Bouquet of Hope Paper Pumpkin - Bumper Showcase...

Released today in the UK and Europe... the Bouquet of Hope Paper Pumpkin Kit... designed to simply and quickly say Thinking of You as and when you need to... in lots of different ways should you care to scroll through all this post...

I know that these cards are the ones that people less like to make in classes... so this is a great way to be able to quickly make a beautiful card to send when you need one... 

As everything you need is in the box (except Clear Block D) to make 9 cards (3 each of 3 designs)  

OR to bulk make ahead (if you are more like me... as I prefer to have these cards ready and waiting to pop in the post as and when I need them... )

And the Kit was released in the US back in February... which is great ... because it means I can share some great alternative creations with the kit before I even have one in my hands...  Enjoy!

All made by fellow US demonstrators... just click on their highlighted name underneath their creations to go straight to the relevant blog or You Tube post... And thank you to each and everyone of you for your wonderful creations... 

Julie Davison

Rachel Tessman

Stampin Scrapper

Chelsey Christensen

Stamp With Tami

The Papered Chef

Handbag Mini Book in Sweet Sugarplum

Moving back to the new Sweet Sugarplum... this is a mini book in a bag I created for the Stampers Showcase display at On Stage Telford... showcasing the new 2016-18 In Colour Sweet Sugarplum designer series paper and the gorgeous new ruched ribbon...

 

But I don't think many people actually saw what it was... instead just seeing a plain bag sat there... I must have opened it up at least 3 times during the course of the day....

Though I still have to laugh at the random photos I used... I just don't have any girlie photos to fill a pinky project...so I had to think hard... and came up with any pinky/purply flowers from a trip round last Year's Open Gardens in the village... the lilac does work particularly well colour wise..

Want to make one for your self... here is the link to one with the tutorial I posted earlier...

Work of Art 4-6-0 Train in Dapper Denim

Another project that caused a bit of an immediate reaction on the Stampers Showcase boards at Telford... totally marmite project... you will love it or loathe it! But I had so much fun making it!!! It really did have to be made....

I used the Work of Art stamps - along with the new and coming Swirly Bird stamps for the large Smoky Slate wheels and the small Basic Grey over-stamped wheels/wheel centres. Then a Balloon Celebration image as the Basic Grey spokes on the large wheels. Finished off with Balloon Builder wheel connectors and smoke...

But I have to add... if I were to re-make I would make my funnel taller... you would pity the poor driver in this train cab.... cough!

And a funny story... this was the only project I showed my husband... as he is into trains... so it had to be done... I expected a simple "Yes it looks like a train Amanda!" but no... I got an excited "That's a 4-6-0 ... followed by 10 minutes of him showing me pictures of lots of trains in books and magazines... bless!

So I got educated.... and now so will you... as there are 4 wheels at the front (two either side) - 6 in the "middle" (3 either side) and none (0) at the back! Hence a 4-6-0. So now you know....

Emerald Envy Gift Card Holder Explosion Box Tutorial

Told you I would be back soon with this project... and seeing as it is Friday here is a Tutorial for you. And here is the link to the It's My Party version posted nearly 2 weeks ago...

But before all that detail.... this is another project made for the Stampers Showcase at On Stage in Telford, UK showcasing the new 2016-18 In Color Emerald Envy and the Swirly Bird stamp set....

I also used the greetings in the Balloon Builders stamp set and the 1" circle punch... and oops the matching scallop circle punch too... which is unfortunately retiring come 1st June... bit of a misunderstanding between SU! and myself over being able to use that one.... as we were supposed to only use items that would carryover to the new 2016-17 catalogue... oops!

And spot the kite which is in the new and coming Swirly Bird stamp set... and a funny story about it for you... The kite is made by stamping 2 triangular stamps... one solid... and 1 striped... and voila... 

But I didn't see it... so I kept looking at these triangles wondering what they were for... thought that maybe they went together... tried them both out... rubbish! Very weird shape... Tried again in a different orientation... and then laughed at myself as I looked at an easily made and great kite!! 

