Garden Party Or Gardening Party?

Hello!  A garden party conjures up images of fancy summer dresses, large hats, delicate sandwiches and decadent sweet treats served on fine china - all under a beautiful blue sky of course; a gardening party on the other hand conjures up images of grass-stained work clothes, trundling wheelbarrows full of soil and mulch, seemingly endless hours of dreaded weeding, and dirt-caked and scratched arms and legs!  Whether a garden party or a gardening party the star attraction will always be the garden - although it would certainly make a difference to you - at least attire-wise - if you mistook a garden party invite for a gardening party invite or vice versa!😏  For my projects this week, using a variety of current, retiring, and retired Stampin’ Up!® products, I was inspired more by the "gardening party" theme! 

For all projects I used Stazon Jet Black Ink (item 101406) to stamp images and sentiments - images for colouring were stamped on watercolour paper, and coloured using a combination of Classic Stampin' inks and Classic Stampin' ink refills, mixed with water, and applied with small paint brushes.  Cardstock die cuts were shaded with Classic Stampin' inks applied with Small Blending Brushes (item 160518 - package of three).  For additional visual texture (a slightly mottled effect) I lightly spritzed shaded cardstock die cuts with water using one of the Stampin' Spritzers (item 126185 - package of two), blotting dry with paper towel.

To complete my projects this week I also used the following basic tools and supplies:

• Paper Trimmer (item 152392) - for trimming cardstock and Designer Series Paper - can also be used for scoring;
• stylus and scoreboard (Simply Scored Scoring Tool - item 122334) - for scoring cardstock fold and decorative lines.  To ensure crisp folds I use my Bone Folder (item 102300) to burnish the scored folded lines - I also used my Bone Folder to slightly curl the handles on my first project to help prevent creasing of the handles when I had to manipulate them while securing them on the project;
• Paper Snips Scissors (item 103579) - these sharp little scissors help make fussy cutting easier!;
• Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine (item 149653) for all die cutting and embossing; and
• for the main adhesive, Multipurpose Liquid Glue (item 110755).

On with the projects!

My first project is a slight variation in size etc. from past purse and gift bag projects I have done using the same design - see blog posts from December 22, 2023; October 27, 2023; August 4, 2023; June 23, 2023; October 13, 2022; and April 7, 2022:  

https://archiesatelier.blogspot.com/2023/12/final-countdown-to-christmas-last.html

https://archiesatelier.blogspot.com/2023/10/playing-with-garden-meadow-bundle-hello.html

https://archiesatelier.blogspot.com/2023/08/a-few-barbie-inspired-projects-hello-i.html

https://archiesatelier.blogspot.com/2023/06/playing-with-designer-series-paper.html

https://archiesatelier.blogspot.com/2022/10/with-window-wishes-bundle-few-christmas.html

https://archiesatelier.blogspot.com/2022/04/a-few-projects-using-window-flower-box.html

For this project I was inspired by trips to several garden centers made so far this season, and thinking that a young aspiring gardener might need a garden-themed purse for their shopping excursion to a local garden center . . .

To complete the purse, the box portion of which measures 4 1/2" tall x 3 1/2" wide x 1 3/4" deep, I used the following additional supplies:

• for the box portion an 8" x 11" piece of Basic Black cardstock (item 121045), scored on the 11" side at 1 3/4", 5 1/4", 7", and 10 1/2" (1/2" tab is the glue tab); and scored on the 8" side at 1 3/4" and 6 1/4" (for bottom and top flaps);
• from pieces of Gray Granite cardstock (item 146983) that had been embossed using the retiring Timber 3D Embossing Folder (item 156406), the inside panel of which I had inked using my Basic Gray ink pad (item 149165) before embossing, I trimmed the panels for the front, back, and sides of the box - each embossed panel cut 1/8" smaller than the corresponding Basic Black cardstock panel.  Before adhering the embossed panels to the assembled box I shaded the embossed panels with additional Basic Gray ink;

