ho! ho! ho! - with punch art

Recently I stumbled across a really old but very cute 'punch art' Santa hat on line, made using SU punches. There were no instructions, apart from a photo of the pieces, but the idea is very clever (IMHO) so it was very much a case of playing around, plus I didn't have one of the punches that appeared to have been used so had to improvise and this was the end result - and I made five cards all the same in a single 'batch bake':

And these are the punched pieces I started off with - just to put the punch art into context, I'll explain below:

Get the idea? On the photo I found there was also a plain oval punched out of the centre of the white scalloped oval - and that's where I improvised. Read on for more detail:

I used:

- 4.25" x 5.5" white card blank

- the same white card stock, which is slightly off-white - mistake to buy an unknown brand on line, lesson learned! I cut a panel just slightly smaller (eighth of an inch all round) to the card blank

- then I die cut an aperture into the panel, using a Spellbinders 'Wonky Rectangle' die - having tried almost every other die I owned against the little prototype hat I made. That's one of my tips for today - especially if you want to make a batch of cards, take the time to make a little prototype, it will repay you in shed loads!

- then I stamped the 'ho! ho! ho!' sentiment using Memento 'Tuxedo Black' ink and a stamp from SU's 'Good greetings' stamp set

- next I backed the aperture with a snippet of black card stock, and added it to the card front using a layer of fun foam to lift it a bit

- I had already used punches to make the hat elements, shown above. I used snippets of course and one was deep red satin mirri for the 'cap' of the hat - using SU's 'Extra Large Oval' punch, and then I just cut a little rounded piece out of the hat using one end of the SU 'Word Window' punch 

- next I went around all the edges of the red satin mirri card using a red Whispers marker - just to cover up the white edge - not needed if you use a 'coloured all the way through' card stock of course

- the fur for the hat was die cut using a SU 'Scallop Oval' punch and a snippet of pearlescent Centura white card

- the little bobble for the hat was also die cut from the Centura white card and a SU 'Itty Bitty' flower shaped punch

- this is where I wandered away from the overall assembly bit as I didn't have a 'central oval' punch small enough (I think it's the now discontinued SU 'Small Oval' punch) or even a die suitable enough to cut an oval aperture into which the bottom part of the hat would slot

- my solution was to slightly trim away a small curve from the back part of the hat, just below the 'notch' I'd punched in to form the cheeky pointed part so that the line of the red followed the white 'fur' trim of the hat and sit the red part of the hat on top of the white scalloped oval rather than slot it through an aperture - and it works just fine. And if you followed that little explanation - take a quick go on the Playground swings!

- all that was left was to glue the three parts of the hat in place, using a fine line glue applicator and Collall All Purpose Glue - before adding the finishing touch of 'Icicle' Stickles to the hat bobble

I always leave adding Stickles and Glossy Accents until a card is completed - had too many accidents in the past trying to play with teeny embellishments and said sticky stuff :) Plus, I play safe and either use a fine line applicator for Glossy Accents or, for either, squeeze some onto a small piece of paper to work with and add it with a fine paintbrush.

Cuttlebug Mania Challenge - 'BBQ'

It's time again for a new fortnightly challenge over at Cuttlebug Mania - and the theme this time is 'BBQ'! I expect this may well cause some wry smiles, certainly here in the UK - given the rain we've been having. In fact, Len said I needed to add raindrops to my DT card :)

You do have to use a manual die cutting/embossing machine for Cuttlebug Mania entries (it doesn't need to be a Cuttlebug but it must be manual, not electronic). And, you can't mix the two, it must be all manual please. Then make your entry, link into the challenge, link to the challenge in your own blog post and and make sure that you also say what products you used for any die cutting/embossing.

Details of our sponsor can be found over on the Cuttlebug Mania Challenge blog.

