It's sure been a whale

Hello! I'm dusting off my blog after a much-needed break and am ready to rejoin the crafting (and blogging) world! There's just something about having a creative outlet and I hope you'll join me! What else is new you ask? I left my corporate job and have returned to school full-time and I'm loving it!

I always want to make time for crafting; having fun in creativity the best stress relief! Do you remember how much fun it was to blow bubbles as a child? Well, let me tell you that it's just as fun (maybe more so) as an adult. 

Combining some dishsoap, water, and some reinkers into a cup and then blowing bubbles creates some cool coloured bubbles that you can pop with your cardstock. It's a pretty cool technique that gives a subtle depth to your background paper. You can see just how much fun I had with this technique in my Facebook video.

Mosaic Christmas Tree

I've seen many variations of this card online - so I had to try it for myself! The mosaic punch does make a great ornament! And who can resist a tree made of ornaments!?

Supplies Used:

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

Advent Calendar

I can't believe it's December already! I finally finished my advent calendar, just in the nick of time too! My boys are very excited to find treats and Christmas activities in the boxes. This was a great way to use a wide variety of my collection - and while the better part of these are current products, I did use some retired product too.

To make the numbers, I uses the calendar stamp from the Project Life Day to Day set and inked every third number (to give enough room between each one for punching). Then I used the 1/2" circle punch to cut them out. 

Retired products used:
Letter to Santa DSP, Riding Hood Red Marker, Priority Mail stamp set, A Cute Christmas stamp set, Pines & Poinsettias stamp set, Scentsational Season stamp set, Tiny Tags stamp set, Scallop Square punch, Jewelry Tag punch, Ornament Keepsakes framelits, Holiday Collection framelits

Supplies used: 

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

Thanksgiving Crackers

Happy Thanksgiving!! When we were out buying our turkey and all the fixings the other night, Ethan asked if we were also going to pick up any crackers to open … He loves Christmas crackers and I guess he thinks they're appropriate any time a turkey is being roasted. The easy solution for Thanksgiving crackers was to make some! The Envelope Punch Board makes these an easy project!

Adorned with a cute punch art turkey and personalized using the new rotary alphabet stamp, I think these met the challenge. I filled them with candies and lame jokes/Thanksgiving trivia. Maybe Thanksgiving crackers should be an annual thing?

Supplies Used:
Stamps: Alphabet Rotary Stamp 
Paper: Spice Cake Designer Series Paper (retired), Chocolate Chip, Peach Parfait, Crushed Curry, Cherry Cobbler, Very Vanilla Card Stock 
Ink:  Chocolate Chip
Embellishments: Googlies, Early Espresso 1/8 Inch Taffeta Ribbon (retired)
Tools: Envelope Punch Board, 5-Petal Flower Punch, Owl Punch 

Happy Birthday Card-in-a-Box

Have you seen a 'card in a box' yet? I've seen quite a number of variations of these, and just had to try one myself - but had to wait for a special occasion - Happy birthday, Kelly! The box itself is fairly quick to put together (I used this tutorial), but the decorating can be as detailed or as simple as you want.

I included the side view so you can see that you just build each section and then attach onto the little tabs you add in the middle of the box. It was super fun to make - the only suggestion I have is to stamp on each piece before punching/cutting it out. The solid coloured pieces just don't pop as nicely as the ones with ink on them ;)

Supplies used -
Stamps: Betsy's Blossoms, Tag It, Mixed Bunch
Ink: Calypso Coral, Pool Party, Daffodil Delight
Paper: Calypso Coral, Gumball Green, Daffodil Delight, Pool Party, Very Vanilla cardstock, This And That Epic Day Designer Series Paper
Tools: Boho Blossoms Punch, Blossom Punch, Bird Punch, 1/2 Inch Circle Punch, 7/8" Scallop Circle Punch, 5-Petal Flower Punch (retired), Floral Frames Framelits, Chalk Talk Framelits
Embellishments: Basic Rhinestones Jewel Accents, Daffodil Delight Pompom ribbon trim (retired)

