Tuesday, February 28, 2017

Birthday Tuesday #9-2017

It's birthday time again and Sue gives us a cheerful start.


I thought that I’d make a birthday card, by stamping directly onto the patterned paper. I used Simon Says STAMP’s Scripty Greetings. I matted the two pieces of patterned paper to make them pop a bit more and added three sequins for some sparkle. I love how the paper pads incorporate papers that work so well together. - Sue

I did something outside my normal comfort zone.


The card open.

The papers from Graphic 45 are so beautiful that often you don't have to do much.  The projects done with them that I see on their blog are usually very elaborate and layered which isn't my style even though I admire those projects.  I decided to to a little layering.  I choose a paper from the 12 x 12 pack that had all kinds of things on it and cut a piece 4.25 x 6 in a corner that included the stamp images at the top.  I then cut a couple of butterflies, another stamp and a couple of birds from the rest of the paper.  I scored the short side of the paper 3/8" and 1/2" from the left edge.  I cut a piece of acrylic 4.25 x 5.5 and stamped the center with the sentiment from CTMH, Gracious Greetings, in Stazon Ink. I glued the birds on the front of the acrylic and attached the two butterflies and stamp with adhesive foam on the patterned paper.  I then glued the acrylic panel to the flap created by the paper on the left side. it gives it a very 3-D look.  I will put a greeting on the back because to do it in the card would ruin the look. It is a lot busier than most cards I do, but I like the look. - Denise

Monday, February 27, 2017

Masculine Monday #9-2017

Sue starts out with a fun card for a guy.


Detail

I found this great plaid paper in the paper pad and decided to make a dress shirt, with pocket for a gift card. I “eye-balled” the dimensions for the pocket making certain that a gift card would fit once adhered and remembering to cut it at 45 degrees to the vertical plaid. Also, I added a collar, cut also on an angle. I added some white dash marks, to mimic stitching. The buttons are 3/8” circles cut with a punch and thread lines added.- Sue

This card works for anyone including guys


Inside

I love this stamp set from CTMH called Typed Notes.  There are a lot of different sentiments that fit into the page, so I choose one that fit my saying on the inside, that was printed on my printer.  The hand was fussy cut after being stamped and then put on foam tape.  The paper pack I am using this week is more feminine, but has some neutral stripes and solids that I used for this card. I used distress ink around the solids to give them a more antique look.  I also added 3 brown buttons from my stash to the side to give it a little more interest.- Denise

Here are two pads I am using this week from the Graphic 45 collection called Botanical Tea.




Sunday, February 26, 2017

Clean and Simple Sunday #9-2017

This is our last week for February and the additional challenge of using one paper pad or kit for the week.

Sue starts with a crisp thank you card.


I thought that I’d try to highlight some of the various patterned paper in this pad. I chose the bold diamond shapes, incorporating most of the colours in this paper pad. I felt that since the background was a bit busy, that I’d use a simple sentiment. I picked Papertrey Ink’s Think Big Favorites #15 Stamp set. The small banners were cut from other patterned papers in this paper pad. I did add the turquoise cardstock mat, which wasn’t included in the paper pad. - Sue

The paper pack Sue is using is Echo Park’s Happy Days by Lori Whitlock 6x6 paper pad.

I did a super quick card for my clean & simple challenge.


This week I am going to use Graphic 45's Botanical Tea collection.  I love Graphic 45, but never use them because I am afraid I will mess up their beautiful papers.  This will force me to utilize whit I have.  This was simply an image of the stamps taken from the 12 x 12 pad and cut to fit the A2 card.  I then used one of the blue patterns that already had the Thinking of You as part of the print.  i used a die in my Cuttlebug and positioned it so that the Thinking of you and the dragonfly would show.  That was put over the stamps and both were mounted on a solid paper from the 6 x 6 pad. - Denise


Saturday, February 25, 2017

Inspiration Saturday #8-2017

Even though our February here has not been the normal Winter, we still have a winter picture as our inspiration.


