Hero Arts + Sizzix products

Check out Jennifer's video!

Fun, fun.

I don't stamp...

...but it doesn't look like it, does it?

I really don't consider myself a stamper, just a stamp owner. 

I did break out the alphabet stamps for years there though - I think that counts for something. 

I've got a heat gun.

I've dabbled in backgrounds. 

I've sprinkled embossing powders.

I've added sentiments on cards.

Okay, so I do stamp, just not to a great degree.

It doesn't mean I don't want to though. 

I really like stamped backgrounds and sentiments.

I don't like all the blending/alcohol inks/distress inks and messy stuff. I'm not into messy, it's just not me.

In the meantime, I just enjoy looking at them around my room. They make me feel happy, even if I don't use them. 

How's that for funny?

I checked...and a butterfly

Hello blogging friends,

On Friday I noticed the non-baby cards on the baby table and wondered if you did too.

Here they are...

I've shared them with you before...

I am absolutely sure you've seen these cards twice now.

Another thing I'm absolutely sure of?

I need to make them again just because I want to.

Will this happen?

Maybe, maybe not.
I'll probably change something when making them too, but something that won't change is the glitter in the cups.

Andrew approved.

"Nice subtle use of glitter there..." he said.

This is a card you haven't seen, aren't you glad?
Supplies and who makes 'em:
Embossing folder - Sizzix
Stamps - Hero Arts
Patterned paper - I think it's Cosmo Cricket, Girl Friday. I think.
Baker's twine - Martha Stewart.
Ink - Not sure - Colorbox, I think. It's just a pink ink. I'm not great with stamping and knowing all about it.
I know this, however...
I stamped the butterfly and wanted to add a little shine, so I sprayed it with some mist and the ink ran. My 'oh no' turned into, 'it's okay' when I moved the butterfly around so the mist would run all over it. Kinda liked the smudged, inky look in the end.
Told you I'm not great with stamping!
Have a great day, won't you?

Making time for craft

Hello to you today...hope you're doing well.

You know what?

I had a realisation the other day...

I realised I need to spend more time crafting.

Not for selfish reasons, but for selfish reasons!



Not because I want to, but because I need to.

I was a bit of a cranky pants recently - too much to do, too little time - you know the drill. Washing, cleaning, ironing, work and regular life stuff - it never ends. The clock keeps ticking and the washing machine keeps spinning!

(Well, actually, my washing machine's not spinning at the moment and that's a problem! It's about 17 years old now, so it's been good, but I think it's about to go completely)

Anyway, I found myself doing a bit of craft at my desk recently and all the stress went away. I was enjoying myself and realised I was being re-fueled.

Of course, I know this.

I know craft is fun to me.

I know I love it.

I know I get itchy fingers and have to make something now.

But what I realised was:


I'd made craft an option in my life...which meant I'd made all the benefits options too.

How dumb is that?

Craft isn't first in my life, but it shouldn't be put last either.

Know what I mean?

We have to be intentional about everything in our lives nowadays in order to get some good stuff in there somewhere. And that, for me, includes craft.

I decided then and there at my desk that day, that I was going to give craft more of a priority in my life - not because of the paper and glue, but because of what it does for me.

It makes me happy.

It brings me joy.

It relaxes me.

And I want those things in my life! What about you?

And if craft is one way I can intentionally reduce stress, shouldn't I go for it? Shouldn't we??

And if I'm (we're) happy and relaxed then maybe I (we) can go and do the grocery shopping without being a cranky pants...

I'm not saying you're a cranky pants or anything, but are you with me?

:o)

Let's make time for it, girls.

We need to.

I, for one, am telling you you're allowed...

Butterflies

Hey there,

Just saying hello to you with a card share today...

This is a card I made when just playing at my desk recently.

I bought the butterflies from Spotlight in a pack. They're Bella, I believe.

The stamp is from Hero Arts - one of their messages sets.

And that's holographic glitter with the Stampin Up! roller dots background again. Notice I do the same things over? It makes sense to me to use the same stamp/technique/idea on a few cards at once. Plus, I get to do that fun thing more than once...works for me.

