Secret Garden Kindness

This is a WAY-over-due thank you card from Christmas and was inspired by Sandy Mathis’s lovely card found here. I pulled out my sewing machine and sewed around the embossed Certainly Celery panel (I sewed the panel before I embossed), as well as the oval shape. I sponged Certainly Celery ink around this panel’s edges and then went back and ran a Whisper White Craft ink pad over the embossed edges (direct-to-paper method). The scalloped border behind the oval was created by punching a narrow panel of Whisper White cardstock with the Scallop Edge Border Punch and then carefully shaping and adhering it to the back of the oval. The flowers were created by stamping them in VersaMark ink on Calypso Coral cardstock and embossing with Whisper White embossing powder. I then used a sponge dauber to apply Real Red ink to the centers of the flowers (don’t forget to wipe the excess ink away with a tissue). There’s Vanilla Shimmer Smooch Spritz sprayed on the card, too. I don’t know about you, but sometimes when I try to use Smooch Spritz (I stand over the kitchen sink to catch the excess spray), the little head on the bottle turns at the last second and I end up giving the kitchen faucet and the wall a little bit of shimmer, too. 😉

Stamps: Secret Garden, Blooming with Kindness

Paper: Certainly Celery, Whisper White, Calypso Coral, So Saffron

Ink: Certainly Celery, Whisper White Craft, Real Red, VersaMark, Black StazOn

Accessories: Sewing Machine and Thread, Lacy Brocade Embossing Folder, Big Shot, Secret Garden Framelits Dies, Ovals Collection Framelits Die, Beautiful Wings Embosslits Folder, Sponge Dauber, Rhinestones, Vanilla Shimmer Smooch Spritz, Stampin’ Dimensionals, Scallop Edge Border Punch

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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!

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