Banana Frog Blog

February Challenge - winner

The winner of the February challenge is Leo with her cute notecards made using the Paperchains set. Thanks for the idea Leo, I think I will be getting a production line of notecards, they looks so sweet! Please send us your address so that we can send you out some lovely stamps.

Keeping in the February challenge Love theme, here is a quick layout from me using the It's all about...Hearts, Madfont and It's all about...Documenting. 

My husband allowed our daughter to paint his face ("like a Zebra daddy!") knowing that I was right there with my camera. Now that is love :)

Next month's challenge is more of a giveaway than a challenge. So start thinking about your favourite set of Banana Frog stamps (either that you have or want) and check back on the 8th for more details!

::Project of the Day:: Lil' Cutie Cupcakes

When the Build-a-cupcake set of stamps arrived on my doorstep I knew exactly what I wanted to make with them - a Cupcake pincushion.

Using a permanent ink pad, I stamped the cupcake image on to scraps of different coloured pieces of felt. Once I had cut out the images I stacked them on top of one another and hand stiched the pieces together - adding seed beads for decoration.

I then stamped two large scalloped edge circles from the It's all about Scallops collection of stamps. Using embroidery floss I stitched the cupcake in to place before filling and stitching the scalloped circles together.

The cupcake topper sits on top of a circular piece of felt, which I pulled together using a running stitch before packing out with wadding fibre. To decorate my pincushion, I stamped two small flowers from the Funky Flowers set of stamps which were then secured in to place using a bead.

If sewing isn't your thing but you want to try this technique for other projects, simply stamp the images on to felt and adhere them together using a good quality double sided sticky tape.

I created this quick card by stamping my images and taping them together. Classic Wedding stamps were used to add the greeting to the front of the card.

Stamping directly on to felt is a great way to create your own unique embellishments for just about anything - why not try it out today?

Have fun.

Tracie.x.x

Stamping school:Clear stamps and acrylic colors....

Goodmornig to everyone!!!
I'm so so happy to share and to show you one of my ideas about different ways to use the clear stamps with acrylic colors :)
Follow me and we will enjoy together :)
This technique is really simple!!! So easy!!!
Here the supplies list for this project:

• a canvas size 23,5 cm x 30 cm ( you can use a canvas of any measure you prefer)
• 6 little square photo size 6x6 cm or the photos you prefer
• 2 different acrylic colors (I used turquoise and magenta)
• 2 different paint brushes or foam brushes
• mascking tape
• your favourite embellishments (I used chipboard letters, stickers and strass)
• tacky glue
• acrylic block
• black gel pen for the journaling
• CLEAR STAMPS BY BANANA FROG MADFONT LARGE
• heat gun if you want

Ok let's start!:)
Scatter the red acrylic color directly on the canvas, use a foam brush to spread the color in the center of the canvas not on the four sides.

We'll stamp on the the  not dry color with the Madfont set stamps.
So I used the word "love" and I put it on a rectangular acrylic block in a non-aligned way... the result will be soooo cool! Garanted!:)
Stamp many times this word on the canvas in order to create your background

Now scatter the turquoise acrylic color on the four sides of the canvas and with a small paint brush spread it towards outside of the canvas. I used the sides of the canvas to write my journaling.

The word "love" is repeated many times and it makes the background of my particular layout:)

You can use the heat gun To dry the acrylic colors quickly.
Ok You have just created your background using acrylic paints and clear stamps:) Soooo cool!
Now y have fun adding pictures that you prefer and embellishments like I made, tale a look below :)

I love it because it rembember me my trip in London , a wonderful city that has donated me lovely moments!I bought this small pictures in Covent Garden so they represent a big treasure for me :)

Some details....

Ok that' s all!
You can apply this very easy technique to cards, layouts , whatever you want, using gesso for example.
I hope that you learned something new and you will have fun!
If you have questions please feel free to ask me them :)

Love Lory

Project of the day: For You card

I'm sharing a nice little card project that brings together something old and something new, nothing borrowed (I don't think) and a little bit of blue!

The something new are the "It's all about... Circles" stamps from Banana Frog's brand new release!

