My Garden Before Hurricane Irene

Just when things are looking good we get a heavy rainfall or strong winds, and with Hurricane Irene we are getting both. The rain is not too bad, but the winds are yet to come.

Here's a look at my garden 'before', and hopefully it will look pretty much the same afterwards (hope, hope).

Happy Stamping!
Carol

Milk Carton Box

You've probably seen a lot of these on blogs lately, it was a project shown at the Stampin' Up! Convention last month (July). I always love finding new ways to use dies and this one in particular.

I chose Bashful Blue for the cardstock and the DSP because I wanted to make it wintery and cool. Plus I used silver glimmer paper (sneak peek from the Holiday Mini) to die cut the snowflakes:

Instead of folding the triangles so that they fold 'in' I kept them out and folded in the other scores and this gives the attractive top. I punched holes in each of the points and ran  1/4" Whisper White Grosgrain through so that the box can be opened and closed:

I also tied a silver cord to the ribbon so that the box could be hung on a Christmas tree or hook. The silver Glimmer Paper is wonderful for snowflakes and I topped them off with a rhinestone in the centre.

I can see so many uses for these boxes - Christmas decorations, Wedding favours, Birthday favours, Diamond Ring holders (Two people suggested that simultaneously the first time they saw the box!).

I purchased the tutorial for this box from Jenny Moors at www.stampingmoments.blogspot.com

Happy Stamping!
Carol

Butterfly Love

What beautiful summer days we've been having this week - the calm before Hurricane Irene? Our backyard is planted for the birds, butterflies, and any other visitors that might make up the ecological mix (I'm not overly fond of snakes, but I'd be thrilled to have one in my garden - it would mean it was well balanced and healthy).

Anyway, this does have something to do with today's card. I was sitting in the gazebo watching the butterflies flitting about the flowers and it just made me happy. So when I came in I pulled out my Butterfly Prints stamp set and Beau Chateau DSP and made this card:

The colours are Soft Suede and Pretty in Pink. Really simple, really easy, like a beautiful summer day.

Here's hoping Hurricane Irene doesn't do too much harm.
Carol

There's a new challenge on the block!

It's called the Stampin Queen's Sketch Challenge and I thought I would give it a try...
Here is the sketch

And here is my creation:

I wanted to use Pool Party as it is my absolute favourite In Colour, and the stamp is Triple Treat Flower. The sentiment is from Petite Pairs, while the DSP is Domestic Goddess.

Give the challenge a try - it's a great way to kick start your creativity!

Happy Stamping
Carol

The Power of Colour (and of Maree!)

I had the wonderful experience of having several of my team with me this past Sunday, and because she lives in another province Maree came a day early. I love it when she does this because she is so full of positive energy (if I could bottle it the whole world would be happy!) that I just sit back and watch her create. This card is one she made while she was here, and the colours and design make me smile every time I look at it.

 

Isn't it pretty! The stamp is Triple Treat Flower, one of the a la carte stamps in the IB&C. This is a really neat stamp because it matches 3 of our punches - the Fancy Flower, 5-Petal Flower, and 1/2" Circle. So if you stamp the flower in three different colours you can punch them out and mix and match.

The colours Maree used are Pool Party, Regal Rose, and Pacific Point, along with Old Olive for the sentiments. Thanks for the smiles Maree!

To visit Maree's blog go to www.inkymoose.blogspot.com

Directions for Mini Scrapbook

I've had several requests for directions on how to make these mini scrapbooks using CD mailing folders and I am finally getting them posted! I used the Letters to Santa DSP and Quick Accents, but you can use any DSP or Simply Scrappin Kit (1/2 of a kit is plenty) to make yours.

