Papercrafting: Using die cuts

I love to make projects using the bits and pieces left over on my stamping table. This greeting is from an older Paper Pumpkin kit, and the flowers are from Eclectic Layers Thinlits. I set the main oval on the card, then used Tombo Green Glue to adhere the flowers and leaves down onto the cardfront.  Don't all cards need a little doodling??

I'm having fun using up some of my older "favorite things!"

Use what you have: Black & White Birthday

You can't go wrong with black and white! Stamp greeting, then cut a circle out of a sticky note to use as a mask. Stamp line images around mask. Add layer to card base. Simple yet striking.

Use what you have!

Welcome back!

It's 2018 and time to evaluate and set some goals!

I've been pondering how being healthier and having more energy has translated to less time crafting and online, and more time exercising and *doing*.

Paper crafting became my hobby about 14 years ago, when what has now been diagnosed as mold exposure took a serious toll on my health. Before that, I spent a lot of time gardening, working out, and chasing my kids to their activities.

As my health has dramatically improved with cell signaling supplementation, I am returning to some of my old good habits! This year, I hope to "clean up" some of the leftover mess in my life from nearly 15 years of illness.

My craft/sewing/storage room needs a major clean out, and it's hard to get started! So many good memories are tied up in all those supplies, and I'm having trouble deciding what to keep (and how to store it) and what to pass on to someone else.

I've always loved to walk, and that's been my favorite exercise again this last year. I was up to an hour a day before the super cold weather set in. It's just not that fun to walk in frigid temperatures! Yesterday I came home with a cramp in my hamstring that I'm convinced came just from the muscle getting too cold. But I'll be back out again today!

My blog plans are still a little fuzzy. I definitely want to keep posting about nutrition and healthy living. I also want to post what I make and what I learn as I go through my re-organization process. You'll notice that while I am still using Stampin Up products, I'm not really selling them anymore. I am still a demonstrator, but having not held any events for more than a year, it's time to let that go.

So I will be posting at least once a week, I'm just not sure what that post will look like! Thanks for hanging out with me as I find yet another "new song" to sing in 2018.

Subscribe by October 10--Season of Style kits!

To help you out with your holiday papercrafting, Stampin Up is offering two coordinating Paper Pumpkin kits in October and December! Sign up by Tuesday, October 10 to get the October kit! Go to goo.gl/nynVwn to sign up, or buy a prepaid subscription in my online store: goo.gl/Hya9Wd

You'll get a self-contained kit each month, which you can use according to the instructions or go out on your own and create your own stylish holiday tags, cards, and small gifts!

Pick a Pumpkin!

Pumpkins are one of my favorite parts of fall, and the Pick a Pumpkin set and coordinating Patterned Pumpkins Thinlits are perfect! I love that you can use them for fall AND for other projects.

Check them out for all your holiday projects!

Kitties at Play

A few more ideas for using the Cat Punch without the matching stamp set!

The card on the left features Texture Paste and Copper Embossing Powder, along with some Delightful Daisy Designer Series Paper. I punched a mask of the kitty out of scrap cardstock, and then just scraped some Texture Paste through it. Easy peasy!

The card on the right features the new Layered Leaves Dynamic embossing folder, as well as some Crushed Curry Baker's Twine and a watercolored gray kitty.

I'm a big fan of using the products you already have as well as the new things you love. The Cat Punch is something that will get a LOT of use from me in the coming years.

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Product List

Thoughts & Prayers Clear-mount Stamp Set [127805] $19.00	Daisy Delight Photopolymer Stamp Set [143669] $17.00	Delightful Daisy Designer Series Paper [144137] $11.00	Basic Black 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [121045] $8.00
Whisper White 8-1/2" X 11" Thick Cardstock [140272] $7.00	Vellum 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [101856] $8.00	Smoky Slate 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [131202] $8.00	Smoky Slate Classic Stampin' Ink Refill [131159] $3.25
Crushed Curry Classic Stampin' Pad [131173] $6.50	Versamark Pad [102283] $8.50	Cat Punch [144666] $18.00	Embossing Paste [141979] $8.00
Copper Stampin' Emboss Powder [141636] $5.00	Clear Stampin' Emboss Powder [109130] $5.00	Layered Leaves Dynamic Textured Impressions Embossing Folder [143704] $9.00	Crushed Curry Solid Baker’S Twine [144354] $3.00

Swap Feature: Magical Mermaid

This fabulous card was made by Cathy Williams in a recent swap I participated in. Can you tell that tail is made on Copper Foil?? Amazing!

Product List

Magical Mermaid Clear-Mount Stamp Set [144017] $20.00	Magical Mermaid Wood-Mount Stamp Set [144014] $28.00	Copper Foil Sheets [142020] $4.00	Marbled Clear-Mount Stamp Set [144772] $15.00
Marbled Wood-Mount Stamp Set [143755] $20.00	Layering Circle Framelits Dies [141705] $35.00	Stitched Shapes Framelits Dies [145372] $30.00

Kitties in the Sunlight

I bought the Cat Punch, but not the coordinating stamp set, because it wasn't my style. So now I'm determined to find ways to use it! It has been easier than I expected. So many fun things to do with this kitty!

Both these cards use watercoloring and the Eclectic Layers window die. I don't know if it's really a window, but that's what I'm calling it! For the card on the left, I made a template from cardstock and watercolored the "diamonds" through it. It wasn't exact, but then, sunrises rarely are! The only stamp set I used was for the sentiment, Daisy Delight.

For the card on the left, I watercolored again, using the same colors: Flirty Flamingo, Calypso Coral, and Crushed Curry. Then I placed the "window" over top and did some outlining in white gel pen. There are also some Curry stripes on my kitty!

These were really simple cards to make. Give watercoloring a sunrise or sunset a try! You can't do it "wrong," so that takes all the pressure off.


Product List

Daisy Delight Photopolymer Stamp Set [143669] $17.00	Whisper White 8-1/2" X 11" Thick Cardstock [140272] $7.00	Soft Suede 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [115318] $8.00	Watercolor Paper [122959] $5.00
Wood Textures Designer Series Paper Stack [144177] $10.00	Crushed Curry Classic Stampin' Ink Refill [131158] $3.25	Calypso Coral Classic Stampin' Ink Refill [122934] $3.25	Flirty Flamingo Classic Stampin' Ink Refill [141402] $3.25
Soft Suede Classic Stampin' Pad [126978] $6.50	Journaling Pens [145480] $5.00	Cat Punch [144666] $18.00	Eclectic Layers Thinlits Dies [143774] $30.00