Step-it-Up Sunday #52 So Happy to Have You in My Life

Hello crafty friends,

So happy to have you in my life … this is more than just a sentiment on a card. Each of us has special people who we are grateful to have around us and who support and encourage us. I am grateful to each of you who show your support for me by vising my page, subscribing, attending classes and supporting me with your encouragement.

This is a nice large sentiment from the Amazing Life stamp set so really no extra work needs to be done but because it’s Step-it-Up Sunday, I have done just that and made extra work!

This stamp set is bundled up with the Rectangle Stitched Framelits dies and if you purchase it as a bundle you save 10%. Those Rectangle Framelits have never made it into my storage box which I keep for my die sets. These have just been sitting on my desk for weeks. That is how often I am using them so I don’t bother putting them back. 

As for my colour choice – I wanted to use our retiring In-Colours so I chose Lemon Lime Twist, Tranquil Tide, Berry Burst, Powder Pink and Fresh Fig. Lemon Lime Twist was a colour that I didn’t particularly like at the start but I really love it now and am going to miss it. 

Just a reminder to get your In-Colour refills soon as you can as they generally don’t last long once the retirement list is announced.

Beginner

I used the Painted Seasons Sale-A-Bration stamp set to create the leaf border around the card base.

Amazing Life, Simple Stamping, Rectangle Stitched Framelits, In-Color 2017-2019, In-Colour, Step-it-Up Sunday, Create a handmade card for the beginner cardmaker

Then I stamped the sentiment in Tuxedo Black ink. I didn’t use a Stamparatus however this would definitely make it easier for a beginner stamper. The little tip I have for you when I don’t use my Stamparatus (other than to use it) is, use the coordinating colour in the Stampin’ Write marker to fill in any missing spots. No one will ever know …and yes I’ve done it many times. 

I’ve embellished the card using the cute In-Colour flower buttons and the leaves from the Butterfly Elements Sale-A-Bration offering.

Casual

Amazing Life, Simple Stamping, Rectangle Stitched Framelits, In-Color 2017-2019, In-Colour, Step-it-Up Sunday, Casual Crafter handmade card, Saleabration Painted Seasons Bundle

This card has just a few extras added to step it up. I layered the stamped Whisper White panel onto a Basic Black card base. The sentiment was restamped onto Berry Burst cardstock and then cut out and added with Stampin’ Dimensionals. Then I coloured the ‘Happy’ with the Powder Pink marker. A couple of simple steps and this card gets some extra colour added to it. 

Avid

I used the embossing mats to create the Stitched Rectangle section for my stamped image. Embossing this way gives a lovely framed look.

Amazing Life, Simple Stamping, Rectangle Stitched Framelits, In-Color 2017-2019, In-Colour, Step-it-Up Sunday, Leaves created from Brushos crystal,Handmade card, Advanced Crafter

Embossing Sandwich

This is my preferred method of embossing with dies. This sandwich allows you to see the placement of your die which is important with this technique, especially when creating a card like this where you need the die centred. 

This list is from the bottom up. So number 1 is what goes down first at the bottom of your sandwich. 

  1. Big Shot platform
  2. Impressions Pad  (white)
  3. Silicon Mat (blue)
  4. Cardstock
  5. Die -face down
  6. Big Shot cutting mat

How to emboss on the Big Shot with your Dies

Then I stamped my leaves around the embossed section. I stamped 3 flowers and die cut them. Feeling a bit bad that at this stage I had used all of the In-Colours except Fresh Fig, I incorporated it in my sponging around the edges of my flower to add extra dimension to this flower. I used Brushos Moss Green for the leaves.

Amazing Life, Simple Stamping, Rectangle Stitched Framelits, In-Color 2017-2019, In-Colour, Step-it-Up Sunday, Leaves created from Brushos crystal,Handmade card, Advanced Crafter

There’s less than a week of Sale-A-Bration left! 

Don’t miss out on this chance of getting those fabulous stamp sets and accessories with every $90 spend. Sale-A-Bration coordination products are also available until 31st March or until they run out. Click here to shop the Sale-A-Bration coordination items. 

Contact me on rochelle@stampingflair.com with any queries or to place an order. You can also Shop Online by clicking the link below to place your order. Current Host Code FBNFPZ9D

Products you need to make these cards: 

Painted Seasons Bundle

free with
$180 order
Butterfly Elements

free with
$90 order


Step-it-Up Sunday #46 Wonderful Romance Valentine’s Card

Hi Stampers,

So glad that you could stop by Stamping Flair today. I’ve had quite a busy week and have also got something new in the works which I will be launching this week. So keep your eyes open for that. Super excited for this new venture.

