Sunday 30 March 2014

Ferrero Rocher Spiral Flowers and the Scallop Tag Topper Punch Large Basket

Mothers Day Basket_Ferrero Rocher_Spiral Flower_Tag Punch_2014_03_ Amanda Bates_The Craft Spa

Gosh two blog posts in one day……

Thought I should come on and share this today as it is Mothers Day in the UK. So Happy Mother Day’s to my mother first … and to all us mothers everywhere!!

I have a number of baskets sitting on my craft desk at the moment…all made using the Scallop Tag Topper punch…but of various sizes…. more of the rest another day

This one is the largest…. and it is pretty large as papercrafting projects go! So large I realised that I could fit quite a number of my mother’s favourite chocolate treats in… namely Ferrero Rocher.  But then I realised it was actually too large for the 12 that I had bought!!! So Plan B came to mind…. and so they became flowers….. didn’t take long care of my new Bigz Spiral Flower die… and don’t they look prettier…

And the colour scheme….! Oh that is to match the Mothers Day card I had already made….. link is to the birthday version we made at Jems Training…..

Hope she likes it!!! Just have to come up with an alternative for her Easter treats now….!

SU! Supplies

Dies – Bigz Spiral Flower Die

Punches – Scalloped Tag Topper Punch

Card – Crumb Cake; Pool Party; Crisp Canteloupe, Pistachio Pudding

Inks – Pool Party

Postage Due Tag Punch Side On Closure Card

Tag Topper A6 Side On 013

Following on from yesterdays post of a Clean & Simple Tag Punch Side-On Closure card with the tutorial…here is the full WWWU Colour Challenge card submission for last week.

The colours this week were “ Peacock colours” – so Elegant Eggplant, Wisteria Wonder, Pacific Point & Garden Green. And here is the card I submitted…. definitely a challenge for me this week Julie Wade!!

Though I even added a fifth colour… Soft Sky for my splodges – or dodgy splodges as I ended up calling them…. rather a different look for me….. though I do so love the Postage Due stamp set…… collage effect for Amanda!!

Tag Topper A6 Side On 014

And oh – I have just realised – I still haven’t added a greeting to this card – well I think I will leave it blank as an Any Occasion card  - a greeting can be quickly added when I need to!

SU! Supplies Used

Stamps – Postage Due. Gorgeous Grunge, Travel Journal (wheel)

Punches – Scalloped Tag Topper Punch

Inks – Craft Whisper White, Elegant Eggplant, Wisteria Wonder, Pacific Point , Garden Green, Soft Sky

Card - Elegant Eggplant, Wisteria Wonder, Pacific Point

Embellishment – Pacific Point Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon

Saturday 29 March 2014

Trefoil Cross Tag Punch Side-On Flap Closure Card with Tutorial. And WWWU Colour Challenge card too

Tag Topper A6 Side On 006

Just a quick share today. Edited to add – and a tutorial too….

A very simple but effective version of the Tag Topper Punch  double flap closure card. I first saw this card set side-on here at Tracy May’s blog. And it rose very quickly to the top of my “Have To Be Made List”

Definitely my favourite version of the closure card…. so far…..well it gives me a square to work on!! And you know me and squares….. So this card version will definitely be made again. Thank you for the inspiration Tracy……

Tag Topper A6 Side On 010

And the card…. perfect for so many occasions…. Wedding as shown here. But also change the greeting as we did in class… and instead we had ….Easter, Sympathy, Christening, Baptism, Communion etc etc etc.

And I have already made other versions. This one and another I will share soon were also submitted for our Team Weekly Colour Challenge – aka WWWU – though this one was a bit of a cheat… as it only used half of the colours!!!!

And I have come back on this post to add…… Here is how to make this for yourself…..

European/Metric version .   This is a brief version of the how to – see here for pictures and more detail if you need them….

1. Cut a portrait piece of  A4 cardstock in half (aka PORTRAIT at 10 1/2cm)

2. Score LANDSCAPE at 12.7cm (or 5” in my world!!)

3. Punch both shorter ends centrally using the Scalloped Tag Topper Punch (half way point is 52 1/2mm)

4. Score down the “shoulder line” on the RHS

5. Cut off all 4 shoulders

6. Fold the RHS tag back onto the card front

US/Imperial version

I was saved from working this out this morning as Brenda Quintana’s of Qbees Quest blog post popped into my in box….so here is a US step by step with pictures too!! Thank you Brenda….

And as I am back here…. here is an Easter version of the card….

