Tag Scrapbook Tutorial!

Hey all, today i have a fab scrapbook idea to share with you - that a very talented crafty friend of mine, Kerry shared with me!! It's a brilliant 'Tag Mini Scrapbook':

Here's how you make one of these:

Stage 1:

Find three or more toilet rolls.

Stage 2:

Next squash them down flat!!

Stage 3:

Wrap these in coordinating 'DSP' - i have used 'Cheerful Treat DSP'

Stage 4:

Next punch a hole in the bottom of each tube using the 'Crop-a-dile' and then tie some ribbon to attach them!! (I used 'Pear Pizzazz' 'Ruffled Ribbon')

Stage 5:

Next make some tags from cardstock (I used 'Melon Mambo' card) and edged them with a strip of coordinating 'DSP'

I just think this is fabulous idea and really want to thank Kerry for sharing it with me... i think this design would be a lovely gift to give to friends and family - you can place some photos in them to make a beautiful personalised gift!! If you don't fancy making one for yourself why not check out Kerrys blog as she sells them at a really reasonable price and her designs are beautiful!!!

Wedding Invites!!

You may recall on several of my blogposts that i have mentioned that i have been helping out Jade's friend Tori create her wedding invitations. Well tonight we had yet another impromptu crafty get together to work on operation wedding invites... i think we have almost finished now and Tori has given me permission to share her beautiful designs with you all. So here they are:

 

As you can see Tori has gone with an autuminal theme. She used some 'Peach Parfait' card which has been embossed with the 'Elegant Bouquet Embossing Folder'and then we've placed some 'Basic Rhinestones' in the centre of the flowers. You will see that the V&A has been inked in the co-ordinating inks ('Pear Pizzazz' and 'Peach Parfait') using the 'Monogram Sweet Alphabet' stampset onto 'Whisper White' cardstock, which has been punched out using the 'Decorative Label Punch' and then bordered on some 'Pear Pizzazz' card (also cut out using the 'Decorative Label' punch. All of this had been mounted on a 'Crumbcake' cardbase. Finally two holes have been punched at the bottom of the card using the trusty 'Crop-a-dile' and then some 'Pear Pizzazz' 'Seam Binding Ribbon' has been used to tie the cards up ready to be sent!! We have now as a group create over 70 of these cards!! Which sounds like a lot, but with an productive production line hasn't taken too long!!

 

 

 

Don't you just love the design!! Making your own wedding invites may sound daunting but with a little advice and some patience anyone can make them - and at leat you know you're going to get exactly what you want! (And it works out much cheaper too!!)

 

If you'd like some advice on creating your own wedding invites then drop me an email: amyjtidd@gmail.com

Punch-Art Cat! (Featuring the amazing 'Owl Punch')

Hey all! Hope you;re having a good week! Today i have a card to share with you that i made at a recent 'Bird Punch' class that Jade hosted:

You will notice this card is very similar to the piggy card i shared with you last week! (Click here to view this card)

The card base is 'Whisper White' and we cleverly used a 'Crop-A-Dile' to punch holes down the left hand side of the card and then weaved a length of 'Early Espresso' 'Grosgrain Ribbon' through the holes and then back again and tied in a knot. I just love this technique - even if it is a little fidderly!!

Next we punched a 'Scallop Circle', from the 'Halloween DSP' (with the black cats) and then mounted a 'Whisper White' '1'3/8" Circle, which we embossed with the 'Square Lattice Embossing Folder' using the trusty 'Big Shot'

Next up we created the punch-art cat:

His head  has been created using the 'Owl Punch' - the owls body, with its feet chopped off, created from 'Soft Suede' card! His features have been punched also from the 'Owl Punch' and handdrawn using a 'Basic Black' 'Stampin' Write Marker'. Clever huh?!

Finally the friend sentiment (from the 'For My Family' set) has been stamped in 'Early Espresso' in onto a strip of 'Soft Suede' cardstock - which we handsniped into shape!

I just LOVE this card and the fabulous 'Owl Punch' - it is super versatile!! I can't stop using it!! If you want to order it for yourself then email over your order today: amyjtidd@gmail.com

Crafty Boots Challenge: Good Luck!