Now, the big question of the day - do the butterflies need anything in the middle?

Need? No

Could use something there? Probably

Why didn't I put anything in the middle? Didn't want to at the time.

What I would put there if I was making the card now? Pearls, I'd try pearls. Then rhinestones, then buttons. Or I'd flick the idea and just leave it like I decided to when I made the card.

Just keeping it real here, folks.

:o)

Scor-Pal Tuesday - Envelopes

Hi, and welcome to Scor-Pal Tuesday!

Today we'll talk about envelopes.

And envelopes we'll talk about!

How do you make envelopes on the Scor-Pal?

What I did was grab the two sizes of envelopes I use all the time and then I carefully pulled them apart to find out their measurements.

I then cut a new piece of paper to those measurements and used the Scor-Pal to score the fold lines.

As you can see above, I wrote the measurements on as well to make it easy to remember what to do next time.

And there you go, one envelope template.

With these types of envelopes, you can leave the tabs in or out depending on the time you have, the look you want, the type of paper you're using etc. It's up to you.

In the photo above, I've put crosses on the tabs.

If you do chop the tabs out, don't cut along the embossed line, cut those lines off completely. It makes the envelope fold together better.

And here's a template I made for an envelopebox (or envelobox). They're the ones with extra depth for thicker cards, or maybe a CD. You can change the depth of your box by using different score lines.

About all these projects - I sat down at my desk and worked out these bits and pieces for myself for three reasons.

One, I wanted to see how easy it was to make them from scratch.

Two, I wanted to concentrate on the things I need at the moment. Envelopes, dvd boxes etc.

And three, I didn't want to go onto the Scor-Pal site and use other people's ideas without credit, you know? Please remember that they have a lot of projects over there - so check them out. I'm going to! I want to make a pizza box...

Okay, back to the envelopes.

Firstly, a card.

(I used a Labels 8 Nestabilities die, a die cut from October Afternoon's Cherry Hill die cut sheet, the Hero Arts Basic Alphabet set and that's some Martha Stewart glitter around the edges. The blue paper is from the Die Cuts With a View Citrus Stack I talked about a few weeks ago and the organza ribbon is from my stash.)

And an envelope to match! (I just used an orange piece of patterned paper I had)

As you can see I went for a bright envelope...Whoa, hello, letterbox!

Note the rounded corners. Another way to work the envelope.

Measurements:

* 21 x 26cm

* Top flap: 6cm

* Bottom flap: 8cm

* Side flaps: 2cm

* I cut the top tabs only. Left the bottom ones to make the envelope thicker (it's paper).

And here's another long fold (A5 piece of card folded longways). I've always used DL envelopes for these cards. They're too wide, but you use what you can, hey?

(These characters are in Punch Art Fun for everyone Book 3 in the Christmas section. The reindeer is a fusion of two on page 43)

Oh, look! An envelope!

An envelope that's the right size...amazing!

Neat!

Also cut the tabs off this one because the card is very thick.

To make this envelope I measured it on the Scor-Pal and made sure my card would fold and fit around it. Pretty much!

Measurements:

* 18 x 29cm

* Put short edge to top of Scor-Pal. Score at 6cm and then 14cm.

* Side flaps: Put long edge to top of Scor-Pal. Push card flush to the right. Score at 4cm. Rotate 180 degrees. Make sure card is flush to the right again. Score at 4cm.

I'm hoping all my instructions are correct for you!

Here's a little card for you. This one's a gift card and the front is 7 x 7.5cm. It's little!

Here's the envelope. It's little too. Of course.

Once again, gave the card a little breathing room and scored around it to make the envelope.

Measurements:

* 14 x 18cm

* Top flap: 4cm

* Bottom flap: 6cm

* Side flaps: 3cm

This is the back flap. Looks cute decorated with scallop scissors and a bit of matching paper.

I made a second envelope for the card too. The first one fit, but it was a little tight.

Measurements:
* 15 x 22cm
* Top and bottom flaps: 6cm
* Side flaps: 3cm
* I rounded the corners and added paper again to decorate.

This is the big card from yesterday (it's an A5 size) with the gift card, so you can see the difference between them.

