Patty's Stamping Spot

Build A Brad Bracelets! WAY too fun!

UPDATE: a kit in the mail is available for this project - see THIS POST.

Wow.. WAY too fun!  I usually, almost always, ok, ALWAYS get really excited about any new project I'm working on ...  I'd been noticing the Build A Brad bracelets on other stampers blogs and was anxious to try them out, but most of them used jump rings between each Build a Brad and I thought that sounded like a lot of work (and not so easy with my pathetic eyesight).  So, as I was explaining this idea to my partner in crime friend, Sharon, she suggested looking for some chain that we could just attach the Build A Brad directly to!!  VOILA.. Sharon you are BRILLIANT! :)

So.. here is the saga (and a few tips for assembly) of my Build a Brad bracelets.. enjoy! :)

Below:  a finished "Cutie Pie" Build A Brad bracelet, with the chain ready for bracelet #2.  I've got my Build A Brads ready to go (center of photo)....

After you have made your brads, put the legs through one of the links of chain, and spread the legs apart:

Then using needle nose jewelry plyers, tuck each leg under the ring of the chain and "crimp" it down to secure it in place.

Then the back should look like this (really difficult to take a close up photo of something SO shiney!):

Close up of the right side. I alternated Rhinestone brads with Build A Brads on the Cutie Pie bracelet. Have you guessed what I used for the 2nd bracelet??

Answer: I used the Lucky Star Accents & Elements tin for the 1/2" circles in the Build A Brads on bracelet #2 !!

Here is a close up of the chain packaging.. purchased at Michaels:

OK... so then... I couldn't leave the 2nd bracelet alone... I HAD to add some fun bangles that I got at Michaels yesterday... I love it ! 

Whew... does that get an award for longest blog post?  LOL

Have A GREAT weekend everyone.. Happy Mother's day to all the moms out there... and Happy Blog-O-Versary to me on Sunday.. it's my one year anniversary of having a blog!!  yahooo!  Check back tomorrow if you are interested in my weekend anniversary SPECIAL!

WOW - Carousel Notes Purse Project!!

Oh my word... we had the best time making these FABULOUS "purses" out of the new Carousel Note cards and envelopes (in the Occasions Mini catalog from Stampin' Up!).  HUGE THANKS TO Jan Tinklenberg for posting this most amazing idea on her blog this week!!  WOW!! 

Yesterday, Sharon and Ellen and I decided to tackle this project... seemed simple enough - well, I mean.. you are just using a pack of Carousel Notes and a pack of Afternoon Tea DSP, right??  LOL.. check this out... here is all the stuff we got out to make this project!!

OK, back to the pretty projects.... here are the 3 purses we made, including some close ups of some of the fun embellishments we came up with.

The "purse" is made with 2 of the big 6x6 Chocolate Chip envelopes that come wtih the Carousel Notes, plus a piece of Choc. Chip c/s measuring 6-3/16" sq. (scored in 1/2) in the center (the envelope flaps are both stick to this).  Then you add a Carousel note for the top flap, and put a Carousel note inside each envelope pocket, and embellish with Afternoon Tea DSP (and a ton of other stuff!)  LOL

This one was made my Ellen:

This one was made by Sharon:

And this was mine:

Here are some close-ups of the fun embellishments we came up with:

OK.. so how many of you are going to go play with your Carousel Notes today!!?  Have fun!

Die Cut Blooms

I am SO excited about the upcoming OCCASIONS MINI CATALOG from Stampin' Up!   I can't wait until Saturday (March 1st) to order TONS of packs of this CUTE CUTE CUTE Summer Picnic paper and more Die Cut Blooms!!! 

I made these 2 cards with the same design... a "matchbook" card with a flap at the right end and the front of the card tucks into the flap.  I secured the flap ON THE SCORE LINE with a strip of Sticky Strip - it holds the flap down. 

Enjoy! and have a GREAT day!

another SU! Regional Swap

This was the first swap I worked on for the upcoming Regional Seminar.  It turned out to be pretty labor-intensive and has really aggravated my pinched nerve again, so I had to stop after about 25 of these and move on to the Summer Picnic cards (here). 

I started with a 4x4 square of Pomegranate cardstock, and put a smaller folded card on top of it, layered with Berry Bliss Designer paper from Stampin' Up!  It's embellished with Build-a-Brad, the new Styled Silver Hodgepodge Hardware, Pink Taffeta ribbon and stamp from "A True Friend" and Boho Backgrounds. 

This one was inspired by Cambria in this post. 

Thanks for looking!

Hostess Gift - Pockets & Pieces

My workshop hostess, Valerie, will be receiving this gift today!  Thanks to Erica for this totally adorable idea!!  I used the Stampin' Up! Pockets & Pieces kit to make this pouch.. and just as Erica mentioned, I don't think I made this quite right either.. but hey, it worked! :) 

I used the new Die Cut Blooms from the upcoming Occasions mini catalog to decorate the box, and then packaged an assortment of the blooms plus some white cards and envelopes inside the pouch so that my hostess can make some cards!

In the center of the flower, I added the orange die cut bloom circle and covered it with a left over acrylic bubble from the Build-a-Brad kit - it's not the whole brad.. just the bubble:

Here are the contents of my hostess gift:

I love our new striped ribbon... did you notice how well it coordinates with the Die Cut Blooms? :) 

Pockets & Pieces kit:

Have a great day!

Occasions Mini Preview + SAB samples

Wow... what fun I had this morning!!  I was inspired by Beate's cute little box HERE and I just kind of got ON A ROLL making scallop punch embellishments, and using the new "A Perfect Day" Rub-ons from the Stampin' Up! Occasions mini catalog (demonstrators got to Pre-Order this month!) {yahoo}!!  Let's see.. I also used the new Styled Silver Hodgepodge Hardware - OH MY GOSH - the stuff in this hardware kit is toooooooooo cool!!  A couple cards feature the new Chocolate Chip Poly-Twill ribbon, and of course, one of my FAVE accessories... Build-A-Brad. 

