Crafting Up the Coast

I’m really excited that Easter is in April this year. Why? Because it means more time for Easter crafting!

I don’t know why, but I absolutely love Easter (even more than Christmas)! Maybe it’s because my birthday is in the spring, or it could be the craftiness of egg painting—or it might even be the challenge of finding every last hidden egg. I don’t know. But either way, it’s fun, colorful, and makes me happy.

Before Valentine’s Day was even over, I had a ton of ideas for the Basket Bunch Photopolymer Bundle (item 144731). The Basket Bunch Stamp Set (item 143186) is absolutely adorable and it just screams “Design a scene with me!” It really does! So I couldn’t resist and decided to make little Easter egg dioramas.

Now, before you get too excited, I have to say: I used fake eggs. They don’t break (they actually bounce, if you really want to know), you can cut into them with scissors, and oh yeah, there is no messy center to deal with. So it was the obvious choice. They’re called DIY Easter Eggs and you can find them pretty much anywhere Easter stuff is being sold.

To begin, I drew a “window opening” on my egg, poked a hole with my Paper Piercing Tool (item 126189), and cut it out using my Paper Snips (item 103579). To color my egg shells, I simply used the ink pad of choice and a Sponge Dauber (item 133773) to rub it on the outside. I let them dry overnight.

Now, you’re probably thinking that designing inside an egg is pretty tedious and if I had to guess, I would agree. You see, I didn’t design or assemble my little scenes inside the egg. I designed everything on a cardstock circle, punched using the 1-1/4″ Circle Punch (item 119861). Once my design was complete, I placed the scenery (bottom first) into the egg and turned it.

I love all the different images in the Basket Bunch Stamp Set and the coordinating Basket Builder Framelits Dies (item 143228)—which make it quick and easy to cut them out. The possibilities are endless with this bundle. You can have a bunny in his carrot garden, a basket of flowers, or even little chickadees hanging out at the farm.

To finish off my little egg dioramas I added the Whisper White Mini Pompom Trim (item 141486) to the opening. This trim is absolutely perfect to complete the look.

Thank you for joining me today and Happy Easter crafting!

Martha Inchley
2017 Artisan Design Team

St. Patrick’s Day isn’t a holiday I decorate for, but occasionally we’ll do a little something fun for our family. The gold coins are a novelty for the younger kids, and the peanut butter cups taste much better for the older ones, but what I love is the rainbow of color stamped on watercolor paper, using images from the Over the Rainbow stamp set. It’s like magic when you spritz with water and watch the colors blend together…super easy! And it makes a great background for the sentiment and for all the gold elements of this shaker tag!

Cooper and I made a simpler version of this tag for friends, which turned out really cute too. (I had extra chocolates and didn’t want them sitting around tempting me!) We decided to use the sentiment (from the same set) God gives us rainbows to remind us of hope. I love the simplicity of this saying…and the gift from God!

Hello there! With the first day of spring only a few days away I thought I would create a couple of simple, cute projects using the adorable Basket Bunch Stamp Set (item 143186) along with the coordinating Basket Builder Framelits Dies (item 143228). This set is perfect for Easter but I wanted to show you that it’s great for other occasions, too. I love a stamp set that you can adapt, since that makes it an even better value for the money!

For my first card, “Happiest birthday,” I turned the Easter eggs into balloons!

To create the balloons, I placed the eggs the wrong-side up on my block, then inked and stamped them to get a solid color; the colors I used are So Saffron (item 126957), Soft Sky (item 131181), Pink Pirouette (item 126956), and Crumb Cake (item 126975). I then turned the stamp the correct way around and inked with Tuxedo Black ink (item 132708) to stamp the egg outline and detail.

I colored the bunny and the bow with a Blender Pen (item 102845) and the same inks I used for the balloons. (The Blender Pens are one of my favorite tools and are a great way for you to get the most out of your ink pads!)

The sentiment I used for this card is from the Cool Treats Stamp Set (item 142982). I love mixed font sentiments and “Happiest birthday” was a perfect fit for this card.

Here is a close-up. Even though this card is simple, there’s lots of dimension!

I created my second card, For Somebunny Sweet, using sticky notes as a mask so I could overlap the bunnies.

First I stamped the bunny in the center on my Whisper White Cardstock (item 100730) mat.

I then stamped the same bunny on a sticky note, making sure that part of the bunny was stamped where the adhesive strip would be on the reverse; then I fussy cut the image. I placed the “sticky note bunny” over the top of the first bunny to create a mask so that when I stamped the bunny again on either side, no ink would touch the bunny in the center. I colored them in using the Blender Pens and Crumb Cake, Pink Pirouette, and So Saffron ink.

