Well, it's been a little colder here in the UK today and we've had a fair amount of rain, which has kept us largely indoors for most of the day, but we made the most of it with some early morning baking (chocolate chip muffins - yum!), an indoor picnic and a pleasant few hours catching up with friends so all in all not a bad Tuesday.

Today I thought I would share another 3D project with you - a cute little owl gift box made using the Fry Box Bigz L Die that we made at our last team training session. Check out this cute little fella:

As 'The Crafty Owl', I was always going to like this cheeky chap, but the die itself has so many dress-up possibilities! The owl was so easy to make: the front of the box was covered with a piece of All Abloom DSP, then some black and white circles punched with the 1/2" and 1" circle punches, black eyelashes using the largest flower from the Boho Blossoms punch, ears from the Bird Builder punch and a Pumpkin Pie triangle nose from the Petite Pennants Builder punch then some Sahara Sand Scallop Ovals for wings. Some 1/4" red cotton ribbon was used to create a little plume of feathers and to tie a bow to adorn the 'For You' stamped greeting from the Chalk Talk stamp set, which was finally finished with a punched flower. Some filling was cut from yellow cardstock using the fringe scissors to support the box contents.

These fry boxes are the perfect size for a little gift or a few chocolates - look out for lots more variations on this in future posts.

Back tomorrow with the new weekly deals and my Design Team card for this week's challenge over at Colour Me...!

Until then, happy stampin'!

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

Daffodil Delight A4 Card Stock	Fry Box Bigz L Die	Bird Punch	Petite Pennants Builder Punch	1 Inch Circle Punch
1/2 Inch Circle Punch	Boho Blossoms Punch	All Abloom Designer Series Paper Stack	Chalk Talk	Itty Bitty Accents Punch Pack
Real Red 1/4" Cotton Ribbon	Sahara Sand A4 Card Stock	Whisper White A4 Card Stock	Basic Black A4 Card Stock	Pumpkin Pie A4 Card Stock
Real Red Classic Stampin' Pad	Scallop Oval Punch

It's time for this week's challenge over at The Paper Players and Sandy has a theme challenge for us this week that's all about buttons:

You can use any kind of buttons - real, embossed, paper - so for my card I decided to take Sandy's theme quite literally and create a 'Cute as a button' card suitable for a baby girl and featuring a clay button made with Simply Pressed Clay in one of Stampin' Up!'s silicone moulds - here is my card:

I used a Pink Pirouette card base and matted my Whisper White panel with a piece of Strawberry Slush DSP from the In-Colour stack in the chevron design, although with just enough showing so that it looks like a simple diagonal to echo the lines of the text. On my white panel, I stamped 'cute as a <3' using the new Epic Alphabet set. This set is photopolymer, which makes aligning the letters accurately so easy - with no stamp-a-ma-jig required! I moulded my clay button in the Simply Pressed Clay Mould and allowed it to dry before colouring it with my Pink Pirouette Stampin' Write marker - you can colour your clay before you mould it with reinker or afterwards with ink/markers, it's really up to you. The colour differs slightly depending on the method; personally I like to mould my buttons and embellishments in uncoloured clay a few at a time, then keep the dried pieces in a box to be coloured as required depending on the project. Here's a close up of my button:

To finish, I pierced two holes in the button with my paper piercer and threaded some Strawberry Slush baker's twine through the holes and tied in a bow and added a scattering of In-Colour heart sequins.

I really love how my card turned out - but I couldn't stop there! I thought it would be fun to create a button gift box to go with it, using my Big Shot and Circles Framelits - here it is:

 I used Strawberry Slush cardstock and the second largest of the circle framelits for my box, which measure 9.3cm in diameter and 7cm tall. I lined my box with Pink Pirouette cardstock for rigidity and to allow for an edge-to-edge closure. This box is just big enough to fit in a cute onesie, some bibs or a pair of booties - here's a photo of the inside:

Lastly, I threaded some retired Pink Pirouette ribbon through the button holes and tied in a bow. So there you go - two cute as a button projects, I hope you'll agree! Do pop over to The Paper Players and see what the other talented designers have for you today and I very much hope you'll join us in creating something for this week's challenge.

Back tomorrow with another project; until then, happy stampin'! 

