Soak Up the Sun!

Hi! I'm over on the Scrapmaster's Blog today, sharing this little card I created in honor of my daughter's obsession with love of the beach! Pop on over to check it out!

SP Online Crop - Matching Envelopes

Hi!
Have you been enjoying the online crop so far? If you have no idea what I'm talking about, you are missing out!!! There is an online crop going on this weekend! Go to the SP & Company Facebook page to find out more.  It's been a ton of fun so far!!!

I want to share a little tip that makes a handmade card even better! I love to add a few simple touches to envelopes so they match the card I'm giving.  I generally use pre-made envelopes, but if I have made a card in a custom size, I just create my own envelope to go along with the card using either a scoreboard or an envelope maker.

On most scoreboards and envelope makers, they have sizes listed on them that help you create the correct envelope size.

The card I created was 3.5 x 6, so I had to cut a sheet of 8 x 8 stock and score at 3 1/8.

I wanted only the "Thank You" from the Certified Awesome Additions (available at Midnight TONIGHT) and not the rest of the sentiment, so I used a Post It to mask off what I didn't want.

I adhered the two side flaps of the envelope, on the bottom side with permanent adhesive.  For the top, I use removable adhesive so people can open the envelope without ripping it!

Here is the finished card and envelope together:

The card was created using Certified Awesome, Certified Awesome Additions and paper from one of the SP Kits.  The heart and circle on the envelope flap was from Tiny Build A Banner.  The card is very simple, but creates interest becuase it's a different size AND it has a nice, matching envelope.

The only thing you have to think about is Postal Regulations.  If you aren't mailing the card, you can go nuts with the envelope and bling it up as much as you want.  But if it getting mailed, remember things can rip off and tear, so try to keep it as flat and simple as possible!

Thanks for stopping by and enjoy the rest of the crop! To see all of the projects, you can check out The Scrapmaster's Blog!

Stamps: SP & Company
Ink: Memento
Bling: Making Memories
Stock: Neenah
Ribbon: American Crafts

Pinspired Challenge #1

Wow! How time flies! It's the first full week of the New Year and that also means it's time for the Pinspired Challenges to start! Woot woot!

Our sponsor is The Alley Way Stamps for this challenge (they are seriously awesome - I just ordered some of their stamps after Christmas and I'm IN LOVE!).  Pop on over to their blog to check out their adorable creations!

I used one of their freebie digi images for this card.  I colored it in with my Spectrum Noir markers, added the sentiment and the polka dot stamp at the bottom, then I added washi tape to the base of the card and popped the front out with adhesive foam (see below for all supplies used).

I thought the polka dots were perfect for this challenge since that cake is full of them! What do you think???

Now it's your turn to play along and win! Head on over to the Pinspired Blog to link up - you can win goodies from The Alley Way Stamps!!!

Digital Stamps: The Alley Way Stamps
Stamps: SP & Company (Large Polka Dots), Paper Smooches (Sentiment)
Ink: Memento
Cardstock: Neenah
Washi Tape: Queen & Co.
Markers: Spectrum Noir
Other: Stickles, Pop Dots

Moxie Fab Tuesday Trigger

Hi and Happy Sunday!
This week I'm happily participating in Moxie Fab World's Tuesday Trigger.  This is one of those challenges that I always have on my list, but I'm not always able to join in.  I'm thrilled that I was able to get a card done.  How great is this trigger picture?

I was so inspired by those flowers and by the colors!

 

The brown flower tempted me to use Kraft and I had to use vellum to represent the delicate nature of the flowers.  Oh, and I just happened to have a Copic that was the perfect peachy-pink to match! I just love the look of heat embossing on vellum.

I stamped those same mums that I used on the vellum in the background using VersaMark.  Pretty simple, but I really do like this card.  The sentiment is from SP & Company - my go-to sentiment set.  Oh, and my FIRST time using Washi tape and I loved it!!! Let me know what you think.


****AND DON'T FORGET TO ENTER TO WIN A SPOT IN THE SCRAPBOOK THROWDOWN!!!! Check out the details HERE - you still have a few days to enter and win!

Cardstock: Recollections (Kraft), Vellum
Stamps: Papertrey Ink, SP & Company (Sentiment)
Ink: VersaMark, PTI Fresh Snow
Ribbon: American Crafts
Washi Tape: Hambly
Embossing Powder: Zing!
Other: Copics

A Gifty Tray

Hi!
I have a really fun project for you today! I am already starting my Valentine's gifts (I know, I'm shocked, too) and I wanted to make my mom something special that she keep updating as my kids get older.  Enter the 7Gypsies tray paired with SP & Company stamps and some papers from the SP Store.

I chose a small, simple tray - it has 4 sections - 1 large and 3 small.

I decided to use magnetic tape in the tray, so everything I give her can always be added or removed.

Even though you might not be able to find the exact same tape, I know similar ones are sold both online and in stores.

I added magnets to each section and then picked out some pictures and added magnets to the back of all of them.  I also wrote down the sizes so I would have them in the future so I can keep giving different pictures and embellishments to my mom so she can keep this updated.

