Confetti Shower of Love

After what feels like such a long Winter, it finally feels like Spring is here and with it a card from me which is a card of love.  It was actually my Valentine's card to my husband, but it works equally well as an anniversary card too. I thought I would share it with you now as it uses the amazing Heart Confetti Punch from the Spring/Summer Catalogue 2015 which I love. Big hearts, little hearts for big love or little love sentiments all in a convenient border punch.

So with my border punch in hand you can see this design started with a simple punch along the Shimmery White cardstock. I love this card for special occasion cards and my supplies are now dangerously depleted so it will have to be on the re-order list. I saved the punch hearts and added some Real Red hearts too with some Silver Glimmer Paper hearts to make the border complete for the last section. I kept punching for some more hearts to fill the confetti envelope contents too. I won't confess here how many tiny hearts have been found on and around my crafting area since this project!

The Envelope was the main idea for the card and this is what came to me first. It is easily made with our very own SU envelope punch board. I just used the smallest envelope sizes and measurements and made it out of the Silver Foil Embellished Vellum Papers (with the sheet with silver hearts on of course!).  

I knew when I came up with the design that I wanted my envelope to open up so I left all the sides of the envelope unstuck and then I decided to use some clear Window Sheet to make a clear pocket front inside so that I could place my scattering hearts of all shapes in there and they could move around freely.  

A little tip I learnt online from another demo was when using the dimensionals to stick the pocket for free-moving objects, use a little talc powder down the sides so that the items inside do not stick onto the sides when they move about. I made my pocket and then just ran a small paintbrush with powder on along the sides before filling with my flurry of red, silver glimmer and shimmering white hearts. I used the strips of the surrounds of the dimensionals packet and trimmed these into fine thin strips to use. To secure my envelope I tied round some silver 1/8" ribbon and created my bow. 

Every gift needs a little label which I even managed to punch one of the small border punch out on one corner of. The label was needed for my sentiment from the Something to Say Stamp set 'big ways, small ways....'. Inside the card was stamped 'love you always!' to finish the saying.  

There is a strip of Read Red inside the card which lines up with the confetti border and is placed on the back card so that when the card is standing there is shadowing between the punched hearts and the back of the card.  I stuck a few scattered hearts on the open top of the envelope and stuck this to the background card.  As well as the border punch I used my small heart from the Itty Bitty Accent Punch Pack for some larger hearts.

I hope you like this one.  It sounds more complicated now I blog about it than it was to make. I think the confetti punch is going to come in very handy for all projects for love. I think I might just have to add the star border punch too to my next order before it disappears from the spring//summer catalogue.

I will come back soon as I have been busy with some more Spring products too.....

Suzanne

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For my products list:

Shimmery White A4 Card Stock	Medium Window Sheets	Silver Fancy Foil Designer Vellum	Confetti Hearts Border Punch	Something To Say Wood-Mount Stamp Set
Silver Glimmer Paper	Silver 1/8" Ribbon	Real Red A4 Card Stock	Basic Gray Classic Stampin' Pad	Envelope Punch Board
Itty Bitty Accents Punch Pack

To place an order, book a workshop in your home or come to a class, just drop me an email at craftyinkbuds@sky.com. Remember you can now order online at anytime too.

Christmas Countdown #3 - It's Crackers here!

It's been crackers here in the house!  These pictures are of my first crackers so easily made with the Envelope Punch Board. They are a size just perfect for a table favour or for a gift wrapping for a little something.  Mine are Christmas themed and I just love them in the blue and green hues of the All is calm (guess what is going to be on my table this festive dinnertime!).

I used some of the Lost lagoon ribbon to tie the ends on the Blue version and on the green version there is the Organza Whisper White ribbon. You can just see a little All Is Calm Snowflake Embellishment there which looks fantastic tied in with the ribbon for a special touch, I have even seen an example of these being made into earrings they are so pretty.

