The Best of 2013 with Playing with Papercrafting

Welcome to the Best of 2013!  For the next week I will highlight some of my best projects during the year.  Each photo will have a link to the original post for instructions and comments.  Hope you enjoy the series, while I take some time off to be with my family this Christmas. (Just a note:  any promotions you see in the original posts are not valid now!)

January



A Valentine card that I made for a Leadership Swap!  Link to the original post here.

February



A MOJO Monday Challenge Entry highlight the Oh, Hello stamp set.  See the original post here.

Happy Monday!

Black Tie with Cherry Cobbler Formal for the Dynamic Duos

There is just something classy about Basic Black, Shimmer White and Cherry Cobbler, like the Dynamic Duos Black Tie Challenge this week.

It reminds me of one of my favourite cakes - Black Forest Cake.  Or one of my favourite sundaes - Chocolate Cherry.  And one of my favourite chocolates - Cherry Blossoms or Cherry Cordials.

Okay, now I'm hungry.  Be right back!!

So, you got the idea, I think.  I love Chocolate and Cherry, and while Chocolate isn't really black, this challenge was definitely scrumptious!  Here's what I did:

• I love cardinals at Christmas and while the Bird Builder Punch doesn't make cardinals, you can add the crest using one of the leaves from the little sprig that punches out with the birds.
• I used the Hearts Collection Framelits!  I say that with an exclamation point because I hardly ever use them except for Valentine cards.
• The white cardstock, though hard to see in the photo is the Shimmer White cardstock.  It adds the sparkle that's the dessert option with this challenge.

• The sentiment is from Warmth and Wonder, a hostess set from the Holiday Catalogue.  I love it and have used it a lot.  If you want it, you're going to have to book a private class with some of your friends before January 2.  After that it will be gone!
• I tried the Cherry Cobbler 1" Stitched Edge Grosgrain ribbon for this card but the Cherry Cobbler was a bit subdued with that ribbon.  I could have used seam binding ribbon, but I'm all out of Cherry Cobbler, so Chevron ribbon it was.
• The Shimmer White panel, the birds' wings and the birds themselves are all popped up on Dimensionals.  The birds' heads needed a double layer because they were adhered to the lower Basic Black layer, not the higher Shimmer White paper.

By the way, chocolate covered cherries are the best, but chocolate covered cranberries come a close second and it's what I had in the house when the chocolate craving overcame me!  And dark chocolate is so much better that milk chocolate!

For the next week, I will be taking some time off to spend with my family.  I will be posting some of my favourite cards from 2013, so I hope you enjoy that.  I will be back with some fresh material on Dec. 29, just in time to say good-bye to the Holiday Catalogue.  You can still visit my On-line Store 24/7, or give me a call if you need anything.  Merry Christmas to you and your family!  Leave me a comment and let me know your favourite flavours!

• Basic Black 8-1/2X11 Card Stock
• Shimmery White 8-1/2X11 Card Stock
• Cherry Cobbler 8-1/2X11 Card Stock
• Bird Punch
• Cherry Cobbler 3/4" Chevron Ribbon
• Warmth Wonder Wood-Mount Stamp Set
• Warmth Wonder Clear-Mount Stamp Set
• Cherry Cobbler Classic Stampin' Pad
• Basic Pearls Jewel Accents
• Hearts Collection Framelits Dies

Experimenting with Peachy Keen and the On Film Framelits

I love movies!  My favourite activity besides stamping is watching videos with my hubby.  So I was really excited to see the On Film Framelits, bundled with the Peachy Keen Stamp Set in the new Occasions catalogue.  I've tried before to make a film strip and it was difficult.  Now we have a framelit to do that for us, and it looks so much better!  And there are other great framelit shapes in the set as well.

I set out to experiment last night with some of the new products and this is the result:

• I found out a lot about these products in my explorations.  First, the Gold Fancy Foil Designer Vellum.  Beautiful product!  Those embossed gold dots not only look great, but they serve a very useful purpose - they hide the adhesive, whether it be a glue dot or snail or a Dimensional. So no worries about how to adhere the vellum without exposing the adhesive!
• The tag was made from Basic Black cardstock using the new Scalloped Tag Topper Punch. This punch is used a bit differently from other punches. Be sure to read the instructions.  You should know that you are restricted to a tag that is two inches in width or it won't fit into the punch. Otherwise, very easy to use.
• The filmstrip framelit needs to have some waxed paper between the Brushed Gold cardstock and the framelit to make it easier to remove from the framelit after running it through the Big Shot.  Then it works like a dream.  Just make sure to remove the layer of waxed paper from the framelit each time, otherwise it will build up and eventually cause the framelit to be unable to cut because the built up layers of wax paper become too thick.

