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« January 2009 | Main | March 2009 »
Need a Creativity Boost? Visit www.Stampthings.com weekly for BluePrints, a weekly scrapbook & Card Layout to get your creativity going! These layouts provide ideas for using Stampin' Up! products.
Welcome to Week# 22 Please use these layouts as a serving suggestions, manipulate them as you wish. They are here to simply get your mojo going!!!
This weeks challenge is all about color. I hope you have fun creating something special with these colors!
We only have 2 slots open for the Stampin' Up! Big Shot Sample Swap. We could really use your help to complete this AWESOME swap opportunity.
These are the slots open.
Part Number Description
113470 Flower Layer w/leaf
114528 Flower
If you would like to participate, here are the important details.
Please include a self address envelope and postage to cover mailing the 64 die cuts cuts back to you.
Please mail them by March 2nd.
My goal is to mail them all out by March 9th at the latest! The sooner you mail them to me the sooner I can get them out. LOL.
If you would like to sign -up for one of the dies listed above please email me .
The dies cuts included in this swap are listed below.
Part Number
113484 Stampin' Up! Baskets & Blooms
113457 Stampin' Up! Tulipe
113463 Stampin' Up! Top Note
114520 Flower, Daisies #2
114507 Stampin' Up! Beautiful Butterflies
113462 Stampin' Up! Scallop Envelope
113473 5-Point 3D Star
114521 Frame, Oval Scallop
113466 Pillow Box
113468 Scallop Circle
113469 Scallop Circle
113483 Stampin' Up! Pennant
113470 Flower Layer w/leaf
114522 Decorative Accent #2
113465 Bird with Leaves and flower
113467 Petal Card
113471 Build a Flower
113472 Circle 3D Ornament
114510 Stampin' Up! Billboard
113452 Stampin' Up! Join in the Cheer
113456 Swirly
113455 Loopy Flowers
114518 Box #2
113454 Flowers
113453 Natural Serif
114529 Birds & Branches
113458 Flower Layers
113461 Stars #2
114526 Circle #2
113459 Leaves #2
114525 Ovals
113460 Snowflake #2
114527 Flower Layer #3
114519 Bag w/ Scallops
114511 Stampin' Up! Little Leaves
113444 Sparkle
113450 Go Go Boots Alphabet Set
113440 Buttons #5
113441 Swirls Scribbles
113442 Daisy Flower
113445 Pumpkin Faces
113443 Pumpkin #4
114530 Flower Blossom
114508 Stampin' Up! Lots of Tags
114506 Stampin' Up! Movers & Shapers Curly Label
113485 Stampin' Up! Birds & Blooms
114509 Stampin' Up! Big Bold Cupcakes
113447 Spring Flowers Set
113448 Hearts Set
113449 Snowflakes Set #2
113446 Build a Flower
114516 Stampin' Up! Cherry Blossom
114515 Stampin' Up! Flower Burst
114513 Stampin' Up! Sweetest Stem
114514 Stampin' Up! Simple Flower
114532 Card, Telephone & Address
114528 Flower
114512 Stampin' Up! Backgrounds 1 (texturz plates)
114531 Texture Plates Kit #4
114523 Decorative Accents
114524 Fringed Flower
114533 Clear Circle
114534 Flower
113464 Serif Essentials Alphabet
You will receive die cuts for all the dies listed above!
I'm looking forward to receiving all the die cuts and making this a very successful swap!
Thanks for participating!!!!
These simple little boxes hold an explosion of creativity!!!!
That you can decorate with pictures, stamps or die cuts!
With as many layers as you wish!
(Oh, my there is even a picture of me! hidden in this little box.)
I honestly don't know who created the first explosion box. I do know how to make these awesome little boxes. I thought I'd share with you a tutorial! (surprise???? Did you honestly expect that I wouldn't share a tutorial?! I think that goes without saying at this point! LOL!).
The supplies you will need to make the basic box with 2 internal layers are listed below. I'll leave the embellishments to your imagination.
Basic Supplies & Tools needed
Tutorial for Making an Explosion Box
Creating the inside base.
Step 1: Take a 12" x 12" piece of designer series paper (double sided paper). Score it along 4" and 8" on both sides as shown by the solid lines below.
Step 2: For the base, you will also want to score along the diagonals of the outside squares. The green lines in the picture below depict where to make the additional score lines.
Step 3: Fold along the score marks.
Interior layers
This box has 2 interior layers.
