A New Ink on Life

Birthday Good Bye and Last Artisan

So there are only TWO DAYS left to order from the Current Stampin' Up! Catalogue and I knew that I was going to post my Last Artisan entry today so I thought it was only fitting to post another project made with the same supplies as well. I just love the versatility of the Simply Scrappin' kits as they can be used for so much more then just for Scrapbooking. This cute little box was created using the soon to be retired Petal Card Die for the Big Shot.

 

This was the last project that I entered for the Artisan Contest and it uses the Simply Scrappin' Kit Happy B-Day and 4 Petal Card Die Cuts. The bow was created using strips of Designer Series Paper and one of the stickers from the kit. I decorated each side a little differently.

Now that's it for the Contest projects and I think I dragged it out long enough, lol!

But the next project is one that I created for the Last round of UStamp with Dawn and Friends Big Shot Edition and it uses elements from the same Scrappin' Kit to create 8 cards and the super cute box.

 
 
  
  
 See-even if you aren't a scrapper you NEED one of these kits! And remember the current Catalogue Retires on June 30th along with this great Simply Scrappin' Kit and so many more must have items. But don't worry the NEW Idea Book and Catalogue is AMAZING!

So if there are any last minute items you just have to get you can order them through my WEBSITE or Contact Me.

Have a great day and happy stampin'

Almost Artisan the last 2 cards

Okay so to say my posting recently has been hit or miss would be an understatement! Where did last week go? I am still plugging away on wedding invites for a customer and I can not wait to show you when they are done!

So I thought today would be a good day to share with you the last 2 cards that I made for the Artisan Contest.

 
The first card is one I had in mind from the moment I first saw the Extra Postage stamp set in the previous Occasions Mini. I some how thought "baby" as soon as I saw "Handle with Care". The base of the card is Kraft (soon to be Crumb Cake) and it was dry embossed with The Big Shot and the Final Press Impressions Folder, then lightly sponged with Soft Suede. The main sentiment was stamped 3 times in Soft Suede, then once in Pretty in Pink and cut out then popped up with a dimensional. The Pretty in Pink cardstock was stamped with matching ink using the flower image from Teeny Tiny Tags, then scalloped with the Eyelet Border Punch. Then using the heart image and word from the same set I created an insert for the square charm from Stampin' Up's Simply Adorned Line. I attached the charm to the card with a little linen thread and the very yummy Pretty in Pink Satin Ribbon. The pattern paper is Soft Suede from the Write Stuff Specialty Paper pack. I also used a Sanding Block to slightly age the card.

The second card is so bright and fun-boy am I going to miss Crushed Curry! This is one card that for whatever reason I just could not get a good picture of. The pocket IRL looked just like a demin pocket as I stamped the "textured" image using Whisper White Craft Ink on Textured Brocade Blue Cardstock then stamped the stitching on the pocket in Soft Suede using my Stamp a ma jig. The stamp set is a very over looked one called Made 2 Last and I am a little sad that it will be gone in just a few short days as I think it has lots of potential (although that was the first and only time it saw ink!). The little flower on the pocket was heat embossed with Iridescent Ice. The colours used on the card were Crushed Curry, Melon Mambo, Brocade Blue, and Soft Suede.

Well that's it for the card portion of my entries and I only have one more 3d entry left to share and by then hopefully I will be all caught up on my crafting and will be able to start sharing some really great new samples!  

And if you have't already be sure to check out some of the other "Almost Artisan's" HERE at the bottom of this post as I know some of them are starting to share their entries right now as well.

Happy Stampin'

Almost Artisan Precious Time Scrapbook Page

This was another favourite of mine and the last of the pages that I submitted for the Artisan Award.

   

 

This is the page that took me the longest to complete! Even though it is hard to tell from the photo, there is so much detail on the actual 12x12 Soft Suede paper. It was sanded, sponged then stamped on with the Woodgrain Background stamp on the right side and the Cogs from Sense of Time on the left side. I did the direct to paper technique with my Soft Suede ink pad to create a "wood feel" on the piece of card stock that the sentiment is mounted on. I just love all the texture that was on this page in real life. The title was cut out from Wood sheets using SU!'s Timeless Type Alpha. The colours that I used were Soft suede, Naturals Ivory, and Dusty Durango. And remember the Cord buttons and brads as well as Dusty Durango will be retired at the end of this month so be sure to stock up before they are gone!
 

Happy Stampin'

Almost Artisan Wedding Invite

I am right now up to my eyeballs in prepping, punching, cutting and printing supplies for wedding invites that I am in the process of making. So I thought it only fitting to share with you another card that I made for the Artisan Contest.

 
 

 
    I really wanted to create a different style of invite and I think I accomplished that with this swing out hinge card. Or atleast that is what I decided to call it :) I started with Shimmery White card stock and used the Manhattan Impressions Folder to dry emboss the card front, then I cut it on an angle and sealed the bottom to create a pocket. I love how the Fifth Avenue Floral Stamp set matches perfectly with the Impression. The colours I used were Pale Plum, Certainly Celery, and Rich Razzleberry. The paper rose was hand made using the Floral Fusion Sizzlet. I punched a hole with my Crop a dile through all the layers (including the inserts) and attached the rose with a Clear Rhinestone Brad. This held everything in place so the information inserts stayed attached and could easily swing in and out.

My bride fell in love with this style, as she wanted something very different, so I paired it down a bit to create an invite for her. And yes I AM making 100 hand made roses! But it will be worth it as I know she will truly appreciate all the work that went into them.

