Durcan Designs

Valentine Treat Box

Hello!

This is a tutorial for a treat box using the new Valentine Paper Kit from Paper Garden Projects. I found the template on the Martha Stewart website and thought wow, these would be great for the kids to use as Valentine's gifts. They are pretty easy to make and very ADORABLE!!

This post is also a part of a Paper Garden Projects Blog Hop so make sure you read all the info below to learn how you can win a very cute Penny Black stamp set :)

Welcome to the Paper Garden Projects Romantic Garden Walk.

Take a stroll through the blogs of all the Paper Gardeners and enjoy some "heart-felt" inspiration.

While you visit, subscribe to each Gardener's blog and take note of each designer's name and their Romantic Word in their blog post. Once you finish your garden tour, send an E-mail to custserv@papergardenprojects.com with the list of designers and their Romantic Word.

Everyone who sends the correct list of designers and words will be entered in a random drawing to win a sweet Valentine prize. You need to send an e-mail to the address above; please don't leave your list as a comment. You have until midnight (EST) on January 26 to sent your list.

And the prize? The super cute Penny Black clear stamp set called Every Which Way.

So enjoy the garden tour (feel free to bring along some Valentine treats). Here is the garden tour guide list:

• Cathy
• Melissa (Mel)
• Tracy <----- You are here!
• Amber
• Lorelie
• Tangii
• Tricia

Now onto the tutorial (this is a long post!)

First, here is a picture of the kit I used for this project. You can find it at the Paper Garden Projects store here. It features some gorgeous new Pink Paislee patterned papers.

Second, download the template here. There is also a video clip of Martha making them on her tv show :)

Step 1: Print out the template and select some cardstock. I chose the light pink cardstock from the Paper Garden Projects Valentine kit.

Step 2: Place the template on top of the cardstock and adhere it with some adhesive (Martha Stewart uses staples but I couldn't find a stapler, lol). Next, cut the straight lines using a hobby blade, ruler and cutting mat. Remember there is cardstock underneath so make sure your cuts go all the way through.

Step 3: Score the dotted lines with a scoring tool and ruler.

Step 4: Cut out the heart curves with some scissors.

Step 5: Punch out the holes:

Step 6: Remove the template. This is what your cardstock will look like.

Step 7: Rescore the cardstock if you need to and proceed to fold.

Step 8: Cut the slits on the bottom so you can fold it up.

Step 9: Adhere one side with sticky strip.

Step 10: Add your treats and fold over the flaps. Also, if you'd like, punch out some fun paper hearts to add as a decoration :)

Step 11: Tie the ribbon (mine is from of the paper kit) and add the punched hearts with some thread or scrap floss.

And again, my completed project!

I hope you liked my project :) Here is my word for the Paper Garden Projects blog hop prize:

Tracy: Flowers

Thanks for stopping by!

Next stop on the blog hop is the talented Amber.

~Tracy

Happy Birthday!

Here is another card I made using the Farmyard Friends stamp kit from Paper Garden Projects.  Everything I used on this card is from the kit and I have to tell you that the yellow ribbon is my new fave!!  I had no idea I would love yellow so much, but I do!  It's a great accent color for spring and summer cards.   

Here is a look at all the goodies that are in included in the kit -

 

(click on the image to see the kit in the store)

For the image, I stamped it in Memento black ink and then colored it with Copic Markers.

Today also marks the start of a birthday bash at the store.  The owner, Cathy St Clair is celebrating her first year and giving away lots of goodies!!  

I will be posting the challenges and prizes on my blog, but here are some quick links to get you started :)

Paper Craft Planet - register as a member so you can upload photos of your challenge cards.

Join the Paper Garden Projects Group  here - to link your photos in the challenge threads.

Also more details about the celebration can be found here -

Cathy St. Clair's blog

Mel McCarthy's blog

Hope your having a good day and thanks for visiting!  I'll be back soon to post a picture of the first prize :)

Cards from "Farmyard Friends" Stamp Kit

Happy Monday!

I'm home and hanging out with my boys today.  We had a big snow storm last night and school was canceled. 

Here's some cards I made using the new "Farmyard Friends" Stamp Kit from Paper Garden Projects.  The cow card is my favorite!!  Isn't he so cute :)  Cathy has included step by step  instructions on how to make this card in the kit as well as many others.

If you haven't seen her kits before, you should check them out.  They are an exceptional value.

 

Thanks for visiting and happy stamping!!

Clear Cone Favor Box and New Stamp Kit

Hi everyone!