Hey all!!! As you may know - for my full time job i'm a teacher - so this fortnights Crafty Boots Challenge is completely relevant to me! This week my AS students will be sitting their first exam!! AAAAAAAGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHH! And of course i want to wish them the best of luck. So for this challenge i created some Good Luck bunting to hang in my classroom!!! And i made it all using my trusty 'Perfect Pennants Die' - bunting made nice and quickly with a roll of the 'Big Shot'!!:

I went with a 'Regal Rose', 'Melon Mambo', 'Rich Razzleberry' and 'Old Olive' colour combo. Chopping the large triangles out of cardstock using the 'Perfect Pennants Die' and the 'Big shot'. Then smaller triangles from a range of stripey and polkadot 'Brights DSP'. The letters have been stamped from the coordinating inks onto 'Whisper White' card using the brilliant 'Broadsheet Alphabets' stampset:

I punched these out and mounted them onto the bunting using a range of punches: '1 1/4" Circle Punch', '1-3/8" Circle Punch', '1-3/$" Circle Punch', 'Scallop Circle Punch' and the 'Perfect Pennant Die'. Here's close ups of each of the individual bunting triangles:

To finish off the card i punched some holes in each corner of the triangle and threaded through some 'Old Olive' 'Satin Ribbon'.

I'm really please with how this bunting has worked out and really do wish my students the best of luck with their exams! Why not enter the crafty boots challenge yourself! I look forward to seeing your entries!

And if you like the look of any of these products and would like to order them or have any questions feel free to drop me an email: amyjtidd@gmail.com 

Many Ways To Use An Owl Punch! A Pig Card!

Hey all! I have had an amazingly crafty day today!! This morning i attended Jades 'Owl Punch' card - where she shared a range of ways you can use the punch alternatively to the typical owl creation!!! I just LOVE this punch, it's certainly very versatile!!:

So today i have a card to share with you that we made in Jades class, a Pig card!!:

We started with a 'Whisper White' square cardbase. Using a 'crop-a-dile' we punched holes down the spine of the card and double weaved a piece of 'Early Espresso' 'Grosgrain Ribbon' through and finished it off with a bow.

Next we punched a 'Scallop Circle' from some 'Soft Suede' card and then mounted a '1-3/8 Circle' of 'Whisper White' card embossed with the 'Big Shot' using the 'Square Lattice Embossing Folder'.

The pig was cleaverly created using the 'Owl Punch' (from 'Blushing Bride' cardstock). The head was created from the owl (with its feet chopped off). His eyes and nose also created using the punch. The pigs trotters were created from the owls belly (turned upside down). We glued all of this into place - using 'dimensionals' to create a 3D effect. We added in some detail using a 'Basic Black' 'Stampin' Write Marker'. Here's a close-up of the little porker:

Finally we stamped the sentiment from the 'All In The Family' stampset, which we handsnipped to create a banner.

I loved this punch already - but now utterly obsessed with this punch!!! I didn't realise how many things you could do with it!!

After the class i stayed and crafted with Jade all afternoon - coming up with even more 'Owl Punch' cards and lots more - i can't wait to share these with you! Thanks Jade for a completely enjoyable day!

If you want to add this punch to your crafty stash then why not make an order. Email me over your order today: amyjtidd@gmail.com

Angry Bird Pig Card!!

Hey all, hope you're having a good week! I'm on halfterm at the moment and having a pretty relaxing week. I'm off this afternoon for lunch with hubby, my sister and my nan. But before i go i want to share with you another Angry Birds inspired card that i made for my hubby's other twin brother, James. (It was their birthday yesterday.)

This card features an Angry Bird pig:

This card started life as a 'Soft Suede' cardbase. On a piece of 'Whisper White' i sponged 'Bashful Blue' ink all over using a 'Sponge Dauber' and the icing part of the 'Cupcake Punch' as a template to create the cloud effect. Along the bottom of the piece of white i glued in place a strip of 'Garden Green' card, handsnipped to create a grass effect.

