Stampin Friends May 2021 Blog Hop: Masculine

 

Welcome Friends!

It's time for another blog hop for my stampin friends and me.  We are a group of card makers who share a card and a project each month following the monthly theme.  Our names are listed at the bottom of my blog.  You may have just have come from Katja's blog.  Teri's blog follows mine in the list. 
Just in time for Father's Day next month in the U.S., the theme this month is MASCULINE.  I once asked my husband what he'd like in a masculine card.  Here are his suggestions:  NO frills, NO ribbons, NO flowers, PLAIN and SIMPLE, wildlife OK, sports OK,  tools, OK.  I think the one I created this month would satisfy him.

I used a new stamp set called Etched in Nature for this card.  I stamped the image with Memento black ink and colored it with my Stampin Blends alcohol based makers.  I sponged a little blue above and beside the bird.  Then it was just a matter of adding a few layers for accent.  Plain and simple, no flowers, no frills!

I followed the same plain and simple formula with the gift card holder.  I chose to make an origami fold gift card holder. 

Searching You Tube and Pinterest, I found a multitude of origami samples and how to do them.  The Paper Pixie has a  video on YouTube that I found to be the easiest to follow.  Thank you, Julie!

Here are my steps:

1.  Cut a piece of patterned paper 7" x 10".

2.  Score the 7" side at 1-3/4", 3-1/2", and 5-1/4".

3.  Score the 10" side at 2-1/2", 5", and 7-1/2".

4.  Cut a piece of patterned paper for the insert 4-7/8" x  3-3/8" and fold it in half.

5.  Fold according to the following directions. (I chose a piece of patterned paper, that wasn't masculine on both sides.  The difference in the front and back patterns will make the folding easier to "see.")

Position the 7 x 10' paper lengthwise with the 7in. at the top and bottom.  Fold the left side to the center score line and burnish.

Fold the right side in on the score line to meet the other flap in the middle and burnish

Fold all four corners up to the fold line

Keep the corners folded and bring the sides to the center

Keeping it folded, turn it over

Using the score line, fold the bottom up even with the middle score line

Fold the top down to meet the bottom flap 

Here is the insert folded and ready to go.

 Once this is in place, it will keep the gift card holder together.

Insert it under the top and bottom flaps all the way until it is flat with the card holder base.

It should look like this.  Now fold the whole thing in half and burnish well to get a sharp crease.

Here is the front with the fold at the top.

You will see the line where the flaps meet in the middle.  If I were making a feminine card, I would adhere a ribbon all around the gift card covering the seam and tying a bow to keep the gift card holder closed.  HOWEVER, my hubby said NO RIBBONS on a masculine card!  So.....this is how I covered the seam.  

I cut a strip of patterned paper long enough to fold in half and cover the seam on front and back and extending past the bottom of the card holder. 

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I decorated the inside and added a small Velcro circle to keep it closed.  

Here are the card and gift card holder.  I hope you like my creations.  Be sure to click on the names below to see my stampin friends' awesome creations.  We love to hear what you think of our projects, so please take a minute to add a comment.  Thanks!  Happy Crafting!

Jean 

1. Maureen Rauchfuss - US
2. Katja Ettig
3. Jean Beaulieu You are here.
4. Teri Pocock
5. Tiziana Milano
6. Steph Jandrow US
7. Kim Lamos

Stampin Friends 2021 April Blog Hop--All About the Flowers

Welcome! 

Once a month my Stampin Friends and I create cards and 3-D projects following a theme and share them in a Blog Hop. I am so glad you are here! If you are following the blog list, you may have come from Maureen's blog.  Click on Stephanie's name below to continue "hopping."

     This month's theme focuses on a passion of mine:  All About the Flowers!  I thought this would be easy.  Not so!!!  I have many flower stamps (iris, sunflowers, roses, daisies, Queen Anne's lace, etc.).  Because I love them all, choosing one was a dilemma until I saw the Pansy Patch Bundle in the new Stampin' Up! 2021-2022 Annual Catalog. (As a demonstrator, I am able to preorder and create projects before the actual date the catalog goes into effect.) Products in the new catalog will be available for sale May 4, 2021.  The stamps and dies can be used in many different ways to create pansies.  I have shown three ways to make them in my projects.  

     Pansies have always been a favorite flower. When I was five, I saw some pretty flowers (pansies) in my mom's garden.  I picked all of them and took the bouquet to her.  She was a little surprised to see her pansies in my hand. She was more than a little surprised to see how few were left in the pansy patch!  Luckily, they quickly flowered again.  

     Pansy pots are always the first burst of spring color on my deck.  Here in Montana we never know when spring is really here.  Two days ago we woke to two inches of snow on the ground.  Even in cold conditions, pansies are tough--they can freeze solid overnight and be as perky as ever by noon! Here's a pot I planted a couple of days ago:

I can't wait until they fill the pot!

I have a customer whose mother loves to send out cards to family and friends.  Because the mother is home bound, she can't shop for cards.  For her mother's birthday, my friend wants to give her mother a gift box containing cards, envelopes, and stamps. She asked for my help.

With some inspiration from fellow demonstrator Connie Stewart, here's what I came up with: 

a greeting card "book box" filled with ready-to-send cards. The box opens like a book and has two pockets inside for stamps, cards, and envelopes.  

Front of greeting card box.  

These pansies were made using only the die cuts that came in the Pansy Bundle.

Two inside pockets 

Theses pansies were were double stamped with images from the stamp set.  The greetings are from the Hello Dear Friend Card Kit.