I dithered around for a while and even went so far as to purchase a digi for the princely sum of 99p (bargain!). But in the end I did a little search on the internet for 'punch art' ideas and then trawled right through my dies to see what I could fiddle round with and adapt to suit. This is the result:

I used:

- 4.25" x 5.75" white card blank

- slightly smaller snippet of plain pale blue card stock for the background, which I built up before finally adding it to the card front

- a total of seven dies and lots of snippets of card, as follows 

- snippet of patterned green grass card, die cut using Marianne's 'Icicles' die (LR0135). Then layered strips of the positive and negative die cut one below the other right across the bottom of the image panel, with the icicles pointing upwards as grass

- snippet of black card from which I die cut the wheels (using my very smallest Spellbinders circles die) and the BBQ legs, using the trunk of a Memory Box 'Arboscello Tree', die cut twice

- snippets of two shades of orange card which I die cut using Penny Black's bow from the 'Whirl Wreath' set and I used the pieces which would normally be left over  to create the 'flames'. Then did a partial die cut from a teensy piece of black card for the BBQ lid's handle

- next, die cut the body of the BBQ, using a die approx. 6cm across, from the Tonic Studios Circle Layering set of dies and a snippet of Christmas (or BBQ!) red silk sheen mirri card - then using a trimmer sliced it in half

- die cut the sun from a snippet of yellow card, using a die from the Joy! Sun & Moon set

- die cut the cloud from a snippet of white card using MFT's 'Cloud Trio' set

- by now I had enough bits and pieces to play around with the design and so the next thing I did was to stamp the sentiment (with the aid of my Misti of course) in the top right hand corner using Memento 'Tuxedo Black' ink and a sentiment stamp from the Paper Smooches 'Summer Lovin' stamp set

- now it was time to assemble the little scene and I glued the sun in place partially covered by the die cut cloud. One reason I'd not yet stuck the blue panel to the card front was 'cos I was sure the cloud and sun would be a bit of a squeeze alongside the sentiment so I just overlapped the cloud in the top left corner and trimmed it straight from behind with scissors

- next I stuck the BBQ legs where I wanted them to be and then added the wheels, topping the black circles with grey ones, punched using eyes from the SU 'Owl' punch :)

- before assembling the BBQ body I added the handle to the lid, and the flames to the bottom part, using red line tape on the back of the pieces - then just stuck the two parts in place on the blue layer

- almost there, final touch was three brushed pewter Josy Rose nail heads - one in the centre of each wheel and one on the lid 'join/hinge'

This really was huge fun to make, albeit a bit fiddly - as well as the time spent working out which dies to use.

If you decide to make something similar, or even very different, using dies - my biggest tip of all is to look closely at the areas which are not part of the design of the end cut result. Those pieces which you would normally discard after cutting. It's amazing how many useful little shapes can be found, for example I was spoilt for choice with options for the flames:)

We'd love to see you over at Cuttlebug Mania, it's a great theme with plenty of scope and the challenge runs for two weeks.

Di
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Minions Birthday card

I've wanted to make a 'Minions' Birthday card for ages now, using the Stampin' Up Owl punch. Recently I got the chance to make one for one of Len's little relatives - and they really are such fun to make, if a little fiddly!

This is so NOT my idea by any means, there are loads of Minions cards out there and we've had some fun ones in the Playground for sure. THIS is where I found some clear and easy to follow instructions using the SU owl punch (which was my mission!), along with photos of the stages. And this was the resulting card 'wot I made' - with huge thanks to Trisha for the really clear instructions:

I used:

- A6 white card blank

- a snippet of dark blue paper as a frame

- a panel of white card

- snippet of yellow card, die cut using a Memory Box 'Grand Happy Birthday' die then backed the lower part with a snippet of dark blue paper

- only at that point did I stick the yellow sentiment layer, with lower part backed with the dark blue paper, to the panel of white card and trim it down to sit on top of the dark blue frame leaving a narrow border right round

- the cheeky little Minions were made by following the instructions here (as mentioned earlier) and using snippets of yellow, black and dark blue card - plus some large googly eyes

- die cut the letters for Joe's name using a snippet of dark blue card and a Tattered Lace 'Anniversary - Classic Alphabet' die

- then just popped the little Minions in place using thin sticky pads

I used some words I'd seen whilst looking for the Minions tutorial, just printed them on the insert .................. 'Sending you Minions of Birthday Wishes'.