The pig himself was created from 'Pear Pizzazz' card (and some tiny snippets of 'Whisper White' and 'Basic Black') and a range of punches: '1-3/8" Circle Punch', '1/2" Circle Punch', 'Owl Punch' and the 'Crop-a-Dile' (to create his nostrils and eyes). I drew on by hand his eyebrows and his pupils with a 'Basic Black' 'Stampin' Write Marker'.

The wooden structure was created from some 1cm strips of 'Soft Suede' card glued into place.

The sentiment is from the fab 'Sale-a-bration' stampset 'Elementary Elegance', stamped using 'Soft Suede' ink onto some 'Whisper White' card and then punched out using the 'Decorative Label' punch. I bordered the sentiment using 'Pear Pizzazz' card and the 'Decorative Label' punch.

The twins seemed very impressed with their Angry bird inspired birthday cards! Why not get your punches out and have a go at some punchart! You'll be amazed what you can create from a few punches used in a creative way!!

Don't have any punches to play with? Then why not browse through the Stampin' Up! catalogue and treat yourself!! Don't forget if you make an order before the end of March and it is £45 or more you will also be entitled to a FREE stampset or pack of papers. (I will also give you FREE P&P - RRP £4.95 - this is a CraftythINKer customer exclusive!) Email your order over today: amyjtidd@gmail.com

Angry Bird Birthday Card!

It's my twin brother-in-law's birthday today. I always find it hard to make cards for men, especially younger guys. So i thought i'd browse the web for inspiration and found a fab online video tutorial to create a punchart angry bird card, which is absolutely perfect for any gadget fanatic!! The tutorial has been created by an American Stampin' Up! demo called Tami and does use one or two products not available in the UK and unfortunately i didn't have all the right tools in my craft collection so had to improvise a bit, even so i'm still very happy with the final result:

I'm not going to write a detailed tutorial on here because Tami's tutorial is so fab, so click here to access it.

However here is a list of the Stampin' Up! materials i used:

• 'Soft Suede' card - for the cardbase.
• 'Whisper White' card for the background.
• 'Bashful Blue' ink, a 'Sponge Dauber' and the icing part from the 'Cupcake Punch' (as a cloud template) to create the sky background.
• Some 'Garden Green' card snipped to create the grass.
• 'Word Window Punch' and an elastic band to create the catapult.
• A 'Red Riding Hood' and a 'Crumb Cake' '1-3/8" Circle', five 'Basic Black' strips and two 'Red Riding Hood' strips created made from the candle part of the 'Cupcake Punch', some hand-snipped 'Pumpkin Pie' card for the beak, two 'Whisper White' circles punched from the 'Cupcake Punch' and two teeny tiny 'Basic Black' circles created using the 'Crop-a-dile'.
• The 'happy birthday' and the 'Brother' sentiment are both from the 'For My Family' stampset, inked in 'Soft Suede' ink.

I just love punchart and really happy with the final card - i hope hubby's brother likes it too!! Check back tomorrow for another card made with Stampin' Up! products!
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Crafty Boots Challenge: New Beginnings!

Hey all. Can you believe it's that time again - another Crafty Boots Challenge - the first one of 2012. Quite suitably the challenge theme is New Beginnings - quite an open ended theme - so here are some ideas: maybe you could do a New Year themed creation - but don't be restricted you could interpret the theme to incoroprate new baby, weddings, even birthdays for a new age/year themes.

So here is my DT offering for this challenge. I have made a card for a dear crafty friend of mine Katie who recently gave birth to twins! They came a bit early and will be hospital for a while but they are doing great and i'm so happy for her. I know she will make a fantastic mummy! So here is the card (if she sees this blogpost she will get a sneak preview as i only popped it in the post today!!):

I used 'Wisteria Wonder' as the card base. The images have been placed on a piece of 'Whisper White' which i wrapped a piece of 'Wisteria Wonder' 'Ruffled Ribbon' before gluing it down. the Congrats sentiment is from the 'Ain't Love Grand' stampset and i have used my 'Stampin' Write Markers' to stamp it so i could stamp each letter a different colour. The prams have been created from '1-3/4" Circles' Punched from 'Bashful Blue' and 'Blushing Bride' card and coordinating 'DSP'. The wheels have been made from '1/2" Circles' punched from 'Wisteria Wonder' card. Before gluing the prams down i punched some small holes using my 'Crop-a-Dile' and pushed through some brads (not Stampin' Up!) Finally i punched out two small '1/2" Circles' from 'Very Vanilla' to create the babies heads and drew on some details using a 'Basic Grey' 'Stampin' Write Marker'.