Have a great night and happy stampin'

Couldn't Do Without You

Thought I would take a break from posting my Artisan entries and share with you a gift set that I created for one of my hostesses this month. I decided to use one of my favourite stamp sets  Best Wishes and More and sadly it is retiring this month (this will be one that I won't be able to part with!) I also used one of my favourite In Colours from this past year-Crushed Curry as it too will be gone come June 30th.

  

 
 
 
  
  I created this cute little bag out of So Saffron Prints Designer Paper and Chocolate Chip card stock. I adapted the idea of the "Box in a Bag" made famous by one of my extremely talented stamping friends Di Gibbs.

I changed mine up by creating a rectangle base and adapted the measurements so that I could fit 4 of Stampin' Up's Whisper White Note cards and matching envelopes.I also created circlular handles by using both the 1 3/4 and 1 3/8 punches. I kept the cards very clean and simple focusing on just 3 main colours; Melon Mambo, Crused Curry and Chocolate Chip. On two of the cards I used the yummy Choclate Chip Corduroy Brads, which sadly are also retiring at the end of this month, but the good news is they are on SALE! Be sure to check out all the retiring stamp sets and accessories by clicking HERE and visiting my website.
 

I know I haven't given tons of details, so if you have any questions just let me know.

Happy Stampin'

Being "ME" Almost Artisan

Boy do I wish I had gotten a better picture (for some reason it seems to be clearer if you click on it to enlarge) of this page as it was one of my favourite pages that I have ever done and looked so much better in real life. 
 

     

To give you a bit of a back story on this photo it was taken last summer of my middle child and he is our only boy. He is also one of the funniest and quirkiest kids I know. I have a hard time even getting a photo of him because he seems to be in perpetual motion all the time! I think the journalling on this page says it all:

I am funny and like to laugh at myself.

 

I am silly and like to make others laugh.

 

I am LOVED for being ME

 

I started this page knowing that I wanted to use the Cool Kids Simply Scrappin' Kit. I love the colour combo in it of Real Red, Crushed Curry, Bashful Blue and Basic Gray. Then I added some Pumpkin Pie card stock and ink to tie in with the colour of Logan's T-shirt. For the titling I used the die cut stickers from the Scrappin' Kit and reads; "When I grow up I want to be..... ME" The base of the page is Textured Crushed Curry and I die cut with my Big Shot the 4 different size Stars from the Stars #2 Die with the same paper. It really gave great added texture and dimension to the page. The orange arrows were also die cut using the SU! Curves Ahead Sizzlet. Most of other elements on this page all came from the kit and then I added a Large Circle Metal Edge Tag with the date and subtitle. 

 

This was a very clean lay out with just the one picture, but like I've said before a picture can speak a thousand words and this one definately says "LOGAN!" 

 

Have a great day!

 

Almost Artisan....The Write Stuff

So, I hope you are all not sick of me posting my non-winning entries yet! I promise as soon as I get through them I WILL move on and have lots of new stuff to share.

 For this card I used papers and die cuts from the often over looked Write Stuff Specialty Paper on page 163 of the Current Idea Book and Catalogue. I love how versitile this paper pack is for both scrapbooking and card making. This card used a of ton colours and accessories that will be retiring at the end of this month so be sure to stock up now. I know I will have a pack of this DSP on my next order!

The base of the card is Ruby Red and the cute little bird was punched out with the Two Step Bird punch in Textured Brocade Blue card stock, I also sponged the edges and tummy of the bird to create more depth. The nest was created using the Small and Large Oval Punches. The sentiment is from one of my all time favourite word sets Hope Happens. All the die cuts and accents are from the Designer Series paper pack. The heart brad was an Epoxy Brad from the last Occasions Mini and the button is from the Playground Designer Buttons. 

That's it for today-short and sweet! And remember the Retirement list for Stamp Sets, Accessories and Definately Decorative items are now posted so be sure to check out the lists to the right on my side bar. Retiring Stamp sets will be available until the end of June but with the accessories (such as paper,embellishments etc) are only as supplies last so be sure to Contact me if you need anything.

Have a great day and happy stampin',

Almost Artisan Enjoy Your "Time"

So this is one of the first projects I had made for the Artisan contest when I decide I was going to enter. The funny thing is it is so not what I had originally envisioned when I first sat down to make it. I had envisioned a "vintage style" clock with some stenciling and an aged appearance.LOL-so not what I made! But that being said I was pleased with the way it turned out and so was my 10 year old daughter because I still have a standing request to make her one for her room!

 

 
 
 Yes, it is a working clock and I even sent the batteries to go with it. (Since it was going in the mail I really didn't want to have questions being raised regarding the the "ticking" from the package!)

I used the Razzleberry Lemonade Designer Series Paper, and Textured Card stock in Basic Black, Melon Mambo,Pumpken Pie and Whisper White and Old Olive. The Stamp set is one of my all time favourites; Enjoy Every Moment (retiring this month so don't miss out!) and I love it for scrapbooking and card making. I cut the numbers out with my Big shot and SU! Simple Numbers in Chip Board and Basic Black. All the large circles and rings were cut using the the Circle Scissors Plus and the small circles were created using various punches. The flowers are from the Flower Felt Fusions and then I used black and white brads. Surprizingly enough the total project took less time to create than one of my scrapbook pages! (I'll share that one next)

Have a great day and I just want to thank everyone who has visited my blog and left such wonderful comments and emails about my projects.