Embossed Pistachio Card

Had seen a video by Kelly Acheson for this card so I made one for myself. I recently bought a few stamp sets from another stamper and for my card I used two of these Stampin Up stamp sets:

Corner Garden and Peaceful Petals

For my card base I used #110 weight white card stock from Mikes, cut and scored on the side. For the card front I used a piece of Emerald card stock from Stampin Up. Cut that to the size I needed for the card front. Using white/GP card stock I cut that piece larger than what I would need for the card front. Using the Corner Garden stamp I used the MISTI and inked that stamp with VersaMark. Stamped that and then used white embossing powder and heat set that.

For the greeting I used a stamp from the Stampin Up stamp set Peaceful Petals and the Cracked Pistachio ink and stamped that onto the embossed piece. Using a very light touch I sponged the distress ink Cracked Pistachio over the embossed flowers making some flowers darker than others. Once the flowers were all covered I trimmed this to the size I wanted for the card front. Once trimmed to size I sponged ink only on the edges that the flowers were on -- one side and bottom of the card front. Put the embossed card front onto the green piece using the ATG. Then put these two pieces onto the white card stock base.

Using scrap card stock and a small butterfly punch I punched out two butterflies and put them onto the card front using TomBow glue. Added pearls to them from the stash. Added three clear sequins to the embossed side of the card front.  Easy card to put together and thanks to Kelly for sharing her video. TFL

Hello Daisy Card

My PIC (stamping Partner in Crime friend) and I went to the SSAT stamp show recently in Columbia, SC. While we were there I stopped at the Rubber Cottage booth. This is the vendor that I had bought this stamp from when I went to another stamp show awhile back. I really liked the blue they had used on this card but I could not find it. Bought the stamp thinking I had a similar colour of ink at home but I didn't.

At the show in Columbia I met the owner and she told me that she had used Memento Danube Blue ink for her card she had made into a sample featuring this Daisy Background stamp. Of course she did not have this ink in stock at this show but Tessler Stamps was selling it at their booth so on my way out I stopped and bought one. Am happy to say this is the blue I wanted for this card and it is really a nice blue.

For my card stock base I used #110 weight white card stock from Mikes. Cut and scored that and set it aside. For the dark blue I used card stock from Hobby Lobby. For my card front that I stamped with the Daisy Background stamp I used a piece of white/GP cut larger than the stamp. Used the MISTI to stamp my background. Cut that to the size I wanted for for the card front. Using the ATG I put the daisy background piece onto the solid blue piece. Then put these on the card front.

For the "hello" I used a stamp from Pink and Main. Stamped that using the MISTI and used the Memento Danube Blue ink. Cleaned the stamp and inked it with VersaMark and stamped it again. Added clear embossing powder and heat set this:

Used a stitched frame die set from Creek Bank and cut out the "hello" piece in the Big Shot. Cut a piece of dark blue card stock to put behind this piece. Put the embossed piece and blue piece together using the ATG.

Added clear sequins to the greeting piece. Using the Triple Flower punch from Stampin Up I punched out flowers from an extra stamped daisy background stamp. Used a small circle punch and punched out a small circle from blue card stock scraps. Put the circle in the center of the flowers using a glue pen and put the flowers onto the greeting piece using glue dots. Pop dots are behind the greeting piece for dimension:

Easy card to put together and IRL the "hello" is very shiny with the clear embossing powder on it. TFL

Cascading Hearts Valentine's Card

This card is on Lipstick Red card stock from Simon Says. Used the Cascading Hearts die set from Fun Stampers Journey for the card front. Here is a photo of that die:

Had seen a video by Deb Valder on Youtube making this card and the front of the card has the cascading hearts and behind that is a window sheet -- here is a photo of the card front with a piece of pink card stock behind it for the photo to show the window sheet:

And this photo might show that window sheet better --

To make this card I cut and scored and used the bone folder to sharpen the creased fold. Then opened the card base and put the hearts die on that and cut that out. For the window sheet piece I cut it a little larger than the card front and used the second die piece from that set -- the frame die -- to cut out the window sheet in the die cutting machine. Once that was cut out I used tiny pieces of red sticky tape on the inside of the think red frame around the cascading hearts. I put the window sheet behind the hearts card front and pressed it closed so the window sheet would stick to the red sticky tape.

