Just Give Me Stamps...

Ink to Paper Favorites - Inlaid Dies

Happy Wednesday friends!  It's time for another Ink to Paper Favorites Challenge! This challenge is a fun and easy way to win a $25 Ink to Paper gift certificate!  Check out the Ink to Paper Blog for all the details and to link up your project.

I've always been drawn to the inlaid die cut look but always seem to forget about it while creating.  Last week I started brainstorming holiday gift ideas and came up with with these little treat tent gifties.  I wanted something that was quick and easy to create (so they could be mass produced) but still fun and festive.  That's when I remembered the inlaid die cut technique!  :-)

If you are new to this technique, it's really a very easy one.  You position your die over your card/project where you want the image.  I like to secure the die with some low tack tape so it won't move while running it through my die cutting machine.  In the negative die cut shape (not the actual die cut but the empty space where the shape was cut out) you have a couple of options.  One option is to adhere the die cut that you just created back in for a subtle tone-on-tone look.  Or you could die cut the same image from a different color/patterned paper for more contrast.

One of the benefits of this technique is that you add texture and interest to your project without adding the bulk of layers (making them easier to  mail)!  Also, it's just SO cool looking!  😎

 

I created a trio of little gifties using the Tent Style Packaging die.  These are the perfect size for adding homemade treats, store bought goodies, or other small gifts which make them perfect for what I had in mind for teacher/neighbor/hostess gifts!

 

I chose the colors to match the little scraps of patterned paper that I wanted to use up.  For this one, I chose Tropical Teal.

 

I chose to use the same color die cut for my inlaid snowflakes...but with a little twist!  I backed the negative die cut snowflake with white cardstock so that the image would stand out just a bit more.  I also only glued the center down and bent the ends of the snowflake up for even more dimension.

I chose the two stand alone snowflake dies (from the Splendid Snowflakes die set) for my projects.  I really like all the detail of these die cuts.

 

To dress up these gifts a bit more (and to use up scraps LOL), I added a small strip of patterned paper along the bottom.

I added the joyful die cut (from the To Die For Sentiments: Christmas) along the bottom of each gift.  To dress them up a bit more, I added some clear glitter to the bottom of each die cut word.

 

I attached a small tag (from the Tag Creations: Modern Gift die set) with a stamped sentiment (from the Just Sentiments: Be Merry set).  For embellishment, I added some twine and rustic jingle bells.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks so much for stopping by!
~Laurie

 

 

Design Team Tips - Personalized Halloween Tags

Happy Friday friends!  Can you believe it's the middle of October already?  I literally just looked at the calendar today and I could not believe my eyes!  Seriously, where did the first part of the month go? 

Speaking of October, I thought I would share with you some Halloween school gifties with you.  My kiddos go to a small rural school (for the elementary years anyway).  Not only is a great learning environment, but they become really close with the other students and teachers!  :-)  Because their class is small, I like to create personalized gifties for many of the holidays.

Today I will be sharing with you a couple of tips for quicker and easier personalized tags.  I love alphabet stamps, but I also really love straight lines and as you know these two do not always go together!  LOL!  Even with my MISTI I still struggled to get the names stamped straight.  I came up with an easy way to keep my letters straight and now all is right in my world!  Ha!

 

First, here are the little bags that the kids will be getting this year.  I didn't show all of them, but here are three main color combos.

 

I started by splattering a small kraft gift bag with black paint.  I layered on a rectangle of colored cardstock for a splash of color.

I die cut a black web (using the Caught In My Web die).  I used a combination of the following colors:  Amethyst Allure, Limeade Ice, True Black, Tropical Teal, and Aqua Mist.

For the focal image, I stamped the oval frame (from the It's A Sign: Hanging Frames) using Weathervane ink.  I combined some of the dies from the Monster die set.  I personalized each "monster" by stamping names using the Garden Party stamps et.

 

Here's how I stamp the names.  I start by drawing a light pencil line to use as a guide for stamping the letters.

 

When stamping with alphabet stamps, I actually start with the middle letter in the word/name.  This helps me center the name.

 

After finishing the name/word, you can erase the pencil line.

 

 

I like to use a soft, white art eraser.  It's gentle on the paper making it harder to damage the stamped image.  It also erasers very well without leaving smudges.

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks so much for stopping by!
~Laurie

 

 

Ink to Paper October Release - Day 4

Welcome back to the fourth and final day of the October Ink to Paper release countdown posts!  You are in for such a treat this month...just wait until you see all the goodies coming your way!  As always, the release will go live on the 15th of the month (tomorrow) at 10 pm ET.

Today we are sharing projects featuring the new Floral Christmas, To Die For Sentiments: Christmas, and Inside Greetings: Blessed Beyond Measure.

 

Leaves and foliage are an automatic love for me.  I'm pretty sure just about any project would look even better with some leaves and/or foliage added to it!  The new Floral Christmas is everything I love in a foliage set and more!  The added berries, sprigs, and pine cones are just icing on the cake!

I chose to create a Christmas card using very non-traditional colors.  The sort of pastel (but not quite) palette I chose is:  Kraft, Aqua Mist, Green Parakeet, Ocean Tides, and Lilac Grace.

