Build a Bear becomes a girl!

This tutorial is for those of you that aren't bear fans.  The build-a-bear sizzix die can be adapted to a lot of different characters - one of which is a cute little kid.  These instructions are for making a girl.  You could easily leave off the pony tails and make a boy.  If you want instructions on making a jointed kid, check out my class for the Build a Bear (with lots of great outfits for your paper doll).

Stampin' Up! Punches Needed:

Build-a-Bear Sizzix die - Blush Blossom for body

1 3/8" Circle - Blush Blossom for face & chocolate chip for hair

1/2" Circle - Blush Blossom for ears and nose

Scallop Circle - chocolate chip for pony tails & pretty in pink print for skirt

teardrop (or teardrop substitute) - in black for eyes

Ornament - rose red print for shirt

3/4" Circle - rose red print for sleeves

Word Window - white for waist band

Full Heart - rose red for shirt

Heart to Heart - pretty in pink for hair bows

1/4" Circle - pretty in pink print for hair bows

Instructions:

1. Die cut build a bear out of blush blossom cardstock.  Clip off the ears and hair.  Trim one of the 1/2" circles into an oval for the nose.  Punch 2 of the 1/2" circles for ears.  Sponge edges of all blush blossom pieces with pretty in pink ink.
2. Attach nose with dimensional.  Glue on ears.  Glue on teardrop eyes.  Add detailing with uni-ball white gel pen and zig detail black pen.  Attach face to head with dimensional.
3. For hair, cut 1 3/8" chocolate circle in half. Clip on edge to create bangs.  Clip scallop circles as shown for ponytails.  Sponge chocolate pieces with chocolate chip ink.  Glue bangs and ponytails to head.  
4. For hair bow, glue 2 small hearts on each side of 1/4" circle.  Make 2 bows and use a glue dot to attach to ponytails.
5. For the shirt, glue the full heart on top of the ornament.  Attach to body.  Turn body over and clip away excess.
6. Clip away bottom of each 3/4" circle for sleeves.  Glue sleeves onto blouse.
7. Glue 2 word windows together for waistband of skirt.  Cut scallop circle in half and glue onto waist band.  Glue skirt onto blouse, turn over and clip away excess on each side of the skirt.

Ballerina

Hello all, by now, several of you are hopefully creating some fun poseable build-a-bears!  Here is a freebie for all of my loyal readers.  To make the bear, follow the instructions HERE.  Instructions for the poseable bear is in my newest Build-a-Bear class.

Stampin' Up! Punches needed:
3/4" Circle
1" Circle
1 3/4" Circle
Eyelet Border

Punch half of 3/4" circle in white.  Line up 1 3/4" circle over the top of 3/4" punched circle as shown.

For tutu, cut a strip of pink designer series paper (I used pink pirouette polkadot) 1 1/2" x 12".  Punch entire length with eyelet border punch.  Spritz the strip of paper with water (or Fabreeze).  The paper will soften so you can easily gather the paper as shown.  Cut a strip of DSP 1/2" x 1 3/4" for the waistband.  Fold the 1/2" x 1 3/4" piece in half lengthwise.  Use a strong adhesive like sticky strip to fasten the gathered tutu piece to the strip, fold the strip over the top and fasten on each side.  

For the toeshoes, punch slightly less than half of a 3/4" circle and then line up 1" Circle over the top and punch as shown.  Round out each end.  Cut a ribbon about 8" long, fold in half and attach to back of each shoe.  Wrap ribbons around legs once and tie in place

Blog Candy Winner

Congratulations to the winner of my blog candy drawing for my followers milestone.  The follower selected is Robin.Christine at http://robinscraps.blogspot.com/.  Robin, please contact me with your mailing address and I will send your goodies!

woo hoo!

Hello everyone!  I just hit 100 followers, another milestone!  To celebrate, I want to offer some card candy.   This reward is up for grabs to all of my followers.  I will draw a random name from my followers list on Sunday and they will get a super goody package!  I'm going on a stamping retreat with my girlfriends this weekend and there may just be some finished projects in there as well.

