Control Freaks Blog Tour – In With the New!

Welcome to the June Control Freaks Blog Tour! Our theme this month is “In With the New! Projects featuring stamp sets/accessories from the New Catalog! If you’re following the blog tour lineup, you’ve just come from Wendy Weixler’s blog. Weren’t her projects simply AMAZING as always!

I’ve created three projects for you this time.

PROJECT #1 – Blooming with Warmest Wishes

I think this is such a pretty flower — I stamped it in Baja Breeze ink and then went back with an Aqua Painter and highlighted several areas with full-strength Baja Breeze ink from the reinker bottle. I created a mask both for the flower and the edge of the Whisper White panel and then gently sponged Wild Wasabi ink with a Sponge Dauber. To get the Baja Breeze Seam Binding wavy, I placed a few Mini Glue Dots under the ribbon and gathered the ribbon to form the waves. That’s one of the new Vintage Faceted Designer Buttons in the center of the bow — they’re beautiful!

Stamps: Blooming with Kindness

Paper: Sahara Sand, Whisper White

Ink: Baja Breeze, Wild Wasabi, Soft Suede, Whisper White (Craft)

Accessories: Framed Tulips Embossing Folder, Big Shot, Sponge, Baja Breeze Seam Binding, Vintage Faceted Designer Button, Mini Glue Dots, Color Spritzer Tool, Sponge Dauber, Stampin’ Dimensionals, Aqua Painter and Reinker Ink, Whisper White Baker’s Twine

PROJECT #2 – Hello Daydream Medallions

This card is a case from a combination of two projects in the new catalog (layout from one card and colors and stamps from another). 🙂 This would make a great card to demo at a workshop. Tip: place all three medallion stamps on one large acrylic block, ink up each stamp, stamp on one large piece of Whisper White cardstock, place all three Floral Frames Framelits dies on the stamped images and run through the Big Shot. Super simple and super quick!

Stamps: Daydream Medallions, Lacy & Lovely

Paper: Old Olive, Whisper White, Pumpkin Pie, Daffodil Delight

Ink: Pretty in Pink, Pumpkin Pie, Old Olive

Accessories: Fancy Fan Folder, Big Shot, Floral Frames Framelits, 3/4″ Circle Punch, Vintage Faceted Button, Stampin’ Dimensionals, Mini Glue Dot

PROJECT #3 – Essentials Designer Fabric Coasters

I made a set of four fabric coasters using SU!’s new Essentials Designer Fabric, the Big Shot and three different dies for the shapes. Here are the materials you’ll need:

Supplies to make one coaster:

Coaster base – cut two pieces of neutral-colored fabric each measuring 5-1/2” x 5-1/2”

Quilt Batting – cut one piece of quilt batting measuring 5-1/2” x 5-1/2”

Steam –A-Seam (double stick fusible web)

Essentials Designer Fabric for Flower Pieces:

Large circle: cut a piece of fabric measuring 3-1/2” x 3-1/2”

Small circle: cut a piece of fabric measuring 1-3/4” x 1-3/4”

Leaves: cut two pieces of fabric each measuring 2-1/4” x 1-1/2”

Big Shot

3” Circle Original Bigz Die

Circles #2 Originals Bigz Die

Holiday Stocking Bigz L Die

Sewing machine and thread

Cut the fabric for your flower and leaves.

Once your flower fabric pieces are cut out, take a piece of Steam-A-Seam and remove the first layer, revealing a sticky, textured surface.

Place your fabric right side up on the sticky side of the Steam-A-Seam.

Cut the shapes out.

Place pieces on the corresponding dies as shown and run through the Big Shot.

Your flower will look like this.

Remove the final backing of the Steam-A-Seam and carefully position on the neutral-colored fabric square. Press for 10-20 seconds with steam on cotton setting. Sew around each piece with a zigzag stitch.

Make a “sandwich” with the following pieces: take the second square of neutral-colored fabric, place the square with the flower on it face down on top of that and then place the quilt batting on top of that.

Sew around the edge of these three pieces with a ¼” seam, leaving a two-inch opening. Turn the coaster right-side out and press.

Sew around the edge of the coaster 1/8” from the edge; this will close up the two-inch gap.

To see the next blog, click the link below. Gretchen Barron’s blog is next and you’re in for a real treat when you see the wonderful projects she’s created! Thanks so much for taking the tour!

Read Full Post »

Lip Balm Holders

–
 

I recently discovered these clever lip balm holders created by Renee O. over on Splitcoast.  Renee graciously gave me permission to post my version of her lip balm holders here on my blog.  Please take a moment to visit her gallery by clicking on her name here in this post.  She has a bunch of truly fabulous and clever 3-D projects, as well as card ideas! 

