Stitched Background

Inspiration
Here’s another summery card.  The idea for the background came from a Paper Crafts inspiration book called 40 Techniques for Card Making.  I changed the method for getting the nice straight stripes (explained below), as well as the image and the trim.

Ingredients

CARDSTOCK: Wild Wasabi (SU!), Whisper White(SU!)

STAMPS: Flower (Anita’s); Mini Messages (SU!)

INK: Only Orange (SU!), Pixie Pink (SU!), Basic Black (SU!)

ACCESSORIES: SU! Markers (Only Orange, Pixie Pink); Wild Wasabi striped ribbon (SU!); Sponge; Bow-Easy; Scor-Pal; Adhesive Transfer Gun 714 (Scotch); Rotary trimmer with straight (Fiskars); Silhouette digital die cutter (QuicKutz); Sewing machine

Instructions

BASE CARD: Cut a green card measuring 4 1/4” x 11”, and score it in half at 5 1/2”.

BACKGROUND LAYER: Cut a rectangle of the white paper, measuring 4” x 5 1/4”.

The book suggests using strips of masking tape laid in a diagonal pattern on the white card to create the lattice work.   I had lots of trouble trying to get the lines straight, and the tape laid out evenly.  I kept thinking I needed a stencil, but I didn’t have anything on hand that would create such perfect lines.

Then it dawned on me that I had the perfect tool to create a stencil – the Silhouette!  I used a pattern of squares cut in a piece of cardstock to cut out the stencil for the background.  Then I laid the stencil over the white cardstock, and used a makeup sponge in a circular motion to apply the orange ink.

After getting the amount of orange I liked, I added flowers in Pixie Pink, using the small flower from the Mini Messages stamp set.

Afterwards, I used white thread and a fairly loose stitch to put the stitches down the center of each white stripe.

IMAGE: The image is simply the large flower stamped on white cardstock in black ink and colored with the markers.  The white square is a 1 1/2” square, mounted on a green square measuring 1 5/8" x 1 5/8”.

FINAL ASSEMBLY:  Add a piece of green striped ribbon to the lattice patterned piece, and tie a bow to be mounted on the left of the ribbon stripe.  Mount the patterned piece on the front of the green card.  Add the image to the right of the bow, and you’re all done!

Thanks for stopping by!

 

 

Easter Bunny Basket

Inspiration

For a little more grown-up Easter basket, I think this bunny makes are really pretty card. 

Here are 2 variations using the same stamp and general layout.  The only difference is in the trim. 

The yellow card uses the Spellbinders’ scalloped circle and plain circle dies, with a simple patterned paper and ribbon embellishment.

I’m still learning to use my silhouette digital cutter, but I’m starting to see many possibilities.  The green card is trimmed with a row of die cut blossoms that provide a nice dimensional effect in a total opposite color – the bright pink really makes the flowers stand out!

Ingredients – Yellow Card

CARDSTOCK: So Saffron (SU!), Lavender Lace (SU!), Whisper White (SU!), patterned paper (DCWV)

STAMPS: Serene Spring (SU!); Sentiment (Cornish Heritage Farms)

INK: Rich Cocoa (Memento); Basic Black (SU!)

ACCESSORIES: COPIC markers; Scalloped and plain circle Nestabilities (Spellbinders); Cuttlebug Die Cut maching (Provo Craft); Scor-Pal; lavender ribbon (Hobby Lobby); Adhesive Transfer Gun 714 (Scotch); Rotary trimmer with straight and scalloped blades (Fiskars)

Ingredients – Green Card

CARDSTOCK: Green Galore (SU!), Lavender Lace (SU!), Whisper White (SU!), pink paper (unknown)

STAMPS: Serene Spring (SU!); Sentiment (Cornish Heritage Farms)

INK: Rich Cocoa (Memento); Basic Black (SU!)

ACCESSORIES: COPIC markers; Scalloped and plain circle Nestabilities (Spellbinders); Cuttlebug Die Cut maching (Provo Craft); Scor-Pal; Silhouette digital cutter (QuicKutz); Adhesive Transfer Gun 714 (Scotch); Rotary trimmer with straight and scalloped blades (Fiskars)

Instructions

BASE CARD: Cut a base card measuring 5 1/2” x 11” in green or yellow, and score it in half at 5 ½”.