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

Epic Alphabet Photopolymer Stamp Set	Strawberry Slush Classic Stampin' Pad	Strawberry Slush Thick Baker's Twine	Pink Pirouette A4 Card Stock	2013-2015 In Color Designer Series Paper Stack
Simply Pressed Clay	Buttons & Blossoms Simply Pressed Clay Molds	2013-2015 In Color Stampin' Write Markers	2013-2015 In Color Sequin Assortment	Whisper White A4 Card Stock
Card Stock A4 Strawberry Slush	Circles Collection Framelits Dies	Big Shot Die-Cut Machine

Apologies for my blog absence yesterday - I spent most of the day icing biscuits for teacher thank you gifts as today is the last day of the academic year for my James Juniors. I promise my self I'll start earlier every year, but what always seems to happen is I squeeze in a few more commissions and then also a few extra names get surrepticiously added to the list of thank yous by the children which means even more baking and icing!

I've shared my teachers gifts on my blog previously - you can check them out here if you would like to be reminded - so today I thought I would share a matching card and gift box commission that I made for someone else to give to their teacher. So here is my card:

For my card I used the retired Gingham Garden DSP (this was requested - lucky I still have a pack!) however most of the other product is current and you could easily create this set in an alternative paper without the teacher tag as a thank you gift for someone special. The star of the show is definitely the 'Million and One' sentiment stamp - perfect to show your appreciation of someone special.

Here is the matching gift box - I love these kraft boxes, they are so useful and very sturdy, and at £2.75 for 4 represent great value. I'm doubly pleased that the Extra-Large Gift Boxes have returned and made it into the annual catalogue as a stock item - these are great for larger gifts. 

Right, I've a few more jobs to do before I go and pack a picnic - we're off to see an outdoor theatre production of Peter Pan and The Lost Boys this evening. I've seen this theatre company perform the Railway Children previously, so I'm expecting great things - I'll report back tomorrow! Until then, happy stampin'!

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

Million & One	Decorative Label Punch	Kraft Gift Box (4)	Scalloped Tag Topper Punch	Stippled Blossoms Clear-Mount Stamp Set
Daffodil Delight A4 Card Stock	Melon Mambo Classic Stampin' Pad	Melon Mambo A4 Card Stock	Pear Pizzazz Classic Stampin' Pad	Night Of Navy Classic Stampin' Pad
Night Of Navy A4 Card Stock	Melon Mambo 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon	Crushed Curry 3/4" Chevron Ribbon	Whisper White A4 Card Stock

The wait is over - the new 2014-15 Stampin' Up! catalogue is finally here!

Click on the link below to access and download your own pdf copy of the catalogue - there will be a permanent link to the online catalogue as always in the bar on the right-hand side of the screen:

There are so many great new products - your wish list will be a long one! As always, if you're placing an online order don't forget to add the hostess code found in the 'shop online' box on the right hand side. For today only, if you place an order using the hostess code SM3CS22V you'll get a little something extra from me! Make sure you check the box that enables me to keep in touch with you - lots of customers that place orders with me online select 'no contact' as the default option and what many people don't realise is that this means I can't even contact you to update you with progress on shipment of your order or check that everything is ok - all of which are an important part of me providing you with good customer service. Besides, I like to be able to send out thank you cards too and little gifts from time to time - you wouldn't want to miss out on that would you?!

Right, I'm off to get my order in - come back tomorrow for more news and a special card that I've created using lots of new products. until then, happy stampin!

Today marks the 70th anniversary of the Normandy Landings in World War Two, with the start of the invasion on the 6th June known as D-Day. There are commemorations taking place both at home and abroad today to remember those Allied personnel who lost their lives on this day and to recognise the bravery, commitment and sacrifices of those service personnel who fought during the war to free Europe from Nazi occupation.

So it seemed a fitting day to share with you a recent commission. I was asked to create some cards and gift boxes as thank you gifts for some teachers who had led a school trip to the World War Two battlefields recently. A red poppy, the traditional form of remembrance, is the star of this card:

I chose a simple Real Red background and created a layered border using Modern Medley DSP. I stamped the poppy from the 'Simply Sketched' hostess set in Black stazon onto Very Vanilla, then coloured using Real Red ink and my aquapainter, with a touch of Garden Green for the stem. I added the sentiment directly to the card base, and honestly didn't feel this card needed anything else. I also made a co-ordinating gift box using one of the kraft gift boxes available in the annual catalogue:

I covered in co-ordinating paper and made a tag with the same sentiment and poppy image on Very Vanilla and punched with my Scalloped Tag Topper punch, finishing with a 3/4" Chevron ribbon bow.

A lovely set to show appreciation and appropriate to share it on a day when we should all take time to remember the courage, bravery and sacrifice of our armed forces, of yesterday and today, who give of themselves in order that we may live relatively safe and secure lives. I for one, am thankful for that.

