Thursday 23 October 2014

The Wacky Watercooler October Blog Hop


Welcome to our Wacky Watercooler October Blog Hop.  It's been a busy month!  October began with World Card Making Day and then, for Canadians at least, we celebrated Thanksgiving.  It's also Breast Cancer Awareness Month and, of course, Hallowe'en is right around the corner.  For cardmakers, this has definitely been a very busy month.

Our Blog Hop is set up in a circular style so that no matter which blog you begin with, you will, inevitably wind up at the same spot again if you keep going to the "next" one in line.  I hope you'll take the time to visit every participant's blog.  You don't want to miss the inspiration.

If you've been moving forward in the blog, you'll have come here from Christine Giuda's inspiring creations.

* * * * * * * * * * 

Since Thanksgiving is over for us here in Canada, I decided to concentrate on Christmas.  For my first project I created a little favour box that could be used for either a little gift or as part of a table setting.  You could make these boxes in all sorts of different colours.

After making a little base box using Cherry Cobbler cardstock, I stamped the cute Nutcracker image from the Santa Stache stamp set onto Whisper White and then coloured it using my Blendabilities.  I stamped a second Moustache and, after colouring it, cut it out using the matching Moustache framelit.  For the top of the little box I cut a narrow piece of Cherry Cobbler using the zig zag Finishing Touches edgelit.  I made a tag to match using one of the little tag framelits that goes with the Curvy Keepsakes box die but you can easily just use an oval or circle cut with one of your punches.


I've entered this little box into the SUO Challenges.

* * * * * * * * * * 

Next I decided to create an ornament using the Simply Pressed Clay.  It's so light and flexible when it dries, that I was sure it would make a wonderful Christmas ornament.  I began with a circle of clay, flattened to about 1/8" thickness.  Then I used a star cookie cutter to cut out my shape and put the whole thing, cookie cutter and clay, into the freezer so that the clay would harden sufficiently.  Once I took it out, I was able to remove the star cut-out easily without distorting the clay.

I left it out to dry for a day and then stamped it with the adorable little snowman from the White Christmas stamp set as well as the little star from that set.  Then I just inked up the "peace" from the "joy & peace" stamp in the hostess Good Greetings stamp set and stamped that diagonally along the top right.  I found everything stamped quite clearly with the StazOn ink.

Once that was dry, I coloured the front of the star using my Blendabilities.  I found they worked very well, although the colours were muted, which was fine for my purposes.  I followed that up with a clear coat of Crystal Effects over the entire front of the star.  After that dried thoroughly, I covered the back with Crystal Effects as well.


I finished up by putting a thin layer of Tombo glue around the perimeter of the star and then covering the glue with Silver Stampin' Glitter.  

* * * * * * * * * * 

My final project is a Christmas card.  When I first became a Demonstrator for Stampin' Up! back in November 2011, I designed what I called a "stage" card and made a template for it.  That one was for a 5" x 7" card and today I re-designed it to be a standard 4 1/4" x 5 1/2" card.  The new measurements were perfect for creating a scene using a combination of the White Christmas and the Holiday Home stamp sets.  For my sentiment I turned to the Christmas Bliss stamp set.


I began with a base of Naturals White cardstock and then layered it with Lost Lagoon cardstock and the beautiful All Is Calm Specialty Designer Series Paper.  I stamped the trees right onto the Designer Paper and added white for the bark using my White Signo pen.  All the rest of the images were stamped onto Whisper White and fussy-cut.  I almost went cross-eyed, but managed to cut even the tiny twig arms of the snowman.  Believe me, that was no simple feat!  The house, however, was cut using the Homemade Holiday framelit.  


Added embellishments were the white heat embossing for the sentiment, the Cherry Cobbler Dazzling Details for the berries on the tiny wreath, and the clear Dazzling Details for the "stars".  You can also find the template for this "stage" card here.

I've also entered my card into the everything goes challenge at the Stampin' Royalty Challenges.

* * * * * * * * * * 

Well, that's it for my projects.  I hope you've enjoyed them.  Your next stop will be with the talented Jackie Susnik.   She always has great projects to share.

If you get a moment, please leave a comment.  I'd love to know what you thought of my creations.






32 comments:

  1. Love your projects. Your step card is awesome. You know, I didn't care for the nutcracker stamp, but now I see it in a different perspective. Love the project.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Christine. This was the first time I used the Nutcracker. I've used the Santa on several cards and loved him. What I liked most about working with the Nutcracker is that you can use so many wonderful colours. I'll be using him again.

      Delete
  2. I freaking love your projects. As you have seen through the hop, I also did an ornament, but I see we did it differently in terms of process. Unfortunately I have ran out of simply pressed clay so I can't try your technique which would probably be more successful than mine. I "stamped" before it was dry, but I just pressed the stamp into it, no ink. then I used my marker to color it a little bit. Thanks for sharing your technique.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Ter. I made an ornament like yours (well, simpler because I didn't include images, just words) and really do like the effect. I wanted something more glitzy for the tree, however, and was dying to try Blendabilities on the clay. Well---I'm hooked and will do this again.

