Homes Are Where The Hearts (And Flowers) Are! 

(two decor projects with whimsical houses)

Hello!  Today I am sharing two decor projects featuring a few more whimsical houses (two more projects to hang up in my craft room!).  In addition to the Stampin' Up! supplies (Designer Series Paper, cardstock, and dies) I used the following items to complete the projects:

• for the first project - a black 12" x 12" frame (Dollarama) - glass removed; a 9 3/4" x 9 3/4" x 1/8" thick MDF panel (Dollarama - package of 6); and a wood house shape (Dollar Tree) that measures 8 1/2" x 7 3/4" x just under a 1/4" thick, and which originally had some decorative paper and a metal "welcome" sign - both easily removed; and
• for the second project - a 12" x 12" x 1" thick wood panel, which I picked up at a local art supply store (Dollarama also carries several sizes of wood panels); and three side-facing hanging wood arrow signs from Dollar Tree - the "tallest" measures 12 1/2" tall x 5" wide x 1/4" thick, and the two smaller measure 8" tall x just over 5 1/2" wide x 1/4" thick.  Each of the three arrow signs had a twine hanger - again very easily removed.  Picking up one of the arrow signs on a recent trip to Dollar Tree I had an "ah ha" or "oh duh" moment when I turned it so the arrow pointed up and saw it was a perfect house shape!  

I painted the edges of all house shapes (before adding the DSP) and the wood panel, and the edges and a small border on the front of the Dollarama MDF panel, with black gesso that I had on hand - but black paint would also work great!

I was looking for a project to use my leftover Designer Series Papers, including paper from the 6" x 6" Designer Series Paper Assortments, which I cut into strips for the main part of the houses, (Brights - item 159258 [Poppy Parade, Granny Apple Green, Gorgeous Grape], Regals - item 159256 [Real Red, Old Olive, Garden Green], 2022-2024 In Colours - item 159253 [Sweet Sorbet, Parakeet Party, Starry Sky, Orchid Oasis]. I also added strips cut from several sheets of the Tea Boutique 6" x 6" Designer Series Paper (item 158659)., including the Crushed Curry patterned paper used to back all windows in the first project, and the rectangular and square windows in the second project - the Crushed Curry polka dot patterned paper used to back the door's round window on the second project is from the 6" x 6" DSP Assortments - Regals.  For the roofs I used the Perfectly Penciled 12" x 12" Designer Series Paper (item 159244) - using one large piece for the roof/chimney on the first project, and cutting strips for the roofs on the second project.  I also used the Perfectly Penciled DSP to cover the MDF panel and the frame insert backing panel on the first project.  To cover the wood panel for the second project I used a paint texture sheet from the Hues of Happiness 12" x 12" Designer Series Paper (item 158822).

After gluing the DSP to the house shapes I used my craft knife (with a very sharp blade) to trim any pieces overhanging the shapes' edges, and then lightly sanded all edges using a very fine grit sandpaper.  I then glued on the die cut cardstock border strips - roofs and, for the three houses on the second project, the "ground" border strips, again carefully trimming overhanging sections with my craft knife - I did not sand the edges of the cardstock.  I added the "ground" border strips on the first project after the house was glued to the backing panel. 

Using a strong white glue I attached the house shapes to the backing panels, then added the additional foliage, flowers, insects, nests, the suns and clouds, windows, dooors.  I stacked and glued the three houses on the second project together before gluing the entire ensemble to the backing panel - behind the red and green houses I added some pieces of almost 1/4" black foam core I had on hand to help provide a little more stability (additional gluing surfaces) - on the green house I added two layers of the foam core. 

For the grilles for each window I cut two very narrow strips of Basic Black cardstock (item 121045), attaching them to the back of the die cut frames with tiny dabs of Multipurpose Liquid Glue (item 110755), then gluing the window backing DSP pieces, trimmed to cover the frame openings.

