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!

Inside and Out--Online Classes

Did you know that you could sign up for any of the previous Hero Arts online classes?  I just started the one for Inside a card, and it's cheaper (and better) than buying a magazine!  Plus, you get videos by instructors like Jennifer McGuire, Kristina Werner and Julie Ebersole that make each technique super clear.


The first lesson was on different ways to make pop-ups on the inside, which inspired this card.  The video shows 3 ways to use a small cube on which to mount an image.  Since the card base was too dark for writing a message inside, I chose to use a white insert instead; but the idea is still the same.  As you can see, the inside is a continuation of the theme on the front.  These online classes are so helpful!

NOTE:  The online class title is "Insider."

GREENHOUSE SOCIETY--Peony

If you love botanicals as much as I do, check out the Greenhouse Society stamp sets HERE at Technique Tuesday.  Membership entitles you to automatic monthly delivery of their beautiful stamp sets at a discount.

This was the set for January, and I used it for a shaker card with tiny green beads and purple flakes.  The greeting is also part of the set.

Enjoy!

SIMPLE THANKYOU CARD

Our pastor most likely could use a few thank you notes, so I added this to his next batch of cards

After sponging a stencil with Hero Arts Pool ink, I ran the card front through the CB with this thanks ef.  Then I cut the oval with a Nestabilities die and set both aside.

Since I had the Morning Meadow set out, I stamped the blank scrolled  image in pool ink, then stamped the thank you in the center with a darker blue ink.  Next I fussy cut the image, mounted it on the oval with dimensionals and attached it to the card front with glue dots.  Finally, I rounded all four corners.

Easy!

FROM THE SCRAP DRAWER #36

In keeping with my self-imposed challenge to use only what I already have in my stamping tower for the rest of the year, I came upon this barely used SU Hostess set.  Actually, I have five newer Hostess sets all together.  So why would I NEED to buy more???  Well, "need" is definitely a relative term in stamping!

This was fun to make as I pulled out all the scraps.  First I inked up the French Script background stamp with Pumice Stone Distress ink, stamped off lightly and stamped it on a scrap of white cs for a faint background.  Next I stamped the floral image from Simply Soft with "full strength" pumice stone ink.  For the blossoms (this is a two-step set) I used an Eggplant Purple dye ink that I've had in my stash for at least 10 years!  It was still surprisingly juicy enough for a clear image and birthday greeting.

In my dsp collection, I found just the right color purple and green pieces to use (as shown) to highlight the flowers without overpowering them.  I colored the stems with a Mellow Moss marker and mounted the panel to a mellow moss scrap of textured cs, which I also used for the greeting.  For the final touch, I brought out the gems and embroidery floss, attaching all as shown.

Although this has been quite a challenge -- and it's only February -- I'm amazed at how much I have at my disposal, even after the last few purges and giveaways!


If you'd like to join me in my "stamping diet" challenge, see the post on January 19th. 

THREE OF A KIND--Oval Frame

 It's been awhile since I've done three of a kind for the blog, so I thought I'd have a go at it with the SU  frame ef.



This first one is stamped with Distress inks and sprayed with water for the watercolor effect.  The leaf is a stamp and matching die from Impression Obsession; and the flowers are from a SU hostess set, "Morning Meadow".  I used the coordinating punch for the flowers.  The tiny pearls go along with the raised dots around the frame.



The second card uses the poppy stamp from another SU hostess set, "Simply Sketched" and is the first time I've used it.  The greeting and flower are stamped in Versafine Smokey Gray ink to match the gray cs.  I kept this one very simple, adding just some tiny black gems and a black embroidery floss bow.

The last card uses a daisy die cut which I water colored and added Stickles to.  The greeting is stamped in Versafine Olympia Green ink.  I added a green strip and just a few embellishments to finish it off.



Are you as eager for Spring as I am????

WATERCOLOR BIRTHDAY CARD

After watching Julie Ebersol's video, I just had to give her design a try.  For the background, I applied Tumbled Glass, Broken China, Peeled Paint and Wild Honey Distress inks onto an acrylic block.  Then I applied the colors on a heavy cardstock panel with my aqua painter.

Next, I used a tiny flower peg stamp with the same blue inks to continue the watercolor look.  For the birthday message, I stamped the typewriter from the SU "You're My Type" set with Versafine Smokey Gray ink.

To finish, I attached the panel to an olive green textured cs with double stick tape and mounted it to the card front with dimensionals.  For the final embellishment, I added three small sequins.  Done!

Valentine Wildflowers

This is one of  the Valentines I sent out this year.  After taking the internet class on stenciling last month, I made the heart stencil using a punch and a piece of cardstock.  Then I sponged red ink over it onto the white panel and stamped the flowers and verse over it.

Before adding color to the flowers with colored pencils, I trimmed the panel to size, rounded the corners and mounted it to the blue cs with TomBow Mono glue.  The smaller flower was added from my collection to give it a little sparkle, and  yellow Stickles was used for the centers of the other two blossoms.   While waiting for the Stickles to dry, I ran the card base and embossing folder through my Cuttlebug and stamped the sentiment on the inside.

Happy Valentine's Day everyone!

Secret Message Thank You

Here we are in the midst of yet another huge snow storm--a good time to stamp!

This secret message card is for someone who sent me a lovely Valentine card.  The base card is kraft, but the front panels are a light green.  The flowers are colored to look more like poppies than daisies.

 When the card is first opened, you see the back of the front square, which is why I used red  for the flowers.  The white boxes are for the letter I'm writing.  Although it's hard to see here, there are snow flakes stamped in white on the kraft rectangles.

Once opened up to reveal the secret message, there are flowers stamped with peg stamps on the kraft pieces.  The white rectangles are used for the words of encouragement hand written in green.

For instruction on how to open the card (or make it) just go to Utube or Google and type in secret message card.  Lots of them will come up!

Opening the card is so simple once you know the trick.  Enjoy!

(Click on photos to enlarge.)

Special Card for a Special Friend

If I ever get out of my driveway to go to the Post Office, I'll be mailing this card to someone special who sent me a batch of these falling heart panels.  Somehow, I opened the card when it came (I can't even remember when) and set it aside.  I guess I got distracted after that and the envelope got mixed in with other papers until today.  What a happy discovery!

Thank you, Kim.  I hope you like the card and know that I truly appreciate your thoughtfulness.