Four Ways Friday #37 - Bliss (Sale-a-Bration Set)

This week's Four Ways Friday focuses on using the Bliss stamp set in the Sale-a-bration catalog!

I was reading the Winter 2009 issue of Sew Somerset magazine and came across a traveling journal project by Sue Bleiweiss.  I had some scrap computer paper that had been piling up (you know when you get the date and page number printed on the bottom but nothing else and you just can't bare to throw the page out?).  I decided the project would be a wonderful way to combine Stampin' Up! products and recycle at the same time!  The book cover is a 6 1/2" x 9 1/2" piece of Going Gray card stock.  I sewed the edges and then layered, stamped, embossed and sewed on top of that.  Don't you just love the look of the First Edition designer paper?  Here is a peek at the inside...

You can see that I stamped the butterfly image over the random printing left on the scrap paper.  Each booklet has 24 pages (12 pieces of paper folded in half).  Of course, I couldn't stop at just one book, so I used the Bliss stamp set to make another!

 

For this booklet I used Confetti card stock as the base and built from there.  I used Cherry Cobbler and Soft Suede as the main colors.  I have really been enjoying combining sewing with stamping and embossing.  If you don't sew, don't worry, you can do some faux stitching instead!  Here is a peek at the inside of this booklet...

 

Don't worry :)  I decided to do a few cards with the Bliss stamp set as well.  For this card I stamped the flourish image over and over in Soft Suede at full and half strength onto a strip of Whisper White card stock.

I then sewed a piece of Very Vanilla seam binding ribbon to the strip.  I stamped the butterfly three times in Regal Rose onto Whisper White card stock and cut them out (yes, that's a little time consuming, but well worth the effort!).  I then sewed the butterflies onto the strip and then adhered the strip to the Sahara Sand card stock base using dimensionals.  You may notice the stamped stitches in the background...I used the stitches jumbo wheel with River Rock to make the background stamping.

For the last card I decided to bring out the Pink Pirouette and Going Gray (and a bit of Old Olive).  I stamped the flourish image a couple of times using the stamp-a-ma-jig.  I then sewed on a small piece of pink satin ribbon.  The punched circle was sewn on and then I layered a stamped decorative label punch, a hodgepodge hardware piece with the "bliss" sentiment, and a cut out butterfly.  The final touch was to sponge the edges and use the spritzer tool with Going Gray ink.

I hope you've enjoyed this week's Four Ways Friday!  I hope you have an amazingly creative weekend!  See you next week! :)

Polymer Clay Chocolates

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Spoil Yourself Today!

When was the last time you spoiled yourself?  If you were to spoil yourself, what would you do?  Is there a way for you to do it...or do it in a way that makes sense for you financially?  Sometimes it is easy to wait around...just waiting for someone else to spoil you - to buy you the flowers, take you to that romantic restaurant, buy you a certificate for a pedicure that you are longing to get.  Why are you waiting?  It might just be the perfect time for you to spoil yourself!  When was the last time you bought yourself flowers - to say thank you for being so wonderful?  When was the last time you treated yourself to a movie or special dinner or a pedicure?  Stop waiting!  Today is your day to spoil yourself!!!! :)
I made a little stash of polymer clay chocolates to use on cards and paper crafts.  Here I decided they fit perfectly with the greeting from Bring On The Cake.  I clear embossed the Happy Birthday by inking up the stamp, first with Versamark and then inking the stamp in Rich Razzleberry before stamping onto the card stock.  Once stamped, I applied the clear embossing powder and heating things up with the heat tool.  The Early Espresso card stock was run through the Big Shot with the Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder.  I hope you like it!  Now go spoil yourself!!!!!!

Lovely Letters Monogram Notecards

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  It's Always A Good Time To Reconnect With Old Friends

We went to a surprise party for a friend the other night.  When we arrived at the party we were struck by how much the kids had grown!  We began to wonder how long it had been since we had all seen one another and we realized that a number of YEARS had actually passed!  Where does the time go?  What we also realized is that reconnecting with good friends has that special feeling...you know...when it feels like it was just yesterday when you last saw one another.  There is no pretense - no excuses or apologies needed.  Every time is the right time to reconnect - that is what it means to be friends.
As a gift for the party girl I made a set of monogram notes.  I started with Sahara Sand card stock and rolled the Stitches jumbo wheel in River Rock ink across the front.  I punched Pink Pirouette card stock with the decorative label punch and sewed it onto the card front with the sewing machine.  I stamped the "R" in Bravo Burgundy, punched it out with the 1 1/4" circle punch and then distressed and sponged the edges with Soft Suede ink.  I cut and unraveled a piece of ribbon, sewed it onto the punched "R" and then attached it to the card using dimensionals.  A pearl jewel adds a final touch.
Here is a photo of how I wrapped the gift.  I just loved using the number stamp from Bring On The Cake for the tag!

Die Cut Decorations

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Anchors Away!
A friend told me a story once.  As a young man he had a number of collections.  As he got older he began to look at the collections on his shelves and he started to see the items in the collections as tiny anchors - somehow, each piece, was weighing him down.  So he decided to sell all of the collections - to get rid of all those heavy anchors.  I think about this story as I look around my home - particularly in my office and craft room.  My anchors are a different type of collection - mostly business papers, receipts, more papers and a craft room that "runneth over" with anything that might one day be utilized in a project.  I wonder what would happen if I released some of these anchors - if I let them go.  I wonder how that would move me...What anchors are weighing you down?
I wanted to share with you the final decorations for my niece's party.  These "wands" will go into vases with a few other wands.  Creating these decorations was made much easier with the Big Shot, a few punches, and a little ink and stamping.  Here is the second version - using a bit of embossing with the Big Shot.  I hope you like them :)

Sweet Treat Cups Flowers

Today's Lesson From The Craft Room:  Four Hands Are Better Than Two!

My friend Elizabeth came over this past weekend for 2 hours and it was amazing what we accomplished in the course of those 2 hours!  Four hands are definitely better than two!  We had a few goals.  First, we needed to finish the decorations for my nieces' party (I only had a few left, but it was great having some help) and second, we needed to work on some Valentine treats for one of Elizabeth's children.  We accomplished both goals, plus a bit of much-needed straightening in the craft room - YEAH!!!!
Elizabeth arrived with a picture of this idea - I am not sure what site or blog she got the idea from (if you know who made up this adorable idea, please let me know - I'd love to give them credit).  She came armed with these large P\popsicle sticks that worked perfectly!  We used the Clear Flower die in the Big Shot to cut the designer paper (retired) and the card stock.  We then embossed the Regal Rose card stock using the Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder.  We used glue to adhere the flowers together and to adhere the sticks to the back of the flowers.  The sweet treat cups were adhered to the center of the flowers and we added at touch of ribbon and stamped the sticks.  I can see making these for all kinds of occasions!  Here is a close up!  Happy Valentine's Day!!!!!

Enjoying The Sunshine!

It has finally warmed up here in Denver and I just had to share how the family is enjoying the warmer temps and sunshine :)