A Tutorial By Yours Truly.....

Howdy, Sweet Friends!  Today I have a tutorial to share that makes a nice little gifty pouch.  Fall just seems to be the perfect time for gift making and giving--isn't it?  The pouch is self opening and can hold any number of things.  It's perfect for sharing a treat with someone special!

To get started, you will need the following supplies:

Paper Trimmer/Scoring Tool

Cardstock/Designer Paper  6” x 8 ½”

Straight Edge & Pencil

Scissors

Decorative Edger Die or Punch

Adhesive

The steps are pretty easy, but accomplish a project with lots of WOW!

 Along the 6” side of the card stock/designer paper, score at 1” and 5”. 

Rotate the card stock and score at 4” and 8”.

Realign the card stock so that the left edge is at 2”.  Cut from the top of the card stock to the score line.  Repeat this one inch cut at 4” and 6”.

Make a similar one inch cut, using trimmer or scissors, on the opposite side of the card stock at the 4” (middle) mark. Trim the ½” panel you will use to close the pouch by angle cutting and removing each corner.

Using a pencil and ruler, lightly draw a diagonal line, in each panel, from the center cut line to each corner, as shown. 

 Score each diagonal line and crease it, as shown.

Trim top edge with an edge die, such as the one I've used from Bookmarks & More Dies.

Place adhesive on the ½” flap and join the sides of the pouch.

 Adhere the bottom flaps.

 

 The pouch opens when you squeeze the sides. 

Decorate and fill, as desired.

I used stamps from Sweet N Sassy Stamps to decorate my little pouch and filled it with cocoa.  Winnie's Warm Wishes and matching dies, are perfect for this time of year, for sure!  You can join Sweet 'N Sassy's Sweet Perks Club to get your own at a savings!!  What's better than that?

Make today a great one and, don't forget to be awesome!  TTFN-Jane

'Tis Fall Y'all!

Happy Monday, again, friends!  Truthfully, it isn't all that fally around here yet......the nights are cooler, but the days still feel all summery....errrg!!  I love the crispness of fall air, sweatshirts...and, no sweat...LOL!!

Nevertheless, I'm happy you stopped by for my Monday, I Brake For Stamps share.  My card today, features my most favorite leafy image called, Framed Leaf Foliage.  When you click on the I Brake For Stamps store link, you will see another card I created using this image.  It's a wonderfully versatile image and able to take on entirely different looks with your choice of different mediums.

For today's card, I stamped directly to kraft cardstock and then colored the image with my Primsacolor Pencils.  I often neglect these fabulous coloring sticks as I forget how beautifully they color and blend.  I added some white and gold shading around the image and the cardstock edges.  I also added some shading with Vintage Photo distress ink.  The whole card has a nice earthy feel.

When you shop IBFS, feel free to use my coupon code for savings SAVE10JANE

Go be awesome!  TTFN, Jane

Sweet Black and White

I often find inspiration, like lots of you, on Pinterest.  Years ago, when I saw a project that I loved, I would search diligently to obtain the exact product used so I could completely copy the whole thing.  After many years of hoarding.......collecting, inspiration happens differently and I am always delighted when I am already set to go!  I love making the most of what I already have.  (ya, because I have SOOO much it's almost ridiculous!)

The original card, from which I drew my inspiration, was created using stamps from Hero Arts:

The image and sentiment I used both come from Technique Junkie Stamps.  I embossed both the Flourished Floral image and the So Sweet sentiment using white pigment ink and white embossing powder.  When embossing on black, I am always certain to use my embossing buddy to reduce random areas of powder cling---I hate that messy speckled look!

Like in the original, I added some multi-colored gems to contrast with the black and white simplicity of the image.  It's really a striking card, in real life!!  You should totally give it a whirl!!  You can pick up the Flourished Floral image from Technique Junkie Stamps and totally copy it OR find other fabulous images to use with the same concept. 