I hope Katie likes this card - she actually inspired it with one of her swaps she created some time back!! Congratulations once again Katie! Hope you get the little ones back home soon!!

I look forward to seeing all your Crafty Boots challenge creations! Good Luck!

Another Card Tote in Progress...

Hi guys, hope you're all having a fab weekend - can you believe that it will be Christmas day this time next week! Today we got most of the last minute christmas shopping done now and busily finishing the handmade christmas gifts i'm making: christmas card totes. Here's one i have almost finished:

I brought the instructions to make this online from an Australian Stampin' Up! demo (just google card tote tutorials) I used the following materials to make this: 'Holly Berry Bouquet DSP', '1-3/8" Circle Punch', '1/2" Circle Punch' 'Crop-a-dile', 'Chocolate Chip' 'Grosgrain Ribbon', 'Early Espresso' 'Satin Ribbon', 'Early Espresso' card.

Here's a side view:

I lined the card tote with 'Whisper White' card, and the concertina and dividers are made from 'Cherry Cobbler' card! All i have left to do is attach a card label and then it will be ready to fill with handmade cards and give away to our grandparents for christmas!!

Happy Birthday Butterfly Card!

Oh, it's so near to the end of the Christmas term! Just one more day to go! I've had a lovely day today, some teaching during the day and then out for a scrummy meal with a group of students who volunteer in a local primary school reading mentor scheme that i help run!

However it is a bit Christmas overload at the mo so it is nice to share a non-Christmas card with you today. this is one of the cards that i made to pop in the card tote that i sent off to Spain for my hubby's grandparents for Christmas:

This card is a 'Very Vanilla' cardbase. I ran some 'Rich Razzleberry' 'DSP' through the 'Big Shot' using the 'Beautiful Wings Embosslits Die' to create the butterfly. I glued this onto a square of 'Old Olive' card and then mounted that onto a 'Rich Razzleberry one and then glued this onto the cardbase. On a seperate scrap of 'Very Vanilla' card i stamped the sentiment (from the 'Happiest Birthday Wishes' stampset) using 'Rich Razzleberry' ink. I punched this out using a 'Decorative Label Punch' and then mounted this onto some 'Old Olive' decorative labels to create a bordered effect. I punched two holes into it using the 'Crop-a-dile' and threaded some 'Rich Razzleberry' 'Grosgrain Ribbon' through and stuck it in place using some super red 'Sticky Tape'. I added a couple of 'Basic Pearls' onto the butterfly for a little bit of bling!!

Hope you like! Have a lovely evening - stay in the warm - it's pretty chilly out there - it may even snow!!!

Christmas Card Tote Christmas Gift!

Hi all, i hope you have had the most fantastic weekend!!!! I have had a brilliant one! Yesterday i went Crimbo shopping with my sister and had a yummy lunch. Then in the evening we went out for a meal with our friends Tim and Lucy. Then today i had a super crafty day, with a visit from Jade in the morning, followed by an afternoon of crafting with Lucy! I have got so much done today, including packing up lots of handmade cards to go into the handmade card totes that i have made for our grandparents. So today here is the card tote that i made for Dave's grandparents who live in Spain. (It has featured on my blog before, to see details of the materials used click here.)

Here is the tote with all the cards that i made to put inside!!!

And here they are all packaged up ready to be sent!!

I really hope Dave's grandparents love their gift! They often find it hard to buy English cards so i'm sure they'll appriciate their gift!!

Christmas Countdown: An advent Calender Project!