Gracie has this adorable snowman-


Inside

I love snow men.  Not snow...   Love the colors in the photo but they didn't match my paper pad this week so I went with the snow man.  I picked one of my digital images and colored him with Crayola pencils.  I added clear Wink of Stella to the snow and to my sentiment I die cut using my paper.  I layered the paper and used my corner rounder on my image.  I mounted my panel and sentiment on a brown card stock base and added a white panel and coordinating paper on the inside.  The papers were from all the cards I made this week. Hope y'all are warm and toasty! ~ Gracie  

My last card from the stack -


The white and blue colors in the picture were a great match for the stack I have been using all week (DCWV - The White Ginger Collection).  I also took the circular shpae of the snowman as inspiration for the circles to put my stamps on.  The stamps are from Club Stamp and are called 50's Kitchen.  The paper looked a little retro to me, so it went well with the stamps.  I colored them with Spectrum Noir markers.  I will probably use this for a recipe shower sometime in the future. - Denise




Friday, February 24, 2017

C.A.S.E A Card Friday #8-2017

Today we C.A.S.E. a card that has quite a bit going on.

Gracie continues her outstanding take on the challenges this week.

Inside

Before I started I chose papers to use from my paper pad Basic Gray's Oh Boy).  I picked 3.  I began with the brown as a base panel, then the chevron as a second panel, and turned the triangle a different direction and placed it higher on the card.  I know Fall is over but while looking in my stash I found these copper leaves and borders.  I put the panel on a black card stock  base and used a white panel and a strip of the chevron paper on the inside of the card. I think I can use it as a masculine card. ~ Gracie  

My card includes a couple of new things I tried.


Inside

I thought one of the papers in my stack looked sort of Oriental, so I went with that theme and made a tri-fold card.  I cut it on my Cricut from a 12 x 12 green paper so that I could cut the diamond shape from the one side.  I then cut the Oriental paper just a little smaller than the left side and mounted it on that side.  I placed a piece of acetate cut just a little larger than the opening and attached it to the inside.  That allows the pattern to show through around the image that I used in the middle of the diamond. That image was done in gold and gold flake vinyl on my Explore.  It is a goldfish from the cartridge called Pagoda.  I first pit it directly on the acetate, but decided it didn't show up well, so I took it off and put it on a white cardstock diamond.  On the back I used gold washi tape to cover where the adhesive for the acetate was showing and used a stamped white cardstock diamond to cover up that adhesive too. The inside sentiment and bamboo leaves are from Club Scrap. A gold button from my stash with the shank cut off and placed on foam tape gives a place for the front to slide into to hold it closed. It was a different way to make a card and I ended up liking the effect. - Denise



Thursday, February 23, 2017

Technique Thursday #8-2017

Today's technique is a fairly simple fold called a gatefold card.

Gracie does a great job with these types of cards.



I enjoy gatefold cards.  This card is pretty simple.  I offset the center fold.  I used  the paper pad of the week and chose 3 patterns.  The robot is a digital  image from Deary Dolls.  I wrote the sentiment  on my computer.  The image is colored with Spectrum Noir markers and only 1/2 of the robot is attached to the left side of the card and 1/2 of the sentiment to the right making the gate,  I added 3 gray enamel  hearts.  I also added the chevron paper to the inside of the card. ~ Gracie  

I have not done this type before, but came up with a masculine birthday card.


Inside

I stated with a piece from my card stack for the week and cut it 5 /12 by 8.  I then scored it on the long side at the 2 and 6 inch marks to make the fold.  I cut two squares in the blue pattern at 2 3/4 and another two of the lighter pattern at 2 1/2 . I added some liquid pearls on the dots and then added a couple of thin strips of a brown patterned paper to give some interest. For the front I stamped the car and a sentiment from Unity's set called For the Guys.  I then took a fine black marker and drew just inside the inner square to set it off.  I attached it to the left half of the card centering it on the front.  I then stamped the other squares and attached them on the inside aligning it with the front diamond.  That made a nice finished look.  A sentiment on the inside from Fiskars stamped on the light patterned paper and matted on the same brown paper as the front to tie it all together. - Denise

Wednesday, February 22, 2017

Card Sketch Wednesday #8-2017

This card sketch gives us a chance to use several papers-


I use six different papers from my pad for this card -


While it is fun to mix up a sketch, following it just as it is makes a card go very quickly.  I cut five banners on my Explore making them various sizes and using five different papers from my pad.  I stamped the sentiment on the most neutral of the papers with a stamp from the Just a Number set by CTMH.  I put three white brads on the side of a sixth sheet of paper from my pack and then mounted it with foam tape on the card base.  The banners were then all adhered to the card front and it was done. - Denise

The card stack I am using this week is The White Ginger Collection by DCWV.  I love the blue, white and green together.




