Swingin’ Z

Inspiration

This card is my last post for 2010!  My next post will be January 2, 2011 – I simply cannot believe how quickly the year flew by, and especially how fast my nice “relaxing” week off is going.

I created this one for a 21-year-old, who is saving money for a first trip to Hawaii.  We gave her some funding as a gift, and I made this card to inspire her with thoughts of Hawaii.

The design is called a Swinging Z-Fold, and it was the featured technique in last week’s “Inkling” newsletter from Splitcoast Stampers.  If you make cards, you’d love this weekly email with lots of ideas and great tutorials.  You can subscribe here.  They have a great tutorial for this technique (including a video) – click here to check it out.

On this card, the outside and inside are both decorated.  Here’s the outside:

And here’s what it look like when opened:

Ingredients

Paper

Note: finished card size is 4 1/2” x 4 1/2”

Cameo Coral (SU!)	a) 4 1/4” x 8 1/2” b) additional small scraps
Tempting Turquoise (SU!)	a) 4 1/2” x 4 1/2” b) 3” x 3” c) 2” x 4” d) additional small scraps
Summer Sun Textured (SU!)	small scraps
Real Red (SU!)	small scraps
Pink Flamingo DSP (SU!)	4 1/8” x 4 1/8” – 3 pieces
Whisper White (SU!)	a) 1 7/8” x 3 7/8” b) 3” x 3” c) small scraps

Ink

Tempting Turquoise (SU!)

Stamps

Fifth Avenue Floral (SU!); Teeny Tiny Wishes (SU!); Motivational Centers (Cornish Heritage Farms)

Accessories

Punches: Small and Medium Oval (SU!), Flower and leaf punches (Make An Impression); Octagon Nestabilities (Spellbinders); Cuttlebug (Provo Craft); Scor-Pal; Adhesive Transfer Gun 714 (Scotch); Glue dots; Craft Knife; Rotary trimmer with straight blade (Fiskars); Scissors

Instructions

Making the Base Card

Starting with the coral paper, score it at 2 1/8”, and 4 1/4”. 

Mount a pieces of the patterned paper onto the un-scored side of the base.  I cut the paper specifically to highlight the sunburst pattern from the paper.

Apply adhesive on the scored side of the cardstock base facing the patterned paper, with additional adhesive on the outside half.  Mount another piece of patterned paper there.  Score the same panel again at 2 1/8" to make it easier to fold later.

Turn the card over, and apply adhesive to the other side of the scored panel, with additional adhesive on the outside half. Mount your last piece of patterned paper, and score once more at 2 1/8”.

Fold the scored side, then place the die template in the center, and trace only the LEFT side of the template, starting at the fold line at the top, and around the left to the fold line at the bottom.

Now, using the craft knife, cut along your traced lines.

Mount the un-scored square panel of the base card onto the large turquoise square.  For this card, I used the back of the turquoise square to write our greeting to the birthday girl.

Now you’re ready to decorate.

Decorating the Card

For the cut out decoration on the outside, use the largest octagon die to cut and emboss a turquoise shape.  Use the next size die to cut a white octagon, and stamp the sentiment in turquoise.  Mount the blue octagon to the card, and then the white octagon onto the blue.

Stamp Happy Birthday in turquoise on a scrap of white paper, and punch out with the smallest oval.  Punch a larger oval in turquoise.  Mount the birthday sentiment on the blue oval.  Adhere it to the inside of the card on the un-scored panel.

Use your remaining scraps to punch out leaves from blue, the largest flowers from coral, the medium flowers from yellow, and the flower centers from red. Mount these using glue dots around the sentiments.

Final Notes

I want to wish each and every one of you a very Happy New Year and many blessings in the coming months! If you are celebrating away from home, please stay safe on New Year’s Eve, and travel home safely.

Thanks for stopping by.

Snowmen Melt Your Heart

Inspiration

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas celebration with family and friends. Joe and I had a quiet day, which was a real blessing.  We cooked our favorite breakfast (waffles), and dinner (traditional turkey & dressing dinner), and watched “It’s A Wonderful Life” – which IT IS!

The last Christmas card I'll share this season is the one I made for Joe.  It's based on the "funky fold" design I found by "Sweet Designs by Cheryl".  She has an instructional video on the design here (Cheryl's blog) that really helped me out.  I’ve put in my instructions below, but if you like a more visual instruction, check out her video.

Ingredients

Paper

Note: finished card size is 6” x 6”

Baja Breeze textured (SU!)	6” x 12”
Chocolate Chip (SU!)	a) 3 1/4” x 4 3/4” – 1 piece b) 1” x 4 3/4” – 2 pieces c) 3/4” x 5 3/4” – 1 piece
Ski Slope DSP (SU!)	a) 3” x 4 1/2” – 1 piece b) 3/4” x 4 1/2” – 2 pieces c) 1/2” x 5 1/2” – 1 piece
Real Red (SU!)	small scrap
Whisper White (SU!)	4 1/4” x 5 1/2”

Ink

Real Red (SU!); Chocolate Chip (SU!)

Stamps

Snowmen Melt Your Heart (Heartfelt Creations)

Accessories

Colored pencils (Prismacolor); Baja Breeze and Real Red markers (SU!); Red Grosgrain ribbon (Ribbon Warehouse); Bow-Easy; Snowflake charm (Hobby Lobby); Scor-Pal; Adhesive Transfer Gun 714 (Scotch); Foam tape; Glue dots; Rotary trimmer with straight blade (Fiskars); Scissors

Instructions

Image

Stamp the snowman in brown on the white panel, color with pencils and markers, and trim closely.  Stamp the sentiment in red on the remaining white paper, and  trim it closely.  Adhere it to the red scrap, and trim it again.