• The camera framelit.... well, it is backwards to the stamp, unless I am using it wrong.  I think you would have to use it on it's own. This framelit is very unique because it embosses as well as cuts, but the camera is not symmetrical and so, if you try to die cut the stamped camera image, It doesn't line up properly.  You would have to do it from the back of the paper, and you wouldn't get to see all the embossing.  That's also rather difficult to line up.  Too bad, because it's an awesome die.
• The gold sequin trim gives a great flashy accent when used like ribbon.  It is easy to separate the individual sequins as well and those would make great accents on their own.  I found that the best way to adhere it was to press glue dots to the spots where you wanted the sequin trim to be and then press the sequins onto the glue dots.  Trim the thread well and you can even add a glue dot to the underside of a stray sequin and affix it over the leftover thread to hide it.
• I think Peachy Keen is a very versatile stamp set and I'm looking forward to using the other images soon.

Hope you enjoyed that Sneak Peek!  I have one more entry tomorrow and then I will be taking a week off to spend with my family over Christmas.  I will still have posts for you, but I will be highlighting my favourite designs of the past year.  I will return with fresh material on Sunday, Dec. 29th, just in time to say good-bye to the Holiday Catalogue.  There are some products from the Holiday Catalogue that will be carried over and still available after Jan. 2 until June 1.  You can see the Carry Over List here.

Thanks for allowing me to share with you.

• Crisp Cantaloupe 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock
• Crisp Cantaloupe Classic Stampin' Pad
• Brushed Gold 8-1/2X11 Card Stock
• Jet Black StazOn Pad
• Basic Black 8-1/2X11 Card Stock
• Whisper White 8-1/2X11 Card Stock
• Gorgeous Grunge Wood-mount Stamp Set
• Gorgeous Grunge Clear-mount Stamp Set
• Crumb Cake Classic Stampin' Pad
• Peachy Keen Stamp Set *
• On Film Framelits*
• Gold Fancy Foil Designer Vellum*
• Gold Sequin Trim *

*From the Occasions Catalogue, available for purchase Jan. 3

Hello, Sailor! - Masculine Birthday Card And New eGift Certificates Available

I was looking for a masculine birthday card idea, and I got out my new stamp set, Hello Sailor, from the Occasions Catalogue.  It was perfect for one of my sons-in-law, as he loves nautical motifs.

My husband and I, not long ago, completed watching a set of DVDs containing the TV miniseries, Horatio Hornblower.  Based on the novels by CS Forester, it is the story of a heroic, but self-effacing junior officer in His Majesty's Royal Navy.  The miniseries starred Ioan Gruffudd, one of my favourite actors since watching him in Amazing Grace. I found the realistic depiction of life on the high seas during the Napoleonic Wars (1803 - 1815) fascinating, though I have no desire to live under those conditions!  The life of a sailor has been frequently romanticised, but is far from glamorous, that's for sure!

I set about designing the card, using some great new products and following the sketch from Mojo Monday Challenge #324.  It's been so long since I've done a Mojo Monday sketch, it felt good to get back into it again.  Mojo Monday sketches are so well designed.

Here's my version:

• This card is chock-full of new products!  First is the stamp set, full of nautical images and sentiments. In this card, I used the wheel, the anchor and the sentiment, "Ahoy".  The Happy Birthday was from Bring On the Cake!
• The Designer Series Paper is a new set called High Tide and it coordinates beautifully with the stamp set.
• The bottom front panel of Pacific Point cardstock has been embossed using a new embossing folder called Decorative Dots, which will be available January 28 as part of Sale-A-Bration this year.  You will be able to earn it or a range of choice products free with every $60 purchase.
• Can I hear a loud "Huzzah!!" for the Striped Grosgrain ribbon?  It is seen here in Summer Starfruit, but also available Jan. 3 in Pacific Point as well!  I have waited forever for striped ribbon!  I'm so excited, but also hopeful that there will be more colours available in the new Annual Catalogue in June!