Tuesday, February 21, 2017

Birthday Tuesday #8-2017

Here come some birthday cards 


Today's challenge is making a birthday card and using the same paper pad (I am using Basic Gray's Oh Boy).  If any of you are like me, you need belated birthday cards!  I forget everything!  I started with a digital image of a bear.  I colored her with Crayola pencils and fussy cut her.  I picked the orange paper from the pad - I think it matches her dress and fur.  I mounted the image on gold card stock I made into an easel card.  The sentiment was printed on my computer.  I found some metal studs I put on the card to hold up the easel and to use on her shoes and a clasp for her purse.  I added the pearls for her necklace. ~ Gracie  .

My flowery birthday card-


Inside

There was a page in my paper pack that had this flower with foil accents already printed on it, so I just cut it to fit on the card.  I used a sentiment from a Gina K set called Beyond Baskets.  Since it is a clear stamp, I was able to bend it into a curve to give it a little more interest.  I used a Distress ink to match the blue and then used clear embossing powder on it.  In order for the embossing powder to stick, I inked up the stamp with Versamark before inking the Distress ink.  That allows it to stay sticky long enough to add the powder.  Before I mounted the panel onto a coordinating floral paper, I cut a piece from that floral to use on the inside.  It is a good way to make the inside interesting and not waste any paper. - Denise




Monday, February 20, 2017

Masculine Monday #8-2017

It is time for Masculine Monday- 

Gracie has the cutest card made for her husband.


Inside

I had fun making this card.  My granddaughters were over and wanted a card to sneak in my husband's suitcase.  I started with a digital image and sentiments I wrote on the computer.  I colored the image with Spectrum Noir markers.  I fussy cut the image and mounted him on black card stock then fussy cut again. I picked checkered paper from my Oh Boy paper pad to match my little pizza man.  I mounted the paper on a black card stock gatefold card and also mounted it inside.  The image is mounted on one half of the left side.  The sentiments were printed in red ink and mounted on black card stock for better contrast.  They hid him after I took his picture  :)  ~ Gracie 

My card was made for my husband too-


I made this to give to my husband for our 27th wedding anniversary.  I stamped the image on white card stock and then stamped it again on a polkadot paper from my paper pad.  I cut the skirt part out from that paper and adhered it on top of the stamped image.  This technique is called paper piecing and I will use it again as I love the effect. The rest of the image was colored with Spectrum Noir markers. The stamp I used is by Unity and is called Remi Girl.  The sentiment is from CTMH and is called Big Hug. I used a blue paper to mat the image and them mounted that with foam tape onto the diamond paper.  I love how all of the papers from the stack coordinate with one another making it easy to build up layers. - Denise


Sunday, February 19, 2017

Clean and Simple Sunday #8-2017

We continue with our additional February challenge to use one paper pad or kit for the whole week.

Gracie starts out her week with an adorable girl.


Our challenge  this week not only includes the daily challenges  but also to use the same paper pad or kit. I chose Basic Gray's Oh Boy stack that I have had quite a while in my stash.  Today's challenge is also anything goes.  I started with a purchased digital image and colored her with Crayola pencils. I touched up the lollipops with clear Wink of Stella.  I picked green polka-dot paper (who isn't cheered up with polka-dots) for my panel and a piece of opaque vellum.  I picked another paper (orange) from the pad and mounted my sentiment I printed on my computer.  I added some rhinestones and now she is ready to cheer a little girl. ~ Gracie  

I start with a quick card -


This week I am using a stack by DCWV called The White Ginger Collection.  I took a page that had a tone on tone small grid pattern and stamped my image and sentiment on it. The stamps came from Unity and the set is called ...Let Your Wishes Fly.  I colored the wings with a Spectrum Noir marker and then went over it with Wink of Stella to make it shine.  I then tore around it and mounted it on another of the papers from the pad that has foil accents. - Denise




Saturday, February 18, 2017

Inspiration Saturday #7-2017

Photo inspiration for today -


Tantalya wraps up her week with a clever use of stamps in her card.


This is the one and only card I didn't use paper from the paper pad.  Instead I used distress inks and a stencil to create the rainbow colored effect. I took the colors from the inspiration photo and then took a big thanks and embossed it with  Nuvo Gold Enchantment. and added some enamel dots to finish it off. - Tantalaya

I finish with my paper pad -



I took the layers of colors in the picture going from yellow to blue and replicated them with the patterns from my pad.  I put an enamel dot in the middle and matted it with the same paper as the center.  The sentiment stamped and embossed in blue and the quick Thank You note was done. - Denise



Friday, February 17, 2017

C.A.S.E A Card Friday #7-2017

Today's C.A.S.E. card features a punched border.

