Christmas Cards 2015

Merry Christmas, crafty friends!  What crafty gift did you get for Christmas?!?!  Let me guess... a new die cut machine?  Stamps?  A complete set of your favorite markers?  I'm sure whatever it is, you're all set for 2016.

I made a good bunch of handmade Christmas cards this year, but I forgot to take pictures before I sent some of them out.  This year's cards are a lot bigger than usual - 8.5 x 5.5.  Then for my card base, I used double sided designer card stock (Martha Stewart).  The card fronts are made with the Anna Griffin Mix and Match Christmas Frames Embossing Folders.  I love, love, love this and I'm glad I bought them from HSN last month.  Then I accentuated them with Stickles.  I forgot how fun Stickles are to use.  I have tried several ways to store my Stickles, but now I keep them all in my Artbin Bottle Storage Satchel.

Now on with the cards...

Like I mentioned earlier, the card base is one piece of double sided card stock (Martha Stewart).  When I cut my cardstock, I make sure the designs I like is showing right inside and out.  The pic below is one of my favorites.  The added accents are the die cut white card stock and reindeer on the left, and the sentiment on the Christmas tree on the right.

For this card, I adhered snowflakes adorned with Dew Drops accents.  I inked the sentiment a little bit, then dotted some Stickles around it.

When you open the card, this is what you'll see.  I adhered snowflakes accents here too.

For this card, I accentuated the embossing with Stickles and bling.

Then on the inside, I adhered more accents.

Now, with leftover materials from the big cards, I made this smaller card. I added snowflake and sentiment accents on the front and on the envelope flap.

Inside, I added a poinsettia accent and adhered a die-cut white card stock for the message.

I really had fun making these cards.  If my DH liked them, they must be good.

Merry Christmas and enjoy the holiday weekend!

'Til next blog...

WCMD Day 9

Here's a quick card I made using a shape cut with Martha Stewart Circle Edge Punch.  The shape was too big though, so I cut it to fit my card front.  Then that cut piece I adhered inside the card for continuation.

Materials used:

cardstock/dp:  ColorBok, DCWV, leftovers

image/sentiment:  RAKed

tools:  Martha Stewart, Spellbinders

embellishments:  rhinestones, flower accent

adhesive:  Scotch, Glue Dots, mounting tape

'Til next blog!

WCMD Day 7

The best word to describe my card for today is CIRCLES.  I used the Martha Stewart Circle

Edge Punch and the Inkadinkado Circle Stamping Gear.

And to make it more fun, I'm entering this card in Our Daily Bread Design's World Card Making Day Celebration.  All you need to do is make a card using any of their stamps and dies, and you're in.  All participants will get a 20% off coupon from the ODBD Store, which is valid the entire World Card Making Month.  Fun, right?

Materials used
cardstock/dp:  leftovers

image/sentiment:  Our Daily Bread Designs, Inkadinkado

ink:  Stampin' Up, Tsukineko

tools:  Martha Stewart, Inkadinkado, Spellbinders, Unity Bow Maker

embellishments:  rhinestones, ribbon

adhesive:  Scotch, Glue Dots, mounting tape

Click HERE to join Our Daily Bread Design's World Card Making Day Celebration.

'Til next blog!

Molded

Several times have I played with melted UTEE and poured them in ceramic and metal molds.  You can see samples below:

UTEE via ceramic mold

UTEE via metal mold

UTEE really follows the shape of any mold I have used so far, making them perfect for use as embellishments or even for jewelry making.

During my last visit at Joann's, I saw this mold from Mod Podge called Mod Molds.  It's meant to make Mod Melts, which you can use as embellishments and more.  The Mod Melts come in sticks and is melted with a Glue Gun.

Browsing through the Plaid Website, I also learned that they make the Martha Stewart molds for their clay.

So when I had the chance, I took out my stash of molds.

Ceramic Mold

Metal Mold

Plaid Push Mold

Wilton Fondant and Gum Paste Mold

My experiment was to try and see if all these molds will work with a melted regular glue stick.  Here are the results.

 

I learned that melted glue sticks work best with silicone-based molds like those below.

 

 

The quality is not as good with the metal mold.  The cool temperature of the metal doesn't give the glue enough time to take the shape of the mold.

The worst was with the ceramic mold.  There are lots of air pockets, for some reason.

The attempt with the push mold was a failure.  It couldn't take the heat of the melted glue and they started to fuse together.

So I tried to give it another shot by spraying oil on the mold first.  The melted glue didn't stick as much, but the shape was not so good either.  And it left a residue on the mold as well.

 

 

Left:  without oil     /     Right:  with oil

I guess I'll just reserve the push mold with clay or something similar. 

Now I'm interested to try the Mod Melts itself.  It seems the consistency is the same as melted UTEE, only they come in sticks.  I'm actually thinking of melted wax too, as I have those.  That's going to be my next experiment.