2014_03_Easter Trefoil Cross Tag Punch Closure Side-on Card (2)

SU! Products Used

Stamps – Trefoil Cross, Teeny Tiny Sentiments, En Francais

Punches – Scalloped Tag Topper Punch

Card – Elegant Eggplant, Wisteria Wonder

Inks – Craft White, Elegant Eggplant, Wisteria Wonder

Embellishments – Chevron Ribbon Wisteria Wonder

Friday 21 March 2014

Tutorial for Tag Topper Punch Easter Chick

2014_03_Easter Chick Tag Punch Treat Holder 5

Oh I am overwhelmed…. I have had so many lovely emails asking me for the How To make my Angry Bird based Easter Chicky…so I thought I had better quickly pop on and post this sooner rather than later…. so here it is….

For the Treat Holder part

You need Crushed Curry cardstock 5cm x 28cm AND 10cm Square (or in Imperial 2” x 11” AND  4” Square)

Score the LANDSCAPE long piece at 11.5cm & 16.5cm ( or 4 1/2” & 6 1/2”). Bone Fold & punch either end using the Scalloped Tag Topper Punch. Punch a Wide Oval about 1” (2.5cm) up from the bottom.

Score the Square at 2.5cm from each side (or 1”). Bone Fold. Dart the 2 score lines on 2 opposing sides.

Fold over a 3rd side & punch using the 1 1/4” Circle Punch. Don’t worry about that side section having a semicircle through it.. you can’t see it after assembly!!

And a quick tip for you…. if you find it difficult to work out where the centre of the circle needs to be…. just draw pencil lines on the central section on the underside (with the side folded up).. then it is easy to see the central intersection point…. a quick photo to hopefully make that clearer!!

Easter Chick, Tag Topper, Tutorial 004

Glue up the sides to form an open box. Adhere to the internal sides of the tag punched sleeve (make sure the semi-circle punched side is glued to the sleeve and so is not showing at the side!!)

And then it is Punch Art … and decoration … time. Hopefully the next picture speaks a 1000 words.

Easter Chick, Tag Topper, Tutorial 003

The colours used are Crushed Curry, Pumpkin Pie, Basic Black & Whisper White. I have also daubed Crushed Curry ink around the punched Crushed Curry parts…just adds extra definition….

The stamped wording is from the egg image in the Eggstra Spectacular stamp set…. though in class, they will probably use the Happy Easter from the Teeny Tiny Sentiments… it is just easier for those that do not like detailed inking up with markers ….. so here is the Punch Art sheet with the Chick with its new tummy!!!!

Easter Chick, Tag Topper, Tutorial 002

This Tutorial also makes the alternative Giant Creme Egg & Tiny Bunny Treat Holder that I shared yesterday….. that just has a 1” (2.5cm) piece of paper wrapped around to form the main decoration…..

2014_03_Easter Chick Tag Punch Treat Holder 034

I hope that this quick post answers your “How Do I Make This” question. Please feel free to CASE… but please link back to this post as you share…. or even add a comment – and your link - so I can check out yours!! That would make me happy!!

SU! Products Used

Stamps –  Eggstra Spectacular

Punches – Scalloped Tag Topper; Pansy; 1” Square; 3/4” Circle; Itty Bitty 3/8” Circle; 2 1/2” Circle

Card – Crushed Curry; Pumpkin Pie; Whisper White; Basic Black

Ink – Crushed Curry ( & Dauber); Elegant Eggplant

Thursday 20 March 2014

Giant Cadburys Creme Egg meets the tiny Easter Bunny!!

2014_03_Easter Chick Tag Punch Treat Holder 034 

Following on from yesterdays Easter Chick treat holder – here is the non punch art version…. exactly the same treat holder – just decorated in a different way….

Doesn’t that Creme Egg look huge next to the cute bunny image from the Eggstra Spectacular stamp set!!

And for the yearly Easter Colour Challenge that I mentioned yesterday … yes you guessed it… it is this colour combination of bright yellow, red & purple of the Cadburys Creme Egg… Sorry Cadburys but I think I will be refusing to do Cream Eggs next year…. but which small eggs shall I use instead!!! I will be choosing by colour of course… Pool Party Eggs anyone????

Come back tomorrow for yet another version of this treat holder…. and the details on how to make one for yourself!!

Oh and here is another view…..

2014_03_Easter Chick Tag Punch Treat Holder 031

Edited to Add… Tutorial posted here…..

