It's All in the Detailz!

Hi Crafty Friends! I am so delighted to get to show off a couple of projects I made with some exciting new products from Lifestyle Crafts. The Detailz line of dies cut and emboss for some really gorgeous and fun die-cuts. 

I created two birthday cards. The first uses the new Party Detailz dies. Here is the full card:

Party Detailz dies

Detailz dies can be cut, embossed, or both. I wanted to show how, with Letterpress Paper, you can also emboss without cutting. 

To do it, simply add another piece of Letterpress Paper on top of the one you want to "emboss" and, voila!, you've got a deeply etched and gorgeous impression, like on this party cake!

I wanted to feature all the dies in the Party collection, so I decided to leave off the sentiment on the front and embellish the inside of the card. Here is the inside:

I adore the pennants. Each one is unique and are so cute! These were cut and embossed using regular cardstock.

The frame below uses the new Labels Detailz Dies.

Labels Detailz Dies

Next up is the second birthday card I created. This one makes use of the new Flags Detailz dies. 

After stamping my clouds and airplane, I created this fun banner for the plane to "trail" behind it in the air. I love the little embossed detail on the flag!

Flags Detailz Dies

Some of you may know this, but I recently completely destroyed a Vagabond die-cutting machine using the platform it came with. My sandwich was too big and my guess wasn't a very good one as to whether or not it would work. With my new Vagabond, I wanted to be very careful. 

I was so stoked to try out the new Genius Ultimate Platform from Lifestyle Crafts. It has been an absolute pleasure! No more bent cutting plates, no more guessing, and the magnetic platform keeps my dies from sliding around! Plus, it works in most manual die-cutting machines like the Cuttlebug and Big Shot. It also comes with some pretty cool, exclusive nesting dies.

Genius Ultimate Platform

BEAN NOTES

Party Birthday Card

Dies: Party Detailz dies, Labels Detailz Dies (Lifestyle Crafts); Patterned Paper: Dots & Stripes (Echo Park); Stamps: Birthday Bash Sentiments (PTI); Specialty Paper: Letterpress Paper (Lifestyle Crafts); Other: Genius Ultimate Platform, Genius Rubber Mat (Lifestyle Crafts)

Flag Birthday Card

Dies: Flags Detailz Dies (Lifestyle Crafts); Patterned Paper: Sweet Girl (Echo Park); Fibers: baker's twine (The Twinery); Stamps: Fly Away (PTI); Other: Genius Ultimate Platform, Genius Rubber Mat (Lifestyle Crafts)

I hope you enjoyed my Detailz Dies projects with Lifestyle Crafts. As an affiliate, I get to offer my readers an exclusive coupon code for 20% off when shopping in the Lifestyle Crafts Store! Please enter Promo Code: BEAN at checkout for your savings. Happy Crafting!

Lifestyle Crafts Sale & GIVEAWAY!

Good morning, crafty friends! It's a new week and I have some fun news to share with you from Lifestyle Crafts. Starting today through Sunday, March 3, all Lifestyle Crafts Templates are 40% off! PLUS, if you use Promo Code: BEAN during checkout, you'll get an additional 20% off! 

This means that dies in these categories are on sale, and to celebrate, I'm doing a giveaway for a 

Rectangle Matchbox Die Template! 

(read on for details on how to enter)

I wanted to share a few projects that I created using some of these fabulous templates. The one above uses the Eyelet Envelope Set Die, which is still one of my favorite creative ways to give a gift card.

Here's another project, which I created as part of a wedding ensemble (the complete project can be found HERE.)

And finally, a photo desk calendar I created with interchangeable photos that uses the really cool Card & Photo Easel Die. (For a tutorial on how I created this project, please visit HERE.)

All of the template dies I used above are on sale for 40% off as well as those listed below! Don't forget to use Promo Code: BEAN for an additional 20% off!

Sale Templates are all those in these categories in the Lifestyle Crafts Store:

Boxes & Bags

3D Shapes

Cards, Envelopes & Tags

Now, as promised, I get to give away the darling 

Rectangle Matchbook Die Template (a $39.99 value)!

There are 5 ways to enter to win:

1. Leave a comment on this post. I love hearing from my readers and I'd love to know what crafty projects you are currently working.

2. Visit Facebook and "Like" The Stampin' Bean (HERE). Come back here and leave another comment that you did and you'll get another entry. If you already "Like" TSB on Facebook, let me know and get another entry, too!

3. Subscribe to The Stampin' Bean via email (HERE). Leave another comment telling me you did. Already subscribed? Let me know and get another entry, too!