Isn't it great to know you can make an envelope to match any size card?

And enveloboxes, you can make any size envelobox too. The cards below are thicker, so they got an envelobox made for them.

These are using My Mind's Eye (2009) The Merry Days of Christmas line. It's more traditional than their other (2009) Colourful Christmas line. I love both.

And here's the envelobox.

Measurements (made up from the scrap piece of paper I had on hand):

* 15.5 x 30cm

* Top flap: Score at 6 and 6.5cm

* Bottom flap: Score at 8 and 8.5cm

* Side flaps: Score at 1 and 1.5cm

Here's the template again, so you can see where to cut the tabs out. I left the tabs on the top, so you can see the difference.

It's just a matter of scoring the lines and folding and taping your box together after that.

Here's another card with an envelobox.

Measurements for this one:

* 17.5 x 26cm

* Top flap: 6 and 6.5cm

* Bottom flap: 8 and 8.5cm

* Sides: 2 and 2.5cm

Loving that gold cord at the moment. Got it at Spotlight. I get most generic stuff there - ribbon, buttons, thread, cord....

I used the Fiskars Threading Water punch to decorate a red strip of card for the back flap of the envelope. I'll post a pic of that tomorrow.

Well, that's it for envelopes.

Summary: You can make them on the Scor-Pal!

See you tomorrow!

:o)

PS. Click here to purchase your Scor-Pal at 15% off. Please put SCOR15 in the comments section of your order to claim your discount.

PPS. Alternatively, go to www.bluebazaar.com.au, shop online, then November NEW 7 on the left hand side to find the Scor-Pals.

PPS. Read yesterday's post (Nov 16) for more information. Thanks!

Hey

Hey everyone,

Just a quick card share for you today. These chooks are from my third book, Punch Art Fun for everyone 3, on pages 8 and 14. The card above isn't in the book, just the chooks. Cute, huh?

And that's Early Bird paper again and some Making Memories ledger paper behind. I like mixing and matching papers, but only if I don't have to try too hard. And those are my favourite basic alphabet set from Hero Arts.

I use a lot of the same things over and over again...do you do that too?

Like them, paid good money for them, want to use them up! All good reasons that they keep appearing on the old cards.

Bye for now,

:o)

PS. When I link you over to things on the net, I usually choose the site for the picture of the product. I didn't buy my Making Memories ledger pad from the shop I linked, I just liked that they had a picture of all the papers inside. If you like what you see, you can do an added search to find it somewhere else online, or in a shop near you. Just wanted to mention that.

PPS. Blue Bazaar currently has some of the ledger pads for about 10 dollars (under September restocks 2), which is a really good deal. And if you read their newsletter there's some specials going on. The newsletter came out today, so it's current info. And they're a Brisbane based company. Enjoy!

Card for Jack

I've shared this card before, but I wanted to again because it's the one I sent to Jack after he sent me the pyramids.

I love making cards.

I love having a card stash.

I love it when my nephew sends me things and I can go to my stash and find just the card for him.

Inside I said, "You're special and I ain't lion."

A bit of ha ha never goes astray when you're addressing a 7 year old.

:o)

I hope you're having a great Monday!

Thank you neighbour

Andrew said he wanted to thank our neighbour for mowing our nature strip all the time. The neighbour just does it because he's a nice guy. So Andrew bought a box of chocolates and I made this card to go with it.

What's funny is that I'd just bought some Fiskars texture plates at KMart (for $20.99) the week before and one of the textures in the set is grass. I'd seen the texture plates used in the Cuttlebug and knew they'd work. You can't beat 12 different textures for $21. Into the basket they went. I bought the set particularly because of the swirly one and the grass didn't really factor in to my immediate "I've gotta try that" creative process at all.

Then Andrew mentioned thanking the neighbour for mowing our grass and it all came together. I even had some ant stickers that I've had for years (years) to put on it as well.

You'll notice the embossing is more subtle than what you get from a Cuttlebug folder, but that's okay. Using Cuttlebug folders is like making a jaffle, while the texture plates are like making grilled cheese on toast.