SU! Supplies Used

Stamps –  Eggstra Spectacular

Punches – Scalloped Tag Topper, Modern Label, Word Window, Itty Bitty Trio Blossom

Papers – Eastern Elegance

Card – Crushed Curry, Whisper White, Elegant Eggplant, Real Red

Ink – Elegant Eggplant

Embellishments – Chevron Ribbon Crushed Curry, Gold Bakers Twine, Pearls

Wednesday 19 March 2014

Easter Creme Egg Chick from the Scalloped Tag Topper Punch

2014_03_Easter Chick Tag Punch Treat Holder (1)

It just had to be done…… it is Easter time … so it is time for Amanda to do  Punch Art!!!  It has become a standing joke around here that I only do Punch Art for Christmas and Easter!!

When I look back at past blog posts that have been REALLY popular… a few spring out…so I though I would merge a few to make Easter treat holders… so I guess you could call this first post “Angry Birds Chick” meets the “Tag Topper Punch Treat Holder”…..

And here he is with an additional tummy…! I really can’t decide if I prefer him with – or without!! Add a comment to let me know your preference!!

2014_03_Easter Chick Tag Punch Treat Holder 5

And for those of you coming to classes next week.. this little chicky may or may not be on the menu!!! Which of course is code for you will get a choice!! Come back tomorrow for the other (not Punch Art) version!!! And the Easter Colour challenge that gets set every year!!!!

Edited to Add….. Tutorial posted here……

Stampin’ Up! Supplies

Stamps –  Eggstra Spectacular

Punches – Scalloped Tag Topper; Pansy; 1” Square; 3/4” Circle; Itty Bitty 3/8” Circle; 2 1/2” Circle

Card – Crushed Curry; Pumpkin Pie; Whisper White; Basic Black

Ink – Crushed Curry ( & Dauber); Elegant Eggplant

Saturday 15 March 2014

Double Tri Shutter Album using Soho Subway – or alternatively, Bridesmaid! And WWWU #8 too!

Soho Subway Double Tri Shutter Mini Book, Quad Fold, Amanda Bates, The Craft Spa (2)

Last Thursday I was lucky enough to be invited to a fellow demo friend’s house for a days crafting session along with other fellow demos , lunch, cake and on the day…sun!! We couldn’t believe that were all able to sit outside for lunch..it was glorious…. Thanks to Liz, Karen, Elaine & Sarah for such a truly truly lovely day with a great bunch of like minded & gifted ladies!! And Phoebe too of course!!! Can’t wait to share what they had prepared for me too!!! Such fabulous projects…..

We had decided that we would run the day Shoe Box Style ( or as it subsequently became known….. Show Box Style!! I love it when a typo makes sense…. ) – we all pre-made a project and took all the necessary supplies and tools for the others to all make that project on the day.

Soho Subway Double Tri Shutter Mini Book, Quad Fold, Amanda Bates, The Craft Spa (5)

I had always intended to take a Scallop Tag Topper Punch project… as I am clearly besotted with the punch… and have lots and lots more to share using it!!

But then I had to find a couple of cards to post out from my Stock Cards Box…. and a project I made 4-5 years ago was soon in my hand… demanding a remake & re-share! And so I quickly changed my mind…and here is the Double Tri Shutter project we all made. Suitable as either a mini album.. or a very Fancy Fold card! Definitely not as complicated as it looks ( and luckily everyone agreed with me…phew!)

Soho Subway Double Tri Shutter Mini Book, Quad Fold, Amanda Bates, The Craft Spa (3)

You will notice that the inside is very …umm… plain…. Now that was totally intentional…. honest!!! Firstly , they only had a limited time to complete the project. Secondly, I wasn’t sure what I intended to actually use mine for…. And thirdly, I didn’t have any time to find any photos in any case!!! My change of mind was rather last minute!!!! I now think mine will be used as a Fathers Day card for my Dad this year…so it may yet re-appear here with more decoration…….

And then I realised that the colours used were actually the combination for this week’s team WWWU colour challenge too – and so my submission was made! Who would have thought that… couldn’t have planned it better myself!!

Fancy making this yourself? Well here is the link to the Tutorial by ScrapThat that I used all those years ago…..

And here is the original Double Tri Shutter Wedding Card/Album that we made in class all those years ago. All of the stamps and Bridesmaid papers that I used are now not available…. but I thought this version was worth sharing too. Cleaner… More stamping… Less Paper… A completely different look….. Shame it has got a big inky smudge on the top left though!!!

