It Begins With A Wreath . . .

Hello!  Today I am sharing a few wreath projects I worked on this week.  I used two approaches for the wreaths for my projects:  

1. using a die cut circle (the largest circle die from the Stylish Shapes dies - item 159183) or other die cut circular shape (embroidery hoop die from the Crafting With You dies - item 161225) as a base around which to build my wreath; and
2. using a wreath die cut on its own - seed pod wreath die from the Encircled In Nature dies (item 163628).

Stylish Shapes dies - 159183

Crafting With You dies - 161225

Encircled In Nature dies - 163628

There are no rules as to what can be added to a wreath, and with artistic license there are a myriad of possibilities!   Why not combine flowers, and foliage with a deer or two, or spools, buttons and scissors?  I used the following dies for the additions to my wreaths:

• for foliage:  Country Flowers (item 163410) - leaf clump (one of my favourite and most-used dies I think!), and double leaf sprig;  Encircled In Nature - curvy leafy sprigs; Simply Zinnia (item 163479) - large and small "spiky" greenery; and Grove (item 157844) - five and three-leafed sprigs;

Country Flowers dies - 163410

Simply Zinnia dies - 163479

Grove dies - 157844

• for flowers:  Country Birdhouse (item 163400) - two flower designs.  For the flower center circles I used the 1/4" diameter circle die, and the 1/8" center circle from the 11/16" diameter circle die also from the Country Birdhouse dies.  The die cut flowers can of course be layered to create fuller flowers too;

Country Birdhouse dies - 163400

• for the deer I used the Grove dies; and
• for the spools, thread, buttons, and scissors I used the Crafting With You dies.

For the die cut foliage I used (a) watercolour paper coloured by "ink smooshing" Garden Green Ink Refill (item 102059) and/or Granny Apple Green Ink Refill (item 147163), and then shading some of the die cuts with Mossy Meadow ink (item 147111); and (b) Garden Green cardstock (item 102584) shaded with Mossy Meadow ink; Granny Apple Green cardstock (item 146990) shaded with Mossy Meadow ink; Summer Splash cardstock (item 163797) shaded with Shaded Spruce ink (item 147088).  For all shading - whether on watercolour paper or cardstock - I applied the ink using Blending Brushes (item 153611) and Small Blending Brushes (item 160518).  For the "ink smooshing" I added several drops of the ink refill to a glass matt (or Silicone Craft Sheet - item 127853), spritzed both the ink refill drops and watercolour paper with water (Stampin' Spritzers - item 126185), and then dragged the watercolour paper across, or pressed it into, the diluted ink, letting the watercolour paper dry between passes over or into the diluted ink.  To speed up the drying process a heat gun (Heat Tool - item 129053) comes in very handy!  After the ink was fully dried I sometimes added a little more texture by lightly spritzing the watercolour paper with water (Stampin' Spritzers) and blotting dry with paper towel. For the flowers on the "so lucky to know you" and "Missing You" cards I again used the ink smooshing technique on watercolour paper - using Calypso Coral Ink Refill (item 122934) and Daffodil Delight Ink Refill (item 119672) respectively.

Just a quick run-down of the basic tools and supplies I used to complete my projects this week:

• Paper Trimmer (item 152392) - for trimming paper and cardstock - can also be used for scoring;
• stylus and scoreboard (Simply Scored Scoring Tool - item 122334) - for scoring fold lines and decorative lines - to ensure crisp folds I also burnish all folded scored lines using my Bone Folder (item 102300);
• Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine (item 149653) - for all die cutting and embossing;
• Paper Snips Scissors (item 103579) - these sharp little scissors are great for trimming die cuts - sometimes you just need to trim off a few leaves from a leafy sprig!  Of course they also help ease the pain of fussy cutting!;
• Take Your Pick Tool (item 144107) - the paper piercer, mini spatula, and tacky putty tips are a great help for picking up and placing small die cuts and embellishments; and
• for the main adhesive, Multipurpose Liquid Glue (item 110755).  

I used Stazon Jet Black Ink (item 101406) to stamp the "so lucky to know you" (Country Flowers stamp set - item 163405), and the "you inspire me" and "sending you a handmade hug" sentiments (Crafting With You stamp set - item 161219).  To stamp the "Missing You" sentiment (Thoughtful Wishes stamp set - item 163305) used on the two deer card I used Early Espresso ink (item 147114). 