I'm on a mini skiing vacation with the fam right now but I wanted to do a post to let you know that the Farmyard Friends Stamp Kit is now available in the  Paper Garden Projects Store. 

Here's a  project I made using the kit that also features another fun product available in the store -

Clear Cone Favor Boxes

Be sure to pick one of these up with your kit because they are soooo easy peasy and they look just fabulous!

 

This little guy was stamped in Versafine ink, heat set and then colored with Copic markers.

Also, here's a better look at the flower topper.  The cones have a fun little scallop shape at the top that you can adhere stuff to.  They would also be great for Easter.  Throw some orange jelly beans in there and trace the scallop top onto green cardstock and walla... a cutie patootie carrot!!

 

And before I go, here's a gorgeous snapshot of the kit :)

Farmyard Friends Stamp Kit

Thanks for visiting and happy stamping! :)

A little something for ewe!

  

Here's another sneak peek of the new stamp kit being released at Paper Garden Projects.  The full reveal will be this Friday, so be sure to stop by the store and check it out.

Want some more sneak peeks??  Check out -

Mel's Blog

and

Cathy's Blog

Thanks for visiting and have a great day!!

Ewe are going to love this new stamp kit!

 

Paper Garden Projects has a new stamp kit coming out soon!  Here's a little sneak peak :)

Also, did you know that Paper Garden Projects can be found on the Paper Craft Planet website? 

Come Join Us ----> Here :)  We have some fun stuff planned for the entire month of March!

Christmas Stamp Kits from Paper Garden Projects

I'm very excited to share with you that  Paper Garden Projects is releasing three new holiday stamp kits today!

Gnome for the Holidays Stamp Kit -  This kit has the most delightful gnome images, gorgeous patterned papers and lots of fun embellishments!  You're gonna love it :)   Here's a picture of all the goodies and 5 different projects I made with it. 

*Note - Detailed instructions for 3 of my projects are included with this kit.  I have noted which ones those are below.

  

Winter Wonderland Stamp Kit -  This kit will definitely put a smile on your face!  Mel from Mel Stampz has really outdone herself creating with it, so be sure to stop by her blog for lots of fun inspiration!

Homemade Holiday Stamp Kit -  Wait till you see all the fabulous goodies in this kit!  Cathy will be sharing several lovely projects on her blog Paper Garden using this kit so be sure to check those out as well :)

If you are not familiar with Paper Garden stamp kits, here are some details -

* Stamps from this kit are deeply etched red rubber by Odd Bird Planet

* Cathy adheres high quality cling foam to the unmounted rubber stamps, cuts them with a hot knife and then indexes the foam with the image so when they arrive at your doorstep they are ready to stamp.

* The unmounted stamps come in a cd case.

* The cardstock is quality!  Many sheets of beautiful Bazzill colors as well as sheets of white cardstock that is excellent for Copic markers. 

* Popular and fun patterned paper from the new Snowy Jo collection by Imaginisce.

* A variety of cool embellishements including two kinds of ribbons, dew drops, coordinating brads in red, green and white, medium and small sized snowflake embellies, a chipboard snowflake, a bag of holographic glitter (this stuff rocks!) and a couple of colored buttons.

* Also, included in the kit are pictures of sample cards and instructions.

I call this card my sparkly gnome card! :)   It was hard to capture the glitter  in the picture, but here's my best shot at it. 

The gnome and trees were stamped with Brilliance Graphite Black ink and colored with Copic markers.  I then glittered everything up with my Quickie Glue Pen and holographic glitter.

*Directions for this card included in kit.

Here is a fun and simple layout.  I love how the white scalloped strip in the middle coordinates with the focal image.

My coloring medium was different for this card.  I decided to create a softer look by stamping the gnome with black Palette black ink and watercoloring him with Ruby Red, Bravo Burgundy, Old Olive, and Blush watercolor crayons.

For his hat, I used a Quickie Glue pen and added some glitter.

This is my husband's pick for our Christmas cards this year.  He loves the gnome!! :)

Here's another fun card I made with the kit.  These images were stamped with Brilliance ink and colored with Copic markers.

I love the cute little scenes you can make with these stamps and "Skating Gnome" is one of my favorite Odd Bird Planet images :)

This project uses a clear card box which is separate from the kit and available here. 

To make the snowflake chipboard, just daub it with with white craft ink and then emboss it with clear embossing powder.  You could also emboss it with a heat and stick powder and add glitter for a gorgeous effect!

