ripped paper and ink splatters

One of the fun perks, and there are many, about being a demonstrator with Stampin' Up! is the bi-monthly magazine we get called Stampin' Success.  There are always pretty projects to case in the magazine, and I always look forward to getting it.  The past issue had a really pretty cover that I thought was just lovely.  I kept looking at it, and so I finally decided to make something that was inspired by the cover.  Here is my first attempt. 

Here is the cover I am referring to.  Isn't it pretty?  Well, I didn't reproduce the projects exactly, I wanted my project to be a little simpler, and more mailable.

So that my petals were similar in size, I cut a scrap strip of paper in to even lengths.   I tried making them more random, but they just didn't look right.  Some were too long, some too short or wide.  This way the petals are all different, since I hand tore them, but they work nicely together.

This is the first one I made.  I made the splatters by inking up an Aqua Painter with Calypso Coral. I then squeezed the Aqua Painter so that the brush tip was saturated and about to drip.  I held the Aqua Painter over the paper and tapped it with my finger to make the little drops fall onto the paper.

Here is my second attempt.  Along with the random splatters I added some random rhinestones.  I love the shaped clips so I added those too.  These were really fun to make, not my usual style, but I like them for sure.  

Thanks for stopping by!!  

 

 

 

MDS Blog Hop Guest Designer!

Hi Everyone!! I am a Guest Designer at the MDS Blog Hop this month!!  YEA!  It's my first time being a part of a blog hop!!  So, even though this is my paper cuts blog, I would love it if you would hop on over to my Digital blog and check out the blog hop!!  I may just get you hooked on Digital crafting yet!!

Monograms

I decided to replenish my note cards this week.  I usually have some monogram note cards to use for thank you notes or just to send a note to fiends.  I make them by the dozen so I usually keep them somewhat simple.  They also make really nice gifts.  This one uses the new Strawberry Slush paper and Basic Grey.   I embossed the background with the Fancy Fan embossing folder, and used punches to highlight my initial, made with the Morning Post Alphabet Stamps. 

The flower is sponged around the edges to make it stand out a bit more.  The Rhinestone just gives it a touch of sparkle. 

Wrap some monogram note cards up in a cello bag with a pretty ribbon and you have a sweet gift in no time. 

Thanks for stopping by today!!

remember this post?

 

This fabulous flower petal punch is getting discontinued!!!  So Sad!!  I bought an extra one just in case mine jams or something.   The punch normally costs $16.95 but it's on the retiring list for just $10.17 (item #121808).   Here is the list of retiring products.  They are "while supplies last".    See if there is any thing else you wanted.  The Ornament punch is on the list too!!  I made the cute bunny candy bars with that one!!  The new catalog is just around the corner, so that is the good news, but, if you are a punch fan, you should jump at these punches while  you can!

 

You can make other flowers too.  Use the fat petals to make a posy or use the wide short ones to make a Christmas Poinsettia.  Add them to cards, scrapbooks, home decor or a hair clip!

 

 

Teacher Appreciation

I made this fun note card and holder set for my daughter's pre-school teacher.  I made the note cards in My Digital Studio.  I love that My Digital Studio allows me to make personalized gifts for the people in my life.  At $19.95 you should really check it out, if you haven't already!

Here are the note cards and envelopes that are inside.

I wanted to make the front panel of my box look like a chalk board.  I used Basic Black card stock and ran my Embossing Buddy over it a few times.  The Embossing Buddy is filled with a fine powder that helps keep static down when you are using embossing powders.  In this case, I just wanted it for the powdery dust it makes :)

I used the invoice proof sheet that comes with your print order to make this label.  Its like a smaller version of the cards.  Cute, huh?  I cut out a mat with the Apothecary Accents Framelit Die, and tied it to my box with some ribbon.

 Here is a close up of my box front.