IMAGE LAYERS: Using the Cuttlebug, cut a lavender scalloped circle.  Run the cut image through the Cuttlebug again, embossing the shape.  Cut a smaller plain circle from white cardstock, and emboss this shape, too.

Stamp the bunny image using the brown ink centered in the white circle, and color with COPIC markers.

Mount the white circle on the lavender circle.

EMBELLISHMENTS (Yellow Card): Cut a triangle from the lavender patterned paper using the scalloped blade on the rotary cutter.  This triangle measures 3” at the base, and 3 1/2” on the other sides.

Cut a length of lavender ribbon measuring slightly longer than 5 1/2”, and another short piece of ribbon.  Tie the short ribbon around the longer one close to one end of the ribbon.

Mount the triangle of patterned paper on the left of the card front, followed by the ribbon.

Mount the image stack to the right of the triangle.

EMBELLISHMENTS (Green Card): Using the Silhouette, cut a strip of die cut flowers from the pink paper, and remove it from the cutting mat.

Mount strip of flowers on the left of the card, and the image stack on the right.

SENTIMENT: Stamp the sentiment below the image.

Thanks for stopping by!

Easter Gift Card Holders

Inspiration
Making gift card holders is great for any occasion, including Easter - a great little item to add to an Easter basket!  This is an easy one to make, and can be decorated in so many ways.

I first saw the idea on a technique challenge on Splitcoast Stampers, and it referred to a video for making this card holder on the Hero Arts blog.  I made Christmas-themed holders for gift cards in December, and they were a real hit.

Here are my Easter versions.

I used my Silhouette digital cutter for the scalloped frames on each card, and for the Easter basket on the purple card.  The rest were just quick & easy stamps with an Easter theme.

Ingredients

PAPER: Solid color cardstock measuring 8 1/2” x 4 1/4” for the outside of the card; Coordinating paper measuring 4” x 12” for the inside card holder.

STAMPS: An Egg-cellent Easter (SU!); Hey Chickie (Cornish Heritage Farms)

INK: Basic Black (SU!)

ACCESSORIES: SU Markers; Scor-Pal; Adhesive Transfer Gun 714 (Scotch); Rotary trimmer with straight and deckle blades (Fiskars); Craft knife

Instructions

INSIDE CARD HOLDER: Score the 4 X 12 paper, score it at 4", 6”, and 8”.  Fold the paper inward on the 4” and 8” scores.  Using the craft knife, cut a slit about 2 1/2” long along the 6” score line.   Fold on the 6” score line in the opposite direction of the first 2 folds.  Now you have a “W” shape. 

OUTSIDE CARD: Score the 8” x 4 1/4” card in the middle at 4 1/4”, and decorate the front with a stamped or die cut image.

FINAL ASSEMBLY: Use adhesive to glue the inside cardholder paper to inside of the outer card, with the slit for the gift card pointing outward.

You can embellish the inside with more images, or sentiments as you wish.  It’s a simple pattern you can really personalize.  For more inspiration, here is a gallery with many, many samples!

Have fun getting ready for the Easter Bunny’s visit! Thanks for stopping by.

 

A Special Birthday

Inspiration

On February 22, my father-in-law, Charles, is turning 80!  29 years ago, Charles took my marriage to his son as the opportunity to add another daughter to his family, and has always done anything and everything for me he could.  He puts his family above all else.  We are all blessed to have had a father like Charles ~ fortunately we all know it! Every year since he turned 75, no one has missed a single birthday for this kind-hearted man.

So, today, in honor of Charles, and his upcoming celebration, I’m posting the birthday card I’ve made for him.

The sketch comes from the Fan Club monthly challenge at Splitcoast Stampers.   I kept the colors masculine, but went for a “party” theme because it’s a great opportunity to celebrate!

Ingredients

CARDSTOCK: Chocolate Chip textured cardstock (SU!), Brocade Blue (SU!), Creamy Caramel (SU!), Very Vanilla (SU!), Brown Fine Stripe patterned paper (DCWV)

STAMPS: Crazy for Cupcakes (SU!)             INK: Chocolate Chip (SU!)