Assembly

HINT: Once the base card is done, the rest is very simple - just lots of glue!

Step 1 Measure 1” from one end of the card, and 1 1/4” in from the side.  Cut from that point down the length of the card for 6” (this makes the cut from 1” to 7”). Repeat on the other side of the card.
Step 2 Score from the outside of the card to the cut line at the 1” end of the line. Repeat on the other side of the card.
Step 3 Score from the outside of the card to the cut line 1” from the first score (2” from end of card). Repeat on the other side of the card.
Step 4 Score from the outside of the card to the cut line at the other end of the cut. Repeat on the other side of the card.
Step 5 Score between the cut lines at 6” from the end of the card.

All of the score lines are “mountain folds”, except the ones at the 2” point – this one is a “valley fold”.

Mount the patterned paper on the brown mat pieces.  String the charm onto a piece of red ribbon, and mount it around the largest piece.

Mount each patterned stack onto the card in the appropriate locations.

Now add a red bow above the charm using glue dots, and mount the image using foam tape.  Add the sentiment in the lower left area.

Final Notes

Inside

For inside, I needed a “mushy” sentiment to make my hubby smile!  I happened to have a font on my computer that closely matches the font of the “Snowmen” sentiment.  The font is called Scriptina.

Using Word, I created a text box sized 4” x 5”, and typed the sentiment in red, and formatted the text box with a triple border in blue.  Now, since I’m a nerd, I had to make the red and blue MATCH Real Red and Baja Breeze!  A set of RGB codes for SU! colors (and many others are available on Splitcoast here.  If you’re not into that much detail, just pick what looks best to you.

I printed it out on white card stock, and cut it out, sizing it to 4 1/4” x 5 1/4”. I stamped the snowflake in Baja Breeze in the corner.  This snowflake is from the Heartfelt Creations set called “Snowflake Medley”.

I cut a solid brown panel (4 3/4” x 5 3/4”) and mounted it inside, and added the printed/stamped greeting on top of the brown mat.

Again, I hope you have all had a Merry Christmas.  Thanks for stopping by.

Holiday Thanks

Inspiration

Good morning!  I’m late posting my mid-week card – yesterday was my last day at work for 2010(yea!!!) and I had lots to do to make sure I don’t have to worry much about work for the next 10 days.  So I’m starting my holiday week with my blog post.

Unfortunately, I’ve been late on all sorts of things this season – I only sent my birthday thank you cards this week with my late Christmas cards.  So my birthday thank you’s have a Christmas-y feel:

Ingredients

Paper

Note: finished card size is 4 1/4” x 5 1/2”

Ruby Red (SU!)	5 1/2” x 8.25”, score at 4 1/4”
Hunter Green (SU!)	3 1/2” x 4 1/2”
Stampers Select White (Paper Trey)	a) 2 1/2” x 4” b) small scrap

Ink

Ruby Red (SU!), Tuxedo Black (Memento)

Stamps

Mademoiselle Noel (Penny Black); Teeny Tiny Wishes (SU!) 

Accessories

COPIC Markers (Imagination International); Plain Oval Nestabilities die (Spellbinders); Cuttlebug (Provo Craft); Oval punch (SU!); Polar White Flower Soft (flower-soft.com); Flower Soft glue (flower-soft.com); Scor-Pal; Adhesive Transfer Gun 714 (Scotch); Rotary trimmer with straight blade (Fiskars); Scissors

Instructions

Images

Stamp the sentiment on a small scrap of white paper in red, and punch it out using the oval punch.

Stamp the image on the white panel in black, and color with COPICs.  Here’s the colors I used:

• Hat/Dress/Boots: R21, R24, R27
• Skin: E000, E00
• Hair: Y02, Y08
• Flowers: YR15, G28

Spread glue on the trim areas of the skirt and hat, and sprinkle on the Flower Soft, and press to set.  Let dry.

Assembly

Run the green panel through the die cutter with the Oval Nestabilities die.

Mount the green oval positioned to the upper left on the front panel of the base red card. Add the sentiment at the top of the oval.

Mount the image panel positioned in the lower left of the card.

Final Notes

Grateful

I want to express my thanks to all who have left comments on my work over the past few months – I really enjoy hearing from you all.  Blogging is a funny thing – you spend time writing and send your creation out in the web, and hope someone will respond.  It is so nice when you get a comment on your efforts.

I wish you all a very Merry Christmas!

Thanks for stopping by.

Sympathy Sentiment

Inspiration

Even in the middle of such a joyous season, we often encounter sad events, too.  I found myself with the somber need for three sympathy cards all at the same time – one for a friend, one for a coworker, and one for Faith H (Markie’s Mom).  Faith makes beautiful cards, and I read her blog every day.  Inspiration was hard to come by, so I surfed Splitcoast and found a beautiful card by Deb Felts (click here).   Here’s my version.

Ingredients

Paper

Note: finished card size is 4 1/4” x 5 1/2”

Soft Suede (SU!)	a) 4 1/4” x 11”, score at 5 1/2” b) 3 3/4” x 5”
Green Tea DSP (SU!)	4” x 5 1/4”
Whisper White (SU!)	4” x 5 1/4”

Ink

Soft Suede (SU!)

Stamps

Thinking of You (JustRite Stampers); Embrace Life (SU!) 

