August Club Cards

This month I was surprised with my Club members reaction to a card I created.  It was a different view of an envelope card.  I used Washi Tape to add a bright look to the card and to keep the pre-made envelope together.  Check out more details here.

Yippe-Skippee stamp set, Washi Tape and Backyard Basics Framelits used

I didn't want to cut an envelope down just to put a cute little note inside so I made my own using card stock and washi tape.

Notecard and pre-made envelope using Washi Tape and card stock

Perfect Blend & Positively Chevron stamp sets and Ovals Collection Framelits used

Perfect Blend & Positively Chevron stamp sets and Chalk Talk Framelits used

A Round Array stamp set and Needlepoint Embossing Folder used

Happy Birthday Sailor! Card

I loved this new photopolymer stamp set so much that I had to make a birthday card with it right away.  I wanted to make the main layer of the card resemble a Polaroid picture so I cut the middle out of the So Saffron card stock layer.  It would have been so much easier if I had the new Stampin' Trimmer Rotary Addition and Straight Rotary Cutting Blades for the Stampin' Trimmer.  These would have allowed me to twist my paper and cut the middle out of the card stock much easier than the way I did on my trimmer.  Lesson learned and it is now the first item on my "To Buy" list.

To make this Happy Birthday Sailor card, I stamped the banner image in Calypso Coral.  Then, I added the banner image in So Saffron, the HB Sailor wording inside the banner in Calypso Coral and the sailboats in Pool Party.  To make sure everything fit inside the So Saffron frame, I just placed it on top of the Whisper White layer before I began stamping.  I had to be very careful to not stamp onto my So Saffron frame which was a bit tricky.  (Tip: You could always use your Stamp-A-Ma-Jig tool to make sure it would fit inside the frame.)  I also added the "Life's better at the beach" image in Calypso Coral and punched it out using the 1 3/8" Circle Punch.  My color combination (Calypso Coral, Pool Party and So Saffron) came straight from the "I Am Me" DSP which always makes coming up with a different color combo much easier for me.

I love how quick and easy this card was made using the photopolymer stamps and the "I Am Me" DSP.  I will definitely be making some more of these to have on hand for upcoming kids' birthdays.  Enjoy!

My favorite saying of this whole set "Life is better at the beach"

Settin' Sail Photopolymer Stamp Set

Ingredients:
Settin' Sail Photopolymer stamp set #133453
I Am Me DSP #13138
1 3/8" Circle Punch #119860
Calypso Coral, So Saffron, Whisper White card stock
Calypso Coral, Pool Party, So Saffron ink
Stampin' Trimmer #126889
Stampin' Dimensionals

Washi Tape/Envelope Card

I needed to make a card for my Stamp Club this past week and wanted to use something new.  Since I hadn't used the washi tape since it's come out, I decided to give it a try.  Washi Tape is all over Pinterest and crafting blogs lately but I just didn't get why.  Now I do!  It's so easy to use and really adds something to your card or craft project without a lot of work and without using DSP, an embossing folder or even ribbon.  Plus it's inexpensive!

I wanted to make a different kind of card using an envelope but hated to cut off most of my envelope and throw it away.  So I decided to cut a 4" x 5 1/2" piece of Whisper White card stock, score it in half at 2" and seal it on the sides with washi tape.  It was so easy and added a lot of color.  I loved that it didn't need to be even or match up on the back of my envelope piece.  I think the torn look of the washi tape adds an element of creativity to the card.  I also placed a little bit of washi tape on a scrap of Whisper White card stock and cut it out using the butterfly image from the Backyard Basic Framelits.  You could substitute a butterfly punch or different punch to add something to your pre-made envelope instead of using a framelit.  I added a pop of color behind the washi tape butterfly by punching out a piece of Melon Mambo with the Decorative Label Punch and adding it with a dimensional.

For the card insert, I cut a  4 1/4" x 5 3/8"piece of Melon Mambo card stock and added a 3 3/4" x 5" Whisper White layer to it.  I wanted to make sure that the card insert and pre-made envelope fit inside a regular sized envelope if someone wanted to place it in the mail.  I added my greeting in Night of Navy using the color combinations from the Gingham Garden Designer Washi Tape.  Then I scored the Whisper White card stock diagonally on my Simply Scored Scoring Tool using the Simply Scored Diagonal Plate.  After adhering the pieces of card stock together, I placed them inside my pre-made envelope.

My Stamp Club members loved this card and using the Washi Tape.  They loved it so much that they had to get some for themselves right away!  One club member went home and made 6 more cards right away using this card/pre-made envelope layout and the different types of washi tape they had at home.  If you've never tried Washi Tape, give it a try today.  You'll love how simple and quick it is to use on any card or craft project!

I used the Yippee-Skippee! stamp set for my greeting.

