Category Archives: 3-D

Sweet home for a cardinal

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Cardinals are nest builders, not house dwellers, but if your imagination can tolerate a little stretching  I think you’ll enjoy this:

Stampin' Up! milk carton die Two Step Bird punch Bird House

  • Vintage Vogue and I {Heart Hearts} stamp sets
  • Naturals White, Soft Suede, Real Red, Mellow Moss, Basic Black, Pumpkin Pie and Always Artichoke card stock
  • Real Red, Soft Suede and Always Artichoke Classic ink pads
  • Black Stampin’ Write Journaler and White Gel pen
  • Big Shot and Bigz L Milk Carton die
  • Two Step Bird, Heart to Heart and Scallop Edge punches
  • Stampin Sponges, Sponge Daubers, Tombo adhesive and Stampin’ Dimensionals

I need to send you to see two special ladies to thank them for their part in this project.  The first is the Amazing Kim Bolzenthal, who generously sent me a RAK of pre-cut milk cartons.  If you know Kim at all, you’ll know she is a thoughtful, giving person who has a passion for stamping and stampers.  Please leave her a comment and tell her how fabulous she is!

The second person I’d like you to visit is Marie whose charming Goldfinch Birdhouses were my direct inspiration for this project.  I loved her concept and tweaked it just a little to suit my purposes, but she’s the genius behind the design and she deserves the credit.  Please leave her a comment and let her know how brilliant she is!

The cardinal and the little heart are both attached with Stampin’ Dimensionals, but the heart is so small I snipped off a little piece from the strip around the edge of the dimensionals.

Here’s the 411 on the cardinal’s face:  It’s a pain in the, um, tailfeathers but I think it makes a big difference.  After you punch the bird’s body in Real Red, go back and insert a right angle corner of black cardstock into the face portion of the punch at the beak.  The farther in you insert that black corner, the bigger your mask will be.  Punch it and set it someplace you can find it, because it’s not very big.  Do the same thing with a piece of Pumpkin Pie cardstock, but only insert that corner in to the point where it makes a tiny diamond shape with the beak.  Punch this very carefully, because as soon as you punch it is so small it will disappear into the litter on your workspace.  Take a pair of tweezers (yep, I really did that) and use a teeny tiny dot of Tombo to put the Pumpkin Pie beak on the Black mask.  Use a tiny dot of Tombo to attach the mask to the cardinal’s face and use a white gel pen to add an eye.

Go ahead – give it a try – you can do it!

An Eastern Easter Basket

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We made these baskets last night at club.  I knew if I asked them to make all the paper blossoms that are needed for THIS basket my club members would mutiny, so I adapted it to use only one.  It’s a simple basket but I find it very sweet and just right for Easter:

Eastern Blooms Easter Basket

  • Eastern Blooms stamp set
  • Whisper White, Blush Blossom, Certainly Celery and Almost Amethyst card stock
  • Blush Blossom, Certainly Celery and Almost Amethyst Classic ink pads
  • Scallop Trim Border punch, Big Shot and Little Leaves Sizzlet
  • 1 3/8, 1 1/4, 1, 3/4 and 1/2 inch Circle Punches
  • Piercing tool and mat, Soft Subtles brads, Tombo adhesive and Sticky Strip

The basket is a 7 3/4 inch by 4 3/4 inch rectangle scored 1 1/2 inches from each side.  I use Sticky Strip to assemble it – nothing else is strong enough.  The handle is attached first with Snail (to keep it from rotating) and then with a brad.  The flower is simple – a series of graduated circles held together with a brad and then crumpled and mashed until they give you the look you want.

I went a little Scallop Trim Border crazy:

Eastern Blooms Easter basket side view

I’m so taken with that open Scallop Trim border.  You have to fuss a little to be sure you don’t end up with funny broken ends but it’s worth it.  And I’ve always loved the look of Blush Blossom with Almost Amethyst and Certainly Celery.  It looks great with Barely Banana thrown into the mix too.

Easter’s almost here – are your Easter baskets ready?

A sweet and whimsical basket

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The Weekly Inkling from SplitCoastStampers had a tutorial for a charming little basket last week.  I had an idea I wanted to try but it’s taken me a while to put it together:

SCS Easter Basket

  • Very Vanilla, Blush Blossom, So Saffron, Barely Banana and Apricot Appeal cardstock
  • Various Designer Series Papers
  • Scallop, 1  3/8″, 1  1/4″, 1″, and 3/4″ circle punches
  • Piercing tool, mat and gold brads
  • Sticky Strip and Vanilla Taffeta ribbon

It takes a while to punch all those circles and smush them all up.  If I do it again, I’ll  spritz them with water to make them more pliable.  The brads go right through the center of those stacked up circles and into the side of the basket.

I love the soft, romantic look of these pastel colors.  These baskets would make great bridal shower decorations if you had help putting them together.  Or if you only needed one.  I’m not so sure I would sign up to do a bunch of them myself.

