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This month's theme for the Stamping Inkspirations Blog Hop is thank you notes - being ready to send lots of them! Angie McKenzie, our fearless leader, suggested this as we all need to send thank you notes AND they can make handmade wonderful gifts.
I decided to feature the bundle, Encircled in Friendship for this project. I initially just purchased the the dies, Encircled in Beauty, for a Christmas project and then went back to buy the stamp set because they have such beautiful messages. Here is a little photo story my project:
You might call this first part the simple stamping version: just stamps and a little bit of watercolor pencil. This was stamped in Pear Pizzazz. The Stamp-a-ratus helped me to get the placement just so. I used the watercolor pencils Old Olive and Flirty Flamingo to color.
For a little something special I added some clear Wink of Stella.
The Stamp-a-ratus helps when when you are making multiples and adding another layer featuring this lovely, detailed circle die.
Since I knew I would be making several of these I came up with a system to make sure I was always die cutting the circle in the same place. I cut two of the circles out of copy paper, using the first to determine the Stamp-a-ratus placement. I cut the second one so that I had about a 1 1/2"+ strip to guide placement of the die.
Once you have the circle secured in the proper place you can remove the guide for subsequent cards. If you place your post-its towards the inside of the circle you can make sure you can avoid tearing the portion that you actually use on your card. Ask me how I know this!
For ease in assembly - and to avoid too much glue on my fingers - I just apply Multipurpose Liquid Adhesive around the circle portion and plain sections and then apply it to the card.
Then I go back and use a scrap strip with just a rather thin layer of adhesive to slide under the un-adhered sections and then gently press the inner circle into place. This is much quicker that it looks!
You could use Adhesive sheets when doing the die-cutting but you know how it goes. I don't always plan that far ahead. This is a good trick to have up your sleeve when you are designing on the fly!
With the intricate, lacey circle you could easily leave it like this...
...or add just a few little pearls!
Repeat 3 more times and you almost have a gift.
These have been paired with 4 envelopes and tied with a little White Crinkled Seam Binding.
Now it's time to see what the talented Leonie Stuart has for us:
Angie McKenzie ● Jo Blackman ● Elaine de Montmorency
Gez Carpenter ● Karen Henderson ● Linda Moore
Jill Chapman ● Chris Smith ● Leonie Stuart
Jan Musselman ● Deb Macdowell ● Mo Rootes
Danielle Kassing ● Terry Hamilton ● Tricia Butts ● Teri West
I so appreciate that you took the time as you visit my blog today. Let me know what you think and come back again soon! Feel free to ask questions if something isn't clear.
If you would like to receive my newsletter please click on the Stay in Touch link at the top of my blog. You can also check out the Stampin' Up! catalogs link in the same location. If you don't have regular Stampin' Up Demonstrator and would like hard copies of any of our current catalogs please feel free to email me at [email protected]
I would love to help you with your stamping journey and have you shop with me! You can click on "Shop with Chris Smith" at the top of my blog.
If you place a minimum $50 (US) order using the November host code, 9P92HTER, I will send you a free gift. US customers only. Customers placing an order smaller than $50 will still receive my thank you card.
If you place a $150 or greater order please don't use the hostess code. You will still receive the gifts but you will also get your own hostess benefits.
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