I enclosed four pansy cards and decorated envelopes.  Here are closeups of the four cards:

These pansies and leaves were die cut  from images found on the Designer Series Paper that coordinates with the Pansy Bundle.

Greeting Card Box 

Measurements:

Cover:  6" x 10-5/8" Score 4-3/4" from each end.

1. Trim the cardstock to the size indicated.  

2. Score.  

3. Set aside.

Inside Pockets:  6-1/2" x 11"  

With the 11" side at the top, score  at 1/2", 5", 6", 10-1/2"

With the 6-1/2" side at the top, score at 3" and 3-1/2"

Cut in half at 5-1/2" to make two pockets that are 

5-1/2" x 6-1/2"

1. Cut and score according to the directions.

2. Miter the middle tabs (red in the template).

3. Adhere double sided adhesive to flaps (blue in the template). 

4.  To put the box together, make sure the little mitered tabs are sandwiched between the sides of the pocket.  (Hint:  Slide an ink pad into the pocket to make the pocket more secure during the construction.

5.  Leave the ink pad in the pocket, add adhesive to the back of the pocket, and place it in the cover so that box is flush with the score line and the bottom.  DO NOT GLUE THE SIDE OF THE POCKET TO THE SPINE OF THE "BOOK" COVER, ONLY THE BACK OF THE POCKET. 

In addition to the four cards in the box, I also made this card:

I made these pansies by cutting out white card stock petals with the die cuts and then sponging them.  The color combinations and techniques for creating pretty pansies are endless! In your comments below tell me which pansies you like best. 

These are the names and links for my talented Stampin' Friends.  Click on their links to see their wonderful flower projects.  Please feel free to comment at the bottom of each blog.  We love to see what people think of our creations!

1. Kirsty Patrick
2. Katja Ettig
3. Jo Blackman
4. Teri Pocock
5. Maureen Rauchfuss
6. Jean Beaulieu You are here.
7. Stephanie Jandrow
8. Melissa Thomas

Stampin Friends 2021 Blog Hop--Monochromatic March

 

Happy Spring to all!  Once a month some of my stamping friends and I share some special projects:  a card and a 3-D item following a theme.  This month was all about choosing a favorite color and creating projects with just that color.  I can't wait to see what my friends have made!  If you are following the list of bloggers, you may have seen  Teri's wonderful creations.  I hope you will click on Maureen's name in the list of bloggers at the end of my post.  Comments at the end of the blogs are always appreciated!

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I chose shades of blue (Night of Navy, Misty Moonlight, and Seaside Spray) for my card and treat box.  

I created the ombre background with a stencil and a blender brush.

A stamped greeting, a spray of blue flowers, and some pearls completed the card. The small strawberry flowers are found in  the Sweet Strawberry stamp set and punched with the Strawberry Maker Punch.

The larger flowers are found in the Free as a Bird stamp set.  I "fussy cut" them.

The leaves are part of the            Forever Flourishing die set.

In the course of organizing my craft room, I came across some old stencils!!  I had forgotten how fun it was to create backgrounds with stencils.  I used temporary tape to hold the cardstock in place, placed the stencil over it, and adhered the stencil with washi tape.  Then I applied the three blue colors with a blender brush.  Love, love, love the blender brushes for this technique!

I put more flowers on the inside.

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Here's the matching treat box made with the Love You Always Treat Boxes.  There are ten ready-to-make boxes in the package.  4-1/16" x 2-11/16" x 1-1/2" (10.3 x 6.8 x 3.8 cm)

There are two pieces for each box.  The square piece opens to make a belly band to slide over the box after it's filled.

The photo on the right shows the assembled box and its belly band before decorating.

Before I assembled the box,  I stamped some small flowers from the Sweet Strawberry stamp set on the top, bottom, and sides in the three colors.  

I made another belly band to wrap around the belly band with night of navy cardstock for a mat and a strip of stenciled basic white cardstock. It's fun to add a little message in the bottom of the box to be found by the recipient when the box is empty of treats.  

 

There are so  many possibilities to fill these boxes and share a treat with someone special!

Here's a close up view of the top of the treat box. I used the same blue and white flower spray that I made for the card.

Thanks for stopping by.  To see more amazing projects, click on the names below to see what my crafty friends have created this month.

1. Kirsty Pattrick (UK)
2. Teri Pocock (UK)
3. Jean Beaulieu (US) You are here.
4. Maureen Rauchfuss (US)
5. Kim Lamos (US)
6. Jo Blackman (UK)
7. Heidi Collins (US)
8. Steph Jandrow (US)
9. Melissa Thomas (US)
10. Katja Ettig (GER)
11. Tiziana Milano (US)

Here are some of the products I used.  To purchase an item from my online "store", click on the name of the product.

Night Of Navy 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [100867] $8.75	Night Of Navy Classic Stampin' Pad [147110] $7.50	Misty Moonlight 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [153081] $8.75	Misty Moonlight Classic Stampin' Pad [153118] $7.50
Seaside Spray 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock [150883] $8.75	Seaside Spray Classic Stampin’ Pad [150085] $7.50	Forever Flourishing Dies [152714] $36.00	Strawberry Builder Punch [154239] $18.00
Free As A Bird Cling Stamp Set [149468] $22.00	Sweet Strawberry Photopolymer Stamp Set [154394] $18.00	Queen Anne's Lace Photopolymer Stamp Set (English) [152607] $17.00	Pearl Basic Jewels [144219] $5.00
Blending Brushes [153611] $12.00	Love You Always Treat Box [154285] $9.00