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas! Hoping your home is filled with joy, your heart with love and your life with laughter, today and for the holiday season :)

Supplies used - 
Stamps: Just Believe (retired)
Ink: Basic Black
Paper: Raspberry Ripple, Whisper White, Basic Black, Champagne Glimmer Paper
Tools: Sweet Buttons Embosslit Die, Curly Label Punch, Petite Curly Label Punch, Apothecary Accents Framelits

Simple Stockings

Just under the wire here - I'll bet you think I forgot to post a project today! I was so busy snuggling babies, writing (and mailing) some cards, and doing other Christmassy things (decorating, shopping, etc) that it appears today's post almost didn't make it. 

This was one of my favourite cards from last year - with the cute jingle bell, it is not quite a mailable card, but it's an excellent one for hand-delivery.

Speaking of hand-delivery ... with the recent Canada Post announcement, will this change your mailing habits? Are Christmas cards (or greeting cards in general) going to become hand-delivered only?

Supplies used -
Stamps: More Merry Messages
Ink: Cherry Cobbler
Paper: Cherry Cobbler, Old Olive, Whisper White, Silver Glimmer Paper
Tools: Square Lattice Textured Impressions Embossing Folder Die, Stocking Punch (retired)
Embellishments: Cherry Cobbler Baker's Twine, Jingle Bells (retired)

Happy Easter!

After seeing the cute bunny posted on Stampin' Up!'s blog earlier this week, I decided that I had to make a couple of these for my boys. I did make a couple changes though.  I used the largest oval framelit for the body, just to make the bunny a little bigger.  

I also used the smallest heart framelit for the nose.  I also used the owl punch for his eyes, and for the heart on the banner.

For the bunny, I used the Natural Composition paper - to give them a little dimension.  I like how this paper is already embossed and that it resists ink.  For the egg that the bunny is holding, I used the 2 x 1 3/8" oval punch instead of the one suggested, especially since my bunny's body was larger.

I also inked the embossing folder before embossing the egg, just for fun ;)

If you've never applied ink to an embossing folder before embossing, you should really try it! 

I also added googly eyes.  You can never go wrong with googly eyes!  I'm sure glad I stocked up on them from the Holiday Catalogue.  Maybe they'll make it to the 2013-2014 catalogue?  I really like how the bunny turned out! 

Supplies used:
Stamps: Teeny Tiny Wishes
Ink: Tempting Turquoise, Melon Mambo
Paper: Whisper White, Natural Composition and Floral District DSP
Tools: Oval Framelits, Hearts Collection Framelits, Owl Punch, Bitty Banner Framelits, 1 3/4 x 7/8" oval punch, 2 x 1 3/8" oval punch
Other: Early Espresso bakers twine, Googlies

Dr. Seuss Lorax baby shower card

I was challenged to make a card for a friend for a Dr. Seuss themed baby shower... and I came up with this Lorax card using the owl and the bird punches and the onesie shape.  I didn't use a specific template for the onesie, but just cut the sleeves at 2" and then free hand cut the angles to the bottom of the card. I also hand cut his bushy eyebrows and mustache - isn't he cute??

Supplies used:
Paper: Peach Parfait, Daffodil Delight, Riding Hood Red, Whisper White, Basic Black
Tools: Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder, 2" Circle punch, 3/4" Circle punch, 3/4" Scallop Circle punch, Owl builder punch, Bird builder punch

Happy Easter Peeps

Hope you're having a great Easter weekend ... I saw some of these 'peeps' made by Tami White and was inspired to play. They're made with the Bird builder punch and you have to cut off the bird's tail - or it sticks out too far from the egg.  The eggs were made with the large oval punch and then cut free handed.  To make the shaded frame, I cut the 2nd largest Labels Framelit die and then used it as a mask ... then I sponged Crumb Cake ink around it :)

Supplies used:

Stamps: Teeny Tiny Wishes

Ink: Pear Pizzazz, Crumb Cake

Paper: Whisper White, So Saffron, 2010-2012 In Colour DSP

Tools: Bird builder punch, Large oval punch, Labels Framelits die

Other: Sponge, googly eyes

Celebrate - Outlined Occasions

There's just one week left of Sale-A-Bration for 2012 and then it's gone for another year...  With every $60 order, you will earn a freebie from the SAB catalogue!  Today's card uses the Outlined Occasions stamp set.  This is one that I had overlooked the first few times through the catalogue - but when it's coloured in, it's quite sharp!