If you aren't a follower and would like a chance at winning, please sign up to follow me.  That's all you have to do.  Thanks to all of my loyal followers and email subscribers!  I am working on getting 1000 email subscribers as well.  When that happens, I will be offering another super prize drawing for all of my email subscribers.  Thanks!!!!!

great place for sketches

Hey all, I wanted to share this awesome place for scrapbook and card sketches.  I've always found that it's much easier to make a card or page when you know what the layout will be ahead of time.  I bought a binder called Page Maps by Becky Fleck months ago and it has been very useful.  I didn't realize she had a website and shares for free new sketches every month. Check it out!

http://www.pagemaps.com/

Ornament Punch order details

Hi All, I've gotten details from several readers that you can order the SU! Ornament punch either through your demonstrator or at http://www.stampinup.com/.  This is a write-in item as it isn't in the current catalog or mini-catalog.  The item number is 116794 and the price is $15.95.  If you don't have this punch, you have to buy it!!!  I use it for just about every punch project I do.  Of course, if you don't have access to SU! punches, you can check out my ornament punch substitute instructions HERE.  I have quite a few readers outside the US and Canada.  For those readers, you may not know that the SU! punches are manufactured by EK Success.  Several of the punch shapes that SU! sells can be found wherever EK Success is sold.  Several of the punches are exclusive to SU! such as the ornament, butterfly, boho blossoms & heart to heart (I believe) but the basic shape ones are not.  Hope this helps those readers that really want to create my punch art but have no access to SU! punches.  Happy punching!

Build A Bear card

I had to put this cute little bear on a card.  I used the To The Nines designer series papers by Stampin' Up!

Build-a-Bear Gets a Makeover

I bet all of you people who don't like the sizzix build-a-bear die will change your mind after seeing this little guy!  Presenting the new and improved Build a Bear.  tada!

Build a Bear Notes Holder
Build a Bear Eissel Card

It's amazing how you can make something so much better by adding some punches!  You will need the following Stampin' Up! punches:
1 3/8" Circle for the head
3/4" Circle for outer ears
1/2" Circle for inner ears
Small oval for muzzle
Ornament for belly (or ornament substitute)
Heart to Heart (small heart) for nose
2 teardrop eyes (if you don't have a teardrop punch, see teardrop substitute)

Other supplies:
Sizzix Build-a-Bear die (Stampin' Up!)
Close to Cocoa and Creamy Caramel carstocks
Basic black for eyes and nose
chocolate chip ink pad and sponge
uni-ball white gel pen, zig detail black pen
dimensionals, mono liquid glue

1. Clip off the top of the ornament and round out the bottom.  Sponge the edges of all cocoa and caramel pieces with chocolate chip ink pad.
2. Attach belly to body with dimensionals
3. Glue ears onto head (line up the ears on the die to the 3/4" circles for placement).
4. Glue heart onto small oval. Clip away top of heart.  Attach muzzle to face with dimensional.
5. Glue eyes on and add detailing with gel pen and zig.
6. Attach face to head with dimensionals.
7. Add ribbons, etc.  You could punch a heart and attach to chest like original die.  I left that off.

What a way to start the day

I was driving to work today and traveling on the freeway going about 65 miles per hour.  The car in front of me all of a sudden lost their muffler.  It came flying at me at 65 miles per hour!  Needless to say, even though I swerved to miss it, it still struck my car on the driver side.  Thankfully it didn't cause me to lose control of my car or hit another car trying to get out of the way.  Thankfully my insurance has deemed it a comprehensive claim so I don't have to come up with the deductible.  Funny, when I called to submit the claim, I was told that if the muffler was sitting stationary on the road and I hit it, it would be considered collision but since I was hit by a moving object, it's considered comprehensive.  Go figure.  I just hate the pain of taking my car to a body shop and having to find other means of transportation for a day or 2.

Internet browsers

Hi all, it appears that sometimes certain elements of my blog sometimes don't show up in Internet Explorer.  I personally stopped using IE a long time ago after trying out Google Chrome.  This browser is so much faster and personally, I think safer as well.  If you haven't tried out this free browser yet, you should give it a try, you will be happy you did!  Incidentally, anyone that has had problems viewing my blog in IE, had no problems with Chrome.

http://www.google.com/chrome

Bunny Behind card

I thought it would be fun to do an easter card with Peter Cotton tail and showing his fluffy tail from behind.  I finally broke down and used my Parisian DSP which is retired and I wish I had bought much more of it!!!

Stampin Up Punches needed:

body parts punched out of parisian dsp and tail punched out of textured white cardstock

Ornament - body

1 1/4" circle - head

Small oval - ears

Butterfly (cut in half) - feet

Boho Blossoms - tail

Create the fluffy tail by misting the boho blossom pieces with water (I like to use Febreze).  Wad up pieces to wrinkle.  Unfold and let dry.  Glue pieces together (layering one at a time).  Fluff up edges.  Sponge edges of body pieces with chocolate chip ink.

