Flowers And Bugs!

(Part 1)

Hello!  Today I am sharing three projects I worked on this week featuring flowers and bugs, using the following Stampin' Up! dies:

• Meadow dies (item 155852)

Meadow dies - 155852

• Honeybee Blooms dies (item 157951);

Honeybee Blooms dies - 157951

• Queen Bee dies (item 160484);

Queen Bee dies - 160484

• Tree Rings dies (item 159888);

Tree Rings dies - 159888

(also includes the Tree Rings Hybrid Embossing Folder)

• Harvest dies (item 156504); and

Harvest dies - 156504

• Lighting The Way dies (item 160496).

Lighting The Way dies - 160496

I have also included three photos showing the specific dies from each of the die sets that I used in my projects:

For each of my projects I used watercolour paper (Stampin' Up! offers Fluid 100 5" x 7" Watercolour Paper - item 149612) for the die cuts - colouring them with Stampin' Up! inks and Watercolour Pencils.

Just a quick summary of the additional basic tools and supplies I used to complete the projects:

• Paper Trimmer (item 152392) - for cutting paper and cardstock (can also be used for scoring);
• stylus and scoreboard (Simply Scored Scoring Tool - item 122334) - for scoring lines in cardstock;
• Bone Folder (item 102300) - for burnishing score lines to ensure sharp folds;
• Take Your Pick Tool (item 144107) - paper piercer and tacky putty tips are a great help in picking up and placing small embellishments and die cuts;
• Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine (item 149653) - for all die cutting; 
• for the main adhesive, Multipurpose Liquid Glue (item 110755); and
• for the heat embossing on the card project an Embossing Buddy to rub over the watercolour paper prior to stamping and embossing (the Embossing Buddy is one of the items included in the Embossing Additions Tool Kit - item 159971), and a heat gun (Heat Tool - item 129053) for activating and setting the embossing powder.

On with the projects!

Happy Birthday Card

For this 5 3/8" x 5 3/8" side-fold card I used the following additional supplies:

• Petal Pink cardstock (item 146985) for the card base;
• Calypso Coral cardstock (item 122925) for the matting panel;
• Distressed Gold 12" x 12" Specialty Paper (item 159237) for the additional matting panel, inside panel strip, and for the four die cut bugs (Lighting The Way dies);
• watercolour paper for the frame - I used the largest square from the Stylish Shapes dies (item 159183) to cut the window;

Stylish Shapes dies - 159183

• Petal Pink patterned paper from Country Gingham 6" x 6" Designer Series Paper (item 160388) for the panel behind the window, and for the inside panel strip;
• Calypso Coral ink (item 147101), Old Olive ink (item 147090), and Gorgeous Grape from Watercolour Pencils - Assortment 2 (item 149014) to colour the die cut flowers, grass, and leaves;
• Basic Black Stampin' Write Marker (item 100082) to add splatters to the die cut flowers and leaves by flicking the brush tip against the maker lid;
• VersaMark Ink (item 102283) and gold embossing powder (Stampin' Emboss Powders - Metallics - item 155555) to stamp and emboss the "happy birthday" sentiment from the Happiness Abounds stamp set (item 159238); and
• for a little extra sparkle I added nine Genial Gems (currently available on the Clearance Rack - item 155500 - there are two sizes of each of the two colours - Pale Papaya and Mint Macaron - included).

I made the envelope from a Petal Pink/Calypso Coral shaded sheet of the Pretty Prints 12" x 12" Designer Series Paper (item 159245) using an envelope punch board.  Around the envelope I tied a bow using gold cord from Simply Elegant Trim (item 155766).

Window Frame

For the second project I began with a window frame photo frame with bulldog clip and easel that I found at Dollar Tree.  The window frame measures 9 1/2" tall x 5 7/8" wide, and I removed the clip and easel, and then sanded the frame to "distress" it.  

Behind the frame I glued a piece of the white type text vellum from the Vellum 12" x 12" Layering Designs (item 157764) - behind the lamp portion of the die cut lantern I used a small scrap of the black type text vellum.  I used a second-hand child's framed chalkboard (originally from Ikea but picked up at a local thrift shop) that measures 13" x 9" to mount the finished window frame.  I thought that the chalk remains on the chalkboard would help add to the overall distressed feel of the project!

To complete the project I used the following additional supplies:

• inks to colour the die cuts:  Old Olive (item 147090), Mossy Meadow (item 147111), Rich Razzleberry (item 147091), Mango Melody (item 147093), Pumpkin Pie (item 147086), Starry Sky (item 159212), Soft Suede (item 147115), and Basic Gray (item 149165);
• Vellum 8 1/2" x 11" Cardstock (item 101856) - wings for two large insects;
• Wink of Stella Clear Glitter Brush (item 141897) - vellum wings and butterfly "painted";
• Basic Black Stampin' Write Marker (item 100082) to add splatters to the die cuts by flicking the brush tip against the marker lid;
• small Basic Black dots from Classic Matte Dots (item 158146) for the centers of the three Mango Melody/Pumpkin Pie flowers (Meadow dies); and
• Crumb Cake dots from Enamel Dot Essentials (item 160751) for the centers of the four Rich Razzleberry flowers (Queen Bee dies).

