2013 Catalog Sneak Peek with the Control Freaks!

Welcome to the Control Freaks May 2013 blog tour! We’ve created projects using new items from the upcoming 2013-2014 Stampin’ Up! catalog. If you’re following the tour, you’ve just come from Barb Mullikin’s blog.

Here are my two projects!

PROJECT #1 – Graduation Thank You Card

My first project is a graduation thank you card. My son graduated from high school last week and his school colors are red, black and white. I wanted a design that would have a masculine feel to it and be easy to replicate. The new Mosaic Madness stamp set and coordinating Modern Mosaic Embossing Folder and Mosaic Punch all came in handy for this project.

Stamps: Mosaic Madness, Teeny Tiny Wishes, Lacy & Lovely

Paper: Whisper White, Real Red, Basic Black

Ink: Black StazOn, Real Red

Accessories: Modern Mosaic Folder, Big Shot, 2-1/2″ Circle Punch, Mosaic Punch, Basic Black 1/8″ Taffeta Ribbon, Rhinestone, Stampin’ Dimensionals

PROJECT #2 – Graduation Open House 3×3 Thank You Notecards

My second project is a set of small 3×3 thank you notecards for those who attended my son’s open house. The “Thank U” stamp is from the Pennant Parade set and is punched with the 3/4″ Circle Punch.

Stamps: Label Love, Pennant Parade

Paper: Whisper White, Real Red, Basic Black

Ink: Black StazOn

Accessories: Perfect Polka Dots Folder, Big Shot, 3/4″ Circle Punch, 7/8″ Scallop Circle Punch, Artisan Label Punch, Real Red 1/8″ Taffeta Ribbon, Stampin’ Dimensionals

To see the next blog, please click the link below. Patty Bennett is next! Thanks so much for taking the tour!

Read Full Post »

Happy, Happy Birthday with the Control Freaks!

Welcome to the Control Freaks April 2013 blog tour! We’ve created birthday projects this month. If you’re following the tour, you’ve just come from Wendy Weixler’s blog.

Here are my two projects!

PROJECT #1 – Happy Birthday Niece

My first project is a birthday card for my niece who turns 11 next month. The leaves were “frosted” by applying 2-Way Glue Pen adhesive directly onto the leaves and then sprinkling them with Dazzling Diamonds Glitter.

Stamps: Mixed Bunch, Build a Blossom, Teeny Tiny Wishes

Paper: Whisper White, Tangerine Tango, Floral District

Ink: Lucky Limeade, Tangerine Tango

Accessories: Perfect Polka Dots Folder, Big Shot, Blossom Punch, Blossom Petals Builder Punch, 1″ Circle Punch, Old Olive Brights Designer Button, Whisper White Baker’s Twine, Whisper White Taffeta Ribbon, Stampin’ Dimensionals.

PROJECT #2 – Happy Birthday Nephew

And here’s another birthday card — this one’s for my nephew who will turn 13 in June. I stamped the large, winged image in Black StazOn ink on a transparency sheet and then cut it out with scissors. The image is popped up on dimensionals that are hidden by the baseball.

Stamps: Great Sport, Curly Cute

Paper: Island Indigo, Lucky Limeade, More Mustard, Whisper White, Polka Dot Parade DSP (Old Olive)

Ink: Black StazOn, More Mustard

Accessories: Chevron Folder, Big Shot, 1-3/8″ Circle Punch, Basic Black Neutrals Brads, Stampin’ Dimensionals

To see the next blog, please click the link below. Connie Babbert is next! Thanks so much for taking the tour!

Read Full Post »

It’s Springtime with the Control Freaks!

Welcome to the Control Freaks March 2013 blog tour! We’ve created projects celebrating Spring and Easter. If you’re following the tour, you’ve just come from LeeAnn Greff’s blog.

Here are my two projects!