Supplies:

3 CD Mailer Envelopes (see photos below for exact type) These can be ordered from www.uline.ca
Item # S-7073  125 for $39 plus S&H Proper name: CD Literature Folder

2 - 3 Sheets of coordinating Designer Series Paper

9 sheets of 8 1/2" x 11" cardstock in 3 coordinating colours (3 sheets of each)

4  3"x3" mini envelopes

1/2 package of Quick Accents, Side Notes, or half of the die cut designs that come with the Simply Scrappin kits. Alternatively you can use big shot dies, punches, and stamp sets to make your embellishments.

Directions:
1. Cut two pieces of cardstock or Designer Series Paper 5" x 10". These are used to attach the 3 CD mailers together. Score and fold the cardstock in half, fold the CD mailers on all the score lines.

Look for this type of CD Mailer:

 

Each piece of cardstock will go between two of the CD mailers. Use Tombow glue or Sticky strip to attach the pieces together. Make sure the CD Mailers are all opening the same way (diagonal pocket on the right hand side) Make sure the cardstock or DSP lines up with the back of the CD mailer so that the finished book will open flat:

 

The finished basic book will look like this:

2. Cut three (not two as shown on photo) sheets of cardstock (one in each coordinating colour) 4 7/8" x 10". Score each piece on the 10" side at 1/2" inch intervals from 5" to 8" (5, 5 1/2, 6, 6 1/2, 7, 7 1/2, 8). 

Fold accordion style using your bone folder:

 

Place each sheet into the Mailer pockets, starting with the large side first, then fold back the other page and slip the short side into the mailer:

 

DO NOT GLUE THESE PIECES TO THE MAILER. They must be able to slide so that your scrapbook pages will turn properly. They will stay secure in the pockets.

Cut 6 pieces of cardstock (coordinating colours or all the same) 4 7/8" x 4 7/8". Attach to the first set of spines and the last set of spines with sticky tape:

 

Attach all six pages to look like this:

Note that the red set of spines in the centre are empty:

Take your three 3" x 3" envelopes and cut off the flaps.

Cut three pieces of cardstock 2 7/8" x 2 7/8". Punch three pieces of scrap DSP using the Round Tab punch and attach to one side of each piece of  cardstock.

Place the cardstock in the envelopes and tape to the three centre spines.(Alternatively you could use strips of cardstock cut 4 7/8" by 2")   Note placement of envelopes:

Your basic scrapbook is now complete. All you have left is to add the embellishments and the photos. I will show you how I complete mine, but each scrapbook is unique and is only limited by your imagination (and stamp sets, and punches!!) :0)

There are a variety of closures for your scrapbook.
This one uses ribbon and jumbo eyelets:

This one uses ribbon and Velcro, with the closing on the front cover:

The ribbon (twill tape) is attached to the edge of the front cover, wrapped around the completed scrapbook (leaving a little room for those added extras) and the Velcro closure is on the front.





The next scrapbook uses the same type of closure but it attaches on the back:

For this year's Letters to Santa mini scrapbook I simply uses stretchy silver cord, tied with a bow:

I hope you enjoy making your own mini scrapbook and I would love to see them!


Happy Stamping (and scrapbooking)
Carol

Always Thankful Sneak Peek

As you probably know, the Canadian Thanksgiving is the first Monday in October so we are creating 'Thanks' cards much earlier than our American sisters. Today I have a card that I made using the new stamp set that's coming September 1st in the Holiday Mini. It's called Always Thankful and it has a quote by Charles Dickens (who said things so well!).Because Thanksgiving also means autumn to me I used the French Foliage Stamp set as well.

 I used More Mustard card stock for the base of the card, along with a sheet from the Well Worn DSP. The accent colours are Not Quite Navy, and Cajun Craze.

The ink colours are Cajun Craze and Basic Black, and then I coloured in the images with markers and blender pens.

Here is the complete card done in a Z fold.

I was really excited about how the leaves from the French Foliage turned out. I stamped them on White Vellum and then coloured them with markers on the back side, and cut them out. They almost seem like real dried leaves with a bit of a curl, and a bit translucent.

 

Hope you like it! 

Carol