ACCESSORIES: Scallop circle punch (SU!), 1 3/8” circle punch (SU!), Balloon punch (McGill), Silhouette digital cutter (QuicKutz), blue satin ribbon (Michaels), tan embroidery floss, COPIC markers (B95, E79, Y17, E55, E33), Lemon glaze pen (SPICA), Gelly Roll Clear Star glaze pen (Sakura), rotary trimmer with straight and scalloped blades (Fiskars), foam mounting squares (Generations), ATG with ¼” adhesive (Scotch)

Instructions

BASE CARD:  Cut a piece of dark brown cardstock to measure 12” x 6”, and score it in the middle at 6”.  Cut a piece of patterned cardstock measuring 5 3/4” x 5 3/4”.

HORIZONTAL EMBELLISHMENT: Using the scallop blade on the rotary cutter, cut a strip of dark brown cardstock measuring 5 3/4” x 1 1/2”.  Cut two pieces of blue ribbon, one 6” long, and one 3” long.  Knot the shorter ribbon around the 6” ribbon, then mount it across the middle of the brown cardstock.

Punch a blue scalloped circle, and a brown circle and mount them to the brown strip.

Using the Silhouette, cut out the numerals for the birthday in blue cardstock and mount the in the brown circle.

CUPCAKE EMBELLISHMENT: Cut a 5” blue scalloped circle using the Silhouette.  Trim the circle to reach about 2/3 of the way across the card, and cut the extra from the right side of the circle.  Trim the bottom of the circle, as well, so it will not show below the brown horizontal stripe.

Stamp the cupcake on the vanilla cardstock, and color with the COPIC markers.  Add some sparkle to the flame with the yellow glaze pen, and the icing with the clear glaze pen.  Trim the image leaving a narrow border around the edges.

BALLOON EMBELLISHMENTS: Punch two balloons from the blue paper, and a balloon from the caramel paper.  Separate the embroidery floss into 3 strands, and tie them around each balloon.

FINAL CARD ASSEMBLY:  Put the card together in this order:

1. Mount patterned paper to the base card
2. Adhere the blue circle to the patterned paper
3. Add the horizontal embellishment across the blue circle
4. Add the cupcake in the blue circle using foam mounting squares
5. Mount the balloons in a group using foam mounting squares
6. Stretch the balloon strings to the knot in the blue ribbon, and thread it through the knot using a needle; add a dot of clear glue inside the knot to keep the floss in place

Thanks for stopping by!

Valentine Countdown: Day 10

  Inspiration

Here’s on for the little boys in your life.  This one was especially fun because I used my new Silhouette!  It’s a digital craft cutting machine from QuicKutz – if you can create a silhouette of a shape on your PC, you can cut it.  Very cool.

I haven’t had much of a chance to play with it to really put it through its paces, but the heart in this picture was cut in a matter of seconds.  Then I decorated it and the card was done.

Ingredients

CARDSTOCK: Base: Bordering Blue (SU!); Heart: Real Red (SU!); Image: Whisper White (SU!)

STAMPS: Fun Fillers (SU!), Bear with backpack (Hooks, Lines, & Inkers), Sentiment (Hero Arts)

INK: Chocolate Chip(SU!), Bordering Blue (SU!), StazOn Opaque White (Tsukeniko)

ACCESSORIES: Silhouette (QuicKutz), Gelly Roll clear star sparkle pen, COPIC Markers (E11, E33, B41, B97, R08, RV11, W3, C1), white pigment ink pen (UniBall Signo), Foam mount tape, Rotary trimmer with straight straight blade (Fiskars)

Instructions

BASE CARD:  Cut a piece of blue cardstock to measure 5 1/2” x 8 1/2”, and score it in the middle at 4 1/4”.  Stamp the entire front of the card with the filler hearts stamp in matching blue ink.

HEART: Cut the heart from red cardstock using the Silhouette.  If you don’t have a digital cutter, don’t worry – any pretty large heart pattern will work.  Stamp the sentiment in the middle of the heart using the white ink, then outline the heart with the white pen, and set aside to dry.

IMAGE: Stamp the bear on white paper in dark brown ink.  Color with markers.  Hint: I left the bandana pattern white, then filled it in with the sparkle pen.  Trim the image, leaving a narrow border around it.

ASSEMBLY: Fold the base card on the scored line; this card opens vertically – the scored fold goes at the top of the card. 

Mount the heart with foam tape, followed by the bear, also with foam tape.

Thanks for stopping by & be sure to check back each day for a new Valentine!