Super Stampin' Fun! [Tutorial]

What's this? Keep reading (or for those of you who are impatient, jump past all the preliminary stuff and go right to the the tutorial) to find out.

I was super excited last week when I got a call from Brandi Barnard at the Stampin' Up! home office in Utah. She told me that she and Brian Pilling would like to come observe one of my classes. Now, if you subscribe to the Stampin' Up! YouTube channel, I'm sure you've seen both of them in SU! videos. If you aren't a subscriber, I highly recommend it. Lots of great videos about your favorite Stampin' Up! products. Watch some of their videos and you'll see why I was so excited (and if you find some items you just have to have, hop on over to my online store and order away - use the current hostess code ZSQU7Q63 and get a special thank you from me).

Brandi and Brian are absolutely as nice and funny and great to spend time with as they seem online. They were so sweet and took my husband and me out to dinner last night. Then today they came to observe my club. It was fun to have them here.

The club members enjoyed meeting them, as well. One of the stampers asked how we rated for a visit from Stampin' Up! and they went on and on about what a wonderful demonstrator I am so really, how could they stay away (okay, so I'm kind of hard of hearing in that ear and so had to guess at their answer, but I imagine that's what they said - and I'm sure they're too nice to contradict me, so that's my story and I'm sticking to it). Seriously, they're checking out several demonstrators' classes in an effort to see what we do so that Stampin' Up! can provide even better training and support. It is such a great company to be a part of (and here's where I add - you, too, can be a part of it, ask me for details or click that link above to the online store and click Join the Fun instead of Shop Now).

The only downer part of the visit is that I completely forgot to take any pictures with them. Worse, I remembered before they got here, so set out my camera right on the table where we have class and I wrote a reminder note and put it by the Big Shot. I got busy setting up and moved the camera aside, picked up the Big Shot to use in class, and that was the last I thought about a picture until I was cleaning up and found the note. So, what's a demonstrator to do? Improvise! I found this picture that I figure is a pretty close representation.

Okay, on to the stuff you come here for. Here's one of the projects we made in class today. It's a Pinwheel Card. I followed the tutorial on Splitcoast Stampers, but modified the size. Thank you to my math teachers for teaching me how to calculate ratios. I'll give you some quick instructions here, but for more details and a video, follow the link above to Splitcoast.

Here are two versions of the card while closed. This cute DSP, Go Wild Designer Series Paper Stack, is great for masculine or feminine projects. It is retiring, as are the Six Sided Sampler stamp set, Hexagon punch, and Diagonal Score Plate (which has a big discount!). Luckily, Timeless Textures, is carrying over to the Annual Catalog.

Start with a 6 x 6 piece of DSP. Use the Diagonal Score Plate to score all four sides at 2.25". The design that is down will be the inside pattern.

The score lines will converge in the middle of each side to form a triangle. Cut out these triangles from each side.

Remove the Diagonal Score Plate from the Simply Scored Board so you can make vertical score lines. With side that was face down for the first round of scoring now facing up, score at 3/4" on each side (stop when you reach the cut out triangle).

The diagonal score lines will fold in (closing the card) and the straight score lines will fold out. Use your bone folder to gets nice creases. This is what the inside of the card looks like when open. There's a 2 5/16" piece of Whisper White cardstock in the center which has been stamped with the flourish from Timeless Textures and sponged around the edges.

 Fold each flap down in a clockwise direction.

When you get to the last flap, tuck it under to hold it closed.

Decorate the front however you desire. If you do a hexagon or other object, make sure to only put adhesive on the part that will adhere to one flap. If you adhere it to more than one flap the card won't open properly. I know, pretty obvious - but that's just the kind of thing that can be forgotten/overlooked while caught up in the excitement of creating (please tell me I'm not the only one who does this).

The tutorial on Splitcoast makes a bigger card. Start with an 8 x 8 piece of DSP. Diagonal score lines are at 3" and vertical score lines are at 1".

You missed today's class and the opportunity to meet Brandi and Brian, but you can still come to Tuesday evening's class. In addition to making three cute projects, you'll have a great time hanging out with a lively, chatty, friendly group of stampers. You can see the other projects here and here (or just keep scrolling down).

Contact me today to reserve your spot and get directions if needed.

Creating Pretty Cards – Sketch Challenge #57 Part 2

As promised, here's part 2 of the Creating Pretty Cards – Sketch Challenge #57. If you missed part 1, you can see it and the link to the challenge here.

This card was made with Pretty Petals Designer Series Paper (DSP), along with the Honeycomb embossing folder and Six Sided Sampler stamp set.