For the white card stock on the inside I cut that about 1/8 smaller than the card stock base and then I stamped the solid heart using a stamp from Hero Arts. I used Stampin Up Pretty in Pink ink for that **. Then I used the Stampin Up Real Red ink and stamped "Happy Valentine's Day" over the pink heart using a dollar stamp from Mikes. Used the ATG and put the stamped white card stock in the card so the stamped greeting can be seen through the window sheet front.

** The Real Red ink pad I used from Stampin Up is the older linen ink pad. The Pretty in Pink Stampin Up ink pad is the new foam ink pad from Stampin Up. When I opened it to stamp my solid heart I noticed the ink pad is "sweaty". I do not understand why --- my ink pads are away from lights, windows, heat/air conditioning vents so I can not figure this out. Don't know if any other of the newer foam ink pads have also done this but I will have to check them. If I should have more in this condition I will contact Stampin Up and see if other stampers have had the same problem?  Grrrrr....

As for this card it was easy to put together -- I added two red foil hearts to the cascading hearts piece for some sparkle on the card front. TFL

Inside the bags --

This post will show the treat holders and such I have put inside the Valentine Treat Bags I made for the gals at work. Here is the front of the pink gift bag from the dollar store that I decorated -- the print on the front of the pink bag is a napkin also from the dollar store. Used the Gift Bow die for the bows:

Here is a photo of one of the treat holders I made:

Used the pattern by "papercrafter45" on Youtube using the WRMK Pillow Box Punch board. These holders are made using double sided card stock and they hold the Fun Size Hershey candy bar. This next holder:

The above holder holds the Dove chocolate heart candies and it has a slider top made of window sheet. I had seen these made up by frenchiestamps on Youtube. I used a glue dot to attach my ribbon and glitter heart to the window sheet so when you slide the clear top off the holders the bow and hearts stay in place:

This next holder holds a flat heart shaped lollipop:

This next holder is from dawn5377 on Youtube -- did not have the cellophane bags she used from Stampin Up so I used bags from Clearbags.com and cut off 1/2" at the top so my bags are the same size as she used for her holders:

These are my nugget holders:

For these holders I used Hershey solid chocolate and chocolate almond nuggets. To begin with I used a piece of red card stock from Mikes cut to: 4 x 2 1/8. With the short side of the red card stock at the top of the score board I scored the long left side at 3/8. Turned this piece around and scored the other long side at 3/8. Used the bone folder to crease the lines. This makes the 'tray' the candies fit on inside the bag. For the card stock wrappers on my nugget candies I used scrap card stocks and cut them 3 1/8 x 1. Ran these strips over the bone folder to have them be curved and put them on the nugget candies using glue dots. Put four of the nugget candies onto the red card stock trays. Used pretzel bags from the candy aisle at the craft store for these bags. Tied them closed using various twines. (It is cheaper to buy your twine at the craft stores from the baking aisle rather than the paper craft department--you get more yardage and better quality of twine in the baking section). For the front of these holders I used a stamp I bought used at a stamper's sale for 50 cents and this scribble heart is from Upton Rubber Stamps. Used a circle punch to punch that out and then a scalloped circle punch for the solid piece behind it. Put these onto the nugget bags using glue dots:

Had picked up these two Valentine printed candy bags at the dollar store and using scissors I cut off the zip lock top:

Used various candies and filled these bags and tied them closed using red ribbons:

Used tissue paper and paper shred from the dollar store to line my treat bags and this is what it looks like looking in the bag from the top:

Should make for a nice day at work with the gals loaded up with chocolates!! haha... Thanks to the ladies that shared their patterns for the treat holders with the tips and how-to's. Happy Valentine's Day! TFL

A door no more . . .

This post has absolutely nothing to do with card making but rather with DIY.  I wanted to share it. About two weeks ago we went to Walmart and I bought a magazine that had this idea in it and I asked DH if he could make one for me? He said he could but we would have to find an old solid wood door to make it out of.  On our way home we stopped at a thrift store and I found my door -- it is solid wood, really worn, and has a porcelain door knob with a metal plate behind it. Perfect for what I wanted built but we decided to buy a second door for DH to work on first. Having no pattern he had to figure this all out on his own and I must say he did a great job!

