Rainbow crafting

Rainbows, though popular since the beginning of time, can be a very hard detail to find for your paper crafting. If you are looking for a stamp (it took me years to find one decent one), you can now find them in a variety of brands, if you are looking for an embellishment it can be a little harder. When Sizzix first introduced the nesting dies, circle was number one on my list, because, as soon as I saw those nesting dies, I saw a rainbow. Of course, I had been on a rainbow track mind at the time, but all my rainbow issues were solved!
Recently, I have been over joyed by the amount of fantastical items available for the crafter. With that has come a new availability of the mystical, elusive element of the rainbow. (As a Stampin' Up! demonstrator, I can direct you to one particular stamp/cutting set in the 2018 Occassions Catalog; page 33, there is a stamp set (145821), a die (145659), or the money saving combo (145983) Sunshine &Rainbows.) Lawn Fawn carries a die, Mamma Elephant has a stamp/die set, you could even draw one yourself.  Of course, as a demonstrator, SU! is my personal favorite. But here, we are just going to make our own!

 Let's start with your coordinating papers, choose the colors you want, pastels, brights, etc. Make sure your largest piece is no bigger than your project space, be it card, scrapbook page, or something equally fabulous. Here, I used some Adhesive Matstacks from Die Cuts With a View. I love these, however, for maximum adhesion you always want to burnish the paper with the back of your thumbnail or a bone folder.
Next, tape the dies you chose on twos sides, to avoid sliding. Do this with each color, using the last 'rings' smaller size as the next 'rings' bigger                                       

size. Here's the kicker though; you don't need any of that. If you don't have a Sizzix you can use circular objects, ascending in size, and some scissors. Get various cups and lids or for a big project, get various plates. You just have to draw the circle lightly and stay on track. Use the item that was the smaller circle for red as the larger circle for orange, and so on. here is my completed set of rings:

This rainbow is full circle!

Decide where to cut. You can have for mini rainbows, three fairly decent rainbows, or two full rainbows.

For my projects I decided on one regular rainbow and two mini rainbows.  I folded each ring in half and creased and cut. By covering the ends with a cloud you don't have to see any mistakes made during the cutting. I cut the other half into fourths the same way. One of those fourths I added tape along the edge to cut it into a more tapered shape, removed the tape, and had a more appropriate look for the circular card. Had I decided to cut in thirds I probably would have used a rotary blade, so as not to ruin the line up.  I also used the leftover circles to make a fun baby card! My final results are ready to view.

I couldn't resist sneaking in at least one SU! set! Here are some lovely cards using the Magical Day stamp set (145854 wood or 145857 clear). I also used the coordinating die set Magical Mates (145660); really, one could just fussy cut around the images. On the inside of the ring stacker card it says "welcome little one; we're going to have so much fun!". I hope you enjoyed, may you be inspired to play!

Cute Stash Bags!

One thing I love to do; because my love language is gifts, is make stash bags for parties. I like to send everyone away feeling like they were all celebrated! So, it should come as no surprise that I made stash bags for the upcoming luau birthday party! And yes, I used the digi stamps (mosdigitalpencil.com) I built the whole party around ;).
For this bag I got a pack of ten at the dollar store. I cut the colored stamps using Sampin' Up!Floral Framelits dies. I glued this down then used a giant flower punch to make the extra flowers. I added names cut out on my Sizzix.
To get the 3-D look on the flowers I pinched each petal while using my other hand to press up from behind. I could have added some gems in the centers, but did not want to overkill something the kids are gonna' throw out. It's always best to go into a project with realistic expectations, to avoid disappointment.
I will add little favors like stickers, candy, tiny toys for a fun bag each kid can take home to play with later!

Fan style banner

Birthday Banner

Using 4.25x11 strips (6) of card stock in pink, I scored every 1/2 inch. Fanning them back and forth I then hot glued three together. Once you have them glued into a ring you will press down while the piece flattens, the center comes together. Hot glue the center to a 2 inch circle in front and back.
The flowers are cut using Stampin' Up! Floral Framelits die cuts. I alternated colors for a little pop. The papers are random left overs. The letters are made using Shadow Box dies from Sizzix. 

The whole concept was designed to use a couple stamps bought from Mosdigitalpencil.com, Pineapple Girl and Kalei, which the party is themed as. To reiterate a point I am always harping on, with digital stamps you can re size them to fit your plans! These are sized all the way down to about 2.5 in circumference!
I added eyelets to run thin ribbon through and tied loops on the ends to hang up from tacks. After the party the girls may want to hang them over their beds! 
 So far I have a wreath decor, one each of these for the girls, and the invites. 
I considered making a fan between the pics and the pink, but I used up all the blue, so, it's plenty beautiful, lol! It would look better with that layer but I would want it to match!
Other plans to come; the girls individual birthday cards, and later the scrapbook page! I really like to get my money's worth!