The border stamp in this set is ideal for framing your greeting - whether you keep within its edges or go a little over. I added dimension to the die-cut letters so they'd stand out, but I also used one of the edge stamps as an additional pop-out accent for the card. Where would we be without those little 3d foam squares, eh?

I finished off the card with some lovely satin ribbon and a bit of bling with a bejewelled brad - the little circle details in this stamp set are also perfect for adding pearls and crystals if you want to up the bling a notch!

Colour Focus

Welcome to Part 2 of Colour Focus. As a reminder, here's the colour scheme that the girls had to work with:

This is what the team came up with:

Amy has created this lovely LO using stamp sets from Budmo Jiggler and Build A Cupcake

Tip: Stamp Budmo Jiggler letters onto white cardstock to draw the eye to the title.


Anthea has also created a lovely LO based on stamp sets from Teen, Whirligig and Sewing kit.

 

Tip: Mat pink hearts onto card stock for color contrast. Anthea used stickles for glittery fill in.

Francine has come up with a delicious cupcake LO using stamp sets from Build-A-Cupcake, Build-A-Bloom, Jo-Jo and Swirls.

Here's a close-up look at the LO:

Tip: Use beads and glitter glue to add sparkle and texture to your stamped images. Use 3D glue dots to add dimension to elements on an otherwise flat page.


Hannah came up with this gorgeous card using stamp sets from Pharmacy, It's All About Arrows and Circus Stories. She used the large arrow from It's All About Arrows to create the house!

Kirsty created a little wall-hanging that can easily be adapted to use either as a card or part of a layout. The letters, apart from the coloured I, L and U, were stamped and embossed with a clear, glitter powder. The tiny 'love' word was cut from an old book page.

Here's a closer look:

Tip: Use alphabet sets to create a background or decorative detail. By highlighting certain letters, like the I, L(ove) and U here, you can also incorporate a message, name or word.


Julie made these pages to go in her 'Saying Yes' Circle Journal. She used stamp sets from FT Rosecube, Tag It and Fanciful.

Here's a closer look at her lovely creation:

Tip: To add extra colour and interest, Julie stamped directly onto patterned cardstock rahter than plain.


Mary has created a cherrilious card using Build-A-Cupcake stamp set.

Here's a closeup look at the card:

Tip: Mary used the cherry and the mini-heart from the Build-A-Cupcake set to create a patterned background. She stamped teh cherries with red and green ink onto pink cardstock. Then she coloured each cherry with watercolour pencils and blended with a Versapen. She outlined the cherries with a black pen and added Stickles glitter to the highlight.



Nat used Flowery Thoughts stamp set to create this card.

Here's a closeup look at her card:

Tip: Stamp second impression without re-inking the stamp to achieve a lighter shade.


Last but not least, Tracie created a mini album which holds enough pages to put together a double pager for each of the 12 months in 2009. She'll use it to record the special days from each month - birthdays, anniversaries etc. She used stamp sets from Lower Teen,Journaling, Funky Flowers, Calendar and Paper Chains.

Here's another look at the back of the album:

Tip: Take a look at the outline shape of your stamps to see if you can utilise their shape to create alternatives - Tracie used the circular numerical stamp from Journaling to create the upper part of her tree.

The girls have certainly took advantage of the colour scheme to come up with great ideas using Banana Frog stamps. Do show us what you have done with yours!

Project of the Day - Cape Hillsbrough

This month I wanted to share a technique that is new to me, and one I am fast falling in love with. I popped into a local craft store recently and came across a Stamping Glue Pad, and in my opinion it is COOL and has just opened a new world of stamping up to me.

 

So what you need to start off with is your layout, pretty much completed, here I have used the Sewing Kit set to frame around my focused area, the Zig Zag pattern around the patterned paper frame and the cross pattern on top of the scalloped patterned paper, these have all been stamped directly onto the cardstock.

**Tip; using a large ink pad will help to achieve a more even coverage of ink onto your stamp**

Using this gorgeous oval frame from the new Its all about Elegance set I stamped it onto cardstock and cut it out to place my title on to.

