2017 Mini Calendar Gift

Hi there

For the last few years I have been making a new 3D project with mini calendars to display on your desk. Today I'm going to share my latest design that we made in class recently. They make fabulous holiday and new year gifts for teachers, colleagues, neighbours and pretty much anyone! You can find tutorials for this and my other mini calendar projects here. 

This year, I have included a little box on the front that holds a packet of standard 7.6cm  (3") post-it notes. So, not only do you have a calendar at the ready, you also have a little note pad block. I got the idea of the notes box from  a project by Melanie Igelbrink in Germany that you can see here. I have sized my box to fit a full pack of post-it notes as well as to mat the Couture Creations mini calendars that we get here in Australia. The rest of the project is of my own design and I have made it very sturdy to take the weight of the post-it note box sitting on the front.  This is the finished desk calendar.

The base of the calendar is made from Marina Mist card stock with a little concertina at the base so that it folds flat. I have used the 'Best Birds' stamp set and coordinating thinlits dies to make the decorative panel at the top, but you could decorate this in any style you want. The bird and branch were stamped onto Shimmery White card stock and then coloured with an aqua painter and ink pads before die cutting.  They were popped up on a Whisper White panel that was stamped with the crosshatch background and the greeting. The decorative panel and calendar have a matt of Daffodil Delight card stock.

Here is the view from the side. As you can see, the finish at the bottom is very neat because the concertina panel is sandwiched between 2 panels of card stock and this is also what makes the project so sturdy.

For the back of the calendar, you can leave it plain, decorate it with designer paper or use it to display your local public or school holiday dates as I have done. 

 

Project Details
Stamps	Best Birds
Card stock & Papers	Marina Mist, Daffodil Delight, Whisper White, Shimmery White
Ink	Basic Gray Archival, Marina Mist, Soft Sky, Daffodil Delight, Crushed Curry, Early Espresso, Cucumber Crush, Sahara Sand
Accessories	Rhinestones Basic Jewels, Couture Creations Calendar Tabs
Tools	Birds & Blooms Thinlits dies, Big Shot, Simply Scored Board, Dimensionals, Aqua Painter, computer and printer

Thanks for looking!

CASE-ing the Catty - Favourite Bundle

Hi there

Welcome to the CASE-ing the Catty blog hop on this Sunday evening. We are going to be looking our favourite bundle from the Holiday Catalogue this week.

You may have come here from Rachel's Blog, but if you are visiting me, you can start your journey here and continue by clicking on the buttons at the bottom of the post.

I'm glad that there are lots of favourites in this year's Holiday catalogue as I've already shown you projects from two of them this week. The 'Presents & Pinecones' bundle was another of my 'must haves' for my Holiday Catalogue pre-order, but I haven't done nearly enough with it, so this is a good opportunity to remedy that. This is the sample that I am CASE-ing this week.

 

I've stayed close to the layout of the sample but changed up a few things. I stamped the pine branches on the background in Mint Macaron with Emerald Envy highlights and then embossed the panel with the Lucky Stars embossing folder. My central banner is in Real Red to provide a contrast with the die cut and stamped pine branches. I have used the 'Lots of Labels' framelits to cut a label in copper foil for my greeting circle to sit on. I've finished it with a bow at the top using 3 strands of the Candy Cane Lane baker's twine and the 2 of the cute little copper pine cones hanging from it. 

 

For the inside, I have used the Pine Bough embossing folder in the top corner and then finished with a strip of the lovely striped design from the Presents & Pinecones designer paper at the bottom of the writing panel.

 

Project Details
Stamps	Christmas Pines
Card stock & Papers	Emerald Envy, Real Red, Whisper White, Presents & Pinecones DSP, Copper Foil
Ink	Mint Macaron, Emerald Envy
Accessories	Candy Cane Lane Baker's Twine, Mini Pinecones
Tools	Lots of Labels Framelits, Banners Framelits, Layering Circles Framelits, Pretty Pines Thinlits, Pine Bough EF, Lucky Stars EF, Big Shot, Glue Dots, Dimensionals

Now it's time to click on the Next button below to hop over to see what Elizabeth has to wow you today. 

 

                             

 

We would love you to CASE your favourite bundle from the Holiday catty and link it up by clicking on the button below to add your project.

You can see the full list of the CTC Crew participating this week over at the CASE-ing the Catty blog.

Thanks for visiting today!

AWH Blog Hop - Holiday Catalogue

Hi there

Today, girls from the Art with Heart Stampin’ Up! team  are sharing fun and fabulous ideas to inspire you, using products from our brand new Holiday Catalogue. The catalogue and all products are available NOW until 3rd January 2017. Be sure to request your copy of the catalogue today!

You may have come to my blog from the very talented Claire Daly. Blogs are full circles, so you can start hopping here and then at the end of each post is a link to the next. There is also a list of participants at the end in case there are any broken links.