Accessories

Soft Suede and Baja Breeze Markers (SU!); Stamp-a-ma-Jig; Deckled Oval and Plain Oval Nestabilities (Spellbinders); Cuttlebug (Provo Craft); Scor-Pal; Adhesive Transfer Gun 714 (Scotch); Foam tape; Rotary trimmer with straight blade (Fiskars); Scissors; Xacto Knife 

Instructions

Sentiment

Using the markers, color the words of the sentiment in brown, and the flower in blue.  Stamp the sentiment on the white cardstock.

Align the plain oval die over the sentiment, and cut it out using the die cut machine.

Image

Use the stamp positioner to create the combined image of the leaves and flower.

First, color the flower using the blue marker, and part of the stem using brown, and stamp it on the white cardstock.
Then, stamp the leaves in brown on the clear positioner sheet.
Using the clear sheet, align the leaves over the flower, so it looks like the flower is growing from the main stem.  Put the stamp positioner in place.
Now, remove the clear sheet, and stamp the leaves in brown holding the positioner in exactly the spot.
Now you have your complete image – ready to cut out. Trim is closely, and use the knife to cut the enclosed inner areas.

Assembly

Run the smaller brown panel through the die cutter with the deckled oval die, to create the window panel.

Mount the patterned on the front panel of the base brown card. Then mount the designer paper using foam tape.  The window panel is mounted with foam tape.  Then add the sentiment oval in the center of the window using foam tape.

Glue the flower image across the bottom of the card using a clear-drying glue.

Thanks for stopping by.

Cupcake Crazy

Inspiration

A late November birthday gets lost in Thanksgiving celebrations and a December birthday gets lost in Christmas, so I like to make sure the birthday cards I send look nothing like a holiday.  Here’s a card that’s easy to make in a hurry, but still looks like it is especially for a birthday.

Ingredients

Paper

Note: finished card size is 4 1/4” x 5 1/2”

Whisper White (SU!)	4 1/4” x 11”, score at 5 1/2”
Stamper’s Select White (Paper Trey)	3” x 4”
Rose Red (SU!)	a)  4 x 5 1/4” b) 3” x 4”
Patterned paper (unknown)	3 3/4” x 5”

Ink

Tuxedo Black (Memento)

Stamps

Cupcake Crazy (SU!) 

Accessories

COPIC Markers: BG000, BG11, BG13, RV10, RV21, E31 (Imagination International); SPICA Glitter Pens: red, blossom, turquoise, gold (Imagination International); Pink ribbon (Hobby Lobby); Scalloped Oval Nestabilities, Plain Oval Nestabilities (Spellbinders); Cuttlebug (Provo Craft); Scor-Pal; Adhesive Transfer Gun 714 (Scotch); Rotary trimmer with straight and scalloped blades (Fiskars); Scissors

Instructions

Image

Using the black ink, stamp the cupcake image on the Paper Trey white cardstock piece, and cut it out with the plain oval die.  Run it through twice – once to cut and once to emboss.

Color with COPICs, and enhance the image with the SPICA glitter pens.

Assembly

Cut a scalloped oval out of the smaller pink card stock.  Use a scalloped edge blade to cut the patterned paper panel.

Mount in this order:

• pink cardstock
• patterned paper
• pink oval
• image oval

Tie the ribbon around the card in a bow above the mounted image.

Thanks for stopping by!

Precious Gifts

Inspiration

I’m celebrating a friend’s birthday this week early, along with a late celebration for my birthday – we have the last 2 birthdays of the year in our circle of “diva'” friends - she is the youngest of my circle of girl friends and I’m the oldest!  This card celebrates our friendship.

I started with the Splitcoast “Fan Club” monthly sketch challenge, and picked stamps and Nestabilities I haven’t used much, and this is the result:

Ingredients

Paper

Note: finished card size is 5” x 7”

Bravo Burgundy (SU!)	a) 7” x 10”, score at 5” b) small scrap, about 5/8” x 2 5/8”
So Saffron (SU!)	4” x 4”
Parisian Summer DSP (SU!)	4 1/4” x 7”
Very Vanilla (SU!)	a) 3” x 3” b) small scrap about 1/2” x 2 1/2”

Ink

Bravo Burgundy (SU!)

Stamps

Friendship Set (JustRite Stampers); Birthday Centers (Cornish Heritage Farms)

Accessories

Markers: Pink Pirouette, So Saffron, Bravo Burgundy, Mellow Moss (SU!); SPICA Glitter pens: Garnet, Yellow, Pink (Imagination International); Nestabilities: Labels Ten, Eyelet Circles, and Plain Circles (Spellbinders); Cuttlebug (Provo Craft); Bow-Easy; Grosgrain Ribbon (SU!); Scor-Pal; Adhesive Transfer Gun 714 (Scotch); Foam tape; Glue dots; Rotary trimmer with straight blade (Fiskars); Scissors

Instructions

Image

Cheers Sentiment:  Stamp the saying in burgundy on the small scrap of vanilla paper, and mount it on the small burgundy strip.

Precious Gifts Sentiment: Stamp the image in burgundy on the larger piece of vanilla paper, then cut it out using the plain circle Nestabilities die.  Color the image with the dye markers, and accent with the glitter pens.

Friendship Sentiment: Stamp the image in burgundy on the yellow cardstock, then cut it out with the largest Eyelet Circle die.  Run it through the die cutter twice – once to cut, and once to emboss.

Assembly

Run the patterned paper through the die cutter using the largest Labels Ten die.  Mount it slightly toward the top of the front of the base card.

Mount the yellow die cut using foam tape over the bottom portion of the label die cut.  Add the image on the vanilla circle to the center using foam tape.