      Delete
  3. Heidi, You're an inspiration! Thanks for making hopping fun.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Wow! Thanks so much, Kath. What a sweet thing to say.

      Delete
  4. Love all your projects! You are really talented! Hope you win the SUO contest!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you so much, Marie. It will be fun to see who wins at the SUO---there are always so many talented people in their challenges. I just have fun trying to make the things I imagine come to "life" with paper.

      Delete
  5. Oh Heidi, I don't know what to comment on first! Your ornament is adorable, and although I've used the Simply Pressed clay, I've never used it like that! So cute!
    And your final, "stage" card is over the top...simply gorgeous!
    Love all three projects; what a great hop!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Priscilla. I missed your usual creative projects but hope you're having a great trip. I really appreciate your sweet comments.

      Delete
  6. Dear Fearless leader and friend. You never disappoint. I can feel the Christmas vibes heading down from Canada. The ornament is so cute and I love the simplicity and rich color. Looks just like the iced cookie ornaments I always have a hard time resisting biting into. Looks like you and Ter both had clay and fussy cutting in mind...could it be that the Canadian winter has set in already, inspiring indoor pursuits and tricky details to distract the mind from white landscapes? Whatever the inspiration I'm grateful. Wonderful ideas and lots of new and inspiring projects to CASE in your wonderful hop entry. As always...gratitude from all of us hoppers to you our fearless leader. Hugs and love my friend.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks so much, Jean. I'm the self-proclaimed "queen" of fussy-cutting, didn't you know? Seriously, it seems as if every second project of mine lately has included ridiculously intricate fussy-cutting. My eyes cross when I pick up the scissors. *grin* The ornament really does look a bit like a cookie doesn't it? Probably the fact that a cookie cutter was used in the making of it. Cold? White? Not yet (knock wood). We're having a wonderful Indian Summer.

      Delete
  7. I bow to you, Heidi, and name you the 'Fussy Cutting Queen'!! My gosh - a ton of work, but so worth it - fabulous card! Thanks for the reminder about putting the Clay into the freezer - now I know why my ornament didn't turn out properly! I'll try again, and hopefully it'll come out nearly as good as yours. Thanks for keeping us going on these hops, Heidi - I appreciate all the work you do!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Deb. As long as you keep it to a simple bow. I really get embarrassed with total genuflection. *grin* It's funny about all that fussy-cutting. I sort of got into a "zone" and kept cutting and cutting. It wasn't until after I saw the pile of images and noticed how much time had passed (not to mention my eyes crossing) that I realized how much there was. I can't say I'm sorry because I love the results but it isn't a card I'd make in quantity. Yes---freeze your clay. Always freeze your clay.

      Delete
  8. Heidi, I just love those Nutcracker containers. How darn cut! The step card is also wonderful. I don't make them often because I'm folding impaired, but love yours.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Jackie. I'll be putting a "step-by-step" tutorial and template up. This might be the one you actually manage to fold properly. ;)

      Delete
  9. Love all of the projects Holly and especially the Nutcracker Treat Box- so creative!! Thanks for the inspiration and playing along with us at SUO Challenges :-)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Julie. Your project inspired my Nutcracker Treat Box, so thank you.

      Delete
  10. These are all so cute Heidi, a wonderful blog hop this is, indeed! TFS! Donna (SC)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks so much, Donna. We have some wonderfully creative people in our blog hop group. Hope you'll join us when we have our "best of" on December 4th.

      Delete
  11. That little Nutcracker favor is SO cute! I love all your projects! Thanks for playing along with the SUO Challenge this time!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you very much, Connie. I had such fun making that little guy!

      Delete
  12. Your nutcracker is just ADORABLE!!! I love how you made it into a cylinder and then the added mustache! How CUTE!!! Thanks for joining the SUO challenge!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks so much, Mary. This was definitely a fun project to create.

      Delete
  13. Wow, ALL of these creations ROCK!!! Thanks for playing along!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you so very much, Karen. What a nice thing to say!

      Delete
  14. Heidi, I don't even know where to begin, each project is so wonderful. The detail in your stage card is breathtaking!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you so much, KatheD. I really loved making that stage card, fussy-cutting and all.

      Delete
  15. I stumbled across this old post and loved the card. Did you ever post a tutorial for the card?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks so much, Wanda. I've private messaged you on Google and hope that helps.

      Delete

GDPR (for my EU visitors)

In line with new Data Protection legislation (GDPR) coming to the EU, please note that in commenting you do so with the knowledge that your name & comment are visible to all who visit this blog and thereby consent to the use of that personal information for that specific purpose, only. I do not collect information stored on my blog. If you have left a comment and prefer that it not be seen, please delete it. Followers: If you follow my blog (thank you!) you do so in the knowledge that my followers list is open to anyone who visits my blog. Your photo, name and links will appear and can be seen by anyone. If you don't want this data shared, please remove your name from my followers list.