• for the roof:  two 4" x 2 3/4" pieces of Pecan Pie cardstock (item 161717), each piece scored on the 2 3/4" side at 3/4" (the 3/4" section will be the top edge of the roof sections).  I added seven horizontal decorative score lines at 1/4" intervals on the 2" x 4" section of each roof piece.  I shaded the scored roof sections with Pecan Pie ink (item 161665), lightly spritzing with water, blotting dry with paper towel, and then adding additional shading with Pecan Pie ink and, around the edges, Early Espresso ink (item 147114).  I used a pencil to mark lines on the underside of the 2" x 4" portions of the roof sections at 1/4" in from each edge to use as gluing guidelines.  I glued the roof sections onto the box before I added the completed window/window box assemblage to the front panel;
• for the handles:  two 8 1/2" x 1/2" wide pieces of Basic Black cardstock - each scored three times along the length at 1/8" intervals.  The handles were glued to the inside of the top edges of the roof sections - I lined up the outer edge of each end of each handle with the outer edge of the top flap of the box portion.  After securing the handles I added two small magnetic discs (one "+" and one "-"), purchased at my local scrapbooking shop, centered on the inside of the top edges of the roof sections.  To cover the handle ends and the magnetic discs I glued to the inside of each of the top edges of the roof sections a strip of Pecan Pie cardstock, trimmed just a shade under 4" x 3/4", the edges of which I sponged with Early Espresso ink.  On the outside of the top edges of each of the roof sections I glued a 4" x 3/4" strip of Pecan Pie cardstock, each with two vertical decorative scored lines at 1/4" intervals, and shaded in the same manner as the roof sections;
• recently retired Grove dies (item 157844) to die cut from Lemon Lime Twist cardstock (item 144245), Old Olive cardstock (item 100702), and Mossy Meadow cardstock (item 133676) the five "grassy mounds" used around the base of the purse.  Each of the cardstock die cuts was shaded with Mossy Meadow ink (item 147111), with additional Mossy Meadow ink applied using a small textured synthetic sponge that was "pounced" over the cardstock before the shaded cardstock die cuts were lightly spritzed with water;
• additional foliage was die cut from Lemon Lime Twist cardstock, Old Olive cardstock, Mossy Meadow cardstock, and Soft Sea Foam cardstock (item 146988) using the following dies:  Gallery Blooms (item 165212), featured in the May 2025-April 2026 Annual Catalogue; retiring - and currently available as one of the discounted Last Chance Products - Country Flowers (item 163410); and - for the curving leafy spray over the window - the retired Forever Flourishing (item 152714), featured in the June 3, 2020-May 3, 2021 Annual Catalogue.  All die cut foliage was shaded with Mossy Meadow ink;

• Online Exclusives Impressions Abloom dies (item 165610) to die cut small flowers from Peach Pie cardstock (item 163799) - shaded using Pumpkin Pie ink (item 147086), and Highland Heather cardstock (item 146986) - shaded using Misty Moonlight ink (item 153118);

• retired Home & Garden stamp set (item 157910) and retired co-ordinating Garden dies (item 157918), featured in the January-June 2022 Mini Catalogue, to stamp and die cut respectively the garden shovel and gardening gloves;
• retired Bag Of Bones dies (item 162218), featured in the September-December 2023 Mini Catalogue, to die cut the fence from Basic Beige cardstock (item 164511) - shaded using Crumb Cake ink (item 147116);
• Storybook Garden Patch stamp set (item 164663) and co-ordinating Storybook Garden Patch dies (item 164666) to stamp and die cut respectively the garden fork, stacked flower pots, and garden trowel;

• retiring - and currently available as one of the discounted Last Chance Products - Country Flowers stamp set (item 163405) for the "Flower Market" sentiment, stamped on watercolour paper, die cut using the Online Exclusives Around It All Dies (item 164725), and shaded using Pecan Pie and Early Espresso inks;