On with the projects!

Additional supplies used to complete this 5 1/4" square top-fold card:

• Basic White Thick cardstock (item 159229) for the card base, and die cut circle;
• Calypso Coral ink (item 147101) used to shade the die cut circle - ink applied with one of the Small Blending Brushes.  After applying the ink I pressed a damp paper towel over the circle - adding a little texture with the transference of the subtle pattern from the paper towel to the inked surface.  The sentiment was stamped after I ensured that the cardstock circle was thoroughly dry;
• Pecan Pie cardstock (item 161717) for the flower center circles - each shaded around the edges with Pecan Pie ink (item 161665); and 
• three of the small Calypso Coral shaded dots from Ombre Matte Decorative Dots (item 161448) added to the die cut circle.

I began building the wreath by adding four of the die cut leaf clumps spaced evenly around the circle, adding another four die cut leaf clumps again evenly spaced around the circle but slightly overlapping the first set of die cuts.

I then added the flowers and some additional foliage to fill out the wreath.  After the wreath was complete I glued the circle to the card front.

Additional supplies used to complete this 5" square top-fold card:

• Early Espresso cardstock (item 119686) for the card base, and flower centers;
• Basic White Thick cardstock (item 159229) for the die cut circle (before die cutting the circle I embossed the cardstock using the Timber 3D Embossing Folder - item 156406); the two die cut deer (shaded with Crumb Cake ink - item 147116); the front panel's 4 3/4" square matting panel; the 4 1/2" square inside panel; and the sentiment banner - cut using the long narrow banner die from the Stylish Shapes dies.  I trimmed the left end of the banner so that it could be slipped under the wreath foliage;
• Crumb Cake cardstock (item 120953) for the 4 5/8" square embossed matting panel.  To emboss the panel I used the Timber 3D Embossing Folder, over one inside panel of which I had dragged my Crumb Cake ink pad.  Additional Crumb Cake ink was sponged around the edges of the embossed panel; and
• Crumb Cake baker's twine (Baker's Twine Essentials Pack - item 155475) for the bow - the center and ends of which were secured with tiny dabs of Multipurpose Liquid Glue.

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

• Basic White Thick cardstock (item 159229) for the card base, and die cut wreath and deer;
• Basic Black cardstock (item 121045) for the 3 7/8" square matting panel;
• a 3 13/16" square piece of Pebbled Path grid patterned paper from the Nature's Sweetness 12" x 12" Specialty Designer Series Paper (item 162616) for the background panel;
• Calypso Coral ink (item 147101) to watercolour the seed pods on the wreath (I applied the ink - diluted with a little water - with a small paint brush and tried to avoid using too much water as that could very quickly ruin the cardstock), and to stamp the splatters over the wreath (using the small splatter stamp from the Thoughtful Wishes stamp set - item 163305); and
• Basic Black baker's twine (Baker's Twine Essentials Pack - item 155475) for the bow - the center and ends of which were secured with tiny dabs of Multipurpose Liquid Glue.

This little treat/gift bag, which measures 2 1/2" tall (excluding handles) x 3" wide (excluding the upper extension of the side panels) x 1" deep, is a smaller version of a style of bag I have made several times.  To complete this bag I used the following additional supplies:

• for the bag:  an 8 1/2" x 3 1/2" piece of Night Of Navy cardstock (item 100867) scored on the 8 1/2" side at 1/2" (down 2"), 1", 4", 4 1/2" (down 2"), 5", and 8" (1/2" tab is the glue tab - I trimmed about 1/8" off this edge so that the tab would not interfere with the side panel fold); and scored on the 3 1/2" side at 1" (bottom flaps).  I used a ruler and stylus to score the diagonal lines from the bottom of the lines scored at 1/2" and 4 1/2" on the 8 1/2" side to the bottom corners of the side panels;