I made a simple tag with a piece of 3 x 6 card stock, folden in half.  I made an apple with a heart punch and a leaf from the Bird Builder punch.  The tiny heart button is just for added cuteness :)   I wrote a thank you note in the card and tied it to my cello bag.  Let me just say a note about cello bags.  I love cello bags!  I make cookies, cards, tons of small gifts.  Having a variety of cello bags on hand is always a good idea for any crafter.  Stampin' Up! has a few sizes and I always make sure to  have them.  They also have craft boxes, another great thing to have on hand.  And, here's a hint, there are some new gift giving items in the new catalog, coming out soon!!

Thanks for stopping by!!

 

 

 

 

 

What to do with your scraps...

I needed some thank you cards this month and noticed that I had a lot of thin paper scraps laying around.  I was going to make some more of the same cards I made with my thin scraps a few weeks ago (click here to see), but then thought I would try something new.  I saw a few cards with rays of paper on them, and wanted to give that a try.   They were pretty simple and a fun way to use up scraps.

First I cut the strips into wedges.  I just cut from corner to opposite corner. 

I used some grid paper to glue them onto, it just helped me keep them in line. 

I glued the strips down onto the paper. 

Then I cut the edges off.

Here is my finished block.  I layered it onto a piece of Riding Hood Red.  If you want to cover the bottom a bit, if it is not quite perfectly even,  you could add some ribbon. 

I mad the little Thank you with the "A Round Array" Stamp set.  This set is on special right now.  I used it in my last post, but in case you missed it, here are the details...

If you buy the stamps and the punch together, you get 15% off.   Stamp item # 129090 $14.95.    Punch item #129404 $12.95.   Or, buy them together for $23.95  Bundle item #133899.

I layered the tiny scallop with the next size up scallop, 1 1/4 inch, item #127811 for $15.95.

 

Thanks for stopping by!  I hope I've shown you some fun ways to use up your small strips of left over paper!                  

 

 

 

Big MDS Sale Going on Now!

Are you digital yet?  If not, you really should give it a try.  The My Digital Studio software is only $19.95 now!!  It's a great time of year to get started because you will surely be taking loads of vacation photos, summer fun, family reunions, back to school,, etc!  If you love paper scrapbooks, I get it, I do to.  I resisted digital for a REALLY long time.  I bought MDS when it first came out, but didn't touch it for over a year.  I finally decided to do it, and WOW, I love it!!   One of the things people say about digital is that its not as creative or its less personal.  With MDS this is not the case.  Sure there are templates to stick to if you don't feel like creating on your own. BUT, Stampin' Up! has made MDS so close to paper crafting its crazy.  Do you like to use punches to make cute little punch art animals or images?  In MDS you can cut your punches and layer them just like real paper (but, you can also resize them, which you can't do with real paper) I made little leprechauns in MDS and real paper and they both turned out cute.  Check back in my March archives to see.  And, you can create on the fly.  You don't have to get out all your papers and inks and spread them all out over your table.  You don't have to devote a few hours to it.  Just turn on the computer and work for a while, save your work and get back to it later. 
There are NO RULES.  Let go of the notion that you need to scrap in order, or that if you started in paper you need to stay in paper.  I let go of those ideas and it was really liberating.  I have paper pages next to digital pages in my books.  The idea of scrapbooking is to capture the memory, to relive the memory.  If its a chore or stressful, its not a fun creative outlet.  Love paper?  ME TOO!  I made a paper page last week.   I love both!   You don't have to be one or the other.

 

If you bought MDS but haven't done much with it, I suggest going to My Digital Studio.net to watch some tutorials.  And check out the sample gallery.  And, go to my Digital Cuts blog to see some of the fun things I've been making with MDS.  I am also working with the MDS Monday challenge blog, so go check that out too!!

Oh, and the real reason for my post today!! MDS Print Products and Select Downloads are now on sale 25% off through June 15th!!!  And, I have some duplicate content CD's that I've earned throughout the year.  Purchase MDS during the month of May and be entered into a drawing for a free MDS Content disk.  These disks were hostess and Sale-A-Bration incentives. They have papers, Stamp brush sets and embellishments I have 4 so there will be 4 winners!  

 

 

Thanks for stopping by today!  Contact me with any questions!