Faux Alligator Purse

I found this here, and absolutely had to try it out! We are doing it at my Mom & Me class today, but might repeat the Technique on a Tuesday at my new Technique Tuesday Class.

A quick instruction list, you will need 3 top notes, 1 box cut with the Box#2 Die, and lots of clear embossing powder and a button, some 1/4: grosgrain, and velcro dots. To do the technique, I took my Versamark pad, covered my top notes with it then coated it with embossing powder. Then I drew lines on them with my boning folder and then embossed it. That creates the faux alligator look. Then I used sticky strip to attach the top notes (use the folded one for the top) to my box, and used a wonderful button and some ribbon on the side to turn it into a clutch. I did use a velcro sticky dot too to seal the purse. Fill it with a 3x3 card, or some dsp covered chocolates.

For the Newlyweds Sneak Peak

Well, this is not really a major sneak peak. I am using Walk in the Park Designer series paper which retires at the end of the month. I used the grey side which to be honest I had not touched.To add a little more contrast to my paper, I outlined some of the lightest leaves on the paper with my white gel pen. I paired the DS paper with our Brushed Silver cardstock. I stamped the top half of the card using VersaMark and the coordinating leaf from the Great Friends stamp set. It added a very subtle print to the top half of my card. Then I scalloped the bottom edge of my card and then used my Snail adhesive to apply my DS paper. Along the seam of the card I added a strip of Whisper White Grosgrain ribbon.

I ran Whisper White cardstock through my Big Shot using the Scallop Circle #2 die which has a medium and small scallop. I trimmed the circle into a dress. Then I ran the Dress back through the Big shot using the Texturz plates. That gave my dress more of a lacy bridal feeling. Then I added a ribbon waist band with Rose Red 1/4" grosgrain ribbon. I added a half back pearl from the pretties kit at the waist as well.

I stamped one of the sayings (For the Newlyweds) from our new set Teeny Tiny Wishes (#115370) and punched it out with my Word Window Punch. All the stamps in Teeny Tiny fit inside the Word Window Punch which is great, and the cover just about every holiday or occasion you need. There are 24 stamps in the set. It will be available starting July 1st. I backed it with a flower I cut from my Walk in the park paper.

I was thrilled to discover that one of my stampers just got engaged, so of course, the card was meant for her! Check back soon for more information and ideas for a Wedding Portfolio. This is for the DIY Bride, or anyone looking to create a special one of a kind wedding invitation for their special day I will have ideas for creating your own wedding invitations, favors, save the dates and more.

Want to Make your Own? Here is what you need.

115370 Teeny Tiny Wishes- Available July 1st
113469 Scallop Circle #2 Big Shot Die
114512 Stampin Up! Backgrounds
100730 Whisper White Cardstock
100712 Brushed Silver Cardstock
102283 VersaMark
111366 Rose Red 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon
109025 Whisper White 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon
109114 Pretties Kit
112091 Scallop Edge Punch

Summer Fun

This scrapbook page uses Washington Apple Designer Series Paper, Kraft Cardstock, Bashful Blue Cardstock, Real Red Card stock, Die Cut Blooms, the Big Shot Billboard Alphabet die, the Birds and blooms die, the Dotted Jumbo wheel, the Life's a Breeze Stamp set. I used Real Red, Pumpkin Pie and Bashful Blue classic ink pads as well.

I wanted to create a fun bright summery layout on my 12x12 page using squares. I had some images I took at the beach, and knew they would be perfect for my Washington Apple Designer Series Paper. My girls had blue and orange pails & shovels, and a blue swim suit. I cut a strip of paper for my title, and placed my letters which I had run through my Big Shot. I had to run it through 2 times to get the 2 U's and the M's, but I love being able to pick which letters I need and place them down.

I cropped my pictures to 4x4 and my large strip of Washington apple to 12x4.25. I wanted a tiny strip of sqaure color to peep out. On the bottom I cut a piece of Bashful blue to 8x4. Then I ran my Jumbo wheel over that to give myself a good journaling place. I built up my flowers using the Die cut blooms, and made some leaves using a scrap of Old Olive and the Bids and Blooms die with leaves on it. I curled the edges lightly with my fingernail and creased the leaves to give the flowers some more interest.

I tried a new technique with VersaMark and wax paper on the bottom of the Kraft paper to give it some texture. By crumpling the wax paper and stamping randomly I got a great abstract look that could be built up as lightly or as heavily as I wanted. This could be used to look like faux leather too depending on how tightly I crumpled my paper.

At this point I knew the page needed a little bit more interest, so I stamped out flip flops and a pail from the Life's A Breeze set and trimmed them out. I also stamped "sun fun" on the bottom of my journaling block in Bashful Blue.

I could have changed up the design by adding another photo if I had less journaling or more images to use. Also by changing the stamp set and paper, I could easily change this from a beach look into any other type of page. That is one thing I absolutely love about Kraft cardstock. It works with any color and can be extremely versatile to tie in the stamps sets and pages in an album.