Bridesmaid Double Tri Shutter Mini Book, Quad Fold, Amanda Bates, The Craft Spa  (5)Bridesmaid Double Tri Shutter Mini Book, Quad Fold, Amanda Bates, The Craft Spa  (2)Bridesmaid Double Tri Shutter Mini Book, Quad Fold, Amanda Bates, The Craft Spa  (1)

SU! Supplies Used

Stamps – Postage Due, Loving Thoughts

DSP - Soho Subway

Embellishments - Ribbon Chevron Island Indigo

Ink Pads – Island Indigo

Markers – Island Indigo, Early Espresso, Sahara Sand, Summer Starfruit, Crisp Canteloupe

Cardstock - Island Indigo, Early Espresso, Very Vanilla

Wednesday 12 March 2014

Happy Watercolor Get Well Card for WWWU #7

WWWU #7, Happy Watercolor, Amanda Bates, The Craft Spa 001 (2)

Last week’s Team Color Challenge set by Julie Wade – or WWWU for  short – was for Crisp Canteloupe, Calypso Coral, Primrose Petals and Gumball Green.

Now this combination presented an enormous challenge for  me – but the end result was much better than expected….. though a version did get binned!!

WWWU #7, Happy Watercolor, Amanda Bates, The Craft Spa 001 (1)

I had just found out that a very close family friend had unexpectedly spent a week in hospital – and that she had just come home – so I needed to get a card off in the post tout suite. So a quick combination of 2 of my card-making challenges that day – and here you have it! And funnily enough – when I finished – I realised that she loves the coral/pinky end of the colour spectrum – so it was perfect for her…. thank you again Julie!

All of the stamped images are from the new Happy Watercolor stamp set… I just strategically placed the flower so that the flower spray looked like leaves…..

The poppy was stamped three times using black Staz On, and coloured in using Primrose Petals ink &  the “splat…” stamp from the Happy Watercolor set… Then 1 was cut out whole and the other  2 as selective petals … and finally all layered up on top of each other. Then I just added a small amount of black using my blender pen to the centre of the flower for extra definition….

And so what of the version that got binned…… I had used the multi dots image that is also in the Happy Watercolor stamp set for the background/card base… Well it would have been perfect for someone with chicken pox!! But not for this ailment!!!

SU! Supplies Used

Stamps – Happy Watercolor, Four You, A Dozen Thoughts

Inks - Crisp Canteloupe, Calypso Coral, Primrose Petals and Gumball Green

Card – Crisp Canteloupe, Primrose Petals

Tuesday 11 March 2014

Revisit of 40th Birthday Tag Topper Punch Concertina Card

Tag Topper_Blues_Closed 007

Had to share my last minute change to a card I shared earlier in the week.

Just as it was going into its box envelope for postage – a little tweak just came to pass…. a quick cut and addition of a different paper from the Sale A Bration Sweet Sorbet pack… and it was done…. much happier with the reduction of colours and the final result…!

This is how it was before….. see more details of this card here…..

Scallop Tag Concertina Card, Petite Petals, Amanda Bates, The Craft Spa, 2014_03 (8)

 

Scallop Tag Concertina Card, Petite Petals, Amanda Bates, The Craft Spa, 2014_03 (6)

And a laugh (or two) for you…. I almost posted these cards without saying who they were from!!! ( which has been done a few  times before !!!) 

Now the recipients of Mia Ruby’s card will know exactly who it is from… but I am not sure that Alison (who is 40) will know! Though she would probably guess….

AND I just couldn’t write on the front of these cards!!! ….. so I had to add another panel to the back with my handwritten scrawl all over it!!

Monday 10 March 2014

Welcome Mia Ruby – Baby Girl Scallop Tag Topper Concertina Card

Scallop Tag Concertina Card,2014_03_Baby Girl Mia Ruby 017

Here is the Baby Girl card I have been working on over the weekend. Full stretch above…. and closed in a different way as shown below…. (recipe for the box envelope for this version shown at the end of this post)

Tag Concertina Card, Baby, Mia Ruby, Amanda Bates, The Craft Spa , Closed (1)

So two versions for you here… the one that I am sending and one that I had “in the bank”…. My bank card is the BABY GIRL version… but this little one will be a very special one to me and my family …so something more personal was needed…so welcome to the world Mia Ruby….

Tag Topper Concertina Card_Baby Girl_2014_03_09_Amanda Bates_The Craft Spa (4)

And a couple of close up shots….