Snigger :)

Di
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Pixie's Snippets Playground - Weeks 181 and 182

Well over two years ago, Bonnie brought a really terrific Spiderman 'punch art' card to the Snippets Playground. We have a little neighbour who is a huge fan of Spiderman (copyrighted to Marvel), so this card (almost a pure CASE of Bonnie's card) was a must for his Birthday recently:

I used:

- 5" x 7" white card blank

- loads of snippets of white, dark blue, royal blue and red card

- first I made the background by adding dark blue card to the card front and drawing a web using a fine white 'Signo' pen

- then I embossed a piece of curved white card using a Tim Holtz 'Cobwebs' embossing folder and added that to the lower half of the card

- to find out how Spiderman himself is made/punched I suggest you check out Bonnie's link which she kindly added to her blog post, the instructions are very detailed and easy to follow. Basically it was an assortment of SU punches to create our hero, although I had to wing it a bit and do a bit of freehand cutting as I don't have every punch that was used. Used the same Tim Holtz 'Cobwebs' embossing folder to emboss the red pieces of card once they'd been punched/cut

- the sentiment was computer produced and punched using SU's 'Modern Label' punch

- then die cut the number 6 from red card using a Memory Box 'Classic Numbers' die and mounted it onto a series of offset circles and punched a little hole in one edge for the line of web, which is just a length of iridescent cord

Thanks for the inspiration Bonnie! And, bless him, Taylor loved his card. In fact he was wearing his Spiderman T-shirt (minus his mask) when Len popped round to give him the card :)

Straight onto this week's picks now:

My first pick this week was brought to the Playground by Annie, such a brilliant and economical idea for unmounted stamp storage - and great for using up those white snippets we all seem to accumulate!

I just love this beautiful layered card, made by Andrea - it's so pretty and the background papers are just perfect with the dual coloured roses.

Isn't this a great card?! Perfect for a guitar lover or player, I know Len would be tickled pink if I made him a card like this one, which was made by Pat.

Mary Anne skipped in with this wonderful card, showing such a great scene - and I do love the sentiment :)
I'm calling a halt there, even though there are so many makes I'd love to show.  But, I would like to introduce a new Playmate to you:

Maura came to play more than once this week and this was her first entry - just beautiful isn't it!

Welcome Maura and I hope you'll come back to play with us often!

And now it's time to choose a winner of the Die-namics MFT 'Quilt Square Cover-Up' die. Once again, a prize where I truly wished I had more than one to offer:

Pippa

Well done Pippa, it's ages since you last won in the Playground so this was well due! I don't have your address so could you please let me have it and I'll post your prize off ASAP this week. di_wray@hotmail.com

And here's this coming week's prize, not remotely connected to my own snippets make:

It's a Joanna Sheen set of three unmounted House Mouse stamps called 'Love Chocolate Heart'. Cute or what? And, I have two of these on offer - both exactly the same.

This time, the Snippets Challenge will once again run for two weeks and the Playground gates will close at 11am UK time on Saturday 27th June. The gates will open again at midnight UK time on the same day.

I'm sorry to mess folk about but I can't see me managing to do the Playground write-up on Saturday so feel it's best to let it run for a couple of weeks, which does seem to have worked fine recently. I hope this won't be a regular event though.

Maximum of three entries (over the two week period) and please say 'Yes please' (or similar) in a comment if you wish to play and be a possible winner of the prize.

I'll add some runner up prizes next Sunday (21st June) too. All prizes will be available to win with entries made over the coming two weeks.

Mr Linky is below - do please let me know if you have any problems linking, it's easy for me to sort out so don't struggle on alone :)

Di, and of course, Parsnip!
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Is it a dragon - or a dinosaur?