Hi all, i hope you are all having a fab weekend! Mine's been very crafty! Kim, a friend of mine texted me yesterday with a picture of a fantastic advent calender she had designed and made. As soon as saw it i knew i just HAD to make one for myself, so before the ladies arrived yesterday afternoon for some Christmas crafting i got to work, and here is the final result:

Started with a piece of 12x12 thick card, i pasted a piece of the 'Holly Berry Bouquet DSP' to create the backing. The 24 pockets were created from 8x8cm squares of 'Cherry Cobbler' and 'Pear Pizzazz' card clever folded and fixed in place using 'Red Sticky Tape'. I typed the numbers using my laptop - and printed them out onto a sheet of 'Whisper White' - i tried to match the font colour as best as i could to 'Cherry Cobbler' and then punched them out using the 1/2" Circle Punch':

I stuck each of the pockets to the background board using 'Red Sticky' tape! I finished off the project by gluing two '1/2" Circles' punched from 'Cherry Cobbler' card to the top of the advent calender, punched a hole through each one using my 'Crop-a-dile' (and i'm just waiting for my stampin' Up! order to arrive and then i will thread some scrummy 'Cherry cobbler' ribbon through the top!

That just leaves the most important bit - the chocoloate!!  I finished it off with a little santa in each pocker (available from Morrisons - 16 for 99p!)

So have you got your advent calender yet? Why not make one like this you can use again and again!!! You can put any sort of choc you like into it!! Thanks Kim for the idea!!

Just before i go, as i mentioned earlier in my post, yesterday i had some lovely ladies around for some Christmas crafting!

We had a great time and everyone went away with a batch of Christmas cards!! Thankyou to everyone who attended. If you couldn't make it, it's not too late to get crafty this Christmas! Why not have a flick through the catalogue on the righthand side of this blog and email over an order: amyjtidd@gmail.com

I will be hosting more classes and open houses in the new year - so keep an eye on the blog!!!

Is it too early to put up the Christmas tree?

Ok, it's the 21st of November ... and i'm amazed by the number of Christmas trees i have seen! Not just in the usual places - shops, town centres etc but actually in peoples homes!!! I have a strict December policy - no Christmas tree, decorations, movies or anything else Christmas related in my house (apart from my christmas cards of course!) until at least the 1st of December! Am i being a Scrooge?!

Anyway with a Christmas tree theme in mind here is a related card:

On a piece of 'Whisper White' i stamped the fir tree branches (from the 'Autumn Days' stampset) to the top left-hand corner. (I used an 'Old Olive' and 'Early Espresso' 'Stampin' Write Marker' to create the two-colour effect.) and stamped it several times. I then stamped the sentiment (from the 'Contempo Christmas' set) in 'Cherry Cobbler' on the bottom right-hand corner. On a seperate piece of 'Whisper White' i stamped the bauble (also from the 'Contempo Christmas' stampset) in 'Cherry Cobbler', punched it out using the 'Ornament Punch'. I raised it using some 'Dimensionals' and ran a small piece of 'Real Red' 'Tafetta Ribbon' from the bauble to a hole (created using the 'Crop-a-dile'. I mounted this onto a piece of 'Old Olive' card and then mounted all of this onto a 'Cherry Cobbler' cardbase!!

Hope you like! It's not too late to make some Christmas cards of your own. Email me for more advice, details of christmas craft classes or to make an order: amyjtidd@gmail.com

Snowman Punch-art!!

So today i have a really fun card to share with you designed by my talented friend Ruth! A punch-art snowman and was made when we was in the Isle of Wight after half-term:

The snowman was created from two 'Whisper White' circles created using the '1-3/4" Circle Punch' and the '1-3/8" Circle Punch', his buttons and eyes were created from some 'Basic Black' card punched using the 'Crop-a-dile' tool. His nose was hand-snipped from a little piece of 'Pumpkin Pie' cardstock and his mouth drawn on with a 'Basic Black' 'Stampin' Write Marker'. His hat was made from a piece of 'Basic Black' punched out using the 'Round Tab Punch' which was cut in half and finally his arms was created using the 'Two-Step Bird Punch' (The branch bit with the leaves snipped off!) There you go thats how you make Frosty!

