USING SHEETS OF DIE-CUTS FROM KITS AS A TEMPLATE/STENCIL

Today's MISM project has more to do with technique than design.  When I received this month's My Paper Pumpkin kit, I fell in love with the die-cut flowers, which showed up on a pretty pink piece of paper like this:

And, after the flowers were removed from the paper and curled with a bone folder, they looked like this:

I decided to scan the pink paper into my Brother Scan 'n Cut machine so that I could cut more flowers whenever I wanted to use them for a project:

After I scanned the paper, I duplicated and saved the image so that I could cut six flowers from scrap DSP:

I shaped the flowers:

The stamen was created with a 1" x 8-1/2" strip of Early Espresso cardstock that I cut with Fringe Scissors.  A line of adhesive was placed on one end of the cardstock, and I started rolling it from the other end and then fanned out the top of the finished piece:

The flower layers were assembled, the stamen was adhered to the center, and my completed flower was used to decorate the top of this box:

If you prefer a taller stamen, you can use a wider piece of cardstock, but I liked this size.  I also liked the thinner cuts created by the fringe scissors versus the stamen that came in the MPP kit.  This month's kit also came with a sheet of die-cut labels and tags and, once the shapes are removed from the paper, I'll be able to use it as a template to scan into my Brother Scan 'n Cut so that I can cut more of those shapes as desired.  The sheets of die-cut shapes that come with My Paper Pumpkin and other kits can also be used as stencils for your projects!

BUTTERFLY BOXED CARD SET

Butterflies are all the rage right now, and this cards set has a lot of them! The card box has a beautiful shiny butterfly on it, along with a handle for easy carrying. The box easily carries six cards with envelopes. There are three different card designs in the card set. Make two of each, and the box is full! The box and each card design have different butterflies, too. The set features the Watercolor Wings stamp set and Timeless Elegance Designer Series Paper. It also features the Butterfly Thinlits and Bold Butterfly Framelits sets. This would make a great card class.

This is the August Bonus Project at Craft Project Central, and it was designed by Christy Fulk.  Qualifying for the bonus tutorial is easy . . . just subscribe to two or more months in a row, put the Craft Project Central badge on your blog, or refer a friend to the site.  When your friend subscribes, just let us know!

ROAD TRIP MEMORY BUNDLE

This bundle is perfect for your next road trip adventure. It includes a keepsake box to hold mini treasures you collect along the way, a journal to jot down notes for documenting your journey, and a mini album for photos of sweet memories. Take this perfectly coordinating bundle on your next road trip. 

Did you click on the sneak peek photo for a closer look?  This project, designed by Boni Montano, is so, so adorable, and her tutorial can be found at Craft Project Central.

DIMENSIONAL DRAGONFLIES

I waited for what seemed like F-O-R-E-V-E-R for Cricut to make their Dimensional Paper Arts cartridge available for purchase, and the day finally arrived.  Even better was when the cartridge arrived.  Of course, I was anxious to take it for a spin, and it just so happened that I needed to make a card for my parents.  The design is very, very simple but, as you might imagine, it takes a little time to give all of those tiny cuts their fair share of dimension.  I'm not sure how flat the card was when my parents received it (pretty flat, I guess), but I "suggested" that they give some lift to the cuts.  The cartridge itself really is a very nice one--worth the wait--and I look forward to creating with some of the other images.  I wish a cleaning fairy would show up because I have three new cartridges that need my attention, and it seems unfair that I have housework to do.  ;-)

BOX OF BANGLES GIFT SET

It’s time to do some upcycling!  Let’s turn some water bottles into wearable jewelry!  In this month’s project we are going to create Bohemian bangles and earrings using a plastic water bottle.  We will walk you through the simple steps to make this fun, wearable jewelry and we will also create a pretty gift box to hold the jewelry and a card for gift giving.  That water bottle in your recycle bin is waiting to be transformed!  Let’s get started!