Mount the cheers sentiment above the yellow, then tie your bow with the yellow ribbon, and mount it near the top of the label using glue dots.  All done!

Final Notes

Inside

I cut another patterned paper large Label Ten, then the next smaller size Label Ten die out of vanilla.  I stamped a sentiment in burgundy on the vanilla and layered then in the center of the inside panel.

Just a Note

I’m posting this a little early because my schedule is changing a bit – I’ve enrolled in a “Web Master Certification” course, and my classes are Monday-Wednesday-Friday, so I’m posting this on Tuesday.  I’ll still post twice a week, and try to keep it to Sunday/Wednesday, but there may be some variations depending on homework, etc.  Hopefully, you’ll eventually see a brand new blog and website as I learn more about Web design and coding!!!

Thanks for stopping by.

You Rock!

Inspiration

I was lucky enough to attend a workshop by Michelle Zindorf early this year – it was SO much fun!  Michelle does amazing work with white paper, a brayer, and beautiful combinations of dye inks – AND she writes fabulous tutorials on her blog – check out Freedom in Creating. (When I went to look for the correct link, I noticed she has 377 tutorials posted – WOW!!!!)

Here’s one I received rave reviews from the young folks who received it as a birthday greeting this year.  It’s a case of the “Sunset Skateboarder” tutorial.

Ingredients

Paper

Note: finished card size is 5” x 7”

Bordering Blue (SU!)	7” x 10”, score at 5”
Brilliant Blue (SU!)	2.5” x 6 1/2”
Only Orange (SU!)	2.5” x 6”
Summer Sun *SU!)	2” x 5.5”
Whisper White (SU!)	3” x 5”

Ink

Bordering Blue (SU!); Brilliant Blue (SU!), Only Orange (SU!), Summer Sun (SU!), Basic Black (SU!)

Stamps

You Rock (Inkadinkado); Musical Score (Art Impressions); Extreme Guitar (SU!); Sanded Background (SU!) 

Accessories

Rubber Brayer (3M); Post-It Notes; 1 3/8” circle punch (SU!); sponge; Scor-Pal; Adhesive Transfer Gun 714 (Scotch); Foam tape; Rotary trimmer with straight blade (Fiskars); Scissors

Instructions

Background Panels

Stamp the background pattern using blue ink on the bright blue panel, and the orange panel.  Stamp the background pattern using orange ink on the yellow panel.

Sentiment

Stamp the sentiment in black in the upper right corner of the base card.

Image

Punch a circle from a Post-It note to use as a mask.

Using the brayer, apply yellow ink lightly to the lower part of the white panel.  After a couple of coats, attach the circle mask, then apply some more yellow with the brayer.  Follow up by applying orange with the brayer – not quite all the way – this achieves the color gradient.

Now start at the other end of the card. Brayer the lighter blue ink just until it touches the top of the brayered orange ink, then add the darker blue ink to create the gradient effect.

Before removing the circle mask, stamp the music image in black 3 times.

Then remove the mask, and stamp the guitarist image in black near the ending point of the music lines.

Finish up the image panel by sponging black ink around the edges.

Assembly

Assembly is easy – simply mount the panels in order on the front of the card.

Thanks for stopping by.

Quiet Winter Greetings

Inspiration

This card came about by having stamps I’ve never used that I wanted to experiment with plus I needed a third Christmas greeting card that I could make quickly with limited detail! While this one still has cutting detail, it has NO coloring by hand – all the color comes from embossing powders!

Ingredients

Paper

Note: finished card size is 4 1/4” x 5 1/2”

Cherry Cobbler (SU!)	a) 4 1/4” x 11, score at 5 1/2”
Handsome Hunter (SU!)	4 1/8” x 5 3/8”
Naturals White (SU!)	a) 4” x 5 1/4” b) scrap about 2” x 2”

Ink

Versamark (Tsukineko)

Stamps

Blue Spruce (Heartfelt Creations); Dasher (SU!)

Accessories

Green sparkle and Gold sparkle embossing powders (Creations Unlimited); Heat Gun; Scalloped and Plain Oval Nestabilites dies (Spellbinders); Magnetic spacer plate(Spellbinders); Cuttlebug (Provo Craft); Gold trimmed ribbon (Michaels); Bow-Easy; Scor-Pal; Adhesive Transfer Gun 714 (Scotch); Foam tape; Glue dots; Rotary trimmer with straight blade (Fiskars); Scissors

Instructions

Image

Using the embossing ink pad, stamp the tree on the large white cardstock panel, and emboss with the green embossing powder. Then stamp the deer on the smaller white cardstock piece, and emboss in gold. Trim the deer closely.

Assembly

HINT: This card looks like it takes more green paper than I actually used - Since the tree image panel completely covers the green panel, I simply cut the scalloped oval from the center of the green panel. This gave me the mat layer for the image, the scalloped frame for the image, and a “spare” plain oval I can use for something else.

The magnetic spacer plate assists in this effort: The plain oval die fits exactly into the scalloped die and the magnetic pad holds it all in place.

Run the green panel through the die cutter with the magnetic pad and the nested dies.

Mount the green paper on the front panels of the base red card. Then mount the tree image on the green mat layer. Add the oval frame over the tree.

Mount the deer on foam tape on the lower right of the card front using foam tape.

Tie a bow using the Bow-Easy, and mount it above the frame using one or two glue dots.

Final Notes

Inside / Envelope

I cut a solid green panel (4” x 5 1/4”), stamped my sentiment on a smaller white panel (3 3/4” x 5”) and layered them on the inside.

