Can't get Enough of my Square Punches!

I have always been a fairly frugal person so the thought of spending on square punches seemed ridiculous. I thought, I can cut squares why would I want that? Then I got one free...within a week I had to have the smaller one too! I love these punches it makes it so easy to make a modern fun looking card. I would have avoided making these cards in the past because it was `fiddly`and things never looked quite right. Now that I have the 1-3/8" and 1-1/4" punches this kind of card is super easy!


Here are a couple of cards with very different looks but both using the matted square punches and some watercolouring. I featured the in colors in both cards because I know I will have to say farewell very soon!!


{Recipe}
Stamps: Embrace Life,
Paper: River Rock textured CS, Ruby Red, Ginger Blossom DSP, watercolour paper
Ink: Same as paper+ stazon black
Tools & Acc.: Aquapainter, earth elements watercolour wonder crayons, river rock and groovy guava double stitched ribbon, rhinestone brad from pretties kit, DD glitter, 2-way glue, punches: 1-3/8 & 1-1/4 square, small oval, word window


{Recipe}
Stamps: Unfrogettable (retiring...sigh...)
Paper: textured wild wasabi CS, watercolour paper, brilliant blue, Jersey shores DSP
Ink: Stazon black
Tools & Acc.: Aqua-painter, bold bright watercolour wonder crayons, crop-a-dile, white eyelets, corner rounder, DD glitter, 2-way glue, signo white gel pen, pumpkin pie 3/8 GG, punches: 1-3/8 & 1-1/4 square, small oval, designer label


This last card was lots of fun to do, I just randomly stamped images from the Unfrogettable set in stazon then watercoloured them, added a touch of glitter ( a must!) and punched out 6 squares from the page. By turning the punch up side down you can slide it around your paper until you see a pleasing design and punch!


Still more to come but I have to get my July Newsletter out first!

June's Technique Class: Faux Pas

June's Stampin' techniques class was all about the Faux. The techniques covered are Faux silk, faux linen, faux leather and faux wood. I had to postpone this class due to a large number of last minute cancellations but, if there is sufficient interest I will offer it again in July or August. So if you like what you see and would like to learn more, contact me! The following cards are planned for the class:

Faux Silk
{Recipe}
Stamps: Embrace Life, Canvas BG
Paper: Blue Bayou, Soft Sky, Certainly Celery, Whisper White,
Ink: Same as paper+ basic black
Tools & Acc.: blenderpen, crop-a-dile, silver eyelets, glue stick, sponge, tissue paper, corner rounder

Faux Linen & Faux Leather

{Recipe}
Stamps: Infinite Goodness (Hostess), En Francais BG
Paper: Always Artichoke, Creamy Caramel,Glossy CS, watercolor paper
Ink: same as paper+ chocolate chip, close to cocoa, groovy guava, bashful blue, versamark
Tools & Acc.: blenderpen, antique silver brads,sanding block, sponge, crafter's tool kit, chocolate chip marker, gold EP, iron, spray bottle

Faux Wood

{Recipe}
Stamps: A Little Birdie Told Me, Spring Solitude (hostess) Canvas BG
Paper: Creamy caramel, Purely pomegranate, Whisper White, Soft sky & Close to cocoa DSP
Ink: Basic clack, creamy caramel, whisper white craft, close to cocoa, chocolate chip, purely pomegranate, soft sky, old olive
Tools & Acc.: 1-3/8 circle punch, scallop circle punch, designer label punch, 1in circle punch, crop-a-dile, silver eyelets, silver brad, silver paint pen, linen tread

Remember if you would like to learn how to make any of these project contact me. I would also be happy to offer a private class to you and a few friends featuring these projects! So send me a note at nlt@shaw.ca

Still more to come...but not tonight, it's late!!

Youch! Belated Father's Day

June was a bad blogging month... It looks like I have some major catching-up to do now! It seems that as soon as stuff starts to get crazy in my life the Blog is the first thing to suffer, and I have sooooooo many projects to share! I know "Bad Blogger!". Here are a few very late postings, shall I start with Father's day? Below are the cards I made for some of the Fathers in my life...

This first card I made for my Grandpapa in Quebec. I love the tool box in this card because it's just perfect for someone like him who was always in the wood shop. I really liked the look of the screw head brads I've seen some people using but, since I don't have any I just drew an X on some plain silver brads. It's not quite as cool but, I still like the effect.
{Recipe}
Stamps: For Father (Occasions Mini Catalogue), Weathered BG, Canvas BG
Paper: not quite navy, creamy caramel, garden green, ruby red, watercolour paper
Ink: Same as paper+ whisper white craft ink, close to cocoa, stazon black
Tools & Acc.: watercolor wonder crayons, aquapainter, spiral punch, 1/2 in circle punch, standard hole punch, silver paint pen, silver brads.

The following card was made for my husbands grandfather. I had a blast making this card, I just got the Happy Camper stamp set and....I know it's retiring...sniff, sniff... but I am not going to be parting with this set any time soon!! There is just too much you can do with it!!

{Recipe}
Stamps: Happy camper, Wild about you
Paper: creamy caramel, basic black, real red, close to cocoa, brilliant blue, pumpkin pie, summer sun, real rust, bashful blue DSP, card stock weight velum.
Ink: whisper white craft ink, close to cocoa, creamy caramel, versamark, brilliant blue, wild wasabi
Tools & Acc.: silver EP, white EP, crystal effects (on the hot dog!), white signo gel pen, silver paint pen.

This card was made for my Father in law, I just wanted to make something cheerful and modern without having a theme. I was inspired by the colours in this Jersey Shores DSP and some cards I saw on SCS. I also just got my hands on the 1-3/8 and 1-1/4 square paper punches and I can't stop usint them!!

{Recipe}
Stamps: All Holidays
Paper: Brilliant blue, wild wasabi textured CS, Whisper White, Jersey Shores DSP.
Ink: brilliant blue, pumpkin pie, wild wasabi
Tools & Acc.: 1-3/8 square punch, double stitched and striped wild wasabi ribbon, pumpkin pie 3/8 GG, bold bright button, silver elastic thread, mini glue dots.

Now this final card has got to be my favourite, and it was definitely the most time consuming! I made this card for my husband. I love how flexible the All in the Family set is you really can make a caricature of anyone!

{Recipe}
Stamps: All Holidays, All in the Family
Paper: Brilliant blue, Whisper White, Jersey Shores DSP.
Ink: brilliant blue craft, pumpkin pie, wild wasabi
Tools & Acc.: 1-3/8 square punch, pumpkin pie 3/8 GG, mini glue dots, Blossom basics chipboard pk. many marvelous markers!

I hope you enjoyed my belated creations, there are more to come I swear!