Doesn't this sound like a fun project?!?!  You won't want to miss the tutorial for this fun project, which was designed by Michelle Wecksler.  It's not too late to subscribe to Craft Project Central and enjoy all of the awesome tutorials from this month's session.

"MAKE-IT-SNAPPY-MONDAY"

Today's MISM project features a foil-striped card, vanilla-colored banner, and die-cut chalkboard paper from the August My Paper Pumpkin kit.  I hadn't used the cards yet, so I decided to put some of the elements together to create a quick and easy card.  The stamps that I used are from the Jingle All the Way stamp set, which will be available on September 1 from Stampin' Up!'s Holiday catalog.  It seems a bit early for Christmas cards, but I couldn't help myself--I was too anxious to use one of the new stamp sets that I preordered this month.  ;-)  I hope you have a great Monday and a fabulous week!

AUTUMN LEAVES ENSEMBLE

Don’t you just love fall when the weather is crisp and cool and the leaves look like a colorful shawl spread over the trees? In this tutorial, you’ll learn to replicate those beautiful fall leaves with the Vintage Leaves stamp set and a little ink and cardstock. You’ll use them to create a beautiful fall bowl and greeting card. And I’ll show you a fun way to use the new Stampin’ Up! Cotton Paper Assortment to dress up an ordinary candle. Each of these projects would make a fun class, or you could offer all three together as a stamp camp.

This is the perfect project to get ready for a change of seasons!  The tutorial for this lovely ensemble, which was designed by Buffy Cooper, can be found at Craft Project Central.

ZOO BABIES MINI ALBUM

This adorable Mini Album is so easy to put together and would make a perfect gift for the “new mom” or Grandma!  You can easily customize this album for any occasion such as birthdays, vacations, graduations, retirement, etc., the possibilities are endless!  Pair it up with this darling mini easel card and you have a special gift for that “special someone”.

The tutorial for this fun project, which was designed by Laurie, can be found at Craft Project Central.

WOOLY GOODNESS FOR "MAKE-IT-SNAPPY-MONDAY"

Over the weekend, my mother, sister, and I went to a quilt show, and I gave myself a budget (and a mission) to purchase assorted sizes and colors of wool.  This is the stash that I brought home, along with some ticking fabric that I plan to use for making a few Christmas ornaments.  

Although I started "Make-It-Snappy-Monday" for the purpose of sharing quick/simple stamped projects, I'm hijacking my own weekly feature to share a fun and relatively new hobby of mine.  Until I attended a quilt show this past March, my interest in anything that required a needle and thread had been minus zero but, at the show, I was absolutely drawn (sucked in, really) to all of the wool appliqué projects.  While there, I [impulsively] signed up for a block-of-the-month (48x70) quilt project, which was kind of scary because I knew nothing about wool appliqué, and it was a rather expensive investment for something that I might not enjoy.  I'm glad I took the leap, though, because I have thoroughly enjoyed the monthly blocks, and I have also enjoyed making some of my own changes to the block designs.  For example, last month's design was changed 100% when I took design elements from THIS pattern and THIS one to end up with this creation:

For the bird, I used the Elegant Bird Bigz die (retired, Stampin' Up!) and the Big Shot to cut the bird and wing from two different colors of wool, and the scissors feature a circular felt accent that is from a collection of retired Stampin' Up! embellishments.  One of my favorite things about wool appliqué, besides working with thicker thread and a larger needle, is that it's a very forgiving needle-and-thread craft.  So far, my practice has been with folk art themes, which have images that aren't supposed to be pristine and exact--I love that!  Each time I complete a block, I think that it's my favorite, and this one is no exception.  I'll be starting the August block soon that's supposed to be a row of pumpkins and . . . yes . . . I've totally changed the design, but it has two pumpkins--one on the back of a pickup truck and one that is rolling down the hill of a dirt road, having narrowly missed the dog that's chasing the truck.  ;-)  It's going to be a fun block!

