Find ideas, instructions and materials used to make a variety of paper-craft projects using Stampin' Up! products. As an independent Stampin' Up! demonstrator in New Zealand I love to share my passion for creating things with paper including cards, boxes, gifts and decorations. I find that making things is a fun and relaxing past-time which relieves stress and gives me a purpose to be active every day. If you have any questions or want to learn more about Stampin' Up! feel free to contact me.
I watched a video by a Canadian demonstrator, Tina Zinck, about the Open Book Easel Card technique. This method creates very impressive cards but it is a simple technique. Since I am spending more time at home due to the pandemic I finally got a chance to try this technique and now I am totally in love with Open Book Easel Cards!
You can make them for any occasion just by changing up the type of designer series paper and stamps you use. So far I have made six different cards using a variety of papers and colours, but I'm sure I'll be making lots more!
I used a gold foil edged card as the background for my Christmas Tree design. The layers were made from papers in the Most Wonderful Time Product Medley along with the stamps and dies. I used the Scripty 3D Embossing Folder to create the top layer and lightly sponged some Old Olive ink on the lettering to make it stand out. I made some Gold Foil ornaments for the Christmas tree using the little bauble die from the Little Treat Box Dies.
I then decided to make a monochrome card using some black and white music paper (retired from Stampin' Up!). I used a piece with the music and words for Deck the Halls as the front layer and I didn't feel I should cover it up, so I decorated around it with a garland made from the Wreath Builder Dies. I added a little bow with the Real Red Braided Linen Trim and embellished the wreath with Red Rhinestone Basic Jewels.
As soon as I looked at the new catalogue I fell in love with the Playful Pets Suite from Stampin' Up! The dogs and cats on the Playful Pets designer series paper are so cute! They remind me of Disney movie characters and I couldn't wait to create something with them.
Playful Pets Designer Series Paper -- Product #152489
I had the perfect opportunity to work with this gorgeous paper when I was asked to make table gifts for an upcoming event, so I designed mini suitcases to fit packets of travel tissues. I decided to decorate them with the cute Pampered Pet images.
There is a set of matching Pet dies which fit the four animal images in the stamp set so you can easily cut them out with a die cutting machine. However, I fussy cut 50 dogs and cats out of a few pieces of the designer series paper and still had plenty of paper left over for other crafts!
There is a fifth die in the set that cuts out three cute little paw prints and I used them to decorate the bottom of my mini suitcases. I discovered there were little hearts in the centre of each paw print which I used as decoration as well. I was pleasantly surprised to find I could use the paw print die to cut out some of the hearts on the DSP. I also cut some of the matching dog and cat images with two of the dies.
I cut two little rectangle pieces of the designer series paper to decorate each suitcase and since the paper is double-sided I just turned it over to use the other image on the back side of the suitcase.
The sentiment was stamped on a 3/4" piece of Whisper White cardstock and then I used the Lovely Labels Pick a Punch to make the ends look pretty before adding a couple little hearts.
I popped each element up with some dimensionals. I also added a little suitcase handle on the top using the smallest Stitched Rectangles Dies and re-cut it into a small rectangular strip before adding a couple Metallic Pearls to make it look like rivets holding a stitched leather handle on to the suitcase.
I sized my mini suitcases to fit the little travel tissues I bought at Yoyoso, which can easily be slipped out the open side to use.
Here is a video I made to show you how easy it is to make these cute little suitcases.
I hope you enjoyed this project and can see how easy it is to create a decorative holder for everyday objects. If there is a special project you'd like to see me make, please let me know in the comments!
I joined a challenge with some other Stampin' Up! demonstrators to make One Sheet Wonder (OSW) cards. If you haven't heard of OSW, it is a technique to make a lot of cards from one piece of designer series paper (DSP).
You can find lots of templates online for use with 12" x 12" or 6" x 6" pieces of paper or you could make your own template by cutting up your paper in to lots of different sizes and shapes.
OSW 12" x 12" Cutting Template
Then you just need to use the paper to make as many different cards as you can from the one sheet!
OSW 12" x 12" Card Designs
I chose a sheet of Magnolia Lane DSP for my challenge and found a cutting template online along with a placement design. So I cut my paper into lots of little pieces which were meant to create 14 cards, however I used some of the pieces on the same card (combining #7 with #8 and #9 with #10) so I only ended up with 12 cards.
One Sheet Wonder Cards using Magnolia Lane Designer Series Paper
I used cardstock and inks which matched the Magnolia Lane DSP -- Early Espresso, Mossy Meadow and Petal Pink.
Card designs 1, 2 and 5
I used the Good Morning Magnolia cling stamp set and Magnolia Memory dies along with Stitched Rectangle dies on some of the cards.
Card designs 4, 6 and 11
I coloured some Whisper White Crinkle Ribbon with Stampin' Blends to match the colours I used on a few of the cards.
Card designs 3,12 and 14
I added some embellishments to bling up the cards along with a little Wink of Stella on the die cut flowers.
Card designs 9/10, 7/8 and 13
I also used several different dies and embossing folders to make these cards which I explained in my video.
I got so involved in making the cards that I forgot about following the design template which is why I ended up making 12 cards instead of 14! I hope you like my designs and decide to have a go at making One Sheet Wonder cards for yourself.