In case you'd like to give it a try here's the combination I used (from the base up):

• A plate
• 2 silicone mats (tan ones) or similar (the link shows a kit, but I bought my mat separately)
• cardstock face up
• texture plate face down
• 1 piece of cardstock to shim (to make it emboss a bit better)
• B plate

Please remember that this is what works for my machine. Even though they all come out of the same factory, they are calibrated differently. Have a play to see what works for you. Don't force anything through that doesn't want to go through there!
Other supplies are the Making Memories ledger pad paper (also inside to write on), spiral punch from Stampin Up, Basic lowercase stamps with pen again and some ribbon from my stash.
Andrew will probably give it to the neighbour today.

The two lions...

Just wanted to show you the two lion cards together to show the different sizes.

Notice the tails are on the opposite sides? Must've designed them that way so they'd fit on the chipboard sheet.

The larger scallop is a die from Sizzix - it's huge. About 4" high. Fun stuff.

Bye now.

Little animals

Hi, hope your week is going well.

Okay, so you know there have been a lot of little animals running around my desk lately and they've made it onto a lot of cards...

Well, here's some more. The chipboard pieces set has big and little animals in it and all the cards above are using the little animals. They were left in the chipboard packaging and were begging to be used...

Ended up putting them on my favourite paper of the moment - the ledger paper from Making Memories. Coupled with Early Bird dot paper and Bungle Jungle (or Jungle Bungle?) paper. It's in the same line as the chipboard animals.

And my favourite punch of the moment...the 3" scallop from Marvy. Loving that thing right now as is proved by the bazillion cards above.

Why reinvent? Just do the same design again and again and call it a set! That truth comes from this philosophy...Crafting is about making, not thinking all the time.

Thank you.

And yes, the lion cards are the same. Made all the little cards first and then made the big lion card to match. Once again, why reinvent? Apply crafting philosophy here...

Thank you again.

:o)

The croc and the lion

Hi!

Just wanted to share the croc and lion cards that I made using the Sassafras Wild Side chipboard pieces. Have had so much fun with these animals!

I made the lion one differently, but didn't like it in the end. Pulled it apart and made this instead. Much better. You'll have to believe me on that because there's no evidence of the previous card. Actually there may be...but there's no evidence here. All crafters are allowed a percentage of stuff that goes in the old bino...you know! And yes, bino is a word. To me anyway. Maybe it should be spelt bin-o...so it's easier to pronounce correctly.

And the percentage? 10%? 15%? 5%?

Do you have a bin-o percentage?

I'd say mine is about 5%. And I say that for the following reasons:

1. Because I try to fix things that aren't working, unless I just get over it and chuck it.

2. I'm cautious and I don't commit to the design unless I like it (excepting original lion card of course).

3. If I make something I don't like I pull it apart and try to make it into something better (original lion card again).

4. I try to only use things that are inspiring me at the time so the chances of the old bin-o coming into play are decreased dramatically.

5. I'm a results-based person and to see an hour's worth of work go into the bin is not an option, so I make it work!

(Okay, so I don't do these things all the time as is obvious with the lion do-over card.)

Well, there you go. That's my bin-o percentage and rationale. Gosh, who knew this blog would turn into a place of bin-o percentages!

Enough rambling. Will finish off by mentioning that the ruffled paper is creased every couple of cms or so along the bottom. A piece of double-sided tape on the card (or the paper itself if you like) helps to stick it down as you go along. No staples. Andrew didn't like the staples on one card I used. The giraffe one I think it was. He doesn't do the craft, but he knows what he likes, that's for sure.

Andrew's rules of crafting:

• Subtle use of glitter
• No staples!

:o)

Hello there...

Hi again.

Here's the third card I made using the Sassafras chipboard pieces. Fun again. I stamped the greeting with my basic stamp set from Hero Arts and just used a pen to ink the stamps rather than actual ink. Quick, and a little less messy.

Also punched out the circles in the postage stamp border at the bottom. My circle punch was a little smaller, but I was okay with it.

And the lined paper in the background is from Making Memories. It's an 8 x 8 pad of ledger paper. Nice.

There's also a croc and a lion in the chipboard shapes. Wonder what can be done with those?