Star Gazer...

It's time for the second group post for the April 2013 Papertrey Ink countdown.  Today the team is featuring a couple of new stamp sets called Star Gazer and Star Gazer Additions.  The stars and star charts are a hot trend right now, so these new sets are right on target!  There are also some really neat coordinating dies that will allow you to create star shaped confetti and tiny, stitchable stars.  These products will be available for purchase from the Papertrey Ink website when all of the new April goodies go on sale at 10pm EST on April 15th.  Let me show you a few projects using the new Star Gazer goodies.  

My first card focuses on the main Star Gazer set.  This set contains each of the 12 constellations that make up the zodiac, along with a matching sentiment for each + a few more general sentiments.  I chose to use just the constellation images to create a starry night sky.  I stamped them in Fresh Snow ink onto an Enchanted Evening cardstock background.  

The tree line at the bottom is from Masculine Motifs.  The sentiment, embossed in white on Smokey Shadow cardstock, is also from the new Star Gazer set.  The diecut moon and tiny stars are part of the new Star Gazer die collection.  I cut them from some of the new shimmer cardstock, also being released this month.

My second project focuses on the Star Gazer Additions set.  This set contains a beautiful Star Chart image along with some great sentiments, fitting for lots of different occasions.  I stamped the star chart using Fresh Snow ink on Enchanted Evening cardstock.

The fun star garland was created using the Star Gazer dies...two of the dies cut holes in the stars, which allow you to easily stitch them or string them together like I did here.  I used some silver thread for a little extra sparkle.  These were diecut from some of the new Shimmer Cardstocks as well.  The sentiment is from Star Gazer Additions and it was embossed with Zing! Butter embossing poweder.  

One little tip for working with tiny diecuts like these found in the Star Gazer die collection.  I found this great tool, which is a lifesaver!  It's called the QuickStik from Lifestyle Crafts and it's so helpful for picking up and placing tiny diecuts (or sequins, beads, gems, etc, etc!).  

One end is a piercing tool, perfect for removing small pieces from diecuts and the other end is sticky, which helps with picking up small pieces.  I like to pick them up with this tool, apply a dot of liquid adhesive to the back, then place it right on my project.  I just got mine last week and I already feel like I can't create without it!  It's one of those useful, inexpensive tools that's great to have in your tool box.  Just thought I'd share.  :-)  

To see more great projects using the Star Gazer collection of stamps and dies, be sure to hop around to the other DT gals to see what they've created for you today...

• Ashley Cannon Newell
• Jess Witty
• Maile Belles
• Nichole Heady
• Dawn McVey
• Melissa Phillips
• Cristina Kowalozyk

Supplies not linked, but available at 10pm EST on April 15th, 2013 from Papertrey Ink:  Star Gazer stamp set, Star Gazer Additions stamp set, Star Gazer die collection, Shimmer Cardstock collection