Christmas Tree Made with SU Punches

Hello. I thought I would do something a little different today. Different for me anyways. I thought I would do a "Pictorial Tutorial". I don't own a video camera, so photos will have to do.

I saw this cute little Christmas tree made with Stampin Up paper punches on The Splitcoast Stampers web site. I wish I could remember who the original artist is so I could give her credit. I dissected her tree, and made some step by step pictures to post on my blog.

The first photo is of the finished product. The punches used are the "Scalloped Circle", and "Small Star". Other accessories used were SU two-way glue pen, SU dazzling diamonds glitter, and a small clear sticky gem from Michael's.

You will notice as you follow the pictures that if you follow my instructions to the letter, you will have enough pieces to make 2 trees. You can place them both on one card together, or make two cards with them. I prefer the latter, so that I have two cards made quickly.

The first thing I did was to punch out 3 scalloped circles. I set two of them aside. The first one, I counted 6 scallops out and marked them. Then I used a straight edge to draw the dashed cutting lines that you see in the picture. Next, you can cut the pieces on the dashed lines, and throw away the two single scallops.







On the second scallop, I counted and marked off 5 scallops. Next, drawing the dashed lines with a straight edge, also gave us the "two scallop piece" that we will also be using to build the tree. So, cut on the dashed lines, and set all four pieces aside.











For the third scallop piece, I counted and marked off four scallops. As you can see this gives us "2-four scallop pieces" and "2-three scallop pieces". Again, I drew the dashed lines to give me an easy guide to cut, and then I cut the pieces and set them aside.









Next I stacked the pieces up vertically to see how the tree would fit together. Obviously the largest piece on the bottom and smallest on the top. Then I adhered them together with snail adhesive as you can see in the next picture. The final step was to add some glitter to each level of the tree, and a sticky gem to the star, and the tree is ready to put on a card.





Sorry, I don't have the complete card to show you, maybe I will post that tomorrow.







Just in case anyone wants to know, the car stock that I used was SU Garden Green, and SU Shimmer Gold. It also looks nice in SU Handsome Hunter. Obviously, there are many colors out there that would look nice, the ones above are just my personal choices.

My First Diorama Card!

Hello. Its late and I can't sleep, so I decided to start a new post. I posted a little paragraph about my Nephew in the Navy a few days ago. I mentioned he was home from the war zones, well, I got to speak to him on the phone this evening. I was so excited to hear his voice. He is the son I never had. Ok, now that I expressed my awesome news for today, on to some crafting.

Well, at my upline workshop that I have been posting about all week, we made what is called a "Diorama Card". Yes I am sure that I was the only stamper left on the planet who had never made one before. I assumed something completely idiotic. For the longest time, I had been wondering how in the heck that you mail these 3-dimentional cards. Yes, just call me "ding-bat". Thank heavens my upline knows me well enough to say outloud as she is explaining how to make it, that it flattens down to be placed into an envelope, and pops back up when it is removed from the envelope. Duh! I was trying to picture this 3-D card being mailed in a small box, which to me seemed like a very big waste of postage. So, with that being said, please take a moment to laugh hysterically at me for being so dingy, then we can move on. .............................................................

Ok, so, here is the photo of the card. I am sorry, but I can't remember what Stampin Up set or sets we used, and don't feel like looking them up at the moment. Sorry about the bad attitude there. Now that I know how to create this interesting type of card, I will design one myself real soon and post it for anyone to see. If any of you want to learn how to make this card, there is a tutorial on a website called Splitcoast Stampers, which I am sure you have already heard of. If you haven't heard of it, the tutorials can be found under the resource heading at the top of the home page. If you are one of my local customers and want me to teach this at a workshop, just let me know, and we will get it scheduled!

More projects from Upline Workshop

Hello. I am back again. Wow, 2 posts in one day! What a rare event for me. Anyways, the first project involves the Top Note Die Cut from SU's new Big Shot Machine, and an old favorite SU's "Lovely as a Tree" stamp set. We held a torn uneven mask onto the top note, then with Bashful Blue and a brayer, we made the sky, and stamped the trees in Basic Black. Then added some Dazzling diamonds glitter with SU's 2-way glue pen. The assembly of the rest is pretty self explanatory.


This project was a box made out of card stock and acetate for the lid. I must admit that it looked a bit difficult getting the acetate scored correctly. The little stamped images inside are decorated mints. My leader went home with half a box, since she couldn't help eating them. Shame on you Terri. Tee Hee. It makes a very cute gift
when you have all of the candies in it. Tee Hee. I guess I had better quit, or the next time I need to borrow tools for a workshop, I may get the cold shoulder. Only kidding, I love ya Terri.
















