NEW SERIES

Here's the first card for a new series I'm featuring called, "CASE-ing the Catalogs." (CASE stands for Copy After Someone Else.)

The idea for this card came from Page 12 of the 2011-12 Stampin'Up Idea Book. I especially liked the texture on the long strip. It is shown there vertically, but I turned it around to make a horizontal card. The stamped piece was on a card I received from one of my Silver Stamper friends (thanks Alice.) The rest was added using the bird punch for the leaves and a Martha Stewart edger punch.

Enjoy!

CASE-ing the Catalogs

Here's another CASE of a card in the SU 2011-12 Idea Book, page 74.

What drew me to this card was the color combination of the red and lime green, which I also carried through in the embroidery floss on the side. Although I basically used the same color scheme, I did move the side strip to the opposite side and placed it under the label image instead of over the point.

I like the idea of cutting the words apart and placing them where I want them. That's nothing new, but I always forget to do it.

It's also handy to make a card with just one set, don't you think?

FEBRUARY BLUES BASH #14

Today was the day to "Leap into Leap Year." For photos and further details, click HERE.

HI!

Here is my card for the Impression Obsession challenge using their stamps and the word "Hi" (or hello, etc.) The diamond impression folder was the ideal backdrop for this coffee mug with the diamond design. Since I don't have an I.O. "Hi" stamp, I used letter stickers instead.

This is one of the images from the set, "Smell the Coffee." For another card using the same set, go to my January 21, 2011 post HERE and scroll down 6 posts. For other entries using I.O. stamps, click HERE. I bet none of them feature purple coffee!

(Next time I think I'll use SU's Early Espresso and Crumb Cake cs.) Hmmm...now I'm hungry...

HELLO!

This shaker card features a square opening turned on the diagonal, which was the perfect match for the dsp I had on hand.
Using a shaker cup with straight sides makes it a bit easier to fold back the paper around the opening than with a circle or oval. (See Feb. 6 post.)

The tuxedo cat is from an old set by All Night Media that I've had for years and still enjoy using. The dsp is from Basic Grey.

SIMPLE SATURDAY #25

TIP: To save time, assemble all supplies before starting.

Click on photos for a clearer view.

Another Way to Step It Up

Here's the first Easter Card I made for the Less Is More challenge, until I realized the color was supposed to be aqua; so I made the one in my previous post. Meanwhile, I decided to add some depth to this card. As you can see, initially it was "flat" and decidedly ho-hum.






However, just a few slits with a craft knife changed the look to a 3-D effect that is much improved. Hopefully, you can see the dimension added by cutting along three of the petals and lifting them up without foam tape. I also lifted the top of one of the leaves.



Just this little bit of extra effort makes a big difference!

Stepping It Up

1st photo: Since I wasn't happy with the card I made for the Less Is more challenge in the previous post, here is my attempt at taking it to the top.

2nd photo: I restamped the flowers, colored them, cut them out and popped them up on the card. I offset them a bit to create a "shadow" around the top and left sides. I then added yellow Stickles in the centers and rounded the top corners of the card.

3rd photo: Since I had some dsp that matched the color of the flowers, I used my rick rack die and placed the strip across the bottom of the image to ground it. The bold color also added some life to the card without overdoing it.

This is still a simple card, but I think it's better than before.

LESS IS MORE--Aqua

One-layer cards always are a challenge for me, especially when the card seems so empty when I'm done. Nevertheless, here is my entry for the latest challenge, using the color aqua.

First I sponged aqua ink around a scalloped oval mask as a background. Then I stamped the flower and the greeting over it. The floral image is from Gina K and the greeting is from StampinUp. After coloring the flower and rounding the bottom corners, the card was done...for now. I plan to step it up later, so check back for another post.

Meanwhile, the other entries can be found HERE.

Easter Shaker Card

Here's another shaker card where I stamped on the overlay instead of covering it with dsp. (See previous post.) I guess you could say I'm on a shaker card roll!

Before sealing up the shaker cup, I wiped it off with a dryer sheet to remove the static and used sequins and micro beads to shake. The shaker and overlay are from Impression Obsession, which sure makes it easy.

SHAKER CARD HOW-TO

First, select a card base, the overlay and a shaker cup.
I've chosen to use pre-made shakers and coordinating overlays
rather than making my own.

Next, cover the overlay with lightweight dsp (or use a background stamp.)
After gluing it down, turn the piece over and make an X with a craft knife. Then cut away most of the dsp to about 1/4" from the edge of the oval, make slits 1/4" apart all the way around, and bend them all back over some snail. (Shown in photo further down.)
Then stamp the image and color it in with markers. It must be one layer so that none of the contents will get hung up inside.

Next, place the overlay on the image, moving it around until it's centered where you want it. Holding it firmly, turn it over and mark all four sides with a line as shown so that it will line up the same way after putting the shaker contents in the cup.

First, place the cup into the opening, turn it over and wipe the inside with a dryer sheet to prevent static. Then add beads (or whatever else to shake) and remove the liner that covers the sticky strip around the cup. Using the marks made earlier, line up the image piece again.

You'll now have a "sandwich" with the shaker between the overlay in front and the image piece on the back. It's time to mount it to the front of the card base.

Here, add a greeting and some gold twine with glue dots and a dimensional.

Please let me know if this helps get you started making shaker cards. They're so much fun and not as difficult as they look. Once you've done one, you'll realize how easy they really are!

(Shaker pouches and overlays are from
Impression Obsession HERE.)

SPLIT COAST TO THE RESCUE!

Split Coast Stampers is such a wonderful resource, which is where I went for ideas to make a birthday card using the SU "Greetings, Earthling" set. Thank you, Understand Blue for your ideas.

I posed my alien under the moon on another planet where balloons could easily float upward. There are three for my grandson's third birthday.

Starting with a white card for the base, I tore the brown cs and pasted it onto a piece of black cs. I then punched a circle out of a piece of grayish cs, sponged it with black and white inks, and attached it with double-stick tape. I then sprayed my "scene" with Dazzling Diamonds Glimmer Mist.

After stamping the alien on yellow dsp, I cut it out and colored in the circles with a purple glitter gel pen. While that was drying, I punched out the three balloons and placed them in position with mini glue dots, then added the embroidery floss strings, using TomBow glue. By then, the alien was dry enough to mount him to the card with a thick foam square over a black oval "shadow." I added his eye and glued the ends of the strings to the underside of his hand. (That's how they hold balloons on other planets...so I've heard.)

I could have stopped there, but I wanted to add some depth to the card. Using a Nestabilities die, I cut the opening and mounted the frame to the card front with black foam strips. Lastly, I added the greeting.

Children's cards are always a challenge for me; but I love how this one turned out!