My CHALLENGE to myself was to stamp a ton of embellishments featuring the Scallop Circle punch, and have them ready to plop on a card .. it was quite fun!

Enjoy!

 

Above and Below: the new Styled Silver Hodgepodge Hardware - featured in the Occasions Mini catalog!

Above and Below: the new Styled Silver Hodgepodge Hardware - featured in the Occasions Mini catalog!

Have a TERRIFIC stampin' weekend!

Not a likely combo... but.. it works

I happened to open the SPRING SILHOUETTES designer paper and the BOHO BLEND Simply Scrappin' kit at the same time.... here is what happened!  LOL

I'm still lovin' the Build-A-Brad!!

Happy Stampin' Wishes!

~ Patty

Tie the Knot - Simply Scrappin' Style!

No, I already tied the knot... I'm talking about the AWESOME Simply Scrappin' kit from Stampin' Up!  You don't have to be getting married or making a wedding album to LOVE this kit!  I went a little crazy tonight making these 4x4 cards with the cardstock and self-adhesive die cuts from this kit!

More details and close up photos to come tomorrow!

~ Patty

Simply Sent kit meets Flower Fusion!

I was using up pieces from my Three Thoughts Simply Sent kit and combining them with the new Flower Fusion felt flowers and the new papers... kinda fun...

I think one of my favorite accents is the Build-A-Brad.. cute here in the center of the felt flowers!

Enjoy - have a happy stampin' day!

~ Patty

Boho Backgrounds & One of a Kind

From what I've been hearing, it sounds like Boho Backgrounds and One of a Kind are just about the 2 most popular new sets in the new Stampin' Up! catalog!  They were the first 2 I mounted this week and then I began to play!  They are really versatile, and GREAT together!

I had fun adding the new Flower Fusion felt flowers as accents:

and also embellishing with the new Boho Blossoms punch:

These cards were done on 3x6 Close to Cocoa cards with the Berry Bliss designer paper. 

Here is what the Flower Fusion tin looks like when you open it:

Now, on to the Pocket Card with Apricot Appeal and Real Red, plus the new Red Striped ribbon and Build-A-Brad accent.   I also added a couple accents with some of the rub-ons.  Enjoy!

More play time tomorrow in my stamp loft... stay tuned for more fun things!

~ Patty

Fun New Scallops - FABULOUS TIP!

FIRST OF ALL... I CANNOT TAKE CREDIT FOR THIS IDEA... I'm the first to admit that I can copy, borrow, and massage ideas with the best of them..  {grin}... but when I saw this idea on MJ's blog I RAN>>> {yep, RAN!!!} upstairs to my stamp loft to try this!!  Oh man.. this is the coolest thing since the combination of peppermint and chocolate!

READY?? Here we go..

We are going to make SCALLOPS the EAAAAAAAAAASY Way!!

(see the row of green scallops?)

and here is my finished sample:

Supplies used:

• Bali Breeze DSP
• Eastern Elegance Rub-0ns
• True Friend, All Holidays and Totally Tabs
• Rose Red, Apricot Appeal and Old Olive ink
• Sponge Dauber
• Build-A-Brad and 1/2" circle punch

I also used the Eastern Elegance Rub-ons in 2 places:

OK... so now... RUN, don't walk to your stamp room and try this!!  It's too fun!!

If you've clicked on MJ's blog you'll notice she cut the jumbo circle with Paper Snips rather than punch it.. either way works.. try both and see which you prefer. 

Have a happy Stampin' Weekend!

~ Patty

Christmas Stamp A Stack Class

I think these little graphics are a hoot.. many of you have asked how I make them... go to www.imagechef.com and you can use their images and add your text, then save the .jpg to your computer!  Too fun!

So, anyway, back to stamping... I have a Christmas Card Stamp A Stack class this weekend, which I've been slowly prepping for... you see the physical therapist said I need to cut out the computer, stamping and gardening completely in order to help let my pinched nerve heal.  I have arthritis in my neck, which is pinching the nerve and making my arm and hand painful and tingly/numb.  Cutting out the computer and stamping? Not very conducive to someone who makes their living RUBBER STAMPING!??  YIKES! 

But I'm limiting myself to little 20 minute spots of the computer or stamping each day... cuz goodness knows I can't cut it out 100%!!

Here is a sneak peek at a watercolor card we'll be doing in my Christmas Stamp A Stack this weekend.  The ink is Purely Pomegranate and the cardstock is watercolor paper, brushed gold, Purely Pomegranate and a vanilla base card.  I added the BUILD A BRAD for a bit of fun!

Blog posts will be a little sparse for awhile... I'll get on the computer when I can.

Happy Stampin' everyone!

~ Patty

Bronc Buster!

Ride 'em cowboy!  Thanks to everyone for your well wishes and prayers for my neck and arm and wrist.. they seem to be improving just slightly each day... so I played in my stamp loft for a little bit.  I just love playing with the western stamp sets and designer series papers!!  I used Blue Bayou as an accent on a couple of the cards and embellished the cards with one or more of the following:  Build-A-Brad, Star Punch, Vintage Brads, Photo Corner Punch, Jumbo Eyelets and the Key Tag punch. My inspiration for adding Blue Bayou to these cards came from my friend Maria!  I love that little pop of color! Enjoy!

These are square cards.. they are 4-1/4" square.. so they fit in the standard size envelope, but have a different feel than a typical rectangular card.  Kinda fun!

Enjoy your day!

~ Patty