Enjoy Today Junk Journal Notebook

For the cover of this 6" x 6" junk journal notebook I used one sheet of the now retired Basic Black 12" x 12" cardstock (item 124267 - from the July-December 2022 Mini Catalogue - maybe like me you stocked up while the getting was good!) - cut 12" x 8", scored on the 12" side at 6" and on the 8" side at 2" (to form the pockets).   After scoring and burnishing, I opened the cardstock piece up, folded it along the 6" score line and, using my craft knife and ruler, made the diagonal cuts on the inside edges of the pockets - approximately 7/8" from the top edge of the pocket down to the 6" score line - making these cuts helps reduce the bulk along the bottom of the cover when the book is closed.  I added a small line of glue to secure the outside edges of the pockets to the inside front and back covers.  To strengthen the center spine I added a strip of 2" wide adhesive fabric bandage tape (picked up at Dollar Tree), centered over the score line, to the inside cover.  To cover the tape I added a just shy of 6" length x 1" wide strip of Abigail Rose 12" x 12" Designer Series Paper (item 159037) to the inside front and back covers, lining the inside edges of the DSP just up to but not over the center score line.  For the book pages I used an assortment of coffee-dyed papers, and a few leftover pieces from the retired Beauty Of The Earth 12" x 12" Designer Series Paper (item 155841 - from the May 2021-April 2022 Annual Catalogue) - a total of ten sheets, folded in half and secured to the cover using the three-hole pamphlet stitch (https://archiesatelier.blogspot.com/2022/02/a-few-projects-using-ranunculus-romance.html) and black embroidery thread. 

For the front cover frame and stamped image panel I used watercolour paper - the frame opening was cut using the largest square die from the Stylish Shapes dies (item 159183).  The frame panel was sponged with Soft Suede ink (item 147115), lightly spritzed with water (Stampin' Spritzers - item 126185), blotted dry with paper towel, second generation stamped using Soft Suede ink and the distressed text stamp from the Queen Bee stamp set (item 160476), and then again sponged with Soft Suede ink.  

Queen Bee stamp set - 160476

(available as a bundle with the Queen Bee dies - Bundle item 160484)

For the stamped image panel I stamped the tent and tree images from the Campology stamp set (item 152553) using Stazon Jet Black Ink (item 101406), lightly sponging over with Soft Suede ink, lightly spritzing with water and blotting dry with paper towel, and then applying more Soft Suede ink using a paintbrush to the trees and tent.  When stamping the images I first stamped the tent, added a stamped post-it note tent mask over the original image, and then stamped the trees. For the pockets I "borrowed" two Campology stamp set tag/images from my Grassy Grove Mini Album

(https://archiesatelier.blogspot.com/2022/11/a-grassy-grove-bundle-mini-album-hello.html).

Campology stamp set - 152553

Behind the lamp portion of the die cut lantern on the front cover I added a small scrap of Vellum 8 1/2" x 11" Cardstock (item 101856), which I had crumpled to try to give the effect of old cracked glass, behind which I added a small scrap of Distressed Gold 12" x 12" Specialty Paper (item 159237).

To complete the project I used the following additional supplies:

• inks to colour the die cuts:  Starry Sky (item 159212), Old Olive (item 147090), Mossy Meadow (item 147111), Soft Suede, Basic Gray (item 149165), Sweet Sorbet (item 159216), and Rich Razzleberry (item 147091);
• Very Vanilla baker's twine (Baker's Twine Essentials Pack - item 155475) - looped through the top of the lantern on the front cover;
• Stazon Jet Black Ink to stamp the "enjoy today" and "explore" sentiments on watercolour paper scraps - the "enjoy today" label was cut using the label die from Fabulous Frames dies (item 159163), and the "explore" strip was just trimmed using the Paper Trimmer.  The sentiment label and strip were sponged with Soft Suede ink;

Fabulous Frames dies - 159163

• Vintage Bottle punch (item 158689) to punch bottle from watercolour paper (coloured using Old Olive and Mossy Meadow inks, spritzed with water and blotted dry with paper towel);
• Linen Thread (item 104199) - single strand wrapped around the neck of the watercolour paper punched bottle; and
• Rustic Metallic Adhesive-Backed Dots (item 159082) - added to the front cover, including two on the sentiment label.

For the embellishment on the inside back cover pocket I used a leftover camper die cut - to back the windows I used a small piece of So Saffron patterned paper from the 6" x 6" Designer Series Paper Assortments - Subtles (item 159255).  The camper was cut from watercolour paper using the Tree Lot dies - a product from the July 1 - August 31, 2022 Sale-A-Bration Promotion - and coloured using Sweet Sorbet, Soft Suede, and Basic Gray inks.

Thank you for visiting my blog!  I had lots of fun working on these projects! 

Upcoming Colour Refresh!

With the release of the May 2023-April 2024 Annual Catalogue Stampin' Up! will be doing a colour refresh - which will involve the retirement of some colours, the introduction of new colours, and the re-introduction of some past colours. Undoubtedly some of our favourite colours may be retired! Since we will not know the status of the current colours/colour families until the release of the new catalogue you may want to take the opportunity to stock up on cardstock, ink pads, ink refills, and Stampin' Blends (alcohol markers) in your favourite colours just in case - as these supplies will undoubtedly sell out quickly once the retirement of colours is confirmed!

  

If you are interested in purchasing any of the available Stampin' Up! products I have used in my projects (or you want to stock up on supplies in your favourite colours!), and you live in Canada and do not have a Stampin' Up! demonstrator, please do not hesitate to visit my online store found on my website https://archiesatelier.stampinup.net/ at your convenience, or simply click under the "Shop With Me" tab on the right sidebar of my blog, which will take you directly to my website and online store.  I very much appreciate your business! You can browse the PDF versions of the May 2022-April 2023 Annual Catalogue, and January-April 2023 Mini Catalogue, anytime on my website.  There are lots of good deals to be had on the Clearance Rack and don't forget to check out the selection of fun new Online Exclusives too! 

Have fun creating!

Laurel

*It has come to my attention that quite often email correspondence from me is delivered to the recipient's spam or junk mail folder - if you have corresponded with me I have replied so be sure to check your spam or junk mail folder!  Thank you!! 

The bathtub is so much more fun without water!