Cute mini suitcase which hides travel tissues!

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!

#KeepCalmAndCraft #ComputerAndCraftDesigns #StampinUp #CreativeTherapy #KeepStamping #RubberStamping #PlayfulPets 

April Mailbag Make -- Poppy Wreath plus 3 Notecards!

In New Zealand and Australia we celebrate ANZAC Day on April 25th every year to remember those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice to keep our countries safe. ANZAC is the acronym for Australian and New Zealand Army Corps and was created in WWI.

A symbol of this remembrance day is a red poppy known as Flanders' Poppy, which was the first plant to re-emerge from the churned up soil of soldiers' graves during the First World War. Most people wear a cloth poppy on their shirt on ANZAC day, and during the week leading up to the ceremonies, as a sign of respect for those who have fought in wars.

I decided to create a wreath of poppies using the Poppy Moments dies with the intention of laying it at my local war memorial or putting on my front door. I thought maybe others would like to create poppy wreaths as well so I have made my design into a Mailbag Make. This is a perfect project to be doing at home with the kids or if you are not able to get out to craft classes. I have made each poppy a little bit different using a variety of techniques with the ink and glue.

The Poppy Wreath Mailbag Make includes everything you need to get crafting straight out of the mailbag! You will receive several die cut poppy and leaf elements as well as a Fine Tip Glue Pen, a bottle of Real Red Ink Refill and a sponge dauber. You will also get a link to a private instructional video showing you how to put everything together including tips and techniques using the ink refill.

Have a look at this 'sneak peak' video for more information and details on how to order.

I hope you like my project and find a way to celebrate ANZAC day on April 25th!

#Poppies #FlandersPoppy #AnzacDay #Wreath #RemembranceDay #KeepCalmAndCraft #ComputerAndCraftDesigns #StampinUp #creativetherapy #StayHome #MailbagMake 

Power of Hope -- Free stamp set from Sale-A-Bration

I started off the New Year playing with my free stamp sets from the Sale-A-Bration brochure. There are so many wonderful projects which can be made from the new Occasions and Sale-A-Bration catalogues and in this post I showcase the Power of Hope Bundle which includes a stamp set and the Stone 3D Embossing folder. You can get both these items for free with a qualifying order until 31 March 2020.

I've made simple, casual and avid crafter projects to satisfy everyone with this stamp set. All you need is some cardstock, ink and the Power of Hope bundle to make some lovely cards and decorations for the new year.

Sometimes the simplest projects turn out to be the most elegant. My first card only used three colours of cardstock (Whisper White, Basic Black and Real Red) along with ink and the stamp set.

I stamped all the images from the set using Tuxedo Black Memento ink. I used the Stitched Rectangle dies to cut the three white pieces which I then layered on black cardstock to give some contrast.

I arranged the layered pieces on the red cardstock to decide where to put the sentiments and then used my Stamparatus for perfect placement. I left the inside of the card blank so it can be used for any occasion.

My next design was inspired by the paper lanterns I see at the Auckland Lantern Festival. I stamped the image on Petal Pink cardstock, cut it out with a circle die and then scrunched it up in my hands to give it a worn look. I used Lovely Lipstick cardstock for the top and bottom of the lantern, cut with the Stitched Rectangle dies.

The black centre section was embossed with the Stone 3D Embossing folder and layered on a piece of Lily Impressions designer series paper (also a Sale-A-Bration freebie). I used some Rose Metallic Thread as the handle for the lantern and behind the sentiment, which was heat embossed in black on Petal Pink cardstock.

I stepped things up a bit with my next card by turning it into an interactive card. When you press on the word 'power' in the sentiment on the front of the card the little lanterns light up!

The base of this card is basic black cardstock with whisper white layers. I stamped the front with Black Memento ink and then coloured each image with Stampin' Blends markers (Real Red, Daffodil Delight, Cajun Craze, Crumb Cake, and Call Me Clover). I stamped the lady on a separate piece of thick Whisper White cardstock and coloured her in with Flirty Flamingo, Bermuda Bay, and Basic Black Stampin' Blends and then cut the image out so I could layer her on the front of the card.

I turned the front piece over and put copper tape, mini flat led lights and a battery on it to make the lanterns light up. I then used Foam Adhesive Strips to attach it to the front of the card. I watched several YouTube videos to see how to create the light up feature and this was the first time I had tried that technique. Since the Stampin' Blends bleed through the paper it was easy for me to place the led lights in the correct spots.

For my next project I made a little lantern on which I stamped the images with Memento black ink. I used a rectangle piece of Petal Pink vellum and left the ink to dry for several minutes before I cut strips into the sides. I then used some gold thread to attach the Petal Pink Tassel to the bottom of the lantern.

Putting Petal Pink cardstock at the bottom and top of the lantern helped to hide the joins and hold the gold thread in place. I used some Petal Pink cardstock for the handle as well. I then cut several blossom images with the Seasonal Layers dies on the vellum and cardstock to decorate the lantern and to hide the seams.

I had a little hanging light leftover from a lantern I got last year so I created a hanger for it out of a paper clip, bending it into the shape I needed. I had originally planned to use a battery-powered tea light for the lantern, but that idea had to change after I attached the tassel to the bottom.

I made a video to show the light up features for the card and the lantern because the pictures don't do these projects justice.

I plan to make more detailed videos on how to create these projects in the near future so subscribed to my YouTube channel if you'd like to see them. Don't forget to check back here soon for more Sale-A-Bration and Occasion catalogue projects!

#PowerOfHope #KeepCalmAndCraft #ComputerAndCraftDesigns #StampinUp #creativetherapy #StayHome #SimpleStamping #SaleABration #Vellum #Lantern #Tealight