Metric Recipe for Base 
Card Emerald Envy 21cm Square
Card Whisper White 6.5cm Square (x4)
Card Pool Party 6.5cm Square (x3)
Paper 6cm Square - Polka Dots (x4); Script (x2);
Card Pool Party 9.2 x 6cm
DSP Stripe 5.9cm (x1)

Metric Recipe for Tag/Sides
Sides - Card White 6.4cm Square (x2); Paper Polka Dots 5.5cm Square (x2)
Tags - Card Pool Party 6 x 6.5cm (x2); Paper Flowers 5.5 x 6cm (x2)

Metric Instructions for Base
1. Score large (21cm Square) card panel at 7 & 14cm
2. Turn 90 degrees and score at 7 & 14cm
3. Cut diagonally across each corner from each outer tip to corresponding corner of square in the middle...
4. Bone Fold

5. Fold side/diagonal flaps in & completely adhere on 2 opposing sides

 For other 2 sides...
6. Place thin "Sticky Strip" along outer edge, remove protective layer, fold 1 flap over and adhere
7. Fold and glue other flap... but take care where you put your glue!! You only want it to stick on the first flap and not onto the box side... or you won't be able to pop your tag in the pocket!!!

8. Cut 2 white mats in half diagonally
9. Cut 2 smaller (5.5cm) polka dot papers in half diagonally
10. Adhere your 4 card/paper triangles together and adhere to Tag/Pocket Sides
11. Adhere your 2 tags together... trapping a short piece of ribbon between the card and paper
12. Insert tags into pockets

13. Score PORTRAIT 9.2 x 6cm Pool Party panel at 1, 2, 3, 4, 5cm
14. Concertina fold Valley, Mountain, Valley, Mountain, Valley

15. Adhere 2nd and 3rd sections from each side together

16. Adhere doubled middle sections together at the sides using thin "Sticky Strip"
17. Adhere the whole thing diagonally across the card mat and trim overhang at each corner

18. Cut paper in half diagonally
19. Adhere to card mat... which will in turn cover the gift card holder "gubbins"
20. Adhere to the centre/bottom section

Gosh that was so so much easier to talk and show in a class than it was to write it!!!

Metric Recipe for Lid
Card Emerald Envy 11.4cm Square
Card Whisper White 6.9cm Square
Paper Stripe 6.4cm Square
Card Pool Party 1.5cm x 7.3cm
Ruched Ribbon Emerald Envy x 60cm (24")

Metric Instructions For Lid
1. Score at 2 cm on all 4 sides
2. Bone Fold
3. Dart on 2 score lines... on 2 opposing sides... and stick together using tabs...
Note  - as a general rule when making box lids I advise you to stick your lid together whilst it is in place on the box! This isn't essential with this project though as there is enough "wiggle room" to stick it as tight as possible (though I may come to regret those words!!! But it has been tested quite a few times.... and no-ones didn't fit!)

And for my US followers... the imperial (inches) version for the main part is as follows.... as 21cm is 8 1/4" ...so...

Please note that this project has been made from A4 card/Metric measurements... There was a lot of fine-tuning in the decoration down to a millimetre ( about 1/24" of an inch!) so I am unable to just quickly convert to an inches version and produce an accurate recipe and tutorial without a total re-make... which is just not on the cards I am afraid... so I have to admit defeat with all the recipe/detail...! Hence a few ?s...

So I suggest that you make the main box and lid and then mat/layer as you see fit ( I allow the old 1/4" variation) ... and if anyone wants to feedback and give me real measurements... then I would be eternally grateful... and I can update this as necessary! Sorry...

Imperial Recipe for Base 
Card Emerald Envy 8 1/4" Square
Card Whisper White 2 1/2" Square (x4)
Card Pool Party 2 1/2" Square (x3)
Paper 2 1/4" Square - Polka Dots (x4); Script (x2);
Card Pool Party 3 5/8" x 2 1/4" (any smaller than 3 5/8" and the gift card will not fit in! So allow overhang as necessary!)
DSP Stripe 2 3/16"? (x1)

Imperial Recipe for Tag/Sides
Sides - Card White 2 7/16"? Square (x2); Paper Polka Dots 2 3/16"? Square (x2)
Tags - Card Pool Party 2 3/8"? x 2 1/2"? (x2); Paper Flowers 2 1/8"? x 2 1/4"? (x2)

Imperial Instructions for Base
1. Score large (8 1/4" Square) card panel at 2 3/4" and 5 1/2"
2. Turn 90 degrees and score at 2 3/4" & 5 1/2"
3. Cut diagonally across each corner from each outer tip to corresponding corner of square in the middle...
4. Bone Fold

5. Fold side/diagonal flaps in & completely adhere on 2 opposing sides

 For other 2 sides...
6. Place thin "Sticky Strip" along outer edge, remove protective layer, fold 1 flap over and adhere
7. Fold and glue other flap... but take care where you put your glue!! You only want it to stick on the first flap and not onto the box side... or you won't be able to pop your tag in the pocket!!!