PROJECT #1 – Paris in the Spring

Here’s my take on “Paris in the Spring”. I tried to keep the card light and airy-looking by using mostly white with splashes of pink and black. The center panel measures 2-1/2″ x 4-1/2″. I stamped the script background from French Foliage (such a pretty stamp set!) in Crumb Cake ink at the top and bottom and then stamped the “splatters” in Melon Mambo ink (I stamped off twice before stamping on the panel). The panel was then sponged with Pretty in Pink ink to help it stand out from the background. The tiny butterfly is from the Collage Curios stamp set found in the spring mini.

Stamps: Artistic Etchings, Stippled Blossoms, French Foliage, Collage Curios

Paper: Whisper White

Ink: Black StazOn, Pretty in Pink, Melon Mambo, Certainly Celery, Old Olive, Crumb Cake

Accessories: Fancy Fan Folder, Big Shot, 3/4″ Circle Punch, Melon Mambo 3/8″ Striped Organdy Ribbon,Tea Lace Paper Doily, Stampin’ Dimensionals, Sponge

PROJECT #2 – Happy Easter

Here’s another mostly white card using Pool Party and a little bit of So Saffron and Wild Wasabi accents. The flowers were made with the second smallest flower on the Blossom Party Originals Die. I applied Dazzling diamonds Glitter to the center of each flower with a 2-Way Glue Pen. The polka-dotted oval is actually vellum cardstock — love the effect of embossing this type of cardstock with SU!’s embossing folders! The bottom corners of the card were rounded by using the 1-3/8″ Circle Punch.

Stamps: Delightful Dozen

Paper: Whisper White, Pool Party, Vellum Cardstock, So Saffron, Wild Wasabi

Ink: Black StazOn

Accessories: Fancy Fan Folder, Perfect Polka Dots Folder, Beautiful Wings Embosslits Folder, Ovals Collection Framelits Dies, Blossom Party Originals Die, Big Shot, 1-3/8″ Circle Punch, Bird Builder Punch, Sycamore Street Ribbon and Button (Pool Party), Occasions Paper-Piercing Pack, Dazzling Diamonds Glitter, Stampin’ Dimensionals

To see the next blog, please click the link below. Patty Bennett is next! Thanks so much for taking the tour!

Read Full Post »

Spring has Sprung with the Control Freaks!

Welcome to the Control Freaks February 2013 blog tour! We’ve created projects using products from the new Spring Mini. If you’re following the tour, you’ve just come from Dawn Olchefski’s blog.

Here are my two projects!

PROJECT #1 – Dress Up Center Step Card

I adore the All Dressed Up stamp set and coordinating dies — they take me straight back to my childhood when I used to play with paper dolls! It does not surprise me in the least that I am still playing with paper all these years later. 😉

I decided to create a center step card to showcase this dress — it’s my first center step card (even though this design has been out for quite some time). My card measures 5-1/2 inches tall by 4-1/2 inches wide. I followed the directions found on Splitcoast and adjusted the measurements to fit my design — they’re very easy to make!

Stamps: All Dressed Up

Paper: Whisper White, Basic Black, So Saffron, Wisteria Wonder DSP

Ink: Black StazOn

Accessories: Perfect Polka Dots Embossing Folder, Delicate Designs Embossing Folder, Dress Up Framelits Dies, Big Shot, Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border Punch, Basic Black 1/8″ Taffeta Ribbon, Boho Blossoms Punch, 1-1/4″ Scallop Circle Punch, So Saffron Brads, Pearls, Stampin’ Dimensionals

PROJECT #2 – Blowing Wishes Your Way Card

I love this little pinwheel die and the coordinating stamp set that goes with it — so cute! The images found in the Itty Bitty Bits stamp set fit perfectly in the center of the pinwheel. The inspiration for my color scheme — a two liter Sprite bottle. 😉

Stamps: Wishes Your Way, Itty Bitty Bits

Paper: Whisper White, Gumball Green, Gumball Green DSP, Daffodil Delight Polka Dot Parade DSP

Ink: Gumball Green, Black StazOn

Accessories: Pinwheel Sizzlits S Die, Cloudy Day Embossing Folder, Needlepoint Border Embossing Folder, Big Shot, Itty Bitty Shapes Punch Pack, Daffodil Delight 3/16″ Brights Brad, Daffodil Delight 1/8″ Taffeta Ribbon, Stampin’ Dimensionals

To see the next blog, please click the link below. Jason Casper is next! Thanks so much for taking the tour!

