SHAKE IT UP! BONUS PROJECT AT CRAFT PROJECT CENTRAL

Who doesn’t love a shaker card…or a shaker tag!  This project includes instructions for three ways to create simple shaker cards…and matching shaker tags!   Featuring the Designer Tin of Cards Stamp Set and colorful papers, this project uses sequins and punches…for sparkle and color…to create fun, interactive cards and tags that everyone is sure to love!

 

 

This fantastic project, which was designed by Sue Plote, is the August bonus project at Craft Project Central.  Qualifying for the bonus project 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!

A SWEET BIRTHDAY ENSEMBLE

This beautiful sweet birthday and cupcake themed ensemble is for that special girl or woman in your life.  It’s for six guests, but you could make more--all using beautiful designer series paper and cardstock. The die cut and embossed Happy Birthday Banner is adorable and can be used year after year. Sweet and simple invitations have a raised cupcake plus envelopes. The birthday card has a glimmer filled clear shaker underneath the cupcake.  There’s a Thank You Note Book to record gifts, the year and important information about the birthday. Can’t forget the tiny Goody Bags and lastly, six simple Thank You Cards finish this ensemble. 

The tutorial for this celebration ensemble, which was designed by Carole Anne Patterson, can be found at Craft Project Central.

 

COLORFUL FIESTA QUILT DESIGNS

The project tutorial that I designed for Craft Project Central this month is featured today.  Following is the introduction that I wrote for this project:

 

Quilting is a popular craft and one that affords great opportunity to put vibrant colors and shapes to work.  With this tutorial, use a couple of quilting techniques and designer paper to create four festive birthday cards.  You’ll also learn how to use one punch and the Festive Birthday Designer Series Paper to create a bright and colorful home décor canvas that is sure to add a little happiness to any room where it’s placed.

And this is the sneak peek photo collage of the projects:

One of my favorite things about designing for Craft Project Central is being able to give away a FREE one-month subscription.  Getting entered in the drawing for the free subscription is really easy . . . just click HERE to leave a comment.  Next Wednesday, I will use random.org to select the winner, which I will announce right here on my blog.  Don't forget to check back then to see if you're the lucky one!

LIGHTNING BUG LANTERN GIFT SET

Light up your nights and hang on to summer a little bit longer with this shiny silver lantern. Add a battery powered tea light inside and it will remind you of seeing fireflies twinkling in the evening in summertime. You can hang the lantern for display from the attached ribbon so it can grace either your table or your walls. Bring a smile to someone’s face by gifting this beautiful lantern with the matching card and a set of note cards. This would be an excellent class project or hostess gift!

 

 

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

 

"WILD ABOUT FLOWERS" DOUBLE SIDE STEP CARD

The double side step card that I'm sharing today features Stampin' Up!'s Wild about Flowers stamp set and Blooms & Bliss designer paper.

It's hard to tell from the awkward camera angle, but there are two recessed "steps" in the center portion of the card, which is especially nice if you have a lot of decorative stamping, designer paper, or other elements to feature.  I let the designer paper do most of the work on this card--I just wanted to see if I could make the card.  The Wild about Flowers stamp set is a favorite of mine, and the Blooms & Bliss designer paper is gorgeous!  If you haven't paid much attention to it, take another look.  ;-)

 

TRAVELER TRAVEL LOG GIFT SET

A place to record memories and moments from your trip.  A place for a special friend to make quick sketches of sites and significant finds.  This Traveler Travel Log Gift Set is a perfect gift for yourself or for any explorer with the travel bug! In this project you will learn how to create a faux alligator finish using embossing powder and your bone folder.  You will also learn how to make a mini travel log with simple hand-sewn signatures. This gift set includes a mini travel log and a unique “suitcase” to hold the travel log.

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

#THESPLENDIDSAMPLER

I'm pretty sure that I've mentioned this before, but I am a new quilter.  Actually, that's a lie.  I haven't quilted anything, and I don't really plan to quilt anything.  Let me explain.  It all started early last year when I attended a quilt show for the first time and fell head-over-heels in 💓 with wool applique.  If you've been to a quilt show, then I'll bet those scrumptious bundles of wool have crept (is that a word?) into your heart.  So I've been enjoying wool applique for the past 18 months.  At the quilt show, I signed up for a one-year commitment to a block-of-the-month (BOM) kit (remember that I had never worked with needle and thread before), and I'm still working on that quilt; however, along the way, I have created a lot of other small projects and started collecting patterns.  One of the most recent projects that has captured my interest is The Splendid Sampler ™ blocks and bonus projects, which you can read all about (and collect the awesome patterns) HERE.  I have changed some of the elements on the BOM kits each month, and I chose three of The Splendid Sampler ™ patterns for the most recent quilt block that I worked on:
 

I hesitate to even acknowledge this, but I feel compelled to mention that I am well aware that the measuring tape is all kinds of wrong.  LOL  The thing is . . . it's a snippet of ribbon that just happened to be an appropriate element for my block and . . . well . . . why not?  It was purchased for use on a banner and never intended to actually measure anything, and I thought it looked just fine on my block.  My sweet mother made the yo-yo's for this project, and they were made from fabric that I salvaged from some bedroom valances that I no longer wanted to use.  Mother also provided the needle on the dress block.  The buttons (the one on the far right isn't really falling off) are retired from Stampin' Up!, and the other fabrics (besides wool) featured on this block are Red Herringbone Flannel from Prairie Woolens and Sand Primitive Muslin Flannel from Missouri Star Quilt Co.  If you are at all interested in quilting or starting a fun, new hobby, I would encourage you to look into The Splendid Sampler ™ blocks and bonus projects.  The blocks are 6" square and quite quick to complete.

