Sale-a-bration January and February 2022

We are nearly three weeks in to the January and February 2022, have you seen the gorgeous items available from Stampin’ Up!? There are some gorgeous items which are available for FREE with a £45 or £90 spend. As with previous Sale-a-brations there is a gorgeous mix of papers and stamps.

Some of the items are stand alone and some of them co-ordinate or compliment items from the Annual or January to June Catalogue. There are some gorgeous items out there using all the new items and freebies.

The Sunshine and Rainbows DSP is something that I have seen so many gorgeous items created on Pinterest. They are definitely one of my favourite items in the Sale-a-bration offering

I am also loving the Friendly Hello Bundle which I can not wait to play with when I can get back into my craft room.

Ways to add oomph to a card using different items

Card using Coastal Cabana and the Biggest Wish Stamp Set with Artistry Bloom Sequins

In my last few videos I have shown how to make a set of 4x4 thanks cards and a box to hold them and some envelopes. I explained in my original video that I though that this simple card would work for 3x3 cards and maybe notecards but there may be a little too much white space on a normal card (14.8cm x 10.5 or 4.1" x 5.8".) Having made a ‘normal card’ I like it, but there is a bit too much white space and needs a bit of oomph to make it stand out and take away the white space. As this is a sentiment set, you could take another stamp set with mainly images, but I wanted to show that you don’t need another stamp set and that there a number of relatively simple ways to oomph up your cards.

A card using the Biggest Wish Stamp set and Bermuda Bay, Coastal Cabana and Night of Navy ink, with Basic White paper

A card using the Biggest Wish Stamp set from Stampin Up and Bermuda Bay, Coastal Cabana and Night of Navy ink, with Basic White paper

1. Using the reverse of one of the stamps, stamp a random pattern for the background..

2. Using the smallest stamp in the stamp set to create patterns.

3. Smooshing - using ink and water on plastic to create a watercolour background (please leave to dry before stamping the sentiment otherwise it may not stamp properly)

4. Ink Blending with a Blending brush

5. Ink Blending with a Blending brush and stencil

6. Splattering with Wink of Stella

7. Block stamping with ink and Wink of Stella

A card using the Biggest Wish Stamp set, Calypso Coral ink, with Basic White paper

A close up of a card using the Biggest Wish Stamp and Calypso Coral ink, with Basic White paper

Measurements

Metric

10.5 cm x 14.8 cm (10.5 by full length scored at 14.8cm)

Panel – 10cm x 14.3cm 

Imperial

4 1/8" x  5 7/8" (4 1/8” by full length scored at 5 7/8)

Panel – 3 7/8” x 5 5/8”

A card using the Biggest Wish Stamp set and Mango Melody ink, with Basic White paper

A card using the Biggest Wish Stamp set and the smooshing technique with Melon Mambo and Night of Navy ink

A card using the Biggest Wish Stamp set blending brushes and mask with Melon Mambo and Magenta Madness

A card using the Biggest Wish Stamp set and blending brushes with Melon Mambo and Magenta Madness

A card by using the Biggest Wish Stamp set Wink of Stella and Calypso Coral

A card using the Biggest Wish Stamp set Wink of Stella and Calypso Coral

My favourite is definitely the Wink of Stella and coloured splatters. Which is yours?

Simple box to fit a set of 4x4 inch (10x10cm) card

On Thursday I showed you how to make a set of some super cute thanks cards. I am planning to use them as thanks cards, but as I have made a few, I also wanted to put them in a box to gift them to friends. The super cute simple box also means that the cards and box are also perfect for craft fairs.

This box is an easy box to make and perfect if you are new to box making, or if you just want a quick easy box for your cards. I created the envelopes using the retired envelope punch board, I will probably but some envelopes as my envelopes are shocking, I have used the board more for boxes rather than envelopes. It is something I need to use more and practice using (apparently it takes 20 hours to be an expert in a new skill, so it may take a while.)