I took a little more liberty with the sketch on this one. I flipped the design, but stayed with a vertical card. I only had room for two spools. The DSP is Bohemian. Such happy colors and patterns in that pack! The spools are made with the Envelope Punch Board and the stamp is from Love You Sew. This cute set is a hostess set, which means you can't just buy it - it has to be earned. Contact me to schedule your party or find out other ways to get this set.

 Back to Pretty Petals DSP, along with Botanical Builder Framelits.

As you can see, a sketch can really get your creative juices flowing. I made six cards with this sketch as inspiration and none of them look the same.

Creating Pretty Cards – Sketch Challenge #57 Part 1

I decided to play along with this sketch challenge and got a little out of control. I'm going to share 3 of them in this post and 3 in a future post, so you can see lots of ways a sketch can evolve. You can head over to the CPC site and check out more ideas for CPC57.

This was actually the last one I made, but I think it's my favorite. It's much more vibrant in person. I wish I could have captured it in the picture.

 I started with this card. It matches the sketch pretty closely. The Designer Series Paper (DSP) is from the Pretty Petals DSP Stack. The punches are Elegant Butterfly and Bitty Butterfly.

 Then I moved to this card using the Lucky Stars embossing folder and Stars framelits. The DSP is It's My Party and the Washi Tape is the SAB Glitter Washi.

And here's another view of this card. When it's open, you can see I used the framelit on the edge. I lined the inside w/some cardstock that shows through when the card is closed and some DSP that is the same as on the front of the card. DSP is Pretty Petals. Framelits are Botanical Builder.

And here's the sketch that started it all:

Hexagon Bird Box

This project uses the Envelope Punch Board, which is on the Weekly Deals this week! Order the punch board from me and I'll send you a tutorial of how to make this box!

 

I'm really excited about this project because I developed the pattern myself. I got some ideas from different projects, but the the hexagon box and adding the lid came from me. The way it's decorated was also my design. Hope you enjoy it!

Here's a view from the top. It's actually a removable lid so you can use it as decor or as an actual box. How cute would it be to give a gift in this?

I know the eggs probably aren't available this time of year, but you could probably use round candies and no one would complain. I was fortunate enough to get to demonstrate this project to a group of other demonstrators in March. Not sure why it never made it on my blog...maybe so I could post it when the Envelope Punch Board is on sale ;)

See another project and a video about the Envelope Punch Board here. This is also the tool used to make those cute file folder cards you've seen. We made one of those in club one month.

TSSC 316 - Six Sided Sampler

Happy Memorial Day! Thank you to all of the brave service men and women who have risked everything to keep our country safe. And a moment to remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice. Thank you!

Here's my card for this week's Techno Stamper Sketch Challenge. My first attempt didn't quite go as planned. Hmmm? Sounds familiar. :) I ended up with a card I liked, but it didn't match the sketch and it wasn't what I meant to do. Not to mention I was pretty darn frustrated with the ribbon pleating. I was not doing it again for my second attempt! I went with a button instead. Maybe I'll share the first card later this week after I have a chance to photograph it.

Supplies:

Stamps: Six Sided Sampler

Cardstock: Whisper White

Designer Series Paper (DSP): Gingham Garden

Ink: Island Indigo, Daffodil Delight

Big Shot: Circle Card Thinlits Die

Accessories: Daffodil Delight 1/4" Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon (on Retired List for 1/2 off), Brights Designer Buttons

 

Here's this week's sketch:

 

 Link your project and see the rest of the design team samples at the Techno Stamper Sketch Challenge site. Hope you'll play along this week!

TSSC 291 Happy Hour

Holiday Sale alert:

Items on this card that are on sale - Soho Subway DSP (130140, $7.67), Neutrals Core'dinations cardstock (129956, $16.77 - also other colors).  Crumb Cake Note Card Envelopes  (131528, $3.85) .

Here is this week's Techno Stamper Sketch Challenge card.  It's 3 1/2" x 5" and fits the Crumb Cake Note Card Envelopes.

I am really enjoying this Soho Subway Designer Series Paper.  It has masculine and feminine designs, which you can't always find within a pack of DSP.  And the colors are fun to work with.

This card uses stamps from Happy Hour.  I used Stampin' Write markers to color the stamps so that I could use multiple colors.  I put Crystal Effects over the bowl of the glass to make it shiny.  It was kind of hard to photograph, but below is the best close-up I could get.

Here is the sketch:


Here's another card using Soho Subway DSP.  The stamps are from Oh, Hello and Six Sided Sampler.  It actually started out for last week's sketch, but wasn't quite right.  I tried to use some of the pieces for this week's sketch, but still not right.  So, I took what I had, added some, and this is the result.  Just goes to show, you never know what you might come up when you play along with a sketch challenge.
 

Hope you'll play along with the TSSChallenge this week.  Who knows where your creativity will lead you?