VC Rocks August Blog Hop - Punches Galore

I've been slacking on the blog again... but good news is I'm back. :)  VC Rocks is coming to an end, and this is their last blog hop of the year.  I am so sad for this season to be ending, but also thankful for the time it will open up as we start our busy season at home.  The theme for this month's blog hop is Punches Galore.  Be sure to check out everyone else's posts to see fabulous projects/cards made with Stampin' Up! punches.   To start at the beginning of the hop click the VC Rocks link below.

VC Rocks Blog

My first project came to me as soon as I saw the theme for the hop.  Poinsettias.  I love them.  I instantly saw a flower pot card with punched poinsettias.  Here is what I came up with:

                       

  

To make my poinsettias I started with one 5 Petal Flower Punch.  I creased each of the petals, and sponged ink around the edges.  I then punch out 10 daisy petals from the Build a Blossom punch.  To me, the petal in the top right of the punch looks like a daisy petal.  I folded them down the center, and inked around the edges.  I glued the first five daisy petals to the back of the 5 Petal Punch in the spaces in between the petals.  I glued the second set of five daisy petals in between the spaces of the first five daisy petals.  To make the leaf, I used the largest petal punch from the Build a Blossom Punch.  I used my bone folder to make lines from the scallops to the center of the leaf, and then I crumbled the paper in my hand.  I also inked the edges of the leaf.

For my next project - I wanted to make Christmas ornaments.  Apparently all of Carey's countdowns and warnings have stuck in my head, and I now have Christmas on the brain.   Thanks Carey.  Here is what I came up with.  :)

I made three different types of ornaments.  For the "Oranment" shaped ones, I punched out 6 ornaments.  I folded them in half, and glued them together half at a time to make a 3D ornament.  For some of the ornament shaped ones, I used a scalloped circle from the Itty Bitty Punch Pack to make a hole in the center.  To make those prettier, I stuck two basic pearls together with a piece of thread through the middle.  For the Flower/Star shaped ornaments I punched out six flowers using the 5 Petal Punch.  They were assembled the same way the ornaments were.  For the Folded Square shaped ornaments, I punched out 8 one inch squares using Stampin' Up!'s new punch available in the holiday mini.  I then used this cool folding technique I learned in a VC Rocks class taught by my friend Shirley to make what she calls a Tea Bag Folded Ornament.

Well, I hope you have enjoyed my Christmas themed punch creations.  Now it is time for some blog candy!  One lucky winner will receive a a small gift.  You can enter to win by leaving me a comment and telling me how many Christmas cards you have done so far this year, or when you plan to start working on them.  As we are so kindly reminded all the time from Carey - there are only 22 weeks, or 154 days until Christmas.

Hopefully you are following the hop in order - and have just come here from Janice's lovely blog at Stamping With Janice.  If not - be sure to check out her fabulous halloween treats!

Next stop on the hop will take you to Jane at Stamp With Jane.  I haven't seen her creations yet - but I love her work, and am sure you won't be disappointed!!