Tailored Tag Punch and True Gentleman Paper - Masculine Workshop

Today I am showcasing the projects we made at my last Hygge Night, which was a Masculine Workshop.

I know many people struggle with masculine projects so I try to do at least one event on this theme each year, usually in time for Father’s Day.  

We used the True Gentleman Designer Series Paper and the co-ordinating Tailored Tag Punch, combining them with other stamp sets, including Birthday Wishes For You, which you can see here...

... and Guy Greetings which you can see below on this joy-fold card. The nice thing about Guy Greetings is that it has all the men in your life covered, so those who don’t need a Father’s Day card could easily switch this to make another birthday card.

The Tailored Tag punch is pretty versatile; we sliced it in half and inverted the shapes to create a funky bow tie for this box...

This is one of the silver gable boxes from the Spring/Summer catalogue, carefully dismantled and turned inside out!

And for another Tailored Tag punch trick, how about this?

For more tips and tricks like this, please like and follow my Facebook page!

Love What You Do - NEW stamp set

A mix of old and new today... outgoing colours Soft Sky (sob!) and Sweet Sugarplum and a brand new stamp set called Love What You Do.

It’s a gorgeous set and I fear I haven’t done it justice here. It’s coming up in the new catalogue next month but you can order it NOW in a special bundle just for May. Ask me for details!

Sneak Peek: Tropical Thinlits mini house plants tutorial

Time for another Sneak Peek! This was one of the projects I made for my display at OnStage Telford at the beginning of the month and it was probably the one I was most proud of... mainly because it’s so far out of my comfort zone.

I was sent a pack of Tropical Thinlits – some fabulous new tropical leaf dies from the upcoming catalogue. However, I was not sent the co-ordinating stamps (not complaining, I received LOADS of products!) so was left wondering about how to use them. It’s actually interesting trying to work without the catalogue as you have NO pre-conceived ideas about using the set and I got it into my head that they were intended to make a 3D plant. Now of course I have the catalogue... and it features precisely zero 3D projects made with these dies!

I was confused by a die that I haven’t used here, but it turned out that it works with a flower stamp which I fully intend to order when I can!

Anyway, lots of people were asking how I made these, so here’s how. Sorry there are no images but seriously I can NEVER make these again!

1. Die-cut LOADS of leaves in various shades of green cardstock

2. Sponge those leaves in same or slightly darker ink

3. Curl using bone folder

4. Cut very narrow strips (5mm, ish) of green cardstock for stems, then break down the fibres using a bone folder. Eventually, the cardstock will split into two layers which can be separated. This makes it thinner and easier to work with.

5. Wrap these thin layers of cardstock around some florists’ wire, spiral-fashion, and secure with Tombow or similar wet glue. I think I actually applied PVA with a paintbrush. Allow to dry then assemble the leaves.

Make the boxes. These are simple 5cm square boxes, at different heights. If you cut and score first, then emboss, you can line up one of the edges to the edge of the embossing folder so you can get it all done. Does that make sense?

There’s a narrow strip of cardstock around the top edge of each planter, and the edges are all sponged in Crumb Cake.

Ok, the science bit... getting the plants to stand up in the planters.

1. Make a platform the same size as the box (ie with a 5cm square top) but about 1cm smaller in height. This will look like a simple drawing of a stool or table. So that would be a piece of cardstock measuring about 5cm x 13cm, scored at 4cm from either end.

2. Punch holes in the top of the platform - ie the centre square, then poke the leaves through, taping underneath. From the side it might look like this...

3. Don’t worry about arranging the leaves just yet as they’ll only move. 

4. When all the leaves are taped in, you can apply glue to the sides of the platform and then slide it into the box.

5. Next I took some Early Espresso cardstock, which I tore into small pieces and rolled into tiny balls. This was very, very boring to do but was really worth it as everyone was asking about them because they did look like soil. 

6. I applied a thick layer of Tombow onto the top of the platform, in between the leaf stems, and filled it with the balls of cardstock. 

Finally, it’s time to arrange the leaves to look nice. A lot of effort but was it worth it? I think so, yes. Would I do it again? Definitely not!

Caturday: Lake District cat 4

FOUR cats in the Lake District? This was a record for us, although sadly this one did NOT want to be stroked, and was only captured on camera with a long zoom.

Retiring Product Focus: Bird Banter and Tutti Frutti DSP

Do parrots eat kiwis? I bet they wouldn’t turn their beaks up at it, so here they are together on a “last hurrah” card before these products head to the retired box.

Please don’t delay if you want to order any retiring products... some items do sell out fairly quickly as needless to say, the warehouse won’t be restocking.

Retiring product focus: Brick Wall embossing folder (cracked glass technique)

Crafty Friday back at the beginning of the month was a chance to show the ladies the cracked glass technique. We were a small group but that worked out well as I’d forgotten just how many layers of clear embossing you need to get it thick enough to crack! We all made slightly different cards...

... And I’m pleased to say that retiring products on here are minimal. The only things which are going are the Brick Wall Embossing Folder (shame – it’s one of my faves!), Hearts & Stars Elements, the Natural Trim and the Crushed Curry Chevron Ribbon.

Lift Me Up and Wood Words (which we used for the greeting) are both carrying over.

Sneak Peek: OnStage Make & Takes

These are some of the Make & Takes from OnStage this year; they were all really impressive this year. 

Having spent a couple of months working with this beautiful stamp set, Rooted In Nature – which is one of the stamp sets I received for my Display Board project – I was happy to be inspired to use it in yet another way. 

The set is absolutely gorgeous, themed around trees of course, and again, you’re going to love it. 

I confess when I first saw this set, my first thought was that this meant the end for Lovely as a Tree but no, the good news is, we get both!

This is another speciality DSP in the new catalogue; in fact, it’s Designer Vellum, from the Graceful Glass Suite. You can colour the vellum with either Stampin’ Write markers or Stampin’ Blends. 

There are two of the brand new In Colors on here – the collection really POPS this year!

Caturday: Lake District cat 3

This friendly tabby was found in the heart of Ambleside, and I believe we have met before on a previous visit. She was very obliging, although I wasn’t risking a tummy rub especially as it may have caused her to fall into the road.

Retiring product focus: Bird Banter and Tutti Frutti DSP

I really really love the fruity patterns from the Tutti Frutti Designer Series Paper stack but I confess I’m less keen on the co-ordinating stamp set (both are retiring soon, by the way). But when I paired that lovely paper with Bird Banter, I felt like I’d wasted the last few months! Why didn’t I open the paper sooner?

This was the Make & Take for a party this week. We coloured with Stampin’ Blends, which are currently unavailable but I promise you they will be back soon!

Retiring product focus: Pick a Pattern Suite

I know this wasn’t one of the most popular stamp sets in the 2017-18 catalogue but it was one of my favourites as it is so much fun. I love the little dinosaur and the Designer Series Paper is fab.

So it will soon be farewell to Pieces & Patterns and the Pick a Pattern Designer Series Paper. Not to mention the Emerald Envy cardstock that features in the DSP, the Stylized Birthday single stamp on the card on the left and the ribbon from both cards!

To create the main focal points on both of these cards I used a mixture of clear embossing powder and glitter. For the one above I “smooshed” some ink onto some wet watercolour paper and allowed it to dry. Next I stamped and heat embossed Happy Birthday in white, then covered the whole lot with clear embossing powder mixed with a little Dazzling Diamonds glitter and heat set it.

This one is the same principle but without the watercolouring. I simply stamped and embossed in white onto Tranquil Tide cardstock then covered the whole lot in clear embossing powder mixed with a little glitter. It’s a good way of stopping it from going everywhere!