Framing It Up!

Hello!  I don't think I am alone in feeling that imagery placement on a blank card front/treat holder/gift box - regardless of size - can sometimes (maybe more often than not) be a little intimidating - the anxiety of facing - and maybe ruining - the blank canvas! I have been playing with making small frames using a few of the Stampin' Up! nesting dies, and thought that building up the images on the frame and then attaching the frame (with backing panel) to the card front (or other project) might help reduce some anxiety!  Today I am sharing a few of the "framing it up" projects I worked on this week.  I think that if I worked on having a few completed frames on hand (doing whatever inspired me in the moment) it would help make doing a last minute card or other project a little bit easier!

To make the frames for these projects I used the Stampin' Up! Stylish Shapes dies (item 159183) for circle and square frames; and the Nested Essentials dies (item 161597) for rounded corner rectangle and hexagon frames.  For these projects I cut all the frames from watercolour paper - colouring them with Classic Stampin' Inks (applying the inks using a combination of Blending Brushes - item 153611, Small Blending Brushes - item 160518, and colour washes using paint brushes and a little water to apply the ink, which was picked up from the inside of the lid of the ink pads.  For the mottled/spotty effect I spritzed the inked frame with water using one of the Stampin' Spritzers - item 126185, blotting dry with paper towel).  Before cutting the frames I secured the two selected nesting dies using some low tack tape.  I backed each frame with Designer Series Paper and then added the die cuts and/or stamped and die cut images. On several projects I also stacked two frames - sometimes offset to hopefully add a little interest!  Of course in making the frames you would not have to be restricted to using dies from the same set - mixing and matching is a lot of fun too!  On a Halloween treat holder a few weeks ago I combined the Scalloped Contours dies (item 155560) and the Deckled Rectangles dies (item 159173) to make a frame . . . and of course the backing panels could be a stamped, stenciled or embossed panel . . . there are lots of possibilities to explore! 

Stylish Shapes dies - 159183

Nested Essentials dies - 161597

Just a brief note about the additional standard tools and supplies I used to complete my projects this week:

• Paper Trimmer (item 152392) - for cutting paper and cardstock;
• stylus and scoreboard (Simply Scored Scoring Tool - item 122334) - for scoring cardstock fold lines.  To ensure sharp folds I also burnished the folds using my Bone Folder (item 102300);
• Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine (item 149653) - for all die cutting and embossing;
• Take Your Pick Tool (item 144107) - the tacky putty tip is a great help in picking up and placing small die cuts and embellishments; and
• for the main adhesive, Multipurpose Liquid Glue (item 110755).

For the embossed skeleton I also used an Embossing Buddy (included in the Embossing Additions Tool Kit - item 159971) to rub over the cardstock prior to stamping/embossing to help ensure that the embossing powder wouldn't stick to areas outside the stamped image; VersaMark Ink (item 102283) to stamp the image; gold embossing powder (Stampin' Emboss Powders - Metallics - item 155555); and a heat tool (Heat Tool - item 129053) to melt/activate the embossing powder.

For the stamped and die cut images I used Stazon Jet Black Ink (item 101406) to stamp the images on watercolour paper - images coloured using Classic Stampin' Inks.  The leafy branches, additional foliage, evergreen trees and pine boughs, fox, fences, small tag, and flower die cuts (unless otherwise indicated) were cut from watercolour paper and also coloured using Classic Stampin' Inks.  Inks used to colour the die cuts:

• Mossy Meadow (item 147111) - all leaves, evergreen trees, and pine boughs;
• Pecan Pie (item 161665) - bark on leafy branches, mushroom stems, fox, skeleton leaf, fences, and tiny tag;
• Sweet Sorbet (item 159216) - mushroom caps;
• Daffodil Delight (item 147094) - small flowers on Night of Navy/Pecan Pie note card; and
• Daffodil Delight, Pumpkin Pie (item 147086), and Pecan Pie - daisies on small gift box (these were leftovers from my September 22, 2023, Farm Fresh Treat Holder project - https://archiesatelier.blogspot.com/2023/09/fall-is-in-air-hello-with-autumnal.html).

All sentiments were also stamped using Stazon Jet Black Ink.

