Think Small!

Hello!  Today I am sharing two small album/notebook projects I worked on this week using a variety of Stampin’ Up!® products.  We are always encouraged to think big but thinking small is a great creative challenge too!

To complete the projects I used the following stamp sets, dies, embossing folders, and Designer Series Papers:

• Online Exclusives Just A Note stamp set (item 166098) - notebook lines, stamped on watercolour paper using Lost Lagoon ink (item 161678);

• retiring - and currently available as one of the discounted Last Chance Products - Elements Of Text stamp set (item 164774);

• retiring - and currently available as one of the discounted Last Chance Products - Grow With Love stamp set (item 164797) - "grown with love" and "from the garden of" sentiments;

• Gallery Blooms stamp set (item 165211) - large floral image;

• Online Exclusives Mixed Florals stamp set (item 164639) - coneflower and flying ladybug images;

• retiring - and currently available as one of the discounted Last Chance Products - Grow With Love dies (item 164803) - seed packet envelope die used to cut the envelopes for the first project, and I used the frame die to cut three clipboard tag bases.  

• Online Exclusives Just A Note dies (item 166101) - paper clips, binder and bulldog clips, and arrow die cuts.  *To take advantage of the 10% Bundled Savings the Just A Note dies and the Just A Note stamp set are also available together in the Just A Note Bundle (item 166102)*;

• Gallery Blooms dies (item 165212) - foliage die cuts.  *To take advantage of the 10% Bundled Savings the Gallery Blooms dies and the Gallery Blooms stamp set are also available together in the Gallery Blooms Bundle (item 165213).  For the foliage die cuts I used Lost Lagoon cardstock (item 133679), shaded with Mossy Meadow ink (item 147111);

• retiring - and currently available as one of the discounted Last Chance Products - Tags To Go dies (item 165576) - used to die cut the Crumb Cake cardstock (item 120953) "grown with love" sentiment tag, which was slipped over one end of a die cut paper clip (the sentiment was stamped using Early Espresso ink - item  147114 - and the the die cut tag was shaded with additional Early Espresso ink); and to cut a tuck in tag from one of  the patterns of the Perennial Lavender 12" x 12" Designer Series Paper (item 162593);

• Nested Essentials dies (item 161597) - rounded corner rectangle dies for additional clipboard bases, notepaper, Early Espresso cardstock (item 119686), Elements Of Text script panel, and small DSP tag die cuts;

• Online Exclusives Scenic Adventure dies (item 165467) - row of small flowers die cut from Old Olive cardstock (item 100702), and shaded with Mossy Meadow ink;

• Online Exclusives Impressions Abloom dies (item 165610) - large daisies die cut from Pool Party cardstock (item 122924), and Strawberry Slush cardstock (item 165625); small flowers die cut from Pool Party cardstock, and Lemon Lolly cardstock (item 161720); flower centers die cut from Pecan Pie cardstock (item 161717), and shaded with Early Espresso ink; and large leafy stem die cut from Lost Lagoon cardstock, and shaded with Mossy Meadow ink.  To shade one of the large daisies and the small flowers die cut from Pool Party cardstock I used Lost Lagoon ink (item 161678), and to shade the large Strawberry Slush cardstock daisy I used Real Red ink (item 147084).  I used the two small circle dies included in the Grow With Love four-circle die to die cut the Early Espresso cardstock centers for the small flowers;

• Notes & Totes dies (item 165240) - I used small torn-ended strips from the fence strips that were die cut from Crumb Cake cardstock, shaded with Early Espresso ink;

• recently retired Pocket Thoughts dies (item 163552) to die cut from various patterns of DSP pockets used on both the seed packet envelopes and clipboard tags.  For the pocket used on the Early Espresso cardstock envelope I used the smallest rounded corner rectangle die from the Nested Essentials dies to cut the window opening.  Behind the window opening I glued a piece of unbleached parchment paper that I had embossed using the Online Exclusives Sunflower 3D Embossing Folder (item 166145).  Behind the embossed parchment paper panel I glued a panel of Early Espresso cardstock; 

