It’s time for another IDEAS blog hop where this month our theme is “family celebrations”. There are so many to choose it was hard to pick just one. So in the end I created an anniversary card for my daughter and son-in-law, and a scrapbook page celebrating my twin granddaughters’ first birthday. Instructions for these projects are included in this month’s IDEAS tutorial bundle. Of course I couldn’t leave out my older granddaughter, so for her I created a pretty bookmark. All three projects feature the Celebrating You Stamp Set.

STAMP TWICE

To create this bookmark I decided to do some heat embossing which I haven’t done in quite a while. But before doing that I needed to stamp and colour the image. So I started by cutting a 2″ x 5-1/2″ strip of Thick Very Vanilla Card and secured it onto my Stamparatus Stamp Positioning Platform.

Then I chose the flowering sapling image from the Happy Hedgehogs Stamp Set and placed it face down on the card. Next I closed the hinged lid so that when I opened it again the stamp was attached in exactly the right place. Now all I needed to do was gently tap a Sahara Sand ink pad onto the stamp and close the hinged lid again. This time when I lifted the lid saw the image stamped onto the card, but I left the stamp attached to the lid and the card secured on the platform. All I did was use my Simply Shammy to clean the surface of the stamp.

With everything still in place I used Stampin’ White Markers from the 2021-2023 collection to colour the image. For the flower petals I chose Pale Papaya, with Fresh Freesia in the centre. Finally on the leaves I used Soft Succulent. With that done it was time to stamp again.

Without moving anything I tapped a VersaMark ink pad onto the tree stamp. Then I closed the hinged lid to transfer the sticky ink onto the coloured image. After opening the lid I removed the tree image and placed the sentiment from the Celebrating You Stamp Set face down on the card. As before I closed and opened the lid to pick up the stamp then tapped the VersaMark ink pad onto it. I closed the lid one last time to stamp the sentiment and could now pick up the card.

GOLD TOUCHES

Taking care not to touch the VersaMark ink I sprinkled the card strip with gold powder from the Metallics Stampin’ Emboss Powder pack. Then I tapped off the excess and removed some stray specks. Then once I was happy I melted the rest using my Heat Tool set on 2 (high).

To finish I used the Very Best Trio Punch to add a 3/8″ slot at the top of the card strip. Then I cut a 7″ piece of 3/8″ Satin Edged Ribbon. After threading the ribbon through the slot I tied it in a simple knot and my granddaughter’s bookmark was complete.

The finished bookmark is actually quite a simple design but so pretty don’t you think. I’m sure Alyssa will love it.

In case you missed it, here’s my tip for using the slot option on the Very Best Trio Punch.

CELEBRATING CONTINUES

So with today’s project finished let me tell you a little more about this month’s IDEAS Tutorial Bundle. The September “Family Celebrations” PDF contains 56 pages, featuring 23 projects from 11 different designers. There’s cards plus lots of other projects for every taste and ability using a variety of current products from Stampin’ Up! The collage below provides a little sneak peek of what’s inside. Can you spot part of one of the two projects I contributed to this bumper bundle?

If you’d like a copy of the Tutorial Bundle for your own personal use, or even to use in your classes, there are three different ways to get it:

• Place an order via my online store for $45CAD (before shipping and taxes) using my July Host Code BGSVDXCJ. Make sure to allow Stampin’ Up! to share your contact details so I can e-mail the tutorial to you. If your order is over $200CAD don’t use the Host Code or you’ll miss out on Stampin’ Rewards. However, so long as I have access to your contact details I’ll still send you the PDF.
• Join Stampin’ Up! and my Crafty Canadians team, and you’ll get this IDEAS tutorial for free.
• Buy the tutorial. Contact me at tutorials@papercraftwithme.com for more information.

Once you’ve received the bundle, please remember not to share or distribute printed or electronic copies of the tutorials. We’ve worked hard to provide these exclusive projects for your personal use. If you know someone who would like to purchase the tutorial bundle, please direct them to me to obtain their own copy. Thank you for your support.

So that’s it from me for today, but please visit Jacqui Lawrence on the next leg of the blog hop by clicking on the ‘NEXT’ button below.

PRODUCT LIST

BUNDLE BONUS – I bought the Very Best Trio Punch in a bundle with the Very Best Occasions Stamp Set (not used today). Using the single ‘bundle’ item number to order meant I saved 10% off the cost of buying these two products separately. I’ve included a link to the bundle in case you want to explore this option for yourself.