Additional dies used:

• Tree Rings (item 159888) - leafy branches, and mushrooms;

Tree Rings dies (also incudes Hybrid Embossing Folder) - 159888

• Reindeer (item 159727) - evergreen trees, and fox;

Reindeer dies - 159727

• Chic (item 158815) - snowflakes and skeleton oak leaf;

Chic dies - 158815

• Around The Bend (item 160649) - leaves and large flower;

Around The Bend dies - 160649

• Dainty Delight (item 160674) - Queen Anne's Lace (gift box), and small daisy (center of Around The Bend large flower on Night of Navy/Pecan Pie card);

Dainty Delight dies - 160674

• Cheerful Daisies (item 161296) - daisies on gift box;

Cheerful Daisies dies - 161296

• Meadow (item 155852) - small tag (Night of Navy/Pecan Pie note card);

Meadow dies - 155852

• Bag of Bones (item 162218) - fences, skeleton, and cowboy hat and boots;

Bag of Bones dies - 162218

• Joy of Noel (item 161965) - pine boughs; and

Joy of Noel dies - 161965

• Hey Chuck (item 161552) - to cut stamped roosters, fence, and birthday cake - images stamped using the co-ordinating Hey Chuck stamp set (item 161549).  Dies and stamp set are also available together in the Hey Chuck Bundle (item 161553).

Hey Chuck dies - 161552 (Bundle - 161553)

On with the projects!

Additional supplies used to complete this 4" x 7" top-fold card:

• Basic White Thick cardstock (item 159229) for the card base;
• Mossy Meadow ink (item 147111) to colour the two hexagon frames;
• Next Destination stamp set (item 161427) for the sentiment - stamped on a piece of the Online Exclusive One Horse Open Sleigh 6" x 6" Designer Series Paper (item 162118) that was then trimmed to fit behind the frame opening;

• Pecan Pie ink (item 161665) to add splatters to the card front by flicking a paint brush with a little ink and water over the card front before completed frame was added; and
• Foam Adhesive Strips (item 141825) to attach the completed frame to the card front.

Additional supplies used to complete this 4" square top-fold shaker card:

• Real Red cardstock (item 102482) for the card base;
• Early Espresso cardstock (item 119686) for the matting square (cut using the largest square die from Stylish Shapes dies), and 3 7/8" square inside matting panel;
• Very Vanilla Thick cardstock (item 144237) for the 3 1/4" x 3 7/8" inside panel;
• Basic White cardstock (item 159276) for the snowflakes (cut using the Chic dies);
• Online Exclusive One Horse Open Sleigh 6" x 6" Designer Series Paper (item 162118) for the deer image shaker backing panel, and the 3 7/8" square panel for the back of the card's front panel;
• Pecan Pie ink (item 161665) to colour the circle and square frames;
• approximately 2" square of acetate (Window Sheets - item 142314) - glued to the back of the double frame; and
• Foam Adhesive Strips (item 141825) - placed over the acetate on the back of the double frame.  After turning the frame panel over so the Adhesive Strips, with backing paper removed, faced up I carefully added the shaker contents (I used a combination of dollar store glitter/clear beads/silver micro beads) over the acetate panel and then placed the trimmed DSP image panel (I did a dry run first to ensure proper placement of the deer).  I used a brown marker to colour the edges of the Adhesive Strips and then added the die cuts around the frame before gluing the shaker frame to the Early Espresso cardstock square, and then the whole frame to the card front - lastly adding the ribbon bow and an additional small snowflake on the upper right side of the Early Espresso cardstock square.  For the bow I used the Real Red ribbon from the Real Red & Garden Green 3/8" Ribbon Combo Pack (item 159577).  I had used my Wink of Stella Clear Glitter Brush (item 141897) to add a little sparkle to the snowflakes, and after completing the card decided I needed to add a little more sparkle to the card front - so covering the acetate panel and ribbon bow with a sticky note I added sparkle splatters by whacking the Wink of Stella Clear Glitter Brush against my Bone Folder, which I repeated to add some sparkle to the inside panel.