• I stamped the little banners with the anchor from Hello, Sailor and with an old favourite set, Hearts aFlutter.  The big news is that there will be a punch which will punch out that little banner shape!  It's the perfect size for an accent banner at the top of a card.  When?  Jan. 28 during Sale-A-Bration!
• I added some more of the High Tide DSP as an envelope liner, using the Envelope Liner Framelits which are being carried over into the Occasions Catalogue.  Good news indeed!

This is a good masculine card.  The more primary colours work well, but if the colour palette was changed, it could also have a more subdued look.

Thanks for dropping by today.  Check out my post on eGift Certificates for you last minute shoppers!

• Bring On The Cake - Clear-Mount Stamp
• Bring On The Cake Wood-mount Stamp Set
• Pacific Point 8-1/2X11 Card Stock
• Pacific Point Classic Stampin' Pad
• Hearts A Flutter
• Hearts A Flutter Clear-Mount Stamp Set
• Summer Starfruit Classic Stampin' Pad
• White Baker's Twine
• Apothecary Accents Framelits Dies
• Hello, Sailor Stamp Set*
• Decorative Dots Embossing Folder **
• High Tide DSP*
• Summer Starfruit Striped Grosgrain Ribbon*
• Banner Punch**

*Available Jan. 3 in the new Occasions Catalogue

**Available Jan. 28 in the Sale-A-Bration Brochure.

eGiving for Last Minute Shopping Convenience

Are you looking for a quick last minute gift for a papercrafter in your life?  Do you live in Canada?  Then I have the perfect solution for you - an eGift Certificate for Stampin' Up! Products from Heather Cooper here at Playing with Papercrafting.

All you need to do is fill out the form below and send it to me.  I will email you with payment information, and as soon as I receive your payment, I will email you the Gift Certificate in PDF form ready for you to print and give to your recipient.  Alternatively, I could also email it to your recipient directly.

These eGift Certificates are redeemable only through me, Heather Cooper, and would not be honored by Stampin' Up! directly.  As an Independent Stampin' Up! Demonstrator, however, I am able to order any current products for your recipient.

Just fill out this information and submit the form and I will contact you promptly: (You must be a Canadian resident to take advantage of this service.)

White on White Frosty for The Paper Players

Over at The Paper Players this week, they have a White on White Challenge going and I was challenged because I have not had great results with this kind of project in the past, creating and photographing!  But I like to push my limits, so I gave it a try!

A few years ago we had neighbours that were a lot of fun!  When the kids were smaller, we would often have spontaneous water fights with water guns and hoses, using lawn furniture as shields!  In the winter, it would be snowball fights and kringling (leaving a box of Christmas surprises on the porch, ringing the bell and running away!)  But we figure we outdid them one winter.  We had a late afternoon snowstorm and the neighbours were downstairs in their entertainment room watching a movie.  We had to act fast.  We built a snowman right by their back door with an outstretched twig arm and hand touching the doorbell.  Then we rang the doorbell and ran.  We barely made it to our door, when we heard them open the back door, gasp, then shout with peals of laughter!  Although we denied our involvement, I'm sure they guessed it was us!

In honour of that memory, I created Frosty, a punch art snowman.  He's a dapper gent with top hat, cravat, vest and pocket watch.  Let me introduce you.

• This card was created without the help of any stamps. I simply punched or die cut shapes and added some texture through embossing with the Woodgrain Embossing Folder.
• The three circles that form the body and head are made from the 2 1/2" Circle Punch, the 1 3/4" Circle Punch and the 1 3/8" Circle Punch.
• I sketched (on the back) and cut free-hand the hat and all its pieces, the carrot nose, the watch pocket on the vest and the snow hills.

• The scarf is made with one of the Bitty Banners framelits with one of the flagged ends cut off.
• The eyes and the buttons are from the Owl Builder Punch and the Cupcake Builder Punch.  To make the watch chain, I punched half a circle with the 1/2" Circle Punch, then I punched over it with the 3/4" Circle Punch.  Using the smaller one first makes it much easier to see the width you're punching.
• The vest is a 1 3/4" circle which is repunched twice with the same punch to get the side ovals.
• You might be able to see that I embossed cheeks for the snowdude by using my Simply Scored Stylus and the Stampin' Pierce Mat to gently push out, using a circular motion the area where the cheeks and mouth would be.  The mouth didn't show up well though, so I used a Basic Grey marker to highlight it.
• The Typeset Alphabet Dies created the letters, cut out of coaster board and Silver Glimmer Paper, mounted together to create some dimension.

Thanks for your visit today!  Join me tomorrow for some more sneak peeks at the new Occasions catalogue.