Simple 4x4 inch (10x10cm) box using Rich Razzleberry, Coastal Cabana and the Biggest Wish stamp set

Measurements

Metric

27.5cm x 17.5cm

score on long side (27.5cm) - 1.5cm, 3cm, 14.5cm and 16cm

score on short side (17.5cm) - 1.5cm, 3cm, 14.5cm and 16cm

Imperial

10 1/2 inches x 6 1/2 inches

score on long side (10 1/2 inches) - 1/2 inch, 1 inch, 5 1/2 inches and 6 inches

score on short side (6 1/2 inches) - 1/2 inch, 1 inch, 5 1/2 and 6 inches

Tips and tricks

• if possible use a score board (i struggle with straight lines on my trimmer)

• ensure all the score lines are all burnished (edges smoothed down to reinforce the crease, normally done using a bonefolder.)

• Lay the box out flat to work out which parts should be removed

• use liquid glue to ensure wiggle room

• rounding the corners will help close the box

• You can remove the tabs if you wish it works with and without the tabs (some people think it looks more professional with the tabs)

• Use your trimmer to remove the long tabs if you are not confident using scissors

Box template for where to cut and how the box should look following cutting before being put together

I think the box is super cute. The Coastal Cabana box was made using the measurements for CMs, rather than converting the measurements directly, I reworked the measurements for CM to avoid the random numbers (my brain works better in CM and half CM. I am still in love with the Rich Razzleberry, which is your favourite?

So Excited for the New Mini Catalogue

Its New Mini Catalogue day. one of my favourite days of the year as you get to see all the gorgeous items in the New Catalogue. From new stamps and dies, to gorgeous hedgehog and ladybird punches, these items are definitely worth a glance to see if they are lovely enough to join your crafty stash.

I personally am in love with the Hedgehogs and can not wait to get into my craft room to play with them.

Happy Hedgehog Stamp and Punch Bundle from Stampin' Up! Examples created by Stampin’ Up! with the Happy Hedgehog stamp and punch bundle from Stampin' Up!

I am also in love with the new Layering Butterflies and Flowers Masks. The video below was created by Stampin’ Up! to showcase the new stencils.

These are some of my favourite new items, which are yours?

Hotel Chocolat Slab Box

Happy New Year! Today’s project is a box to contain one of my favourite chocolates. These slabs from Hotel Chocolat don’t normally last very long in our house and I have to hide them from Tom or they would all be eaten. The bars are perfect for little presents, however after Christmas and Birthdays, in December the thought of wrapping presents scares me. So I decided to create a box to put the slab/block in. I have previously created a thin bag but thought it did not look right.

Box using Flirty Flamingo Card and the Pattern Party DSP with a belly band using the Crinkled Seam Binding Ribbon colour altered with Flirty Flamingo blends.

Measurements

Metric

Base - 16.5 x 13 cm (score at 2)

Lid - 16cm x 12cm (score at 1 1/2)

Imperial

Base - 6 1/2 x 5 inches (score at 3/4 inch on all 4 sides)

Lid - 6 x 4 1/2 inches (score at 1/2 inch on all 4 sides)

1st box using Flirty Flamingo Card and the Pattern Party DSP with a belly band using the Crinkled Seam Binding Ribbon colour altered with Flirty Flamingo blends. 2nd box using Basic Black card and the Pattern Party DSP with a belly band using Basic Black Bakers Twine with a sentiment from the Wish for Everything stamp set.

Tips and Tricks

• you can use any card for the base (please do not use DSP as it is not strong enough to hold a weight

• for a snug fit ensure that the lid is slightly larger by adding a shim when scoring the lid (I use a piece of the same card

• windmill the box by making each tab on a different side

• if you are not confident with sticking the tabs down use wet glue as it gives you wiggle room

Box to hold Hotel Chocolat slab using a retired paper and the Highland Heather Grossgrain Ribbon

This is a super simple cute box, which is perfect to practice your box making skills. Pull out your card stash and give it ago. You don’t have to use the Hotel Chocolat slabs, I am sure it will fit lots of different items. What have you managed to fit in yours?