Sometimes when I sit down to craft I know exactly what I’m going to do. Other times I just start playing and see where I end up. Today’s project was one of those created without any real plan, and it was saved by the retiring Layering Ovals Dies.

WELL SUITED

It all began after I found an 8″ x 10″ brown carrier bag in my stash. It’s very boring, but I remember buying it because I thought it was a perfect ‘blank canvas’ just waiting to be decorated. I’d been making lots of quite feminine flowery projects I so resolved to make this one much more masculine. That led me to the Well Suited suite of products in the January to June 2021 Mini Catalogue, and the very striking Designer Series Paper (DSP).

After a bit of thought I settled on the Night of Navy / Poppy Parade diagonal pattern and cut a piece 6″ x 8″. Next, using Multipurpose Liquid Glue (Tombow), I mounted it onto a 6-1/8″ x 8-1/8″ layer of Whisper White Card. Then without really thinking any further I just glued the assembled layers to the front of the bag.

I suppose my original plan had been to create a hanging tag, but actually I’ve made a few of those recently so this time fancied doing something different.

From the Handsomely Suited Stamp Set I chose the “Have a Happy Father’s Day handsome” sentiment. Then using Cherry Cobbler ink I stamped it onto the remaining Whisper White Card laying on my desk.

It was only then that I thought about the shape of the label, and I struggled to find a punch or die that was the right size. You see with no plan in my head I’d made the mistake of not leaving enough room around the sentiment to fit the larger dies or punches.

LAYERING OVALS

Just as I was thinking I was going to stamp the sentiment again, I had an idea. What if I deliberately didn’t use the whole die or punch? That was my saving grace. In the retiring Layering Ovals Dies I found a plain-edged die (#8 counting from the smallest up) that fitted around the sides and bottom of the sentiment. It would simply leave the sentiment straight across the top. In fact as I looked closer the shape reminded me of one of those old fashioned bib-style shirt fronts. Suddenly I knew how to finish the project.

After cutting the sentiment I attached it to the DSP panel on the front of the bag using Stampin’ Dimensionals. Then I turned back to the Handsomely Suited Stamp Set and the larger of the two bow-tie images.

Using Night of Navy ink I stamped the bow-tie onto some Cherry Cobbler Card. Then taking the coordinating die from the Suit & Tie Dies I cut out the bow-tie image. With a couple more Stampin’ Dimensionals I attached the bow-tie in the white space above the sentiment and my project was finally complete.

All-in-all I’m really happy with how my masculine gift bag turned out. Despite having no real plan at the start, it has a really stylish feel that any Dad is sure to love. What do you think?

PRODUCT LIST

BUNDLE BONUS – I bought the Handsomely Suited Stamp Set and coordinating Suit & Tie Dies using a single ‘bundle’ item number. This meant I saved 10% off the cost of buying the two items separately. However, while the stamp set and dies are in the new 2021/2022 Annual Catalogue, the discounted bundle is not. So if you don’t want to miss this deal make sure you place your order by May 3rd.

RETIRING PRODUCTS – All retiring products (like the Layering Ovals Dies) are now only available while stocks last and could sell out at any time. Check the Last Chance section of my online store for the complete list of retiring products that are currently available.