New Design Team: Introducing Lemon Shortbread Digital Stamps

Today's design team project is my first time working with Lemon Shortbread digital stamps. I recently accepted a position as a design team member and look forward to sharing Vera's lovely images with you over the next 6 months or so! Every two weeks we run an Anything Goes Challenge, so please have a peek at the Lemon Shortbread blog and consider joining in with us.

I will be entering this easel card in the following challenges...@ Dragonfly Journeys for "Bunnies, Chicks and Ducks, Oh My", @ Cupcake Inspirations  for "Blue, Pink & White color challenge", @ Get Creative Challenges for "Fantasy/Mythological", @ Dream Valley for "Spring Colors" and @ Crafty Cardmakers for "Bunnies, Chicks or Eggs". 

I printed this lovely fairy with bunny on Neenah cardstock and colored her up using watercolor pencils and a blender pen. Die cut her out and glued only the bottom half to the scored and folded front of my A2 sized white card base.

For the inside, I stamped the "happy spring" sentiment and die cut it along with the blue glitter cardstock to make the "stopper" for the easel. 

I used clear Wink of Stella on the blue of the sky and to highlight the wings -so pretty in person! The tiny pink flowers I added with mini glue dots and I think they make the perfect finishing touch.

Until next time ~ happy crafting!

November Paper Pumpkin Stocking Kit

Today's post highlights the November Paper Pumpkin Kit that made 10 stockings. They were just perfect to tuck gift cards inside for holiday gift giving and for decorating with, like I did. I'll be entering the card @ the Merry Christmas Challenge for "Anything Goes + Christmas" and @ heARTful Stamping Challenge for "Anything Goes + a stamp".

 But what you have to remember is that there are always tons of extra elements in the monthly kits even after you follow the instructions to make the included projects. So I used the left over pieces along with some things in my stash to make several Thank You cards too and I just love the way they turned out!

Paper Pumpkin is such a great value and there are so many ways to find ideas online that if you aren't super fond of a particular kit and it's intended use you are never at a loss for inspiration!

I strung 7 of the stockings on olive ribbon and hung them around the small table that our Christmas tree is standing on to dress it up for Christmas.

Cute, huh? Unfortunately, one of my cats also likes them and has been abusing them for the last 3 weeks now, lol! 

Don't forget that you can order your very own monthly Paper Pumpkin kits for only $19.95 by clicking the link at the side or top of my blog...to get January's you'll just need to subscribe by the 10th of the month!

Until next time~

Fancy Folds: Making an Envelope Punch Board Handbag

Today's design team project for the Mix It Up Challenge Blog was made for the December monthly challenge of Fancy Folds. You can play along and see the other designer's projects here on the challenge blog.

The pictures have highlighted some of the tools that I used to make this cute little handbag but to really understand how it was made, just click on this You Tube link from the Paper Pixie to watch how it is done step-by-step. Her video is easy to follow and is exactly what I did to make mine from a 12 x 12 sheet of paper.

Stampin' Up Envelope Punch Board

Score Buddy

The patterned paper, lace and flower accent that I used for mine came from Itsy Bitsy. I used SU! Tear & Tape for the body of the purse and the Best Glue Ever to adhere the embellishments. The last step involved some die cutting and heat embossing to make the metallic gold greeting medallion.

I don't usually make too many 3D items, but this was alot of fun and very easy to do, so I will be exploring lots more ways to use my envelope punch board for things other than just envelopes, lol. Until next time, happy crafting~

How to Make a Beautiful 3D Glittery Snowflake Using the Best Glue Ever

Today's Design Team creation for ScraPerfect is all about getting ready for the holidays by making glittery 3D hanging Snowflake ornaments -these will work to hang from either your Christmas tree or your fireplace mantel.

Gathering my supplies, I started with silver glitter paper from DCVW, a large snowflake die, the Best Glue Ever and silver cording. (I thought I would end up needing the mini hole punch, but I didn't after all!)

Using my die cutting machine, I ran the die cut through 2 times (with several paper layers) to cut a total of 5 snowflakes.

Then I had to score each one down the middle so that they would fold in half easily. I found this part to be a little fiddly, because it turns out that the snowflake shapes are not exactly symmetrical, so I had to make sure I was scoring them in the same direction each time or they didn't line up right!

Now, I have to be completely honest here -I would NEVER have attempted to do this with any other kind of glue! Why, you ask? Because the No Clog Writing Cap helps me control the size of the glue drops and by letting the glue dry for a few minutes - letting it get to the "tacky" stage, I was able to adhere each snowflake piece without the glue oozing out and making a mess! (Not to mention, because of the nature of this glue, I had a few minutes of adjustability that you wouldn't have if you'd have used some kind of adhesive sheet...this was important as I got further along in the process and lining everything up got trickier)

As you can see, I was pretty generous with the amount of glue dots that I added because I want this to be very durable and last for several years!

After getting each piece lined up so that they were facing the right direction, I just kept gluing, waiting and adhering until all 5 pieces were added.

My patience was rewarded when I finally finished this beautiful ornament that I will be proud to display in my home over the holidays! It really catches the light as it spins slightly.

To add the cording, I tied a knot and squeezed a good bit of glue between the points, then tucked the knot down into the middle at the top for about an inch. I pinched it closed around the cord, held it between my fingers for about a minute to make sure it was secure and then I was done.

 Whatever crafts and decor you attempt for the holidays, make sure you use the Best Glue Ever to make it -you won't be disappointed! Until next time, happy crafting with ScraPerfect~