This card had an interesting idea about what to do with your designer paper scraps. Yes, ALWAYS keep your scraps. They do have a use. Here we just cut up some SU's DSP into small confetti-like shapes, and set aside. Then, took our versamark pad directly to a piece of SU Whisper White card stock. Sprinkle SU Irridescent Ice Embossing Powder and Heat Set. Make sure you have a pair of Tweezers to hold onto the card stock with so as not to burn your fingers with the heat gun. Or, create a temporary card stock handle on the back of the piece you are embossing. Then we adhered the scraps of DSP that we chopped up earlier, and finished up the card. Lydia over at Understand Blue did something similar to this with solid card stock in various shades of blue to create a sky. Check out her blog when you have a chance. Lydia is a very creative and funny lady. Hey Lydia, if you are reading this, I miss Maddie and Splotchy, post some photos soon. Those are her two hilarious kittens that she found dumped on the side of the road by some sub-human jerk and she adopted them. Ok, my eyes are telling me to quit, and my brain is telling me to get off the computer and clean off my crafting table. I will post the rest of my upline workshop photos another day. God Bless, and have a very Happy Thanksgiving day! Lisa

Upline Workshop Creations

Hello. Wow, what a busy week this is with the upcoming Holiday tomorrow. Happy Thanksgiving to all! I have a nephew who was born on my 15th birthday, and he is in the US Navy. Well, I got word today that my nephew's air craft carrier (USS Ronald Reagan), reached its port in San Diego on November 18th safe and sound. They had been on their second tour to the Middle East. So, I have an extra blessing this year to be thankful for. I heard he was all grins when he saw his new baby girl (she was born while he was away) for the first time. He has 2 boys and one girl.

Ok, on to some crafting. My Stampin Up leader hosted a techniques workshop for all of us on Monday. This is something she does for us once per year. However, we know most of the techniques, so she prepared some interesting projects, and let us play with her Big Shot die cutter. I have got to get some of those die-cuts, they are too darn cute. Where the heck is that money fairy when I need her. haha.


This project was the cutest little magazine file replica. It stands just a little over 3 inches tall. We made the 3 x3 cards in the photo below to go in it. That would make a cute gift for a co-worker or friend. Well, I am being paged to go run erands, so I will be back later to post some of the other projects we made, especially those made with the Big Shot Machine!



Lisa

Blue Jay in Flight

Hello. So sorry about my absence this past week, I have been not feeling quite like myself. Then, I just couldn't decide on what ribbon to put on the card to finish it off. It is strange; that no matter how much ribbon I collect, I still have trouble finding what I want to use on cards from my collection. Anyways, here is a card that I have been working on that uses one of the bird stamps in my new stamp set that my DH got me for my birthday last week. I first stamped it with versamark ink, then Stampin Up's classic Brilliant Blue ink. Next I colored in some of the bird with my SU white gel pen. I thought he looked more interesting that way. Then I mounted him onto some SU Brilliant Blue card stock. Both rectangles cut with my Nestibilities large regular rectangles diecuts, and added some sticky gems from Michael's, and popped the bird up a bit with some foam dimensionals. The panel on the left is hard to see, but it was ran through my cuttlebug with the "Birds and Swirls" embossing folder, and mounted on SU Brilliant Blue card stock. Then, I had some of my favorite layered Martha Stewart Butterflies pre-made, so I glued that on. Finally I added a sentiment from SU's Retired "Warmest Words" stamp set, and a mediocre looking ribbon tied in a bow. I was wishing I had royal blue satin instead. Gotta suggest that to Stampin Up........More colors of their pretty taffeta ribbon. Don't you agree? The next photo is just a close up, to make the embossing show up a little better.

Now, I started something with one of my other Cuttlebug embossing folders, and I am not quite sure where to take it from here. What I did was to color the raised images with Stampin Up markers, then with my VersaMark Marker, then sprinkled some clear embossing powder, and heat embossed on the dry embossed pattern. Next, I matted it onto some SU Pumpkin Pie, card stock, and punched a border with one of my Fiskers Border punches. I absolutely love border punches. I added a few tiny, yellow sticky gems, on the swirls (they probably aren't very visible on my photo, sorry). This is where I got stuck. I think It needs to be mounted onto a larger piece of card stock, add some ribbons or brads, and maybe a sentiment of some kind on a tag or something. Anyone out there in cyberspace have a suggestion for me, it would be greatly appreciated? If not, I shall wait for a revelation! Well, gotta go. I will be back this week, but if you aren't, Happy Thanksgiving ahead of time.

Something Blue that Flies!

