  There are separate pages for Christmas, Holidays, Sentiments, Occasions, and Misc.  I'm only partially done, but this is going to be great when I'm finished.

Shopping Scores: 

• Steals.com box -- During steals.com's big archive sale, I ordered a mystery box. This is what came.  I'd say that 70% of the box will be used by me.  The paper stack is great.  I love the alphabet stickers and small tags.  The chipboards will get a lot of use.  The jewels will probably get use, but I need to find the best adhesive for them.  The ribbon isn't my style at all and I'm still trying to figure out the best way to use the watercolor products.  Overall, a really good buy.

• Target randomness -- I grabbed the 3x4 and 4x6 Dreamy sets by WRMK.  I also found two containers that are the perfect size for holding greeting cards.  The zebra print wasn't my first choice, but they work.  And I found some great little stickers and embellishment pieces in the One Stop bins.

• Peachy Cheap -- Another daily deal site I found a few weeks ago.  This time I grabbed an entire set of enamel dots from Basic Grey.  I couldn't wait to use them, hence the missing dots.

• Birthday gifts -- This week I received the last of my birthday gifts from J's parents.  I love the paper stacks and am super excited to use the PL theme packs.  The Americana pack is even cuter in person.

• PL Swap and Sale FB Group -- I've been a part this group for a few weeks now, but most of the items don't appeal to me.  I had been marginally searching for the PL Kiwi set.  Ever time it came up for sale, someone snatched it up right away.  I finally caught a listing at the right time.  I received my 1/3 of the kit yesterday.  Love love love the cards I received!  I also received my scrap swap back.  I'd say that over half of these cards will be used.  There's only a few that don't fit my style (looking at you cowboy card).

• Stampin' Up order -- I ordered my March order early as I will not be in town for the monthly stamp club.  We are doing a huge DSP share so I bought three packs to share.  Plus one other member and I are buying two of the larger color collection DSPs to share so I bought the Regals.  Lastly, I grabbed the 2012-2014 In color DSP as it was one sale.  For my Saleabration item I grabbed the Petal Parade stamp set.  I've seen some great examples to copy.

• Michaels -- Last week I grabbed the Baby Boy Mini Kit on clearance, some purple washi tape (how did I not have any purple?), and a cute little stamp set on sale.  Today they were starting a huge paper crafting sale and bonus extra sale this afternoon.  I had to take advantage of both sales.  I was also looking to pick up some items for the mom's group Easter party next month.  I managed to get most of the party items and some basics for me (white and black cardstock, trimmer blades).

Project: Somehow I agreed to help organize an Easter Party for our mom's group.  The group is starting a babysitting co-op and we plan on having a quarterly social.  The Easter Party will be our first big event.  The original idea was just to get together and have an egg hunt, but babies aren't so great at the hunting.  Instead, we are putting together baskets filled with baby-appropriate toys, shaker eggs to play with, and a few arts and crafts.  Parents pay us back a set amount.  We are also using the leftover money to make baskets for charity.I picked up a ton of the arts and crafts supplies today at Michaels.  We are waiting a week to gauge our RSVP amount before we commit to buying the toys (we have to buy in dozen units). I hope everyone decides to come as we have some great plans!  Overachiever that I am, I've already started on some of the items.

Archives: Cards #21

Originally published on March 24th, 2013

Monday was stamp club.  We made three cards and a 3d project.  The extra card (on brown cardstock) was my version of our homework.  I particularly loved the whale card.  I don't plan on buying the whale clearlit, but I love the play of circles.  I'm debating about whether or not to get the banner framelits next order.  I didn't like the coordinating stamp set, but the framelits are cute.

On Saturday I acquired a ton of new card supplies.  I had to try them out, so I made 10 cards, 5 color/designs with 2 options.  Some of these are sticking around until April stamp club as they are my interpretation of our homework.  I'm really loved the blue vine embossed cards with the polka dot flowers.  The colors look really nice together.

Shopping Scores: I was hostess this month as stamp club.  I bought my $50 of products to get the Sale-a-bration gift.  With everyone's combined total, I earned $50 of free products. Holy cow!  After searching through the catalog, I finally narrowed it down to a few great finds.  Our order arrived on Friday.  My scores: Four Seasons stamp set (hostess), Sweet Essentials stamp set (hostess), Wacky Wishes stamp set (hostess), Stacks of Wishes stamp set (hostess), 2011-2013 In Color Markers set, Secret Garden Bundle (framelits and stamp set), Glimmer paper (hostess), Vine embossing folder (sale-a-bration), Perfect Plum Ink pad.

A crafting friend clued me into the big clearance sale as a local craft store.  She picked me up early Saturday morning so we could get there before the rush. Tables upon tables of new and used card making and scrapbooking supplies.  People can sell their supplies on consignment.  We dove in, but the crowd was intense and the aisles small.  After about 1/3 of the way through the tables, we decided to call it quits.  But I did find some awesome supplies: 3 stamps sets from Stampin Up, 1 stamp set (manufacturing unknown), 1 double sided circle stamp, 1 square punch, 3 Stampin Up ink pads (basic gray, real red, and tangerine tango), 100 sheets of various paper ($5!), and 1 mini scrap pad ($0.50).  Such a great shopping trip!