IT'S BEEN AWHILE!

I've been extremely busy, but not too busy to stamp.  Just too busy to post (sorry.)

This card was done with colored pencils, and we made a bunch of these at Mothers Class last week.  It's always fun to see how everyone's cards all look so different.  The stamens were added later with black Stickles, and a Spring-time sentiment was stamped  inside.

Most of the snow around our house has melted--finally!  There's still a few clumps here and there, but we can see the grass again.  I saw one of our purple crocuses in bloom today, too.

The cats were out for a bit this afternoon while the sun was shining on the deck.  They looked soooo happy.

MOTHERS CLASS SUCCESS!

Everyone had a fun time making their box cards in class yesterday.

Here's a tip when completing a box card:

Mount decorative items to pieces of acetate with glue dots.  Then place them (using glue dots on the bottom of the acetate strips) higher in the back and lower in the front.  This gives it a fuller look.  I even placed two items on one strip, one below the other, in the back so that the acetate wouldn't show.

Try making one of these box cards--you'll have fun decorating it!

See the March 3 post for more info.

(Don't forget to click for a larger view!)

...AND HERE ARE THE OTHER THREE

(Click to enlarge.)

FOUR CARDS FROM A 12x12 SHEET

 After watching a video on YouTube today, I was inspired to try making 4 cards from one sheet, except that I wanted them to be rectangular instead of 4 inches square.  Here's what I came up with:



After making the cuts as shown, I had four strips of 4x8" and one leftover 4" square, just as in the video. (First photo.)

However, I scored them at 4 1/2" which left the front flap 1" shorter than the bottom, making a rectangular card 4" x 4 1/2."  Then I went through my scrap drawer for a strip to match the purple cs, punched the border and glued it to the front flap.  Using a green cs scrap, I cut a 1/8" strip and glued it over the dsp.(Second photo.)  

 Before going on to the front of the card, I glued a piece of white cs to the inside.

Next, I die cut two dragonflies, one out of a lighter purple scrap and the other from a scrap of vellum.  Then I cut the wings from the purple dragonfly and mounted the body over the vellum one, mounted it with foam tape and coated the wings with Crystal Stickles.  Finally, I stamped the greeting on another green scrap and glued it to the card front--done!
(Third photo.)


Now that I've found a way to make better use of the 12x12" sheets in my stash, I'm planning to use this size for some of the smaller images I have. 

SYMPATHY CARD

Unfortunately, this is a card we all need to keep on hand.  This one is done with sponging over a simple stamp and sentiment.

After stamping the image, I stamped just the bird portion on a scrap of blue cs and added it over that part with a glue dot.  Then I trimmed down the white panel, added the jute and rounded the corners.  The panel is attached with dimensionals.

All that is left is to write a few words of comfort on the inside.

I also made another one with a birthday sentiment inside and out.  This is so easy to make, it's a good beginner basics card also.

SIMPLE SATURDAY

GOD CARES ABOUT YOU

This card made use of some scraps from another card I had just finished for our pastor.  The dsp was first glued to the bottom section of the card front.  Then the embroidery floss was added to the side.  Next, I stamped the fern and die cut it, using the same paper as the card.

Here is a TIP:  When using a die cut that has large areas uncut, such as the middle left of this fern, you can make it look cut by mounting it over the same paper it was stamped on.

After stamping the Bible verse on another piece of scrap cs, I cut it to size and sponged the edges with black ink.  Then I mounted it to the card with double stick tape.  Finally, I added the fern with foam mounting tape--done!

STENCILING

My friend, Evelyn, gave me this stencil which I enjoyed using for this Pastor card.  After sponging the top 2/3 with blue ink and the remainder on the bottom with green, it made a simple background.

To keep it simple, I stamped the verse on a piece of the same cardstock and sponged the edges with both ink colors according to where it would be placed on the card.  After mounting with foam tape, it was done.

Thanks, Evelyn, for an easy way to make a card!

Inside and Out--Flowers and Butterfly

Connecting the inside of a card with the front really makes it seem more finished.  This card features some sponging of three colors on a separate panel which is then attached to a wider piece of white cs trimmed with a lacy edger punch.  After adding a thin strip of black cs on the top and bottom of the panel, I stamped the birthday greeting and attached the panel to the card front with dimensionals.

The flowers from the Morning Meadow SU hostess set are stamped, punched and mounted as shown.  For the inside, I stamped a small Hero Arts butterfly on a white cs scrap, sponged it with the same yellow inks, and fussy cut it.  I then mounted it to the inside with a glue dot on the left wing.  Lastly, pearls were added to the flower centers.

I'm enjoying this online class and looking forward to the next lesson.  Meanwhile, I'll be teaching what I learned to the Mothers Class today!

THIS IS MARCH??

Today was sunny with temps in the low 20's, and tonight will be single digits again.  However, the good news is that we did not get even ONE SNOWFLAKE yesterday after predictions of up to a foot of snow.  The storm veered just south of us by only a mile or two--amazing!

MY FIRST CARD IN A BOX...

 ...and it may be my last!  This took a few hours to make and decorate; but I'm happy with how it turned out.  I got the instructions and dimensions on YouTube*, but I had to search awhile before I found one that used an 8 1/2 x 11 sheet and had measurements in inches instead of centimeters.

Can you believe that with all the flowers and butterflies on all sides and from the middle of the box it will all fold flat and fit into a standard sized envelope--WOW!


This is going to someone VERY special.

*To access the video on YouTube, type in "card in a box" in the search box and scroll down to the one by "stampingt."  The C6 envelope (Australia) is the same as our A2 size.

NOTE:  This card turned out to be 4 1/2 x 6", so I had to use my Envelope Punch Board to make an envie for it.  So either make your envelope to fit or just trim an extra 1/2" off the top panels.

TGIM!

THANK GOODNESS IT'S MARCH!  I have never been so glad to see the month of February over with.  Unfortunately, March is starting off with continued vigor in the snow department with 4-8 inches due Sunday into Monday, followed by record low temps.  However, it does have a reputation for going out like a lamb!

May Spring be with us all SOON!