• 2-1/2 Inch Circle Punch
• 1-3/4 Inch Circle Punch
• 1-3/8 Inch Circle Punch
• 3/4 Inch Circle Punch
• 1/2 Inch Circle Punch
• Owl Punch
• Cupcake Punch
• Whisper White 8-1/2X11 Card Stock
• Neutrals Core'dinations
• Woodgrain Textured Impressions Embossing Folder
• Silver Glimmer Paper
• Simply Scored Stylus
• Stampin' Pierce Mat
• Typeset Alphabet Bigz Die
• Vanilla Coaster Board

Frosted Finishes Embellishments Jewelry

Have you got a few Frosted Finishes Embellishments left after all your Christmas card making?  Do you have a few females left to get a gift for?  On a budget?  Then this is the post for you!  I created these earrings using the Frosted Finishes Embellishments for my Stamp Club Members and it was so easy!!  First, purchase some good quality earring bases.  They can be the dangly type or the posts.  I used the dangly type or earwire as it is properly called , but my upline, Desiree, used posts.  Both work well, but with the posts, you need to adhere the Frosted Finishes using Crystal Effects and there is drying time involved.

With the earwires, all I did was to pass it through the embellishment until it was hooked properly on the catch and then close up the hook a little so it wouldn't come off!  Two minutes max!  I stamped a little greeting on the cardstock holder and punched a couple of holes using my Crop-a-dile (retired)!  How great is that?  And everyone loved receiving them because they are so attractive and sparkly for this time of year.  There's my quick and cute solution for that last minute gift giving!

Here's the Weekly Deals for this week:

WEEKLY DEALS

	Encore Metallic Gold Pad Item # 132141 Regular Price: $12.95 Discounted Price: $9.71   25% off
	Encore Metallic Silver Pad Item # 132142 Regular Price: $12.95 Discounted Price: $9.71   25% off
	Holly Jolly Greetings Simply Sent Item # 132159 Regular Price: $18.95 Discounted Price: $14.21   25% off
	Season of Style Designer Journaling Tags Item # 132808 Regular Price: $5.95 Discounted Price: $4.46   25% off
	Pretty Presents Designer Bows Item # 132186 Regular Price: $4.95 Discounted Price: $3.71   25% off
	Blast Off Ensemble Digital Download Item # 130862 Regular Price: $21.95 Discounted Price: $13.17  40% off
	Build A Banner Refill Kit Item # 132699 Regular Price: $11.95 Discounted Price: $8.96   25% off
	Naughty And Nice This Rotary Stamp Item # 132278 Regular Price: $7.95 Discounted Price: $5.96   25% off
	Seasonal Stripes 8" X 8" Designer Album Item # 132259 Regular Price: $17.95 Discounted Price: $13.46   25% off
	Gold and Silver Stampin' Glitter Item # 132205 Regular Price: $9.95 Discounted Price: $7.46   25% off
	Christmas Banner Simply Created Accessory Kit Item # 132697 Regular Price: $11.95 Discounted Price: $8.96   25% off
	Snowflake Season Simply Sent Kit Item # 132176 Regular Price: $18.50 Discounted Price: $13.88     25% off
	Raspberry Ripple 3/8" Stitched Ribbon Item #126845  Regular Price: $12.25 Discounted Price: $9.19   25% off
	Extra Large Gift Box Item # 132147 Regular Price:  $4.95 Discounted Price: $3.71   25% off

Here are also the latest Digital Downloads for My Digital Studio:

BEST NEW YEAR STAMP BRUSH SET - DIGITAL DOWNLOAD Price: $2.95	CHEVRON RIBBON - DIGITAL DOWNLOAD Price: $5.95	GIFT BOW PUNCHES - DIGITAL DOWNLOAD Price: $2.95	LETTER FROM SANTA - DIGITAL DOWNLOAD Price: $2.95
MERRY, JOY & CHEER STAMP BRUSH SET - DIGITAL DOWNLOAD Price: $2.95	REMEMBER THE JOY POCKET CARDS - DIGITAL DOWNLOAD Price: $6.95	STORY OF US PHOTOBOOK - DIGITAL DOWNLOAD Price: $14.95

• Frosted Finishes Embellishments
• More Merry Messages Wood-Mount Stamp Set
• More Merry Messages Clear-Mount Stamp Set
• Bermuda Bay Classic Stampin' Pad
• Bermuda Bay 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock
• Crop-A-Dile