{capture the moment}

Introducing Clear Frames!

Let me introduce you to my new favorite find, clear frames.  They are small, clear acrylic frames that are self adhesive.  They measure 3.25 inches square, with an opening of 1.75-inches.  The acrylic that these frames are made out of is a sturdy 1/16th-inch thick, making them perfect solutions for gift & home decor projects that will hold up to wear and tear.  We will be carrying them as of tonight, retailing for $2 each!  I have been playing with them ALL day today, and I have come up with so many uses!  I will share just a few to start the evening off.

Before we get to the projects, let me show you the product.  We currently have three  styles of these frames...

Plain

Polka Dot

and Harlequin.

The first thing I decided to create was a Christmas ornament.  I just love finding ways to personalize my tree.  They could also be used as small gifts family, friends or teachers!  All you need is a 3.25-inch square of designer paper (I am using a scrap leftover from my Snowman Soup Tin), a photo cropped down to 1.75 inches and a piece of ribbon.

Just peel the backing from the frame to expose the adhesive and lay it over your photo. 

Next, attach your background paper. 

Cut a slit right at the top of the photo and insert your ribbon.  Create a loop and then use an additional piece of ribbon to create a bow.  There are so many ways that you could personalize these ornaments to suit your decor!  You could add charms that represent the person's interests even!

Next, I thought these would make the most incredible place cards for Thanksgiving! I used some Basic Grey paper (Brocade from Urban Couture Collection), the name of the guest (printed from the computer) and some Velvet Blossoms (Air Collection).   Instead of attaching the name first (like I did with the photo in the ornament project) I just attached the paper.  The name is punched out with a 1-3/8 inch square punch and then adhered on top of the paper in the frame opening.   

To create a stand for the placecard, I just punched out a Giga Scalloped rectangle from sturdy cardstock and scored it two scallops from the edge.  I applied some double stick tape to the tab that was created.

I then stuck the stand to the back of the frame.  If your stand keeps flattening out, you can adhere a piece of ribbon from the inside of the stand to the back of the frame that will prevent it from sliding open.

And here is the finished product!  I am going to take snapshots once we get everyone seated on Thanksgiving Day and when everyone is preparing to leave, I will make small copies of the prints and insert them in the frames (adhered on top of the name squares) as a little keepsake for them to take home.

I have a few more projects up my sleeve, so be sure to check in later!

1 (Snowflake Serenade)

I decided to bring out the snowflake set one more time to show you a really quick & easy gift idea that you can create in a matter of minutes.

First, cut a strip of blue cardstock 1-1/2 inches wide.  Stamp "Joy" down the length of it in varying heights using brocade blue ink.

Add snowflakes (stamped in Versamark) and heat emboss in white.  I used Vanilla Cream from Cornish Heritage Farms.  I love the way they package their embossing powders.

One side of the top has a shaker that makes it so easy to regulate how much powder you put onto your project.

The other side of the top has wide open mouth that makes it easy to dump the leftover powder back inside.  Richard & Liz are so clever!

After I finished creating my strip of decorative paper, I adhered it to one of our 8 oz. Round Clear Top Tins.  I used Terrifically Tacky Tape from Provo Craft.  I decide to make this into a "snowman Soup" gift tin.  These tins are plenty big enough to hold hot chocolate, mini marshmallows and a small peppermint stick.

I decided to integrate the poem into my project by creating a label for the lid.  I designed one on my computer and have made it available to all of YOU as a free pdf. download. The labels are sized to fit within a Marvy Mega Scalloped Circle Punch.  The sheet I have provided for you has four sets of labels, to make it easier for you to mass produce if necessary.  I suggest printing the images out onto white cardstock.

Download snowman_soup_free_download.pdf

After I punched out the labels, I stamped one of the smaller snowflakes in the center as a finishing touch.

I adhered the "Snowman Soup" label to the top of the lid.

I then flipped the lid over and adhered the poem label to the inside, being sure to line up the scallops.

Put the lid back on your tin, and you have an inexpensive & quick gift, ready to go!  You could stick it in a basket with a couple mugs and a beautiful card (made with the Snowflake Serenade set so it will coordinate, of course!). 

I still have even MORE projects to share with you, so be sure to stop back by this afternoon!

SUPPLIES:

INK- Brocade Blue Classic from SU!, Versamark

STAMPS- Papertrey Ink

CARDSTOCK- Prism

OTHER- Ribbon from May Arts, Tin from Papertrey Ink, Giga Scalloped Circle Punch from Marvy, hot chocolate, mini marshmallows, peppermint stick, Terrifically Tacky Tape from Provo Craft

 

2 (Snowflake Serenade)

Here is another sample created with the Snowflake serenade set that will be debuted Sunday night (midnight EST) at Papertrey Ink.  I am SO excited to see what all of you do with this set!

Today I felt like pulling out an old technique that I haven't done in YEARS!  Faux silk.  While scrolling through my email a few days ago, a customer remarked how she reused EVERYTHING that came in her packages from us, including the tissue paper that wraps each individual item.  What better way to recycle then to use the leftovers to make a card?!?!?

To do this technique, you need a stamped focal point on cardstock and tissue paper.  For my focal point I combined a few of the snowflakes from our new set along with a little distress ink around the edge.

Next, crumple the tissue into a tight ball (th the more crumpling, the better!)

Uncrumple the tissue, and flatten it just slightly.

For adhesive for this technique, I normally use a good ol' fashioned glue stick.  But I did not have one handy, so I used Modge Podge instead.  You want to apply your adhesive directly on top of your stamped focal point.