There are so many fabulous products in the new Holiday catalogue it is hard to choose, but I've decided on 2 of the items that I just had to have on my preorder (one of the cool benefits of being a Demonstrator is that we get to order in advance!). I think that is a good indication that I really love them!

The first up is the gorgeous 'Star of Light' stamp set and the coordinating 'Starlight' Thinlits Dies. They are so many elements in this bundle to combine in different ways, you could make  your entire Christmas card list this year. I love lots of sparkle at Christmas, so you might need your sunglasses for this one. It is a pretty simple layout, but one that you could replicate quite quickly and in different colours and it doesn't need a huge amount of supplies.

I started with a thick Whisper White base card and added some strips of Silver Glimmer down the sides. The main panel of my card is cut from Dapper Denim card stock which is one of the new In Colours this year. I've heat embossed the gorgeous star swirl in silver. Until you see this close-up you can't appreciate how fine the detail is how and how beautifully it embosses. The finished star is popped up over the star swirl and the greeting, also from the 'Star of Light' stamp set, is silver embossed and sits on a Silver Glimmer banner. I've added some smaller stars in silver glimmer and a sprinkle of rhinestones to finish. The Dapper Denim panel has then been popped up on the white card base. I love the finished result, but the photo doesn't really do it justice.

 

For the inside, I've stamped part of the star burst across the corner in Dapper Denim and added a Silver Glimmer star in the middle. A little Silver Glimmer trim at the bottom finishes it off. When you have all of your supplies out, it doesn't take long to decorate the inside and it gives a beautiful finish to your cards.

Here is the design in 2 alternative colours, the first is Real Red.

This is the second alternative in Emerald Envy. Which is your favourite?

 

Project Details
Stamps	Star of Light
Card stock & Papers	Whisper Whte, Dapper Denim, Silver Glimmer
Ink	Versarmark, Dapper Denim
Accessories	Rhinestone Basic Jewels
Tools	Starlight Thinlits Dies, Big Shot, Silver EP, Heat gun, Dimensionals

 

For my second project, I have used the 'Greetings from Santa' stamp set and coordinating 'Detailed Santa' Thinlits Dies. I loved the look of the jolly Santa and and the array of elements in the stamp set that could be used together or separately.

I've started with a card-sized panel of Soft Sky card stock and then cut a panel slightly smaller in thick Whisper White from which I die cut the Santa. I positioned the Santa die cut and then stamped the 'Ho Ho Ho' in Versamark ink  and silver embossed it. The next bit was a little fiddly, cutting the elements for his hat, face, beard, eyes and glasses separately from small scraps. The end result is a mix of raised and indented elements that brings Santa alive. I've silver embossed the scroll and given it a little curve with the bone folder and popped it up next to the 'Naughty or Nice' greeting. This is one of my favourite Christmas colour combos and I'm really happy with the way it turned out.

 

I've kept the inside simple; adding some of the Candy Cane Lane striped washi tape and the card stocks strips to coordinate with the front. I dry embossed a little bit of the Pine Bough embossing folder in the top corner.

 

Project Details
Stamps	Greetings from Santa
Card stock & Papers	Whisper White, Soft Sky, Real Red, Basic Black, Night of Navy, Rose Red, White Glimmer
Ink	Versamark, Real Red, Pink Pirouette, Blushing Bride
Accessories	Candy Cane Lane Washi
Tools	Detailed Santa Thinlits, Pine Bough EF, Big Shot, Silver EP, Heat gun, Sponge Dauber, 1/8" punch, Stampamajig

 

Now it's time to hop over to see what the lovely Monika O'Neill has to inspire you. Click on the arrow below.

 

Here is the full list of participants in today's blog hop, so make sure you hop around to everyone and leave them some blog love.

1.    Kate Morgan
2.     Ros Davidson
3.     Tina Gillespie
4.     Kathryn Mangelsdorf
5.     Rachel Palmieri
6.     Rachel Woollard
7.     Claire Daly
8.     Judy May <-------------- you're here
9.     Monika O'Neill
10.   Rebecca Jacovou

Thanks for stopping by!

CASE-ing the Catty - Big Shot Project

Hi there

This week the CTC Crew are CASE-ing their favourite Big Shot project from the brand new Holiday Catalogue. 

You may have come here from Elizabeth's Blog, but if you are visiting me, you can start your journey here and continue by clicking on the buttons at the bottom of the post.

This Halloween treat box on page 50 caught my eye, so I decided to create a Christmas version.

 

I die cut the 2 panels of my Baker's Box base from Crumb Cake card stock . On one panel of the box, I added the Candy Cane Lane DSP and the strips of Real Red card stock on either side and then die cut the circle in the centre of the largest panel. While the panel was still flat I also stamped 'wishes' at the top.  I then added the DSP to the sides of the second panel and assembled the box. This is the finished project. I was really happy with the way it turned out.