                                               

Simple delft tea card

 So, I bought this Mucinex at the Dollar Tree and I couln't just throw away the package like a normal person might. Why not? because it was so cute, shaped like a cup. This is how I ended up using it, and despite my title, it's sort of complex. I used this with stampin' Up! A Nice Cuppa. And whit card stock.
First I kept both the bubble and the die cut inside as a template:

 And here's the die cut, traced onto a 5&1/2 x 11 card base:

Oops, the bubble had some legs, so I just had to press in place and trace those from the bubble itself. I couldn't use the bubbly to trace the whole thing becaus ethere are pars that don't follow the shape, as well as needing  the hole to be smaller than the bubble.

 After fitting it in I was able to press against where I might need some detail snipping. See the black lines? Those are getting snipped. 

I then stamped a cute little tea bag all over the card front. Including one that says "and you".

Next I needed a piece of paper that was the same size as the card front.

I laid it behind so we can see where to stamp. 

 And stamped:

Next, lay the bubble in with lots of glue (hot glue if you like) around the edges. Add the tea and the stamped background, using again, lots of glue.  You see that the message is hidden under the tea, it is good there, they will either discover it now or later and be able to save a lovely card even after extracting their special gift. 

Stamp inside:

Add a little bow and voila! Mine will be hand delivered, but if you are mailing yours make a 'box envelope' or include it in with your next batch of goodies to the recipient; grandma, college students, favorite aunites, besties.... you get the idea.

Luau party invites

So, obviously I want to look brilliant without too much effort, but the invites really can't be too overdone. Wait for the birthday cards for that. So with our theme of our Mosdigitalpencil.com luau girls, we went simple. I don't actually do Clean and simple, if you've heard of that, we'll just call it simple!
Coloring is so much fun, so I'd never call that work. Digging for invites stamps was work, I think next time I'll type and print! I cut the girls to fit a standard A6 card. Stamping the 'invite' rather crookedly, I then added a block that say 'Spectacular', because I wanted to use that stamp. Duh.
All the details are inside the card, but to be clear about who's party I punched out some hibiscus, this is an old punch from EKSuccess, not sure it they still offer it. Inside the flowers I spelled out the name of each girl, Iz can give out hers and Eve can give out hers. Wahoo!
Are you srating to see my investment growing of these two stamps? Just. Wait.

Aloha, oy

So, we have the annual a party coming up; what to make the theme this year? Eve is so into hula and Izzi wants to go to Hawaii, how perfectly their current interests intersect!

We have a load of themed items, but I want it personalized, of course! Two stamps from my favorite artist work out perfectly! (mosdigitalpencil.com; pinapple girl and Kalei).


The first idea I want to share is the wreath! If you wish to recreate this you will need a foam circle, a bag of drink umbrellas, and your own image of choice, or even some flowers if you're not stamp and color crazy like me! The idea is to 'break' the umbrellas with something. 
All you need to do is hot glue your image (or flowers) then poke the little umbrellas all over. I actually had to break mine down, they were super long. Now, you could do all umbrellas, but that would just prove how afraid you are to go crazy, to test your creative boundaries, to take a craft on the wild side. Keep on the lookout for more decor and cards for this party!



Stair step card... to celebrate cake?

Doesn't it sounds healthy? I really liked a card a saw lately using this stair step look, and thought, I must figure that out! So, hopefully, you don't have to. I have included detailed steps that even I could follow them!


I made these wonderful

diagrams this time, because I found this card so difficult!

Step 1: Cut a paper to 8x10.
Step 2: Looking at the paper with the long sides being top and bottom, the shorter sides the edges. Score a the 3,4,5,6,7, inch marks.
Step 3: Turn the paper so it seems the short sides are top and bottom. Sliding the page into your cutter go in to  1 and 1/2 inches. Reading the ruler on the with the slicer cut from 3" to 5".
Slide into the cutter to 3". At this point slice from 4-6 on the reading of the slicing ruler.
Slide further into cutter to 4.5". Slice here from 5-7".

Step 4:

You will need two of the step-looking paper. If it is a forgiving pattern that does not require to face a specific direction you could carefully cut them at once, from a 10 1/2 x 5 1/2" paper. Otherwise place two pieces together, one turned upside down and cut once that way.

Place you paper on the slicer at zero point. Sliding down to 2 3/8" cut 1"down from the top.
Slide it in to 3 5/8" mark and slice down 1".
Slide it in further to the 4 5/8" mark and slice down an inch.

Step 6: Go back to sever the paper at each slice ending.

Step 7: Cat 4 rectangles that are 3/4 x 1 1/4".

Step 8: Adhere these to card.

Step 9: Adhere your chosen image, letters, and sentiment to the card!

Now, I am NOT math-y, so you must take the idea and make it your own size on your own, lol. This requires a large envelope, so of course it could use modification if you want to save on stamps ;).

My stamp is from www.mosdigitalpencil.com  (no surprises there, lol). She is called The Birthday Girl. She would be fun on scrapbook pages or blown up As a coloring page, too.

My sentiment is all me!

Birthdays are for
Having your cake,
And eating it too!


The best birthdays begin with cake,

              end with cake,
and have a little cake in the middle!
If God didn't approve of cake
he never would have made
birthdays so varied.
Sorry I forgot your birthday,
Just giving you a reason
To eat more cake!


I'm almost certain, no matter the trouble,
A nice slice of birthday cake will fix it.

Especially, if it's not your birthday.