Peachy Keen Stamp Set Winner

Good Morning!
As I promised, someone will win the

In Stitches Face Assortment

 This adorable stamp set is generously donated by

Peachy Keen Stamps

Now, Through the Magic of the Random Number Generator!

The Winner Is

Congratulations!

Amy E

I'm sure you will enjoy this set. Please contact me through my email and I will get this out to you Monday. Thanks to everyone for leaving such wonderful comments.

Have a great day!

Jane - the Polka Dot gypsy

Peachy Keen Guest Designer - Day 5 "The Finale"

Wow! I can't believe the week is over already. Thanks to Peachy Keen Stamps for giving me this opportunity to share this week with you. I have learned so much and have met some truly wonderful people. So the time has come, bittersweet as it may be, to raise the curtain on the Grand Finale.

Fall is my favorite time of year and I love to decorate for Halloween. So, all the projects today are Halloween party favors and decorations. The projects are made to be as simple or as detailed as you want them to be with emphasis on quick. I have used Candy Monsters and Potted Flowers dies for cutting my projects today. These dies come with face stamps. If you do not have a Cuttlebug or Sizzix, Peachy Keen offers the stamp set, Halloween Sweet Folks. Just stamp, color and cut out your images. I have used the same cardstock throughout so that everything will coordinate.

Here is the first little candy corn cutie. He is resting on the nutty flower (nut cup flower) and is attached to a bundle of Pixy Stix. All of the pieces were die cut and glued together. The faces were stamped and colored. I used Prismacolor pencils to add color to the face.

Here's a pot of Pixy Stix. There's that nutty flower again! For the smaller flowers I used flowers cut with the Potted Flowers die cut set. The flowers and candy corn were layered and attached to the Pixy Stix. Then secured in the pot. A ribbon and bow was added.

I had to do just one more paper bag project. And this is a simple one.

Fold, decorate, add candy and tie it up! What could be more simple?

Candy Bar Wrapper Instructions

Supplies

Small Brown Bag 4 3/4" X 8 1/3"

Front Panel
2 3/4" X 4 1/2" Black Mat
2 1/2" X 4 1/4" Yellow Plaid

Back Panel
2" X 4 1/2" Black Mat
1 3/4" X 4 1/4" Yellow Plaid

Inside panel
2 3/4" X 4 1/4"

Folding the Bag

Fold bag bottom over the bottom edge as shown.

Fold top of bag over the bottom as shown.

Now that the wrapper is folded, make the panels and attach to the front, back and inside of the wrapper.

Create your  panels as desired. Below are the panels I used on this project. Happy Halloween was heat embossed. The candy corn and star strips are Reflections, Bling on a roll. Pretty easy to add a little sparkle to your Halloween project.

Attach panels. Be sure to attach the black ribbon before gluing down the front panel. Sandwiching the ribbon between the paper bag and the panel will help to hold the ribbon in place.

Here is a cute little treat bag decorated with the Reflections tape. Isn't that candy corn just adorable? You could use these for table favors and fill them with candy. What a treat!!!

No party would be complete without a centerpiece. This one is made from a paper mache witches hat. I painted the hat with black acrylic paint. The orange and purple dots were punched with the 1" punch. The candy corn cutie was attached with a tensil chenille stem.

And with much sadness, I share my final project. The Tic Tag Toe project is made with a purchased magnetic message board. The Candy Corn folks and the monster kisses were used as the game pieces with magnets attached to the back. A tag punch was used for the candy monsters background to give them stability.  Reflection tape was used for dividers.The tape has a adhesive backing. I used the Tim Holtz mini paper rosette die for the border along the bottom and the nutty flower was used for embellishment.

I just want to remind you that I will be giving away In Stitches Face Assortment stamp set donated by Peachy Keen Stamps. To enter, leave a message here a the bottom of this post. Tell me what your favorite project was for the week. Then hop on over to Peachy Keen Stamps and leave a message there. Saturday morning I will announce the winner!

 

I hope you have gotten something to take with you this week. Something useful that you can pass along to others who love the craft as much as we do. For me, I am taking a week full of wonderful memories. Late nights finishing up my projects, trying to weed out the less important projects and trying not to blush as I read your wonderful comments. I've learned a lot this week and I am so thankful that I was one of the chosen to be a guest designer for Peachy Keen Stamps. This has truly been a week that I will never forget and I will treasure. I hope you visit my blog often.

Again I just want to say thanks and wish your next guest designer the very best. I'm looking forward to seeing your projects! But for now, I'm going to rest a little and then put up all my stamping supplies so I can start all over again.

Have a wonderful day and don't forget to check in tomorrow to see who won the stamp set from Peachy Keen.