WATERCOLOR WINGS FRAMED ART

Do you need a one of a kind gift for someone special or a unique framed art piece to decorate your home this season? This stunning wall decor featuring the Watercolor Wings Stamp Set is full of beautiful details. This tutorial also includes instructions to make three coordinating cards.  

Doesn't this look oh, so pretty?  Wendy Lee, who designed this project, is a guest designer this month, and you can find her tutorial at Craft Project Central.  Welcome, Wendy!

LUNCHBOX LOVE NOTES

This set of five adorable shaped mini cards uses different Framelits in combination with the Schoolhouse Designer Series Paper and the Words of Truth stamp set to create the perfect notes to tuck into a loved one’s lunch. Complete with a fun paper sack to store them in, this project is great to have on hand for the start of the school year. This set would also make an excellent gift (possibly for a teacher) as well as a class or club project. 

The tutorial for this handy project, which was designed by Yapha Mason, can be found at Craft Project Central.  Have you subscribed yet?

WEDDING TABLE DECOR

Make this elegant wedding (or birthday) table décor set to dress up any table. You will make a decorative fan that can later be put in a shadow box, a box for treats or small favors, a wand style table décor, and a greeting card that can be an invitation or a thank you card. Add elegance with gold embossing and water coloring. Great for a stamp camp, or as a class project.

The tutorial for this gorgeous ensemble, which was designed by Monika Davis, can be found at Craft Project Central.

"MAKE-IT-SNAPPY-MONDAY" AND ANNOUNCING THE WINNER OF THE FREE CRAFT PROJECT CENTRAL SUBSCRIPTION

Today's MISM project might be the snappiest ever.  I needed a small card to hang onto the twine that wrapped around a gift for my sister, so I pulled out some scraps of cardstock and created this card:

Soft Sky ink was used to stamp the leafy branch image from Stampin' Up!'s An Open Heart stamp set, and the bird was stamped with Early Espresso ink.  I used a retired distressing tool to rough up the edges of the Soft Sky and Early Espresso cardstock.  Want to know the best new product that I used while making this card?  Stampin' Up!'s Fine-Tip Glue Pen!!!  [insert angels singing]  This awesome glue will be available in the Holiday catalog on September 1, and I used it to adhere the silver sequins to the card.  I have a feeling that I will be using more and more sequins now because I love being able to not fuss with them and to not have to use glue dots that sometimes leave a sticky center.  In case you're wondering about the gift for my sister . . .

Earlier this year, I developed a fascination for wool appliqué and leaped (or is it leapt?) into an investment in a "Block of the Month" quilt project.  I have thoroughly enjoyed working on each block, making some of my own changes to each design, and acquiring patterns for other appliqué projects.  The strawberry design above is one of those patterns that I found at www.buttermilkbasin.com, and I decided to see what would happen if I tried a wool design on a scrap of fabric.  The fabric, by the way, is from one of Stampin' Up!'s retired fabric collections, and I think the project turned out okay.  I used Sizzix dies to cut the R-E-A-D from black cardstock and adhered the letters with fabric glue.  To add a little pizzazz and sparkle to the design, I used a hot-fix tool from Silhouette America to apply the Swarovski crystals to the strawberry.  During her summer break from teaching, my sister created a nice coffee/reading nook in her home, and I thought she might could use this little framed art in the new nook--or in her Kindergarten classroom.

WINNER! WINNER! WINNER!

With my August 4th blog post, I promised that I would announce the winner of the FREE one-month subscription to Craft Project Central .  To be entered in the drawing, there was one simple requirement . . . just leave a comment HERE about my project.  CONGRATULATIONS to Sue MacDonald who wrote,  "what a wonderful summer gift to make; thank you for a chance to win a pass to the Craft central project; I enjoy your designs when I have a chance to use them"  Sue, if you'll email me at randari at hotmail dot com, we'll get your subscription started.  