• for the handles:  two 8 1/2" x 3/8" strips of Night Of Navy cardstock - scored down the length at 1/8" and 1/4" on the 3/8" side.  I used a pencil to mark a line 1 1/4" from the each end of the handle strips to use as guidelines when gluing the handles to the inside of the front and back panels of the bag.  Before gluing the handle strips I used my Bone Folder to slightly curl the strips - this helps avoid getting creases in the cardstock strips when bending them during the process of attaching them to the bag;
• Basic White Thick cardstock (item 159229) for the two 2 3/8" x 2 7/8" matting panels for the front and back panels of the bag, and die cut thread for one spool;
• Night Of Navy check patterned paper from the Take To The Sky 12" x 12" Designer Series Paper (item 163436) for the two 2 1/4" x 2 3/4" panels for the front and back panels of the bag;
• Pecan Pie cardstock (item 161717) for the die cut embroidery hoop and center circle - the fastener on the top of the hoop shaded with Basic Gray ink (item 149165), and the edges of the hoop and center circle shaded with Pecan Pie ink (item 161665); and for the flower center button (edges also shaded with Pecan Pie ink);
• Crumb Cake cardstock (item 120953) for the die cut spools - shaded with Crumb Cake ink (item 147116);
• Daffodil Delight cardstock (item 119683) for the die cut flower and thread for one spool;
• Granny Apple Green cardstock (item 146990) for two die cut buttons and thread for one spool;
• Real Red cardstock (item 102482) for one die cut button, heart, and thread for one spool;
• Pool Party cardstock (item 122924) for two die cut buttons and thread for one spool;
• Highland Heather cardstock (item 146986) for two die cut buttons;
• Smoky Slate cardstock (item 131202) and Pumpkin Pie cardstock (item 105117) for the scissors - Basic Black cardstock (item 121045) for the scissors fastener; and
• Linen Thread (item 104199) for the bow - center of which secured with tiny dab of Multipurpose Liquid Glue.

And finally . . .

Additional supplies used to complete this 3" square top-fold gift card (just the right sentiment for a card accompanying a handmade gift!):

• Basic White Thick cardstock (item 159229) for the card base, and 2 3/4" embossed panel with 1 3/4" circle opening (cut using the Stylish Shapes dies).  Before cutting the circle opening I embossed the cardstock panel using the Timber 3D Embossing Folder (item 156406).  After die cutting the circle opening I temporarily attached the embossed panel to the card front using low tack tape, and stamped the sentiment through the window opening.  After removing the embossed panel I added splatters to the front panel using my Basic Black Stampin' Write Marker (item 162481) by flicking the brush tip against the marker lid; 
• watercolour paper for the die cut embroidery hoop (watercoloured using Pecan Pie ink - item 161665, Crumb Cake ink - item 147116, and Basic Gray ink - item 149165).  After gluing the embroidery hoop die cut around the circle opening in the embossed Basic White Thick cardstock panel (just the right fit to allow a narrow border inside the embroidery hoop) I glued the embossed panel to the card front;
• Crumb Cake cardstock (item 120953) for the three die cut spools - shaded with Crumb Cake ink;
• Basic White Thick cardstock for die cut flower and thread for one spool;
• Daffodil Delight cardstock (item 119683) for two die cut buttons and thread for one spool; and
• Pool Party cardstock (item 122924) for the die cut thread for one spool.

I made a co-ordinating envelope for the gift card using a piece of Summer Splash patterned paper from the 2024-2026 In Colour 6" x 6" Designer Series Paper Assortments (item 163777) and an envelope punch board. 

Thank you for visiting my blog!  I had a lot of fun working on my wreath projects - and am working on some ideas for future wreath 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) - I would be very pleased to be your demonstrator!  The digital version of the May 2024-April 2025 Annual Catalogue is available for you to access at your convenience on my website (https://archiesatelier.stampinup.net/).  When visiting my online store don't forget to check out all the products now available as Online Exclusives - including lots of exciting new products that were introduced on July 3!  Just a reminder that the annual Stampin' Up! Bonus Days also started on July 3:   

There are two parts to Bonus Days:  During the Earning Period (July 3, 2024 - July 31, 2024) you will earn a $6.00 CDN coupon for every $60.00 CDN you spend (before shipping and taxes), and of course there is no limit as to the number of coupons you can earn!😉  Upon submission of a qualifying order Stampin' Up! will send you an email with the coupon code - if multiple coupons are earned on a single order the email to you from Stampin' Up! will include all the coupon codes.  All coupons are then redeemable on orders submitted during the Redemption Period (August 1, 2024-August 31, 2024) - so be sure to save those emails from Stampin' Up!

Lots of excitement for us here at Archie's Atelier when UPS comes calling!  Looking forward to working on projects with some new goodies!

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!! 

After all the excitement of the UPS delivery the eyes are getting heavy - naptime approaches!