Good morning and welcome to another edition of Cards and Creations by Lori McBride. My name is Lori McBride and I’m a Stampin’ Up Independent Demonstrator from Joshua, TX.
Today I’d like to share with you four alternate projects using the May 2021 “Batter Up Kit.” Each project is both unique and different and use different elements of the kit plus just a few little added somethings.
To be quite honest, I was not thrilled with this kit. It was advertised as “all inclusive” regardless of gender but it is not. It was not the coordinating colors that bothered me as much as it was that there was no “daughter” sentiment in the stamp set.
I know that MANY had reached out to both Paper Pumpkin and Stampin’ Up and specifically asked about gender neutrality and we were specifically told that it was a gender neutral kit. It was advertised as “for all of the All Stars in your life.” Apparently, they forgot that girls play softball and baseball too.
I couldn’t help but to feel both disappointed and angered and believe me when I say that Stampin’ Up is most definitely going to hear about this one.
I will say this – through that disappointment and anger came a determination to create SOMETHING suitable for our girls hitting home runs in the fields using different elements of the kit.
For my first alternate, I used the Soft Suede woodgrain Cardbase, the bats, the red label from the kit, the “softball” (as we’re calling it for these projects) and the white twine.
I had my Customers cut one of the cardbases that I couldn’t think of an Alternate down to 4″×5 1/4″. Using a ruler and Stampin’ Blend Markers we created our own feminine DSP. I also had them flip over the red label and use the Stampin’ Blend Markers to create a Flirty Flamingo ombre label.
The two colors we used to create our own DSP were Dark Flirty Flamingo and Dark Pool Party.
My second Alternate project also took components from the kit for a nice “feminine copycat” project. I had Customers flip over the red and yellow die cut and use the Stampin’ Blend Markers and a ruler to create their own label. I also traded the Night of Navy Ink Spot out for a Pool Party Classic Ink Pad and again added Silver Epoxy Essentials.
I used the base from the Kit, the label from the Kit and the Basic White twine from the Kit.
For our third Alternate project we created our own Cardbase from Pool Party Cardstock, added a Matte Base in Flirty Flamingo measuring 4″×5 1/4″ 1/4″, again cut down a Cardbase we weren’t going to use to measure 3 3/4″×5″ to create a Mount Base.
We stamped the Mount Base in Flirty Flamingo ink and randomly stamped the bat, helmet and “All Star” sentiment.
We stamped the “You’re The Best” sentiment on the base in Pool Party Ink and added three lines of Stampin’ Seal Adhesive to the back and then ran the Flirty Flamingo Metallic Ribbon to the back and clipped it off with a pair of Paper Snips.
Using Stampin’ Seal we adhered the Mount Base to the Matte Base and added Stampin’ Dimensionals to the back of the “home plate” die cut and adhered it to the center of the Mount Base and then added Stampin’ Dimensionals to the back of the Matte Base and adhered it to the Cardbase.
We added three Silver Epoxy Essentials to the front of the card.
For our fourth and final Alternate Project using the May 2021 “Batter Up” Kit, we created a box out of Flirty Flamingo Cardstock. I’ll provide exact measurements below in just a minute. Using our Stampin’ Trimmer we cut a specific length and height from the “pinstripe” cardbase from the Kit and adhered it to the front of the box. Using the 2 1/2″ Layering Circles Dies we die cut a circle using our Stampin’ Cut and Emboss Machine. We stamped the “All Star” sentiment from the Kit Stamp Set in Flirty Flamingo Ink and added Stampin’ Dimensionals to the back of the “softball” die cut and added it to the center of the Pool Party Circle.
We wrapped the Flirty Flamingo Metallic Ribbon around the box tightly and tied a knot to the side. We added more Silver Epoxy Essentials to the softball and front of the box.
We used some plain White tissue Paper, we put it in the Stampin’ Trimmer and trimmed it at 2″x9″ We stamped the “helmet” image from the Kit Stamp Set in Flirty Flamingo and Pool Party Inks. When the ink dried, we put the tissue paper in the box and put the three bubble gums in the box.
Which by the way, Double Bubble is NOT the official gum of the MLB.
*Box Measurements*
Flirty Flamingo Cardstock 4 1/4″×7″ scored at 2 1/4″, 3 1/4″, 5 1/2″ and 6 1/2″ on the Landscape (long 7″ side) and scored at 1″ on the Portrait (4 1/4″ short side) side.
Pinstripe Cardbase – 2 1/8″×3 1/8″
*Box Instructions*
Cut off small Rectangle created by score lines. Trim up the squares to the score line and slightly wedge out with paper snips.
Use Bone Folder and burnish all score lines well.
Add Tear and Tape to thin edge where we cut out the small rectangle out and adhere to the other side. Fold the ends in and add Tear and Tape to the bottom flap, fold up and adhere.
*Personal Note*
This is not a drive against boys and men. The same box with the tissue paper can easily be recreated using Real Red, Night of Navy, Bumblebee or Basic Black. These alternate projects weren’t designed to discriminate against boys or men. I’m going to be doing some boy/men alternates soon for the upcoming Team Blog Hop using this Kit so stay tuned!
*Closing Thoughts*
When life gives you lemons – Make Lemonade and that’s EXACTLY what we did today. I can PROMISE you that there are going to be people out there who are just as frustrated, upset and disappointed with this Kit as I was and I can PROMISE you that Stampin’ Up and Paper Pumpkin WILL be hearing from MANY of us regarding this but I hope that this Blog will reach MANY looking for alternative projects using this Kit. I don’t know WHAT they were thinking but I hope with what I was able to share will help those looking for alternative ideas for their softball loving daughters and their teammates and coaches!!
Thank you so much for joining me today. I hope you’ll join me again soon for another edition. Until next time – Happy Stampin Everyone!!
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Cards & Creations by Lori McBride - Stampin' Up Demonstrator 