Scallop Tag Concertina Card,2014_03_Baby Girl Mia Ruby_ MIA (1)Scallop Tag Concertina Card,2014_03_Baby Girl Mia Ruby_ RUBY

Again…thank you to Julie for this gorgeous card format – I guess you can tell it is one of my favourites of all time!!!! So simple to make…yet so effective….

Here is the link to more details and Julie’s video tutorial….

And here are the dimensions  for a box envelope  to put it in……. (made using the Envelope Punch Board)

8 3/4” Square Cardstock.

First score 3 1/4”. Second Score 4 5/8”

SU! Supplies

Stamps – Label Love, Morning Post Alphabet, Cuddles & Kisses, Baby Prints, Banner Blast, Petite Petals

Punches – Scallop Tag Topper , Artisan Label, 1 3/4” Circle, SAB Banner , Petite Petals

Envelope Punch Board

Dies – Circle Framelits

Inks – Crisp Canteloupe, Pistachio Pudding, Sahara Sand, Summer Starfruit, Pool Party

Cardstock – Pistachio Pudding, Whisper White

DSP – SAB Sweet Sorbet

Embellishments -  In Color Stitched Summer Starfruit Ribbon, Pearls

Saturday 8 March 2014

Another Tag Punch Concertina Card for a 40th Birthday–and 2 Tutorials….

Scallop Tag Concertina Card, Petite Petals, Sweet Sorbet, SAB 2014, Amanda Bates, The Craft Spa, 2014_03 (6)

Here is another version of the Scallop Tag Concertina Card we made at the last Jems Quarterly Training Day.

Julie stepped it up to make this gorgeous Mothers Day Card, and as this version was just in my favourite colourways….. I just had to CASE immediately and make one for a friends special birthday being celebrated this week – Happy Birthday Alison! Now everyone knows how old you are!!!

So I mentioned 2 tutorials….

Firstly here is Julies Video Tutorial on making the Scallop Tag Topper Punch Concertina Card – thank you Julie! It is a truly BEAUTIFUL card in the flesh……

And secondly I have added the measurements at the end of this post for the box envelope to post it in. This card has more bulk when folded up than the original card we made so it requires a 1” deep box envelope. So my Envelope Punch Board was out again – a quick calculation – and a box made so it was all good to go…..

Here is a view of the folded card.

Scallop Tag Concertina Card, Petite Petals, Sweet Sorbet, SAB 2014, Amanda Bates, The Craft Spa, 2014_03 (8)

And here it is at full stretch….

Scallop Tag Concertina Card, Petite Petals, Sweet Sorbet, SAB 2014, Amanda Bates, The Craft Spa, 2014_03 (2)

And here are some close-ups…..

Scallop Tag Concertina Card, Petite Petals, Sweet Sorbet, SAB 2014, Amanda Bates, The Craft Spa, 2014_03 (3)Scallop Tag Concertina Card, Petite Petals, Sweet Sorbet, SAB 2014, Amanda Bates, The Craft Spa, 2014_03 (4)Scallop Tag Concertina Card, Petite Petals, Sweet Sorbet, SAB 2014, Amanda Bates, The Craft Spa, 2014_03 (5)

And here are the dimensions for a 1” deep box envelope made using the envelope punch board….

Cardstock/Paper Size 7  1/2” Square

First Score 2 5/8”

Second Score 4 1/8”

Go to my earlier post here for the box envelope dimensions for the original card (3/4” deep) and for more general details on making these….

And there you have it… but more of these cards coming soon…. Baby Girl card being needed today…. they really are so truly stunning in the flesh….. I just can’t help myself…..

Friday 7 March 2014

Tutorial for the Tag Punch Double Flap Large Square Card – aka Tag Punch meets Ampersand for a Wedding Card

Tag Topper Punch Card, Ampersand, So Very Grateful, Fresh Prints, Amanda Bates, The Craft Spa ,  (2)

As promised yesterday ...here is a tutorial to make the Tag Punch Double Flap Large Square Card……and another version of the card . This is a card I had to quickly make to send for a couple just about to take their vows……

As I tidied away my craft desk from earlier “play-sessions!” I discovered a few things that just begged to be put together and used!

1. my prototype Tag Punch Double Flap Large Square Card. Having seen loads of standard size A6 cards around the internet - and having made one at last months Team Training too – I just had to work out the sizings for a larger square card. I shared the first one I made for our Team WWWU Colour Challenge yesterday – but still laying there was my original stab at it!
Edited To Add…. I have spent some time tracking back to find the originator of this wonderful closure idea… one that has been much CASED around the world!!… and I believe it was the superb idea of the uber-talented Jenni Pauli in Germany… see her wonderful first card version here. Thank you so much for having the idea and sharing with us all Jenni…!