We layered Frosty onto a piece of 'Pacific Point' cardstock and then layered it onto some (retired) 'DSP' and glued that onto a 'Whisper White' cardbase. The 'Merry Christmas' sentiment is from the fab Christmas set 'Contempo Christmas' (we used the 'Stamp-a-ma-jig' to ensure it was lined up perfectly!)

Finally we ran a strip of 'Pacific Point' card through the 'Lace Ribbon Border Punch' and threaded some thin 'Whisper White' ribbon through it!

Don't you just love this card! Ruth was so clever to come up with this original punch-art design - and i'm sure she wouldn't mind you CASEing it as long as you give her some credit!!

Want to get make some handmade cards of your own for Christmas... why not come along to my Christmas Stamp-a-Stack class!! This will be held on Saturday 26th November - keep checking back for more details, or email me if you're interested in coming along: amyjtidd@gmail.com

Crafty Boots Challenge: Young at Heart!

Yep, it's that time again - time for another Crafty Boots Challenge! This fortnight the challenge is 'Young at Heart' (this could be anything child related or even reminiscent of children, bright colours etc.) So here's my Design Team offering:

I have used a really fun stampset from Stampin' Up! called 'Something Sweet'. I started off with a 'Real Red' cardbase and layered some 'Daffodil Delight' 'DSP'. Next i got a piece of 'Pacific Point' cardstock and punched a '1-3/4" Circle' out of it. I also got a strip of 'Real Red' card and edged it using the 'Eyelet Border Punch' and glued them together.
I stamped the gumball machine and its lid (onto some 'Whisper White' card) using 'Tempting Turquoise' and 'Basic Grey' (using 'Stampin' Write Markers'). I carefully cut this image out and glued this on the 'Pacific Point Card either side of the punched hole. I then stamped out lots of gumballs in a selection of colours and punched them out using a '1/2" Circle Punch' and arranged them until i was happy with their position and glued them down. I then placed a 'Treat Cup' through the '1-3/8" Circle' before gluing down the 'Pacific Point Card!

Finally i stamped out the sentiment in 'Real Red' ink and punched it out using the 'Modern Label Punch'. I punched out two small holes using my 'Crop-a-dile' and then threaded some 'Real Red' 'Taffeta Ribbon', tucking it behind the 'DSP'.

A lovely bright birthday card, reminiscent of my childhood - i loved my gumball machine when i was a kid! I hope you like my creation! This stampset is fab and is so versatile - you can create so many wonderful cards with it! There are so many pieces to the set - take a look:

I'm always processing Stampin' Up! orders, so if you fancy placing an order drop me an email with your order: amyjtidd@gmail.com

I hope you find a moment to enter the challenge - i can't wait to see your creations!!

Giraffe Punch-Art Card!

Today i have a card to share with you that i have made with all my Stampin' Up! punches!! I just love punch-art! There are obvious uses for the punches, but it is always very nice to come up with a new way to use them! Sometimes if you stare at the punches for long enough you see another use for them in this instance i saw the possibility of using the 'Round Tab Punch' to create a giraffe!! Here it is:

I made the head from the 'Round Tab Punch' from some 'Daffodil Delight' card, i also punched another 'Round Tab' from some 'Early Espresso' card, cut to a third. I made his nostrils using my 'Crop-a-dile' and also made his eyes using the same method. His ears have been made from a '5 Petal Flower' and i trimmed another 'Early Espresso' one to make the inners of his ears. His neck has been made from a strip of 'Daffodil Delight' card, and his body from a square of 'Daffodil  Delight' rounded off on one corner using a 'Corner Rounder'. I made his spots from 'Early Espresso' card punched out using the '1/2" Circle Punch'. The branch was punched from some 'Garden Green' cardstock using the 'Two-step Bird Punch'. I arranged all the components onto some 'Certainly Celery' card, mounted it onto 'Soft Suede' card and then placed it all onto an 'Early Espresso' cardbase!

Why not get your punches out and have a play! You can pretty much make anything you want from them if you have the imagination!!! Why not take a look at the Stampin' Up! punch range (pages 116 - 119 of the catalogue!)

Christmas Wreath using the Perfect Pennant Die!