For the sentiment I used another trick with a sticky note. I only wanted to use part of the sentiment so my card would be suitable for a birthday, thank you note, or a simple “Hello.” You can see below how I achieved this.

The tiny hearts are from another favorite stamp set of mine, Made with Love (138662). I also used them to create a subtle background on the Crumb Cake mat along with the tiny dots from this set.

My final project, “Thanks a bunch,” is a little envelope that I made using the Envelope Punch Board (item 133774)—another one of my favorite, must-have tools. Not only is it easy for making lots of different-sized envelopes, but it’s handy for making boxes, too!

Once I had created the envelope using Crumb Cake Cardstock (item 120953) I randomly stamped the little carrot all over the front of the envelope using Crumb Cake ink. Afterward I wrapped a strip of Designer Series Paper from the Brights Designer Series Paper Stack (item 138434) in Daffodil Delight around the envelope, then adhered a thinner piece of Crumb Cake Cardstock over the top. This creates a belly band which will keep the envelope closed.

I stamped the sentiment “Thanks a bunch” to the right and placed the stamped and die cut carrots to the left. I colored the carrots in with a Blender Pen using Peekaboo Peach (item 141398) and Pear Pizzazz (item 131180) ink. To finish, I die cut the grass using Pear Pizzazz Cardstock (item 131201).

Inside is a little packet of carrot seeds.

Both my aunty and I are growing our own vegetables for the first time this year; she has an allotment and I have a small plot in my garden. I wish I had a green thumb like her! I have a tendency to kill plants with kindness, so I think I will need lots of help and advice from her over the coming months—and this envelope of carrot seeds will be a perfect way of saying thank you!

Katy Harrison
2017 Artisan Design Team

Hello, stampers! With succulents being so “hot” right now, I wanted to create something special for you all that had something to do with them. There was just one problem. I don’t as yet have the Oh So Succulent Bundle (item 145184). Gasp, I know, but I do have the Vertical Garden Project Kit (item 143635) and the Vertical Garden Stamp Set (item 142996) so I’m here today using some of the items out of the Vertical Garden kit and stamp set for some gorgeous gift boxes. I’ve also pulled out a trusty old tool that has a million-and-one uses, the Envelope Punch Board (item 133774). So I’m mixing up some of the old with the new.

The Envelope Punch Board (item 133774) is not only fabulous for making your own envelopes, but you can also make your own boxes with them, too. What’s better than not only making a special handmade card for your special friends but also making the gift box, as well?

I’ve created three different-sized boxes for you with three different looks. I’m loving the mix of the Basic Black Solid Baker’s Twine (item 141682) with the soft Sahara Sand Cardstock (item 121043) to give the gift boxes a bit of a grungy, modern feel.

For the first box I marked and scored all my fold lines and then I measured approximately how wide the swirl stamp image was from the Vertical Garden Stamp Set (item 142996). I wanted to make sure that I could mark even spacing across the top of the box to stamp and then heat emboss White Stampin’ Emboss Powder (item 109132). Once the lid was embossed and the embossing powder was set I could put the box and lid together using Tear & Tape Adhesive (item 138995). Tear & Tape is a strong adhesive and is fabulous for boxes and 3D items. I just wrapped the Basic Black Solid Baker’s Twine (item 141682) a few times and then decorated with the succulents from the Vertical Garden Project Kit (item 143635).

To give the succulents a bit more depth and color I sponged each petal using the Stamping Sponges (item 141337). Then I finished off the boxes with 5/8″ Burlap Ribbon (item 141487) and Gold Sequin Trim (item 132983)—just for some added elements and texture.

How fabulous is that “Hello” from the Vertical Garden Stamp Set? I love the font and it looks so gorgeous stamped and heat embossed with White Stampin’ Emboss Powder (item 109132) on Vellum Cardstock (item 101856). I trimmed down the vellum to a 2″ strip using the Stampin’ Trimmer (item 126889), then turned it into a gorgeous tag using the Scalloped Tag Topper Punch (item 133324). That punch makes tag-making oh, so easy!

The second box is again made with the Envelope Punch Board and embellished in a way that is similar to the first one. I just changed up the stamped images and the size of the box.

The last box is again made with the Envelope Punch Board, but instead of making it in Sahara Sand Cardstock, this one is made using the Thick Whisper White Cardstock (item 140272). This cardstock is not only fabulous for card bases but for smaller, 3D constructions, as well.