Jane, the Polka Dot Gypsy

Peachy Keen Guest Designer - Day 4

Good morning! Welcome to my fourth day as guest designer for Peachy Keen Stamps. Today I'd like to share some of my favorite things about card making. My first card is my most favorite to make. It is made from a small lunch bag and folded. The flap is tied with ribbon. I think I got the original idea from a SCS gathering that I attended many years ago. So this is not my original idea.

Open up the card to write a greeting on the inside panel.

Supplies

5" X 10 3/4" Bag

Gingham Ribbon

Cottage Cutz Potted Flowers
Front Panel

4" X 4 7/8" Brown Mat
3 3/4" X 4 3/8" Pink Print
2" X 3 3/4" Small Brown Mat
1 3/4" X 3 1/2" Solid Pink
Scraps for Flower

Inside Panel

4 3/8" X 4 7/8"

4 1/8" X 4 5/8"

Scraps for rick rack and corner flower

Card Instructions

Attach double sided tape to the lower edge of the bag.

Notice the flap. It will be pulled over onto itself and secured.

Fold the flap back onto itself and secure with the tape.

Cut the lower edge of the bag at an angle to the first fold. I usually cut 1" from the edge to the first fold. I have marked dots on the bag for cutting guides.

Cut from dot to dot forming an angle on the flap.

Fold the opposite end of the bag to the flap fold.

Fold flap over the top to create the card base.

Turn the card base clockwise and attach the decorated panels.

I used the Cottage Cutz Potted Flowers for cutting the flower, stem and pot. The die includes three Peachy Keen faces. This card is very easy to make and goes together very quickly. I cut all my pieces with the Cuttlebug. The face was colored with Distress Inks. I airbrushed the shadows of the flower pot and leaves with Copic Markers. For the inside I used the Cottage Cutz Rick Rack die and the flower elements.

I used the Potted Flowers die cut to make two more fall themed cards using the same layout. One is vertical and one is horizontal. I wanted to show you the difference that the direction can make to your layout. I photoshopped "Thinking of You" onto the card so that I could photograph both layouts without making two cards. I usually don't put my text on a card until I am ready to use it.

I'm really having a hard time deciding which card I like the best. I like them both.

The next card is a variation of the flower die cut that I am using today. This time the flower has been layered onto a black, scallop circle. The flower is wearing the pieced pot on his head. Paper rick rack was added to the bottom. I chose some retro colors for this card which measures 2 3/4" X 4".

My final card for today is another version of the Potted Flowers die cut. Using Pink and black cardstock I cut and punched 3 flowers. I used the sewing machine to stitch around the edge of the card. For the face I used one of the faces from the In Stitches Face Assortment and Copic markers.

Now you know what I like to use for cardmaking. Here's a list of my favorite things:

1. I like to use black for my background, be it a card or a scrapbook layout.

2. I love die cuts and punches. These are my favorite go to tools.

3. I love to work with paper bags. My all time favorite card is the first one in this post using a paper bag.

4. Very seldom do I put a message or greeting on my card until I am ready to send it.

5. I love embossing folders. They rate right up there with die cuts.

6. I love to use polka dots.

Again I would like to thank Peachy Keen Stamps for donating the In Stitches Face Assortment. I'll be drawing a random name on Saturday. So make sure to get entered if you want a chance to win this fun assortment of faces.

 

To enter all you have to do is leave a comment at the end of this post. Tell me what your favorite go to tool is. You know, that one thing you couldn't live without. Then hop on over to Peachy Keen Stamps and leave a message there too.

Today's post was all about my favorite card making things. I'm so excited about tomorrows post. I have been working on it from the very beginning. It's the grand finale. I hope you'll join me again for Halloween ideas.

Have a fantastic day! Jane - the Polka Dot Gypsy.

Peachy Keen Guest Designer - Day 3

Good Morning! This week is certainly flying by. Thanks to everyone at Peachy Keen Stamps for giving me this opportunity. And to all of you who have left such wonderful comments, thank you so much. I am enjoying every second of my fifteen minutes of fame. Speaking of fame and stardom. Please give a wonderful welcome to the one and only, Miss Patty Cake!!! Today is all about her.

My first project is a visit to the "Great Pumpkin" exhibit at the fair with Patty. She's all dressed up in a yellow and green polka dot dress with an orange bow in her hair. I used colors in my layout to coordinate with her dress on a black 12" X 12" page. The black cardstock makes those colors really pop. I feel that the matting of photos is really important. Without a mat a photo can get lost on the page. So, if you're ever struggling with a layout, try a mat. It just may change the whole feel of the page. The color of the mat is usually a color pulled from the photo, a complimentary color or one with the same temperature. My main photo is one I took at the Canfield fair. I enlarged it and cropped it in a way that forms a page banner with room for my title. I always use my computer for journaling. I have really nice handwritting and have a background in caligraphy. But I prefer computer generated journaling. I used punches and die cuts to add a bit of interest to my layout. My style of scrapbooking is clean and simple.

The rosette is made using the Tim Holtz mini paper rosette die. The image on the front is a photograph of the sign over the pumpkin exhibit at the fair. I resized my photo and cut out the image with a circle punch. Then attached it to the rosette. I think this is a real prize winner!

And now, I'd like to introduce you to the bewitching Patty. She's all dressed up for Halloween. Her witches hat was made using the witch hat die from Sizzix. Miss Patty's beautiful dress is a "Copic" creation.

Patty's life is not always glamorous. Alas she has fallen upon some rough times. Please welcome Patty, the bag lady. I wanted to try a little stamping on fabric. I've been doing a lot of paper piecing, but now it's time for some fabric applique using the Patty Cake Jr stamp. For the applique pieces I stamped the Patty image onto three pieces of fabric. I used a fusible web to attach the fabric to the front of the bag. The scallop circle was cut with the Nestabilities scallop circle die. I ironed on the fusible web to the back of the fabric before cutting. I colored parts of Patty's body with Prismacolor pencils and added some ribbon and embellishments.

I used a circle template cut from cardstock to make the faux stitching around the inside of the scallop circle.

And here's a close up of Miss Patty in fabric.

Oh yes, tough times. I was quickly reminded of the importance of testing fabrics before applying heat for applique. Need I say more?

Most of the cards that I create have a lot of detail and take some time to complete. So, for my final project today I have created a a couple of small cards measuring 2 3/4" X 4". They are very simple and go together very quickly. For the card on the left I simply sponged on Vintage Photo Distress ink and dressed Miss Patty in polka dots. This was a very quick way to color this adorable ginger. For the card on the right I stamped Miss Patty onto printed cardstock, cut the image out and attached her to the card. Both cards use the same layout with ribbon along the bottom and both images were attached with pop dots. These cards are super quick and simple to make.

I'd like to take this opportunity to share with you some of the many faces of Patty. I've shared them before, but never together.

The name of the stamp that I have been using is Patty Cake Jr available at Peachy Keen Stamps. She is my all time favorite go to stamp. If I am struggling with a card she can usually break the creative block. You've just got to love her. She's so darn cute!

As I end my third day as Guest Designer, I want to remind you that Peachy Keen Stamps has generously donated the In Stitches Face Assortment to be given away on Saturday to one lucky winner.

 

To enter all you have to do is leave a comment here at the end of this post. Tell me about your favoirte go to stamp. I know you have one! I can't wait to find out what it is! Then, hop on over to Peachy Keen Stamps and leave a comment there too.

Wishing you all a very special day! Jane - the Polka Dot Gypsy

Peachy Keen Guest Designer - Day 2

Happy Tuesday everyone and welcome to my second day as Guest Designer! Today at Peachy Keen Stamps it's time for another Sketch Challenge. This one was definitely a tough one for me. The overall card was tall and thin. I chose to keep it that way because it was the one element that was a real challenge for me to overcome. It was a very long process with many changes before I came up with this amazing card. I say it is amazing because with all the changes I made to this card it is amazing that it did not get pitched in the trash! "Patched" Pumpkins" is truly a labor of love.

Patched Pumpkins Card

The finished card size is 4" X 9 1/4". The design theme for this card is patchwork. With the arrival of fall weather I am in a quilting mood. So, I created my challenge card with the feel of an old fashioned quilt. And I think that this card does that with it's earthy tones and hints of patchwork.

Stamp Sets

PK-620 Halloween Pumpkins

PK-646 Faceless Fall Fun 2

Cardstock Cutting Dimensions

8" X 9 1/4" - Solid Brown for Card (4" X 9 1/4" folded)

3 3/4" X 9" - Solid Rust for Card Mat

3 1/2" X 8 3/4" - Brown & Orange Polka Dot for Design Panel

2 3/4" X 8 1/8" - Solid Tan (Cut to a point) for Card Design Element

4" Solid Brown Circle for Mat

3 3/4" Yellow Print Circle

Scrap - Solid Rust for Pumpkin Mat

Scrap - Brown Check for Pumpkin

Scrap - Tan Print for Patchwork Pumpkin

Scrap - Rust Print for Patchwork Pumpkin

Scrap - Yellow Print for Patchwork Pumpkin

Scrap - Real Wood Thin Cherry Paper for Sign

Tools, Supplies & Embellishments

Cricut

Cuttlebug

Nestabilities Pumpkins Die

Studio g Bat Punch

Crimper

Beads

Buttons

Twine

Felt Flower

Plaid Paper Nut Cups

Creating the Look of Applique

To create the look of applique on this card I paper pieced the small pumpkins. Using the Halloween Pumpkins from Peachy Keen Stamps, I stamped the image onto the checked pumpkin. I also stamped the same image onto each of the three scraps of print cardstock: tan, rust, and yellow.

Each of the small pumpkins were cut out from the scrap pieces and attached to the checked pumpkin background, covering the stamped image on the background.

I  faux stitched along the edges of the circle and large pumpkin. Faux stitching is simply fake stitching. I used a marker to achieve the look of stitching. And to make the stitched circle more uniform I cut a smaller circle and used it as a template to follow while inking the stitches.

I love how paper piecing resembles the applique that I use for quilting. It really is a simple technique with a powerful impact on a card.

Keeping with the patchwork theme I added a plaid flower. I love to make flowers of all kinds. And I've shared some of those on Polka Dot Gypsy. I hope you'll check them out. But for this card I am trying out another flower technique. I found these paper nut cups at a craft store and new immediately what I was going to do with them. The flower is made from two of these nut cups and is really simple to make.

To make this flower you will need two small paper nut cups and 1 punched circle of any size as the base. Cut the center out from one of the paper cups. Keep the outer ring and throw away the center. You won't need it. I'll refer to this piece as the donut.

Glue the nut cup to the punched circle, scrunching up the center of the cup.

Next, attach the donut piece to the center, scrunching it up as well. Gently gather in the center edges of the donut so that it fits nicely inside the first nut cup layer. 

Add a button or two for the center. Once the glue has dried, shape your flower as desired.

Air Brushing verses Coloring

For the flower I wanted a brown button for the center. I didn't have one. So, I used the brush end of my Copic marker to brush on the color, It didn't cover as well as I wanted it to. I used my airbrush and the same marker to color another button. Below is the result. Before on the left and After on the right. Who would have thought that it would make such a big difference.

Rolodex Cards

My second project is a decorative Rolodex card. It can be used the traditional way, keeping important information such as addresses, cell numbers and website information or it can be made into pages for a Rolodex mini album. I'm going to make the mini album to set on my desk.

For this project I cut the Rolodex Cards with my Cricut and faux stitched around the edges. I used double sided cardstock for the card so that I can decorate both sides. I stamped the flower image onto two coordinating prints of cardstock. A 1" circle punch was used to punch out the center of the flower. It was then attached to the center of the coordinating flower. The flower stamp is the Faceless Fall Fun 2 set from Peachy Keen Stamps. 

For the back of the card I used the same flower stamp and the same cardstock with the flower and center papers switched for a different look.

This is the perfect stamp to add a face to. This sweet little face is from the In Stitches Face Assortment that I will be drawing for this Saturday. Isn't she just adorable?

Fall Gift Card Holder

For my final project I made this fun little fall gift card holder featuring Halloween Pumpkins, Faceless Fall Fun 2 and the In Stitches Face Assortment stamp sets from Peachy Keen Stamps. The card is made from a small paper bag folded to form a pocket, sewn and decorative panels added. For the front of the card I used the same paper pieced pumpkins that I used for my "Patched Pumpkins" card.

On the back I used the same happy flower from the Rolodex card. 

The card opens up and inside is a pocket to hold a gift card. Please note that the pocket is under the design panel. This photo is misleading. It looks like the pocket is in the flap.

I used a paper bag measuring 4 3/4" X 8 1/2". Folded up the gift card holder measures 3 1/4" X 4 3/4". To make the pocket. just fold the bottom up and stitch along the sides using a sewing machine. Be sure to stitch so that the decorative panels will cover your stitching. Decorate three panels and attach them to the front, back and flap. Secure the ribbon to the bag before attaching the front panel to the bag. Sandwiching the ribbon between the front panel and the bag will hold the ribbon in place and conceal it. On the back I attached the happy flower with pop dots along the upper portion of the flower. This allowed enough room to slide the ribbon up under it before tying. Below is a better photo of the actual pocket. You can see the stitching along the pocket edges.

Wow! I didn't realize I had so much to talk about today. Now, don't forget that on Saturday I'll be drawing a name for the set I've been using today, the In Stitches Face Assortment. Peachy Keen Stamps has so generously donated this stamp set and some lucky winner will get it on Saturday. Will it be you? To win, leave a comment here and on my Patched Pumpkins post at Peachy Keen Stamps.

I hope you enjoyed today's projects. Again it has been a privilege to share my paper crafting with all of you. Have a wonderful day!

Jane - the Polka Dot Gypsy