Paper Flower Arrangement

I was so excited about having made this beautiful paper flower arrangement, and then I forgot to show it to you during Christmas.  But I got to thinking that it would be beautiful any time of the year by just changing a few things.  Wouldn't it be wonderful for Valentine's Day?  This is another project from our demonstrator-only magazine Stampin' Success.  I pretty much copied the beautiful bouquet that the Stampin' Up! home office showed in that publication.  Everything except the gold ornaments and the pine cones were made with just card stock and some Big Shot Dies!

The first flower I started with were the roses.  Using Real Red card stock, I ran it through the Big Shot with the Island Floral Die.  The center is just a small piece of card stock wadded up into a ball.  The glue gun was definitely my friend with this project!  Just use a bone folder to shape the petals and glue everything together.

Next are the lilies.  This is actually my favorite flower in the bouquet – I love real-life lilies, too.  I cut Whisper White card stock using the Big Shot and the Island Floral Die.  The center is Old Olive Stampin' Pastels sponged lightly along with Early Espresso Stampin' Write Marker and the Color Spritzer Tool to make the speckles. 

These are the chrysanthemums – actually the most fun to make!  Just die cut a bunch of Real Red card stock from the Flower Daisies #2 and shape them into flower petals with the bone folder.  So pretty!  This picture also might be better of the tiny little filler flowers in the lower right corner than the next picture I took.

These little flowers were so quick to make!  Just die cut Old Olive card stock with the small flower from the Island Floral Die, snip one petal off then fold them so that two petals overlap.  Punch Whisper White card stock with the Boho Blossom Punch then wad it up and adhere it with hot glue to the center.  I made lots and lots of these to fill in the gaps.  Also a good filler is the green "grass" made with Garden Green card stock sliced really thin with the Tabletop Paper Cutter.

Hope you enjoyed seeing my bouquet – I had so much fun making it!

THINGS YOU'LL NEED:
Item No. 118871 Island Floral Bigz Die $21.95
Item No. 114520 Flower, Daisies #2 Die $19.95
Item No. 113439 Big Shot Die-Cutting Machine $99.95
Item No. 106959 Tabletop Paper Cutter $45.95
Item No. 119858 Boho Blossom Punch $16.95
Item No. 107066 Color Spritzer Tool $12.95
Item No. 119680 Early Espresso Stampin' Write Marker $3.50
Item No. 120962 Stampin' Pastels $24.95
 

UPDATE!  MORE PRODUCTS ADDED TO THE CLEARANCE RACK!

CLEARANCE RACK BLITZ! SAVE UP TO 80%!  NOW through January 5, 2012, nearly 200 products (tons of punches, dies, designer series paper, ribbon and more!) are being added to the Stampin' Up! Clearance Rack–with some discounted up to 80 percent! These great deals are only available when you purchase online and while supplies last.

Click HERE to go to my Online Store and shop away!

Thank You Treat Holder

Here's a quick way to package a thank you treat for someone special!

I learned to make this fun treat holder at one of the Stampin' Up! conventions I attended, although I'm afraid I can't remember which one!  I started with textured Going Gray card stock that measures 11" x 4" and scored at 4" and 5".  I stamped using Basic Gray Classic Ink and Elements of Style, which will be available May 1st.  I've already used this stamp set so many times; it's really fun and versatile.  Just type "Elements of Style" into the search box at the bottom of the left-hand sidebar and you'll see lots of cards using this gorgeous set.  Next came a strip of Pretty in Pink card stock stamped in Basic Gray Classic Ink using one of the sentiments from Thank You Kindly.  A ribbon rose using Bravo Burgundy and Old Olive 5/8" Grosgrain Ribbon completes this gift.  Tuck some matching treats in a Medium Flat Cellophane Bag.

THINGS YOU'LL NEED:
Item No. 118611 Elements of Style $27.95 in wood OR
Item No. 120045 elements of Style $19.95 in clear mount
Item No. 111700 Thank You Kindly $13.95
Item No. 109053 Bravo Burgundy 5/8" Grosgrain Ribbon $7.95
Item No. 109054 Old Olive 5/8" Grosgrain Ribbon $7.95
Item No. 102757 Medium Flat Cellophane Bags (50) $4.50

Don't Forget!

To purchase your May Card Kit of the Month!  Click HERE for details. 

Order Stampin' Up! products online 24/7 — click HERE!

All-Day Fabric Class Part 2

At the All-Day Fabric Class on Saturday, Aly made these adorable favors for each gal who attended.  Aren't they darling?  Aly used the Priceless stamp set and stamped in Basic Gray, Going Gray and Real Red Classic Ink.  She added lots of interest by using a Pink Corduroy Button, a piece of 1" Double-Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon in Real Red and Gray Taffeta Ribbon tied around the bottle.  She punched out the raw white vinyl with the Heart to Heart Punch and added a sentiment from Teeny Tiny Wishes stamp set.  Thanks, Aly!

Here are some of the creative cards that were swapped at the class.

Debbie Rought of Middlesex, NY, made this clever card.  She used the Ornament Punch and Delightful Decorations stamp set from the Holiday Mini Catalog to create the flower!  Now, that's thinking out of the box!

Next is a card from Jacki Wrubel.  She heat embossed the image from Baroque Motifs stamp set and added flowers cut from the Big Shot.

Next up is a quick and easy yet very attractive card from Tina Newton of Canandaigua, NY.  Tina used Sweet Pea Designer Series Paper Stack and Sweet Pea Stitched Felt accents from the Occasions Mini Catalog.  With beautiful paper like this, you don't have to do much else for a "wow" factor!

And finally, I'll share a super card from Patty Braun.  She chose to feature the stamp set Chocolate Bunny from the Occasions Mini Catalog.  The sentiment comes from With All My Heart stamp set from the same catalog.

Friday is a big day – don't forget to check back here in the morning for the Catty Cruise Blog Tour of the Occasions Mini Catalog.  I'll be featuring ideas to use the Eggcellent Eggs Kit found on page 23 of that catalog.  

Don't Forget!

• To contact me about registering for the Syracuse, NY Regional Seminar – details are HERE!
  
• To Sign Up for our Spring Stamping Retreat Weekend! Click HERE for more details!