Thanks for stopping by.

Whimsical Wishes

Inspiration

I hope you all had a very happy Thanksgiving weekend – filled with family and friends, and many blessings.  Mine was a whirlwind!  A road trip to Branson, MO, to celebrate the holiday with my dear cousins. BTW, Andy Williams still does an AWESOME Christmas show!

Here’s a simple Christmas card – right out of the Card Maker’s Sketch Book – Christmas Celebration.

Ingredients

Paper

Note: finished card size is 4 1/4” x 5 1/2”

Baroque Burgundy (SU!)	4 1/4” x 11, score at 5 1/2”
Forest Foliage (CTMH)	a) 2 7/8” x 5 1/4” b) 2” x 2”
Kraft (SU!)	a) 2 3/4” x 5 1/8” b) 2” x 2”
Stamper’s Select White (Paper Trey)	3” x 4”

Ink

Rich Cocoa (Memento); Forest Foliage (CTMH)'; Baroque Burgundy (SU!)

Stamps

Forest Friendzy (Cornish Heritage Farms)

Accessories

COPIC Markers: E0000,E000,E00,E02,E41,E43,E44,G24,G28,R02,R20,R59, W00,W1; Markers: Baroque Burgundy (SU!); Easy Stitch Stencil (Paper Pizazz); Curvy Label Punch (SU!); Curly Label Movers & Shapers (SU!); Cuttlebug (Provo Craft); Dazzling Dots Star Stickers (Stampendous); Gems (Paper Studio); Dress It Up Holiday Buttons (Jesse James Beads); Burgundy Ribbon (Ribbon Warehouse); Liquid Applique (Marvy); Heat Gun; Scor-Pal; Foam Tape; Adhesive Transfer Gun 714 (Scotch); Rotary trimmer with straight blade (Fiskars); Scissors; Post-It Notes 

Instructions

Image

ELF - Stamp the image in brown on the white cardstock. Color with COPICs.  Here’s the colors I used:

• Hat: G24, G28
• Boots: E41, E43, E44
• Suit: R59
• Face: E0000, E000, E00, E02, R02, R20
• Beard: W00, W1

Trim the image closely, and finish by apply Liquid Applique on the fur trim of the hat, and heat it using the heat gun (just until it puffs up a little).  Glue a sparkly button at the tip of the hat.

TREES – Stamp the tree on a Post-It note, and trim it to use as a mask.  Stamp the left-most tree in green on the Kraft cardstock panel.  Put your mask on the stamped tree, then stamp another tree overlapping the first.  Add a star sticker at the top of each tree, and some gems on the tree.  Finish by adding a border with the burgundy pen, using a simple stitch pattern.

GREETING – Stamp the greeting in burgundy on the small scrap of Kraft paper, then punch it out using the curly label punch.  Run the small scrap of green paper through the Cuttlebug using the Movers & Shapers label die.

Assembly

Put together the tree image first:

• Mount the tree image on the green cardstock panel.
• Add a ribbon across the trunks of the trees.
• Mount the greeting near the top of the tree image.
• Adhere the entire stack to the front of the burgundy card base.

Mount the elf image using foam tape on the bottom right of the card.

Final Notes

Inside / Envelope

I cut a solid green panel (4” x 5 1/4”), stamped my sentiment on a smaller white panel (3 3/4” x 5”) and layered them on the inside.

Thanks for stopping by.

Gatefold # 3 - Christmas Greetings

Inspiration

Every year I make about 150 Christmas cards. I go crazy if I try to make 150 of the same one, so I usually pick 2 or 3 designs from my various “test” cards. Well, one of my Christmas cards is officially designed - the only way I know it passes muster is if Joe likes it - he reacted with a big smile for this one, and say “I LIKE THAT ONE!”, as opposed to a “that’s pretty…” reaction to the last few I’ve shown him.

And this is the third of my Gatefold series (see posts on November 17 and 21) - the design is one of my favorites - I use it a lot because it is so easy to do, and creates a very special look.

Ingredients

Paper

Note: finished card size is 5” x 5 1/2”

Real Red (SU!)	a) 4 1/4” x 11, score at 2 1/8” AND at 6 3/8” b) another small piece about 2 1/2” square
Merry Moments DSP (SU!)	2 5/8” x 4 7/8” - 2 pieces
White Gold Royal Metallic (Wassau)	4” x 4” - 2 pieces
Whisper White (SU!)	2” x 2”

Ink

Basic Black (SU!)

Stamps

Merry Little Christmas (Just Rite Stampers)

Accessories

Markers: Real Red, Garden Green (SU!); SPICA pen: Red; Fleur Di Lis Pendant Shapeabilities die (Spellbinders); Small scalloped circle Nestabilities die (Spellbinders); Cuttlebug (Provo Craft); Liquid Applique (Marvy); Heat Gun; Scor-Pal; Glue dots; Adhesive Transfer Gun 714 (Scotch); Rotary trimmer with straight blade (Fiskars); Scissors

Instructions

Image

Stamp the image in black on the small white cardstock square. Run it through the Cuttlebug with the 1 7/8” scalloped die. Color the hat with red, and the leaves with green, and the berries with red pen. Apply Liquid Applique on the fur trim of the hat, and heat it using the heat gun (just until it puffs up a little).

Run the small red square through the Cuttlebug using the next size larger scalloped circle, and mount the white circle on the red.

Snowflake

The snowflake is created from the white metallic paper. The Fleur Di Lis pendant fits into a 4” square, so create 2 pendant die cuts with the die and the Cuttlebug. Run them through twice - once to cut and once to emboss.

