March Wacky Watercooler Hop

Welcome to our March Wacky Watercooler Blog Hop!

I know that you enjoyed looking at  
Deborah's delightful hop projects.
Didn't she do a great job!  If you missed her site, please
hop on back so that you can see her samples.

I have a couple of projects, including a set of directions,

for your hopping pleasure!

I decided to try using Spiral Flower Originals Die,

 for another different purposes.  In this example, it forms 

a card closure.  One suggestion: I doubled the Spiral Flower,

 because of the "stress" on the element, esp after

it was embossed with the Woodgrain Embossing Folder.

Otherwise, it is too flimsy to act as a closure.

Set:  Chalk Talk

Colors:  Very Vanilla, Early Espresso, Old Olive,

Epic Day This and That Designer Series Paper

Other:  Woodgrain Embossing Folder,

Spiral Flower Originals Die

 

Here is a view with the card partially open.

 My next project is a technique that I saw years ago,
but have not seen on the internet.  This is a 4x6 cello bag  (p 160)
(cut down to 4x4), attached to the front of a gift bag.
It makes for easy goody bags, as you can quickly drop a card or
tag into the cello bag.  It's another way to decorate
a gift bag, but really lends itself to mass production.


Set:  Simply Celebrate (p 30 of the Occasions Mini)
Colors:  Whisper White, Crisp Cantalope,
2013-2015 In-Color Designer Series Paper Stack
Other:  White Embossing Powder, Rhinestones,
Tag a Bag Gift Bags (p 158)
4x6 Cellophane Bags

You can also use the same technique to decorate
store-bought bags.  In this sample, I used Lovely As a Tree
with the Simply Celebrate Set stamped in Metallic Gold.

 

 My final project is a "Rose Purse-Box", again featuring
the Spiral Flower Original Die.  This is a good sized
box, with room for 4-6 nuggets or several Reeses Cups.
I mean really, it's a waste of effort if a box only
has room for one chocolate!!

Products:  Core'dinations Paper (Gumball Green
and Primrose Petals), Very Vanilla c/s,
Beautifully Baroque Embossing Folder,
Ovals Collection Framelits Dies,
Spiral Flower Originals Die (p 32 in Occasions),
Antique Brads (p 170), Bone Folder, Stampin Sponge,
Tombo Multipurpose, Glue Gun

Directions:
1.  Score 9x9 c/s or paper at 3" and 6" on both sides.
You can change the dimensions of this box, as long as
the square is divisible by 3.

2. To form corners, squeeze 2 center panels together,
forcing a diagonal score in the corner,
pointing towards the inside of the box.
Repeat at each corner.

3. Use Tombo to glue the corner points together,
and then fold 2 corners into each (opposite) end of the box.
You want the corners positioned at opposite ends 
of the box, so that the sides will remain 1 layer thick,
so that they easily fold inwards when you close the box. 

  
4. For the box flap/closure, take a piece of c/s or DSP
approximately 3x6 inches.  Position it in the 
Scallop Tag Topper Punch as shown below,
wiggling it to force the strip into the punch opening.

5. The resulting punched end will have straight edges,
where the width of the card stock exceeded the punch size.
In order to round out these straight edges, position
the 4th oval framelit from the Ovals Collection Framelits
as shown and run only the forward portion of this
strip through your Big Shot (back it out after the end is cut).

6.  Emboss the top flap as desired.  I used the 
Beautifully Baroque Embossing Folder to add
texture to my Core'Dinations flap.
I then sanded the paper with Stampin Sanding System (p 157).
In the photo below, you can see how the
box sides "fold" in when the box is closed.

7.  I wound TWO vanilla c/s Spiral Flowers together, 
to ensure fullness.  They were initially
"softened" with a Bone Folder and then sponged
with Primrose Petals ink.
I cut the prongs off of an Antique Brad and used a
dimensional to fasten it inside of the rose.

 8.  I used velcro for the Rose Box closure.
The photo above shows the ample space within
for your stash of Chocolate... yum, YUM

So I hope that you enjoy my projects.

Now hop on over to Susan's blog.
She does a spectacular job and I 
know that you will enjoy her amazing projects!


Or hop to our Home Page to go through sites
as you wish.

 

Sarah's Calla Lilies

This is a wedding shower card for "Sarah Cha Cha Cha".

Her wedding theme is passion Calla Lilies.  I 

searched the internet and found a number of ways to

make Calla Lilies.  They are actually pretty easy:

1.  Punch a round circle.  I used 1 3/4" punch.

2.  Break down the fibers in the paper.

You can do this by repeatedly running the punched

circle against your bone folder or over the
edge of a table.

3.  Use a pipe cleaner or twisted length

of paper for the stem.

4.  Place the stem against the center of 

the punched circle, using glue or glue dots.

5.  "Curl or roll" one side of the circle over

and glue to the "stem".

6.  "Curl or roll" the other side over and glue.

It really is easy.

Products:

Paper:  Whisper White, Burgundy

Sets:  Fabulous Phrases (I love this set

because it can be used for any occasion).

Accessories:  Big Shot Petals-a-Plenty Embossing 

Folder and Hearts Collection Framelits

Jewelry Tag Punch, Celery 5/8" ribbon,

Baker's Twine, TOMBO GLUE FOR
STRONG HOLD!

Sadly, I also made Sarah a 2 page scrapbook

layout and forgot to take a picture.  I completed it

right before I had to go to work, and gave it

to Sarah that day.  Best wishes Sarah!

SU Letterpress Plate Sandwiches

The new SU Letterpress plates enable a new level of stamping fun!

These letterpress plates give a deep impression, reminiscent of materials produced

with an old printing press.  You can use your Big Shot to obtain this kind of look.

The trickiest part is setting up your sandwich.  This video shows you the 

components of the Big Shot letterpress plate sandwich.

They are:

the Big shot platform... Tab 1

a piece of card stock, acting as a shim

the letterpress plate (inked with craft ink or uninked)

your piece of card stock (watercolor or confetti cardstock yield deeper impressions)

a crease pad

Crank and you have your letterpress layer.

Jackie