The blue one

Here's a close-up of the blue card so you can see it properly. It does just fit in the tin, after all, but the envelope is a bit of a squeeze. Bad planning, eh?

I coloured the image using ink pads and blender pens - if you squeeze a closed ink pad it creates a pool of ink in the lid which you can use with blender pens or a paintbrush. It's important not to use a blender pen or paint brush directly on the ink pad itself.

Stamps: Cheers to You (p35), Circle of Friendship (p62).
Cardstock: Bashful Blue, Certainly Celery, So Saffron, Whisper White.
Paper: Designer Series Paper - Cutie Pie (p73).
Ink: Basic Black, So Saffron, Bashful Blue.
Accessories: 1" circle punch (p80), 1/2" circle punch (p80), Taffeta ribbon - Bashful Blue (p86).

(All page numbers refer to the UK Stampin' Up! Idea Book & Catalogue 2007-2008)

Mrs B's birthday present

This is a birthday present for a friend, Mrs B, who seems to have a lunch tin fixation. After I made one for her last birthday, she somehow acquired two more during the year and then requested the same for her birthday again! 

For variety, I made different-sized cards but eagle-eyed readers may spot the flaw in the plan; the long blue card at the front won't fit in the tin!

The patterned papers are all from Stampin' Up!'s Cutie Pie range (p73). You get two sheets each of six double-sided papers which gives you loads of choice; the hardest part is deciding which side to use!

The big flower on the front of the tin was a real lightbulb moment. I was leafing through the Cutie Pie paper and realised that one of the sheets co-ordinated with the On Board Blossoms & Basics (p79) chipboard sheets. So I covered one of the chipboard flowers with a big flower from the paper, sanded and inked the edges with Certainly Celery. 

I used 5/8" Grosgrain Ribbon in Certainly Celery to embellish the tin; I also used 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon in Always Artichoke and Taggeta Ribbon in Bashful Blue for the cards.

The stamps on the cards are Cheers to You (p35) and Circle of Friendship (p62). In fact you can barely see the Circle of Friendship on the blue card so I will post that as a separate project tomorrow. Hmmm.... I could spin these out all week! 

Tip: The Cutie Pie Designer Series Paper uses the Stampin' Up! colours So Saffron, Certainly Celery, Rose Red and Bashful Blue. 

Edited to add: For the lunch tin, I used two sheets of Designer Series paper. I stuck it down with PVA glue (the children's craft type), which I spread with a foam brush from Wilko. You can also use Mod Podge craft glue but I am almost sure it's the same as PVA (unless you can find the matt type). 

(All page numbers refer to the UK Stampin' Up! Idea Book & Catalogue 2007-2008) 

Small and sweet

The festive season is almost over but don't put away those Christmas stamp sets just yet; there are still the thank you cards to be made. 

This little card measures 9cm (3.5in) by 7.5cm (3in). It's quite quick to make although, if I was making a lot of them, I'd probably simplify it.  I would also make them postcard-style and write my message on the back.

Tip: The Circle of Friendship stamps co-ordinate perfectly with the 1" circle and the 1/2" circle punches. But don't even attempt to stamp perfectly on a punched circle. Stamp on a piece of cardstock first, then turn your punch upside down so you can see exactly where to punch. It's easier to punch out the small centre first but if, like me, you forget, simply stick your punched circle to a piece of scrap paper and then feed it through the small punch, removing the scrap paper afterwards. 

Stamps: Hung Up on the Holidays (p25); Circle of Friendship (p62).

Cardstock: Real Red, Creamy Caramel, Whisper White. 

Ink: Creamy Caramel; Real Red

Accessories: Stampin' Write Marker - Real Red (p70); 1.4" Grosgrain ribbon - Real Red (p86); Gingham Ribbon - Creamy Caramel (p86); 1" circle punch (p80); 1/2" circle punch (p80);  Stampin' Glitter (p82). 

(As a Shrek fan I really should have made the buttons purple!)

All page numbers refer to the UK Stampin' Up! Idea Book & Cataloguge 2007-2008.

Merry Christmas!

No new projects I'm afraid, as nasty bugs have been sweeping through the house. But Merry Christmas everyone!

 

Wow! Look what postie brought me!

Look what I got in the post! I'm so thrilled with them all! My cousin in Canada gathered all these card samples together for me to give my Stampin' Up! business a head start. Thanks, CC! 

And here's the other one...

As promised, here's another mug I made. 

Stamps: The Snowflake Spot (p30).

Cardstock: Real Red, Whisper White.

Ink: Real Red, Basic Black.

Accessories: Gingham Ribbon - black (p86).

(All page numbers refer to the UK Stampin' Up! Idea Book & Catalogue 2007-2008)

Snowman Soup

I made loads of these at the weekend! They make a nice "token" gift for someone. I have another one to show you but it will have to wait until tomorrow as I am struggling to get two pictures on my post without it looking a mess!

Here's what you need:

a mug
a sachet of hot chocolate
some marshmallows (ideally, small and white but these are currently very hard to find due to "a problem at the factory")
a candy cane
elastic band (this makes it much easier to tie the ribbon)
cellophane (I bought a roll online but, if you only need a small amount, a florist should be willing to sell you some)
ribbon

...and, of course, a gift card. Inside the gift card is printed a little cheesy poem. There are several available but I chose this one:

As winter weather spreads its chill,
to stop you feeling blue:
a mug of warming chocolate,
I'm sending off to you.
I hope you like this Snowman Soup
complete with stirring stick.
Just add hot water, sip it slow
It's sure to do the trick!

I think they look great when they're all packaged up - the cellophane seems to add "sparkle"!

Recipe

Stamps: Shapes & Shadows (p54).
Cardstock: Real Red, Old Olive, Whisper White.
Ink: Real Red, Old Olive.
Accessories: Gingham ribbon - red (p86); 1/4" Grosgrain ribbon - Always Artichoke (p86).

(All page numbers refer to the UK Stampin' Up! Idea Book & Catalogue 2007-2008)

My order arrived!

Wow, that was quick service - ordered Wednesday evening, arrived today! It's so exciting to get a box full of goodies - what a pity it's not all for me!

Going to unpack...

Oops! Made a mistake here.

Something summery

I was going to post the snowman soup mugs I decorated yesterday but the camera has gone walkabout so here's something completely different; another summery card made with Cheers to You. This stamp set is on of Stampin' Up!'s British exclusives... and it's proving really popular. I love it because it's so simple and you can use it to make cards for lots of different occasions.

Stamps: Cheers to You (p35).
Cardstock: Whisper White, Green Galore, Only Orange, Yoyo Yellow.
Ink: Basic Black, Real Red.
Accessories: Stampin' Write markers - Green Galore, Only Orange, Yoyo Yellow, Real Red (p70); 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon - Real Red (p86); Blender pens (p81).

I coloured the image using blender pens - if you're not familiar with blender pens, see this card.

(All page numbers refer to the UK Stampin' Up! Idea Book & Catalogue 2007-2008)