Today is the day I start my sneak peeks from the Stampin’ Up! January to June 2021 Mini Catalogue. As expected the new catalogue is full of great products so there’s bound to be something for everyone. I have a long wish list but my first Demonstrator order was fairly modest. First to make the cut was the amazing Suit & Tie Dies. There’s a coordinating stamp set but today’s project design didn’t need that.

BRACES OR SUSPENDERS?

Oh my goodness where to start with the Suit & Tie Dies? Well I started by wondering why I had two flip phone dies. Yep, that’s what they looked like to me at first glance. It took a minute or two to realise that these small dies cut and embossed the clips for braces (UK) or suspenders (US/Canada).

It was these small dies that inspired today’s project to create a masculine bookmark so that’s where I started.

First from some Brushed Metallic Cardstock I cut the two clips.

Next using the long rectangular stitched die I cut a piece of Basic Black Card. Then using the same die I cut two pieces from an abstract blue design from the Whale Of A Time 6″ x 6″ Designer Series Paper (DSP) pack.

Now I was ready to begin assembling the bookmark using a 2″ x 5-1/2″ strip of retiring Whisper White Card.

First though I needed to create a ‘shirt’ and for this I turned to another new product, the True Love 12″ x 12″ Designer Series Paper (DSP). This black and white paper is very striking and I chose a small black polka dot pattern. After cutting a 2″ x 5-1/2″ strip I used Multipurpose Liquid Glue (Tombow) to fix it to the bookmark base.

Next I cut a 1-1/4″ x 2″ piece of Basic Black Card and glued that across the bottom of the bookmark. Against the top edge of the ‘trousers’ I then glued the die-cut Basic Black strip and trimmed off the excess.

Now I was ready to glue the clips to one end of each of my two suspender pieces. Once attached, I glued the suspenders onto the bookmark. Then I trimmed off the excess DSP at the top.

BOW TIE MEMORIES

Now the shirt and suspenders were in place my next task was to shape the top of the bookmark. For this I used the Fancy Tag Topper Punch as the shape reminded me of shoulders.

In the Suit & Tie Dies there’s a die that cuts a long straight tie and two different bow tie shapes. I chose the more rounded one and cut it from a Calypso Coral pattern from the Whale Of A Time DSP. In fact I cut two as I didn’t a different pattern to be seen at the back of my finished bookmark.

TIP – The rounded bow-tie isn’t symmetrical. If you want to stick them back to back cut one, flip the paper over and cut the second from the other side.

With the two pieces cut I used more liquid glue to fix the two bow tie pieces back-to-back. Then I cut a small stitched piece of the same DSP using another die from the set. I wrapped this piece around the centre of the bow tie and secured it at the back.

All I needed now was something to thread through the hole at the top of the bookmark. I have lots of ribbons but I just thought they would look out of place. There are some plain Baker’s Twine packs in the new Mini Catalogue which might be better, but I haven’t got them yet. So I walked away from the project and went to watch a movie instead.

It was only this morning that an idea came to me. When my late son was small, he used to wear suspenders as he was very slim . These were much easier for him to manage than a belt and he had a number of different ones to choose from. He also ended up with a couple of ties, each one with a piece of black elastic cord to get it on and off.

That was the inspiration I needed. Just before Christmas I treated myself to some new slippers and they were held together with the same black elastic cord. Fortunately I hadn’t yet emptied the bin in my bedroom and there was the elastic!

So this morning I threaded the elastic through the hole at the top of the bookmark and tied it in a simple knot. Then with the bow tie glued at the top my project was finally complete.

This bookmark really makes me smile. I don’t think my son ever had a spotty shirt, but the overall design brings back fond memories.

SUIT & TIE DIES

The Suit & Tie Dies will be available for customers to purchase starting on January 5th. They can be bought by themselves or in a bundle with the coordinating Handsomely Suited Stamp Set (more about that another day). The dies and stamp set are part of a whole suite of products including Designer Series Paper that’s perfect for masculine cards, plus the twine I mentioned. I have a feeling the suite and it’s individual parts will prove very popular.

For now though, here’s a sneak peek at all the dies in the set.

I hope you’ll join me again tomorrow for another new product sneak peek.

PRODUCT LIST

BUNDLE BONUS – I ordered the Suit & Tie Dies with the coordinating Handsomely Suited Stamp Set (not used today) using a single bundle item number. This meant I saved 10% off the cost of buying the two items separately. I’ve included links to both options so you can explore these further if you wish.

TEMPORARILY WITHDRAWN – Sadly the Brushed Metallic Cardstock has been temporarily withdrawn from sale. It will be available again when the July to December 2021 Mini Catalogue is published on July 1st.