The crackers are six-sided and I got my make details from a fellow Inspirin' Inkin' team member, Elaine Harding. You can also make four-sided crackers, but I think these are much more special.

The measurement for these little ones are as follows:

1. Start with your DSP or cardstock measuring 6" x 5 7/8"
2. On the 5 7/8" side, score at 1/2"  (if using DSP then use the largest end of the score stylus so as not to tear the paper)
3. Then score every 7/8" (I found the easiest way to do this was move the 1/2" initial score to the next whole number " (i.e. 1") mark and then score at 7/8" from this whole number (i.e. 1 7/8"). I would then move the last score to the next whole number " mark (i.e. 2") and score again 7/8" from this i.e. (2 7/8").
4. Once you have repeated this you should have an initial 1/2" score and then six more scores 7/8" apart, giving you your six sides for the cracker.
5. Spin your paper so that the 6" side is now along the top
6. Score at 1", 1 1/2", 2", and then 4", 4 1/2" and 5"
7. Take the first fold line on the 5 7/8" side and fold the paper on the fold
8. With the envelope punch board line the paper up and punch at 1 1/2"
9. Unfold and then fold on the second fold line
10. With the envelope punch board, punch at 1 1/2"
11. Keep unfolding and then folding on each fold line and punching until all fold lines have been punched
12. Turn the paper round 180 degrees to line up the other end of the cracker 
13. Repeat steps 7-11 to punch the other end of the cracker
14. Stick you cracker together along the 1/2" tab using Sticky Strip (so it can hold your contents Ok).
15. Fold the two ends of the cracker alternating the folds so that the cracker end forms
16. Tie your ribbon round one end of the cracker
17. Put in your contents for your cracker
18. Tie the other end with your ribbon again and add your embellishments

The crackers I have made have some decorated tealight candles in them which I found fitted perfectly in the diameter of this sized cracker. We all have surplus tealight candles I am sure, especially after a trip to that well known Swedish store! One of the other ones I have made has a chocolate Easter Egg in it, so proves that there are other times of years the crackers can be gifted.  I think even a lip balm, some chocolate mint rounds, chocolate balls, or come to think of it, any other small chocolates would be just fine with me! 

I have used the Label Love Stamp set for a label background by masking out the text in one of the stamps and then have used the Holiday Homes set again for my Christmas saying and snowflakes.  I have punched my co-ordinating Pear Pizazz cardstock with the Artisan Label Punch to layer the label up.  The saying is also punched from the white card with the Word Window Punch.

Another variation I made was with the Under the Tree Speciality Paper.  Just a word of warning with this paper though as it is very good quality and thicker than DSP. When you fold the paper over to punch it in the Envelope Punch Board there are two layers to punch through and it is pretty tough to punch.  It may well be this could be too much for the punch board in thickness and could break it, so if you do want to try this paper, be warned.

The second cracker on the bottom in this paper has a label from the Tag a Bag Accessories Kit.  A simple saying stamped on it and it was an instant label.  

I have gifts for my own festive table crackers which are a little bit special so need a larger cracker so I am off to make those now. I have snaps I have purchased and will of course be adding a traditional paper hat and joke too.

There are kits on offer in the usual stores to make your own crackers, but I think these are far prettier. I hope you agree think you would like to have a try yourself.

Suzanne

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Products I used for the All Is Calm Crackers:

Envelope Punch Board	All Is Calm Specialty Designer Series Paper	All Is Calm Snowflake Embellishment	Whisper White 5/8 Inch Organza Ribbon	Lost Lagoon 3/8" Silky Taffeta Ribbon
Simply Scored	Label Love	Artisan Label Punch	Card Stock A4 Pear Pizzazz	Lost Lagoon Classic Stampin' Pad
Holiday Home Photopolymer Stamp Set	Basic Rhinestones Jewel Accents

Alternative products I used for the Under the Tree Crackers:

Under The Tree Specialty Designer Series Paper	Cherry Cobbler 3/4" Chevron Ribbon	Whisper White 1/4" Cotton Ribbon	Under The Tree Tag A Bag Accessory Kit	Itty Bitty Accents Punch Pack
Linen Thread

To place an order, book a workshop in your home or come to a class, just drop me an email at craftyinkbuds@sky.com. Remember you can now order online at anytime too.