8. Cut 2 white mats in half diagonally
9. Cut 2 smaller (2 3/16"?) polka dot papers in half diagonally
10. Adhere your 4 card/paper triangles together and adhere to Tag/Pocket Sides
11. Adhere your 2 tags together... trapping a short piece of ribbon between the card and paper
12. Insert tags into pockets

13. Score PORTRAIT 3 5/8"? x 2 1/4" Pool Party panel at 3/8", 3/4", 1 1/8", 1 1/2" & 1 7/8"
14. Concertina fold Valley, Mountain, Valley, Mountain, Valley

15. Adhere 2nd and 3rd sections from each side together

16. Adhere doubled middle sections together at the sides using thin "Sticky Strip"
17. Adhere the whole thing diagonally across the card mat and trim overhang at each corner

18. Cut paper in half diagonally
19. Adhere to card mat... which will in turn cover the gift card holder "gubbins"
20. Adhere to the centre/bottom section

Gosh that was so so much easier to talk and show in a class than it was to write it!!!

Imperial Recipe for Lid
Card Emerald Envy 4 1/2"? Square
Card Whisper White 2 3/4"? Square
Paper Stripe 2 1/2"? Square
Card Pool Party 5/8"? x 2 7/8"?
Ruched Ribbon Emerald Envy x 24"

Imperial Instructions For Lid
1. Score at 3/4" on all 4 sides
2. Bone Fold
3. Dart on 2 score lines... on 2 opposing sides... and stick together using tabs...
Note  - as a general rule when making box lids I advise you to stick your lid together whilst it is in place on the box! This isn't essential with this project though as there is enough "wiggle room" to stick it as tight as possible (though I may come to regret those words!!! But it has been tested quite a few times.... and no-ones didn't fit!)

Peekaboo Peach Swing Easel Card

Back to an old favourite... the Swing Easel Card... tutorial from A4 card here ...and from 12x12 card here

Back to an old favourite Butterfly Basics...

And showcasing the new 2016-18 In Color Peekaboo peach designer Series papers and a new gold/vanilla ribbon for the Stampers Showcase tables at Telford On Stage...

Liking the combination... which is Peekaboo Peach teamed with Sahara Sand, Tip Top Taupe and Early Espresso... which was a good job as I finished this one 5 minutes after I was supposed to be being picked up on the Friday to go down to the event!! Like to leave a few things till last minute!!! Life would be too easy otherwise.....

Enormous Box Frame showcasing Sweet Sugarplum... and me & the other half...

Another day... another 2016 On Stage Telford, UK Stampers Showcase project... and cough... I was rather pleased with this one!!! It was a new idea... and it worked!! Second time around....

Although I don't think most people realised that this frame was just made out of cardstock where it lay on the Stampers Showcase table - as it was cheek and jowl with a smaller 9" Ikea Ribba frame.... but for those of you that picked it up... I am sure that you will have realised... as it is somewhat lighter than the Ribba version....

Take 4 pieces of Thick Whisper White card... and make a nearly 12" Square Box Frame... and display whatever your hearts desires...

I didn't originally plan to use this for a scrapbook layout... nor display a photo of Jon and I on our wedding day... but time was of the essence... so other plans were put onto the back burner... yup... that is me a few years back... this may be the first (and last!) time you see a photo of me....!

And no the tutorial is not yet available I am afraid... and it will be a while as the month is somewhat busy!!! ( yes again) Though I am itching to make another variant already!!! 

But in the meantime have a practice run with a Box Frame Card if you haven't already... loads of variants on this blog if you search for Box Frame Card... but go here for the most popular 6" version... 

And spot the new Ruched Ribbon for the new 2016-18 In Colors... think this maybe my favourite ribbon ever! Can't wait till 1st June to buy more....