*Directions for this project included in kit.

 

 

This last project is a simple and easy card to make, but the end result is absolutely gorgeous!! 

Cut out a 2" blue cardstock square and then cut a circle out of it (I used the Creative Memories circle cutting system).  Cut out a red square slightly larger to use as a mat.  Sponge the edges of your cardstock with white craft ink.  Adhere what's left of the blue cardstock to your mat. 

To add glitter, take the blue circle and coat it with Versamark ink.  Then emboss it with a heat and stick powder.  Add holographic glitter and heat one last time (just a little bit).  Then adhere it to your cardstock square.  

The tree is super easy to make.  Use a ruler to draw two parallel vertical lines on back of Imaginisce patterned paper (the width of the lines will be the widest part of the triangle).  Then draw a dot in the middle of the vertical lines (this will be the top of your tree).  Then use a ruler and draw the sides of the triangle (from the dot to the end of  your patterned paper intersecting with the vertical lines).  Of course you can always just free cut one too!! :)  The trunk was made using the brown cardstock in the kit.  After all your pieces are cut out, sponge all the edges with white craft ink. 

The last step is to assemble your tree and adhere it to your glitter circle with dimensionals! :)

eta - card removed for publication

 

I hope you liked all of my projects using the "Gnome for the Holidays" Stamp kit! 

Everything you see in my projects is part of the kit except the clear boxes which are available here. 

If you have any questions or would like a tutorial with photos on a project, just let me know. 

I hope you all have a great week and happy stamping!

Sneak Peek - Gnome for the Holidays Stamp Kit

Coming Soon!!

Gnome for the Holidays Stamp Kit from Paper Garden Projects.

I can't wait to show you what I've been creating with it! :)

ETA - Now available here!

Halloween Stamp Kits from Paper Garden Projects

Today is the day Paper Garden Projects releases two new Halloween Stamp Kits!

Best Witches Stamp Kit - Love Love Love this kit and I'm very excited to share my projects with you :)

 

Happy Halloweenie Stamp Kit  - This kit rocks too and Mel from Mel Stampz stamping made LOTS of samples with this kit so be sure to stop by her blog for some amazing inspiration! 

You may have heard me say this before on my blog , but I love papercrafting kits!!  Everything always coordinates so nicely and it such a pleasure to design with them :)  That's why when Cathy of Paper Garden Projects asked me to work with one of her new Halloween kits, I couldn't have been happier. 

I hope you like all the projects I've created and I think you will agree that this kit rocks!!

Here's some skinny about the kit - 

* Stamps are deeply etched red rubber by Eat Cake Graphics

* Cathy adheres high quality cling foam to the unmounted rubber stamps, cuts them with a hot knife and then indexes the foam with the image so when they arrive at your doorstep they are ready to stamp.

* The unmounted stamps come in a cd case.

* The cardstock is quality!  Many sheets of beautiful Bazzill colors as well as sheets of cream color cardstock that is excellent for Copic markers. 

* Popular and fun patterned paper from the new Hallowhimsy collection by Imaginisce.

* A variety of cool embellishements including two kinds of May Art ribbons, dew drops, coordinating brads in orange, purple and green, antique color brads, black jewels with a silver base (love these, watch for them on my projects) and a collection of different colored buttons.

* Also, included in the kit are pictures of sample cards and instructions.

Now that I've rambled on enough I will share some of my projects.  However, I still have more to come - a card and tutorial on Black Magic Core'dinations cardstock and a tutorial for a halloween treat bag ( it would have been to much information for one post!).  All of these projects feature papers and embellishments from the Halloween card- making kit as well as some Odd Bird Planet Halloween images which are also for sale in the Paper Garden Projects store.

This card also features the popular Threading Water Border punch by Fiskars which is available in the store here.

This image and sentiment cracks me up!! It is so fun :)

All of the images stamped on these cards are colored with Copic and Prismacolor markers.  Cathy is a certified copic instructor and sells them in her store as well.  Also if you need a black ink to use with your Copic markers I would recommend Memento Tuxedo Black which is available in a cat's eye or ink pad version.

This card features the black stones I mentioned earlier which I love, but unfortunately you can't see the details of them very well from this picture.  You'll see them again on another project though :)

Well, I hope you liked my projects from the kit so far and I'll see you later in the week with  a couple of fun mini tutorials featuring goodies from the kit and Odd Bird Planet rubber stamps (also available from Paper Garden Projects)! :)

Have a great day and happy stamping!