I wanted a bit more room for my bag of yummy spice cookies, so I cut away the scored 'milk carton' piece from the sides of the Baker's Box before I assembled it. You can see this better in the next photo. I also wanted to add a simple tag to my gift box and there are so many fabulous tag options to choose from. I decided to keep with the round theme using the Layered Circles Framelits. I cut my gold embossed greeting from the 'Tin of Tags' stamp set with the same scalloped circle that I used to surround my window on the front. I then matted it on the next size plain circle in Real Red and then onto the bauble from the new 'Merry Tag' framelits cut in Crumb Cake. I love the end result and how it coordinates so well with the rest of the project. I attached it to the handle with the red Baker's Twine from Candy Cane Lane duo pack. 

 

Here is a close-up of the details on the front of the Baker's Box. I have stamped the 'Christmas' banner from the 'Time of Year' Hostess stamp set and die cut it with the Bunch of Banners framelits and popped it up. I added some little 1/8" gold foil dots to either side of the 'wishes' to make it stand out a bit more. The gingerbread person is stamped in Early Espresso and I added some little gold foil hearts punched from the Heart Confetti border punch to his front.  The box is closed with a piece of the Stitched Edge ribbon that is tied with 2 strands of the lovely red metallic baker's twine. 

 

Finally, here is the Baker's Box with the bag of 8 spice cookies next to it. You can see I have left the window 'open', but you could add a small piece of Window Sheet over it, if you prefer.  I've added some Candy Cane Lane washi to the top edge of the cello bag (CASE-ed from page 4 of the Holiday catty) and tied it with both of the twines from the Candy Cane Lane duo pack. My crunchy spice cookies (called Speculaas in Europe) are not gingerbread, but have that lovely Christmas spice flavour and are perfect with warm drinks - we love them with Chai latte made with fresh coconut milk. They contain cinnamon, cloves, ginger, nutmeg, mace, aniseed and white pepper. We first tried these cookies when we visited Copenhagen in 2013 as they are added to the saucer with every cup of coffee. I found this healthy version last year and they have become a staple in our cupboard - too yummy to just have for Christmas!

 

Project Details
Stamps	Cookie Cutter Christmas, Tin of Tags, Holly Jolly Greetings, Time of Year (Hostess)
Card stock & Papers	Whisper White, Crumb Cake, Real Red, Candy Cane Lane DSP, Gold Foil
Ink	Early Espressso, Real Red, Versamark
Accessories	Candy Cane Lane Washi and Baker's Twine
Tools	Baker's Box Framelits, Merry Tags Framelits, Bunch of Banners Framelits, Layering Circles Framelits, Big Shot, Hearts Confetti punch, Cookie Cutter Builder punch, 1/8" Circle punch (not SU) Dimensionals,Gold EP, Heat gun, Stampamajig

 

Now it's time to click on the Next button to hop over to see Kelly's fabulous project. 

 

                             

 

We would love you to link up your CASE of a Big Shot project from the Holiday catty by clicking on the button below to add your project.

You can see the full list of the CTC Crew participating this week over at the CASE-ing the Catty blog. 

Thanks for visiting today!

Pine Boughs & Baubles

Hi there

Nothing says Christmas more than the gorgeous smell of a fresh pine tree and shiny baubles to hang on it.  The card I have to share with you today has both of those. We made this is in our class on Sunday and it is a fabulous design for mass production. I wanted to combine some new products with a favourite from last year.

The hero of this card is the gorgeous new 'Pine Bough' embossing folder. I have embossed the thick Whisper White and it gives a beautiful deep impression without any cracking of the card stock.  I find the new Big Shot platform in this year's Annual Catalogue gives a better result  for dry embossing overall. I think this results from the more even pressure over the entire plate.

 

I have die cut the smallest bauble from my favourite 'Delicate Ornaments' Thinlits in the gorgeous new Copper Foil and backed it with some Dazzling Diamonds Glimmer paper for lots of sparkle. At the top is a bow in the new Emerald Envy Silky Taffeta ribbon that comes in a combo pack with Cherry Cobbler.  The richness of the Cherry Cobbler pairs so well with the brightness of the Emerald Envy.  The little banners are cut from the new 'Presents & Pinecones' designer paper and I have punched out some 1/8" circles in the Copper Foil to finish it off. The greeting is from the new 'Christmas Pines' stamp set and is stamped in Early Espresso.

 

For the inside, I have add a bit more of the embossed pine bough in the corner and some of the striped design from the 'Presents & Pinecons' washi set. Just love the coordination of all of the products in this suite. It makes creating so easy.

 

Project Details
Stamps	Christmas Pines
Card stock & Papers	Cherry Cobbler, Emerald Envy, Thick Whisper White, Copper Foil, Dazzling Diamonds Glimmer, Presents & Pinecones DSP
Ink	Early Espresso
Accessories	Emerald Envy Silky Taffeta Ribbon, Presents & Pinecones Washi
Tools	Pine Bough TIEF, Delicate Ornaments Thinlits, Banners Framelits, Big Shot, Tombow glue, Glue dots

Thanks for looking!