Simple Stories

Summer Gift Packaging Ideas

Summer is around the corner and it is time to get ready for birthdays, barbecues and summer bashes.  Instead of spending money on a lot of expensive gift packaging, why not use the three R's of Conservation: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle?  Reduce the amount of packaging in your life and the world by reusing bags and giving them a facelift with materials you have lying around the house.  I still had some of the gorgeous Summer Fresh collection that I wanted to use up before I break into the Brand New I Heart Summer collection.

I thought is would be really fun to create this large star that would frame the fun tag.  I created the two sized stars with a clip art image in Microsoft Word, printed them onto plain cardstock and then cut them out to be traced onto the patterned paper.  I know, very old school right?  Then I added some hand stitching around the red star.

The tails of the tag were really easy to create and then trace onto the back sides of the patterned paper for easy cutting.  I then layered and glued them together with my Xyron Mega Runner.

These tags were so much fun to make.  All of the elements in the Summer Fresh collection are so bright and bold and look wonderful against the beautiful burlap patterned paper.  I got out my old Fiskars Apron Lace punch to make the red border on the bottom of the tags.

Foam tape is a great way to add dimension to the cardstock stickers in the Summer Fresh collection and to give the fun window box effect on this tag.

 

Summer Fresh Collection:

12 x 12 Fundamental Carstock Stickers

12 x 12 Expressions Cardstock Stickers

Sunshine/Happiness

Easy/Breazy

Burlap

6 x 6 Patterned Paper Pad

 

Stay tuned for the gorgeous Simple Stories I Heart Summer collection which was just received by our design team....

 

Happy Monday!

Pagemaps 7 Year Anniversary and some Simple Stories

Happy 7th Anniversary, PageMaps! The design team here at Simple Stories is so excited to join PageMaps in its month-long celebration, and all the party details can be found HERE. Simple Stories participated in the "On The Border" challenge with Lynn Ghahary, where we had to use three border designs on our project, along with this PageMaps sketch for inspiration.

Guiseppa here and what a fun challenge! We'd love to see what you create with this same challenge and we've sweetened the pot with a prize package of our newest release, "I Heart Summer!" You can join the challenge HERE.

Now to see how much fun I had with Becky's Sketch!  I created this layout using the Urban Traveler Collection.  My hubby and I recently returned from a cruise and I was excited to dive right into these pictures.  

Fun right and don't you just love that sketch?  So, what are you waiting for?  Help us celebrate with PageMaps and use a little Simple Stories while you are at it!  Oh,I almost forgot...

How about a card?

I used some of the delicious Vintage Bliss Collection...one of my favorites!  Thanks for stopping by today and have a Simply perfect day!

Simple Stories Supplies

Urban Traveler:

Navy Dots/Ledger #2918

You Are Here #2905

Bingo Cards/Travel Dots #2916

Lets Go #2909

Pack Your Bags #2908

Orange Stripes/Map #2921

Fundamental Cardstock Stickers #2902

Expressions Cardstock Stickers #2903

Chipboard Stickers #2927

6x6 Paper Pad #2901

Decorative Brads #2926

Vintage Bliss:

3x4 Journaling Card Elements #3010

Live Simply #3008

Chipboard Stickers #3027

Decorative Brads #3026

 

I {Heart} Summer - Do You?

Kim here today to tell you officially that I {Heart} Summer!  I'm guessing that after you see all of the amazing samples from the design team over the next few weeks, you will too.  This new line is definitely going to be a huge hit.  You will start seeing it arrive at stores the week of May 20th...so keep your eyes open! I can tell you that this is one of the most versatile summer lines ever!  Yes, EVER!  It is absolutely amazing and is going to work with any and all of your summer activities.

What are my favorite things about the new collection, you ask...well let me tell you!  I love the color pallete...which includes the absolute PERFECT shade of blue for my pool photos.  In addition, I love the distressed boardwalk wood theme that you can see in the background of almost all the papers...so unique and lovely.  It truly draws me in and brings a smile to my face.  I love all the little details from the blackboard paper to the washi tape stickers....EVERYTHING is perfection!  I am excited to continue to play with this line and I think I may even have a summer project life book in my future!

So today, I have a layout and a card to share with you...

See that cute little banner that runs across my photo?  That is actually one of the 4x4 Quote Elements.  I took my exacto knife and did some fussy cutting so I could lift it up and slide my photo underneath it....love the effect!  You can see the 4x4 element here:

and some more closeups for you:

and here is my card for you made with my layout scraps:

Supply List:

• #3213 - 4x4 Quote Elements
• #3214 - 2-12 Border Elements
• #3217 - Red Boardwalk
• #3218 - Teal Boardwalk
• #3219 - Yellow Boardwalk
• #3221 - Summer Stripe
• #3205 - Feel the Breeze
• #3211 - Card Elements
• #3202 - Cardstock Stickers
• #3203 -  Cardstock Stickers
• #3226 - Brads

 

 

Simple Stories & Therm O Web Product Swap-- Day 6

Welcome to Day 6 of the Simple Stories & Thermo Web Product Swap! We’re so excited to team up with Thermo Web and use their amazing line of adhesives to share some inspiring projects with you this week.

Thermo Web is also posting projects using Simple Stories products this week, so be sure to head over to their blog and check it out!

Shellye along with you this Saturday!  I love Therm O Web's products and use some sort of their adhesives almost daily! I'm a dimensional girl, so I especially love the Foam Squares and Thick Zots...but recently I've found myself using more and more of the thin Zots for things like buttons and heavier objects such a resin pieces. 

Today I have a couple of things to share!  In our packs we received the iCraft Dots, which include 1.5 and 2" round double-sided adhesive circles.  The examples on the front of the package show them used with rolled paper flowers...that led me to wonder how well they would work with fabric flowers?

I made this card several days ago and it's still holding beautifully!  I used a 1.5" ribbon by May Arts to create the posey-style flowers.  Start out with a tail in your dominant hand and begin turning the ribbon while you wrap it around the center.  Once you have the size you need, simply adhere to the iCraft Dot of choice.  I did use a bit of fabric glue between some of the layers so that it wouldn't raise up.

 

To the backs of the butterfly stickers I applied a ZOTS Singles.  The design was then attached to the cardfront using the Sticky Dot Runner.

Simple Stories Products:Vintage Bliss- 6X6 Paper Pad; Bingo Cards/Stripe Paper; Chipboard Stickers; Fundamentals Cardstock Stickers

Therm O Web Products: iCraft Dots; Sticky Dot Runner; ZOTS Singles

 My next project was created with my scrap room in mind.  It's a functional magnet board where I can post notes and reminders.

To the back of the calendar sheet (Cocoa Daisy paper by Simple Stories) I adhered the 1.5" iCraft Dots and then attached to the magnet sheets.

Next, I removed the foam tape from the back of the SN@P Flair button and attached a magnet to the back with a ZOT. 

I layered on the fun embellishments with either Thick or Thin ZOTS.  The beauty of ZOTS is that they have a super hold!  And instead of punching holes at the top for the ribbon hanger, I used several Thin ZOTS to attach the ribbon to the back of the chipboard. 

Simple Stories Products: SN@P-Flair Icons; Decorative Brads; Chipboard Stickers; Typeset Stickers; Teal/Calendar Paper; ColorVibe Yellow Chevron/Mini Dot Paper

Therm O Web Products: iCraft Dots; Sticky Dot Runner; ZOTS and ZOTS Singles

That's all from me today, please head on over to the Thermo Web blog  and check out what their Design Team has created using their adhesives and our Simple Stories products!

Simple Stories & Thermo Web Product Swap – Day4

Welcome to Day 4 of the Simple Stories & Thermo Web  Product Swap! We’re so excited to team up with Thermo Web and use their amazing line of adhesives to share some inspiring projects with you this week.

Thermo Web is also posting projects using Simple Stories products this week, so be sure to head over to their blog and check it out! 

I made two cards using those Thermo Web  Products this time.

Here is my first card using the Vintage Bliss and SN@P !collection.

I used Thermo Web Sticky Dot Runner  to adhere all my layers of patterned paper down.  Thermo Web 3D Zots can  add extra dimension to your projects.

iCraft Dots 1 1/2 "  is really useful for making flowers. It also helps you to adhere strongly to a large embellishment like a pinwheel.

That's it for me today, head on over to the Thermo Web blog and check out what their Design Team has created using their adhesives and our Simple Stories products!

Check in again with us tomorrow for more inspiring projects from Simple Stories & Thermo Web.

Simple Stories Supplies Used:

Vintagr Bliss:

12x12 Collection Kit #3000
Fundamentals Cardstock Stickers #3002
Expressions Cardstock Stickers #3003
6x6 Paper Pad #3001
Decorative Brads #3026
12x12 Simple Basics Kit #3024

SN@P!

pockets#4098

Life Besic kit #2822

Color vibe kit #2825

Thermo Web Supplies Used:

Zots 3D

iCraft Dots

Sticky Dot Runner

Zots Singles - Medium

Simply cards

Happy Friday everyone!

I thought that I would share with you all some cards that show just how versatile Simple Stories can be. 

This first card was made using 24/Seven, I am head over heels in love with the new brads!!!!! The "ribbon strip" was made using some washi tape.

These next two cards used the Sn@p line. I wanted to focus on the new stamps. On this first card I die cut a heart out of a piece of cardstock and used the negative shape as a mask. Then I used the speech bubbles from the Daily stamp set to fill up the inside. 

For this next card I used the open speech bubble from the Snapshots stamp set and heat embossed it with white embossing powder and then used distress inks to shade in the background.

Products: 

Love card: 24/Seven- 6x6 paper pad #3101, Decorative brads #3126

                    Sn@p- Sn@p Sticker Letters #4020 (red)

I Love You card: Sn@p- Sn@p Sticker Letters #4020 (brown), Stamps-Daily #4024, Chipboard Stickers-                            Hello #4033, Decorative Brads Life #4029, Stripe #2807 (polka dot paper)

Hello Card: Stamps-Snapshots #4025, Chipboard Stickers-Hello #4033, Stripe #2807, Flair Icons #4027

 

Simple Inspiration - Guest Designer Becky Fleck

Hello friends!

Layle Koncar here.  I wanted to pop in today and say howdy :)

I'm the new Marketing Director for Simple Stories and I'm so happy to be here!  Over the next few months, you can look forward to some fun new things from us, including a brand new summer line next week (shhhhh, you didn't hear it from me!), some fantastic new releases later this summer, a fun change to our blog calendar with some regularly scheduled features and some 'behind the scenes' posts from me, and even an exciting new website.  Stay tuned!

But enough about a few of the many things in store we have for you - besides popping in to say hello, I wanted to introduce our Guest Designer this month, Becky Fleck.

Becky  is the editor of Scrapbook and Cards Today, one of Canada's most popular craft magazines. She is also owner of the PageMaps (www.pagemaps.com), which provides scrapbook layout and greeting card sketches to over 20,000 readers each month. Becky has authored the best-selling books Scrapbook PageMaps and Scrapbook PageMaps 2, available from Memory Maker Books. She teaches extensively throughout the U.S. and internationally at expos, retreats, scrapbook stores and conventions.

Today Becky is sharing with us 6 fabulous cards she made using our 24/Seven and Urban Traveler collections -

Such a CLEVER card with the glassine envelope full of confetti punched from patterned paper!  And how about those 'take one' strips along the bottom of the card?!  Love it!

What a fun, bright card this one is, right?!  The balloons are super happy, especially the one that's die cut from the front of the card.  The greatest thing about this card is that the design could easily work for other themes such as birthday, even bon voyage - simply change the sentiment on the front! 

How fun is the little flag Becky made on this card using a red pin and a small piece of paper?  One thing you'll notice on these cards is that she's incorporated twine/string in various ways on each card - great inspiration!

Becky loves using Copic markers in her work.  In these next few cards, notice the beautiful coloring/shading she does!

Supplies: patterned papers, shape stickers, letter stickers, journal cards, (Simple Stories 24/7 and Urban Traveler); cardstock (Bazzill Basics, Jillibean Soup); twine (Montana Misfits); ink (Ranger); dies (Spellbinders); pens (Copic); pencils (Prismacolor); reinkers (Stampin' Up!)

Thanks Becky for sharing your beautiful creations with us!!

It's Bliss and a SN@P!

A happy weekend to all of you!  Shellye along on this Saturday.  I grabbed three of the newer collections and set out to make a trio of fun cards for today's blog post :) 

First we'll start with a "HELLO"

And who wouldn't smile after seeing a bright and cheery Hello from SN@P!  I was so happy that I got to use some of the new Flair Buttons and Chipboard pieces. Simple Stories has hit it out of the park with the addition of these new embellishments!

I love using the Pockets even if there isn't anything 'in' the pocket :) The decorative edge and the pattern lends so much to the design...for this card I simply attached one of the SN@P Label Stickers into the pocket and then added some hand-stitching to the top. 

And how about a "Dream Big" for one of the guys (or girl...but this just looks masculine to me!)

I know I say this a lot, but it's true for me:  let elements such as 3x4 Journaling Cards do the work for you :)  Once I've selected the perfect Journaling Card for my card then I move on to pick out stickers, chipboard, etc., that will complete the sentiment that I'm wanting to achieve.

And if you haven't tried it, implement a bit of hand-stitching to soften and add texture.  There are many times that I don't use my sewing machine, but I still must stitch LOL!

Finally, ahhhh....some "Sweet Bliss"

I absolutely (seriously) had a blast making this card!  After texturing the cardfront with an embossing folder (Lifestyle Crafts), I decided to keep the design cropped to just a circle of beauty.  I used two different sizes of scalloped dies (Lifestyle Crafts) and then matted the centers of each with a circle that was machine stitched in place.  A couple of Chipboard Embellishments and 3-D Layered Stickers and my card is complete!

Simple Stories Products:

Hello Card- SN@P!- Hello Chipboard Stickers; Life Decorative Brads; Flair Icons; Color Fusion Assorted Pockets; Labels Stickers; Typeset Stickers; Life 6x6 Paper Pad

Dream Big Card: 24/7- Fundamentals Cardstock Stickers; Expressions Cardstock Stickers; 6x6 Paper Pad; Chipboard Stickers; Decorative Brads; Layered Stickers; 3x4 Journaling Card Elements

So Very Sweet Card: Vintage Bliss- 6x6 Paper Pad; Chipboard Stickers; Layered Stickers; SN@P!- Typeset Stickers

 I hope that you've enjoyed today's cards as much as I enjoyed making them :)

As always, we appreciate your visits to Simple Stories!

Making Cards

Hi there! Yuki here to share a couple of fun cards with you today. First up is a card using Simple Stories / Cocoa daisy collaborated papers.

Next is a card for boys. I mixed up the SN@P! and the Take a Hike collections.

The last is a card using the SN@P! collection.

Thank you so much for stopping by today.

 

 Supplies Used:

SN@P! Life 12x12 Fundamental Cardstock Stickers

SN@P! Life Basics it

SN@P! Polaroids

SN@P! Stripe

SN@P! Chipboard Stickers-Hello

Take a hike Simple Basics Kit

Take a hike 4x4 Quote & 6x8 Photo Mat Elements

Take a hike Brown Wood/ Map

Take a hike Green Dot Prints

Simple Stories/ Cocoa Daisies collaborated paper

 

 

 

 

{Simple} Fun!

Hi there!  Cari with you today.
I've got a couple of layouts to share with you and a fun little card as well.

As I was going through my photos I came across some of my boys and their cousin. I thought the colors went great with the 24/7 collection ... plus the theme of the whole collection was a good fit as well. I decided to create a more 'grid' style layout and cut various pieces of patterned paper forming 3 rows of paper and photos.

 I created the sombrero and #3 using my Cricut Expression 2, ....

... and used lots of fun stickers & chipboard embellishments from the 24/7 colleciton.

 

I then looked through my photos again and came across some pictures of my husband and boys playing in the pool while away on a mini summer vacation.  I decided to use Urban Traveler for this layout.

I love the rich colors in this collection and kept the circle theme throughout by cutting my photos into circular shapes as well.  (trust me ... this was no easy task as I haven't cut my photos up like that in a loooooong time! But I like how it turned out.)

I love the new embellishments (brads and layered stickers) as they add so much visual interest & texture to my projects.

I also created a little card using some of the 24/7 collection. (Love that little phone.)

Thanks for stopping by today.

 

Supplies used:

Urban Traveler

Fundamentals Cardstock Stickers |#2902

Expressions Cardstock Stickers |#2903

Decorative Brads |#2926

Layered Stickers |#2928

4x6 Vertical Journaling Card Elements |#2912

Bingo Cards/Colored Arrow Dots |#2916

Navy Dots/Ledger |#2918

Orange Stripes/Map |#2921

 

24/7 Collection:

Fundamentals Cardstock Stickers |#3102

Expressions Cardstock Stickers |#3103

Chipboard Stickers |#3128

Decorative Brads |#3126

Layered Stickers |#3128

Take Note |#3105

3x4 Journaling Card Elements |#3110

Cork/Ephemera |#3117

Red Twee/Calendar |#3118

Blue Chevron/Grid |#3120