Countdown to Christmas #2 - Bearing Gifts Perpetual Calendar

Before the Countdown to Christmas project there is not just BLACK FRIDAY offers going on, there is a fantastic Stampin' Up! Joining Offer too!!  It is for one week only until 2ND DECEMBER so get your skates on and read on for the details.

If you have ever considered, pondered or wondered about what benefits joining Stampin' Up! as a demonstrator could bring then let me tell you more about the BEST offer we have ever had.

• There is a whopping 25% off the £99 starter kit so it will be just £74.25!! 
• For your £74.25 you can choose up to £130 in Stampin’ Up! products for your kit from the main or Autumn-Winter catalogues. That’s over £50 in FREE product!
• Once you join Stampin’ Up! UK, you receive a one-time 30% off discount with a product order of £150 or more placed within 45 days.
• Continual 20% discount! Enjoy a minimum of a 20% demonstrator discount on EVERY Stampin’ Up! order you place.
• There is a 5% Bonus EXCLUSIVE cash back on all personal purchases and customer sales in December 2014 with this special deal. This is in addition to your usual discounts and will be paid in January 2015.
• If you join then from December 5th 2014 you will be one of the first to see and pre-order products from the NEW Spring-Summer Catalogue and earn Sale-A-Bration products!
• The Offer kit is only available 25th November until 2nd December 2014.

If you are still not too sure or you are thinking 'what's the catch?' Just call me for a friendly, no pressure, chat over the details. I can tell you how much fun it is to share your creativity and be rewarded or even if you want to keep it all to yourself and just use the discount to enjoy the products.

If you are ready to go then just go straight HERE

Now a little something to inspire the creativity for Christmas.  Here is my little Calendar made with the Bearing Gifts stamp.  

This stamp is gorgeous, who does not love a Polar Bear for Christmas? He is a lovely outline stamp that you can stamp and leave or colour in as I have done with the blender pens. I just used my collection of coloured markers with a little help from the underside of the lid of an ink pad (or a smooth wipeable surface). Just run your marker pen on the inside of the ink pad lid (or wipeable surface) and you will get a little pool of the ink colour. Then you can just use a blender pen to pick up the colour and colour in an image. It produces a more watercolour effect than using the marker pens directly to colour.

This is another little box project and this time the boxes are made from cardstock with the Envelope Punch Board.  I think my boxes measured 4.3cm x 4.3cm when complete.You could also make them with the Gift Box Punch Board which I did for my second version after it arrived, as the smallest dimension box on the measurements given with the tool are for a box 1.75" x 1.75". This tool is fab for making all your gift boxes for presents too, no more searching the shops for the right size!

My boxes and background are decorated with the All Is Calm papers again. The numbers are in Dazzling Diamond Glimmer Paper so really dazzle and stand out giving the boxes a little added dimension. They are cut with the Perfect Print Numbers Die. The bear is also stamped on a Top Note cut with die for the Big Shot.

For the numbers if you make one of these for yourself you will need to number the two boxes. After finishing my boxes late one evening I have to admit this had me stumped, but a quick search online next day provided the answer.  So, here it is for you, box #1 needs to be numbered 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. Box #2 needs to be numbered 0, 1, 2, 7, 8, and 9.  

The sentiment is 'Bearing Gifts of Christmas Cheer' which is under the bear on the single wood-mount stamp.  I have stamped again on a separate strip to add it to the ledge. The ledge of the box is also angled down slightly to make the boxes sit back.  I have also stamped a few snowflakes onto the DSP with my Holiday Home stamp set, but these are just a little extra.  There are so many little extras in this set to use on seasonal projects!

The DECEMBER for the calendar has come from the Project Life Day to Day stamp set. A must for your Project Life, calendar, scrapbooking or memory making projects.  