2. a cut-out ampersand from the new Ampersand embossing folder ( I am SO glad I bought this folder… a lot of WOW for a little cost!)

3.  left over cut out So Very Grateful flowers from My Tag Topper Box Card 

4.  my Fresh Prints stack… and an unopened reel of Chevron Ribbon…..

A quick stamping and colouring of the flowers with my trusty marker pens… and here you have it…. only problem was that I liked it so much…I had to then make another!! Well I had to have one to photo and share… didn’t I…?

Tag Topper Punch Card, Ampersand, So Very Grateful, Fresh Prints, Amanda Bates, The Craft Spa ,  (1)

And here is how you can make your own Tag Punch Double Flap Large Square Card…… oh what a mouthful that is!!! Anyone care to offer a shorter name!!!???

Recipe

CS Crumb Cake A4L (297mm) x 148mm

CS Coastal Cabana 103 x 143mm; 45 x 143mm

DSP 40 x 138mm; 98 x 138mm

Ribbon Chevron Blushing Bride x 15”

Directions

1. With Crumb Cake panel LANDSCAPE, Score at 13cm

2. Mark centre point of each narrower side (ie at 74mm)

3. With the mark to the underside, push a narrower side “over the top” into the Scalloped Tag Topper Punch

4. Turn punch upside down & line up the mark in the centre of the punch

Tag Topper Punch Large Square Flap Card, Tutorial, Amanda Bates 002

5. Punch & Repeat steps 3-4 for the other side

Tag Topper Punch Large Square Flap Card, Tutorial, Amanda Bates 001

6. With the wider section to the RHS, place the LHS of the punched tag shape to line up with the groove in the trimmer

Tag Topper Punch Large Square Flap Card, Tutorial, Amanda Bates 003

7. Score down the whole length

8. Cut off the 2 end sections/shoulders
(TIP – you can feel the blade drop into the groove where the section ends/starts)

Tag Topper Punch Large Square Flap Card, Tutorial, Amanda Bates 004

9. Flip 180 degrees & cut off the 2 end sections on the other side

Tag Topper Punch Large Square Flap Card, Tutorial, Amanda Bates 005

10. Bone Fold the score lines

Tag Topper Punch Large Square Flap Card, Tutorial, Amanda Bates 007

11. Decorate as required!

 

SU! Supplies Used

Stamps – Sweet Essentials; So Very Grateful

Punches & Big Shot Products – Scalloped Tag Topper Punch; Ampersand embossing folder

Papers – Fresh Prints Stack

Ribbon – Chevron Ribbon Blushing Bride

Card & Inks – Crumb Cake, Coastal Cabana, Pink Pirouette

Thursday 6 March 2014

Tag Punch Double Flap Large Square Card & WWWU #6

Tag Topper Punch Card, Perfect Pennants, Petite Petals, Fresh Prints, Amanda Bates, The Craft Spa

Having seen loads of standard size A6 Tag Punch Double Flap cards around the internet - and having made one at last months Team Training too – I just had to work out the sizings for a larger square card. So here it is!

Edited To Add…. I have spent some time tracking back to find the originator of this wonderful closure idea… one that has been much CASED around the world!!… and I believe it was the superb idea of the uber-talented Jenni Pauli in Germany… see her wonderful first card version here. Thank you so much for having the idea and sharing with us all Jenni…!

This was my other submission to the Jems Team WWWU colour challenge last week – the colours this time being Coastal Cabana, Real Red, Crumb Cake & Bermuda Bay. And you can actually see the Bermuda Bay this time!!

Come back tomorrow for the tutorial to make this card base….. or arrange to come to a March Workshop here in Great Ouseburn. North Yorkshire - and make your own!

SU! Supplies Used

Stamps – Perfect Pennants; Petite Petals

Framelits – Banners; Circles

Punches – Petite Petals

Embellishments – Candy Dots Neutrals & Brights; Crumb Cake Seam Binding

Card & Ink - Coastal Cabana, Real Red, Crumb Cake & Bermuda Bay.

Tuesday 4 March 2014

Another Tag Topper Box Card – and the Decoration–and another WWWU Card

2014_03_SO Grateful_Scallop Tag Topper Punch_Box Card_ Amanda Bates_The Craft Spa (3)

Here is another version of the Box Card using the So Very Grateful stamp set this time… but for all of you that don’t like fussy cutting…. don’t attempt the final decorating of this one!! Go back to this one instead!This was one of my submissions to the Team WWWU challenge last week – the colours being Coastal Cabana, Real Red, Crumb Cake & Bermuda Bay.

