"Quilting" (Workshop)

  

Quilting

Fee:  $15 or free with $30 catalogue order 
1 - 1 1/2 hours

If you're looking at this page, chances are you're a quilter.  Congratulations - you have more patience than I can ever hope to!  I love all of the little details you find in quilts, so why not do it with paper too?  In this workshop you will use a series of coordinating patterned paper (to match the season, of course) and embossing techniques to create a "quilt" for your cards.  You will try three different layouts to give you a variety of styles.  Once your quilt top is ready, you can choose from a variety of sentiments to finish it off.

Love Of My Life

 

No, I don't mean my husband, though technically, I guess he's pretty good too. :)  This week is exam week at school which means there are a few times when I have to sit at my desk (which I never do) and invigilate.  This is VERY boring.  Genius that I am, I brought my new IB&C with me and put little stickies all over it (colour coded for when I will order the products).  I was very excited to get home and craft for a bit, so I called my bestie and raced home to pull out my goods.

There always seem to be a few things that I love love love from SU, so I think that I will try and mention a few of them each week.  This week I love love love Wisteria Wonder.  This is one of the new In Colours, and I was very happy to see it appear.  Previously, the purples of SU were great, but really lacking in the subtle department.  Perfect Plum is lovely, but not always what I'm looking for.  This gorgeous shade is sure to make appearances in many of my creations.

The next thing that I love love love this week is one of my newest sets, Herb Expressions.  This set's been around for a while, but I only recently purchased it.  I really like the images, and the sentiments are equally great.  I'm already thinking of all the things I can do with this beautiful set.  I think it will be a theme set for a club...

And finally, this isn't an SU product, but something I saw online and said, "Oh my god, I need one of those," and wrangled a kid into making for me.  I can't remember where I saw it, but whist surfing around looking at crafting ideas, I came cross this AMAZING idea.  Let me start by telling you how much I HATE tying bows.  I despise it.  Loathe it.  Spend 15 minutes fiddling with each one I make so that it looks good, just to realize it was better in the first place and I have to start all over again.  ARG!!  Alas, fear not those of you who share my abhorrence towards these necessary little evils!  You need one of these:

I know.  You're already thinking, "Why didn't I think of that already?"  All you do is wrap your ribbon around these little pegs in a figure 8, then twist once at the back (think twist-tie), bring one piece under and around to the front to make the middle part of the bow, and then tie in the back.  Voila!  You have a perfect bow!  No more fidgeting to get the loops to look nice.  You can make it with just one set of loops, or as many as you please.  The 2 cards on this page each have 2 loops - I think it's kind of awesome like that.  I like my bows to be quite small, so the pegs are close together, but you could customize the distance between them based on your own preferences.

So there you have it.  My love love loves of this week:
 
1.  Wisteria Wonder
2.  Herb Expressions
3.  Peg board bow tying amazingness

Stamps:  Herb Expressions
Ink: Lucky Limeade, Wisteria Wonder
Paper:  Elegant Eggplant, Crumb Cake, Wisteria Wonder, First Edition, Very Vanilla
Extras:  Very Vanilla seam binding ribbon, round corner punch, Regals collection brads

Why is it so hard to make a masculine card?

 

In the glorious summer months, I don't have to work.  (I went to school for six years for this, and will be repaying that debt FOREVER mind you).  Instead, I fill my days with reading, lounging around with no purpose, digging in my garden, and immersing myself in my craftroom.  On Fridays, however a friend and I head out at 7:30 to set up for the Farmer's Market.  Yes, I know this is an old lady thing to do, but I'm fine with that.  Just like birdwatching and quilting, I am fully comfortable knowing that my hobbies are that of retired ladies, and nursing home dwellers.  I don't care.

Throughout the year I make a few cards here and there when my workload isn't too crazy.  Basically this means fall, winter, and spring break, and near the end when we're wrapping things up.  I can come up with unlimited cards to make which utilize all of the fabulous toys and products that fill every free space of the room my husband only dares to enter.  However, I find that the majority of my cards are not exactly manly.  It was a colleague's birthday yesterday, and I looked in my giant stash of cards to pull one out for him, and realized that I have no testosterone-appropriate birthday cards.  What to do!  Luckily I thought of Plane and Simple and put something together for him quickly whilst downing coffee (and burning my esophagus) and putting on mascara (and poking myself in the eye).  