'Til next blog!

Left Over P3

TGIF!  Mine didn't start so well though.  I had a minor accident spilling a very hot drink on my lap while driving to work this morning.  To make the long story short, I had to stay home.  So no excuse for me not to post anything today.

Here's my third card for this series.  I used the following elements:

 

 

This is actually my favorite of the three.  I love how the Martha Stewart Punch-Around-The-Page goes so well with the main die cut.

Materials used:

cardstock/dp: Recollections, K & Co., leftovers

image/sentiment:  Inkadinkado

ink:  Tsukineko

tools:  Cricut Expressions, Spellbinders, Martha Stewart

embellishments:  Sticko, silver pearls

etc.:  Tsukineko embossing powder

adhesive:  Scotch, Glue Dots, mounting tape

Have a great weekend, crafty friends!  'Til next blog....

Wedding Invitation: Final Chapter

I can say this is my biggest paper crafting project ever.  I actually had cold feet at some point, but with encouragement from the bride herself, I went on with it.  I was asked to make 80 invitations, and the goal was for the invites to get to the Philippines by first week of May.  Thanks to the USPS, that goal was achieved.

So without further a do, here's my best friend's wedding invitation.

This is how it looks when received by the guest.

Showing back of slider:

The invitation opened, without the slider.  The name of the recipient is put on the orange shape on the top flap.

 

The wedding went really great, and I'm so glad to be a part of it. 

'Til next blog!

Circle Edge Punch Video Tutorial

Happy Saturday crafty friends!  Yesterday, I made a review of the Martha Stewart Circle Edge Punch.  I mentioned how easy it is to use this tool.  It was so easy that I was able to make a video tutorial right after my first try.

And just as promised....

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial.  And I'd love to know what you think...

'Til next blog!

Product Review: Martha Stewart Circle Edge Punch

I've always been a fan of Martha Stewart tools.  They are innovative and have class, if I may say.  And as most crafters, I enjoy using their punches the most. 

Very recently, Martha Stewart released a new line of edge punches meant to make decorative circles.  Shown below, at center, is the Circle Edge Punch Starter Set (MSRP $35.99).  The four smaller boxes are punch cartridges (MSRP $19.79).

For this post, I'll be talking about the Circle Edge Punch Starter Set.

Seeing the Circle Edge Punch tool for the first time was intimidating.  I can't tell how it worked just by looking at it.  Definitely not like any I've seen before.

But the instructions that came with was very easy to follow.  This tool is so easy to use that I was able to make a video tutorial after my first try (to be posted tomorrow).

For now, let me just show you some photos documenting my first "play" with the Martha Stewart Circle Edge Punch.

The starter kit has 4 main components.  The base, Eyelet Doily punch cartridge, sliding tray and rotating knob.

The punch cartridge has the protective cover and a matching metal plate.
 

The metal plate rests on the sliding tray.

The rotating knob is detachable, and is used to keep the cardstock/paper in place during the punching process.

Shown also is the measuring switch, which sets the size of your circle.  This tool can make 6 - 12 inch circles.  There are measurement selectors on both sides of the base as well.

This is how everything should look like before the punching process.  As you can see here, the cardstock is secured by the rotating knob and the punch cartridge.  I had the measurement settings at 6 inches.

Here's a snapshot of the first two punches.  Basically, you punch, pull off the punch cartridge, rotate the knob, then put the punch cartridge back on - over and over again.

And here's my very first doily cut with the MS Circle Edge Punch.  

The process was very easy.  My first try was already a success.

I also like the fact that the base catches paper waste - cleaning is super breeze.

Overall, I think the Circle Edge Punch is well designed and very easy to use.  I'm sure a lot of crafters will be collecting the punch cartridges, the same way they (we) hoarded the edge punches.

My take about this new tool is this:  If you have an electronic die cut machine like the Cricut (and probably with gazillions of cartridges), and you use it a lot, you won't need the Circle Edge Punch.  First of all, you have to have the Starter Set which is already about $36.  Then you need at least one punch cartridge, which only has one design, priced at $20.  For that price, you can get a good Cricut cartridge with a whole lot more circle shapes and designs.  Maybe even cheaper, if you know where to look.  The range of sizes is wider even, as you can cut as small as one inch.

However, I also think that the Circle Edge Punch is better than the circle/round wafer thin dies like that of Spellbinders.  The only comparable size I can find is the Grand Nestabilities - one set costs $50, and you will need a separate die cut machine for it to work, like Sizzix or Big Shot.  The Circle Edge Punch Starter Set can work on its own.

And just like any other punch of any kind, the Circle Edge Punch cartridges will eat space.  But who cares, right?

Watch out for my video tutorial about the Circle Edge Punch tomorrow.  'Til then!