gift bags with a difference

I was surfing the net one night a little while ago when I couldn't sleep and got into watching youtube videos, I find it quite theraputic watching others craft and often get some fab ideas. On this occasion and found this excellent tutorial for how to make a gift bag out of an envelope. Now, I'm stupid and didn't save a link to the video, I really wanted to share the link with you. This is such a fantastic idea - I'm always in need of gift bags for pressies and finding one that's the correct size is almost impossible and can end up being quite pricey!

Below are a few examples of Christmas themed gift bags in a variety of sizes (depending on envelope size) and also different closures! This was the make and take project we did at Sue's party last week.

Stamp Set: Season of Joy

Ink: Real Red, Old Olive

Cardstock: Whisper White Real Red

Accessories: Real Red Grosgrain

Extras: Crop-a-dile

Envelope: to fit A5 card

Stamp Set: Season of Joy

Ink: Crumb Cake, Rose Red

Cardsrtock: Crumb Cake, Rose Red

Accessories: Rose Red Seam Binding, Rhinestones, Linen Thread

Punch: 5 Petal, Boho Blossoms, Decorative Label

Extras: Crop-a-dile

Envelope: to fit A4 letter

Stamp Set: Season of Joy

Ink: Marina Mist, Night of Navy

Punch: Eyelet Border

Accessories: Rhinestone Brads, Linen Thread

Extras: Crop-a-dile, Paper Piercer, Mat Pack

Envelope: to fit square card

Stamp Set: Season of Joy

Ink: Daffodil Delight, Early Espresso

Cardstock: Whisper White, Daffodil Delight

Punch: Decorative Label

Accessories: Rhinestone Brad

Extras: Crop-a-dile, Paper Piercer, Mat Pack

Envelope: to fit A6 size card

I hope you liked today's share! They're so easy to make, have a go today!! 

Hugs,

Amanda x

simply stampin' challenge, week 11

Wow, can you believe its week 11 on the Simply Stampin' challenges already?! Can't believe how time is flying by! This week is another colour challenge. The colours are so lovely I have 2 cards this week, one you will get today and the other sometime later in the week! Without any further ado, here are this week's colours and my first card...

Stamp Set: Greenhouse Garden, Fun & Fast Notes

Cardstock: Crumb Cake, Very Vanilla, Chocolate Chip

DSP: Concord Crush (6x6 Hostess Only pack)

Ink: Concord Crush, Chocolate Chip

Punches: Eyelet Border, Modern Label, Corner Rounder

Extras: Crimper, Crop-a-dile

This is a really simple card, sometimes simple is the most effective though, right?! A few strips of Concord Crush DSP split up with a little bit of Chocolate Chip cardstock. The eyelet border punch mimics the polka dot DSP. I stamped the sentiment on some Very Vanilla cardstock, punched out with te modern label punch and then sponged the edges to give it a softer look. I stamped and cut out a few small flowers from the Greenhouse Garden stamp set to embellish the sentiment (I think the finished effect it looks similar to a stamp in the Just Believe stamp set - just to prove you can get inspiration from stamps you don't own!) To help marry the sentiment and the strips of DSP (and also to soften the very bold flowers) I punched out dots of Very Vanilla cardstock using the small end of the crop-a-dile and added them to the middle of the flowers. Finally I crimped the edge just to break up the large expanse of Crumb Cake, and then rounded the corners. 

Check out the other design team entries at Simply Stampin' Challenge blog, and please do enter!

Please let me know what you think! Are you a lover of Concord Crush?! I certainly am!

Check back later this week for my second entry! 

Amanda xx

simply stampin' challenge, week 8

We are into another colour challenge! And what a colour combo we have this week! 

I just LOVE these colour! They're so bright and cheerful and summery! I thought I'd try going for a little bit more of a busy over the top card this week, and here we are...

Thanks a Bunch

Stamp Set: Greenhouse Garden, Just Perfect Alphabet

Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Old Olive, Pumpkin Pie, Daffodil Delight

Ink: Daffodil Delight, Old Olive, Versamark 

Extras: Big shot, Scallop Envelope, Crop-a-dile, clear embossing powder, Tombo Mono multi glue

I started off by stamping and embossing the large and small flowers from the Greenhouse Garden set. I cut them out and then curved up the petals to make them look a bit more real. I thought the background was looking a little plain so I used the Daffodil Delight marker to colour in the smallest flower and by colouring in very roughly and not breathing on it to re-moisten the ink gave a more rustic look. I thought it would be cool to attach a scallop envelop to the front with a the greeting inside, giving the receiver some way to interact with the card. I stamped "thanks" using the Just Perfect" alphabet and added it inside the envelope. I attached the envelope to the card at an angle to the card and added the flowers all around to make it look like it was in a bed of flowers. To finish off the flowers I used the crop-a-dile to punch out small little circles and added them as the centres to my flowers. 

Please check out the other design team member's creations at Simply Stampin' Challenge. 

Today is a big day, my first class is today...I'm feeling a little nervous but I hope it will all go okay! Wish me luck hey? 

Leave a comment, I love reading them! 

Amanda xoxo