I can't wait to sit this on the mantle and start the December calendar rolling!

Suzanne

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The products I used:

Envelope Punch Board	All Is Calm Specialty Designer Series Paper	Lost Lagoon 3/8" Silky Taffeta Ribbon	Bearing Gifts Wood-Mount Stamp Set	Blender Pens
Brights Stampin' Write Markers	Pool Party A4 Card Stock	Pool Party Classic Stampin' Pad	Dazzling Diamonds Glimmer Paper	Perfect Print Numbers Bigz Die
Holiday Home Photopolymer Stamp Set

To place an order, book a workshop in your home or come to a class, just drop me an email at craftyinkbuds@sky.com. Remember you can now order online at anytime too.

Countdown to Christmas #1 Advent Treat Box Stack

Here it is, the first signs of the Countdown to Christmas and my beautiful All Is Calm Treat Box Advent project which I sooooo loved making!  It was in my favourite All Is Calm speciality paper, but not only that, it was lots of little cute Tiny Treat Boxes, I love cute little things as you know. Shhh! It is a secret as to whether any of the boxes have any little surpirses left in them!

The Tiny Treat Boxes feature in the Autumn/Winter catalogue and come in a pack of 25 boxes perfect for advent. Someone at Stampin' Up! obviously thought of this project when designing the pack, right?  They are £6.25 for the pack and have been very popular, too popular for demand!  Not to worry, if you like the project and they are on back order, why not make your own tiny boxes with the Gift Box Punch Board (new in the Aumtun/Winter Catalogue)?  You can make a very small 1.75" x 1.75" box.  Or even make a very small box with the Envelope Punch Board if you already have it. (You will need to rotate how the boxes are stuck together and opened for these two methods).

  

One of our lovely team, Tracy Liscombe had put the project together and shared (we love sharing) and I was straight on to ordering my boxes and the number die (Perfect Print Numbers Die for the Big Shot) to have a play. 

Now, each of my boxes has been decorated with a square of the DSP paper and then number added.  I set my number on dimensionals which was a bit fiddly, but along with the Dazzling Diamonds Glimmer paper it made them dazzle that little bit more. I used little strips of the foam pad from around the edges of Dimensionals. A very economical use for the leftovers too.

There are so many extras on here, too many to list! There is Baker's Twine, Rhinestones, Itty Bitty Accent punched Stars, ribbons, and greetings to mention just a few.  My little white and blue buttons I made using the Simply Pressed Clay and the Buttons and Blossoms Simply Pressed Clay Moulds. I then coloured then with a Soft Sky marker for the blue ones. The Nordic buttons from the Autumn/Winter catalogue have buttons just the right size too.

I found lots of the Holiday Homes stamp set was the right size to stamp onto the DSP paper to add some images. If you can spot him there is a little snowman. There are also Snowflakes and Santa of course who makes an appearance on Day 25.

I hope you love this project as much as I do and want to give it a try yourself.

Suzanne

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You can use a multiple of stamps and products you have to decorate your project how you wish, but here is some of the list of products (well most of what) I used

Tiny Treat Boxes	All Is Calm Specialty Designer Series Paper	Perfect Print Numbers Bigz Die	Holiday Home Photopolymer Stamp Set	Simply Pressed Clay
Buttons & Blossoms Simply Pressed Clay Molds	Vintage Faceted Designer Buttons	Basic Rhinestones Jewel Accents	Itty Bitty Accents Punch Pack	Dazzling Diamonds Glimmer Paper
White Baker's Twine	Silver 1/8" Ribbon	Lost Lagoon 3/8" Silky Taffeta Ribbon

Alternative boxes can be made with one of the following tools and some Kraft Cardstock or coloured card:

Gift Box Punch Board

Envelope Punch Board

To place an order, book a workshop in your home or come to a class, just drop me an email at craftyinkbuds@sky.com. Remember you can now order online at anytime too.