Have you SEEN all of the dies in the To Die For Sentiments: Christmas set yet?  This set is definitely my favorite holiday sentiment die set...ever!  I adore the loopy handwritten font!  😍




I extended the design to the inside, using one of the new sentiments from the Inside Greetings: Blessed Beyond Measure set.

 

Not yet linked but available October 15th at 10 pm ET:  Floral Christmas, To Die For Sentiments: Christmas, and Inside Greetings: Blessed Beyond Measure

 

 

 

 

Thanks so much for stopping by!
~Laurie

 

 

Welcome back to the fourth and final day of the October Ink to Paper release countdown posts!  You are in for such a treat this month...just wait until you see all the goodies coming your way!  As always, the release will go live on the 15th of the month (tomorrow) at 10 pm ET.

Today we are sharing projects featuring the new Floral Christmas, To Die For Sentiments: Christmas, and Inside Greetings: Blessed Beyond Measure.

Ink to Paper October Release - Day 3

Welcome back to the third day of the October Ink to Paper release countdown posts!  You are in for such a treat this month...just wait until you see all the goodies coming your way!  As always, the release will go live on the 15th of the month at 10 pm ET.

Today we are sharing projects featuring the new Go-To Gift Card Holder: Snow Globe die set, Go-To Gift Card Holder: Slider die, Go-To Gift Card Holder: Snowman die set, and Go-To Gift Card Holder: Snowman Accessories stamp set.

 

My first card features the new Go-To Gift Card Holder: Snow Globe die set.  Using these genius new dies I created a wintery snow globe.  I Ink blended the background and then added both snow flurry and snowflake images.

The sentiment is from the It's a sign: Holiday Sentiments set.  The cute little bear is from the Critter Carolers.  How cute would these critters be for in other seasonal globes, like palm trees for summer?  You could add sand instead of glitter for snow.  So fun!

For embellishment, I added several sequins as well as dies from the Tag Creations: Modern Gift die set.

 

Not yet linked but available October 15th at 10 pm ET:  Go-To Gift Card Holder: Snow Globe, It's a Sign: Holiday Sentiments, Critter Carolers

 

 

For my next project I again used the Go-To Gift Card Holder: Snow Globe die set.  This time I created an  ornament.  I actually die cut two of the large circles and adhered them together to create a pocket for the gift card slider.

I stenciled the background using the Stencil Basics:Dots and then splattered it with gold paint.  I embellished the ornament with flowers and greenery from the Tag Creations: Modern Gift set.

Here's a look at the slider insert.  As you can see I took my project colors from the gift card.  :-)

 

Not yet linked but available October 15th at 10 pm ET:  Go-To Gift Card Holder: Snow Globe, Go-To Gift Card Holder, Slider, It's a Sign: Hanging Frames Stitched Layers

 

 

 

My third and final project today features the new Go-To Gift Card Holder: Snowman die set and Go-To Gift Card Holder: Snowman Accessories stamp set.

I die cut the snowman elements and then added the sentiment and facial features from Go-To Gift Card Holder: Snowman Accessories.

I also added three snowflakes, die cut from the Splendid Snowflakes die set.

 

Not yet linked but available October 15th at 10 pm ET:  Go-To Gift Card Holder: Snowman, Go-To Gift Card Holder: Snowman Accessories

 

 

Thanks so much for stopping by,
Laurie

 

Ink to Paper October Release - Day 2

Welcome back to the second day of the October Ink to Paper release countdown posts!  You are in for such a treat this month...just wait until you see all the goodies coming your way!  As always, the release will go live on the 15th of the month at 10 pm ET.

Today we are sharing projects featuring the new Happy Happy Holidays, Critter Carolers, and Framing Florals: Christmas.

My first card features the new Critter Carolers stamp set.  I absolutely love this penguin!  I love all the critters, but the penguin is definitely  my favorite!

I started by layering three frames (from the It's a Sign: Hanging Frames Stitched Layers die set).  I adhered three penguins on each frame.  To give each one a bit of individuality, I added a different winter accessory to each penguin.

 

I tucked three die cut snowflakes (from the Splendid Snowflake die set) under each frame.  The sentiment is from the It's a Sign: Holiday Sentiments set.

 

Not yet linked but available October 15th at 10 pm ET: It's a Sign: Holiday Sentiments, Critter Carolers

 

 

My next card features more of the Critter Carolers set along with the new Happy Happy Holidays set.

I stamped and colored all three of the included critters.  To ground them (as well as mimic glistening snow) I added some chunky glitter to the bottom of the card.

 

I stamped the music notes image to tie in the Falala sentiment (from the Happy Happy Holiday set).

 

For embellishment, I added a small red epoxy heart.

 

Not yet linked but available October 15th at 10 pm ET: It's a Sign: Holiday Sentiments, It's a Sign: Hanging Frames Stitched Layers

 

 

My third card features the new Framing Florals: Christmas set.  In my opinion, you just can never have enough floral sets!  And floral sets that are for Christmas?  Yes, please!

 

I chose three patterned papers to create the background.  For the focal image, I stamped and die cut the wreath and floral images.

The sentiment is from the Happy Happy Holidays stamp set.

 

I wanted a more vintage look so I inked up the edges as well as added some string and a button.

Not yet linked but available October 15th at 10 pm ET: Framing Florals: Christmas, Happy Happy Holidays

 

 

 

Thanks so much for stopping by!
Laurie