The following are the dies I used to cut roof trim, ground cover, flowers, foliage, insects, the bird's nest, suns, and clouds:

• Basic Borders (item 155558):

Basic Borders dies - 155558

• Around The Bend (item 160649) - ground cover, large flowers, and leaves;

Around The Bend dies - 160649

• Queen Bee (item 160484) - flowers, large outline bee to cut stamped and embossed bees, and the small detail and solid bees;

Queen Bee dies - 160484

• Dainty Delight (item 160674) - daisies and lupins;

Dainty Delight dies - 160674

• Teacup (item 160186) - hearts; and I used the foliage outline die to cut the Granny Apple Green cardstock (item 146990) "shrub" for the green house on the second project;

Teacup dies - 160186

• Honeybee Blooms (item 157951) - grass;

Honeybee Blooms dies - 157951

• Lighting The Way (item 160496) - large winged insect on first project;

Lighting The Way dies - 160496

• Nested Friends (item 160488) - solid and detailed overlay nest dies for the first project;

Nested Friends dies - 160488

• Layering Circles (item 151770) - 2 1/4" diameter scalloped circle die used to cut the Crushed Curry cardstock (item 131199) sun on the first project;
• Stylish Shapes (item 159183) - largest circle used to cut the Daffodil Delight polka dot patterned paper (from the 6" x 6" Designer Series Paper Assortments - Brights) sun on the second project; and circle dies used to cut the door's circle window on the green house (second project), and the roof's circle window frame and door's wreath on the first project; and 1 1/8" and 1 1/2" square dies used to cut the square window frames on both projects; and
• Playing In The Rain (item 160550) to cut the Balmy Blue cardstock (item 146982) clouds.  Before die cutting the clouds I embossed the cardstock using the Timeworn Type 3D Embossing Folder (item 156505).

Playing In The Rain dies - 160550

The basic tools and supplies I used to complete the projects:

• Paper Trimmer (item 152392) - for cutting paper and cardstock;
• Paper Snips Scissors (item 103579) - a nice sharp pair of scissors that are great for making necessary "trims" to die cut foliage;
• Take Your Pick Tool (item 144107) - the paper piercer and tacky putty tips are a tremendous help in picking up and placing small die cuts and embellishments;
• Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine (item 149653) - for all die cutting and embossing; and
• for the main adhesive, Multipurpose Liquid Glue (item 110755).

Although the sign above the door says "home to me", and I would like lots of flowers, I am certain I would not be brave enough to paint my house Gorgeous Grape!  For this project I used the following additional supplies:

• Garden Green cardstock (item 102584), Granny Apple Green cardstock (item 146990), and Parakeet Party cardstock (item 159259) for the border ground covers, foliage, and grass;
• Gorgeous Grape cardstock (item 146987), Highland Heather cardstock (item 146986), Fresh Freesia cardstock (item 155613), Crushed Curry cardstock (item 131199), and Basic White cardstock (item 159276) for the flowers;
• Gorgeous Grape cardstock for the sentiment strip - the "home for me" sentiment, from the host stamp set, Sit Stay Relax (item 159152), was stamped using Memento Tuxedo Black Ink (item 132708) - before inking the stamp I used a post-it-note to cover the first part of the sentiment ("you feel like"), removing the post-it-note before stamping;
• Basic Black cardstock (item 121045) for the roof and chimney trim, window frames and grilles, sentiment label, door, and insect's top main body;
• Crumb Cake cardstock (item 120953) and Soft Suede cardstock (item 115318) for the die cut detailed nest overlay and solid nest respectively;
• Crumb Cake cardstock for the door's wreath;
• Stitched Rectangles dies (item 151820) to cut the door - before die cutting I embossed the cardstock using the Timber 3D Embossing Folder (item 156406);
• label die from the Fabulous Frames dies (item 159163) to cut the sentiment label;

Fabulous Frames dies - 159163

• Vellum 8 1/2" x 11" Cardstock (item 101856) for the insect's wings - I "painted" the wings using my Wink of Stella Clear Glitter Brush (item 141897);
• Crushed Curry polka-dot patterned paper from 6" x 6" Designer Series Paper Assortments - Regals (item 159256) for the insect's lower body;
• Classic Matte Dots (item 158146) - black and white dots used for flower centers;
• Rustic Metallic Adhesive-Backed Dots (item 159082) - one small dot added to the each end of the sentiment label, and one large dot used for the doorknob; and
• Linen Thread (item 104199) - for the door wreath's small bow - attached to the wreath with a tiny dab of Multipurpose Liquid Glue. 