• recently retired Tune In dies (item 163636) - while I had these dies out die cutting the TV for the "Archie" project I decided that the knob dies would make great fasteners for the bulldog clips used on the clipboard tags;

• recently retired Mini Corrugated 3D Embossing Folder (item 165559) - small strip of Pecan Pie cardstock (item 161717) embossed using the Mini Corrugated 3D EF, one long edge torn, and shaded with Pecan Pie ink (item 161665) added to the Lost Lagoon cardstock envelope;

• in addition to the Perennial Lavender DSP, for the pockets, envelope flap liners, and additional tuck in tags, I used the following Designer Series Papers: Country Woods (item 163393 - 12" x 12"), Timeless Plaid (item 164678 - 6" x 6"), and the Online Exclusives Floral Impressions (item 165603 - 12" x 12").

For the index card album I used a denim patterned paper from the retiring - and currently available as one of the discounted Last Chance Products - Country Lace 12" x 12" Designer Series Paper (item 163415) to cover the outside of the front and back covers; one of the patterns from the Perennial Lavender DSP for the inside of the front and back covers; and for additional decorative elements (for both the front cover, inside back cover, and for the index cards) images from the die cut design sheet and fussy cut from additional sheets from the Storybook Moments 12" x 12" Specialty Designer Series Paper (item 164662). 

Just a quick note regarding the basic tools and supplies I used to complete my projects this week:

• Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine (item 149653) - for all die cutting and embossing;
• Paper Trimmer (item 152392) - for trimming Designer Series Paper, and cardstock;
• stylus and scoreboard (Simply Scored Scoring Tool - item 122334) - for adding the decorative score line in the "baseboard trim" on the "Archie" project; 
• Take Your Pick Tool (item 144107) - the spatula and tacky putty tips are definitely a great help for manipulating and placing small die cuts; and
• for the main adhesive, Multipurpose Liquid Glue (item 110755).

For shading die cuts I used Small Blending Brushes (item 160518 - package of three) to apply the Classic Stampin' inks to the die cuts.  For adding ink just around the edges of a cardstock or DSP panel, or around the edges of a die cut, I usually used a small sponge.

On with the projects!

Additional supplies to complete the seed packet envelope/clipboard tag album:

• Early Espresso cardstock (item 119686), Crumb Cake cardstock (item 120953), and Lost Lagoon cardstock (item 133679) for the four envelopes, all edges sponged with Early Espresso ink (item 147114).  For each of the envelopes I did not fold and burnish the score line for the top flap.  I did fold the score line on the DSP envelope flap liners and inked along this folded line before I glued the flap liners to the cardstock envelope bases.  The flap liners were glued in place before I completed the envelope assembly;  
  
• Early Espresso ink refill (item 119789), diluted with water, to add splatters to envelope fronts;
• Pecan Pie cardstock (item 161717) for the clipboard tag bases - shaded with Pecan Pie ink (item 161665) and Early Espresso ink;
• Gray Granite cardstock (item 146983) for paper clip, bulldog clip, binder clip "arm", and fastener die cuts - shaded using Basic Gray ink (item 149165), and Early Espresso ink;
• Strawberry Slush cardstock (item 165625) and Lost Lagoon cardstock for binder clip die cuts - shaded with Early Espresso ink;
• Crumb Cake cardstock, Lost Lagoon cardstock, and Early Espresso cardstock for die cut arrows - all shaded with Early Espresso ink;
• StāzOn Jet Black Ink (item 101406) to stamp the "from the garden of" sentiments on watercolour paper - trimmed strips shaded with Crumb Cake ink (item 147116), Pecan Pie ink (item 161665), and Early Espresso ink;
• StāzOn Jet Black Ink to stamp the Gallery Blooms floral image on Crumb Cake cardstock panel die cut using the Nested Essentials dies -panel shaded with Crumb Cake and Early Espresso inks; and to stamp the ladybug image - ladybug wings coloured using Real Red Watercolour Pencil (Watercolour Pencils Assortment 1 - item 161700); and Basic Gray ink, mixed with a little water, to shade around the ladybug image;