Tantalaya's card features more calming muted colors.


C.A.S.E. Card challenge. On this one I changed the color theme of the card from rainbow to more muted tones of my paper pad so the based was changed from white to craft card stock. I then choose 6 different pattern papers and cut them at 1 inch. I then took the craft color paper and cut it so I could use my x-cut border punch. I then attached the pattern paper to the two pieces of card stock. Once attached, I used my paper and attached my black brads.  I then took some foam thicker sentiment my love and covered it with clear wink of Stella. To finish it off I added the heart from the same Thickers and glittered it up with wink of Stella also.- Tantalaya

My card also changed up the colors.


To make my card I cut a strip off the front of a cream card base and used a Martha Stewart punch that looks like eyelet to go with the country theme of my paper.  I choose five different papers and cut them into strips.  I decided it would be easier to attach them to the inside of the card, so I cut a piece of acetate and glued it to the front of the card from the back and then glued on the bottom strip to the bottom of the acetate.  This allowed it to be a clear window to see the strips through.  I added some pearls and stamped the sentiment on the front.  I really need to use more acetate because I like the look of seeing through into the inside of the card. - Denise



Thursday, February 16, 2017

Technique Thursday #7-2017

Today's technique is one we haven't done before.  It is called a twist and pop card.  One way to do it can be found here.

Tantalaya made an Easter card with that wow factor when opened. 

front

and opened

The twist and pop card. I decided to make mine an Easter card. I used blue and white striped paper from pad. I used from Joy Claire God's Love stamp set on the sentiment I used the Spectrum Noir glitter marker in Ruby Red. - Tantalaya

I just love this technique and used it for a get better card.


front

opened

I decided that I wanted to do these as my family birthday cards this year, so I decided that I wanted to do the cutting and scoring on my Explore.  I did a little searching on the internet and came across this wonderful video.  It includes a free file to use on Design Space, so all the hard work was already done for me. To practice, I first made this get well card. In addition to the papers from the pad I am using this week, I printed the puns off on my printer and then added the following stamps - Hero Arts - Animals; Unity- Holy Cow; Stampin' Up - Hey Chick; Deep Red - Rooster.  The front was stamped from a Gina K set called American Made and the sentiment was from Unity called When You Smile.  I embossed those in gold embossing powder. The inside sentiment is from the Aleah Girl by Unity.  Having the Explore cut and score the mechanism really made it go together fairly quickly.  You also get a lot of room to use stamps or say what you want so try this technique as it really can make quite an impact. - Denise





Wednesday, February 15, 2017

Card Sketch Wednesday #7-2017

Card sketch for today -

Starting with a sketch and mixing it up is a great way to do a quick card.  Tantalaya has wonderful card showing how she did this -


On the sketch challenge instead of using the 1" square I went with six sided sampler punch from Stampin' Up! and punched it out of 4 different pattern papers. I then created a pattern along the top as in the sketch and to finish it off I tied twine around the focal piece and attached with foam tape the sentiment. - Tantalaya

My card from the sketch -

I cut squares from five different papers of the pack and arranged them across the top.  I then cut the Hello from the red patterned paper on my Explore using the cartridge Country Life.  By putting StickIt on the back of the paper before cutting it, I get instant stickers when they are cut and it is a lot less messy than trying to use glue. - Denise 


Tuesday, February 14, 2017

Birthday Tuesday #7-2017

Birthday cards are a staple of any card maker and Tantalaya gives us this cheerful card that would work for all ages.


This card is also clean and simple I used a colorful pattern paper and matte it with black card stock I then stamped the sentiment on white card stock and made a fishtail and to finish it off I added some Pretty Pink Posh sequins. - Tantalaya

I continue the farm theme -


I just received this stamp set from Stampin' Up called Hey Chick and it was perfect for my niece's birthday since she raises chickens on their farm - along with 5 kids!  I don't know how she finds the time since she is also an Ultrasound Technologist.  The two papers came from my pad for the week (Authentique Homestead) and I put them on a kraft paper card base.  I masked off the center chicken to be able to make it look like she was in front of the other two.  An oval die cut and popped up on foam tape. - Denise