With Valentine’s Day on Thursday, I thought this week’s Step-it-Up Sunday should be a Valentine’s Day card. With a name like Wonderful Romance, I really couldn’t go past this bundle. If you love florals, then this is for you. There are 15 coordinating dies and the leaves cut and emboss the veins at the same time – yeah! The Designer Series Paper includes some really pretty vellum sheets which I have incorporated in my cards. This suite also includes pretty embellishments and a very detailed Lace embossing folder. 

Basic

For my Basic card I attached a strip of vellum Designer Paper to the card. As glue will show through vellum, just remember to add it to sections where another layer will camouflage it. In this case, I added it under my stamped panel. I stamped the floral image in Soft Suede ink onto Sahara Sand cardstock. Then I rounded the edges with the Detailed Trio Punch (my most favourite item from the Annual catalogue). This panel was then attached with Dimensionals. 

The sentiment has been stamped in Mossy Meadow ink and attached with Dimensionals. 

Intermediate

I trimmed 2cm off the top layer of the base card to highlight the leaf border. Isn’t it a pretty effect? If you look closely at this border you will notice the top row of the cutouts resemble hearts. Perfect for Valentine’s Day.

I stamped the floral image and die cut it. The border has been die cut from Soft Sea Foam cardstock. Simple, quick and yet a very elegant Basic and Intermediate set of cards. 

Advanced

I stamped the floral image twice and die cut them then attached one image to the card with Dimensionals. 

Whitewash Colouring Directions 

  1. Take the other floral die cut and using your Aqua brush (with very little water) colour in all sections of the image using Whisper White ink refill. (it didn’t matter that my colouring was out of the lines because I was die cutting it anyway). Let it dry completely.
  2. With your Aqua brush and ink refills, colour in the image using Mossy Meadow, Soft Sea Foam and Fresh Fig ink refills. 
  3. Die cut and attach with Dimensionals.

Then I stamped 3 lots of extra leaves in Mossy Meadow on Soft Sea Foam Cardstock and arranged them within the 2 layers of flowers. I used a bit of liquid glue to insert it into place. I added  3 more leaves which were die cut from Mossy Meadow cardstock. What I love about these dies is that it embosses the veins of the leaves and makes them look so realistic.

I coloured the sentiment with Fresh Fig and Mossy Meadow Stampin’ Write Markers, direct onto the stamp and then stamped it. Old technique but a great way to add multiple colours to projects. 

 

Product List

 

Whisper White Uninked Craft Stampin’ Pad & Refill

Whisper White Uninked Craft Stampin’ Pad & Refill
[145406]
$16.50

Check back during the week for my special announcement and make sure you hit the subscribe button so you don’t miss out on any of the specials and posts I share.

Have a fantastic week.


Step-it-Up Sunday #39 Christmas Gift Box

Hi Everyone,

Thanks for stopping by today. I’ve been a little bit scarce with my blogging lately. Main reason – Christmas. I’ve been madly prepping cards and gifts.. In my day job, I work at a school in administration. I receive lots of lovely gifts and cards from the staff I work with. To share Christmas with all these lovely people, I make each of them a card – there are about 100 staff. Then there’s all the cards for the rest of the friends and my orders. No matter how much I prepare early, it’s still a bit crazy at the end.  

I’ve also made about 400 gift tags to give away as gifts. I thought these would make lovely teacher gifts for my daughter Cassidy to give her teachers. So today’s Step-it-Up Sunday shows you the gift packaging. The idea is made simple with our Gable Boxes. 

Basic

Cut a strip of Designer Series Paper to a width of 5cm. Wrap this round the entire gable box, adhering the edges with liquid glue as you fold it along the edges. There will be a gap as the paper doesn’t reach all the way around – make this the front of your project. You will cover this gap with your image.

Punch a circle from Tranquil Tide cardstock and then emboss it with the Swirls and Curls embossing folder. Attach with glue. Stamp and punch out the tag. Adhere with Stampin’ Dimensionals. Tie a bow around the handle. 

