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!