Then lay the tissue on top of your focal point.

Use the palm of your hand or a brayer to flatten the tissue.  The wonderful wrinkles that remain add so much character. 

To finish, flip the focal point over and apply your regular paper adhesive around the edges.  Miter the corners of the tissue and gold the edges over to the back of the focal point.  Burnish to adhere tightly.

I tied some ribbon to the edge and then added it to complete my card! 

It has a special closure on it that I created with a strip of cardstock and Basic Grey Magnetic Snaps.  I love these things!  They are so thin, that your card can easily be mailed!

For the inside of the card I added "three" of the sentiments included in this set.  The reason I say three, is because of the fun separation of the images, allowing for more creative freedom, like I talked about yesterday.  I really like being able to arrange the beginning & end of this particular sentiment to suit the needs of my card shape.  In this case I was looking for a more horizontal look.

I have another post using the new cake set that will be posted in just a few minutes!

SUPPLIES:

INK- Old Olive & Always artichoke Classic Ink SU!, Frayed Burlap Distress Ink Ranger

STAMPS- Papertrey Ink

CARDSTOCK- green from Bazzill, Confetti Cream * Always Artichoke from SU!

OTHER-Magnet Closure from Basic Grey, Decorative Brad from Paper Studio (Hobby Lobby)

3

It has finally begun to cool off here in Tennessee, and it has me anxiously awaiting the coziness of winter.  I thought it would be fitting to play with the snowflake stamp set that Papertrey will be releasing on Sunday night.  It is inspired by THIS free digital kit that I designed for Paper Crafts magazine.  (If you haven't downloaded it yet, do it now before you forget!)

Today's project is a fun interactive card (I just love that kind of stuff!)  It used a technique that I had seen used to create treat packaging with candy bars or packets of popcorn.  I thought I would adapt it to be used on a slide out card.

First, I wanted to create my own patterned paper to use as a backdrop for my project.  I found that the smaller snowflake included in this set fits perfectly inside one of the images from Borders & Corners Circle.  I like to make symmetrical patterned paper with circles.  I find it easier than random designs.  People always ask how I get the images lined up so well.  Here are a few little tips.  Allow your eye to use the edges of your paper as a guide for getting things straight.  I always stamp a single vertical row first, right along the edge of the paper.

I then add a second row, stamping "in between" each of the images in the previous row.  While you are hovering above your paper with the stamp, look at your spacing on all four sides.  Be sure it is equal spacing before you stamp.  The clear nature of the stamps helps as well.  You just continue so on and so forth until you have filled the entire page.

Finally, I fill in the circles with the snowflake image.  This step is quick and easy since the placement has already been decided for you.  Using white pigment ink with these snowflakes provides such FANTASTIC results.  I was really happy with how they turned out.

Now to turn this beautiful paper into a project!  I cut the cardstock 4.25 x 9 inches.  I then scored it  @ 4.25 & 8.5 inch marks.  I applied Terrifically Tacky tape  to the remaining 1/2-inch flap.I was then able to assemble it into a "sleeve". 

Next you want to add a notch to make it easy to pull out your slide.  I used a 3/4-inch circle punch, inserted halfway onto one of the open edges of the sleeve. 

I needed to create a slot for the ribbon to feed through, so I used my Making Memories punch & hammer.  I like using this tool rather than a hand-held punch because it easily goes through more than one layer of cardstock.

Next up is the slider.  I cut a piece of cardstock measuring 4x4 inches ( I knew I would be matting this; if you choose not to mat, your finished slider should measure 4-1/8 inch square).  I inserted it partway into my sleeve so that I could mark where the ribbon lay.  The reason I wanted to make this designation was so that I would make sure not stamp a portion of my sentiment there, or else it would be hidden by the ribbon.  I just used a pencil and ruler to create these lines, using the ends of the slot as a reference.

I rounded the two right-hand corners of the slider with my punch.  If your corner rounder punch is anything like mine, sometimes it will leave little ragged pieces behind, depending on what kind of mood it is in!  I have found that by keeping a nail file nearby, I can quickly run it along any edges to smooth them and even them out.

So after all of these steps are completed I am left with these supplies to construct my card.  The notched sleeve, the card insert & ribbon.

To assemble the card, I first threaded the ribbon through the slot.  You want to be sure to go through both layers of the sleeve, with one end of the ribbon coming out on the underside and the other from the top.

Pull both ends of the ribbon to the right.

Partially insert the slider card into the sleeve and in between the layers of ribbon.

Push the slider into the sleeve, therefore pulling the ribbon with it.  In this photo I pushed the slide farther than necessary to show you how the ribbon is looped around the side of the slider.  When you are creating your own, you just want to stop pushing one the slider gets to the edge of the sleeve.

Tie a knot on the notched side of the sleeve, tightly holding the slider in place.  The knot will rest on the edge of the slider.

You now can pull on the knot and the slider come comes out with it.  These would be easy to mass-produce as Christmas cards.  You could even add a photo to the slider which would be so unique!

Tomorrow I will share projects for both stamps sets, so be sure to stop by!

   

 

SUPPLIES:

INK- White Craft Ink from Stampin' Up!

STAMPS- Papertrey Ink

CARDSTOCK- Cool Caribbean & Kraft from SU!, light blue from Prism

OTHER- White organdy ribbon from SU!, 3/4" circle punch from EK Success, slot punch from Making Memories, Square Nestabilties Die Cuts