Intermediate

Add another layer to the focal point by die cutting a doily from the Spot of Tea dies. To make the glimmer paper go further, I die cut the smaller doily inside the larger one at the same time. This gave me a frame to use on this project and a second doily to use on another project. 

Advanced

To step up this project, stamp and colour in the holly from the Peaceful Poinsettias bundle. Then die cut it. 

Fill this with gift tags, chocolates, mini soaps to give as gifts. 

Have a really enjoyable week. Hope your Christmas preparations go smoothly. 


Step-it-Up Sunday #34 Botanical Bliss Bookmark

Hi friends,

So good to have you stop by Stamping Flair today. How are you doing? I especially think of those of you who have had a hard week. My thoughts and prayers are with you.

Today’s project would make a great encouragement token to give someone who may be going through a bit of a rough patch. I’m sure whenever they see this pretty bookmark their spirits would be lifted to know they have a friend who cares.

Step-up a bookmark? Oh yes you can. All of these versions would make great little gifts for anyone. Handmade, cute, pretty and delicate. I have used the Botanical Bliss bundle for this project which I received in my last order. It’s already a favourite. I love that the tag toppers can also be die cut to use as images by themselves (stick with me, I’ll explain further on what I mean).

Basic

  • Cut Thick Whisper White cardstock to a width of 5cm and whatever length you like
  • Place the floral die on the top of your bookmark and run through the Big Shot machine
  • Round the bottom corners with the Detailed Trio punch
  • Stamp the vine in Soft Sea Foam all the way down the bookmark (I just gauged the distance between each vine).
    Side note – I am loving this vine stamp.
  • Add double sided tape and attach ribbon right around bookmark Tie bow separately and attach with a glue dot – it’s much easier this way.
  • Stamp sentiment in Call me Clover
Intermediate

  • Stamp bird in Pineapple Punch on Whisper White cardstock, fussy cut and attach with Stampin’ Dimensionals
  • Take a piece of Wood Textures DSP and colour with Pineapple Punch ink using a sponge dauber. Attach to the back of the flower with liquid glue.

  • Repeat above step for leaves using Soft Sea Foam and a little bit of Call me Clover
  • The attaching of the paper at the back leaves a messy back so attach a piece of Whisper White cardstock at the back to neaten and trim around the edge of the flower.
Advanced

  • Die cut 3 flowers from Whisper White cardstock and attach together with liquid glue and then attach on top of the bookmark
    The benefit of this die is that it has a matching die which cuts the bottom section where the leaves are, so that the flower and leaves can be added to a project separately (see photo below). This is what I was referring to earlier.

 

  • Use Brusho Crystal colours Yellow and Moss Green to add colour to a small piece of Shimmery White cardstock which has been die cut. Layer this onto Gorgeous Grape cardstock.

Die cut and punch leaves and arrange under the bird

This is quite a cheerful project with it’s bright colours. I have a friend in mind who I’d like to give it to. You could make a few and give it ‘just because’. Contact me if you have any questions or comments and I would love to chat with you.


Product List

Leaf Punch

$28.00
Glue Dots

$8.00

Happiness is Reading the Christmas Story

When I see this stamp of the child reading a book, I imagine her reading the Christmas story about Mary, Joseph and Baby Jesus in Bethlehem. This is such a cute image with the little girl sitting beneath a wreath reading with her dog listening intently, understanding every word.

I CASEd this card from the Holiday catalogue. CASE means to Copy And Share Everything. The Stampin’ Up! catalogues are full of beautiful products but they are also jam packed full of inspiration and ideas which we can copy or use to fuel our imagination. Each page is bursting with different techniques, layouts, products and you can copy it or change parts of it. Sometimes I get into a creative rut and looking at the catalogue can inspire me even with a new colour combination. If you would like an ideas book, please contact me and I will get it out to you in the mail.

Today’s CASE is from Page 15 and I changed some elements of it. I kept the base the same in Crumb Cake but changed the colouring of the image and added some layers of Designer Series Paper to create extra dimension. I drew in the spots on the pyjamas and then was able to match it with the DSP. Lately I have been working with Call Me Clover and am really liking it as a Christmas colour. 

The doily has been cut from the Detailed Baubles Thinlits. I got this set mainly because I liked the doily although I do like the baubles too. The lace part doesn’t have a cutting edge so you need to use the nesting die to get the doily cut out. By itself, the lace die gives a nice filigree effect on a card.

So be inspired by the colourful catalogues and get CASEing.


 

Product List