Additional supplies used to complete this 5" x 4" top-fold blank note card:

• Night of Navy cardstock (item 100867) for the card base;
• Pecan Pie cardstock (item 161717) for the torn embossed panel - embossed using the Painted Texture 3D Embossing Folder (item 154317);
• Very Vanilla Thick cardstock (item 144237) for the 4 3/4" x 3 3/4" inside panel;
• map patterned paper from Let's Go Fishing 12" x 12" Designer Series Paper (item 161534) for the frame backing panel;
• Misty Moonlight ink (item 153118) to colour the two circle frames;
• five of the Night of Navy shaded dots from Ombre Matte Decorative Dots (item 161448) added to card front, including one to the flower center; and
• Linen Thread (item 104199) for the tag bow - I pulled one strand from the length of Linen Thread leaving two threads for the bow.

Additional supplies to complete this 5" x 3 1/2" top-fold card:

• Pecan Pie cardstock (item 161717) for the card base;
• Basic Black cardstock (item 121045) for the 4 7/8" x 3 3/8" matting panel;
• Very Vanilla Thick cardstock (item 144237) for the 4 3/4" x 3 1/4" inside panel - splatters added by flicking a paint brush with some water and Pecan Pie ink (item 161665) over the panel;
• Mossy Meadow ink (item 147111) to colour the two rounded corner rectangle frames;
• Lost Lagoon ink (item 161678), Shaded Spruce ink (item 147088), Pecan Pie ink, Sweet Sorbet ink (item 159216), Daffodil Delight ink (item 147094), and Basic Gray ink (item 149165) to colour rooster.  The sentiment tag, cut using the Tailor Made Tags dies (item 155563) was coloured with Pecan Pie ink;

Tailor Made Tags dies - 155563

• Pecan Pie patterned paper from Glorious Gingham 6" x 6" Designer Series Paper (item 163170) for the 4 3/4" x 3 1/4" front panel (edges sponged with Pecan Pie ink), and frame backing panel - these two gingham patterns are the flip sides of the same page; and
• four of the Basic Black dots from Classic Matte Dots (item 158146) added to card front.

Additional supplies used to complete this 4" square top-fold card:

• Melon Mambo cardstock (item 115320) for the card base;
• Pool Party cardstock (item 122924) for the embossed strips (3 7/8" x 1" for front panel, and 3 1/2" x 3/4" for the inside panel) - embossed using the Timber 3D Embossing Folder (item 156406);
• Basic White Thick cardstock (item 159229) for 3 3/4" square inside panel;
• Pool Party patterned paper from Online Exclusive One Horse Open Sleigh 6" x 6" Designer Series Paper (item 162118) for the frame backing panel and 2 5/8" x 1/2" inside panel strip;
• Berry Burst ink (item 147143) to colour the two rounded corner rectangle frames;
• Berry Burst ink, Pool Party ink (item 147107), Lost Lagoon ink (item 161678), Daffodil Delight ink (item 147094), Basic Gray ink (item 149165), and Real Red ink (item 147084) to colour rooster;
• Pecan Pie and Basic Gray inks to colour fence;
• Pecan Pie, Berry Burst, Pool Party, and Daffodil Delight inks to colour birthday cake;
• Linen Thread (item 104199) - wrapped around card front before completed frame added - ends secured with tiny dabs of Multipurpose Liquid Glue;
• Stampin' Dimensionals (item 104430) to attach frame to card front; and
• five of the Coastal Cabana shaded dots from Ombre Matte Decorative Dots (item 161448) added to card front.

Additional supplies to complete this 4" square top-fold card:

• Pebbled Path cardstock (item 161722) for the card base;
• Very Vanilla Thick cardstock (item 144237) for sentiment panel, and 3 3/4" square inside panel;
• Basic White Thick cardstock (item 159229) for the skeleton;
• Flirty Flamingo cardstock (item 141416) for the cowboy hat and boots - edges sponged with Sweet Sorbet ink (item 159216) and then "painted" with Wink of Stella Clear Glitter Brush (item 141897);
• Gone Fishing stamp set (item 161535) for the sentiment;

• Basic Gray ink (item 149165) and Pecan Pie ink (item 161665) to colour the two rounded corner rectangle frames;
• Crumb Cake patterned paper from Online Exclusive One Horse Open Sleigh 6" x 6" Designer Series Paper (item 162118) for the frame backing panel; and
• gold cord from Simply Elegant Trim (item 155766) for the bow.