GIFT BAG PUNCH BOARD CREATIONS

This tutorial teaches three different projects that can be made with the Gift Bag Punch Board, other than the regular gift bag. There’s a bag with a flap lid, a gable box, and a gift box. They are all perfect for packaging treats or little gifts. The projects feature the Tag Talk Stamp Set and the Pretty Petals Designer Series Stack. This would make a great product-based class.

Isn't the color combination gorgeous?  Having recently purchased the Gift Bag Punch Board, I am anxious to make these projects, which were designed by the talented Christy Fulk.  Her tutorial can be found at Craft Project Central, so you can make these projects, too!

"SUMMER SILHOUETTES" FOR CREATING PRETTY CARDS - CARD CHALLENGE #50

I don't know what in the world took me so long to finally purchase Stampin' Up!'s Summer Silhouettes stamp set, but I am in love already.  How many times have I turned the catalog page, hesitated, turned it back, put this stamp set on my order only to replace it with something else?  It's crazy how long I've wanted this set and yet deprived myself!  But . . . it arrived yesterday--just in time for me to put it to work on my submission for Craft Project Central's Creating Pretty Cards - Card Challenge #50.

Stampin' Up! products featured on my card include:

Stamp Sets:  Summer Silhouettes, Something to Say

Cardstock:  Whisper White, Blackberry Bliss, Pear Pizzazz

Ink:  Blackberry Bliss, Pear Pizzazz

Sizzix:  Ovals Collection Framelits, Circles Collection Framelits, Decorative Dots embossing folder, Boho Chic embossing folder

Punch:  1/8" Handheld Circle

Accessories:  Stampin' Dimensionals, silver Baker's twine, rhinestone jewels, stamp-a-ma-jig

Did you know that for every 10 cards submitted for the Sketch Challenge, Craft Project Central will choose one winner who will receive a FREE one-month subscription to the site?  That would be a fun prize!  You can find a tutorial for the sketch and upload your card HERE.

FARMERS MARKET PRODUCE STAND ENSEMBLE

I am so excited today to share a sneak peek photo collage of the project ensemble that I designed for this month's edition of awesome tutorials at Craft Project Central.  I had quite a great time designing the "produce stand" and once the prototype was complete, it was grueling to wait for my Stampin' Up! order to arrive so that I would have that fun, fun, fun (and pretty!!!) Farmers Market designer paper to work with.  Following is the introduction that I wrote for my ensemble:

Create an adorable produce stand (card box), complete with decorative awning and banner, to hold a pretty set of greeting cards—at least six cards and envelopes!  This ensemble features the gorgeous Farmers Market Designer Series Paper, and you will learn two fun and decorative paper techniques that create pretty focal points on some of the cards.  Also included in this tutorial is a Mini Muslin Bag with a stamped and colored image—you won’t believe how easy it is to create!  The Mini Muslin Bag is a great companion to the “produce” stand, especially when filled with an assortment of postage stamps (and some chocolate, too).

As usual, I will be giving one lucky person a FREE one-month subscription to Craft Project Central. To be entered in the drawing, all you need to do is leave a comment on my project HERE.  The winning name will be announced with my Make-It-Snappy-Monday post on August 10th.  Be sure to come back to my blog on that day to see if you're the winner!  Or . . . go ahead and get your subscription started!

SCHOOLHOUSE BOOK GIFT SET

Get ready for Back to School with this fun and festive gift set for your favorite teacher and/or friend! You’ll make a Faux Book, with a secret slide out drawer that holds a stack of note cards. The inside of the book holds a special message as well! You’ll also make a simply Covered Pen to smoothly write out all those little note cards. The Treat Bag is a perfect way to show off a sweetly wrapped snack – and you’ll learn the exact measurements to neatly fill out our Gusseted Cellophane Bags. And, finally, the simple but sweet card tops it all off as the complete gift!

The tutorial for this creative ensemble, which was designed by Julie Beltramo, can be found at Craft Project Central.