Back tomorrow with another project; until then, hapy stampin'!

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

Simply Sketched	Kraft Gift Box (4)	Modern Medley Designer Series Paper	Stamp-A-Ma-Jig	Jet Black Stazon Pad
Scalloped Tag Topper Punch	Very Vanilla A4 Card Stock	Basic Black A4 Card Stock	Real Red A4 Card Stock	Aqua Painter
Real Red Classic Stampin' Pad	Garden Green Classic Stampin' Pad	Basic Black 3/4" Chevron Ribbon	Real Red 1/8 Inch Taffeta Ribbon

Hello everyone - my second video in a week! I'm cheating slightly, as I actually shot this video weeks ago but haven't got around to editing it until now. I made a lovely concertina fold Mother's Day card a while ago using the Scalloped Tag Topper Punch - you can see my original card here - which was based on a similar card made by Julie Kettlewell (you can see Julie's original card here). Having just gone to update my original post with the link to today's video, I realise I didn't mention her in my original post, which was very remiss of me and a complete oversight on my part, as I even mentioned her in today's video. Needless to say, I have now updated the original post!

I love this concertina fold card style - it's great if you need a card that's just a little different. I made another card based on my original one, this time adapting it to a birthday card for a friend of mine who always puts so much thought into cards for others, I thought she deserved something special for her birthday too; here's my latest scalloped tag topper punch concertina fold card:

The dimensions are exactly the same as my original card - there is still enough space to stamp 'happy' on one panel, with 'birthday' spelled out on the subsequent panels leaving the last panel blank for your message (I also stamped a little 'to you!' on this panel, just to complete my message). I also decorated one of the Stampin' Up! Kraft gift boxes with some co-ordinating Gingham Garden DSP to make some pretty packaging for my accompanying gift - finished with a tag made with the Scalloped Tag Topper Punch - well, what else?! Here's a picture of both pieces together:

So, if you would like to make a Scalloped Tag Topper Concertina Fold Card - either for the forthcoming international Mother's Day or a birthday card, here's my video tutorial showing you everything you need to know:

If you would like to purchase any of the Stampin' Up! supplies featured in today's project, just contact me or click on the links in the table below to go straight to my online store.

Back tomorrow with another project; until then, happy stampin'!

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

Scalloped Tag Topper Punch	Gingham Garden Designer Series Paper	Petite Petals Clear-Mount Bundle	Typeset Alphabet Bigz Die	Stippled Blossoms Clear-Mount Stamp Set
Whisper White A4 Card Stock	Basic Rhinestones Jewel Accents	Big Shot Die-Cut Machine	Melon Mambo Classic Stampin' Pad	Melon Mambo A4 Card Stock
Daffodil Delight A4 Card Stock	Island Indigo A4 Card Stock	Night Of Navy A4 Card Stock	Punch Pack	Beautiful Wings Stampin' Up! Embosslits Die
Fabulous Phrases - Clear-Mount Stamp	Simply Celebrate

Evening everyone! I promised you a special project today and here it is! Several months ago Stampin' Up! asked me if I would create an Easter box for a magazine commission and that magazine hits the shelves of the newsagents today! The box I created for Stampin' Up! is featured in the April 2014 issue of Prima Baby and Parenting and is part of an extended feature on Easter Family Fun - great things to make and do with your family this Easter. There are cute cakes and biscuits to bake and this fabulous Easter egg box to make:

 Here's another shot from a different angle showing a close up of the tag, stamped with the egg from the 'Eggstra Spectacular' stamp set:

Lastly the trio of boxes that the magazine used for the title page of the two-page spread:

Here is my photograph of the title page in the magazine itself - the facing page contains a step-by-step 'how to' tutorial showing how to make it:

The sides of the body of the finished box measures 2" x 2 1/2" which is perfect for a small Easter egg (I used the ones you can buy in packs for Easter egg hunts) but this box could be used for anything small and attractive where you want to give a glimpse of the contents.  If you would like a copy of the tutorial you can see it in this month's Prima Baby magazine - if you live in Northampton, you'd better get to the shops quick though before I buy all the copies :-) I also made a short video tutorial showing you how I made this box - click the link below to watch it:

 That's all from me today; back tomorrow with another project; happy stampin'!