Read Full Post »

Sale-a-brate with the Control Freaks!

Welcome to the Control Freaks January 2013 blog tour! We’ve created projects using new Sale-a-bration products. If you’re following the tour, you’ve just come from Barb Mullikin’s blog.

Here are my two projects!

PROJECT #1 – Wishing You a Day As Perfect As You Are

I love this sentiment and the swirly design that goes around it. I had a hard time, though, finding a shape to add as an accent beneath the cut-out sentiment. I finally die cut two of the label shapes found in the Apothecary Accents Framelits set and criss-crossed them — they ended up fitting perfectly underneath the sentiment!

Stamps: Vintage Verses, Just Thinking

Paper: Whisper White, Basic Black, Summer Starfruit, Sycamore Street DSP

Ink: Black StazOn

Accessories: Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border Punch, 2-1/2″ Circle Punch, Summer Starfruit 3/8″ Stitched Satin Ribbon, Lacy Brocade Embossing Folder, Apothecary Accents Framelits Die, Window Frames Collection Framelits Die, Big Shot, Rhinestones, Basic Black (Neutrals) Brads, Paper Piercing Tool & Mat, Stampin’ Dimensionals

PROJECT #2 – Patterned Occasions Note Card Set

The images in the Patterned Occasions stamp set are so adorable — I couldn’t pick just one image to use so I decided to make a set of note cards using all the images. 😉 The note cards measure 3″ x 3″.

Here’s a close-up of the jeans note card — I added a small rhinestone as the “button” on the jeans. 😉

Stamps: Patterned Occasions

Paper: Whisper White, Sycamore Street DSP, Island Indigo, Tangerine Tango, Rich Razzleberry, Summer Starfruit, Pool Party, Sahara Sand

Ink: Island Indigo, Rich Razzleberry, Summer Starfruit, Pool Party, Sahara Sand, Tangerine Tango, VersaMark

Accessories: Sycamore Street Ribbon (Island Indigo, Pool Party and Tangerine Tango), 2-3/8″ Scallop Circle Punch, 1-3/4″ Circle Punch, Circles #2 Originals Bigz Die, Big Shot, Stampin’ Dimensionals, Rhinestone, Whisper White Embossing Powder

To see the next blog, please click the link below. Lisa Martz is next! Thanks so much for taking the tour!

Read Full Post »

Oh, Hello (and Happy New Year!)

Here’s my Control Freak swap for the new spring mini catalog. I made 32 of these!

Stamps: Oh, Hello; Just Thinking

Paper: Very Vanilla, Early Espresso, Island Indigo, Old Olive, Tea for Two DSP

Ink: VersaMark, Crumb Cake, Island Indigo, Old Olive

Accessories: Circles #2 Originals Bigz Die, Window Frames Collection Framelits Die, Honeycomb Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Big Shot, Needlepoint Border Textured Impressions Embossing Folders, 2-3/8″ Scallop Circle Punch, Island Indigo Ribbon (SAB), Clear Embossing Powder, Early Espresso Embossing Powder, Stampin’ Dimensionals

Read Full Post »

Winter Fun with the Control Freaks!

Welcome to the Control Freaks December blog tour! We’ve created wintery projects for you to enjoy this month. If you’re following the tour, you’ve just come from Justin Krieger’s blog.

I have two projects to share with you — a “winter” card and one 3-D project.

PROJECT #1 – Snowbuddy Likes You!