4. Follow The Stampin' Bean by clicking "Join this Site" in the sidebar above or click HERE. Leave another comment telling me you did. Already a follower? Let me know and get another entry, too!

5. Follow The Stampin' Bean on Pinterest (HERE). Leave another comment telling me you did. Already a follower? Let me know and get another entry, too!

You have until 11:59 pm (PST) on Thursday, February 28, 2013 to enter. I'll announce the winner here on TSB and on Facebook on Friday, March 1, 2013. Good luck!

Shape 'n Tape

As promised, I have two more projects to share with you using some cool new products from Lifestyle Crafts. Today I'm feeling a bit clean and simple, and these two cards I created were just the ticket.

I got to play with some very cool Shape 'n Tape, which are splendidly large 6" x 12"sheets of washi tape! I used Red and Teal Blue for my cards, which I used in conjunction with some wonderful new Dies, including the Tape It Cutting Die Kit.

First up is the card I made using the Red Shape 'n Tape sheets. I still need several valentines, so this was just what I was looking for.

I told you yesterday that this heart-shaped die is my new favorite love die, didn't I? Well, it cut through the washi sheets so nicely and I put two hearts together. The fun thing about the sheets is that because they are so large, I could use larger dies with them, too, like the Nesting Card Template Dies.

My second card features all the different patterns from the Teal Blue Shape 'n Tape sheets and it was a fun card to create. I used one of the little pennants from the Tape It Cutting kit and made quick work of them. 

Do you ever get annoyed because you try to mat a piece of cardstock or patterned paper and for some reason your cut is crooked or the spacing was all wrong? I was thrilled to use the new Nesting Card Template, which makes perfect mats for a standard card every time!

Nesting Card Templates (17 dies)

Tape It Kit (18 dies)

Red Shape 'n Tape

Teal Blue Shape 'n Tape

I hope you enjoyed my Lifestyle Crafts projects this week. As an Affiliate, I get to offer my readers a great Promo Code for 20% Off in the Lifestyle Crafts Store. Be sure to enter Promo Code: BEAN to receive your discount!

Hearts, Hugs, & Kisses!

It's the mid-week slump, but I thought I would perk things up with a couple projects I created with some fun new dies from Lifestyle Crafts! Valentine's Day is just around the corner, and I need to get jumpin' if I'm going to be done in time.

I thought I would create two cards using the same color scheme. I adore dies. I could use them all day long and I love the new Nesting Floral Doilies and Nesting Square Doilies Dies. 

I love the color combo of brown and pink and I started with that scheme and built my card around it. The Nesting Floral Doilies Die made a perfect pretty frame for my "Hugs & Kisses" XOXO.

That heart, by the way, is from the new Tape It cutting kit set of dies and it's my new favorite heart-shaped die. It's the perfect size to add a simple sentiment and I added one in red for a splash of color.

Next, I created a second card using the Nesting Square Doilies Dies. The shape of these dies is so whimsical and I layered them with the same patterned paper I used on my first card.

Yes, there is that heart again! These cards were super simple to create but look very elegant when finished. 

Nesting Floral Doilies (3 dies)

Nesting Square Doilies (4 dies)

Tape It Kit (18 dies)

I hope you enjoyed my Lifestyle Crafts projects this week. As an Affiliate, I get to offer my readers a great Promo Code for 20% Off in the Lifestyle Crafts Store. Be sure to enter Promo Code: BEAN to receive your discount!

Knotty & Nice

Now that Thanksgiving is over, I've been thinking about gift giving. Lifestyle Crafts just released its Knotty & Nice Gift Set collection of dies and I am delighted to get to share some of them with you today. These may well be my favorite Lifestyle Crafts dies ever!

Today I am using the Knotty Gift Set collection -- a set of four dies that create four different bows. (Keep reading for how to create a fifth bow using the same die in two different ways.) I used one to create a thank you card and I just love how plump and happy the bow looks.

I decided the little, simple bow would make a darling accent on a matching gift bag. I thought these would be perfect to give to a hostess for the parties we are sure to be attending during the holiday season.

Next up are two different bows I created with the same die. These are so cute and are a terrific way to top off a small gift box or package.

The polka dot bow below was created by folding the ends straight over. (By the way, that wee little Christmas tree is another Lifestyle Crafts die from their Wintertide collection, the Evergreen Punches.)

The red bow below was created by twisting each over before securing (both were secured with a small brad inside.) I love how different the looks are, but both were equally quick and easy to do.

Knotty Gift Set

I hope you enjoyed my projects today using the Knotty Gift Set-- if you do any shopping in the Lifestyle Crafts Store, be sure to enter Promo Code: BEAN for a 20% discount.