Assembly

Mount the patterned paper on the front panels of the Gatefold base card. Then mount the first pendant die cut by applying glue to half of the back, and positioning it so that one corner of the die cut is right in the middle of the opening. Mount the second pendant on the first, but rotate it so that the corners fill in the empty space between the points of the first pendant. That creates your snowflake.

Mount the image right in the center of the snowflake, and you’re done!.

Final Notes

Inside / Envelope

I cut a solid green panel (4” x 5 1/4”), stamped my sentiment on a smaller white panel (3 3/4” x 5”) and layered them on the inside.

The card, while starting out as a standard 4 1/4” x 5 1/2” card ends up being wider because of the snowflakes, so I’ll have to use an envelope for a 5” x 7” card (A7).

I hope you all have a very happy, safe Thanksgiving weekend, and remember to count the many blessings in your life!

Thanks for stopping by.

Gatefold #2 – Rotated Sketch

 

Inspiration

As I mentioned in my last post (November 17), I have been playing with the Gatefold card design quite a bit. This is my second design using the technique. The November 17 post gives you detailed instructions for scoring and folding your card to make this type of card.

For this card, I used another SCS sketch challenge (#304) to get started - I just turned it into a portrait orientation:

I used a set of stamps from Rubber Stamp Tapestry to create the floral border around the front oval.  These sets include 4 or 5 “peg” stamps that are used as components to create a larger picture – in this case, borders for the cover, inside, and matching envelope.  A really fun, easy way to create a beautiful effect!

 

Ingredients

Paper

Note: finished card size is 4 1/4” x 5 1/2”

Always Artichoke (SU!)	4 1/4” x 11, score at 2 1/8” AND at 6 3/8”
Chocolate Chip (SU!)	a) 2 5/8” x 4 7/8” b) 1 5/8” x 4 c) 3” x 4” d) 4” x 5 1/4”
Cherry Cobbler (SU!)	1 1/2” x 3 7/8”
Autumn Traditions (SU!)	2 1/2” x 4 3/4”
Stamper’s Select White (Paper Trey)	3” x 4”
Whisper White (SU!)	3 3/4” x 5”
A2 Envelope	4 3/8” x 5 3/4”

Ink

Rich Cocoa (Memento), Mellow Moss (SU!), Almost Artichoke (SU!), Cherry Cobbler (SU!), More Mustard (SU!) 

Stamps

Oak Leaf Background (Heartfelt Creations), Autumn Blessings (JustRite Stampers), Pretty in Pink (Rubber Stamp Tapestry), Happy Birthday 10 (Stampabilities)

Accessories

COPIC Markers: YR31, R37, R39, R89, E31, E33, E37, W30, BG72, G94, G99; Classic Oval and Classic Scallop Oval Nestabilities (Spellbinders); Cuttlebug (Provocraft); Scor-Pal; Adhesive Transfer Gun 714 (Scotch); Rotary trimmer with straight blade (Fiskars)

Instructions

Base Card

Score and fold the green paper to create a Gatefold card.  Stamp the leaf background in the matching green ink on the closed card.

Image

Stamp the apple image on the white card stock, and color with COPIC markers. I used the following:

• Apples: YR31, R37, R39
• Berries: R89
• Bucket: E31, E33, E37, W30, BG72
• Leaves: G94, G99

Cut the image out using the plain Classic Oval Nestabilities die – run it through only once – no need to emboss since you will stamp a border around the oval.

Use the peg stamps to create your border – leaves in lighter green, flowers in red and yellow, and tendrils in darker green.

Cut and emboss a scalloped oval from the brown paper using the scalloped Classic Oval Nestabilities Die.  Mount the white image oval on the scalloped oval.

Assembly

Mount the patterned yellow paper panel on a brown panel, and the red panel on another brown panel. Then attach the red stack to the yellow stack.  Adhere the color stack to the left panel of the base card. 

Then adhere the image panel across the middle of the card.

Final Notes

Inside / Envelope

Use the peg stamps to create a mound of flowers in the lower left corner of the white cardstock, and stamp the greeting in red near the top center.

Create another fun matching border of flowers across the bottom of the envelope.

Thanks for stopping by!

Gatefold #1 - Gathering Goodness

 

Inspiration

This card is called a “Gatefold” design - It is one of my favorites - I use it a lot because it is so easy to do, and creates a very special look. I have 3 of these cards to show you, so come back again!

Creating a Gatefold card is easy, especially if you have a Scor-Pal. You start with the same half-sheet piece of paper you do for many cards (8 1/2” x 5 1/2”). Instead of scoring it in the middle, score it twice - once at 2 1/8”, and again at 6 3/8”. Scor-Pal makes it VERY easy to score it correctly - this tool has little dots exactly where you need to do the 2 score lines.

Fold each end in to meet in the middle, and you have your card ready to decorate.

Ingredients

Paper

Note: finished card size is 4 1/4” x 5 1/2”

Pumpkin Pie (SU!)	a) 4 1/4” x 11, score at 2 1/8” AND at 6 3/8” b) 3 1/2” x 4 1/2”
New England Ivy (CTMH)	a) 3 3/8” x 4 3/8”
Victorian Supplemental Paper (CTMH)	a) 2 pieces measuring 1 7/8” x 5 1/4”
Pure Luxury Ivory (Gina K)	a) 3 1/4” x 4 1/4”

Ink

Rich Cocoa (Memento)

Stamps

Gather the Goodness (Uptown Rubber Stamps)

Accessories

COPIC Markers: Y17, YR15, YR07, Y35, YR14, E30, E31, E33, E37, E43, C3, YR24, G94, G99; Scor-Pal; Adhesive Transfer Gun 714 (Scotch); Rotary trimmer with straight blade (Fiskars)

Instructions

Image

Stamp the pumpkin image on the ivory panel, and color with COPIC markers. I used the following:

• Cart / Birdhouse: E30, E31, E33, E37
• Pumpkins: Y17, YR15, YR07
• Flowers: Y35, YR14
• Leaves / Bottom border: G94, G99
• Post: YR14

Assembly

Score the orange paper to create a Gatefold card. Mount the patterned paper panels on each of the opening panels of the card.