Step 1: To create the first layer, cut a 12" x 12" piece of designer series paper into a 11-1/2" x 11-1/2" square.
Step 2: Score the paper at 3-3/4" and 7-1/2" along each side as shown by the lines in the sketch below.
Step 3: Cut out the outside squares using the score marks as guides. The resultant piece of paper will look like a cross or plus sign as shown below.
Step 4: To create the second layer, cut a 12" x 12" piece of designer series paper into a 10-1/2" x 10-1/2" square.
Step 5: Score the paper at 3-1/2" and 7" along each side as shown by the lines in the sketch below.
Step 6: Cut out the outside squares using the score marks as guides. The resultant piece of paper will look like a cross or plus sign as shown below.
Assemble the base
Step 1: Glue the center square of the layer one to the center square of the base.
Step 2: Glue center square of the second layer to the center square of layer 1 as shown below.
Making the Cover
Step 1: Cut a 12" x 12" sheet of Designer Series paper into a 10-1/4" x 10-1/4" piece of paper.
Step 2: Score the paper at 3" and 7-1/4" along each diagonal as shown below.
Step 3: Cut along the dotted lines shown below. Us the score lines as guides.
Step 4: Fold along score marks.
Step 5: Glue flaps underneath the outer folds to complete the cover.
Tips for folding the box:
When folding the box, start with the outside edges of the base. Fold them towards the center as shown below.
Once the base of the box is formed, the flaps can be folded against the sides to help put the top on.
The interior layers can be decorated however you desire. I hope you have fun with the box and please share your creations. I'd LOVE to see them.
Remember the designer series paper and Simply Scrappin' Kits are perfect for this box. The Simply Scrappin' kits also have beautiful matching embellishments. To browse the Stampin' Up! designer series paper and Simply Scrappin' kits, Click HERE and then select the SHOP NOW.
A friend asked me to make 80 Baby shower invites for her daughters baby shower. She is leaving it up to me to select the final design. She is so supportive. She simply said that anything you make will be wonderful. I thought that you could help me out. Can you pick your favorite one & leave a comment in the comment section letting me know which one you like the best? I would really appreciate your feedback.
Card 1 - Wild About you Stamp Set from Stampin' Up!
Card 2 - Sizzix Elephant & Stampin' Up! Stamps.
Card 3 - Pennant Die to make a Criss-Cross Card. Click here for tutorial.
Need a Creativity Boost? Visit www.Stampthings.com weekly for BluePrints, a weekly scrapbook & Card Layout to get your creativity going! These layouts provide ideas for using Stampin' Up! products.
Welcome to Week# 21 Please use these layouts as a serving suggestions, manipulate them as you wish. They are here to simply get your mojo going!!!
This weeks layouts honor the upcoming holiday. Valentine's day is a day that we celebrate the ones we love whether it be the love our life, our children, a favorite friend or pet. It is a celebration of love. These layouts are meant to help you commemorate your loved one!
Week # 21 Card Front layout
Evidently last weeks post using the Bag with Scallop XL Sizzix Die (PN 114519) post just wasn't enough for me. I just had to find something else to do with this die. In addition to the scrapbook page, card and favor bag, the die cuts from this very versatile die have been used to create this basket!
This basket is easy to make and it can used for multiple . It would make a beautiful basket for cards at a wedding. Just imagine it all in white, decorated with scallop boarder, butterflies or your favorite flower embellishments. The little favor bags make the perfect accompaniment for wedding shower favors or wedding favors. They are also perfect for parties and little gift bags for friends and family. This basket can also be used for presenting a hostess with a cake or other present. Heck, mine will be collecting the mail. Truly you can use this for whatever purpose you see fit!
Supplies for the basket
Tutorial Instructions - Let's start making the basket.
Step 1: Die Cut 16 long strip with the scallop edges using the XL Bigz Die: Bag with Scallops (PN 114519). You will not need the other side of the die for this project. Cut a quantity of 8 -1.5" x 12" strips from the Designer Series Paper.
Step 2: Align them into a stack and punch a 3/8" hole in the center of the scallop as shown below using the crop-a-dile.
Step 3: Remove 2 strips from the stack. These will be used for the decorative handle later. For the stack of remaining 14 (16-2= 14) strips, insert & secure the brad in the hole.
Step 4: Fan the strips out into a circle as shown below.
Step 5: Fold all of the strips toward the center at the score mark closest to the center of the circle.
Step 6: Attache a 1.5" x 12" strip to the inside base of one of the folded arms.
