Stampin' Pretty - Mary Fish - Independent Stampin' Up! Demonstrator

Cool Beans: Papertrey Stationery Kits

I decided to make something special for my sisters' birthdays (that's right, they're twins) this year.  I adored Nichole Heady of Papertrey Ink's stationery project and tutorial, shown here.  They took a bit of time (there's a lot here) but weren't terribly difficult.  The results were amazing.  My sisters each received a monogrammed stationery set and seals, adorable contrasting papers which were cut to fit the cigar box, envelope flaps and the tin for the seals and postage.  The really fun part was showing off how each sheet of stationery was unique.  I highlighted one set with Butterfly Kisses and the other with Spiral Bouquet, each stamped in a slightly different position and a small range of matching colors.  Frankly, my biggest challenge was trying to find binding tape to cover the edges.  I ended up striking out and made the side panels on the box a touch longer to cover further to the corners (about 6 1/8" wide).  Then I used Close to Cocoa and Basic Brown to distress the edges and corners of the box both before AND after adhering the paper.  Just a note regarding the template for lining up the circle/monogram on the stationery sheets, it should measure 5.5" x 2" (rather than 1" as listed).  That way you can use the 1 3/8" circle punch per the instructions. 

Hugs and Pretties,  M

2-Sided Patterned Paper :
Red Kit:  Creative Imaginations Samantha Walker Red Bandana
Blue/Green Kit:  Chatterbox, Woods Blossoms

Stampin' Up! Specials!

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Orders must be placed through Mary Fish and Stampin' Pretty, to qualify.                            

 

Perfect Layers: Get in the Groove

I can't tell you how many times I have created a precise mat on three sides.  Unfortunately, the fourth side fails to cooperate.  Since I continuously aim for cards that don't look like something from my daughter's "special box" from the first grade, I purchased Stampin' Up!'s Perfects Layers as a quick and easy way to create accurate mats.  I'm now a devotee and will never go back to the frustration of shaving off that tiny little extra piece on just one side followed by the need to shave off a teensy bit more on another side to get it re-balanced--and often the whole mess landing in the trashcan.

Perfect Layers Defined

• Two clear molded rulers with embedded stainless steel edge strips.
• 8 different mat measurements.  1/16, 1/8, 3/16, 1/4, 5/16, 3/8, 1/2 and 5/8".
• Grooves to hold the top mat in place for each coordinating width.
• Works great with Stampin' Up! self-healing cutting mat and hobby blade.
• Beautiful for matting photos, too.

To get started, cut your first layer to any dimensions you want and stamp your image.  Adhere your first layer to a second piece of cardstock.  It does not need to be straight or centered.  I purposely positioned my mat off center so you can see how Perfect Layers ultimately cleans things up.  Choose the mat width you desire (I used 1/8") and find that width marked on one of your two Perfect Layers rulers. Important:  Your width mark must be face up when you cut .  Don't worry if the Stampin' Up! logo is face down.  It often will be depending on the width you're using, since there are widths marked on both sides of each ruler.  Line the ruler up with the top mat, so that it fits into the groove.  I recommend you wait to add any embellishments (brads, dimensionals, even paper piercing) so that the ruler and mats can remain flat and the top layer will fit snugly in the groove.   I learned this the hard way.  Hold the ruler in place and using your hobby knife and cutting mat, trim the excess.  Do this on the three remaining sides.  You can adhere a 3rd mat and repeat the process.   After finishing my 3rd mat (and for the purposes of this demonstration), I decided to change the mat size to 1/16" on my bottom mat. It was easy to quickly and accurately re-trim on all four sides.  Try doing that with a paper cutter!

Here's what I used to create this project:

Stamps:  Brocade Basics
Paper:  Whisper White, Chocolate Chip, Purely Pomegranate Textured
Ink:  Basic Brown, Purely Pomegranate, Versamark
Tools:  Perfect Layers, Cutter Kit (distressing edges), Stamp-a-ma-jig, Ticket Corner Punch, Heat Tool
Perfect Touches:  White Embossing Powder, Rhinestones (non SU), Stampin' Dimensionals

True Friend 3 Ways

Like everyone else, I love getting extra mileage out of my stamps, which is why Stampin' Up'!'s "True Friend" stamp set is such a standout.  In honor of this past week's premiere of "Project Runway," today's project consists of three cards, all using the same stamp set "True Friend" in 3 unique looks for 3 different occasions.

Come On True Friend, "Make It Work ". . .

