{CUTplorations Creative Cuts} Creative Play with Coffee and Flowers

  

Happy Friday, STAMPlorations friends! CUTplorations Creative Cuts is back. This new feature is puts the spotlight on the thin metal dies we carry in the store. We have Maureen Ruangchamneil sharing her amazing projects. Make sure you comment on this post for a chance at a $15 prize code. Every month, we draw 7 winners, with the winners randomly drawn from all posts published during the month. The more posts you comment on, the more chances you have.

  

How is it February already, STAMPloration friends? I'm SO ready to move into Spring, like many of you might be, and these CUTplorations flowers are a whole mood! But, until Spring arrives, I can look forward to a warm cup of coffee in the meantime, right? These projects bring together the fun of both coffee and flowers for me - I hope they bring you joy.

Project 1 - Coffee Shop Treat Box

ATC Tag Builder Dies
Coffee Petites with Stitched Circle Die
Artsy Border Maker Set
After Coffee Stamp Set

Okay, I love this project - it makes me think of patio weather!  Start with a basic 5" by 12" strip of pink card stock and score fold lines at 1", 3", 4", 6" and 10.5". You'll see them marked with arrows in the image below.  Take the circle die from the Coffee Petites set to cut 2 spots in between the first 2 scored lines, as shown.  

Next, with a 5" wide black and white striped paper, use the scalloped edge from the ATC Tag Builder set and trim. Flip the pink paper over and, with the Artsy Border set, ink up the first 2 rectangles only on the rectangle stamp, stamping in various spots on the front.  I smudged some black chalk on the front and edges to give it a worn look.  Fold up the pink box and glue to secure.

The store "window" is a rectangle cut from the ATC Tag set.  I chose images from the Coffee Petites set and the scalloped border in the Artsy Border Maker set and colored with markers.  I also used the word "coffee" from the After Coffee stamp set and lightly stamped it to look like an etched store name on the window.  I added a black paper mat for the window too.  Glue to the pink box front.

Punch holes on both corners of the box and canopy and insert rock candy sticks as poles (PS, these can be coffee stirrers later!).  Line up and fold the striped canopy over the top edge of the pink box and glue to the back.  The final touch is a pom pom ribbon, add some coffee pods, and you are ready for coffee on the patio!

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Project 2 - Floral Magnet Frame

ATC Tag Builder Dies
Trendy Spring Blooms Dies
Artsy Border Maker Set

I recently ordered several magnet pictures, but found they needed something 'extra.'  Time to pull out my Trendy Spring Blooms dies from the CUTplorations line!  I started with a white piece of card stock and cut the middle out with the ATC Tag set rectangle.  Next, I chose the zig zag border pattern from the Artsy Border Maker set and stamped at an angle across my card stock.

For the flower border, I used white and yellow paper and the Trendy Spring Blooms dies to make the daisies, adding a strip of card stock on the back to hold negative pieces in place.  For a 3D effect, the yellow flower is made with 2 scalloped edge flowers, and the middle piece is snipped apart then overlapped and glued back into place.

Final embellishments are to glue the flowers to the corner of the frame and drop a black button in the middle.  I glued the frame to the magnet photo and it was ready to hang on the cabinet in my home office!

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Project 3 - Floral Perk Up Bookmark

ATC Tag Builder Dies
Trendy Spring Blooms Dies
Coffee Petites with Stitched Circle Die
After Coffee Stamp Set

Can you tell that I adore the ATC Tag Builder set?  Truly any of the CUTplorations border dies are well worth it because there are so many project possibilities.  This bookmark starts with a black card stock base.  I trimmed the top and both bottom corners with the scalloped edge, and used the vertical shape hole at the top.

I've cut 2 bright orange flowers and 2 bright green fern leaves from the Trendy Spring Blooms set.  Taking the circle from the Coffee Petites set, I cut 2 white card stock pieces and stamped coffee cups on the front, coloring them with markers.

I used the words Perk and Up! from the After Coffee set and stamped on the other 2 circles, using black ink.  Here's a tip: to separate words like this, cover the word you don't want to stamp with a piece of tape when you apply ink, then remove before you stamp.  Works beautifully!  All images are secured with a clear glue and then I added a bright ribbon to the top.  This will cheer up a friend who loves to read, don't you think?