I didn't just want boring old pictures.  I wanted some interchangeable items, too.  I figured a picture from my son's first year of Middle School would work perfectly with the Vintage Varsity set and some corkboard.

First, I stamped Circletastic in white on the corkboard and then I stamped 2011 using Memento Black Ink.  These stamps worked wonderfully on the cork.

Then I used some paper from My Mind's Eye (Away We Go) and created a mini scrapbook page to fit into the large section.

I placed the picture and a tag with his name on there and ran it through the sewing machine.

After I sew on paper, I hold the ends in place with plain old scotch tape.  This lays flatter than tying a knot and it's easy to hide - just adhere more paper on the back to cover it up!

I added a few buttons as embellishments and here is what they all look like together:

I also created a few other versions so the tray can be switched around as much as she wants.  Here is a version I did that is zoo-themed.  I put a few layers of decorative Scotch tape on Kraft and die cut them out.

Then, I ran them through the sewing machine and adhered them onto some patterned paper that I had stamped Circletastic on in black ink.

I also made a Love-Themed tray using some SP & Company stamps (I Love Love).  These are just too fun.  I cut out a mini envelope using my Silhouette.  I placed that little guy on the Echo Park Yours Truly Hugs & Kisses stock.  This is part of this month's SP & Company Club Kit, but it can also be purchased in single sheets, too.  I will enable and say that with Valentine's Day right around the corner, you NEED this stock.  :-)

I also cut out some letters and inked them up using a sponge.  I used white ink first and then red.  It just makes it a little more interesting to look at.

And to hold all of the pictures and embellishments, I cut out two envelopes and used the dry-brush technique on them to give them some pop!

Dry-brushing is easy and sounds like exactly what it is - using paint without water.  I simply use some acrylic paint and dip the brush in it.  I swipe it on a scratch piece of paper a few times to get rid of the excess paint and then I paint onto the project I'm working on.

 

For this particular envelope, I used some spray mist first and then dry-brushed in white.  I also dry brushed on the stickers I placed on there (it says PICTURES) to make it all work well together.  The frame is from Lovely Labels and was just perfect for this piece.

When that was done, I flipped it over and punched two holes, one on the flap and one on the envelope and put brads in the holes.

Then, I simply wrapped twine around the brads so there is a way to keep the envelope shut.  We don't want the contents falling out!!!

Thanks for stopping by today.  I hope this has given you some ideas - you can make some simple gifts {that will be loved} using just minimal supplies and stamps! And make sure you are checking out the SP Stamps blog everyday (this is on there today) - we have inspiration for you EVERY DAY!!!

Stamps: SP & Company
Stock: My Mind's Eye, Echo Park, BoBunny (Zoo stock), Stampin Up (Cork), Recollections (Kraft)
Brads: Making Memories
Ink: Memento, PTI
Twine & Dies: PTI
Digi Images for Silhouette: Kerri Bradford, Lori Whitlock
Tray: 7Gypsies
Other: Singer Sewing Machine, Crop-a-dile II, patterned Scotch tape, Tim Holtz tiny attacher

Shop with SP anytime 24/7 at the SP and Company Store! If you need any help, be sure to email Sami at scrapmastersparadise@yahoo.com. Don't forget to sign up for the SP Weekly Newsletter (Click here!)!

SP and Company Store  |  Sami's SP Blog  |  SP Facebook

Tags!

Hi!
I hope you had a wonderful Christmas (and Boxing Day too, to my Canadian pals)! I have a few samples of the tags I used this year.  Even though these are Christmas-themed, they can EASILY be changed to birthday, Valentine's Day (not too far off, huh?!) or really any other holiday.  They are that simple.

The background is Circletastic.  I used a PTI die for the tags it was very easy to create.  I scored it first and then folded it so it cut through 2x.  I just left the fold out of the die so that part of the tag didn't get cut off.

I used the snowflakes from Christmas Medley for my gift tags.  For my baked goodies, I used a PTI set I've had for a while.

That little ceramic dishes came from Michael's - they were $.50 each! SCORE! I simply wrapped some bakers twine around the dish, to hold everything together and it was done.  I filled it with homemade chocolate chip cookies, sugar cookies, chocolate-peanut butter squares and homemade salted caramel (this one is to die for).  For my two bosses, I also ended up sticking a gift card into the back.


I'm also happy to say that I finally got an SLR camera for Christmas this year! YAY - no more plain old point and shoot!!! I'm really excited and I'm trying to get the hang of it all (the last time I was able to play around with aperture and f-stops was my Senior Year in High School and I won't say how long ago that was!).  I just wanted to share a few shots I've taken. 

A 'Still Life' of the pride of Star Command:

My crazy two year old:

If you click on the image to enlarge it, you can really see the difference in quality!!!! I'm so excited I can finally focus on certain things and blur the rest of it!

Thanks for stopping by today.  I'll be back soon!

Stamps: SP & Company, PTI
Ink: PTI, VersaMagic
Dies: PTI
Twine: Martha Stewart