Loved stamping up this 5 x 5 journal!! A project for my Stamps in the Mail program, it was a cinch to do! Besides the multi-colored grosgrain ribbons tied for the shabby-chic look, this cute little book only took about a half hour to make. The kit included the 5×5 book, the round tab punch and the spiral punch for $40. I sent the participants the chipboard pieces, ribbon, card stock, designer paper and other embellishments with instructions. This program is great for busy folks who aren’t able to sit down to stamp until after 10 pm (who has a class at that hour?). When you’re ready to stamp, just pull out the Stamps by Mail kit I send you every month and you’re moments away from a stampin’ escape! ) I can’t wait to try out this project with the new chipboard and Designer Papers in our new catalog!!! You may want to hop on board this program for July…we’re doing a  covered clipboard!!!

With the big 4th of July family bash looming, I had to make an invitation and get it out by the 2nd week in June. I wanted to use new stamps so I could begin marketing the new catalog. My first thought was to use a hostess set so I could get all my wonderful customer friends to fall in love and beat down my doors to host a workshop with me! Don’t ask me how but this wonderful punchy firecracker came to mind almost immediately.

CUSTOMER WARNING!!! )   — This hostess set is a Level 3 !! But with this incredible catalog, it’s going to be SO EASY to get that $500 or more workshop, I promise!

To make this “OUTSIDE-THE-BOX” Firecracker card, you’ll need the following:

CARD SUPPLIES:

• All About Occasions Bundle — (includes All About Occasions stamp set, All about Birthdays and All About Gratitude Jumbo Wheels)
• Brilliant Blue Jumbo ink cartridge
• Real Red, Brilliant Blue Classic Stamp Pads, White Craft Pad
• 8 1/2 x 5 1/2 Brilliant Blue Card Stock & a scrap piece
• 5 1/4 x 4 Real Red Card Stock
• 2 x 3 Whisper White Card Stock & scraps
• 2 1/4 x 3 1/4 Brilliant Blue Card Stock & scraps
• Key Tag Punch

CARD INSTRUCTIONS:

Punch out one white & one brilliant blue key tag shape with the key tag punch.

 

Take the blue punched key tag and insert it into the punch about 1/3 of the way in and punch again to get the image below.

     

Place this altered key tag punch piece over the white punched key tag to get the firecracker cylinder shape as shown here.

 

Stamp white stars on to blue key tag piece with the White Craft pad as shown above. We have PLENTY of stars to choose from in the new catalog!! 

   

Turn the candle trio stamp upside down and stamp three red stripes as show above onto your punched out white key tag. Punch a tiny sliver off the other 1/3 of your key tag punch leftover to get the fireworks fuse. Adhere it to the top of the firecracker as shown below.

          

Using the star image stamp from the All about Occasions set, stamp a yellow star on a white scrap and cut out. Glue the cut out star to the top of the firecracker and fuse that had been mounted on the blue/red panel as shown below. (Stampin’ Up!’s new star punch would look great here!!!)

    

Wheel the All about Birthdays Jumbo wheel in Brilliant Blue ink on top of the 5 x 4 1/4″ real red card stock piece as shown. Glue a knotted  4 3/4″ white grosgrain ribbon across the top of the wheeled pattern of the red card stock as pictured below.

 

Glue firecracker layered panel to the front of the wheeles piece and glue this piece on the Brilliant Blue card stock that was folded to a card. WA LA!! a fun and punchy patriotic card!!