Hostess Halloween Punch Art

This week for Creative-Sketches.com we have a Holiday Card Challenge.  I know we are almost down to the wire, but it isn't Halloween yet, and I have been wanting to get this adorable Hostess set inky!

This card was created with my Owl Punch, the Large Blossom Punch, the Pennant Punch, and 2.5" Circle punch.  The Owl punch is pretty clear for use.  I stamped, colored,and paper pierced this adorable trick-or-treating owl.  I wanted to use my punches to create a Halloween scene, but follow our fun sketches this week.  I took some liberties, but kept some elements  like the large top curve became my moon.  The ribbon at the top of the sketch dropped down and became my fence. To give my little scene some depth and dimension, I sponged edges, and created wood lines for my fences. 

Punch Art Tricks-
Use the inside of the Pennant Punch to create perfect angles for the tips of banners and the tops of fence posts.  Thread in your strip so that only the corner you want punched is inside the punch itself.  It can be tricky to maneuver so a post-it makes a great handle!

Think Outside the box- The Blossom punch makes a great cloud when you cut it apart and reassemble pieces of the blossom in layers as cloud sections.


So Happy Halloween, and be safe when you are Trick or Treating!  Swing by our challenge blog to submit your card using our sketch!

Inkspirations Challenge #50

I saw this Inkspirations Colour Challenge pop up on one of the other blogs I follow, and I had to give it a try!  I really love this stamp set (Apple Blossoms - Hostess Level 2 in the Stampin Up Idea Book and catalog), but have not used it before today. I don't know why it has taken me 4 months to get it out, silly me; this set is awesome!  I am going to make more cards with it now!

I think this color challenge of Pear Pizzaz, Whisper White, Tempting Turquoise, and Rich Razzleberry worked well for a fresh, bright, and happy card.  I've been doing a lot of Christmas and holiday stamping, so it was really fun doing something not holiday focused. I loved that I was able to use existing scraps for the bulk of the card.  It is always fun to create something lovely from a small pile of scrap paper!

I used a scrap of Old Olive and Rich Razzleberry Grosgrain ribbon, as well as a Rhinestone brad in my folded large oval punch.  I also colored the saying with a marker to get just the one word and punched it with my trusty word window punch.

Open house

I held my new catalog open house last weekend and did 2 simple projects showing off new colors and stamp sets. I just love the new hostess sets!






This little water bottle holder also makes a great gift or party favor. You can do it in any color, and dress it up for fancier occasions.

Tomorrow, check back for technique tuesday posts and an adorable drawer project for an upcoming workshop.

Scallop Die Baby Bib Card

I made this sweet little card for a friends baby shower. I saw the idea on another blog which I can't quite remember but might have been this one, and had to try my own version of it.

To make this card you need to have a folded piece of cardstock. You place it one the scallop, leaving a few scallops above that won't get cut. You need to trim your DS paper with the circle scissors. (Just got this and that was fun to work with!!) Then you will adhere it to the front of your scallop card. Take a bite out to the tops for your babies neck with either the Wide oval, or large circle. I ran amok with my punch here and had to trim it out.

Then I stamped and colored using the Cute as a Bug hostess set and my watercolor crayons. I punched out the saying with my trusty word window punch, what would I do without it? added some wonderful grosgrain ribbon I had leftover from Sale-A-Bration last year as a handle, and as bow in front, and I was ready to go!

Stamped Gift idea

Need a gift? How about this little box and card set? After all, who hasn't reached for a little card to give a friend in a hurry!

You need the Box #2 die for this little guy, as well as the Big Shot Flower Daisy die and the level 3 Hostess set Kind & Caring Thoughts. Want to make one? Contact me to set up a workshop to make a box of your own! My hostesses always get whatever I make, so host a workshop, and you will have a gift box for yourself, and one for a friend!

Diva's Coffee Break Color Challenge #136

This one was hard for me. These colors look wonderful but I had a hard time putting them on one card. The challenge was to make 5 colors work nicely on one card. Melon Mambo, Crushed Curry, Old Olive, Tempting Turquoise, and Basic Black.

I used my Hostess Level 3 stamp set Kind & Caring Thoughts. Sadly my attempt at embellishment with Dazzling Diamonds and Crystal Effects I used did not show up too well in my picture. It looks much better in person though.

Simple Easter Basket

This is an adorable and simple Easter Basket that can be made with just a few things. You need an envelope, a background stamp, or wheel, ink, and color tools, card stock, designer paper, a snippet of ribbon, a stamp set, and some candy. You could really use this for any holiday, but I chose Easter! This will go together quickly, and be easy to make to give out to friends!

Here is my materials list-all from Stampin Up!

Stamp set
A Good Egg

Paper Products
Bashful Blue cardstock cut to 2.25 x 2.75
Whisper White cardstock cut to 2x2.5, plus an extra scrap
Whisper White medium envelopes
Delicate Dots Sale-A-Bration Designer Series Paper scrap

Ink & Accessories
Certainly Celery Classic Ink
Bashful Blue Classic Ink
Black Stazon ink pad & cleaner
Watercolor Wonder crayons-Soft Subtles
Blender pens
So Swirly Jumbo wheel
Certainly Celery grosgrain ribbon
Large Tag punch
Word Window punch
Sponge
Paper Snips
Snail Adhesive
Pop Dots

The Basket
Lick your envelope and seal it. Then take your large tag, and punch out the edge of the envelope 2 times on each side. Snip off the outer edge so they are straight. This is your handle. Take your wheel and roll the front and back of your paper on an angle. Make sure you ink up the roller each time!

The Chick
Stamp your chick on the white cardstock with the Black Stazon. Then stamp the chick again on the designer series paper making sure the shell in on the paper. Color the chick in with the watercolor crayons, then blend the crayon with the blender pens. The stazon ink prevents the black from smearing which is wonderful! Trim the shell and apply to the chick. Flick the edges of the white cardstock with the certainly celery ink to add some contrast. Mount it on the bashful blue and apply that to your envelope.

The Finishing Touches
Stamp the phrase with the Bashful blue ink on your Whisper White scrap and punch it out with the Word Window Punch. Flick those edges and apply it to the card. Tie your ribbon in a knot, trim the edges and apply it to the card using a glue dot.

Insert your piece of candy, and you are all done! This project idea is from the fabulous Colleen Magness!

Easter Wishes

This is using the Hostess stamp set Echos of Kindness. I also used Dazzlin Diamonds, and Watercolor Crayons to color in the flowers.

Eggstra Special Easter Wishes

This card uses the Loads of Love and the Love of Love Accessories set. I used my markers and blender pens to color in the truck & eggs. I stamped the truck, eggs, and girl in Stazon so my outline would not run or smear.

Can you tell I love my scallop punch?

Check back weekly as more great craft ideas will be coming soon.