If you are in the market for some of the Technique Junkie CD's while you visit the store, be sure to use the coupon code  techniques at checkout to receive a 25% discount on all CDs!!  I own them all and they are all my favorite ;)

Go.  Be Awesome. TTFN, Jane

And It Goes On.....

Happy Tuesday, Sweet Friends!!  Thanks for popping by today!  I'm sharing a colorful birthday card I created using stamps from Sweet 'N Sassy Stamps!

It seems like there is always a birthday going on at our house.  There are seven of us, afterall, but we do tend to drag things out from time to time too!  In fact, today, we continue to celebrate our baby--who turned 7 (gasp!) on September 6th.  Her final gift happens today--an early release from school and a trip to Build-A-Bear......I know, don't be jealous!  LOL!!

I used this versatile birthday set, Birthday Bash, from Sweet 'N Sassy Stamps:

To begin, I started by stamping three of the verses, using Versa Mark ink, along the left hand panel of the base card stock.  I used the confetti image with clear embossing to create a resist before spraying on various dylusions sprays.  I love those sprays because the result is always vibrant and interesting.

You can fussy cut the balloons.....or....treat yourself to the matching die set, too:

Go ahead....you deserve it!
Be Awesome!  Jane

Enjoy Life

Happy Monday, Friends!!!  Today, be happy, enjoy life!!  What will you do today to make this sentiment a reality in your world?  I will create--choose one thing and make it happen!! 

I'm happy that you've popped by to see my weekly I Brake For Stamps share.  My project today is a clean and simple card featuring images from Alie Hoogenboezem de Vries's sheet over at IBFS, Full Sheet 150, and some Bisters!! 

I think this image could either be a fish or a bird--just another reason I love the versatility of this set!!  The images are so kitchy and whimsical--creativity is not hard to muster!  I chose bird for today....we all know about my bird thing so, I'll just leave it at that!

After grounding the image with a splattering of bisters, I added some distress ink around the edges and popped up the birdie image on dimensional tape.  The bird, I colored with distress inks, cuz they are currently my favorite! 

What are YOU working on?
Have a great day and don't forget to be awesome!  TTFN Jane

Color Blocking and Cardstock

Happy Wednesday, Friends! 

The other day, I had a pretty successful stamping time and played along with a few challenges from Splitcoaststampers!  Monday's challenge is always a technique based challenge.  I'm all about the techniques so, I thought I'd give it a whirl!  The challenge (TLC551) was to create a project using the technique called Color Blocking With Card Stock. I love using up scraps and this technique is perfect for that!!!  You can view the technique here and then, try it yourself!!

I like the darker colors against the white card stock.  I think it makes the technique piece pop even more!  My die is from Penny Black, Field of Dreams.  The sentiment that I used to tie it all together is from a wonderfully encouraging set from Sweet 'N Sassy Stamps called, Be Encouraged. 

So.....be encouraged.  And, crafty.  And, awesome!  TTFN--Jane

Best Wishes

Happy Tuesday, Sweet Friends!  I have a sweet little project I cooked up by combining a few recent challenges from Splitcoaststampers!  I found myself with some rare stamping time (lol....I'm such a liar!) and little inspiration so....what WAS a girl to do?

I actually do have little time to blog hop these days and tend to find most of my inspiration on Pinterest. I notice, often, references to the SCS challenges so, I thought why not give it a whirl?  It sure did help unleash some creative juices!  I almost abandoned the color challenge from September 8th---Blackberry Bliss, Tempting Turquoise and Pink Pirouette (CC547)???  Sounded a little too girly for me!  But, when I combined it with the sketch challenge (SC557) from September 10th, it practically made itself!  When you pop over to SCS, you'll find a gallery dedicated to each challenge--go check it out!

I had already been playing with this super amazing birthday set from Sweet 'N Sassy Stamps, called Birthday Bash--it worked perfectly for this project--what do you think?  As I was trimming my sweet little candy nugget, I was also sliding the matching die set into my shopping cart......shhhhhh ;)

Get inky and be awesome--TTFN, Jane