Sometimes we wonder just how long we do have to wait for the good things to come!

Additional supplies to complete this 4" x 3 3/4" top-fold card:

• Very Vanilla Thick cardstock (item 144237) for the card base and 3 3/4" x 3 1/2" embossed panel - embossed using the Painted Texture 3D Embossing Folder (item 154317) and the edges scraped with the blade of my craft knife;
• Flirty Flamingo cardstock (item 141416) for the heart (I actually cut and glued three together) and two small flowers;
• Petal Pink cardstock (item 146985) for the two larger flowers;
• dies included with the retired, but currently available on the Clearance Rack, Bouquet of Love Hybrid Embossing Folder (item 157641) to cut hearts and flowers;
• Pecan Pie ink (item 161665) to colour the skeleton oak leaf, fence, and frame;
• Flirty Flamingo patterned paper from Online Exclusive Hello, Irresistible 6" x 6" Designer Series Paper (item 161139) for frame backing panel;
• Foam Adhesive Strips (item 141825) to attach frame to card front; and
• four of the Very Vanilla dots from Classic Matte Dots (item 158146) added to card front - including two for flower centers.

And finally . . .

Additional supplies used to complete this 4 3/8" square x 1 1/4" deep lidded gift box:

• for the box a 6 7/8" square piece of Early Espresso cardstock (item 119686), scored at 1 1/4" on all four sides;
• for the lid a 6 15/16" square piece of Early Espresso cardstock, also scored at 1 1/4" on all four sides;
• Early Espresso cardstock for the base layer of the largest flower (the flowers were coloured using Daffodil Delight, Pumpkin Pie, and Pecan Pie inks - the overstamping on largest flower was done using Pumpkin Pie ink and the fractured text stamp from the Gorgeously Made stamp set - item 161193 - https://archiesatelier.blogspot.com/2023/09/fall-is-in-air-hello-with-autumnal.html);

• Early Espresso woodgrain patterned paper from Online Exclusive One Horse Open Sleigh 6" x 6" Designer Series Paper (item 162118) for the panels for the top and sides of the lid - each DSP panel cut 1/8" smaller than the corresponding cardstock panel and all edges sponged with Early Espresso ink (item 147114).  After completing the lid I cut two thumb notches in two opposite sides using a 1' circle punch - and then sponged the punched edges with Early Espresso ink;
• Pecan Pie ink (item 161665) to colour the two circle frames; and
• Crumb Cake patterned paper from One Horse Open Sleigh DSP for the frame backing panel.

Thank you for visiting my blog!  I certainly had a lot of fun working on these 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 and if you need any assistance please do not hesitate to contact me (lmccoyarchie@gmail.com)! The digital versions of both the May 2023-April 2024 Annual Catalogue and the September-December 2023 Mini Catalogue can be accessed at your convenience on my website!  When visiting my online store don't forget to check out the selection of products available as Online Exclusives as well as the great deals on the Clearance Rack - including the Bouquet of Love Hybrid Embossing Folder!

If you are interested in joining Stampin' Up! as an Independent Demonstrator consider the great Starter Kit Promotion Stampin' Up! is offering now until October 31, 20231 The 35% Off Or 35% More Promotion celebrating the 35th Anniversary of Stampin' Up! provides two options:

1. 35% Off:  For $87.75 CDN (35% off the normal cost of the Stampin' Up! Starter Kit) you receive $165.00 CDN worth of Stampin' Up! products - of your choosing - plus free business supplies and free shipping; or
2. 35% More:  For $135.00 CDN you receive $222.75 CDN worth of Stampin' Up! products - of your choosing - plus free business supplies and free shipping.

With both Starter Kit options there is also automatic free registration (excluding gift box) to the Stampin' Up! November 11, 2023, virtual OnStage event (a $102.00 CDN value).

Whether you are an avid crafter looking for a nice discount on personal art and crafting supplies or are interested in establishing a home-based business you would be very welcome to join my team as one of "Archie's Arties"! 

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!! 

When the world just becomes a little too much . . .