Happy Easter Banner

Today's a celebration banner for Happy Easter wishes. I have been spying some banner kits in the supermarkets and thinking of getting one as I thought I was just not going to have the time to put one together, but I resisted and here is what I made in about 1 1/2 hours playtime. OK, OK so it was still a little time to make it, but once I started it I was enjoying every minute!

Essential for a quick and easy banner are the Banner Framelits.  I used the largest die for designer paper backgrounds.  This was some of the Subtles collection papers I had left over from the last annual catalogue (2012-1013) so I was so glad I had kept them.  I then just layered them onto cardstock and for quickness I just trimmed round to keep the banner shape.  You could of course make your banners slightly smaller to cut both the layers with the dies - even quicker!

I also used the Circles framelits collection to make the circles round my 'Happy Easter' letttering. I had cut all the lettering with dies too (a retired die set I cannot part with).  That was all the pieces cut out for the main banner within 10 minutes or so.  I am so loving the die collections, it makes it all so easy!

The extra features on the banner are the Bunny tails I made previously (see previous post on the Carrot Chocolate Wraps).  These are made from the Scallop circles punches and the large oval.
Also a few springtime flowers using the Floral Fusion Sizzlit die and the Little Leaves Sizzlit.  I added a centre flower from the Boho Blossom punch and finished with a Daffodil Delight Candy Dot.

The ribbon is leftover from my wedding supply of taffeta Pink Pirouette so it was great to see this put to use again in this lovely Easter pastels project.

The papers are still available, but there have been some small changes to the colour collection in the current catalogue and the designs have varied slightly.  The lettering, as I say was a retired set, but there are alphabet dies in the current catalogue too.  You could even use chipboard or wooden letters if you already have them.

I am really glad I passed on the supermarket banner now and made my own - it is hanging in pride of place ready for some family visitors tomorrow.

Suzanne
x

For the banner, I used:
132173 Banners Framelits Dies
130911 Circles Collection Framelits Dies
115969 Floral Fusion Sizzlit Die
114511 Little Leaves Sizzlit
130931 Candy Dots
130135 Designer Paper Stack - Subtles Collection

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.

Scallop Tags for Mother's Day

It's a Floral Fusion meets Petal Parade card for you today.  See how prepared I am, I have a card for Mother's Day ready!  Well this is not the card I am sending my Mum as that is under wraps for the day, but another card I have made.  Once I had mastered the scallop card punch opening I wanted to play some more!

The opening is created by folding and feeding your standard card into the Scallop Tag Punch.  Now this punch is fantastic.  Everyone needs one!  Need a tag quickly and easily for a card, gift or for Christmas? This punch creates a tag from a strip of card 5cm (approx) wide and any length.  Yes, ANY length.  You just cut the length of your tag to the size you desire after punching the lovely scallop top.

To create the card openings.  Cut your card to size then feed the shorter edge into the tag punch.  Lift it slightly and slide it all the way into the punch so that the edge is right up into the end of the scallop top.  Then just punch.  Easy, huh?  All you need to do is then use your trimmer to cut down the edge line to finish the opening edge.  Repeat for the other side and a fantastic new card design is yours!

My Sentiment is a custom tag using the same punch.  I punched the scallop top, stamped my sentiment from the all-year-round Delightful Dozen stamp set and then trimmed the tag down on the width on both sides to the first indent of the scallop top.  I then cut the bottom edge and rounded the corners using the corner punch  on the Envelope Punch Board. 

The card I created has slightly different measurements to some I have seen from other demos.  Some people have just folded the right hand side so the tag top just folds over as the finishing edge, but I wanted to fold it over a little further in so I have an extra decorative panel/strip on my card.  It did mean the left hand side was narrower, but this left the inside more visible and more places to stamp with the lovely Petal Parade stamps.

I hope you like the card.  Just get in touch is you are local and you would like a demonstration of the products and how to make lovely cards like this.

The designer papers and Petal Parade stamp sets are from this year's Sale-a-Bration and don't forget this ends 31st March.  Don't panic!  There is still time to order to get these free with your purchases.

Floral Fusion Sizzlit Die
Scallop Tag Punch
Delightful Dozen Stamps

Sale-a-Bration - FREE Products When You Order
Sweet Sorbet Designer Papers
Petal Parade

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 by clicking the links on the top right of this page.

Somethings Have To Be Believed To Be Seen - Last Retiring and Sneek Peek

I think possibly today's flurry of crafting is going to be some of the last of the retiring products you will see from me.  One of the first stamp sets I bought from Stampin' Up! was the Just Believe set.  It has simple 'Thank You', 'Friends' and 'Just for You' sentiments, but also has the great saying 'Somethings have to be believed to be seen'.  I have been inspired for the cards here by so many designs I have seen with the  larger stamp and how this can be framed on the front of the cards.

This first card is a combination of the In Colours 2013-2014 Raspberry Ripple and Primrose Petals. There is also some Regal Rose for the Boho Blossoms flowers which is a retiring colour with the new colour refresh.  The green on the card is Always Artichoke which has a darker shade which I think works really well in contrast with the other colours.

I just love the frame shape for this card.  This was cut using the Framelits Label Collection for the Big Shot.  I just imagined this card layout in my head and built it up from cutting and framing the stamped image.  The Boho Blossoms and Embosslits Beautiful Wings on the card are just the right size to go with the background image to dress it. 

The stamp set also contains two stamps which can be used to create instant label.  There is the decorative label I have added to this card and another larger label which can be used.  These are great for layering on cards or tags and are sized for the sentiments to fit with ease. 

You cannot see it too well on the photo, but there are embossing designs on the middle section and also on the edges of the white insert piece.  I used a product I have not mentioned too much up until now, the Simply Borders plate for the Simply Scored Tool, which is in the Spring/Summer mini.  This is fabulous for a subtle embossed design to your cards and co-ordinates with other products such as the Framelits dies. 

Tip:  The Simply Borders plate comes with a top template for easy alignment with your project when embossing.  To keep everything in place when embossing use some low tack masking tape to keep placement and to stop any slips.

The second card in neutral tones of Crumb Cake and Soft Suede is another use of the framelits die.  This card is created by first stamping in Crumb Cake and then using the Stamp-a-ma-jig to line up and create a shadow image, stamping with Versamark and then embossing with white.  The embossing was then sponged over with Crumb Cake.

This first photo is the initial version with the Flower Trim from the Spring/Summer catalogue and the Crumb Cake Seam Binding ribbon.  I then decided to step-up the card a little and added a few pearls.  I think the pearls lift it and make for a much better looking card.   Just a simple change can make such a difference!

The Flower Trim, as it is in the Spring/Summer catalogue will no longer be available after June 30th.  The other retiring products on the cards are, the Just Believe stamps and also the First Edition designer papers.  The papers are such a staple for any craft room; they work so well for a background, for vintage looks, or for masculine cards.

Lastly, all these retiring products posts have meant I have had to keep my twitching hands off my new catalogue products, but as we are now in the last few days of the current catalogues I thought it only right to give you a little tease of what is coming.  We have been talking about all the colour changes and retiring colours, well here are the yummy new In Colours 2013-2014 for the new catalogue (well 4 of them anyway!). 

 

Still with a retiring products, this card has monochrome Just Believe flower circles and I have then decorated them with the Floral Fusion Sizzlits in the new colours.  The photo does not show it, but I have also used the 'Friends' saying from the stamps down the right hand side strip.  The white card is also embossed with the Simply Borders plate as once I had played with it once I got carried away and wanted to play some more - as often the way with all the products!

To place your order, order your new catalogue, book a party or come to a workshop email me at craftyinkbuds@sky.com