I have now pledged to spend my next full day in the craftroom making many cards.  I'm trying to think of the sets that I have that could be manly, and there aren't a lot.  I'm starting to think that even though I don't personally love the sets with trucks and wolves and ships, maybe I should purchase a few.  But for now, Nature Walk and Plane and Simple will have to do.  I figure that green and brown are manyly enough, even of there is a bird.

Stamps:  Nature Walk

Ink:  Early Espresso, Old Olive

Paper:  Crumb Cake, Early Espresso, Botanical Gazette

Strength and Hope

Strength and Hope is one of the sets in the Summer Mini, and this was the first time I pulled it out to use.   A good friend of mine is getting married this weekend, so of course I had to make a card for him and his lovely wife-to-be.  This set seemed perfect for the occasion.  I'm not sure what their colours are, so I figured you can't go wrong with ivory and gold.

I'm sure he won't even take a look at the card, but I sure hope she does.  I hate cutting out stamped images, so this was a step out of my comfort zone!

Stamps:  Strength & Hope, En Francais
Ink:  Crumb Cake
Paper:  Very Vanilla, Cromb Cake
Extras: CC Seam binding ribbon, 2 3/8 scallop punch, basic pearls

Circle Circus

If you don't have Circle Circus, get it.  This is an amazing set and every time I pull it out I'm delighted with the results.  I love the designer series paper, but there are only so many colour combos it satisfies when it comes to the plethora of colour choices SU offers.  The ability of this set to make endless combinations of personalized paper makes it well worth the investment.

The top card is a nice card for just about anyone, and could easily be made into a thank you or congrats card rather than a birthday card by swapping with another of the Curly Cute sentiments.

This bottom card screams ice cream and presents, so I'll pass it along to the next friend I've got with a special day.

Stamps:  Circle Circus, Curly Cute
Paper: (top) Cherry Cobbler, Whisper White, (bottom) Temping Turquoise, Melon Mambo, Whisper White
Ink: (top) Cherry Cobbler, Baja Breeze, Soft Suede, (bottom) Tempting Turquoise, Melon Mambo, Daffodil Delight

Pocket Full of Posies

In the new Idea Book & Catalogue there are soooooo many things that I simply must have. This DSP happens to be one of them. Unlike many of their previous designs, this paper is host to a few sheets of large images that look like they were made more for scrapbooking than card making. I don't do scrapbooking however, I did find a way to use this gorgeous prints. It's my co-worker's birthday this weekend and I wanted to make her something special. This woman does absolutely everything (she even makes her own cheese - seriously? Who the heck knows how to make cheese?) and appreciates the love put into handmade gifts. I've never asked her if she keeps a journal, but I'm sure she does. She's probably a famous published author using a pseudonym...

So here's what I came up with. These journals are amazing gifts (I get squeals of delight each time I give one) and really show off stunning prints such as these.

Since I had all the supplies out, and the measurements in my head, I decided to make another one while I was at it. It's the end of the school year and the daughter of a good friend of mine was one of my students. I think I'll give this one to her to thank her for making such a difference in our school.

Altered Journal (workshop)

Fee:  $15 or free with $25 catalogue order 
1 - 1 1/2  hours

These stunning journals made beautiful, thoughtful gifts.  You might end up liking yours too much to give away!

Good Things Come In Small Packages (workshop)

Fee:  $10 or free with $20 catalogue order 
1 1/2 - 2 hours

In this workshop I’ll show you how to make a little box with 6 mini cards (3" X 3").  These are great to have around to send note, attach to a gift,  or to give as a gift itself. 

Boxed Goods (workshop)

Fee:  $20 or free with $30 catalogue order
2 hours

This project is a box filled with 4 full sized cards and envelopes.  The idea is to choose one stamp set that you love, and use it to create a myriad of different images.

This set uses "Elements of Style" with Pear Pizzaz and Very Vanilla.