And a detail for your Rose Wonder die cuts...  double layered leaves...give the spines of a second set of the leaves a squidge (technical term!!!!) and glue over your flat ones...lots of added dimension in a flash...

Talking of dimension..... and many of you will not remotely understand these comments until tomorrow.... Tuesday is for Txxxxx... I know that these few words will make a few of you VERY happy!!!! Dapper Denim again tomorrow if you need another hint.... Yes it is coming!!! Tutorial too...

New 2016-18 In Colour Peekaboo Peach for Stampers Showcase

And finally in the introducing the new 2016-18 In Colors... we have PEEKABOO PEACH...

Now this colour did give me some trouble!! I am definitely not a lover of a peach colour... but I do admit that is a missing colour in our repertoire! And (without being able to say more!) it is definitely going to be a very useful - and needed - colour when the new catalogue launches 1st June...

So I give you a peach!! Just in case you were wondering... This was the first project to do that popped into my mind when I saw the colour... so I was so glad to see that the die was carrying over... as I was definitely in need of some quick projects... and it does look great in the flesh!!!

A couple of die cuts using the Curvy Keepsakes die... with overstamping with stamped off Peekaboo Peach and Flirty Flamingo using the You've Got This background stamp ... makes a great peach... 

My Wild Wasabi leaves are from Rose Wonder (as yes I did still have the stamps and dies out when my Stampers Showcase box landed from the USA!!) Tag from Tags and Labels... overstamped with the You've Got This background and Sahara Sand, finished off with Circle of Spring wreath and greeting...

Now where are the photos of the card I was going to post today!!!

New 2016-18 In Color FLIRTY FLAMINGO Double Display Card

Here is another of the cards I made for the On Stage New In Colors Stampers Showcase at Telford...

An Extra Large Square Double Display card which is a new variant of the Large Square version here...

This one was made to showcase the new 2016-18 In Color designers series papers in Flirty Flamingo..

As well as the swirly flowers in the Swirly Bird stamp set... which is coming your way soon.... an interesting set with lots of potential... I think I was sitting there with about 20 flower versions... and that is without having seen the co-ordinating dies!! Which I do think make a great match....

The leaves are from Grateful Bunch - and in the new and coming Emerald Envy...

Now I have to laugh... and this will really surprise some of you! But... I really like Flirty Flamingo! There is just something about it that I can't quite explain...  

And an explanation about the use of so much colour (as I know you are used to my rather more white cards on here!!) We had to mainly use the new In Color we were working with... so it had to be ... although between you and me I found that SO hard!! And yes I did even fail with a few of the cards!!!

Stampers Showcase - Dapper Denim and The Sea!

Cute little box card project using the new 2016-18 In Color Dapper Denim Designer Series papers and my trusty Gift Bag Punch Board... this one definitely proved popular on the Stampers Showcase at Telford...

This is a re-make of a previously very popular project... Go here for the tutorial posted earlier for a variant using the Sprinkles of Life stamp set... I definitely like this new one more!!

I used a few stamps sets on this card!! As is my way... 

You will no doubt recognise ... Sprinkles of Life with its co-ordinating Tree punch for the clouds & greeting... and Guy Greetings for the anchor and relevant greeting (die cut using Project Life Cards & Labels dies)

But you will not recognise my little yacht! Ok more sailing dingy... This is in the brand new Swirly Bird stamp set coming to you soon... more on this set another day!

The waves were cut using the scalloped border die in the Cutie Pie die set (you know the cake one!) 

And the base box card is made using Marina Mist to add to the maritime theme! Or rather as I had run out of Dapper Denim card by the time I made this one.... as Caroline said... only 4 sheets to work with!!!

Emerald Envy Anniversary for Stampers Showcase

Emerald is for a 55th Wedding Anniversary... so it had to be done... perfect use for this new In Color

Just a simple Square Card... a Bloomin' Heart die cut heart placed onto an Emerald Envy background... finished off with white die cut flowers, Emerald Envy stamping & banner using the Number of Years stamp set and dies...

And for the final touches... 

Large Numbers die cut from clear Glimmer paper inked up with Emerald Envy...

And rhinestones coloured in with a green Sharpie pen...perfect colour match!