For both this and the second project, when attaching the ground border die cuts I added glue only to the side and bottom edges - this way I could "tuck in" additional foliage and flowers on the top edge.  For the border die cuts that overhang the house shape on this project I added three layers of Stampin' Dimensionals (item 104430).

I may have got a little carried away with the hearts on these houses but it is said that home is where the heart is!  Additional supplies used to complete this project:

• Garden Green cardstock (item 102584), Granny Apple Green cardstock (item 146990), and Parakeet Party cardstock (item 159259) for border ground die cuts, foliage and grass;
• Sweet Sorbet cardstock (item 159268), Pool Party cardstock (item 122924), Crushed Curry cardstock (item 131199), and Basic White cardstock (item 159276) for flowers;
• Basic Black cardstock (item 121045) for the roof trim on the red and green houses, window frames, door, and die cut detailed bee overlay;
• Crushed Curry cardstock for the solid bee bodies;
• Sweet Sorbet cardstock and Real Red cardstock (item 102482) for the hearts (all cut using the Teacup dies);
• Real Red cardstock and Starry Sky cardstock (item 159263) for the border trims on the blue house;
• Real Red cardstock for the die cut bow on the green house - cut using the Mini Pocket Envelope dies (item 159167);

Mini Pocket Envelope dies - 159167

• Basic White cardstock for the stamped, embossed and die cut bees;
• VersaMark Ink (item 102283) and black embossing powder (Stampin' Emboss Powders - Basics - item 155554) to stamp and emboss the bees - I also used an Embossing Buddy (included with the Embossing Additions Tool Kit - item 159971) to rub over the cardstock before stamping to help prevent the embossing powder sticking anywhere other than the stamped design, and a heat gun (Heat Tool - item 129053) to heat/activate the embossing powder;
• Stitched Rectangles dies (item 151820) to cut the door - before die cutting I embossed the cardstock using the Stripes 3D Embossing Folder from the Stripes & Splatters 3D Embossing Folders (item 157980) - I die cut the door and circle window opening at the same time - placing the circle die inside the rectangle die on the cutting plate of the Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine;
• 2022-2024 In Colour Matte Decorative Dots (item 159186) - Tahitian Tide, Parakeet Party, and Sweet Sorbet shaded dots added to flower centers, and a Tahitian Tide shaded dot used for the doorknob; and
• Stampin' Dimensionals (item 104430) - one added to the back of the smallest cloud.

For the red house I also snuck in a few strips cut from the retired Sweetest Christmas 12" x 12" Designer Series Paper (item 159559 - from the July-December 2022 Mini Catalogue).

After adding the DSP to the wood panel I used a very fine grit sandpaper to sand the edges of the DSP.

During the Last Chance Promotion, on now until May 1, 2023, retiring products from both the May 2022-April 2023 Annual Catalogue, and the January-April 2023 Mini Catalogue, will be available while supplies last - with many of the products available at substantial discounts!  The following is a list of the retiring products I used in my projects, together with any applicable discounts:

• Queen Bee dies - item 160476 - 60% discount;
• Teacup dies - item 160186 - 50% discount;
• Honeybee Blooms dies - item 157951 - 60% discount;
• Fabulous Frames dies - item 159163 - 40% discount;
• Layering Circles dies - item 151770;
• Stitched Rectangles dies - item 151820 - 30% discount;
• 2022-2024 In Colour Matte Decorative Dots - item 159186 - 50% discount;
• Soft Suede cardstock - item 115318;
• Hues of Happiness 12" x 12" Designer Series Paper - item 158822;
• Perfectly Penciled 12" x 12" Designer Series Paper - item 159244;
• Tea Boutique 6" x 6" Designer Series Paper - item 158659 - 30% discount;
• 2022-2024 In Colour 6" x 6" Designer Series Paper Assortments - item 159253 - 60% discount;
• 6" x 6" Designer Series Paper Assortments - Brights - item 159258; and
• 6" x 6" Designer Series Paper Assortments - Regals - item 159256.

Thank you for taking the time to visit my blog!  As always I had a lot of fun working on my projects!

If you are interested in purchasing any of the available Stampin' Up! products I have used in my projects, 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 also 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

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