"BEST BIRDS" SYMPATHY

Sharing today a simple creation that features Stampin' Up!'s  Best Birds and Touches of Texture stamp sets. 

 

 

The more this card came together, the more I thought that it would be one of my class projects this month.  And then I realized that the lace trim was a retired product.  :-(  I could have swapped it out for ribbon, but the lace was just perfect.  I know now that I need to put the current lace trim on one of my next orders.





AHOY, THERE! NOTE CARD & GIFT BOX

The By the Shore Suite uses colors and images that evoke cool ocean water and gentle summer breezes.  Come take a swim with the colorful fish in the Seaside Shore Stamp Set and relax with the soothing colors of the By the Shore Designer Series Paper.  It’s vacation time, Stampin’ Up! style.

What's not to love about this gorgeous ensemble?!?!  This is one of my favorite product suites from Stampin' Up! and the designer of this project, Mickey Roberts, did such a great job.  Her tutorial can be found at Craft Project Central.

FANCY FLAMINGO GIFT SET

As summer is ending, you’ll want to have a gift for the relatives and friends you’ve visited. This flamingo tray and pineapple treat box will be a perfect “thank you” gift. If you’re the one hosting family and friends, it’s a wonderful “pillow gift” for guests. Simply package some chocolates in the Clear Tiny Treat Boxes and add some basic toiletries on the tray with a welcoming note card. You can also make this for yourself as a beautiful home décor piece. Create multiple personalized note cards for your own use or make them as a gift for a friend. This project will also make a great class or stamp camp.

 

 

The tutorial for this gift set, which was designed by Buffy Cooper, can be found at Craft Project Central.

 

BACK TO SCHOOL WITH FOXY FRIENDS

It’s back to school time and what better way to start off the year than to give your child’s teacher an adorable gift set!! This cute set features the Foxy Friends Stamp Set and Fox Builder Punch. It’s such a fun set to use and the possibilities of darling animals you can create with it are endless!! This set also uses the matching Designer Series Paper Stack called A Little Foxy.

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

ELEGANT FLORAL GIFT PACKAGING TRIO

Do you need an elegant gift packaging idea for a wedding or another special event? These gift packaging projects are just what you need. This tutorial includes a 4-1/4” square gift box, gift bag, and a treat pouch. The square box is perfect for gifts 4” or smaller, the gift bag is a perfect way to make a card/gift card extra special, and the treat pouch would be a perfect way to give treats to wedding guests. All three packages feature the products in the Floral Boutique Suite. This would also make a great product-based class. 

Don't these packages, designed by Christy Fulk, look stunning?  The tutorial, complete with photos and step-by-step instructions, can be found at Craft Project Central.

SKETCH CHALLENGE #62 . . . AND A WINNER!!!!

I received two big boxes from Stampin' Up! this week (and I'm expecting another one today), and I think I have too many options when it comes to stamp sets.  I actually feel a bit overwhelmed when trying to decide what to work with.  More than a bit, really.  A stamp set that was pretty close to the top was Bunch of Blossoms, so I decided to crack it open and see what I could do.  I purchased the bundle, which included the Blossom Builder punch, and it was calling to me.  To make things easier on myself, I followed Craft Project Central's Creating Pretty Cards - Card Challenge #62, which was designed by Monika Davis, and looks like this:

And this is the card that I designed . . . really simple and sweet:

The colors featured on this card are Sweet Sugarplum, Always Artichoke, and Crumb Cake, and the pretty Sweet Sugarplum borders were cut with a border die from Flourish Thinlits.

Did you know that when you create a card using Creating Pretty Cards - Card Challenge #62 and upload your card HERE, your name will be entered in a drawing for a FREE one-month Craft Project Central subscription?  Why not accept the challenge and play along???

WINNER! WINNER! WINNER!

With my July 30th blog post, I promised to give away a FREE one-month subscription to Craft Project Central today, and the teensy weensy requirement to get your name entered in the drawing was to leave a comment on my project at Craft Project Central.  Many thanks to everyone who left a comment!!!  The winner of the free subscription is JOVETA WESCOTT.  Congratulations, JoVeta!  If you'll contact me at randari at hotmail dot com, we'll get your subscription started!

BEACH VIGNETTE ENSEMBLE

Summer is coming to an end, but you can enjoy the beach all year long with this Beach Vignette Ensemble! The Framed Beach Sign takes center stage in this fun ensemble with bottles and shells surrounding it. You can leave the bottles plain or decorate them with jute to give them a beachy vibe. Turn plain glass votive holders into sea glass votive holders with simple supplies and an easy trick! And don’t forget a matching card in case you want to give this set away to someone who needs a little more summer! 

The tutorial for this pretty beach décor ensemble, which was designed by Julie, can be found at Craft Project Central.  It's just one of the many awesome project tutorials in this month's line-up!

BACK TO SCHOOL DESK ACCESSORY GIFT SET

Get ready to go back to school with this fun gift set! The Covered Notepad Portfolio packs a real punch with a surprise pocket on the inside cover. It’s simple to make, but has a very finished look inside and out! You’ll have the measurements to make twelve simple Note Cards, great for sending off those quick little thoughtful messages. After bundling and tying up some pencils, you’ll have all the components to fill the Desktop Accessory Box. The fabulous Desktop Accessory Box is a compact and practical way to organize this gift! 

 

The tutorial for this handy project, which was designed by Julie Beltramo, can be found at Craft Project Central.  Today is the perfect day to start your August subscription for a month's worth of fabulous project inspiration and tutorials!