Saturday Showcase: Stamperia Garden Journal

Spotlight on Stamperia's Garden Collection

Hello friends, Maggi here with the Saturday Showcase! The spotlight is shining on Stamperia's Garden collection today.  These papers are colorful and filled with delightful garden images that just might entice you to do a little fussy cutting.  I've created a garden journal that is simple to make, but oh so lovely, and, since it's the time of year for gift giving, this journal is perfect for the gardener's in your life!

Tutorial

I chose to use a 3 binder notebook that has a see through sleeve on the front, back and spine because it is practical.  You can make really pretty covers that will stand up to constant use because of the cover protector.  You can get notebooks in many different sizes and shapes and I chose to use a small notebook that  holds 5.5" x 8.5" paper.

Inside the journal I created pockets, tags, and divider pages for organizing the gardener's tasks.

This journal is all about vegetable gardening and so I created pages to track the yield from the various vegetables. I like to know how much is put up every year so that I'll know whether to increase or decrease how much I've planted.

Ok, let's get busy!  You can ink and/or distress your pages, that's up to you.  I don't distress as much as I used to but I do love the effect. All my pages are inked with Distress Oxide Ink in Antique Linen and Frayed Burlap.  Some of the papers are distressed using Tim Holtz's paper distresser.

Step 1: The Cover

Here's how I did the cover.  I started with a piece of cream card stock that I cut to fit inside the cover sleeve.  I inked it with Distress Oxide Antique Linen and then stenciled on the dots using tan acrylic paint and a stenciling brush.  

This collection includes some great cut-aparts and images that work for fussy cutting.  I selected  square and  rectangular cut-aparts for my cover and adhered as shown below.  I fussy cut the circle sentiment, the boots, and the "my garden" elements and adhered with dimensional foam to pop them up.

I finished off the cover with a few small flowers and 3 cute little buttons.

For the spine I simply cut a strip of design paper about 1 1/8" wide and then placed a narrow strip down the center, adhering with scor-tape.  That's my choice of adhesive for jobs like this, you can certainly use whatever is your favorite adhesive.

I think the back cover is stunning, yet it's nothing more than a piece of design paper with fussy cut birds added.  No need for fancy embellies, it's beautiful just like it is!

Step 2: Calendar

As a gardener, I'm always looking at the calendar, checking planting dates and such, so I printed a calendar (you can find lots of free printable calendars on the internet) and mounted it on a sheet of design paper.  On the backside, I fussy cut the birdhouse and added a chipboard word that is heat embossed with Emerald Creek Rose Gold embossing powder.  The backside is a great place for a gardener to make notes.

Step 3:  Dividers

I cut tabbed dividers for the notebook on my Cameo but you can also buy them or cut your own.  You could also cut rectangles and add tabs to them.  

The collection includes a page that has 4 printed 6" x 6" cut-aparts.  I've used one of those on this divider to create a pocket at the bottom.   The pocket is popped up so that I can include a packet of seeds.  I also made a pretty tag to slip in the pocket with an ivory Graphic 45 tag.  Then I used Graphic 45's regular tag die to die-cut design paper to adhere to the tag, front and back.  I like to finish off my tags with a pretty bow made from seam binding.

I really love the imagery in this collection and the colors, wow!!  That teal and pink is just so spectacular!  Here's the backside of the Planting Guide divider.  I made a vertical pocket and slipped in little monthly cut-aparts that are part of this fun collection.

These pages are all fairly simple, to recreate, you just need to first cover your dividers with base design paper and then find the various elements that I've fussy cut and adhere.

The divider below is super simple, just a piece of design paper and a strip of burlap. Then create a window  using a Tim Holtz Baseboard frame over a window from the design paper.

Tips:  The cover of Stamperia papers often has little elements that you can cut out and this window came from the front cover.

Notice how the bottom left corner of the frame is cut away.  I did this so that I could adhere the fussy cut flower with the button center to the base paper. This way the button is not over the frame and so it's less bulky.

The little black butterflies are Remnant Rubs.

The back of this divider also has a vertical pocket with more of the calendar cut-aparts.

I used two different pieces of design paper for the front of this divider.  Then I fussy cut the bird, the flower pots, and the thyme element from design papers and adhered.  The back of the divider is just a piece of design paper cut to fit along with two plant markers die-cut from another sheet of design paper.

I used two different pieces of design paper on this divider, and then adhered to herbs plant marker over the seam where the striped paper joins the multi-printed collage paper.  I distressed the edges of the paper where the two pieces meet just to add to the shabby appearance. The paper is so pretty that it doesn't need a lot of embellishment, it pops just like it is!

I used another of the 6" x 6" square cut aparts to create a pocket for the back of this divider page.  Then I covered another Graphic 45 tag to slip in the pocket.