Exploring Shabby Chic

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I’ve been exploring the concept of style.  There are a lot of things I’m attracted to, but I don’t see myself defined by any one type.  We know I’m not a classic “Clean and Simple” kind of person – much as I admire the look, I can’t seem to embrace it in my crafting.  Shabby Chic, however, is a style I can play with.   Last night I started looking at paper roses again and got the idea to put them on a box.

Cranberry Rose Matchbox

  • Certainly Celery and Cranberry Crisp (retired) cardstock; Retired Designer Series Paper
  • Big Shot, Matchbox Bigz die,  Perfect Details Texturz Plate, and Little Leaves Sizzlet
  • Scallop, 1 1/4″, 1″ and 3/4″ circle punches
  • Piercing tool, mat and silver brads
  • Very Vanilla taffeta ribbon and Mini Glue dots

It seems I can fiddle around with those crazy paper roses forever, but I like them best if I  just mash them up and leave them alone.  The ribbon seems a little top-heavy to me, but Shabby Chic is definitely a “more is more” kind of thing so I left it.  I could even see a little tulle and some seed pearls on this, but heaven knows where those things are right now – my craft things are still in chaos while I settle into my new space.  The stamping things are all in one room, at least, and if I look long enough I find what I want.  The beads, fabrics and embroidery supplies are another story altogether.  Shabby Chic is supposed to be a little messy, isn’t it?

One last Valentine

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I’ve saved this post because it was the Valentine I gave my wonderful husband, and it didn’t seem right to post it before he received it.  The idea came from Becky Roberts, whose projects I continue to CASE with reckless abandon.  I fell for this folder as soon as I saw it, and thought it would make a great club project.  Once I developed my own sample, I realized it would not only be a great club project, but would work perfectly for my Valentine.  Here’s the outside:

Valentine Coupon booklet

This uses the I {Heart} Hearts stamp set (don’t forget $2 from the sale of each set goes to the American Red Cross through February 28) and the Very Vintage Jumbo Wheel. There’s also the Big Shot with the Scallop Circles #2 and Originals Circles #2 dies. I used the Full Heart, Heart to Heart, and Scallop Trim Border punches as well, and finished with the Real Red 1/2″ Striped Grosgrain ribbon.

Here’s the inside:

Open Valentine Folder with Tags

Isn’t it clever?  There’s a small Cello Bag attached with Sticky Strip to each side, and I can fit two little tags inside each bag.  You could use the tags as gift tags, but I was inspired to make the tags into coupons.  Each one has a little message on the back, and he can redeem them as he likes.  The possibilities for this idea are endless.

Here are the tags a little closer:

First two tags

I’ve used 5/8″ Satin Ribbon from the Occasions mini on all of the tags, and incorporated the Sending Love Specialty Designer Series Paper as well.

Here are the other two tags:

Second set of tags

These tags use the brand new XL Two Step Bird punch and the fabulous Beautiful Wings Embosslit for the Big Shot.  All these goodies made this project really easy to put together.

If there’s enough interest, I’ll put together a tutorial with dimensions and more instructions.  Becky said in her post that she had made hers and sent them off and didn’t plan a tutorial, so considering all I’ve gained from her blog I think it would be the least I could do.  Either way, enjoy and CASE away!!

I’m a Big Fan

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I love Becky Roberts’ blog, Inking Idaho.  She has great projects, great photos, and a very “in-person” writing style that makes you think she’s sitting right next to you.  I find loads of inspiration on her blog and am a faithful follower.

That said, I have a shameless CASE of an Inking Idaho project, her Cute Clothes Pins.

Valentine Clothes Pins

These little gems are for the members of my hostess club tonight.  They were so quick and easy to do!  Here’s a closer look:

One Cute Clothes Pin

You just need a tiny strip of paper, a button, some linen thread and a few tissue paper flowers.  I used Tombo to put everything together – attach the paper to the pin, add the tissue flowers, and stick the button on top.  I could have used Mini Glue dots which would have probably been quicker and not so sticky on my fingers, but shoots,  the Tombo was out and my fingers were deep into it!

Here’s a hint for punching tissue paper.  It’s so thin and formless that it will shred in a punch by itself, but if you fold up a few layers and stick a scrap of cardstock in the back, it punches beautifully!  I only used 3 tissue flowers, and only stamped 2 of the 3 to keep it from looking too dizzy.  You could use an abundance of tissue flowers for that full ruffly look, or you could use other papers.  Cardstock would need some serious abuse to get soft enough to scrunch, but Designer Series Paper should be easy  to work with – just check Becky’s February 10 post!

I’ll try more later, but it’s time to get set up for tonight.

Sweet Heart

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Some friends visited last week and brought along their 20 month old daughter.  We were enchanted with Kendall and marveled at how quickly we have forgotten the intense energy that is a toddler.  Kendall was bright, funny and very busy, and we enjoyed her immensely.  We were also grateful that the days of parenting toddlers are behind us.