Yesterday we went to the Scrap Exchange in Durham -- where I bought these two Stampin Up punches for $2.00 each:

After we left the Scrap Exchange we headed over to the ReUse Warehouse nearby. This is a warehouse that is filled with house parts --- when they demolish the older homes this place buys anything they can sell to home owners looking for items with character. Real wood floors, wooden fireplace surrounds, claw foot bath tubs, kitchen cabinets, staircase parts, windows, doors, lights, tiles, hardware, etc.. Every time you go there you find something different. You leave with your new found items and all new ideas...

We went over to the aisle with all the doors and it was not long before we found this door and it was perfect --

This is a solid wood door and it was painted blue. I liked the colour as it gives the finished item a different look being a colour rather than cream or white. I must say it certainly did not take DH long to figure this all out and so he began -- first he lightly sanded the door, front and back, and then he cut the door apart so he would have three pieces. Once that was done he began his assembly. He wanted to use left over oak flooring from the floors he put in our house so he was able to put some oak scraps on his project. This is what the door looked like after he made some cuts:

Using the scrap oak flooring he made the seat for the bench:

He also put left over oak pieces on the arms of the bench:

This photo shows a side of the bench that he cut off the door:

This door did not have any hardware on it so it did not come with a door knob. DH has a box of glass door knobs so he put one of those on the door with a circle metal plate under it. He patched holes in the door from previous hardware. He also added molding to the top of the bench to finish it off:

When it was all built he then put poly on the oak arms and the bench seat. Here is his finished bench ready for use or if someone wants to paint it or whatever. It would be perfect in an entryway or a guest room or in a mudroom:

A HUGE thank you to DH for building this so quickly and for doing a great job with it. He is selling this one but his next bench will be ours to keep. Now my job is to sew a quilted pillow to sit on the bench he makes for us.  See below:

Here is a photo of the original door I bought for this door/bench and DH finished it this week. It is now in a bedroom and I am currently working on a shabby chic pillow for it -- roses and such in pinks with greens:

I put a pillow on the bench for the photo but I am making a larger pillow for it. So happy hubby made the changes I wanted --- bigger arm rests, molding at the top with a top piece across the door top, as well as cutting a deeper cut on the bottom of the bench back and sides. After I sew my pillow I will have to find something to hang on the porcelain door knob. Will try to remember to post a photo of it with the new pillow. This is a perfect size for a bench seat in a bedroom to sit and read or put your shoes on and such. A BIG thanks to DH for making this for me from a magazine photo only!! :0)

Also --

I wanted something to hang my purses on in the closet so DH cut a piece of wood and attached four different glass door knobs from his stash to hang the purse handles on. All I have to do is paint or stain the wood. This would be perfect to hang by an entry door or in a bathroom for towels. Happy to have the purses hanging and not laying on a shelf or in a bin. It is much easier to take a purse off the holder and change it out. Another thanks to DH for this holder! TFL

Love Valentine Card

Recently picked up the MFT (My Favorite Things) Stitched Heart Grid die set for Valentine cards. This is a two piece die set -- one die marks the stitching on your piece and then you cut out the hearts with the second die:

For this card I cut and scored the #110 weight white card stock from Mikes with the score line at the top of the card. Using hearts printed card stock from Hobby Lobby I cut a piece for the card front. Put the hearts card stock onto the white card stock base using the ATG. Set this aside.

Cut a piece of Mikes red card stock to the size I wanted for the card front. Cut a piece of white/GP card stock for the front piece that I would be putting the hearts on. Using painters tape I taped the stitched line die onto the white/GP piece. Ran this through the die cutting machine. Removed the tape and the die:

For my card I used four colours of card stock for my hearts. I cut those all out and then used one of the scrap coloured card stocks that I cut the heart die out of as the pattern to keep the hearts straight and level over the stitched lines. Used painters tape to keep that in place:

With that in place I used a glue pen on the stitched lines as I went along and put the hearts into the scrap piece. Did one heart at a time. With all the hearts in place I pressed down on the hearts to be sure the glue pen would adhere to them and set it aside for a few minutes. Once that was dried I carefully lifted off the coloured die cut piece off the hearts.