• Early Espresso ink to stamp the coneflower image over trimmed watercolour paper panel stamped with Just A Note notepaper lines - image panel coloured using Early Espresso ink mixed with a little water applied with a small paint brush, and shaded with additional Early Espresso ink;
• Early Espresso ink to shade edges of DSP pockets, and of the DSP tuck in tags;
• Early Espresso ink to stamp partial portions of text from Elements Of Text stamp set on trimmed watercolour paper panel stamped with Just A Note notepaper lines; 
• Crumb Cake ink to shade the notebook paper panels - splatters added by flicking a paint brush loaded with Crumb Cake ink refill (item 121029) diluted with water over the panels; and
• Very Vanilla baker's twine from Baker's Twine Essentials Pack (item 155475) for the loop on the Perennial Lavender DSP tuck in Tags To Go tag.

I used my Crop-A-Dile tool to both punch the 3/16" holes for and to set the brown eyelets in the top of the envelopes, and to set the "almost" Lost Lagoon eyelet in the Perennial Lavender DSP tuck in Tags To Go tag.  I purchased the eyelets at my local scrapbooking shop, and the binder ring was from a package purchased at Dollarama.  I tied some of my leftover retired Natural Finish 7/8" Ribbon (item 159051 - featured in the May 2022-April 2023 Annual Catalogue) onto the binder ring.

I used the frame die from the Grow With Love dies to cut three of the clipboard tag bases - one of which I cut a little shorter than the original die cut size.  Adjusting the size of a finished die cut made using an open label die is very easy - and certainly increases the versatility of your dies!  To make the shorter tag base I first cut a full size tag, and then slipped the die down along the side channels created on the full size tag die cut, using low-tack tape to hold both the die and cardstock in place on the cutting plate before passing the die cutting sandwich partially through the Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine - I rolled the sandwich forward through the machine until I had it advanced just slightly beyond the new cut, then I turned the handle back to roll the sandwich back out the same way it entered into the machine. (I cut my die cuts with the cutting side of the dies facing up - in the pictures below I have not included the top cutting plate that would complete the die cutting sandwich.)

Here are just a few examples of the variety of sizes of labels that are possible using the Grow With Love die, one of the Nested Essentials dies, and the smaller of the two label dies from the Online Exclusives Fright Night dies (item 166106):

My second project was inspired by this index card notebook YouTube video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xyG3teOmWxw&t=1834s).  For the pages of my notebook I used thirty-five 5" x 3" index cards, and two 5 1/4" x 3 1/4" pieces of 1/16" thick medium-weight cardboard for the front and back covers.  To cover the outside of the front and back covers I trimmed the DSP panels to 6" x 4" - this allowed a 3/8" fold-over on all sides.  The DSP panels to cover the inside of the front and back covers I trimmed to 5 1/8" x 3 1/8", allowing a small border of the fold-over outside cover DSP to show around all sides.  I sponged all edges of the DSP panels with Early Espresso ink (item 147114).  After gluing on the DSP panels I found it very helpful to place several large heavy books over the two covers for a few hours to prevent any warping of the carboard panels because of the glue - and I did this before I punched the holes or added any embellishments to the front cover.  As suggested in the video I used an index card to make a template for the placement of the holes, and again used my Crop-A-Dile to punch the 3/16" holes, and to set the eyelets in the front and back covers.

To complete the project I used the following additional supplies:

• Pecan Pie cardstock (item 161717) for the base of the clipboard tag - die cut using the Nested Essentials dies - shaded with Pecan Pie ink (item 161665) and Early Espresso ink (item 147114);
• watercolour paper for the clipboard tag's notebook paper - the Just A Note notepaper lines were stamped using Lost Lagoon ink (item 161678), and the panel was die cut using the Nested Essentials dies and shaded with Crumb Cake ink (item 147116);
• StāzOn Jet Black Ink (item 101406) to stamp the script from the Elements Of Text stamp set on a watercolour paper panel that was then die cut using the Nested Essentials dies, and shaded with Pecan Pie and Early Espresso inks;
• small strip of Crumb Cake cardstock (item 120953) embossed using the retired Mini Corrugated 3D Embossing Folder, and shaded with Early Espresso ink;
• Basic Black cardstock (item 121045) for the binder clip die cut - edges highlighted with Craft Stampin' White Ink (item 147277) applied with one of the finger Sponge Daubers (item 133773);
• Gray Granite cardstock (item 146983), shaded with Basic Gray ink (item 149165), for the binder clip's die cut "arms", and the die cut paper clip.  I also used Early Espresso ink for the shading on the paper clip die cut;
• Lost Lagoon cardstock (item 133679) for the foliage die cuts made using the Gallery Blooms dies - shaded with Mossy Meadow ink (item 147111);
• Crumb Cake ink to sponge around the edges of the three Storybook Moments Specialty DSP die cut images on the front cover;
• Mini Stampin' Dimensionals (item 144108) added behind the left sides of the watering can and bunny images on the front cover; and
• Crumb Cake ink refill (item 121029), diluted with water, to add splatters to the index cards.

For the notebook pages I added images from the Storybook Moments Specialty DSP to alternate index cards - but added the Crumb Cake ink refill splatters to all the index card pages.

The brown eyelets were purchased at my local scrapbooking shop, and the binder rings were from a package purchased at Dollarama.

For my "Archie" project this week, included at the bottom of this blog post, I was inspired by the quote from Oliver Gaspirtz, and used StāzOn Jet Black Ink (item 101406) to stamp the feline and his fishy friend image from the retired Catch You Later stamp set (item 158037 - featured in the January-June 2022 Mini Catalogue) on watercolour paper.  To colour the image I used Pumpkin Pie ink (item 147086), Pool Party ink (item 147107), and Basic Gray ink (item 149165).  Using the retired Tune In dies I die cut the pieces for the TV from Early Espresso cardstock (item 119686), Crumb Cake cardstock (item 120953), and Gray Granite cardstock (item 146983), shading the die cuts with Basic Gray ink (item 149165), and Early Espresso ink (item 147114).  To cut the screen frame I combined the Tune In die with one of the rounded corner rectangle dies from the Nested Essentials dies (item 161597), holding the dies together with low-tack tape while I passed the dies and cardstock through the Stampin' Cut & Emboss Machine.  To cover the 4 1/2" square x 13/16" deep dollar store wood panel I used wood grain patterned paper from the Country Woods DSP for the sides, and for the "flooring"; Lost Lagoon patterned paper from the Beautiful Gallery 6" x 6" Designer Series Paper (item 165196) for the "wallpaper"; and a 4 1/2" x 1/4" wide strip of Crumb Cake cardstock (item 120953), scored at 1/8" on the 1/4" side for the "baseboard".  I used strips trimmed from Foam Adhesive Sheets (item 152815) to attach the TV framed image to the background panel.

2025-2027 In Colours Sale!

Just a reminder that until August 31, 2025, Stampin' Up! is offering select products featuring the 2025-2027 In Colours (Cloud Cover, Darling Duckling, Secret Sea, Strawberry Slush, and Timid Tiger) for 15% off, and that these select products include Designer Series Papers, cardstock (including two-tone cardstock), inks, ink refills, Stampin' Blends Combo Packs, Stampin' Write Markers, ribbon, embellishments, and kits! You can view the full range of products featuring the 2025-2027 In Colours on my website by selecting from "Menu":

1. "Shop By"
2. "Colour"
3. "In Colours 2025-2027"
4. select "Shop All" if you would like to see the full product selection, or click on one of the individual colours if you would like to see only products in or featuring your favourite colour!

Thank you for visiting my blog!  I had a lot of fun working on my projects this week!

Stampin' Up! advises that the Sunflower 3D Embossing Folder (item 166145) is not currently available, but is expected to be again be available for ordering the week of August 25, 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 the updated listing of Last Chance Products - but 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!! 

"A fish tank is just interactive television for cats."

- Oliver Gaspirtz -