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

A Paper Garden Challenge

Hello :)

Today's card is for the Fourth Friday Paper Garden Challenge.  It's a new challenge series hosted by Cathy St.Clair, owner of Paper Garden Projects.  You can find out all the skinny here.

This Friday's challenge is to "Bring on the Bling!" 

  
  
This is my sparkly snowman.  The sparkly felt is from AC Moore.  It cuts pretty easily with a guillotine cutter.  I also stitched around the edges using my sewing machine.

For a little more sparkle, I added glitter to the snowman's hat and base.  I did this with a Quickie Glue Pen.  I love this glue pen because it doesn't glop.  I just write it on and let it sit for a couple a seconds and then add the glitter.  This gives the glitter a nice even look.
  

Now, here's a picture of the prize you could win  -

 

Looks good huh.  I hope you'll join us! 

Paper Garden supplies:

Holly-Jolly Stamp Set by Penny Black

Prism Cardstock - Classic Christmas Collection (Kraft base)

Memento Rich Cocoa Ink

Copic Markers

May Arts Ribbon

Quickie Glue Pen 

New Penny Black

I've started my Christmas Cards :) This is a 4x4 card. I stamped the mouse in Memento Tuxedo Black ink and colored him with Copic markers. I then cut him out using a Spellbinders Nestabilities and my Cuttlebug. The papers are from my Prism Classic Christmas collection from Paper Garden Projects.

I also made this card for the Penny Black challenge blog - Buttons and Bows

Supplies:

Holly-Jolly Penny Black Clear Stamp Set

Prism Classic Christmas Collection Cardstock (I especially love the kraft paper!)

Memento Tuxedo Black Ink

Copic Markers

Labels 1 Nestabilities by Spellbinders

Quickie Glue Pen (for glitter)

Glitter

Ribbon, Button and White Floss

White Craft Ink

Reminder: Paper Garden Projects is accepting design team applications until Oct. 25th. See this post for details.

For Dog Lovers

  

Gosh, I love this image :)

All goods are from Paper Garden Projects

To the World Cling Stamp by Eat Cake Graphics

Cosmo Cricket Honey Pie Paper Kit

May Arts Sheer Dotted Ribbon

Neenah Classic White Cardstock

Memento Tuxedo Black Ink

Copic Markers

Extras - Sewing Machine, Craft Knife, Felt Heart and Button

Paper Piecing "Shopping Girl" Part 2

I finished "shopping girl" today and I love how she came out!! :)

             

My next step was to choose some coordinating cardstock.  I decided to go with Pink Pirouette by SU!  I also trimmed up my bow and stamped the other shopping bags onto patterned paper.

 

Next, I do some sponging around the white cardstock and patterned paper. 

  

My last step was to finish up the paper piecing.  Here is a picture of the shopping bags after they are cut.  They are very small.  Most of it was done with scissors.  The straight line on top of the yellow bag was done with a craft knife.

For the sentiment, I made something in Microsoft Word and printed it out onto cardstock.

Okay, that's it for today.  I hope you liked the tutorial and if you are interested in the stamp image you can find it here ----> "Shopping Girl at Paper Garden Projects.

Thanks for stopping by and have a happy Easter!

~Tracy  

The Makings of a Card Part 1 - Paper Piecing and More

This post is the beginnings of my "retail therapy" card.  I have been in some desperate need of "retail therapy" lately.  I'm turning 36 in a couple of days, I've started getting grey hairs and I'm still feeling the baby clock ticking.  Unfortunately, my husband and I agreed after baby Matthew that he would be our last.  We even went so far as to make it official (on his side) and now I am full of regret and sadness.  

So anyways, I decided to go to AC Moore today and shop for some new crafting supplies.  It was really nice to browse through everything.  I took my time and picked out things I really needed and things I thought would be fun. 

Then, after a while I looked down at my basket and saw how full it was.  Yikes!  I felt so guilty  about how much money I was spending that I put the basket down and ran out of the store!  Can you believe it?  I am such a goober sometimes.  The good part is that the experience seemed to do the trick!  I've been in paper crafting mode all evening :)  So that's the story of how my "retail therapy" card came to be, lol. 