Used a dollar stamp from Mikes and red ink and stamped "love" below the hearts. Put this piece onto the red card stock piece using the ATG. Put this piece onto the white card stock base using pop dots. Added clear Wink of Stella to the "love" greeting. Pinched the hearts together so they give the card front some dimension. This photo shows the sparkle from the Wink of Stella on the greeting:

:
Easy die set to use for this card. As usual the MFT dies cut nicely. Just finished another card using this die set:

For this card I used a "love" die and cut that out of red foil card stock. Used a glue pen to put this onto the die cut piece. Also cut out a red foil heart and added that to the bottom of the die cut hearts. To be able to use the word die on the bottom of this white panel piece I measured the word die and cut my white panel a little longer than the first card I had made. Easy card to put together. The foiled card stock added some shine to the front of the card. TFL

Pink Valentine Treat Bags

Just finished decorating the front of pink paper gift bags from the dollar store for the gals at work. Was not sure what to decorate the front of the pink bags with until I saw these napkins also from the dollar store:

Once this napkin is opened up it can be used to decorate four of the gift bags:

I opened the napkin and cut it into four panel pieces using scissors. Once that was done I peeled off the white backing on the napkin pieces. Using GladWrap, (not the "microwaveable" type), I adhered each napkin section to a piece of white/GP card stock cut a little larger than the napkin piece using an iron. Once cooled I put the napkin piece onto the flat gift bag and decided to trim it to the size I wanted for the bag fronts. Trimmed them all to size using the trimmer and I then sponged the edges of these pieces using red ink. Here is a photo of one of the gift bag fronts:

I cut white paper doilies from Mikes in half and put a half doily at the top and bottom of the napkin panel piece. The stacked pink and red glittered hearts at the bottom of the napkin panel are also from the dollar store. I stacked the glittered hearts using glue dots and put them at the bottom of the napkin panel piece using tear and tape.

For the bow at the top of the napkin panel piece I used red card stock from Mikes and cut out a gift bow using the Stampin Up Gift Bow steel ruled die. Added a small heart to the center of the bow using red glittered card stock and a heart punch by Marvy. Put this heart onto the bow using a glue dot.

The greeting "Happy Valentine's Day" is a older stamp from the dollar bin at Mikes. Used red ink for that and a circle punch to punch that out. Used a larger circle punch for the red card stock circle behind the greeting piece. Put this greeting onto the napkin panel piece using large glue dots. Here is another bag and for this one I used a red paper doily from Mikes:

Made five of these gift bags and am now working on finishing the candy treat holders I will put inside the bags.  TFL

Birthday and Bundle

Just bought the February die bundle release from  www.ourdailybreaddesigns.com and here that is:

As does many online stores ODB has a "free gift" if your order total reaches their required purchase. Here is my "free gift" -- a small die and stamp set:

Using Stampin Up Pool Party card stock I cut out the gable box die from the bundle set. This die set cuts nicely and it has a nice design on the front, back, and sides of the gable box:

The above photo shows the very top of the gable box is also die cut with the design that is on the rest of the gable box.

Used a clear window sheet and measured and cut a front, back, and two side pieces for the inside of the box. Put the clear pieces on the inside using red sticky tape. Assembled the box and put white paper shred from the dollar store and mini candy bars.

Here is the birthday card I made to go with the gable box:

White card stock base is 110# card stock from Mikes, again used the Pool Party SU card stock. The embossed front piece is white/GP. Used the SU Confetti embossing folder and embossed the front piece. Used a sponge and put Pool Party ink over the embossed design:

Sponged with a lighter touch from the center to the edges -- made a banner piece for the "Celebrate" die. The balloons are also a die set from OBD and I sponged the edges of those. Used a thin bow die and cut the bows from silver foil card stock:

Very nice quality of their dies and certainly a good deal buying their pre-order die bundle. TFL