I love Stamperia's collections because their papers are so colorful and they include many elements that are perfect for fussy cutting.  Also their papers have the appearance of being collaged so that it is not necessary to add a lot to the page.  You can easily create journals and mini albums that are not so bulky as the pages don't need a lot of embellishment to be pretty.  I am a person who likes to throw "the kitchen sink" at every page, but I am able to control myself with these papers! 😃

Supplies from The Funkie Junkie Boutique

Stamperia - Garden 12x12 Paper Pack	Stampers Anonymous Tim Holtz Mini Layering Stencils - Set 36 THMST036	Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Oxide Pad - Antique Linen	Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Oxide Pad - Frayed Burlap	Tim Holtz Idea-ology Baseboards - Frames	Emerald Creek Alure Powders - Rose Gold
Ranger Embossing Powder - Verdigris Antiquities EPJ37569	Ranger Letter It White Foam Roll - 1/2"x 1/16"x 2.1yds	Burlap String - 12 Colors	Carved Coconut Shell Buttons - 5/8"	Floral Decorated Wooden Buttons - 1"	Graphic 45 - Staples - Regular Tag and Gears Dies
Graphic 45 - Regular Tag Album - Kraft	Natural Jute Mesh (Burlap) Ribbon	Tim Holtz Idea-ology Remnant Rubs Life Quotes TH93120	Scor-Pal Scor-Tape 1/4" x 27 Yards	Tim Holtz Tonic Studios Paper Distresser 370E

Saturday Showcase - Christmas cards and tags with Stamperia

Stamperia Christmas Collections are in stock at The Funkie Junkie Boutique!

Good morning and happy Saturday!! Maggi here to share a couple of cards suitable for mailing and a tag that will make your gift extra special. Stamperia has several gorgeous Christmas collections that look so vintage, you're going to love them! Some of  Stamperia's collections are done in traditional colors, while others are more Victorian. You can find all of these collections at The Funkie Junkie Boutique.   

I have 3 tutorials for you using two two of their Christmas collections, Pink Christmas and Christmas Vintage. This is a long post with lots of photos so grab your favorite beverage and snack and read on!

A Card with Stamperia's Pink Christmas

Pink Christmas is a beautiful vintage collection done in Victorian colors of teal, pinks and rose. The collection is made up of gorgeous images that are perfect for fussy cutting. Note: Ink all the papers if you wish. I used Distress Ink in Worn Lipstick and Iced Spruce.

Pink Christmas Card Tutorial -

Step 1: Locate and trim out the roses, deer and candle images shown below from the 12 x 12 Stamperia Pink Christmas paper pack. Trim the candle cut-apart o 3 3/4" x 5 5/8". Note that I used a scalloped circle die to diecut the pink roses paper but it would look just as great to fussy cut it out in a circle shape. Cut a 3 7/8" diameter circle from the pink print paper. Cut a 2" x 1" flap from cream cardstock and fold in half. Glue one side of the flap to the back of the circle as shown below.

Step 2: Adhere the cream flap to the backside of the candle image as shown in the 1st photo so that the circle folds over the candle image as shown in the 2nd photo below. Glue the roses image to the outside of the circle. (Not shown)

Step 3: Open the flap out and adhere the deer image on the inside as shown below.

Step 4: Cut a border strip from silver paper with the Mini Scalloped Impresslits Embossing Folder. Lightly ink with Stonewashed alcohol ink. 

Step 5: Cut a green card base 9 1/2" x 6 3/8" and score at 4 3/4". Cut a teal floral layer 4 1/4" x 6". Adhere the border strip from Step 4 over the right edge of the blue floral layer as shown so that it's edge is just beneath the candle cut-apart layer. Then adhere the candle and circle assembly over the blue floral layer.

Step 6: Cut a 4 1/8" x 5 7/8" piece of design paper as shown below and adhere to the inside of the card.

That's it! This is such a pretty card that is flat and therefore suitable for mailing. If you don't plan to mail the card, you can add some flowers to the front of the card making it even more stunning!

Gift tag with Stamperia Pink Christmas

Pink Christmas Gift Tag Tutorial -

Step 1:  We'll use a large ivory Graphic 45 tag as the base for this tag. Die-cut a pink floral tag using Graphic 45's large tag die from the Stamperia Pink Christmas 12 x 12 collection. Notice the blank space between the top and bottom of the pink die-cut. Well, I am really miserly with my papers so for this tag I used a scrap of paper that was shorter than the length of the tag. Since the center of the tag is going to be covered with other paper, that is ok! So, I just die-cut a short tag, cut 2" off the bottom and rounded the corners. Then I adhered the small piece to the bottom and the larger piece to the top. Cut a 3 3/4" piece of Venetian lace and adhere over the pink paper at the bottom. (Ink the edges of the papers for this tag as desired with Distress Ink in Tattered Rose and Iced Spruce.)

Step 2: Next cut a piece of teal paper as shown 3 3/4" x 3 1/2". If you have a border punch, punch the bottom as shown and adhere to the tag so that it just laps over the top of the lace.

Step 3: Next cut out the square "for you" cut-apart shown and the circular Merry Christmas cut-apart. I used scalloped dies to cut both the square and circle but it is not necessary to use a die. Trimming with scissors will look great too!