• Online Exclusives Everyday Arches dies (item 164629) to cut the window frame(s) from Basic Black cardstock.  I stacked and glued together three frames, and then added the Basic Black cardstock strips for the window bars.  I trimmed, and glued to the back of the window frame, a piece of HP Transparency Film (a thrift store treasure!), behind which I glued a trimmed piece of linen patterned paper from the Online Exclusives Woven Textures 12" x 12" Designer Series Paper (item 165560), which I had shaded around the edges with Crumb Cake ink.  Once the window was completed I added the 2 5/8" x 5/8" piece of embossed Gray Granite cardstock window box - adding glue just along the bottom edge so that I could tuck in the garden trowel and the foliage die cuts.  I used one of the Stampin' Dimensionals (item 104430) to attach the die cut "Flower Market" sign to the window.  The completed window/window box assemblage was glued to the box front after the roof was attached;

• Basic Gray ink, Crumb Cake ink refill (item 121029), and Pecan Pie ink refill (item 161669) to colour the stamped and die cut garden tools, gloves, and flower pots; and
• for the bow tied around the handle, Black & Very Vanilla 3/8" Large Check Ribbon (item 161982).

For my second project I wanted to make some little garden journal cards - and as I made quite a few I will not burden you with the excruciating details of each one other than provide a brief description of general techniques and products used! To make the 3" x 2 3/8" cards I used the largest rounded corner rectangle die from the Nested Essentials dies (item 161597) - cutting the top cards from watercolour paper.  I used a glue stick to glue panels trimmed from some of my stash of coffee-dyed copy paper to Very Vanilla cardstock (item 166784), and again used the Nested Essentials die to die cut additional cards - I glued these additional cards, after the edges were sponged with Early Espresso ink (item 147114), to the backs of the watercolour paper cards to provide journaling space.  

To decorate the watercolour paper cards I used a variety of techniques:  ink blending; using flat tipped paint brushes and Classic Stampin' ink refills mixed with water to apply stripes; stamping directly on the cards; adding additional stamped and die cut panels, or stamped, coloured and die cut images; and "leaf stamping" - a technique I used on a few card projects shared in my October 18, 2024 blog post (https://archiesatelier.blogspot.com/2024/10/playing-with-leaves-hello-this-weeks.html).

Here is a listing of the other Stampin’ Up!® products I used in addition to various dies from the Nested Essentials dies to complete the cards:

• Online Exclusives Grow With Love stamp set (item 164797);

• Online Exclusives Elements Of Text stamp set (item 164774);

• Gallery Blooms stamp set (item 165211) and co-ordinating Gallery Blooms dies (item 165212);

• retiring Country Flowers stamp set (item 163405) - "Flower Market";
• retiring - and currently available as discounted Last Chance Products - Playing In The Rain stamp set (item 160542) and co-ordinating Playing In The Rain dies (item 160550) - flower-bearing turtle;

• retiring - and currently available as discounted Last Chance Products - Attention Shoppers stamp set (item 163640) and co-ordinating Attention Shoppers dies (item 163643) - potted plant;

• retired Flowering Rain Boots stamp set (item 157689) - seed packet image;
• retired Nature's Harvest stamp set (item 156495) - cone flowers image;
• retired Daffodil Daydream stamp set (item 157786) - single daffodil image;
• retired Pleasant Poppies background stamp (item 129499);
• retired Home & Garden stamp set (item 157910) and retired co-ordinating Garden dies (item 157918) to stamp and die cut respectively the garden shovel and gardening gloves;
• retired Notes Of Nature stamp set (item 162630) - grid pattern image;
• for colouring:  Lost Lagoon ink (item 161678), Pool Party ink (item 147107), Pumpkin Pie ink (item 147086), Daffodil Delight ink refill (item 119672), Azure Afternoon ink refill (item 161668), Real Red ink (item 147084), Old Olive ink refill (item 100531), Garden Green ink refill (item 102059), Shaded Spruce ink (item 147088), Mossy Meadow ink (item 147111), Mossy Meadow ink refill (item 133651), Early Espresso ink (item 147114), Pecan Pie ink (item 161665), Pecan Pie ink refill (item 161669), Crumb Cake ink (item 147116), Crumb Cake ink refill (item 121029), and Basic Gray ink (item 149165);
• Around It All dies (item 164725); and
• retiring - and currently available as one of the discounted Last Chance Products - Keeping Tabs die (item 163539).