As I did with the first two boxes, I punched and scored the cardstock to prepare for making the box, but before I put it together, I first stamped the swirly image on the lid of the box using VersaMark ink (item 102283) and embossed it using Gold Stampin’ Emboss Powder (item 109129) and the Heat Tool (item 129053). The splatters over the top are flicks of Gold Wink of Stella (item 141898). The Wink of Stella adds another touch and element to your creation and really looks fabulous splattered over . . . well, everything!

To flick Wink of Stella, give the barrel chamber a bit of a squeeze so the brush tip is quite wet. Then press the brush tip just in the top edge of the lid and push and flick the brush tip out of the lid away from you so that it splatters over your creation. Give the Wink of Stella a minute or two to dry or give it a quick blast with the Heat Tool. (If you don’t let your splatters dry, they will smudge and then not look so pretty.)

The little box is then finished off with some of the same ribbons and trims as the first two boxes as well as some Gold Metallic Thread (item 138401) tied around it for some more added prettiness.

Thank you so much for joining me today. I do hope that I’ve inspired you to dress up your gift boxes and to create a pretty package for your gifts.

Rochelle Blok
2017 Artisan Design Team

Hello!

Are you ready to be inspired? Great, let’s get started! You can make this cute mini album in one of two ways (beginner or expert), depending on your level of experience and the supplies you have on hand. All you have to do is follow the instructions and have fun!

1. Building the box—beginner version To build the box, you will need two sheets of paper from the Cupcakes & Carousels Designer Series Paper Stack (item 142744). I used two different designs to add contrast.

   To create the bottom, use one sheet of 6″ x 6″ paper; score at 1″ on each of the four sides; cut corners as seen on the photo and adhere. For the top of the box, use one sheet cut at 5-3/8″ x 5-3/8″; score at 3/8″ on all four sides.

   

2. Build the top of the box—beginner version

Decorate the top of your box with two hot air balloons stamped in Early Espresso ink (item 126974) on a piece of Cupcakes & Carousels Designer Series Paper. To make the tag, I used a piece of Gold Baker’s Twine and a few sequins from the Cupcakes & Carousels Embellishment Kit (item 142767), then adhered it using Stampin’ Dimensionals. It’s simple to make but oh-so-elegant—don’t you think?

3) Build a shaker top for the box—advanced version

I made the top of the box a bit more fun for those who want to do the stepped-up version.

Before assembling the top, I cut out a window using the Stitched Shapes Framelit Dies (item 145372). Next, I cut and adhered a 3-3/4″ x 3-3/4″ Window Sheet (item 142314) to the back and assembled the top. Next, I cut a 3-3/4″ x 3-3/4″ piece of Cupcakes & Carousels Designer Series Paper and this time, I used the hot air balloons that were cut out using the Up & Away Thinlits Dies (item 142748).

To finish the project, I applied Foam Adhesive Strips (item 141825) to the edge of the Designer Series Paper, slipped in a few sequins and Sprinkles Embellishments (item 142741) on the Window Sheet, and adhered my paper on the bottom of my cover. I love shaking the box to see the beads and sequins dance around!

4) On the inside

I used two 8-1/2″ x 11″ sheets of Bermuda Bay Cardstock (item 131197) for the first mini and Calypso Coral Cardstock (item 122925) for the second. First, I cut three strips measuring 3-1/2″ by 11″, scored at 3-1/2″, 7″, and 10-1/2″. Next, I cut a strip of 31/2″ x 7″ and folded at 3-1/2″. All that was left was to fold the accordion as illustrated.

If you can, round all angles and corners as I did using the Project Life Corner Punch (item 135346). This will make it easier to handle and give the project a nice finishing touch. (I adhered the first and last flaps to the top and bottom of the box.)

5) Decorate your album

I created the mini in the spirit of a country fair and its fabulous treats. (I make these recipes on a regular basis when I have guests.) For a simple version, you can play around with the designs on the Cupcakes & Carousels Designer Series Paper Stack; I used the horse on this one.

I stamped a few clouds in Early Espresso ink on a design and fussy cut them. That’s right, when you don’t have Framelits Dies or the Big Shot, you can still use these assorted stamps. I adhered the horse using Stampin’ Dimensionals (item 104430).

To keep the spirit of a shaker card in the second version, I used some sequins from the Cupcakes & Carousels Embellishment Kit and created a little shaker pocket. The second flap is decorated with yummy cupcakes ready to be tasted.

I hope you enjoy this project!

Aurélie Fabre
2017 Artisan Design Team