Now cut two 4" circles. (Again, I used a die to cut mine but just a plain 4" circle will look great too.) Notice that one of my circles is just part of a circle. Well, I only had a little piece of cardstock that I thought matched nicely with the papers so I just made it work! The missing part of the circle isn't needed anyway! I applied embossing ink around the edges of the two circles, sprinkled with Emerald Creek Soft Fallen Snow embossing powder and heated.

  

Step 4: Adhere a circle at the top left. Then position the square cut-apart over the circle and use foam dimensional tape to adhere over the circle. Use foam dimensional tape to pop up the 2nd circle and position as shown in the photo. Add the Merry Christmas circular cut-apart, using foam dimensional tape to pop it up. 

Step 5: Select 3 Tim Holtz Christmas Typed Tokens and dab with a white paint dabber, being sure to get white paint embedded in the lettering. Then wipe the paint from the surface so that just the words are white. Adhere at the bottom of the tag as shown below. Use tiny pearls to cover the holes.

Step 6: Add some small flowers around the circular cut-apart and a white seam binding bow at the top.

That's all there is to it. The recipient of a gift adorned with this tag will feel extra special!

Easel Gift Card Holder with Stamperia's Vintage Christmas

This last card is made with the Vintage Christmas collection which is done in more traditional Christmas colors and images. I love the holly sprigs, bells, and Christmas trees sprinkled throughout the collection.

The card is an easel card with a twist. Not only does it have an easel but it opens up like a traditional card and has a place to tuck in cash or a gift card.

Vintage Christmas Easel Card Tutorial -

Step 1: Cut a 8" x 12" piece of red cardstock. Score horizontally at 6" and vertically at 4".

Step 2: Cut out the upper left rectangle along the score lines as shown in the photo below. Keep the cut out rectangle as we'll use it in Step 4.

Step 3: Fold as shown below.

Step 4: The red rectangle pictured below is the piece we cut out in Step 2. Cut a 3 7/8" x 5 7/8" rectangle from green snowy paper, (top right). Locate the cut-apart shown and trim out. Cut a rectangle (I used a scalloped die) from the red with trees paper 2 3/4" x 4" and trim out the birds tag shown below.

Step 5: Score the red cardstock flap at 3" and fold up as shown in the photo and set aside. Layer and adhere the green snowy paper over the red cardstock. Next adhere the cut-apart with the bells over the green snowy paper. Use dimensional foam tape to adhere the next layer, the red with trees. Adhere the final layer, the birds tag. Now, adhere this assembly to the face of the folded piece by adhering the top 3" of the layered piece to the 3" face of the folded up piece. (See the 3rd photo in Step 6.)

Step 6: Cut a piece 3 3/4" x 5 3/4" and adhere underneath the flap. (This is the bottom right corner of the card if the cardstock is laid out flat.) Cut out the tag shown below and adhere about 1 1/4" from the bottom of the card and centered.

This is how the easel mechanism should look.

Step 7: Cut a piece 3 3/4" x 5 5/8" from the blue snowy paper and round the corners if you wish. Cut out the Christmas tree (round the corners if you wish) and the circular Greetings cut-aparts shown.

Step 8: Open the card such that the easel mechanism is on the left and the card opens in the traditional manner. Adhere the tree cut-apart to the right side and adhere the snowy paper to the left side. Put adhesive on the back of the circle cut-apart around the edges but leaving enough room at the top so that cash or a gift card can slide inside.

Detail the berries on the holly sprigs with Stickles to add a sparkly element to the card. That's it, all finished! The front of the card forms a pretty easel allowing the recipient to display this unique card for all to see. Inside the card there's lots of room for a personal message and a gift card too.

Thanks so much for joining me for this long post!! I hope these tutorials give you some ideas for all your Christmas craft cards, tags and projects!

Supplies from The Funkie Junkie Boutique

Stamperia Pink Christmas	Stamperia Christmas Vintage	(MAY PRE-ORDER) Sizzix 3-D Impresslits Embossing Folder - Mini Scallop	Ranger Adirondack Alcohol Ink - Stonewashed	Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Ink Pad - Worn Lipstick
Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Ink Pad - Iced Spruce	Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Ink Pad - Tattered Rose	Ranger Tim Holtz Mini Distress Ink Pad - Fired Brick	Graphic 45 Large Tag Album Ivory	Graphic 45 Staples Large Tag and Flowers Dies
Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Embossing Ink Reinker	Soft Fallen Snow embossing powder	Venise Lace Trim - 2 inches	(September Pre-Order) Tim Holtz Idea-ology Tokens, Christmas	KAISERCRAFT Pearls - Self Adhesive - Blush
Seam Binding	Seasonal Stickles Assortment - Holiday	Ranger ADHESIVE - WHITE FOAM ROLL 1/2" X 1/16"x 2.1 YDS.	Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Ink Pad - Brushed Corduroy	Tim Holtz Tonic Studios Mini Scissors