I prefer the slightly deeper layering that I have  on this ….so the measurements for the papers shared here will produce paper decoration that looks like this!!

So here are some quick tips for decorating a Tag Topper Box Card for which I shared a tutorial yesterday. Hopefully this will save you the time I first spent fiddling about somewhat unsuccessfully with small pieces of paper!! Poor little box card sat there for 2 weeks on my craft desk before I had a re-think and returned to finish decorating it with more success….

So first the box base sides. Easy enough….

Cut your paper into a 5.9cm strip,then cut into three 4 1/2cm pieces & stick! (Imperial- 2 1/4” strip & cut into three 1 3/4” pieces)

Next the box flaps.

This is where I came unstuck…. I first tried punching  4 1/2 cm square pieces of paper…too hard! I then tried popping  the pieces of paper onto a post it note so that I had something to hold onto to put the paper into the punch….mixed success! And then the Eureka moment…..

2014_03_Tag Topper Punch Box Card, Amanda BAtes, The Craft Spa 003

1. Cut your paper into 2 pieces 9cm long x 4 1/2 cm wide. (Imperial– 3 1/2” long x 1 3/4” wide)

2. Pop each end into the Punch, centre and punch.

3. Fold the paper  in half

4. Sand the top outer scallops to curve & match those scallop edge to the flaps of your box. This is a fabulous little trick to create matching layers that I picked up from the wonderful Connie Stewart here . She has a video there for you too….

5. Open up & cut along the score line

6. (OPTIONAL) Push ribbon through slot in paper & card flap now or add ribbon bows later

7. Adhere your 4 paper pieces to the flaps.

And finally the back of the Box Card.

Outer coloured mat is 4.5 x 9.3cm. Inner White panel is 4 x 8.8cm (Imperial… Coloured mat. 1 3/4” x 3 5/8”. White panel 1 1/2” x 3 3/8”)

And some more views of this version….

2014_03_SO Grateful_Scallop Tag Topper Punch_Box Card_ Amanda Bates_The Craft Spa (5)

2014_03_SO Grateful_Scallop Tag Topper Punch_Box Card_ Amanda Bates_The Craft Spa (4)2014_03_SO Grateful_Scallop Tag Topper Punch_Box Card_ Amanda Bates_The Craft Spa (1)

SU! Supplies Used

Stamps – So Very Grateful; Perfect Banners;Petite Pairs

Punches – Scalloped Tag Topper Punch; 1” Circle; 1 1/4 Scallop Circle

Papers – Fresh Prints DSP Stack

Card & Inks – Crumb Cake; Coastal Cabana; Real Red; Bermuda Bay

Embellishments – Stitched 1/4” Grosgrain Real Red

Monday 3 March 2014

Tag Topper Box Card – Tutorial or the How To!!

2014_03_Scallop Tag Topper Punch_Box Card_Amanda Bates_The Craft Spa  (11)

Apologies for those of you that have been desperate for a tutorial on this one… but I had to share my Envelope Punch Board projects first…. I hope that you will understand…..

I have been completely WOWED by the comments, emails and blog hits on this little card… within days it has actually shot up into my Top 20 Blog Posts ever!! Thank You. Thank You. Thank You…. it has made my week very special!!!

Thought I would first share a photo of the back of the Box Card too…..

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So definitely time for a share of how to make one for yourself… though people local in the York / Harrogate / Boroughbridge / Wetherby / Thirsk / Easingwold area of North Yorkshire could come along and make it here instead…. I would love to hear from you…. this will be one of the projects that you can make during March using Amanda’s favourite new product ….. the Scalloped Tag Topper Punch…..

First up – the Metric /European A4 card size version (which is what I used as I find that the very marginally less wide 5cm sections fit better into the Scalloped Tag Topper punch than a 2” section! Even though I am usually an inches gal!!)

1. Start with a piece of card A4 wide (aka 21cm ) x 11.4cm (aka 4 1/2” )  long

2. Score LANDSCAPE* at 5, 10, 15 & 20cm

3. Score PORTRAIT* at 5cm (with the narrow section at the top)

And the Imperial/US Letter size version

1. Start with a piece of cardstock 8 1/2” wide x 4 1/2” long

2. Score LANDSCAPE* at 2”, 4”, 6” and 8”

3. Score PORTRAIT* at 2” (with the narrow section at the top)

PS… *for those of you that aren’t used to the terminology…. as I do love to used one word instead of a long sentence…. where I can….