To hold the little journal cards I used a just under 3" square x just under 2 1/2" deep x 1/8" thick wood box from Dollarama, which was actually the smallest box in a packaged set of five.  I covered all sides, the inside bottom, and the top edges of the box with panels and strips trimmed from one of the papers from the Online Exclusives Woven Textures 12" x 12" Designer Series Paper (item 165560).  I sponged all edges of the DSP panels and strips with Early Espresso ink before gluing the panels and strips to the box.  To the front of the box I added a label holder from a Stampin’ Up!® product from quite a few years ago - the Antique Brass Hodgepodge Hardware Embellishment Kit (item 105531) - gluing the trimmed and inked watercolour paper "From The Garden [Of]" sentiment strip to the inside of the holder before I attached it to the box using two small screws I had taken off another Dollarama box!

I thought my collection of garden journal cards also needed a seed packet envelope - for holding seeds collected from the garden!  I used the seed packet envelope die from the Online Exclusives Grow With Love dies (item 164803) to die cut the envelope from Crumb Cake cardstock (item 120953) - I used Early Espresso cardstock (item 119686) for the envelope's two die cut circle fasteners, which were secured to the back of the envelope with two small brads (purchased at my local scrapbooking shop).  I used a piercing tool to make the holes for the brads, and for the "string" wrapped around the circle fasteners I used Very Vanilla baker's twine from Baker's Twine Essentials Pack (item 155475) - wrapping the twine several times around the brad and under the circle fastener on the back of the top flap before giving the final securing pinch to the brad's spread prongs.  To decorate the envelope I used the Field Notes image from the retired Notes Of Nature stamp set; the dragonfly image from the 2024 Sale-A-Bration Detailed Dogwood stamp set (item 162953); and the splatter images from the Elements Of Text stamp set.

For the 3 1/2" x 4 1/2" top-fold Basic White Thick cardstock (item 159229) "Archie" card included at the bottom of this blog post I used Pumpkin Pie ink (item 147086), Real Red ink (item 147084), and Basic Gray ink (item 149165) to colour the celebrating feline image from the retired Best Day stamp set (item 160798), which was featured in the January-April 2023 Mini Catalogue.  I used Pumpkin Pie ink to stamp the sentiment from the stamp set on a 3" x 1/2" strip of Basic White Thick cardstock, and added a 1" x 4 1/2" strip of Pumpkin Pie striped patterned paper from the retiring - and currently available as one of the discounted Last Chance Products - Brights 6" x 6" Designer Series Paper Stack (item 163775).  Two strips from two of the Pumpkin Pie patterned papers from the Brights DSP Stack were added to the inside panel.  I used Stampin' Dimensionals (item 144108) - trimmed as necessary - to attach and slightly pop up "Archie".

Suite And Suite Products Sale!

From June 3 through to June 30, 2025, Stampin' Up! is having a Suite And Suite Products Buy One, Get One 50% Off Sale!  The sale will apply to all available suite collections and suite products - including Online Exclusives suite collections and suite products!  The 50% discount will apply to the lower-priced item selected, and the discount will appear in your cart once two suite products have been added to your cart.  During this sale you can mix and match suites and suite products - you are not restricted to selecting products from the same suite!  Be sure to take advantage of this opportunity to add some of your wish list items to your own collection!

Thank you for visiting my blog!  I certainly had a lot of fun working on my "gardening party" projects!

Unfortunately Stampin' Up! advises that the Stazon Jet Black Ink (item 101406) remains unavailable for ordering but is now expected to again be available the week of June 16, 2025.  The Everyday Arches dies (item 164629) are also not currently available for ordering but are expected to again be available the week of June 9, 2025.

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 would be very pleased to be your demonstrator! If you need any assistance please do not hesitate to contact me (lmccoyarchie@gmail.com) and I will try my best to help!  The digital version of the May 2025-April 2026 Annual Catalogue is available for you to access at your convenience on my website.  If visiting the online store don't forget to check out all the available suite collections!  Just a reminder that all Last Chance Products remain available only while supplies last! 

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!!