Card layers measurements:

6 x 12 kraft or caramel colored cardstock folded in half for base of card

5 7/8 x 5 7/8 flower print Parisian DSP

2 x 5 7/8 striped DSP

4 1/2 x 3 polka dot DSP

sign die cut with Nestabilities Label #1

Well Scripted stamp set for easter stamp in chocolate chip

kraft taffetta ribbon

Popcorn Bear

I spotted this cute little bear on SCS and fell in love.  So I got several sets and this is my first creation with Popcorn Bear and I actually dug out my copic markers and used them!  You can see from the photo but several of the flowers are cut out and popped for dimension and they are also glittered with dazzling diamonds.  The background paper with the daffodils was stamped (SCS technique challenge for this week).

Carrot Cone

I saw this technique tutorial on SCS and just had to adapt it to a carrot treat cone!  For the basic cone instructions, go HERE.  To create the carrot, follow the instructions below.

Cut a circle 8 inches in diameter.  If you want longer "greens", cut the circle bigger.  The circle needs to be pliable to mold it.  Lay the circle on some paper towel and spritz with water (I prefer to use febreze because it  makes the paper a little softer and it smells good to).  Wad the circle up into a tight ball and then flatten back out as shown.

Pinch the center of the circle and gather up the edges until you have a semi folded cone in your hand as shown.

Cut 1 inch off the tip of the cone as shown.

Apply a strong adhesive like sticky strip on the inside rim of the cone and then adhere the tip of the cone around the edges of the cone as shown.  You will need to fold and pleat the edges of the paper to fit nicely onto the edge of the cone. For the outer edge of the cone, I punched a strip of certainly celery cardstock with the scallop border punch, sprayed with water and wadded it up, flatten back out and glue in place around outer edge of cone.

Fill cone with treats and then gather the top closed and tie closed with a celery satin ribbon.  You could attach a hand stamped card if you choose.  I created a card (that isn't shown in the picture) that features a little Bunny Chow poem (stamp by Inky Antics)

Hopping on his way to a picnic lunch,
a bunny paused for something to munch.
He reached in his basket for a treat,
something tasty for us to eat!
Not lettuce...not carrots...
it was Bunny Chow!
Who needs vitamins, anyhow?

SCS challenges

I wanted to try out 2 different challenges over at SCS.  One was the Sketch Challenge #270 and the other is a technique called Circle Medallion.  This is such a cool technique!  You have to try this out yourself.  Becca has a great video tutorial HERE.  For this card, I used K&Company designer paper paired with the Well Scripted stamp set.  

comment moderation suggestions?

In an effort to make it easy for people to leave a comment at my site, I've been opened up to spammers as well. It's frustrating as I have accidentally erased nice comments from my readers as I was deleting all of this pornographic spam!  Those of you that have blogs, what do you find is the easiest for visitors?  Should I add the requirement of entering the word verification before leaving a comment?  Or do you all require commenters to have a google/yahoo account?  thanks for any suggestions (of course, your comment will have to be approved to show up here, but I promise to read them all).

SCS TLC 262 Challenge

Splitcoaststampers has a cool challenge right now that is called Faux Nesties.  Basically, you can use your punches or other die cutters to create the look of a nestability layer.  I wanted to take a stab at it with my new Jumbo Flower punch.  If you want to check out the other great projects in the challenge, go HERE.

Following are the steps to make my card.

Punch 6 jumbo flowers out of your choice designer papers.  The papers I used are from a DCWV stack called Linen Closet.  Layer them onto each other as shown.

Back layer is 6" x 5".  Card base is 11 1/2 x 4 3/4 (folded in half).  Stamps are from Vintage Vogue.  Friend stamp is first inked up with sahara sand ink and then use a not quite navy marker to color the friends text and the outer edge of the letter.  Stamp and cut with a narrow border around the image.  Mount onto 2 curly label punch pieces glued together.  For the flower, I used boho blossoms punch.  Punch 2 sets of flowers, layer all flowers on top of eachother, pierce a hole in the center and join with a gold brad.  Mount onto front of card with dimensional.  Tie vanilla satin ribbon into bow.  Stamp greeting with not quite navy ink.

Punch Tree Pop Up Card

The tree on this card is super cute and easy to make.  You will need 3 modern labels punched in close to cocoa and 5 scallop oval punched in certainly celery (it was embossed with swiss dot embossing folder before punching).  Sponge the cocoa pieces with chocolate chip ink and the celery pieces with artichoke ink.