Supplies used:

Stamps: Outlined Occasions (SAB), Party This Way

Ink: Basic Black

Markers: Pacific Point, Real Red, Rich Razzleberry

Paper: Pacific Point, Whisper White cardstock, Brights Collection DSP

Tools: Petite Pennants builder punch, Adorning Accents embossing folder

Other: White Bakers Twine

I've also been asked to put together a ribbon share using some of the ribbons from the main catalogue.  The prices are inclusive of shipping and taxes.  This works out to be around $1.00/yard of ribbon!  (Note: this is not part of the SAB promotion)

• The Taffeta 3/8" ribbon is $23 for 2 yards of each of 10 colours 
• The 1/8" Taffeta ribbon is $20 for 2 yards of each of 10 colours
• The 1/4" Grosgrain is $28 for 3 yards of each of 17 colours

Contact me today to reserve your spot in the ribbon share or to place a last chance SAB order :)

Happy Stamping!

..am

Ice cream relief .. pleated ribbon shares are in!

The intention with today's card is to help bring in some more seasonal (cooler) weather - I can't believe my forsythias are almost in full bloom already and there's still over a week left in March!!


The delicious ice cream scoops were made with the Cupcake builder punch - don't you just want to take a bite?

Stamps: Create a Cupcake
Ink: Soft Suede
Paper: Whisper White, Early Espresso, Soft Suede, Blushing Bride, Very Vanilla, Real Red, 2010-2012 In Colours DSP
Tools: Cupcake builder punch, Petite Pennants builder punch, 2 3/8" Scallop circle punch, Modern Label punch, Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder
Accessories: Soft Suede Taffeta ribbon


For the participants of the Pleated Ribbon share:  It's here!!  It's sorted!!  It's sooo pretty and soft!!  I will also be doing 2 more shares - check out the tab above for more details :)

Celebrate Minions!

Today was my youngest son's birthday - I made him the following card with a couple Minions from Despicable Me.  He loved them!!  They were quite fiddly to make, but I think they were worth it!

They were made with the Owl Builder punch as their base - I also used the Jewelry Tag punch cut in half for their arms and goggles.  


Supplies used:
Stamps: Outlined Occasions (SAB)
Paper: Daffodil Delight, Basic Black, Whisper White, Not Quite Navy cardstock
Ink: Basic Black, Whisper White
Markers: Daffodil Delight, Not Quite Navy
Tools: Owl Builder punch, Jewelry Tag punch, 1/2" Circle punch
Accessories: Daffodil Delight pom pom ribbon, 
Other: Googly eyes

Sheep Punch Art card

I may have mentioned that I'm slightly addicted to swaps lately. They're a fantastic way to get new ideas, stretch your creativity, and get crafty by using your stamps/inks/pretty embellishments. I’m currently hosting a swap group with my local customers - I can't wait to see what they've come up with. There's only just over 2 weeks left until the due date!

The card below was created for a Punch Art swap… the cards have been mailed back to me and I'm currently stalking my mailbox to see what everyone else has come up with!

Punches: Bird Builder punch, Large Oval punch, Boho Blossoms punch, 1/2" Circle punch, Modern Label punch
Stamps: Pocket Silhouettes, Elementary Elegance (SAB Exclusive)
Ink: Concord Crush, Wisteria Wonder, Basic Black
Paper: Whisper White cardstock, Pear Pizzazz DSP
Other: Scallop Circle#2 Big Shot die, Blushing Bride 1/2" Stitched Poly ribbon, Googly eyes