Fun, Furry Friend!

It was my Dad's birthday Oct 26th and I decided to use my Sock Monkey stamp set (Item #111550) to make his card.  The senement is from Heard From The Heart Stamp Set (Item #111644).  The Card stock I used was was 8-1/2x11" Card stock in the following colours:  Early Esspresso (Item #119686), Poppy Parade (Item #119793) and Very Vanilla (Item #101650), the grey is retired.  I used a mini library clip (Item #109857) and a bit of red gingham ribbon (Item #104827) which is a clearance item so will only be available while supplies last.  You could also use the new 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon (Item #119251) in Real Red or a co-ordinating colour of your choise.

This is the inside cover - to add some interest I also stampped the balloon from that Sock Monkey set, and used the banana as a background stamp along with some of the scraps I had left over to layer and create another image.  The string is hand drawn using Early Esspresso marker as well as the personal message on the small piece of Poppy Parade "On Your Birthday"

This card is great for a man, young or young at heart, with a sense of humour or nastalgia.  It could easily be adapted for just about anyone!  Change up the colours and add a border punch to give it a more feminie touch?

If you are interested in any of the items I've used to create this card, click on the underlined link to see an image of the item or go to the Stampin' Up! Costomer page and punch in the code to see more information about the item.  And of course, you can always give me a shout if there is anything you'd like to order *wink*!!

Why not pull out your crafting supplies and try a card like this today!  And please, snap a shot and email it to me!! I love to see your work too!

Until next time .... *HUGS!!*

More Punch Art ... Pretty Purses!!!

I've been sitting on this sweet little project for a while too and finally I'm sharing it with you, I hope you give it a try!  I have a friend who has passion for purses!  One of my favorite story about her was her trip to New York and the adventure she had shopping for "discount designer purses"!  With this in mind, when her birthday rolled around I knew I just had to do something with a purse!  Fortunatly for me, there are lots of creative people out there that already figured out how to use punches to make some adorable purses and I used their tips and with a few of my own to create this card for my friend!

The body of the purse is made with the Round Tab Punch (Item # 119864).  If you just cut your punched image in half then turn it on it's side you've got the body for the punch - I bumped it up a knotch by mixing and matching my purses by turning my 1/2 tab punched purse in half and used the curvy part to punch out the top to give my purse that 2 toned look - kinda looks like there's a leather flap at the top, don't you think?  Then use the 2 oval punches (Large Oval Item #119855 & Small Oval Item #119863 )to create the handles and the word window punch (Item #119857) to create the flap (held in place with a heart brad - not SU).  The designer series cardstock was Cottage wall, which is now retired.  You can use any combination of DS paper and card stock that appeals to your eye!  I layered the purses with a small square of designer series paper on a coordinating square of cardstock and using the Corner Punch (Item #119871) on only 2 oposit corners of each square, created a pin wheel design to add some interests.  For the sentement I used the small ovals I punched out fo the centers of the 4 hand bag straps to layer my greeting to add a little pizazz to my card front!

Plain and simple or with a bit of a twist - these little purses can jazz up any project from a card to a scrap book page!  Add some couture to your next project with a hand bag or two!

TRY IT TODAY!!

More Punch Art ... Paper Roses!!!

I made this card last summer but hadn't posted it as I hadn't had the chance to give it to the intended recipient!  The cardstock and DSP I used is no longer available but I wanted to share the technique with you so that you can give it a try too! 

Can you believe that I made that rose and those buds with the new flower punch?  Well I did!  The moment I saw this technique, I just had to try it.  First you punch out 3 flowers with the punch.  Then you cut one petal from the first flower (like a pie to the center of the flower) leaving 4 petals and a triangle cut out of it.  The next flower, you cut 2 petals together (it will look like a heart) and will leave 3 petals on the other piece.  The last flower you leave whole, except for one slit into the middle of the flower between 2 petals.

The buds are just the single, double and triple petals rolled up and curled using your bone folder.  It helps if you play with the paper a little bit before you punch out the flowers to make it soft (break up the fibers a little).  You can also spung or stamp colour onto the paper to help this process.

First, curl up the single pie piece, rounded edge up and secure with a drop of strong glue (trombo or tacky strip will work) then carefully use the tip of your bone folder and your thumb to curl the rounded edge of the petal over to open up the center of the flower. Then Nip off the tip so that it will nest into the next layer nicely.

Next, the 2 petal 'heart' shaped piece, fold it over onto itself and create a little pocket in the center where you can slip the single petal - this would be a good bud.  Again, use your thumb and the tip of your bone folder to curl the edge over.  Nip the tip for the next layer.

Continue with the 3, and 4 petal sections, folding over to glue one petal over the other leaving 2 and 3 petals and staggar them together glueing as you go.  Continue to trim off the tip before nesting them into the next layer

The last one is the 5 petal flower with the slit, over lap 2 petals making it a 4 petal and glue the others to the center.  Trim off the point to flatten it.  I used a large glue dot to secure it to the page.  Now you can tweak your petals a little and add some greenery to make your rose complete.

I gave it some greenery in a couple shades of green using the 5 petal flower punch and my bone folder to press veins into the leaves before nipping them so that there were 2-3 leaves (petals) per section.  Then I added some bling to finish off my card!  What do you think?  Can you master this 3D punch art?  I'll bet you can - these pictures are of my second attempt!! If I can do it, I know you can too!

Let me know how you did!