April stamp club

This month we are making three projects, highlighting product from the Occasions catalog.

The first project we will do is a berry basket, because we didn't have time to do it last month as I had planned. Instead of adding a handle to make it an Easter- themed basket (as originally planned ), we will just do one that I had made for a friend.

I used the new Berry Basket die for the Big Shot and our coaster board to make it extra sturdy.

Don't forget that you can make the basket just out of card stock or DSP, but if you really need a sturdier basket, take this route! You can cover this with card stock, stamp on it or even emboss the sides with an embossing folder! You can decorate it any way you like, of course, - the possibilities are only limited by your imagination!

We are also going to make the little plant pick that you see here. It doesn't matter what the basket contents are, it is just so darn cute, SO BE SURE TO ADD ONE! For that, we are using From the Garden bundle:

Speaking of bundles... At April club it is "bundle-mania"!

The next two projects involve two different bundles and I am interchanging elements from each of them: Crazy About You and Petal Potpourri:

The first bundle features the stamp set  Crazy About You and the Hello You thinlet dies. Both are available for purchase separately.

The Petal Potpourri bundle features a stamp set and the coordinating Flower Medallion punch. The punch is also designed to work with one of the flowers in the Crazy About You set!

Here are the cards were making:

This card was inspired by Connie Stewart, and features the technique known as "zen doodle".

And, this card was inspired by Connie Babbert. I love how all the colors from the Gold Soirée DSP are in this card, including the metallic gold!

I finally got to use my Party Pennants Bigz die for the Big Shot, too!

This stamp club is full, but if you are interested, I will be beginning the Summer Stamp Clubs soon. Summer clubs run June, July and August. Each club has three participants who agree to purchase $50 of catalog merchandise  each month.

That is usually easy to do because we have a new catalog coming out in June!

In fact, the retiring list will be announced earlier than ever before-  April 17 - so, stay tuned!

REMINDER: accessories on the retiring list are available only until supplies last! Don't forget that on the retiring list this year will be the In Colors 2013–2015 (Strawberry Slush, Crisp Cantaloupe, Pistachio Pudding, Baked Brown Sugar and Coastal Cabana)

If you need any of the ink refills, more card stock, etc. in these colors, don't wait until the last minute!

NEW LOVE! Butterfly Basics bundle

The Occasions catalog is out and there is so much to love about it!

One of my favorite purchases so far is the Butterfly Basics bundle. It's a stamp set and a coordinating thinlit die set. Best thing? You have your choice of all three types of stamps: wood, clear, photopolymer! 

I have a feeling that this one is going to be VERY popular!

Here are a few cards that I made quickly - of course it helps to be "pinspired"!

This card also features one of the fresh new designs from the Best Year Ever DSP. It is one of the free choices when you spend $50 during Sale-a-Bration!

I am loving the color combination featured in this paper: Calypso Coral, Coastal Cabana, Crushed Curry, Sahara Sand, Soft Suede, and Whisper White.

Because the Butterfly Basics set is a collage set, it easily lends itself to fast, easy cards. It took my symmetrica- self a while to get used to "collage stamping" over the years. But now I have come to appreciate the "willy nilly "style with no apparent rhyme or reason!

Don't you just love the butterfly?

I will share a fantastic tip that I recently learned with you in just a moment.... 

This third card also uses paper from the same DSP free pack. I also used the Gorgeous Grunge set,

in addition to a different butterfly thinlit that comes in the set, which matches one of the stamp images. The smaller, stamped (and embossed) butterfly also comes in the stamp set and matches our Bitty Butterfly punch. BONUS!

There is also a larger "swallowtail" thinlet that comes in the set which I have not used yet. I'm sure you will see it in future posts as I continue to play with new product!

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Now.... for my helpful hint that I learned this week by watching a video by demonstrator Deb Valder. In the video she credits one of her downline members -Jeanie Hall- with this technique.

Whoever came up with this - THANK YOU!

This is a very helpful technique for the butterfly framelits or any other intricate thinlit that has many details, like the NEW Hello You thinlits, 

the words from Wonderful Wreath, Little Letters,  Darling Doily etc. (I have the old Delicate Doily die  - which is not a metal framelit. As you can see below, there are a few small pieces remaining in the diecut but, WAY better than before!)

These tend to be a royal pain if not used with at least wax paper, because of all of the little shapes that you have to punch out after they have been cut with the Big Shot. If you have ever tried to practically gouge out card stock from inside one of the metal framelits, then you know what I'm talking about!

This technique solves those problems - I swear! It's one of the few techniques that I had to try right away - immediately after watching the video!

It involves dryer sheets.

Yes. You read that correctly. Another household item that you need to purchase for your hobby rather than it's originally intended purpose! (Non-housekeepers UNITE!)

You'll want to pick up the cheapest you can find - unscented if the scent bothers you-  just for use in your stamp area.

• Take 4 sheets, stack them on top of one another, then fold them in half.

• Run your paper with the framelit as you normally would through your Big Shot. (I prefer using the magnetic platform with all metal framelits or thinlits.) Make your "sandwich" with cutting pads as usual.

• The card stock is usually stuck inside the framelit at this point. This is where you would frustratingly get out your paper piercer and use the little holes in the framelit to push out your card stock and/or poke out all remaining small detail pieces.

However, you no longer have to do that if you follow my tip! Yaaaay!

• Run your framelit, with the card stock still stuck inside, through the Big Shot AGAIN - this time, place it facedown on the folded dryer sheet stack (including included in your "sandwich")

• Remove the framelit and SMILE, noticing that your framelit is completely free small paper bits!

• Carefully peel off the originally intended die cut. ALL SMALL PIECES SHOULD STICK TO THE DRYER SHEETS STACK!

•Reuse the dryer sheet again and again, unfolding and refolding each time so you are using another layer.

You're welcome!

***(edited 1/10)

And I need to say, THANK YOU to my dear friend Denise! This morning she sent me a video by Patty Bennett demonstrating what she does with these intricate thinlits....

platform, cutting pad, one dryer sheet, card stock, waxed paper, cutting mat.

By using only one dryer sheet, she reduces the tension when the framelit passed through the Big Shot - therefore eliminating the little dots that you see on mine! It wasn't as tight as a squeeze! Using the waxed paper still allows you to have a paper-bit free framelit.

Also, she was mass- producing butterflies, and she was able to get six out of one half sheet of card stock. Here is the link to her video:

http://youtu.be/d3Dzy6zILuI

Enjoy making butterflies! They are beautiful!