    

I first inked the image with Memento Ink and stamped it onto Papertrey white cardstock.

The stamp is "Shopping Girl" by Stampavie.

 

I usually do a simple practice run coloring the image first.  I want to be sure the colors coordinate with the patterned papers.  You will also notice I use both Prismacolor and Copic markers. 

The papers I picked are from Bella Blvd.  They were part of a card kit from the Stamp New England event.  I wasn't able to complete one of the projects that day so Julie Masse was very kind and mailed it out to me :)

The ribbon is from Pink Hedgehog.

   

To paper piece the purses I  put a dab of Craft Bond glue on some paper and then use a kitchen skewer to apply it.  I also do the same with the Crystal Ice Stickles.  I applied it to the girl's scarf which you can see in the next picture. 

   

Here's what she looks like so far.  I still have to paper piece the other two purses, but so far I think she looks fabulous :)

I'll work on her some more and then do another post.  See you soon :)

~Tracy

Humorous Card Challenge

 

Hi all!

I'm in a good mood today :)  Lately, I feel like my stamping mojo is kicking into gear.  Sometimes I got nothin' and then other days everything seems to flow.  You just never know. 

I made this card for the Paper Garden Projects, Week 1 Humorous Card Challenge.  I had to pull out my Odd Bird Planet stamps for the challenge because they crack me up :)

My card has that SU! feel to it because I was perusing the new catalog before I made it.  My inspiration came from page 23 if you're curious. 

One thing I love about this card is that it was made from scraps.  My scrap pile is ridiculously huge and unfortunately I hardly ever touch it.  I'm trying to change that. 

Here are some specifics about the card -

The owl stamps were drawn by Karrie Baker.  She submitted the drawings to Johanna Hatlestad, owner of Odd Bird Planet, and then Johanna made them into stamps.  How cool is that!  You can see them in the Odd Bird Planet store here -

karrie's bubb owl

karrie's john owl

The red tag was made with my SU! label punch.  I scored the tag down the middle and then folded it over.  I think it looks kind of cool.

The hoot sentiment was stamped in SU! white craft ink and then embossed with white detail embossing powder.

Now, (hopefully you're still with me, lol, I'm chatty today) here is a picture of another Prize Package from Paper Garden Projects -

 

Here's how you can win this kit -

Make a humorous card or a card with primary colors in it - red, blue and yellow.  You can use ANY stamps or supplies.  They do not have to be from Paper Garden Projects.

Take a photo of your card and link it to this blog post.  You can use the the Paper Craft Planet gallery, the Splitcoast Stampers gallery, a blog or any other photo gallery you may have access to. 

The deadline is March 30th.

The drawing is one entry per person, however if you link back to the contest on your blog you will receive an additional entry :)  Use this link --> here.

Well, that was a long post from me today!  Now I gotta go get something to eat :)  Hope you all have a good day and happy stamping.

This is big!

The birthday bash at Paper Garden Projects has begun and the prizes are BIG!

Here's a look at one of the prizes you could win...

 

The prize package contains:

• 8 - 6″x6″ pieces of Fancy Pants double sided patterned paper
• 7 - 8.5″ x 11″ sheets of coordinating Bazzill cardstock
• 2 Copic Markers (Y-21 Buttercup yellow and YR- 16 Apricot)
• Rachel Anne Miller stamp - Lily and Milo Enjoy Life
• Perfectly Paisley Cuttlebug embossing folder
• Package of silver adhesive gemstones (color them with your Copics!)
• 2 lengths of Grosgrain ribbon
• 1 Bakery bag
• 2 clear card boxes
• 5 white card bases
• 5 white envelopes

Here's what you need to do:

Make a birthday card.  You can use ANY stamps or supplies.  They do not have to be from Paper Garden Projects.

Join Paper Craft Planet - here 

Now you'll be able to join the Paper Garden Projects Group - here

Upload a photo of your card to the site and in the tag box, type in PGPBday

Then link your photo to this thread - just so Cathy can make sure no cards get missed!

On March 17, Cathy will draw the winner randomly from all the entries.

Now for the even cooler part -

This is only one of FIVE prize packages!!  I will be posting another challenge and a picture of the prize very soon :)

Good luck everyone!! 

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!!