Mount the green paper to the orange panel, then adhere the image panel onto the green panel, and attach it to the left panel of the base card.

Final Notes

Inside: I cut another green panel (4” x 5 1/4”), stamped a sentiment on a smaller ivory panel (3 3/4” x 5”) and layered them on the inside. I’ve used this card for both birthday and Thanksgiving greetings this year.

Hope you try out a gatefold as an alternative to your “usual” cards… Please let me know your brilliant ideas for decorating your gatefold cards.

Thanks for stopping by!

Happy 50th!

 

Inspiration

I made this card for a friend whose parents are celebrating their 50^th wedding anniversary the weekend of Thanksgiving. I love the easel card technique – it looks elegant, and makes it easy to display. I was inspired by the card I found on Splitcoast – click here to see the original by “SoSherry”.

A couple of video tutorials helped me out – you can learn to make an easel card (any size) in the resources section on Splitcoast – click here.  And to tie a bow, Becca Feeken has a video tutorial too – click here.

Ingredients

Paper

Note: finished card size is 5” x 5”

Champagne Pearl Metallic (Wassau): 5” x 10”, score at 5” and 7 1/2”; 5” x 5”, 3” x 4”, small scrap.  Gold Metallic (Wassau): 4 3/4” x 4 3/4” – 2 pieces, 3” x 4”, small scrap.  Victorian Elegance Supplemental Paper (CTMH): 4 1/2” x 4 1/2” – 2 pieces

Ink

Versamark (Tsukineko)

Stamps

A Word for You (SU!), Happy Anniversary (PSX)

Accessories

Ribbon (Michaels); Gold number stickers (unknown); Pearl stickers (Prima); Detail Gold Embossing Powder (Stampendous); Heat Gun; Modern Label Punch (SU!); Movers & Shapers Punch Windows Die (SU!); Label 4 Nestabilities Die (Spellbinders); Cuttlebug (Provo Craft); Scor-Pal; Adhesive Transfer Gun 714 (Scotch); Rotary trimmer with straight blade (Fiskars); Scissor

Instructions

Sentiments

I used Wassau Royal Metallics paper for this card – this is really nice metallic paper, with a coordinating reverse side that’s very smooth.

Stamp Happy Anniversary in Versamark ink on the smooth, back side of the pearl paper, and emboss with gold powder.  Align the greeting inside the Label 4 die, and cut it out with the die cut machine – run it through twice – once to cut, and once to emboss.  Cut a gold label with the next larger size of Label 4 die, and mount the sentiment label on the gold label.

For the Congratulations, use the Versamark marker to ink just the word “Congratulations”.  Stamp on the smaller scrap of pearl paper, again on the smooth reverse side.  Punch it out with the Modern label punch.  Run the smaller scrap of gold through the die cut machine using the Modern label punch window die, and mount the sentiment on the gold label.

Assembly

Mount a square of the patterned paper on a gold square.  Wrap a ribbon vertically around the square you just created.  Tie a bow close onto the ribbon, near the top of the square.  Mount the Happy Anniversary label below the ribbon.  Apply the pearl stickers around the sentiment.  Mount this onto the 5” x 5” pearl square.

The 5” x 10” base card is scored at 5” and 7 1/2”, and folded accordion style.  Attach the card stack with the bow to the top-most 2 1/2” section of the base card.  You just formed the easel!

Now, mount the remaining gold square and patterned paper on the bottom section of the card.  Add the pearls, the congratulations sentiment, and the number stickers.

When you stand the card up, the pearls on the base will be the thing that causes the front to stand upright.

Final Thoughts

Finding a place to hand-write your message on this card might be a little tricky, but there is space above the pearls on the base, or you can use the back.

For this card, an envelope was impossible with the bow, so I made a little 5 1/2” x 5 1/2” x 2 1/2” box to hold it.

Thanks for stopping by.

Bucket o’ Apples

Inspiration

Here’s another quick & easy birthday card for the fall season.  It’s based on a sketch from the CardMaker’s Sketch Book (Annie’s Attic) – one of my favorite “browsing for idea” books – there are 3 sketch books and I have all 3.  You know I like to start with a sketch, and I’ve been working on my COPIC coloring skills, so this one brought all the elements together!

Ingredients

Paper

Note: finished card size is 4 1/4” x 5 1/2”

Taffy (CTMH): 4 1/4” x 11”, score @ 5 1/2”, plus a 2” x 2” square; Gingham Autumn Combo (CTMH): 4 1/4” x 5 1/2” – cutting instructions below; New England Ivy (CTMH): 2 1/2” x 2 1/2”, plus a 2” x 2” square; Stamper’s Select White (Paper Trey): 2 3/8” x 2 3/8”.

Ink

Tuxedo Black (Memento); Almost Artichoke (SU!)