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

Simply Scored	Scalloped Tag Topper Punch	Extra-Large Oval Punch	Eggstra Spectacular	Daffodil Delight A4 Card Stock
Card Stock A4 Pear Pizzazz	Melon Mambo A4 Card Stock	Pear Pizzazz Stampin' Write Marker	Brights Stampin' Write Markers	Whisper White A4 Card Stock
Crushed Curry 3/4" Chevron Ribbon	Pear Pizzazz 3/4" Chevron Ribbon	Melon Mambo 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon	Gingham Garden Designer Washi Tape	Gold Baker's Twine
Candy Dots Brad Bases	Brights Candy Dots	Subtles Candy Dots	Medium Window Sheets	Sticky Strip
Paper Snips

Firstly, thank you to everyone who has left comments on my blog, Facebook page, youTube channel or emailed me in person with comments and praise for my new Box Buster tool - I am genuinely touched that you have gone out of your way to share with me what a great tool you think this is and I'm delighted to be able to share it with you. Today I'm back with another video tutorial showing you a different box that you can make using your Envelope Punch Board - an open topped Easter bunny treat box - made using paper from the lovely Fresh Prints Designer Series Paper stack:

Sometimes you want to be able to see the contents of your box and today's box is just perfect for that. It also means that when you're making your box out of such lovely double-sided designer paper, you get a lovely glimpse of the reverse side too:

I love the Fresh Prints DSP stack - these paper stacks are great for small boxes and perfect if you're a card maker; I always get through several of these each season! Today's boxes were made to fit the Malteser Easter bunnies that are currently on sale in store right now, but as always with the aid of my Box Buster tool you could adapt the same style box to fit any size contents, just by measuring them; Box Buster from The Crafty Owl will do all the hard work for you and tell you what size paper you need and where you should make your punch marks. So, without further ado, here's what you've all been waiting for - the link to today's video:

)

I hope you found the tutorial useful - there's lots more still to come! Don't forget - you can access the Box Buster tool via the button on the right hand side of my blog home page or simply by clicking here.

Back tomorrow with another project; until then, happy box making!

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

Envelope Punch Board	Stamp-A-Ma-Jig	Fresh Prints Designer Series Paper Stack	Real Red 1/8 Inch Taffeta Ribbon	Eggstra Spectacular
Label Love	Artisan Label Punch	Whisper White A4 Card Stock	Real Red Classic Stampin' Pad	Real Red Stampin' Write Marker

Hello everyone! From the home of 'cool time-saving tools' (if you're reading this and you're an SU! demonstrator you should also check out my Product Table Builder application) today I have the third of this week's video tutorials showing you how to make a super cute Easter mini-egg treat box using your Envelope Punch Board and my new Box Buster tool. You can use your Envelope Punch Board to make boxes of all shapes and sizes - including some rather dinky small ones. Check out this box that I made to hold 5 foil-wrapped mini eggs ready for Easter:

It measures just 20mm x 20mm x 85mm and it was so easy to work out the paper dimensions and punch points with the help of the Box Buster tool. Here's the video that shows you how I did it, along with a 'top tip' when creating narrow boxes like this:

This size box would also make a great wedding favour - it's the perfect size for sugared almonds if you're looking for something traditional. I hope you found today's video useful; why not use the Box Buster tool to create your own small or narrow boxes? You can use either millimetres or inches (to 1/8 of an inch) and create the box size of your choice?

Back tomorrow with another project; until then, happy stampin'!

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

Envelope Punch Board	Eggstra Spectacular	Whisper White A4 Card Stock	Brights Designer Series Paper Stack	Brights Stampin' Write Markers
Melon Mambo 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon	Sticky Strip

Good morning blog readers and crafters! Back nice and early this morning with the second of my video tutorial posts showing you how to make any size box using your Envelope Punch Board and my new Box Buster tool. I've started early on my Easter treat boxes, so today's box shows you how to make this cute box:

The finished dimensions of today's box are 100mm x 75mm x 15mm. It was designed to fit a specific Easter treat - but you'll have to watch the video below to find out what it was! My new Box Buster from The Crafty Owl tool is just great for that - you can easily create a box to fit your chosen contents, without any hassle or wasted paper - you just measure the thing you want to put in the box, input the dimensions into the Box Buster tool and it does all the hard work for you: it will tell you exactly what size paper you need and where to make your first and second punch markings.

Today's project was worked out in millimetres, but the Box Buster tool will let you construct your box in either millimetres or inches - you choose! Here's the link to today's video tutorial:

Wasn't that SOOO easy?! Keep following this week as there are more box tutorials to come, showcasing a variety of box types with handy hints and tips for making the most of your Envelope Punch Board and my new Box Buster tool.

Back soon with another project; until then, happy stampin' (and box making!)

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used: