{capture the moment}

1-punny valentine (+ 1/2!)

I am going to try to post a project for each set before our release party begins tonight at our SCS Forum (More details about the party later today!).  First, I am going to show another project with our punny valentine set, and explain the "1/2" set that you have all been wondering about!

One of the images in this set is a plump little sheep, with his body, head, & legs all separate stamps.  The stamp for the body is a scalloped oval.  The reason I did this was so that you could easily stamp the body if you like OR you could use your Nestabilities/ scalloped punches, to substitute the body.  This characteristic really opens up many possibilities.

So, to begin, I die cut a scalloped oval from Groovy Guava cardstock.  Reserve the negative, because that is the part that we will utilize for this project.

I then applied thorough adhesive on the back of the scalloped negative.  I got a very small piece of polyester fiberfill stuffing (a form of stuffing that can be found in any craft store via their sewing section) and pulled it so the fibers were relatively flat.  I then adhered it to the back of the scalloped negative.  It doesn't need to stick as well as you may think to be able to stay in place.  The fibers are very much intertwined, so as long as you grab a few particles around the edge of the oval opening, you should be good!

I then flipped the negative over and pressed it onto white cardstock.  I highly recommend only layering the fiberfill on top of white, because it actually has a bluish gray tint to it, and if you layered it over a different color, you would lose that brightness.

Next is the addition of the head and legs.  I stamped them with Burnt Umber Palette ink and cut them out.  I then just adhered them into the appropriate places in order to turn this ordinary oval into a sheep!

I added a few more little touches and completed the card!  I highly recommend using brads in the four corners of the focal point to help hold it in place with all the fiberfill & everything.

The fiberfill adds such a nice detail.  Nice and fluffy and tactile.  Notice the tag?  It reads "Welcome Little One".  Well guess what?  It is part of our new half set!  We will be offering a small set of stamps (they come on a 3x4-inch sheet) that features sentiments that you can use in conjunction with the images in this punny valentine set, and make it a YEAR-ROUND set!   

The mini set has 12 sentiments which can be used to create over 13 combinations for the PERFECT punchlines to go with this set, in a non-Valentine way!  For example, the sentiment that is supposed to go with the sheep for Valentine's Day is "Wool you be mine." (courtesy of "stampintoo" via SCS; yet another winner of our punny valentine sentiment contest!)  Notice how well the image of the sheep transformed into an adorable focal point for a baby themed project, just because of the sentiment!   One of the things I am so excited about is the versatility the mini set will add to the punny valentines.  I know I always hesitate to buy seasonal sets, but with this add-on available for a mere $5, who can resist?!?!?!  The mini add-on set does NOT include a storage case, nor does it count towards your final tally for the free anniversary set.

I should have another post later on today!  Thanks for stopping by!   

3

If you are familiar with my blog, then you know that I am almost as passionate about cooking as I am stamping.  I really enjoy being able to delight two senses at the same time, both in the visual presentation of the food and of course the taste.

Today's project began with THIS super-easy recipe I found on the Pillsbury website.  I thought it was SO adorable, and I want to be able to make them for my children to give their teacher's & friends at school for Valentine's Day this year. I haven't decided what type of fruit I will use yet, but I know they'll be yummy!

I will be using disposable tin tartlet pans, rather than the custard cup used in the recipe, to save on expense.  I found these Nesting Heart Cookie Cutters that ought to be able to add the beautiful heart detail in the crust.  I think these cut-outs add the perfect finishing touch to the pie, similar to the way a brad can be a perfect compliment to a paper crafting project.  (See how similar these to hobbies are?!?!? *wink*)

I also found an incredible circular set that includes scalloped edged cutters.  They should be perfect for cutting out the dough for the upper crust.  (Once again, it's all in the details!)

After I had established all these details about what I was going to use to make the pies, it occurred to me that I needed an equally impressive way to package them!  I did some measuring and found that the pies would fit perfectly in our small gable boxes (the boxes measure 4 x 3 inches).

I decided to use some of the images from our new punny valentine set.  What could be more appropriate than "Sweetie Pie"?  (This sentiment is courtesy of "karenannj" of SCS, another winner of our punny valentine contest!)The pie image is 2-step, with the pie separate from the plate.  I curved the "Sweetie Pie" sentiment slightly to follow the curve of the top of the pie (one of the many benefits of clear stamps!).  The tiny "xoxo" image underneath the pie is from the yet-to-be-released scrolled set used in my Reese's project HERE.

I did something a little unique for the pie plate in the project.  I stamped the pie plate image with versamark onto a scrap of the patterned paper used for the background of the project. 

I then heat-embossed it with clear powder.  (It is a little hard to see in this photo).

I easily cut the plate out and adhered it under the pie on my label.  The glossiness of the embossing really adds a nice touch.  I think that these little projects will communicate so well how much we love the special people in our lives!  And in the end, isn't that what Valentine's Day is all about?!?!?

and today's Papertrey Puzzler....

DAY 3: How many tutorials have I featured on this blog? (Not counting the ones presented during this countdown; just the ones linked on the left.)

SUPPLIES:

INK- Creamy Caramel & Taken with Teal Classic Inks SU!, Versamark, Corduroy Distress Ink from Ranger

STAMPS- Papertrey Ink

PAPER- Memories Floral Stripe paper from Bon Jour Collection/ Tres Jolie by My Mind's Eye

OTHER- Oval Nestabilities, Seam Binding Ribbon from Martha Stewart Crafts, silver brads from Paper Studio, small gable box from Papertrey Ink

5

The countdown that you all have been waiting for is finally here!  Only 5 days until the latest stamp set debut at Papertrey Ink.  And I am so excited to kick-off this particular countdown!  I have SO many fun things in store for you!  Be sure to check in every day from now until the 15th for new projects!

Today's project begins with a little stamped patterned paper.  There is just something so satisfying for me about taking an ordinary sheet of cardstock and turning it into a multi-colored masterpiece of pattern with just a little ink and some stamps!  I am always doing polka dots, so I thought today I would go for a fun plaid!

I started by marking my cardstock with pencil in 1.75" increments.

I then took the small stitched square from Borders & Corners Square and turned it at an angle.  By lining up the top and bottom points of the square, one point touching another point, all the way down the pencil lines, I ended up with a beautiful plaid.  Super easy (and somewhat therapeutic too!)

I knew I wanted to add a little more detail, so I used the large triple solid border with rust ink to outline a few of the stitched squares.  I love the contrast it created!  I then erased all my pencil marks.

I created this paper to be used for a special box I designed, inspired by my friend Mish and her Criss-Cross Cards. It is a super easy box to make, and it requires only one sheet of cardstock.  This is what your 8.5x11 sheet will look like after you have completed your scoring and trimming. I have created a template for you to download so you can create your very own Criss-Cross Boxes!  Here is a template for my Criss-Cross Box! 

Download crisscross_box_template.pdf

To begin assembling, you adhere the small side tabs to the long side tabs.

Then you can flip the whole front portion back.

For your third step, you want to adhere the remaining sides to the first side tabs.

Finally, you just need to adhere your criss-cross tabs in place.  First the right.

And then the left. Viola!  An easy Criss-Cross Box!

The box needed a little something, so I decided to create a band for it.  Out came one of our upcoming new releases, a very un-traditional Valentine's Day set!  And what could be more unique than heart shaped acorns and the sentiment "Nuts for you", (courtesy of "askagain" of SCS, winner #1 for our Punny Valentine contest!  I will be announcing the rest throughout the week.  The winners each receive a PT gift certificate!)  I love, LOVE, love the font for this particular set.  It translates so well into a stamp and has such a nice crispness to it. 

I added a scalloped edge to the band and adhered it to my box.

Now that I had a box, I needed something to put inside of it.  What could be more appropriate than nuts?  I found that these clear bags were the perfect fit for this particular box.  I used the SU! tab punch as a fun closure for the bag, attaching it in place securely with a staple.

On the front of the bag I added a little tag featuring one of the stars of the show for our new set, a perfectly perfect, modernized squirrel.  Isn't he the cutest!  I just love the little guy!

Here are both elements side-by-side.  This would be such a cute project for the boys/men in your life for Valentine's Day!  It isn't too girly or frilly, making it the perfect match!  You could even include chocolate covered nuts for a sweeter approach!

Many of you probably remember the Papertrey Apprentice contest that we held during our last release party.  This time we are doing something a bit different. 

I'm calling it the Papertrey Puzzler!

Here is how it is going to work.  Each day there will be a question asked at the end of my posts.  Research on our website and/or my blog to find the appropriate answer.  All answers will be numerical.  The final question will be asked at our release party on 12/14 at our Splitcoaststampers Forum.  Once you have the answer for that night, you will have a total of FIVE answers/numbers.  There will be a blog post begun here, the night of the 14th, entitled "Papertrey Puzzler".  In the body of the post, I will provide an equation.  It will read something like this:

example only (Day 5) - (Day 3) + (Day 2) x (Day 1) - (Day 4)=____

The first person to upload a comment containing the correct answer to the equation WINS the complete collection of our January release stamp sets!  They will receive their prize within a day or two of the January 15th release, making them one of the very FIRST people to get them!  Here is today's question:

DAY 5: How many dies are there TOTAL in Papertrey's Nestabilities Complete Collection?

Supplies for today's project:

INK- Cognac & Burnt Umber Palette Ink Pads, Brushed Corduroy Distress Ink from Ranger

CARDSTOCK- Prism

STAMPS- Papertrey Ink

OTHER- gingham ribbon from American Crafts, scalloped scissors from Paper Studio (Hobby Lobby), tab punch from SU!, clear bag from clearbags.com