Pleased As Punch / NC Demo Blog Hop

 

Welcome to the NC Demos Blog Hop!  We are happy to share our punch-y projects with you this month.  You might have just come from Jo Anne's blog.  Great project, huh?  She always wow's us!

It's always fun to think about our theme and figure out what we will use ... in this case what punch we'll use!  Our monthly NC Demos Blog Hop is featuring PUNCHES.  I love punches!  Don't get me wrong - I like my dies too but it is so much easier to just punch out an image than having to run dies through the Big Shot.  

I decided to use the Rectangular Postage Punch for my two cards.  I don't think I have used that punch since Christmas!!  The good news is that it will be in the new catalog.  Another punch I used (and use all the time!!) is the Banners Pick A Punch.  I used it to "flag" the ends of the sentiment.

• For this card, begin with a white card base cut at 8 1/2" x 5 1/2" and scored at 4 1/4"  
• To the front, add a piece of Terracotta Tile cut at 4 1/8" x 5 3/8"
• Emboss a piece of Petal Pink (4" x 5 1/4") with an embossing folder.  (I used Tasteful Textures.)
• Using a Blender Brush (or a dauber or sponge), lightly add a bit of Terracotta Tile ink over the Petal Pink card stock.   Adhere this piece to the card.
• Using the Rectangular Postage Punch, punch out 3 stamps from white card stock.
• Cut three pieces of Fine Art Floral DSP 1 1/8" x 1 3/4" and glue them to the punched white stamps.  Attach this piece to the white cardstock cut at 4 5/8" x 2 3/8"
• Stamp the sentiment (from Free As A Bird) on 1/2" white card stock strip using Terracotta Tile ink.  
• Flag the ends with the Banners Pick A Punch.
• Add the sentiment to the card front.

My second card is a bit different.  Again I used the Rectangle Postage Punch.

• Begin with a Pool Party card base cut at 8 1/2" x 5 1/2" and scored at 4 1/4"  
• Tie a piece of Coastal Cabana Sheer Ribbon around the next two layers before adhering them onto the Pool Party card.
• To the front of the card, adhere  a piece of white card stock measuring 4" x 5 1/4"
• Next, layer a piece of Fine Art Floral DSP (5" x 3 3/4") to the white card stock.
• Stamp the bird from Free As A Bird; use Stampin' Blends to color the bird; use the Rectangular Postage Punch to punch out the bird.
• Die cut a large and a small Stitched Nested Label.  
• Stamp the sentiment on the small label; cut one side; adhere to the bottom right.
• Die cut some leaves from the Free As A Bird dies and adhere to the large label.  Adhere to the top left.
• Attach the Rectangular Postage Punch with dimensionals.

Thank you for letting me share my cards with you.  Please stop by and see Laurie Meier's post

Amy Austin-Kinler
Jo Anne Hewins
Sharon Maranich  (you are here)
Laurie Meier
Tracie Evans Langley

Swap Cards

 I have been working on some swaps for Stampin' Up's Onstage Convention which is usually held each November in Salt Lake City.  Unfortunately, with COVID that is not going to happen.  There will be a virtual event and one of the demonstrators is having a swap that I will be participating in.  I have been working on those swaps and they are now ready to put in the mail.  I signed up for Masculine, Artistic, Birthday, Holiday Catalog, and Fun Fold swaps!  Several of the swaps I was able to use the cards I had made for the NC Demo Quarterly that was supposed to happen last May but, again, COVID made that event impossible. 

Below are a couple of the swap cards I made.

I don't usually make many Halloween cards or buy Halloween stamp sets but I loved this designer paper from the mini catalog.  You can find Plaid Tidings 6"x6" designer paper on page 57.  The patterns can be used for holidays and well as all year long.  I love plaids!  I also bought the Festive Post stamp set (page 63, mini catalog) because I can use it for several holidays - Christmas, Halloween, and Valentines  The stamp set coordinates with the Rectangular Postage Punch.  When I can use a punch, I love it!  I dyed the white ribbon black using my Stampin' Blends!

This is my Holiday Catty swap. 

This next card is one I was able to use from the NC Demo Quarterly cards.  I stamped the tree root with Soft Suede that I stamped off first so it wouldn't be so dark (from Rooted in Nature) on Very Vanilla cardstock.  I stamped the tree on top of it with Early Espresso ink and the sentiment in Soft as Suede (full strength).  Next I ran the piece through the Big Shot embossing it with the Subtle 3D embossing folder and then matted it onto a piece of Early Espresso.  I ran another piece of Very Vanilla (5 1/4" x 4") through the Big Shot embossing it with Tin Tile 3D embossing folder and sponged Soft Suede ink lightly over top of the embossed areas.

Masculine Swap Card

This Rooted in Nature stamp set is a great one for those hard to make masculine cards!