Overlap 2 modern label in the back and layer another modern label in the front center.  Glue on scallop circles (or use dimensionals for additional depth).  Draw detail lines on front of tree trunk with detail black zig pen.  Stamp owl (Love Bandit) in chocolate chip and raccoon in black memento (colored with copic markers).  Base of the card is certainly celery cardstock.  Tag in the back features theWelcome Neighbor DSP (SAB Sale).   Please visit SCS for step by step instructions on how to assemble the pop up card.  If you can't see the link, here it is.  http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/resources/tutorials/freestandingpopupcard/

Bombshell February Bloghop Challenge - PUNCHES & DIE CUTS

Please join me on a bloghop!  Bombshell Stamps is hosting a February bloghop featuring punch art and die cuts.  Enjoy!



PerkyNihilist
BoHoRose
Patti
Stempelientje
Meredith
Erika
Angela
Sy
Cheryl
MaryG
Kas
Kathi
MissMagoo
Gabby
Steph
Kelli
Kim
Angie
SungheeSarah

Just Be U Fuzzy Alien

This little guy turned out so cute!  I don't think the picture does this card justice.

You will need the following punched pieces:

Scallop Circle punch in Sage Shadown - BODY (I used a glitter coated paper for my sample)

2 of the 3/4" Circle Punch in Pretty in Pink - HANDS

Ornament Punch in Pretty in Pink (or SUBSTITUTE) - HEAD

Full Heart in Black - ANTENNA

Heart of Hearts in Sage Shadow - ANTENNA (I used glitter coated paper)

1/2" Circle in Sage Shadow - NOSE (I used glitter coated paper)

Boho Blossoms in Creamy Caramel - HAIR (I used a gold glitter coated paper)

Modern Label in Pretty in Pink - FEET

Teardrops in Black (or Boho Blossoms)- EYES

You will need the following other supplies for the card:

To The Nines Designer Series Paper (or other paper of choice)

Close to Cocoa cardstock

Sage Shadow cardstock

Sahara Sand cardstock

All About U stamp set

Pretty in Pink ink pad & stamp sponge

Detail black zip pen, white uniball gel pen

Chocolate Chip stampin write marker

Chocolate Chip ink pad (or you could use the marker)

Dimensionals and adhesive

1) For the antenna, punch the Full Heart in black as shown.  Line up the heart over the punched hole and punch out antenna as shown.  Cut the full heart piece in half for 2 antenna.

2) Punch the modern label in pretty in pink.  Cut it in half and round out the sharp edges to create the feet.  Sponge the edge of all pretty in pink pieces with pretty in pink ink.

3) Punch 2 of the large boho blossoms out of glitter gold cardstock.  Both the sage and gold colored glitter papers are from the DCWV Mariposa paper stack.  Cut one boho blossom in half and cut 2 of the petals off each half for the hair on hands.

4) Punch 2 small hearts from Heart to Heart for antenna. Trim the 1/2" Circle into an oval for nose.

5) Glue ornament head to scallop circle.  Glue on teardrop eyes and add detailing with black zig pen and white uniball gel pen.  Attach nose and hair with dimensional.  Attach hair to hands with dimensionals.  Glue antenna onto head.   The above picture doesn't show the feet attached.  Add toe details to feet with zig pen and glue feet onto body.

6) Run the brush tip of the cocoa marker around the outer edges of the U stamp.  Stamp onto print paper and cut out U.  Attach to alien body with dimensionals.  Position hands so they are holding the U and attach with dimensionals.

Card Cutting Dimensions:

8 1/2 x 5 1/2 close to cocoa for card base

4 1/8" x 5 3/8" sage shadow layer

4" x 5 1/4" artichoke paisley print 

4" x 1" sahara sand print, 4 1/8" x 1 1/8" close to cocoa cardstock back layer 

1 3/4" x 3 /12" cocoa check print, 1 7/8" x 3 5/8" sahara sand cardstock back layer

more to come

Sorry I've been away from the blog for a few days.  I wanted to post a project this weekend but ended up spending it with hubby on an "us time" weekend.  I'm working on these cute little aliens for a free project coming up on the blog.  I'm also working on the easter class which I hope to have completed by the end of the month.  Time is flying by and it seems there are never enough hours in the day!  Thanks to all of my loyal readers and followers that are sticking around and waiting for the next project.