 Now for the fun part!! =) here I stamped Round in Circles using ink just once with the larger stamp from the set, then I used the stamping Glue Pad with 3 smaller sized stamps and sprinkled some glitter over the top, Make sure you press your glitter into the glue image and tap off gently, then using a light paint brush, brush off the glitter not adhered to your stamped image. 

**Tip; the finer the glitter the better the outcome**

I also used a flourish design from the Its all about Elegance set.

And there you have it, stamping with glitter to help add a little spark to your projects.

Anthea 

Project of the Day :: Thank You Card

 

One of the easiest ways to break in a new set of stamps is to create your own patterned paper! On this quick and cute "thank you" card, I used the multi-heart stamp from It's All About...Hearts and a green dye ink to stamp a tone-on-tone heart-patterned background. I also used the circle stamps from Round in Circles with a combination of pigment ink colors to create a polka-dot background for the flower sticker and my stamped sentiment (from the Simple Greetings set).

Here's a closer look:

Get more mileage out of your stamps and try this fun, stress-free technique!

Wishing you all a creative day!

Mary

PROJECT OF THE DAY: WHAT'S IN THE BAG

This makes the perfect CARD and GIFT at the same time, always helpful in a credit crunch.
I used a small lunch bag and Kaisercraft papers, from the christmas range, but still usable after the BIG EVENT.

To "make" the icing I used Liquid Applique and covered it in Glamour Dust before applying heat to "puff up"
 
I folded the top of the bag down approx. 1 inch used the Threading Water Punch to make the scalloped border and placed it under the flap. 

Put it all together, punched two holes at the back and made a ribbon handle and finished with some Glossy Accents on the dots.

These were lovely stamps to work with and I look forward to sharing my next Project with you

Stamps used THAT TAKE'S THE CAKE, SIMPLE GREETINGS and FANCIFUL

Banana Frog loves... Scrapbook Star!

Each month we are going to profile one of Banana Frog's stockists and friends. We will tell you a bit about the shop and show you some pictures -because we all like being nosey right?! 

This month we would like to introduce you to Scrapbook Star and owner Samantha! 

Scrapbook Star is a Canadian shop and based in the gorgeous city of Montreal. 

Samantha says "The store opened in February 2006 in a family oriented neighborhood of Montreal, called Notre-dame-de-grace (NDG for short). The store looked bare in the beginning but these days it's full of product and life! It's amazing how much of a community has formed in and around the store!  We give classes on the weekend and hold large crops once a month at a local community center, which allows me to bring my love for party hosting and scrapbooking together."

Scrapbook Star also has a busy and fun online community, with games, contests, online crops and more - which can be found at www.scrapbookstar.ca. Samantha has ordered the It's all about... collection and as soon as they are ready to ship they will be on their way to Montreal! 

We hope that you enjoyed meeting Samantha and learning a little about Scrapbook Star. Doesn't it look like a gorgeous shop?!  Check back next month to meet another Banana Frog friend!

Don't forget there are still a few days left to enter the February Challenge. We would love to see your creations.

Project of the Day: Baby Boy Cards

 

I wanted to make a couple of little cards to send to friends to announce the birth of my new son Jamie, and as those of you with small children will agree they needed to be very simple as I don't have a lot of free time at the moment! This is what I came up with and they probably only took about 20 minutes to make (with a sleeping baby on my knee!) 

 

I have used Budmo Jiggler (probably one of my favouite stamp sets!) to stamp out the letters using Dew Drop Brilliance Pearlescent Sky Blue ink, which gave them a lovely sheen. I cut the letters out and used foam squares to attach them them to the card. The baby rattle was cut from the Animal Crackers design card on my Slice die cutter, and I edged it with a glitter pen which I think you can just about make out in the photo!

 For the next card I used Budmo Jiggler again, this time with Dew Drop Brilliance Coffee Bean ink, and finished off the card with a little choo choo train for the letters to stand on, also from the Animal Crackers design card. The basic background for each card was made very simply too - a square of cardstock, a scalloped edge made using my corner rounder, and a banner across the middle which I embossed with the Swiss Dots folder on the Cuttlebug.

I hope you like my quick and easy cards!

Trish xx