I created a little something for Kendall and her mom and dad just for the fun of it.  I have to admit that I miss having little girls around – it’s such fun to craft for and with them.

A Sweet Heart for Kendall

  • On Board Heart Book
  • Welcome Neighbor Designer Series Paper (SAB)
  • Bermuda Bay, So Saffron, Regal Rose, Pretty in Pink and Old Olive card stock
  • Heart to Heart punch and Sanding blocks
  • Big Shot, Beautiful Wings Embosslit and Naturally Serif Sizzlit Decorative Strip die
  • Old Olive 5/8″ Satin ribbon, Jumbo Eyelets and Crop-a-dile

And here’s the other side:

A Big K for Kendall

All the above plus the XL Two-Step Bird Punch, Serif Essentials Bigz dies and Sweet Pea Stitched felt.  Oh, and I sponged the edges of the bird!

My favorite feathered friend

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I’ve always had a fondness for birds.  Well, most birds – I’m not so fond of the ones that swoop down and scold me (or my ‘fraidy cat).  One of my absolute favorites is the cardinal.  Growing up in California, we seldom saw them, but here in Hawaii we have both the North and South American cardinals.  (The North American male is all red with a black mask, the South American male is grey and white with a scarlet hood, just in case you were wondering.)

It’s the North American Cardinal I enjoy the most.  Early in the morning, the male is usually the first bird to greet the sunrise.  He has a long, low call that begins when the sky is light but the sun has yet to peak over Haleakala.  It’s a lovely thing to hear as you’re lying in bed, trying to decide if you really do have to get up.

Watching my daughter go through her cupboards and closets has inspired me to do a little sorting of my own, and the other day I came across a bunch of tiny wreaths made from vines.  I’m sure they’ve been in my craft cupboard for years, and they were clearly waiting for This Moment.  As soon as I saw them, I visualized this:

My Maui Cardinal

  • Real Red, Kiwi Kiss, Chocolate Chip,  and Pretty in Pink card stock
  • Chocolate Chip Stampin’ Write marker, Signo White Gel pen
  • XL Two Step Bird punch and Pop-Up Glue dot
  • Heart to Heart punch, Tombo adhesive and Linen Thread
  • Real Red narrow grosgrain ribbon and LSS vine wreath

Yes, I know the real deal doesn’t have a brown wing, and yes, I realize I left off his mask.  But that’s ok because this is MY bird.  You can make YOUR bird however you like!

The Red Bird is attached to the wreath with one ginormous, super-sticky Pop-Up Glue dot, and the little hearts are stuck to the medium sized hearts with Tombo, the wonder-adhesive.  I stuck the green leafy bits to the Red Bird with Tombo before I put the glue dot on his backside.

I am very, very sorry to tell you that the XL Bird punch is currently back-ordered through Stampin’ Up!  Clearly this item was a big hit!  It’s currently set to ship the week of March 8 (I know!!).  You’ll just have to look at this one until then.

Just a little something

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I made these for “just because” to give to some friends.  They were quick and easy.

  • Real Red, Whisper White and Pretty in Pink card stock
  • Vintage Labels SAB set and Embrace Life stamp set
  • Scallop Circle, 1″ circle, Curley Label and Heart to Heart punches
  • Real Red Classic Ink Pad, Craft White ink pad
  • Tombo adhesive, Paper Snips, and a chapstick

You could whip out a classroom’s worth of these in no time.  They do make Spiderman chapstick, don’t they?

Valentine Bouquet

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I’m not a huge fan of punch art, but I do like 3-D projects.  These little flowers seem to be a cross-over project between the two:

Flowers from the Full Heart punch

Do you ever struggle with a concept that is perfectly shaped in your head but won’t take that shape underneath your hands?  No comments about the condition of my head, please!!   These flowers are cuter on their own than as a group.  I think I broke the Rule of Odds – odd numbers in an arrangement – and that may be why it doesn’t look quite right to me.  I don’t have any artistic training, so my problem-solving techniques amount to trial and error.

These were simple to make.

  1. Punch 6 hearts with the Full Heart punch.
  2. Use a sponge dauber to define the edges  of 5 hearts; stamp, emboss or texture each.  Score down the center and crease.
  3. Use the 6th heart as a base.  Attach 5 hearts in flower shape with Tombo Adhesive.
  4. Punch a 3/4″ circle of cardstock.  Layer the flower, the cardstock circle and a button and pierce through button holes with piercing tool.
  5. Set aside the button.  Use a needle and threat to tie the circle and button together with linen thread.
  6. Place the button on top of the flower and circle.  Use fine craft wire to attach the flower, circle and button to a bamboo skewer, twisting securely on the back.  Trim ends and bend in towards skewer to avoid sharp edges.

Back view of Heart Flower

It took me about 40 minutes to make 8 of these.  I’ll bet you could do them faster!