Stampin' Up! Spring Surprise Bundle

(Originally published on Toronto Teacher Mom.)

On the weekend, the weather was so cold that we had to turn the heat back on. While Mother Nature may have a hard time understanding that it is spring, Stampin' Up! knows full well that it's the perfect time to celebrate the season of May flowers with their Spring Surprise Bundle, coordinating inks and card stock in bright colours. Stampin' Up! sent me a sample of the bundle that features the Round Array stamp set (available in clear-mount only) and the coordinating Scallop Circle 7/8" punch featured above. The stamp set includes five stamps with sentiments and three generic stamps that are perfect for everyday embellishments.

The Stampin' Up! Spring Surprise Bundle is a perfect set for those looking to incorporate stamping into their crafts as it includes all the elements required to complete a project. With these stamps and coordinating punch, you can easily embellish a variety of projects, like cards, notes, jars of homemade goodies, and more!

Since I love to make greeting cards, I chose to use some Stampin' Up! card stock in Primrose Petal and Raspberry Ripple with coordinating water-based dye ink to create a couple of birthday cards which measure at 5.5" by 4.25". I stamped and punched two of the same images and attached them using a dimensional to add some pop.

I loved using the stamps and coordinating punch so much that I decided to embellish the inside of the cards as well. I seriously need to look into getting more coordinating stamp and punch sets...

Personalized Birthday Card with Monkey Magnet

This past weekend, my son celebrated his fifth birthday. He's such a little monkey that I decided to use the monkey cut (at 4") from the Cricut Create a Critter cartridge to make a personalized birthday card for my parents to give to him. I used three colours of card stock: dark brown for the base layer, a sort of tan colour for the second layer and a lighter brown for the topmost layer. I then rubbed some brown ink along the edges of the cut.

I used the Cricut Pooh marker font to cut out his name in dark brown and used a white shadow, cut at 1". 

I added some adhesive pearls and the vine cut from the Create a Critter cart. I only glued the ends of the vine because I wanted to be able to hang the monkey from it. The reason being is that I adhered a piece of magnet onto the back of the monkey so my son could have his own unique magnet. Isn't it cute?

Tis the Season for Baby Shower Cards

It seems to be the season for baby showers. I had two requests at work this past week or so for a personalized baby shower card. I first made this style of card using the expectant mother from the Cricut New Arrival cart to make a personalized baby shower card about three years ago. In it, she is holding a Michael Kors bag. For this one, I was asked to make it a Coach bag, so I added the letter C using some Stickles. The mother is cut at 4" and I used design paper from the Super Slab by Rob and Bob Studio. The lettering is from the Cricut Storybook cartridge and I bought the grosgrain ribbon at Michael's. The adhesive half-pearls are from the dollar store. I think the one thing I would change is the ribbon since the green flowers are too bright and don't match well with the green paper. Oh, well. You have to work with what you've got, right?

Paper Pups Birthday Card

 

Using some Stampin' Up! card stock in kraft as well as some designer paper from the DCWV Green Tea Paper Stack and recycled ribbon, I made this birthday card at the request of my teaching partner whose husband recently celebrated his birthday. She loves dogs and seems to really like the cards I have made in the past using the Cricut Paper Pups card, so I went with the "relax" pup. Isn't he a cutie?

 

Create a Critter Owl Invitations

My niece turned one last month and I was asked to make a few invitations for her birthday party. My brother and his wife narrowed it down to the owl on the Cricut Create a Critter cartridge. I kept it a standard A2 size card and used a corner punch to round the edges of the base and the mattes as well. I believe I cut the owl at 3.5" and used regular card stock as well as some Bazzil for the topmost layer to give some texture. The little flower was made using a punch I found at Michael's and the sentiment is computer generated. Both the owl and the sentiment were applied using dimensionals I found at the dollar store.

Christmas Card Using Cricut Paper Pups

For this card, I chose a standard A2 size using a 5.5" by 8.5" of plain white card stock for the base and a green matte cut at 5.25" by 4". I used the first image in the Cricut Paper Pups cartridge and cut it out at 3" once in a light brown using the blackout feature and once more in black using the regular cut. I also cut it out a third time in white using the shift image in blackout and cut off the "Hi" sentiment. I figured out an easy way to properly position the eyes. I use the piece of the dog's face (the negative space) and fit it back into place. Using my pointed Zig two-way glue pen, I put two dots of glue through the holes where the eyes should be using the piece as a stencil, removed the piece and stuck the eyes on where the glue remained. I don't know why I've never thought of that before. (Insert forehead slap here.) I used some brown chalk to give some depth. I also used the Christmas hat from a different cut on the same cartridge and used a frame as well for the sentiment, which is from a Stampin' Up! set. I added a piece of ribbon and some dimensional adhesive and voila!

Stampin' Up! Storytime Suite - Giveaway

If you are as passionate about paper crafts as I am, you most certainly have heard of Stampin' Up! Recently, I received samples of their Storytime Suite for review on my alternate blog torontoteachermom.com. They have also offered up a Storytime Suite prize pack valued at $70 to give away to one of my Canadian readers. I would be happy to have you stop by and enter for a chance to win!

With Stampin' Up! Storytime products, teachers can easily enliven any school supplies and create do-it-yourself flash-cards or cute notebook labels. But they are also great for parents as well. The stamps and designer papers are perfect for writing thoughtful notes to teachers and classmates, and they make it super easy to add a personal touch to any project. The Storytime Suite is available on stampinup.ca, along with a myriad of other fabulous craft supplies.

I have included a couple of photos of greeting cards I made using the Stampin' Up! Storytime Suite. If you like what you see, I invite you to see some more examples of my work as featured on Listen to Lena.