Filter Paper Pretties

Welcome Monday Montage Hoppers!  A quick post to share with you all about filter paper flowers.  I had 10 packs of white filter paper and made tons of flowers in all sizes.  I used the Bouquet Bigz L Die to cut them and reinkers to color them.

Paired with the flowers is the Something Borrowed DSP.  I used strips to wrap different gift boxes to make to gorgeous packages.  My favorite touch is the added bling to the top box.  The card which also has a piece of Something Borrowed DSP uses the "love" greeting from the Everyday Occasions Card Kit and the Flower Patch stamps and framelits.

from dani

To kaitlyn

Year One -- Paper

I have several obsessions.  One of them of course is stamping and paper crafting, another is garlands.  I can't get enough of them and I keep making more and more.  So, why not make a garland to feature photos for a wedding anniversary gift?  It's the perfect idea since the traditional gift for a first year anniversary is paper.  Because I am a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator what better idea than to give a gift of cardstock paper, designer series paper, and filter paper all put together in a fun way.

As I finished the last few details on this gifty garland I got all full of smiles and even reached over my shoulder to pat my back ;0)  The blend of products, the colors, and the softness of the ribbons work so well with my favorite wedding pictures.  The form and functionality of the clothes pins allows for easy rearranging and adding of more photos.  And the handmade paper flowers add an element of soft whimsy.

To make the garland: 

• Select (5) sheets of 12" x 12" Designer Series Paper.
• Score each piece of paper every 1".
• Accordion fold back and forth on each score line.
• Glue one end of the folds together on both sides of the paper.
• String together with ribbon(s).

To make the filter paper flowers:

• Cut (9) of the larger petals and (9) of the smaller petals using the Bouquet Bigz L Die.
• Color each petal by spritzing a mix of ink refill and rubbing alcohol.  I used both Pink Pirohuette, in one Mini Mister, and Crumb Cake in another.  The blue flowers are both Pool Party and Crumb Cake.
• Pleat the ends of each petal and adhere with hot glue.  Glue (5) of the large petals together for the bottom layer then glue the remaining (4) petals to make the next layer.
• Repeat the above step with the smaller petals and glue to top of larger petal layers.
• Cut (8-10) of the fringy pieces for the flower centers, spritz them with ink, and glue to center of flowers.
• Add Dazzling Diamonds Glitter to each finished flower.  I use cheap hair spray as an adhesive.

The Butterfly Effect

The butterfly effect is the "sensitive dependence on initial conditions in which a small change in one state of a deterministic nonlinear system can result in large differences in a later state."  And that is exactly what happened to me.  I discovered a cool thing back in 1998.  It took me no time at all to be fully enveloped in a state of bliss while I inked, stamped, and created hand stamped 'everythings.'  Joining Stampin' Up!, over 18 years ago, has provided me a bountiful stack of blessings.  From a huge stack full of close friends to a stack of new found talents totally enhanced by amazing exclusive products.

It's with great stamps, accessories, and tools that I used to make this dream like traditional scrapbook page.  It's been a little over a year since Nicholas and Jennifer were married and of all the thousands of photos taken on their wedding day, this one is my number one favorite.  I look back on the bridal shower and wedding and remember how many ways Stampin' Up! made an appearance.  We had hand made invitations, party decor at the shower which I incorporated in the escort card display at the wedding, an MDS guest book, escort cards, table names, and festive fancies for the get away car--all made with SU! products.

I am totally on the Project Life band wagon, but every now and again a 12" x 12" layout is just what the scrapbook needs.  I love mixing the two styles.  For this page I grabbed a piece of the Sale-a-bration Irresistibly Yours DSP and gave it a squirt of Daffodil Delight Ink Refill mixed with rubbing alcohol.  The hazy & spotty addition of the yellow spray gives the dreamy appearance to this page.  Next, I layered the Sahara Sand Lace Ribbon and the White Jute Ribbon with some retired washi tape to base the photo.  What every wedding page needs is a bit of bling, so I added a Something Borrowed Embellishment to highlight Jennifer's dress and ring.

Lots of layered butterflies frame the picture.  Some stamped, some inked, and some softly glittered.  The quote image comes from the stamp set Really Good Greetings and I felt it captured my sons love for his childhood best friend who is now his wife and still his best friend. 

Zero to 60 in 30!

I have been waiting for a few extra moments that I could sit down to get this post ready to share.  At church the youth gathered one evening to work on a huge service project for one of the local shelters in San Jose.  They made hygiene kits, tied blankets, gathered new bedding and bundled them with new pillows, and created hand stamped cards.

In less than 30 minutes our group of about 20 young men and young women completed all 60 cards.  We had six styles and made ten of each.  One special request from those who organized the service project was that each card included a "hand stamped by" image and a small signature.  It was so fun to see the girls and the boys add either their initials or a full signature.  They took pure delight in their accomplishment and that they found joy in making a difference for someone else.

All the card elements were precut and ready.  I set it up just like I do my stamp classes.  One major element that gave us a lot of look in a quick and easy way was washi tape.  I can't say it enough that I have grown completely in love with washi tape--it's so cool, colorful, carefree, and cost effective!

And here you have it.  Sixty cards finished and ready in just under 30 minutes!

Super Sketch

Sketch challenges make stampin' so much fun!  And I love this sketch.  Why?  Because I pieced it together for Hand Stamped Sentiments.  This is one I will definitely revisit.

If you look close at my card you might wonder what the base card color is.  Well, it's brand spankin' new from Stampin' Up!  It's Mint Macaron and it's absolutely sweet and yummy.  I love it paired with Pear Pizzaz, Pumpkin Pie, and Calypso Coral.  It just has a new fresh look for beckoning in the summer season.

In my last post I shared a card using this very same stamp image.  I mentioned how much I love the quote and the hand drawn lettering.  Isn't it awesome?  It is one of many great stamps from the Build a Bouquet stamp set.  I think the swipe of the White Chalk Pen in the heart is simply a delicate touch to give a perfect finishing touch.

Card Happenings in Curry and Black

Hello Monday Montage Blog Hoppers!  I am so happy you are here checking out our latest works of hand stamped bliss.  For my Crushed Curry creations I used a bunch of leftover pieces that were in a stack of papers to either put away or throw away.  You know use or lose 'em!  So I used them in a cute way.

I love the look of stamping on patterned paper.  It's fresh and creates both interest and dimension.  And can I just say that in the past few months I have totally fallen in love with Crushed Curry?  Well I have.  It's bright, warm, and happy.

Speaking of happy, my card here was made with one of the images from the Hello Life stamp set and is one of those "happenings."  For me a happening is a one of a kind look that if you tried to achieve the same look you couldn't.  At first I didn't like to overstamping on the word "happy."  Then it grew on me and I decided it's awesome and draws attention to the greeting.

 Is this tag not the cutest?  The stamp comes from the Build a Bouquet set and I think it is two things.  One, the quote is brilliant and two, the hand written font is perfection.

From Dara

To Kaitlyn

Got Color?

Lookin' for a color palette?  Well here is one that includes an array of saturated hues hosted by the fun and free spirited Hand Stamped Sentiments.  To start my take on this selected trio I inked each color on my Beautifully Baroque TIEF.  Next I spritzed the folder with water to blend the colors and then I inserted a piece of Water Color Paper in the folder and ran it through the Big Shot.  I love this technique as each piece of embossed cardstock is so unique and never to be repeated.

The above picture gives you a closer look at the blended ink.  While the bottom lets you see the details up close and personal.  The bumpy gold thread was pulled from the Gold Metallic Bakers Twine.  And, the "thank you" greeting is from a past Paper Pumpkin kit.