Hello. I was in a "Blue" mood, and a "Butterfly" mood. Of course I am always in a "Sparkle and Bling" mood. This card was obviously not at all about stamping, but about using some fun tools. This is what I came up with by using the single Martha Stewart Butterfly punch, and the Butterfly Trio punch by MS. I am not usually one of her fans, but I lo..............ve her punches. It is hard to see in the photo, but the butterflies have some Dazzling Diamond Glitter on the edge of their wings. The two larger butterflies that are glued together, were curled a tiny bit on the back by using an embossing stylus on their wings. It gives them a little dimension, and only takes a few minutes. Hopefully this will show in the close up I will upload in a wee bit. Just practicing my Irish accent there. The big Butterfly body is actually black glitter from Doodlebug Designs. Wish I had all the colors, darn. Speaking of wishful thinking, you have got to go visit Jennifer McGuire's Blog. She is giving a video tour of her crafting space. I have never seen anything like it, and would love to go over to her place and look through all of her little drawers and jars. It is something to see. Ok, back to me........ The scalloped ovals are popped up with dimensionals, and you can't tell in the photo, but even the ribbon has some sparkle in it. I wish you could see the full effect of the ribbon, it is beautiful. Wish I had 50 yards of it in every color it comes in. Do I wish a lot or what? Oh well. So, I think that I will just shut up, post the list of supplies, and upload that close up photo. Until next time.... Lisa


Paper: SU Ballet Blue, Brilliant Blue, Misc. Iridescent white, misc. Unknown Patterned paper
Punches: Martha Stewart Butterfly, Butterfly Trio, and Scalloped Lace Border, SU 3/16" Corner Rounder, Tonic Butterfly Border System, Nestibilities Large Scalloped Ovals.
Accessories: Sticky rhinestones from Michael's, Foam Dimensionals, Glitter listed above in commentary.

Happy Birthday to Me!

Check out this awesome stuff my Hubby let me pick out for my birthday yesterday. The package of clear stamps are from Inkadinkado, and the paper punches are Martha Stewart. The butterfly trio punch coordinates with my single butterfly punch by MS, so they can be layered for a cool effect. I made a card with the two butterfly punches and a...............lot of bling, which I will place in another post later this evening. I also got to purchase a paper pack of iridescent vellum with a 50% off coupon at Michaels. Not an easy thing to photograph though. That paper pack had been calling my name for weeks. Well, gotta run an errand. I will be back later after 8:30 pm Ohio time. Keep crafting. Lisa

Easy Birthday card

Hello. I am so into quick and easy cards, and neutral colors lately. I can't seem to get away from black this past week. Maybe it is this dull southern Ohio weather we are having.

Anyways, I am late again getting to this new post. Oh well, that's life. I have a new SU customer that said she wants to place an order and she is wishing she had bought SU's "Pocket Silhouettes" stamp set when it was on sale. Well, new customer and friend you got me thinking about those stamps, and I couldn't get them out of my mind. So, here they are on card stock. Two of them anyways. Oh, if you are hungry for some more easy cards using this set, you can find them on my completely awesome and talented friend, Lydia's blog. Just page down on the right hand side of her blog, click on September and October posts, and scroll down until you see them.

I am so bummed about my picture of this card though, the colors didn't turn out quite right. The base is SU going gray, the panel on the left is SU Basic Gray, and was run through my cuttlebug machine with my swiss dots embossing folder. It is hard to tell, but the stamped images and their basic black scalloped shadow were popped up with some foam dimensionals. I guess I need some photography lessons. One last thing is that the greeting is from a retired SU stamp set "Warmest Regards". However, "Sincere Salutations" would look just as nice and is still current. Well, that is it for tonight. Monday is my birthday, and my wonderful hubby let me get some new awesome tools with those awesome 50% off Michael's coupons from last week. I will post something made with them Monday. Gotta run.

Same Card Sketch, Different Stamp Set.

Hello. Boy am I ever late getting this posted. Too much to do, so little time. I used this stamp set and color scheme in a previous post that you can find here. This card sketch is easy to use with almost any stamps or stamp sets, even if the stamped image is larger than the 1-1/4" square paper punch that I used on it. For instance on this card I just centered the punch over what I thought was the most important part of the stamp image. Some stamp images will be too large, but a lot of them will look great showing only a partial image. Plus, this is a fast sketch to follow when you are trying to make up a lot of cards, fast like at Christmas time, or for a stamp-a-stack card workshop. This sketch could be used for 2 or more different cards with different stamp sets in a workshop. Oh, by the way this is Stampin Up's "Season of Simple Grace" stamp set. That is all I have to say about that! Geez, I sound like Forest Gump. Anyways, list of supplies will be below.

Card stock: Stampin Up Basic Black, Whisper White, Brushed Gold.

Ink: Versamark

Accessories: SU Scallop Square Punch, SU 1-1/4" regular square punch, Detail Gold Embossing Powder, Ribbon is from Lisa's miscellaneous stash.

Stampin Up Rub-ons are on sale!!!!!!!!

See my contact info if you would like to take advantage of this great price on Stampin Up Rub-ons!

Some crafting tomorrow.............

Tune in to Inspired by Purple!

Lisa