Stamps

Give Thanks (SU!) ; Simply Said (Unity)

Accessories

COPIC Markers (Imagination International): Y19, YR04, R27; Y19, YG63, C1, C3, C5; Small and Large Tag Punches (SU!); Olive Green Jute (No Time To Stamp); Bow-Easy; Scor-Pal; Glue dots; Adhesive Transfer Gun 714 (Scotch); Rotary trimmer with straight blade (Fiskars); Scissors

Instructions

Image

Stamp the image on the white square using the black ink.  Color with COPICS – I used these colors:

• Apples: Y19, YR04, R27
• Leaves: Y19, YG63
• Bucket: C1, C3, C5

Mount the finished image on the larger green square.

Stamp the sentiment in green on the smaller taffy square.  Punch it out with the small Tag punch, and punch a green tag using the larger punch.  Mount the small tag on the large one.

Assembly

To cut the gingham paper that goes across the card, start with your 4 1/4” x 5 1/2” paper.  Measure 3 1/2” on each of the long sides of the rectangle and put a mark.  Measure 2 3/4” on each of the short sides and mark.  Then line up the marks on your paper cutter, and slice off the corners – like this:

Now, complete the assembly of the card:

Mount the gingham paper on the base card, and the image in the upper left corner.  Put the tag in the lower right.  Finish it with a bow tied with the jute (I looped the string around the Bow-Easy 3 times), and mount with a glue dot.

Final Thoughts

Inside, you can finish with a birthday greeting, a friendship sentiment, or just a Thinking of You.  Hope you try out this different layout for yourself, and let me know what you create!

Thanks for stopping by.

Friendly Greeting

Inspiration

There are lots of November birthdays among my family and friends, so in addition to trying to design Christmas cards, I’ve put together some birthday cards, too!  Here’s an easy one – a single large image on a square card with a simple greeting.  This one goes to my friend, Nancy, today – hope she enjoys it as much I enjoyed making it!

Ingredients

Paper

Note: finished card size is 5” x 5”

Not Quite Navy (SU!): 5” x 10”, score @ 5”; River Rock (SU!): 4 7/8” x 4 7/8”, 3 7/8” x 3 7/8”, plus a 2” x 2” square; Rose Red DSP (SU!): 4 3/4” x 4 3/4”; Whisper White (SU!)": 3 3/4” x 3 3/4”, plus a 2” x 2” square.

Ink

Versamark (Tsukineko); Rose Red (SU!)

Stamps

Growing in Unity (Unity); Best Yet (SU!)

Accessories

Burgundy Pearlescent Embossing Powder (Stampendous); Pink brads; Circle dies (Spellbinders); Cuttlebug (Provo Craft); Crop-A-Dile (We R Memory Keepers); Scor-Pal; Adhesive Transfer Gun 714 (Scotch); Rotary trimmer with straight blade (Fiskars); Heat gun; Scissors

Instructions

Image

Stamp the tree on the large white square using Versamark ink.  Emboss the image using the burgundy embossing powder.  Mount the image panel on the middle green panel, and punch holes in the top 2 corners, and the lower right corner.  Put the brads through the holds and secure them in place.

Stamp the sentiment in Rose Red on the smaller white square.  Cut the sentiment from the white square smallest circle die. Cut a larger circle from the green paper, and mount the sentiment on the green circle.

Assembly

Now, complete the assembly of the card: Mount the larger green square on the base card, followed by the patterned paper, and the image panel.  Mount the sentiment over the lower left corner of the image where there is no brad.

Thanks for stopping by!

Scarecrow

Inspiration

Another fall card – I’m really enjoying the fall season this year1  This one is fun, and could be used for either a man or a woman.  It employs some really rich fall colors – I especially like the dark purple.

The special touches in this card are: a) using Gamsol (mineral spirits) to blend the colored pencils in the image, and b) punching out the stamped leaf image.  I bought the stamp and punch set years ago.  The leaf stamp (by CC Rubber Stamps) was made to match the leaf punch. I think the punch is from Marvy, although it is not marked anywhere on it.

Ingredients

Paper

Note: finished card size is 4 1/4” x 5 1/2”

Elegant Eggplant (SU!): 8 1/2” x 5 1/2”, score @ 4 1/4”; Autumn Traditions DSP(SU!): 4” x 5 1/4”; More Mustard (SU!): 1” x 5 1/4”; Ruby Red (SU!): 1” x 4”; Soft Suede (SU!): 2 1/2” x 3 1/4”; Very Vanilla (SU!): 2 1/4” x 3”; small scraps of Ruby Red, More Mustard, and Always Artichoke

Ink

Soft Suede (SU!); Always Artichoke (SU!); Ruby Red (SU!); More Mustard (SU!)

Stamps

Happy Blessings (SU!); Leaf (CC Rubber Stamps)

Accessories

Prisma Color Pencils; Gamsol; Paper stub; Leaf punch; Foam dots; Scor-Pal; Adhesive Transfer Gun 714 (Scotch); Rotary trimmer with straight blade (Fiskars); Scissors

Instructions

Images

Stamp the image using the brown ink on the vanilla panel.  Then color using colored pencils.  Use the Gamsol on a paper stub to blend the colors, and achieve the shading you desire.

Stamp the leaf 3 times using matching colors – green ink on green paper, etc.  Then punch out the leaf image with the matching punch.

Assembly

Quick & Easy!  Build your card layer by layer:

1. Base card
2. Patterned paper
3. Yellow vertical strip
4. Red horizontal strip
5. Brown mat for image
6. Image
7. Add the leaves using foam dots

Hope you are enjoying your autumn, and this card gives you some inspiration to try some bright fall colors.

Thanks for stopping by!