Opinions are mixed on t'internet but whatever it is I'm gonna call him Dino. I found this Dino 'punch art' critter to make for a little boy's Birthday. I do know that the little chap concerned recently went to visit our Natural History Museum in London, and I also know that he's into dinosaurs - and probably dragons too.

It's a shame that I couldn't find out just who originally came up with this super idea, as there are a few similar cards out there. This is the link to where I found one image and an idea of the card 'ingredients' -  then I just sort of cobbled my own version together, substituting where necessary. The end result is very much like Debbi's - just wish I knew who originally came up with this great idea:

To make things a bit clearer, this is a photo of the pieces that I punched out (the green ones already had green ink blended on and had also been embossed). The clouds were die cut later on.

Here's a list of the punches and dies that I used for Dino:

- Spellbinders circle die for Dino's (green) head, cut one (mine in the photo has a flat piece at the bottom - purely as I was really stretching the card stock and knew that would be covered once assembled :)

- SU 'Large Oval' punch for the green background to his eyes, punch two

- SU 'Extra Large' oval punch for Dino's green 'muzzle/mouth', punch two

- SU 'Owl Builder' punch for his white 'fangs', punch two hearts from the punch

- SU 'Large Oval' punch for the whites of his eyes, punch one and cut in two across the middle

- SU ' Owl Builder' punch for the black parts to the eyes (or SU's 'Itty Bitty' punch is almost the same size), punch two

- an ordinary 'file hole' round punch for the black nostrils, punch two

- the horns and spines were punched using SU's 'More Mustard' card and the top of the SU 'Festive Trees' punch - punch five and just trim to size when assembling Dino

- I just guessed at the size and shape of Dino's neck, by using a paper template until it looked balanced. As a rough guide' the neck is 5" long from the corner of the card to where it's neatly tucked under Dino's head - and about one and three-quarter inches wide, with a very slight curve along the top

To make up the card I used:

- 5" x 7" white card blank

- a piece of SU's 'Lost Lagoon' card stock, cut just slightly smaller than the card blank. NB. I worked on this background piece right until the entire card front was finished before adhering it to the card blank - this enables the cutting away of the cloud at top left and neck at bottom left :)

- first of all I cut out the pieces I wanted and then using green card (SU's 'Lucky Limeade') for the main part of Dino, gently sponged those with VersaMagic 'Hint of Pesto' and embossed them using SU's 'Square Lattice' embossing folder.

- I think the finished photo is self-explanatory but in case not, I stuck the neck piece onto the card leaving an overhang at the bottom left corner which I then just snipped off (flip the card over to do this as that gives you a clear guide line)

- then I assembled Dino's head straight onto the blue backing. Round piece first, the two green 'Large Ovals' the whites of his eyes, then the big black pupils

- next I assembled his 'muzzle' by just popping the pointy bit of the hearts underneath the top piece as 'fangs/teeth' then sticking the two together. Added the black nostrils and then popped the muzzle on using thin sticky pads at the bottom part and flat sticky at the top part

- trimmed the horns/spines to size and added them by using a little piece of thin sticky pad down each one and leaving a gap where it was going to sit on top of his neck/head. That just means it sits level - same as I did for his muzzle :)

- next I die cut three clouds using MFT's 'Cloud Trio' and stamped 'Happy Birthday' on the largest one, using the 'Hint of Pesto' ink again and a sentiment stamps from LOTV's 'General Greetings - small' set. Stuck that onto the corner, again with it overlapping the two edges and trimmed it to size then added a small cloud

- stamped 'seven' onto the middle sized cloud using the 'Hint of Pesto' ink again and the Hero Arts' Whimsical Numbers' stamp set, then stuck that in place

- at that point, I added the assembled 'scene' to the card blank, using Collall All Purpose Glue which allows some 'wiggle' room to make sure it's centred properly :)

- final touch, added 'Glossy Accents' over the eyes - with heart in mouth as one dollop and the whole thing would have been ruined!

So, that was another foray into punch art for me.

Sorry this has been such a ramble, tee, hee - it could have been easier and quicker to do a video. Err, I think NOT!

Di
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