Stamps: Snow Much Fun

Paper: Watercolor Paper, Crumb Cake, Early Espresso

Ink: Black StazOn, Crumb Cake, Early Espresso, Cherry Cobbler, Pool Party, Pumpkin Pie

Accessories: Lacy Brocade Embossing Folder, Big Shot, Natural 7/8″ Cotton Ribbon, Cherry Cobbler Baker’s Twine, Linen Thread, Regals Designer Button, Aqua Painter and Reinker Inks, Stampin’ Dimensionals

PROJECT #2 – Fabric Candy Basket

One of my co-workers has the most adorable fabric candy basket on her desk. I did a search online and found directions HERE — and here’s the link to the PDF. My basket measures approximately ten inches square, but you could make any size desired — even recatangular shapes. This basket can hold not just candy, but napkins, remotes, etc. Super fun and super easy to make! 🙂

Accessories: Essentials Designer Fabric, Old Olive 1/8″ Taffeta Ribbon, Sewing Machine & Thread, Quilt Batting

To see the next blog, please click the link below. Barb Mullikin is next! Thanks so much for taking the tour!

Read Full Post »

Celebrating Christmas with the Control Freaks!

Welcome to the Control Freaks November blog tour! We’ve created Christmas projects for you to enjoy this month. If you’re following the tour, you’ve just come from Patty Bennett’s blog.

I have four projects to share with you this month — two Christmas cards and two 3-D projects.

I kept both cards very simple and monochromatic — I think I’ll be using both of these as my Christmas cards this year. 😉

PROJECT #1 – Raspberry Ripple Christmas Card

Stamps: Ornament Keepsakes

Paper: Raspberry Ripple, Whisper White

Ink: Raspberry Ripple, Black StazOn

Accessories: Holiday Frame Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Big Shot, Holiday Ornaments Framelits Die, 3/4″ Circle Punch, Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border Punch, Basic Black 1/8″ Taffeta Ribbon, Rhinestone, Stampin’ Dimensionals

PROJECT #2 – Melon Mambo Christmas Card

Stamps: Ornamental Keepsakes, More Merry Messages

Paper: Melon Mambo, Whisper White, Brights DSP Stack (Melon Mambo), Silver Glimmer Paper

Ink: Melon Mambo, VersaMark

Accessories: Holiday Ornaments Framelits Die, Big Shot, Framed Tulips Folder, 3/4″ Circle Punch, Silver Embossing Powder, Stampin’ Dimensionals, Rhinestone, Whisper White 3/8″ Taffeta Ribbon

PROJECT #3 – Holiday Hershey Bar Covers

I am celebrating my 10-year anniversary with SU! this month and had a big party last weekend; these Hershey Bar covers were among several of the door prizes I gave away. They’re super easy to make using paper from the Festival of Prints DSP pack and the Window Frames Collection Framelits dies.

Here’s how to make them:

• Cut a piece of cardstock measuring 6-1/2″ x 6-3/4″.
• To score this piece, hold the cardstock so that the 6-1/2″ edge is running right to left and the 6-3/4″ edge is running top to bottom. Score at 3″ and 3-1/4″.
• The next step is to punch one 6-3/4″ edge with the Scallop Edge Border Punch, but make sure to punch the smaller-width panel. The best way to explain this is to fold the cover on the score lines — you’ll see that one flap is wider than the other (before punching with the border punch, the front flap will measure 3″ and the back flap will measure 3-1/4″). Punch the 3″ flap, which will then measure 2-3/4″ after punching.
• The front DSP panel measures 2-3/8″ x 6-1/2″. The inside DSP panel measures 3″ x 6-1/2″.
• The ribbon is tied around the entire cover to keep it closed.

Stamps: Friendship Preserves

Paper: Real Red, Lucky Limeade, Early Espresso, Festival of Prints DSP

Ink: Lucky Limeade (marker), Early Espresso

Accessories:Window Frames Collection Framelits Dies, Festive Paper-Piercing Pack, Scallop Edge Border Punch, 1/8″ Taffeta Ribbon (Real Red, Early Espresso, Old Olive), Stampin’ Dimensionals

PROJECT #4 – Holiday Hand Sanitizer Covers

These holiday hand sanitizer covers were SO MUCH FUN to make! I ended up making nine of these using the Snow Festival DSP to decorate each one — there are several adorable images of cardinals, owls, reindeer (and what I think is a hedgehog) to cut out and use as the main image. 🙂

There are many hand sanitizer cover templates around the internet, but I ended up making my own template to fit the bottle size that’s currently offered at Bath & Body Works. I do want to note, however, that the little button treatment was inspired by Kimberly Van Diepen.