Ingredients:
Yippee-Skippee stamp set #131341 WM or #131344 CM
Gingham Garden Designer Washi Tape #129314 (washi tape comes in all 3 designs)
Decorative Label Punch #120907
Butterfly from Backyard Basics Framelits #129380 (substitute a punch if you don't have the framelits)
Simply Scored Scoring Tool #122334
Simply Scored Diagonal Plate #125586
Night of Navy ink
Whisper White and Melon Mambo card stock

Perfect Blend Card

I had to get this stamp set because I just love the cute coffee cup and sayings and I don’t even drink coffee! I decided to use the Epic Day This and That DSP to give me inspiration for the color combinations.  This DSP was great for the look of spilled coffee on the card.  The Gorgeous Grunge stamp set and Crumb Cake ink added the awesome effect of spilled coffee at the bottom of the card.  After stamping the coffee cup in Crumb Cake and cutting it out by hand, I felt it needed something else behind it to make it pop.  I reached for my new Positively Chevron background stamp set and stamped it in Crumb Cake on a sheet of Very Vanilla card stock.  I played around with the Ovals Collection Framelits and Chalk Talk Framelits to see which I liked best behind the coffee cup.  It was a toss up so I'm sharing both ideas with you today.  This card was a quick and easy due to the layout and the awesome look of the DSP and the Gorgeous Grunge stamp set made it even easier for me to put it together.

Perfect Blend stamp set with Ovals Collection Framelits as a background

If you haven't tried the Gorgeous Grunge stamp set, give it a try today.  The stamp set has a lot of background ideas that can be easier added to your cards to give it a "WOW" effect.  I have to admit that this was not a stamp set on my to buy list until we received it at Stampin' Up!'s Convention. It has quickly become my "go to" stamp set when I feel a little something is needed for a card. 

Perfect Blend stamp set with Chalk Talk Framelits as a background & Calypso Coral ink for the coffee cup and wording

Ingredients:

Perfect Blend stamp set #130745 WM or #131392 CM

Gorgeous Grunge stamp set #130514 WM or #130517 CM

Positively Chevron stamp set #130496 WM or #130499 CM

Epic Day This and That DSP #130814

1 3/8” Circle Punch #119860

Oval Collection Framelits #129381

Chalk Talk Framelits #129983

Very Vanilla card stock

Crumb Cake, Calypso Coral and Gumball Green ink
Stampin' Dimensional

My New Crafting Space

Today's post is a little different.  I don't have a card or paper crafting item to share because I've had a much larger crafting project in the works...my craft room/office space.  I've tried to reorganize and move things around at least 3 times in the past few years but always felt like the room was too small for all of my needs.  I use the first room as you walk into our house (a formal living room we never used) as my craft room/office space.  It has turned into a crafting space for me, an office, my kids' homework station, a place for the kids to chill with mom, a place to keep the fish tank (currently empty, of course) and a landing spot for many "get rid of items", "what do I do with this?" and all the kids' schoolwork/paperwork drop off area in the past year and a half.  Well, I've had enough of that and I am claiming my space back!

Panoramic Picture of Craft Room

After a day trip to IKEA and Hobby Lobby (2 1/2 hours away), I finally felt like I had all the organization tools I needed to create more of the type of craft space/office I really wanted.  I had spent time Pinteresting and searching the web for craft room ideas that fit my personality and needs.  Luckily I found two large glass door and 3-drawer Hemnes cabinets that would work for my space.  My husband was not a happy camper on Sunday as he spent HOURS putting together the cabinets.  While he was busy with this "honey do" task, I began taking out almost all of the items in the room except for the large pieces of furniture (a comfy chair, my desk, an old cabinet, a t.v. and the bookcase where I store a t.v.).  I was so thrilled when he finally finished putting the cabinets together and they were in my space!

Craft Table between 2 Cabinets

Of course, it didn't take long to fill up the cabinet drawers with all of my Stampin' Up! punches and Big Shot dies.  The shelves took a bit longer since I kept having to stack and rearrange many of the items into the cabinets.  I have A LOT of stuff!  My Ikea cabinets now hold all of my notebooks that I keep my past Stampin' Success magazines (a demo only treat), my card and crafting ideas, my organizing business ideas and a lot of my tutoring items in.  The cabinets also hold office supplies, printable labels, dividers, sheet protectors, extra notebooks and extra tutoring supplies plus all of my Stampin' Up! catalogs, extra card stock, retired ribbon I can't part with & club and class information/fliers.  I've also added some of my crafting items on the shelves.  I'm so excited that I now have room to show off some of these crafting creations since the doors are see-through glass!

Punch Drawer - Still not sure if I like the way it's organized.

Sponge Storage, Kraft Boxes and Big Shot Platforms Storage

Big Shot Dies, Framelits and Embossing Folder Storage

Inside of my mostly SU! Cabinet - Love how I can display my crafting creations!

As you can see I have placed my old desk which was a table against the t.v. bookcase.  This has created a special crafting space for me to use.  I have also used this table as a tutoring spot (close to my tutoring supplies) and as my kids' homework spot so I'm always close by to help when needed.  I plan on keeping the table clean every night so that whenever the mood strikes to craft (day or night) I don't have to worry about finding room on my desk or the kitchen table.  I have also placed my media racks on each side of the t.v. bookcase.  It makes quick access to all of my ink pads, stamps and crafting supplies.  I love how open this set up is making my room and how clean it is at the moment!  I still have a long way to go but I'm happy with the way it looks so far.

My New Crafting Space

Media Rack filled with Ink Pads, Retired but used often Stamp Sets and Misc. Stamping Tools

Simply Scored Tool hidden under Cabinet - I have to use all available storage space!

Media Rack filled with Stamp Sets

What I have left to organize and put away.  Ugh!

How do you have your craft space set up?  Is there anything that you could change around to make it feel larger or new and exciting?  Try making a small change that could make a huge impact for you and go from there.  Good luck!