Have you ever been fishing? I must admit it’s a hobby that’s never appealed to me, but I do appreciate the skills needed to succeed. Patience and preparation, being quiet and still then a sudden burst of activity. Even getting the hook into the water is an art form, especially if you’re a fly fisherman.

Today’s project features the Best Catch Stamp Set and coordinating Catch of the Day Thinlits. I also have some important news from Stampin’ Up!, but like that fisherman, you’ll just have to wait patiently.

GIFT CARD ENVELOPE

I began by creating my gift card envelope from a 5-1/2″ x 5-1/2″ piece of Fresh Fig Card.

Using my Envelope Punch Board, I lined up the card at the 2-3/8″ mark, then punched and scored. Then I rotated the card anticlockwise, lined up the scored line with the pointer, then punched and scored again. Once I’d rotated, lined up, punched and scored twice more it was ready to assemble.

I folded the card along the all the scored lines and used the scoring tool to sharpen the creases. Then I folded in the side pieces and fixed the bottom flap to them with Multipurpose Liquid Glue (Tombow)

If you’re not familiar with the Envelope Punch Board, or need a reminder of how to use it, here’s a video I created a while back.

FISHERMAN SCENE

For the background of my fisherman scene I cut some scraps of paper from the Tranquil Textures 12″ x 12″ Designer Series Paper (DSP) Pack. Then using liquid glue I fixed them to a layer of Whisper White Card.

Next came the sentiment from the Best Catch Stamp Set, stamped onto Whisper White Card with Fresh Fig ink.

Finally, also with Fresh Fig ink I stamped the fisherman image on the Whisper White Card.

Now I needed my Big Shot and Magnetic Platform. I began with the Catch of the Day Framelits and cut out the fisherman. Then I used the #B1 die from the Rectangle Stitched Framelits to cut out the sentiment.

TIP – I number my layering dies so I know which one I’ve used. In the Rectangle Stitched Framelits there is one die that doesn’t layer with anything – that’s die A. Then there’s a set of 4 dies that nest together – they are all in group B. Finally there are 8 more dies that all nest together – these are group C. So die #B1 is the smallest from the group of 4.

SIMPLE ASSEMBLY

Now that everything was cut and prepared I just needed to put it all together

Using liquid glue I attached the background layers to the front of the gift card envelope. Then I added the sentiment to the bottom corner with more liquid glue.

The fisherman was a little more complicated.

I attached pieces of Stampin’ Dimensionals to the back of the fisherman and his arm. Next, along the back of the rod and line I added a thin line of liquid glue. Then I attached the fisherman to the background layer. Now the end of the fishing line seems to be behind him.

And that was it, my fisherman themed gift card envelope was complete.

I love the way that I was able to use the Tranquil Textures DSP to create the sky and water. I’m going to miss this paper when it retires in a few short months.

DON’T LET IT GET AWAY!

While the bulk of the Stampin’ Up! product retirements are a couple of months away there are a some things going much sooner.

First up, the 1/8″ Circle Handheld Punch. The manufacturer has advised Stampin’ Up! that they are no longer making this product. As a result once current stocks have been sold, this item will be gone for good.

Secondly, demand for several items in the Sale-A-Bration Brochure have far exceeded the forecast and there’s not enough time to get more. So, the Lovely Lipstick & Grapefruit Grove Foil Sheets, and the Precious Parcel Card Kit are now on limited availability. Sadly once stocks have gone that will be it.

If you were planning to order the handheld punch, or select the foil sheets or card kit as your free Sale-A-Bration choices please place your order today. There’s no telling how much longer any of these items are going to remain available.

Don’t forget also that all the 2017-2019 InColor products will definitely be retiring, and after mid-April stocks will be limited. So if there’s anything you want from the 2017-2019 InColor range why not get it during Sale-A-Bration?. That way you’ll earn free products as well as guaranteeing that you’ll get the catalogue products you already know you want.

But it’s not all bad news. On February 15th Stampin’ Up! will be adding some new items to the Sale-A-Bration choices. I won’t get to see them until February 1st but I’m sure they’ll be as amazing as the current selection. I’ll have more about these new products on Friday.

PRODUCT LIST