Holiday Friend  

River Rock cardstock starts things off today.  Old Olive was stamped with the True Friend multi-flower in Old Olive ink and adhered to the base.  Near the bottom, I layered a non-SU crushed red velvet ribbon with Very Vanilla 1/4" Grosgrain and looped another piece of Very Vanilla around to add a bow.  Next, I layered Holiday Harmony Designer Series Paper on Real Red cardstock.  Perfect Layers has become one of my favorite tools for creating perfect mats.  I created a Cool Tools Tutorial with instructions to show you how easy this tool is to use.  I wrapped these two layers with the same layered ribbon as below.  I then stamped the large flower in Real Red on Very Vanilla cardstock.  I added a second color with my Old Olive marker.  I cut around the image and matted it to Real Red cardstock, punched with a Marvy Uchida Super Jumbo Scalloped Circle Punch.  A rhinestone brad (ice) bumps up the sparkle and some Stampin' Dimensionals finish the project.
Stamps:  True Friend
Paper:  Very Vanilla, Old Olive, Real Red, River Rock, Holiday Harmony Designer Series
Ink:  Old Olive, Real Red
Cool Tools:  Perfect layers, Marvy Uchida Scalloped Circle Punch
Perfect Touches:  Rhinestone Brads (Ice), Very Vanilla 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon, Non SU Crushed Red Velvet Ribbon, Stampin' Dimensionals Design Inspiration:  Splitcoast Stamper:  Jen70 

Apple Cider with a Friend:
For the next project, I again began with River Rock cardstock.  I stamped it with the flower image in River Rock ink.  I then grabbed the gorgeous Apple Cider Designer Series Paper and cut 3 rectangles of differing patterns and laid them side by side.  A little Faux Stitching comes into play.  I used my template, paper piercer in a zigzag pattern and "connected the dots" with a Close to Cocoa marker.  I used a corner rounder punch for the Wild Wasabi border with small holes punched by my Crop-A-Dile.  I then stamped Really Rust cardstock with a Faux Ribbon stamp from Papertrey Ink and layered it on top of the Wild Wasabi Border.  I stamped Whisper White cardstock twice with the circle image, first in Close to Cocoa (bottom) and second Wild Wasabi (top).  I then used the 1/1/4" and 1" circle punches respectively.  The are layered using Stampin' Dimensionals and a Jumbo Eyelet in Pewter was the finishing touch, with the help of my Crop-A-Dile.  Finally, I stamped the sentiment twice in Close to Cocoa and Wild Wasabi.  I cut out the "YOU" from the Wasabi version and adhered it with Stampin' Dimensionals.  I then used Perfect Layers to mat the Close to Cocoa bottom layer.  Voila!

Stamp Sets: True Friend, Papertrey Faux Ribbon
Paper:  River Rock, Wild Wasabi, Really Rust, Whisper White, Apple Cider Designer Series
Ink:  Close to Cocoa (pad and marker), Old Olive (pad and marker)
Cool Tools:  Crop-A-Dile, Perfect Layers, Paper Piercing Tool, 1 1/4" and 1" circle punches
Perfect Touches:  Jumbo Eyelet (Pewter), Stampin' Dimensionals
Techniques:  Faux Stitching
Design Inspiration:  Heather Thompson, Cards magazine, Sept. 2007.

Friendly Thank You
For my final effort, I softened things up a bit with a special thank you note.  I began with Whisper White Cardstock and layered 2 patterns of Linen Prints Designer Series Paper.  Then I added Chocolate Chip Grosgrain Ribbon, with the end snipped in a flag pattern.  A couple of Earth Elements buttons add some punch.  I stamped the stemmed flower image and used my trusty Perfect Layers tool to create precise Cameo Coral and Close to Cocoa mats.  I even used "PL" for 3 sides of the bottom Apricot Appeal mat but left the remaining side wide enough to add some paper piercing.  I stamped my Party Punch stamp set "thank you" sentiment and punched it out with my round tab punch.  I tucked in on the side and wrapped these fun projects up for the day!

Stamp Sets: True Friend, Party Punch (Hostess Set)
Paper:  Linen Prints Designer Series, Whisper White, Cameo Coral, Close to Cocoa, Apricot Appeal
Ink:  Close to Cocoa, Cameo Coral (marker)
Cool Tools:  Perfect Layers, Paper Piercing Kit, Round Tab Punch
Perfect Touches:  Chocolate Chip 5/8" Grosgrain, Rhinestone Brad (Fire), Earth Elements Buttons