LANDSCAPE means put the wider section along the top “stop bar/ruler” of your score board or trimmer  - and score down across the narrower section

PORTRAIT means the narrower section along the top  - and score down across the wider section!!

And then for both….

4. Bone Fold all your score-lines

5. Cut off the smaller narrow section

6. Cut up the 3 shorter score lines to form the 4 tabs

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7. Pop each section/flap into the Tag Topper Punch & Punch ( x4)

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8. Adhere together to form the box using the narrow section

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9. Score two small 1.5cm x 7 cm card pieces  at 1 cm from each end to form the slats to go across the centre of the box (or score two 1/2” x 3” pieces at 1/2” from each end )

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10. Decorate as desired…. come back tomorrow for tips on paper sizes and how to best punch the paper pieces for decoration... I have to admit that my little box sat for a fortnight undecorated… as punching small pieces of paper wasn’t too successful initially!!!!

 

SU! Products Used

Stamps – Flower Shop; Petite Petals; Petite Pairs

Punches – Scalloped Tag Topper Punch; Petite Petals; Pansy; 1” Circle; 1 1/4 Scallop Circle

Papers – Fresh Prints DSP Stack

Card & Inks – Pool Party; Crumb Cake; Soft Suede; Coastal Cabana

Embellishments – Naturals 5/8” Chevron Ribbon; Gemstones; Linen Thread

Sunday 2 March 2014

Envelope Punch Board–Mini Series #4

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And these were the last projects we did with our Envelope Punch Board this month – though I took a bit of a risk here….. I had 2 ladies make 16/18 Christmas crackers in our last session before Christmas – so I thought they may not be happy with me at this point!!!! But I left the room unscathed….. it was OK……

I will admit that this was the first project I made with my Board when it arrived – it was noticeable during our demo pre-order month that we all went cracker mad with it – but it is just SO GOOD for making lovely little crackers…… or bon-bons as they are called elsewhere in Europe….

I used this brilliant step by step picture tutorial of Sara Rayners – as you get 4 crackers from a piece of 12x12 paper… which seems to make sense to me!! Thank you Sara…. The only thing I changed was Steps 3-5 as I added a quick short cut!! I lined up & punched each section at the 1 1/2” score –mark…. and then moved the paper across to the left and lined up at 4 1/2” & punched. Then I unfolded and refolded and repeated for the next section…. then I didn ‘t need the separate Step 5…..

The shaped ends were also made using the punch board…it was a bit of a Eureka moment for me at the time…though I am sure that it will have been done before…. I just made up the cracker…. put the ends up into the punch… the 2 paper thicknesses at a time… lined up the section in the centre of the punch and punched… then repeated for the other side… and then the other end. Hope that makes sense!! If not – please feel free to comment below and I will make another, photo those steps – and add to the post another day…..

And a few other views/alternatives….. Again the decoration was kept as simple as simple can be…. all about learning how to use the Punch Board in this class……

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SU! Products Used

Envelope Punch Board!

Stamps – Label Love

Punches – SAB Banner Punch; Artisan Label

Thread – SAB Sweet Sorbet Accessories Pack – Pool Party or Crisp Canteloupe

Paper – Sweet Sorbet

Saturday 1 March 2014

Envelope Punch Board–Mini Series #3

2014_02_Envelope Punch Board Project by Amanda Bates @ The Craft Spa, North Yorkshire, UK  (7)So here is a straightforward C6 envelope and a card to go in it!!

One of my ladies bought the Oval Framelits last month so I needed to use them to show her another simple way to use them…. so I wanted to do a simple oval aperture card. So it was time for another CASE of another card of Julie’s that WOWed me when I saw it back in January…. I just changed some of the colours to suit the Sweet Sorbet papers. So simple – but so effective. Add I wish I had taken some photos of the alternatives made this week…. the card looks great on its side too – and the wording from Simply Fabulous and Perfectly Penned looks great on their too…..

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And the new Texture Boutique machine was out in force again – the depth really is great with my extra shim….

SU! Products used

Stamps – Petite Petals; Perfect Pennants

Punches & Dies – Petite Petals; Framelits – Ovals

Embossing Folder – Beautifully Baroque

Embellishments – Pool Party Seam Binding; Gems

Cardstock – Naturals White

Inks – Summer Starfruit; Pool Party; Crisp Canteloupe; Pistachio Pudding; Coastal Cabana