Here are the directions:

• Cut two pieces of cardstock with one measuring 2″ x 11″ and the other measuring 2″ x 3-1/4″.
• Score the longer piece at 1/2″,  2″,  3″,  4-1/2″,  7-3/4″  and  9-1/4″.
• Punch this piece as shown below with the Curly Label Punch (I punched a piece of Post-it note paper and attached it to the cover to serve as a guide).

• Crease all score lines with a bone folder and then attach the 1/2″ flap to the back of the template with Sticky Strip. Attach the second panel that measures 2″ x 3-1/4″ to the front of the cover. Small pieces of Velcro were used to keep the cover closed.

Here’s a side view with it closed and standing upright:

And here are the other six covers:

Stamps: Tiny Tags

Paper: Gumball Green, Cherry Cobbler, Baja Breeze, Snow Festival DSP

Ink: Black StazOn, Gumball Green, Cherry Cobbler, Baja Breeze

Accessories: Curly Label Punch, 2-3/8″ Scallop Circle Punch, Decorative Label Punch, Jewelry Tag Punch, Brights Buttons, Subtles Buttons, Regals Buttons, Vintage Trinkets, Cherry Cobbler Baker’s Twine, Stampin’ Dimensionals

To see the next blog, please click the link below. Connie Babbert is next! Thanks so much for taking the tour!

Read Full Post »

Makin’ it Masculine with the Control Freaks!

Hey there! Welcome to the Control Freaks October blog tour! This month’s theme centers around masculine projects. If you’re following the tour, you’ve just come from the wonderfully talented Wendy Weixler’s blog. I love everything that girl does! 🙂

I must admit I was a little stumped at what kind of masculine 3-D project I could create that wouldn’t still come across as slightly feminine (I have a tendency to do that sometimes). I ended up creating a card and a matching set of four coasters made out of electrical outlet box covers. See my posts below!

PROJECT #1 – Miss You Card

I’ve had the stamp set Lovely As a Tree for probably eight of the ten years I’ve been a demonstrator — it’s one of the most VERSATILE sets I’ve ever owned! Yet despite having had this set for eight plus years, I’m a little embarrassed to admit I did not realize you could stamp the tree in black ink and then go back and color it in! 🙂 I’ve always stamped this tree in one color (usually brown or green), but I really loved the effect of stamping it in black and then going back and coloring the boughs in Lucky Limeade and the trunk in Early Espresso.

Stamps: Lovely As a Tree, Lacy & Lovely, Woodgrain

Paper: Very Vanilla, Festival of Prints DSP, Early Espresso, First Edition Specialty DSP

Ink: Black StazOn, Lucky Limeade, Always Artichoke, Early Espresso, VersaMark

Accessories: Aqua Painter and Reinker Inks, Sponge, Stampin’ Dimensionals, Very Vanilla Embossing Powder, Brushed Bronze Designer Button, Always Artichoke Seam Binding Ribbon

PROJECT #2 – Lovely As a Tree Set of Four Coasters

These coasters are made out of outlet box covers! I found the covers at Lowe’s for $1.97 each so it ended up being a very economical craft to make. I stamped the images first in Black StazOn ink on Very Vanilla cardstock and then watercolored the images with an Aqua Painter and reinker ink. I used the 2-1/2″ Circle Punch to punch the images out and then sponged Early Espresso ink around the edges. The next step is VERY IMPORTANT! In order to prevent the water-based inks from running when applying the Mod Podge, I covered each image with VersaMark ink and embossed them with Clear Embossing Powder. The Early Espresso circle was cut out using the 3″ Circle Originals Bigz Die and then I pierced the edges with the Paper Piercing Tool and Mat (freehand). I attached the watercolored images to the Early Espresso circles with regular adhesive. I used the paper insert (found in the outlet box cover pack) as a template to cut the circles out of the Festival of Prints DSP. I applied Mod Podge to one side of the metal cover and attached the Festival of Prints circle to that, attached the stamped images with regular adhesive and then covered everything with Mod Podge. The outlet pack comes with a thin, foam ring that I attached to the base of each coaster. Here are a couple of photos of the outlet box cover and the contents:

Stamps: Lovely As a Tree

Paper: Festival of Prints DSP, Early Espresso, Very Vanilla

Ink: Black StazOn, VersaMark, Lucky Limeade, Always Artichoke, Early Espresso

Accessories: Big Shot, 3″ Circle Originals Bigz Die, 2-1/2″ Circle Punch, Aqua Painter and Reinker Inks, Clear Embossing Powder, Paper Piercing Tool and Mat, Sponge, Mod Podge, Outlet Box Covers

To see the next blog, please click the link below. Jason Casper is next and the projects he’s created will definitely inspire you! Thanks so much for taking the tour!

Read Full Post »

Fall Hoppin’ with the Control Freaks!

Hello everyone! I’m so glad you could stop by and visit the Control Freak’s Fall Hoppin’ tour this month! If you’re following the tour, you’ve just come from Justin Krieger’s blog (love the Halloween banner he created!). Justin recently joined the Control Freaks group and we are thrilled to have him sharing his awesome talent with us!

I have two projects to share with you. I’ve made a fall card and a coordinating “Box in a Bag” gift bag using the Gently Falling stamp set. The colors I used were inspired by the Color Coach (Perfect Plum and More Mustard).

PROJECT #1 – Gently Falling Card

To create the colors on the leaves, I pulled out my Watercolor Wonder Crayons, which I must confess I have not used in years, 😉 and did the following: spritzed the leaf stamp with water until it was pretty wet, colored directly on the stamp with crayons, misted the stamp again with water, and then stamped on Very Vanilla cardstock. I waited until the leaf was completely dry and then overstamped it with VersaMark ink (using a Stamp-a-ma-jig) and heat embossed it with gold embossing powder. The leaves were gently shaped to create a more life-like appearance. I also ran a VersaMark ink pad along the edges of the card base and the vanilla panel, applied gold embossing powder, and then heat set them with a heat tool.

Stamps: Gently Falling, En Francais, Blessings from Heaven

Paper: Perfect Plum, Very Vanilla

Ink: Perfect Plum, Elegant Eggplant, More Mustard, VersaMark, Black StazOn

Accessories: Paper Piercing Tool & Mat, Stampin’ Dimensionals, Vintage Brads, Very Vanilla Seam Binding Ribbon, Gold Embossing Powder, Watercolor Wonder Crayons, Color Spritzer Tool, Sponge

PROJECT #2 – Gently Falling Box in a Bag

I found a tutorial for the bag here on Splitcoast — it was very easy to make! Not including the tab on the top of the bag, the bag measures approximately 5-1/2″ tall by 2-3/4″ wide at the base and it’s about 5″ wide at the top.

Stamps: Gently Falling

Paper: Perfect Plum Soft Subtles DSP, More Mustard Rich Regals DSP, Elegant Eggplant, Very Vanilla, More Mustard, Perfect Plum

Ink: VersaMark

Accessories: Watercolor Wonder Crayons, Very Vanilla Seam Binding Ribbon, Decorative Label Punch, Finishing Touches Edgelits, Big Shot, Apothecary Accents Framelit, Vintage Brad, 1-1/4″ Scallop Circle Punch, 3/4″ Circle Punch, Stampin’ Dimensionals

To see the next blog, click the link below. Sandy Mathis is next and I know you’re going to be inspired by the AWESOME Halloween projects she’s shared! Thanks so much for taking the tour!

Read Full Post »