Hi all,

As promised, another card today using the wonderful 'Perfect Pennant Die':

Today i want to share with you a way to create a fab christmas wreath card:

To create this card i ran some 'Pear Pizzazz' through the 'Big Shot' using the 'Perfect Pennants Die', i punched a '1-3/8" Circle' from the centre. Then created some small circles from the 'Real Red' using my 'Crop-a-Dile' to create the berrys. I tied a small bow out of 'Real Red' 'Taffeta Ribbon', i layered this on some 'Whisper White card', stamped the 'Merry' sentiment (from 'Pennant Parade' stampset) in the righthand bottom corner using 'Real Red' ink. I layered this on spme 'Pear Pizzazz' card and then layered it all on a 'Real Red' base!

Love this card so much! i have to get my bum in gear and start making up my batch of christmas cards, not long at all to go now!

Want to buy this wonderful Die? Then why not make an order. Email me: amyjtidd@gmail.com

Punch-Art Fish using the Round Tab Punch (with tutorial!)

Oh yes! Another punch-art creation! (I blame Ruth for this obsession!!!) Today i want to share with you a very clever way of making fish from the fab Stampin' Up!'Round Tab Punch'.

Step 1:
Basically punch some 'Round Tabs' from your chosen cardstock and cut them like this:

Step 2:
Arrange the piece like this to create cute fish! Clever hey?!

Step 3:
Arrange them on your card however you like! Here's my card:

I created four fish from 'Pumpkin Pie' cardstock using this technique and arranged them on a 'Marina Mist' cardbase. I raised the body of the fish using some 'Dimensionals'. I created their eyes by punching out some very small circles using my trusty 'Crop-A-Dile'. The fishes bubbles have been created using the 'Bubblegum ball' from the 'Sweetheart' stampset. I stamped them randmonly on the cardbase using 'Marina Mist' ink.

The sentiment is also from the 'Sweetheart' stampset, inked onto a scrap on 'Marina Mist' and then punched out using '1-3/8" Circle Punch'. I stamped the little fish (also from the 'Sweetheart' stampset) in 'Pumpkin Pie' onto a tiny scrap of 'Whisper White' cut out with my Paper Snips'. I raised this circle, again using 'Dimensionals'.

There you go, yet another way to make use of your 'Round Tab Punch'. Want to get your hands on one? Why not make an order! Check out all the lovely products in the new catalogue (link on the righthand side of my blog) and email over an order: amyjtidd@gmail.com

My Card Tote!

Hi all, i have been working on this craft project for a couple of days on and off, and really very excited to share it with you. I have made a card tote (using an amazing tutorial brought from Lynda - an Australian SU demo).

OK, I'm not going to lie - this project was pretty fiddly and took me several hours to create, but now i know how it's all done i'm pretty confident that i could make it much quicker the second time around!! I made the tote using completely Stampin' Up! materials. The great thing about using SU materials is that they all coordinate!! The 'DSP' used is from the sadly retiring 'Love Letters DSP collection', i used quartered '1-3/4" Circles' cut from 'Early Espresso' card to decorate the corners, coordinating 'Satin Ribbon' for the handles and the 'Just Perfect Alphabet' stampset to stamp 'cards' on the front!

Here's a side view of the card tote:

The tote is tied up with 'Grosgrain Ribbon' and here is the tote opened wide:

You'll notice that i have made monthly dividers so i can get organised and store birthday, valentine, anniversary and any other cards in their correct place! (I have used 'Red Riding Hood' cardstock to coordinate with the 'Love Letters DSP' to create the accordian sides and the dividers.

Along with Lynda's tutorial she also supplied me with monthly calender templates! So i printed them off on 'Very Vanilla' cardstock and mounted them onto the 'Red Riding Hood' dividers. I punched some tabs out of 'Red Riding Hood' card, using the 'Round Tab Punch' and used the 'Just Perfect Alphabet' stampset to stamp the months on the tabs (in 'Early Espresso' ink.)

I slightly altered Lyndas tutorial - but overall i couldn't have made this without her detailed tutorial notes! I'm planning on making a few more of these to give away as christmas gifts, i just love the way these have turned out!

I'm planning on running a craft class on how to make these lovely totes, so watch this space ... details to follow!!