Repeat Step 6 until all 3 rows are complete.
Step 7: Add Scallop embellished border. 3 - 2" Strips of CS were cut and scored and folded in have. Using the scallop border punch, scallop edges were added along the length. The score line on the scallop edge pieces were used to align to the edge of the die cut strips as shown below. Then fold, the scallop edge over and secure it in place.
The remaining 2 scalloped strips are attached to the sides and then secured in place at the tops by placing another brad or eyelet in the holes previously punched.
Let me know what you think about the basket! I'd love to hear what you think about the basket.
Thank you for visiting,
Since valentines day is coming, heart embellishments are everywhere. The idea for the heart using a pillow box to make a heart isn't new, but I recently saw it on LateNightStampers and fell in love with it. Stampin' Up! offers a Bigz Petal Card Die (PN 113467) that is perfect for creating multiple die cuts with the ease of the Big Shot. This tutorial will show you how to make a petal card in any size you want. To create a petal card which can be used as the traditional petal card, or can be folded into a heart and filled with candy or a beautiful bouquet of stamped roses as shown below.
To create the base petal card, four circles were cut using the Circle Scissor Plus (PN 112530).
The diameter of these circles are 3 inches. The picture below shows the setting used on the circle scissor plus.
Once the circles were made, two circles were folded in half. The two folded circles were orientated so that the folds are 90° to each other as shown below. Once the orientation is correct, glue the back of the circles together.
To create a petal box, fold the remaining two circles in half and glue them in the same orientation as shown below. To create the heart shape, don't fold the remaining two circles in half.
The picture below shows the resultant heart.
The pocket of the heart can be filled with candy or paper flowers as shown below.
If you have any questions, please email me. I'm happpy to help.
Thank you for visiting,
This new tool is amazing. It doesn't just cut perfect circles from 1" to 6 inches, it also draws them too. The Circle Scissor Plus (112530) works great with any of the Stampin' Up! Stampin' Write Markers!
It also looks as cool as it works. Like everything, you have to play with it to really learn how to use it. I'm hoping to reduce your, "play time" to a minimum by sharing some of the things that I have learned from playing with my Circle Scissor Plus. By the way, mine is pink... Before you get all upset with the fact that the one in the catalog is black (and honestly looks way better than mine), please rest assured that they work the same. Just don't tease me too much when you get yours and see how much better yours is over mine. You do know that I will be jealous!!
Here are some tips.
First, invest in the Glass Mat (PN 112531). I have been using mine with a plexi-glass board and the glass is much better. I used it at a fellow demonstrators home and it is so worth it. The blade felt like it was floating. With the plexi-glass it actually cuts through the plexi-glass surface under the paper. Using the plexi-glass increases the wear on the blades, I find that I am replacing the blades more frequently than others who use the Glass Mat.
Use adhesive to lightly secure the paper to the Glass Mat (PN 112531) as it helps to keep the paper straight while cutting. If the paper slips while cutting you won't get a perfect circle and the paper can spin on you. Don't go crazy using too much adhesive. A little goes a long way. By using the adhesive, you can cut more circles from your card stock or paper.
The Circle Scissor Plus works most smoothly when you’re standing up. This helps distribute the weight and pressure on the cutter evenly, resulting in the cleanest cut and most perfect circle.
Cutting rings can be a little tricky, but it takes only a little practice to master. When cutting rings, cut the smaller circle, or the center of the ring, first, and then don’t move the cutter! Make sure it stays in place while you adjust the size for the outside circle of your ring and then cut again. Keeping the cutter in place the whole time is the key to getting radical rings.
Drawing circles - Similarly to Tip #4, draw a circle first before cutting the circle. It is very important to maintain alignment with concentric circles. You don't want to move the cutter base, just turn the adjustment knob after you have drawn the circle to cut a larger circle around it.
Before you start cutting (i.e. putting pressure on the blade), spin the dial around to ensure that you aren't cutting off the paper. If you are, simple move the Circle Scissor Cutter, until you have the proper alignment.
Cut one piece of Paper, Card stock or photo at a time. Why? Alignment is key to creating the perfect circle. Paper slides easily on top of one another, so you can easily loose the alignment needed. Besides this tool is so much fun to use that you are going to WANT to cut each paper individually!
Here are the instructions for using the Circle Scissor Plus (112530).
I hope you enjoy playing with your Circle Scissor Plus. Tuesday's post will include some fun project made with circles cut from my Circle Scissors Plus!
As Always, happy Creatin'