My holders are a bit smaller than Renee’s.  I revised the dimensions so that you can cut five base pieces out of one 8-½” x 11” sheet of cardstock.  To create the holders, you will need the following:                                                                         

1 – 5-¾” x 2-¾” base piece of Basic Black cardstock scored at 2-½” and 3-¼”

1 – 5-¾” x 2-¾” base piece of Pretty in Pink cardstock scored at 2-½” and 3-¼”

1 – 2” x 2” piece of Whisper White cardstock

1 – 2-1/8” x 2-1/8” piece of Basic Black cardstock

13” piece of Black Gingham Ribbon

ChapStick Tube

To make the strap that holds the ChapStick in place, do the following:

1.  Place the scored piece of Basic Black cardstock on Stampin’ Up!’s Grid Paper down in the bottom left corner as shown.    

2.  Find the center of the cardstock running lengthwise (top to bottom).  The center of this piece is 1-3/8”.  With a pencil, draw a 1-¼” line starting from the top score line (it will go past the bottom score line by one half inch.)                                 

3.  Once you have your center line marked, move your ruler over ¼” to the left of the center line.  Draw a 1-¼” line starting from the top score line.

4.   Now move your ruler over ¼” to the right of the center line.  Draw a 1-¼” line starting from the top score line.

5.  Erase the middle line and use your paper trimmer to cut the two slits by following the two remaining lines.

*

 

 

To decorate the outside of the scored Pretty in Pink base, wheel the Petals Jumbo Wheel in Pretty in Pink ink.  Stamp two flowers from the Polka Dots & Paisley set in Pretty in Pink ink on the 2”x2” piece of Whisper White cardstock.  Stamp the outline of the flower head in Basic Black ink over the top of the two flowers.  Stamp the words “happy” and “summer” in Basic Black ink.  Attach flower piece to Basic Black panel.  Now you can attach the Pretty in Pink base to the Basic Black base by using a strong adhesive (Sticky Strip Tape works great).  Insert the ChapStick in the strap.  Close the holder by wrapping the Black Gingham Ribbon around the outside of the holder and tie in a bow.  Lastly, attach the happy summer panel to the front of the holder.

 

I gave these as gifts to my stamp camp attendees last weekend and they were a huge hit!  I found the Breast Cancer Awareness ChapStick at Walmart.  They came in a package of three and were around $3.00 for one package.

 

Read Full Post »

He Is Not Here But Is Risen

This “interactive” card was inspired by a swap I received from the Control Freaks Swap Group.  In planning my recent Spring Stamp Camp, I came up with my own version using Stampin’ Up!’s stamp set Glorious Gift.  When you open this card, the cross inside rises.  This card was a big hit!

Step 1.  Start off with a piece of Barely Banana cardstock measuring 4-1/4″ x 11″.  Score the long edge at 2″, 3-3/4″, 7-1/4″ and 9″.  Fold on score lines as shown and stamp front panels with the Floral background stamp in So Saffron ink.  Punch two 1/6″ holes in the center of panels #2 and #4 approximately 1/2″ down from the top of the card.

Step 2.  To make the cross, cut a piece of Whisper White cardstock measuring 2-1/2″ x 3-1/2″.  Using a ruler, mark this piece at 7/8″ and 1-5/8″ at the top, bottom and sides.  Cut out using a paper trimmer.

 Step 3.  Stamp cross with the Floral background stamp in So Saffron ink.  Punch two 1/16″ holes at each end of crossbeam.  Thread the gold cord (approx. 10″ long) through card and cross (see the first picture above for reference).  Tie a knot on one end of the cord so that it is on the backside of the card.  Open the card with the backside facing up and spread it flat in front of you.  Pull the cord so that it is tight across the card, there should not be any “give” to it.  Tie the second knot as close to the hole as possible.

Step 4.  When you open the card, the cross should rise.

Step 5.  To make the tag, cut a piece of Whisper White cardstock measuring 2-1/4″ x 3-1/4″.  Punch the top two corners with the Tag Corner Punch.  The Regal Rose piece layered behind this measures 2-3/8″ x 3-3/8″.

All materials by Stampin’ Up!

Stamps: Glorious Gift, Floral.  Paper: Barely Banana, Regal Rose, Mellow Moss, Whisper White.  Ink: Classic: So Saffron, Regal Rose, Brocade Blue, Melow Moss, Basic Black.  Accessories: 1/16″ Circle Punch, 1/8″ Circle Punch, Tag Corner Punch, Gold Cord, Rose Grosgrain Ribbon

Read Full Post »