Here' another example using "Always" with Perfect Plum and Very Vanilla.

Paper Bag Album (workshop)

Fee: $20 or free with $30 catalogue order
2 1/2 - 3 hours 


This workshop is designed to take the better part of an afternoon as it is quite an involved project.  Using paper lunch bags you will create a beautiful album ready to be filled with your favourite photos.  This is a wonderful gift idea.  You could put the pictures and journaling in yourself, or give it as a canvas for someone to fill.  This project is great for a wide range of skill levels.  You can make it as simple or intricate as you desire.

         

 

                    

  

                     

Elegant Birthday

I made this card a few weeks ago for a lovely coworker of mine.  I love, love, love this paper and wanted to showcase it.  The scallop punch flower with a little scrunched up ribbon added some class, and the pearls topped it all off with the perfect finishing touch.  I had almost forgotten about this card, but now that I see it again I think I'll try it again with a few different patterned pieces.

Stamps:  Curly Cute
Paper:  River Rock, Marina Mist, Paisley Petals
Ink:  Early Espresso
Extras: Large Scallop punch, Very Vanilla ribbon, Basic Jewels Pearls, Corner rounder punch

OMG

Forgive the texting language of the title, but I spend my days with teenagers, and OMG really sums up my thoughts about this one.  Tonight was game 6 of the Stanley Cup playoffs, and I'm a Vancouver fan.  I'm not one of those rabid fans that screams at the television, but if the Canucks are playing, I enjoy watching them.  Sadly, this was not the case tonight.  I knew that my newest shipment of Stampin' Up products would be waiting patiently, like a lonely pet, on the front porch when I got home tonight.  Originally, our plan was to watch the game at a friend's place, but she got sick, so plans changed.  This meant that I did not get to go home after work and tear open my SU boxes like a 5 year old on Christmas morning, as I had planned.  Long story short, Vancouver SUCKED tonight, and we ended up coming home after the first two periods.  My heart leaped with joy when I saw my boxes neatly piled beside the front door. 

The new Idea Book & Catalog is due to be released at the beginning of next month, but I received my sneak peeks this evening.  The new In Colours are gorgeous and I couldn't want until tomorrow to play.  Back to the teenagers - I have a bunch of students graduating this year that I've got soft spots for, so I am still plugging away at making cards for them.  One of the girls is named Vanessa, so naturally I had to make a card with butterflies all over it for her.  I love the playful colours of this card and they worked perfectly with the butterfly punch.

Stamps:  Punch Potpourri, Happy Greetings
Paper:  Calypso Coral, So Saffron, First Edition DSP
Ink: Calypso Coral, Lucky Limeade, Island Indigo, Pool Party, Wisteria Wonder
Extras:  Basic jewles pearls, Butterfly punch

Father's Day

 

My dad is one of my favourite people in the world.  Not just because he's my dad, but because he is so amazing.  He's intelligent, funny, kind, and just all around great.  Father's day is coming up next weekend so I sat down to make a card for him.  Cards are a big thing for our family.  We go to great lengths to find just the right card, and I've written a beautiful note inside that makes this the absolute perfect one for him.  I highly doubt that there are any men reading this blog, but if there are, and they are dads, I'm sure you're great too.  So Happy Father's Day to you too!

Bright & Cheery

The end of the school year is pretty much here (insert excited squeal here), and I've got a few people that I want to send a thank you out to.  So this afternoon I put on some music, opened the window wide, and pulled out this happy making paper.

After spending all day playing with this paper and making all sorts of cards, I realized that I have about 20 grad cards to make and that I had better get started on those too.  However, by the time this happened, it was nearly dinner time so I only ended up with one.  Guess I'll be crafting tomorrow again!

Stamps:  Teeny Tiny Greetings, Because I Care, Fabulous Florets
Paper:  Melon Mambo, Pacific Point, Daffodil Delight, Wild Wasabi, Whisper White, Beyond the Garden DSP
Ink:  Melon Mambo, Pacific Point, Daffodil Delight, Tangerine Tango
Extras:  Scallop Edge punch, Whisper White ribbon, Oval punch, Scallop Oval punch