Monday, September 29, 2014

Side Spring Card Tutorial

Hiya, Crafters! I hope everyone had a good weekend and a great start to their week. Ben and I had a very relaxing weekend playing video games. The pumpkin beer he brewed for me was ready for drinking yesterday and it was delicious! I very much enjoyed it. Today's card is a side spring card. It is called that as the diamond part of it sort of springs on to it. I followed this video tutorial. The folding can be a little tricky at first but just stick with it and I'll be glad to help with it.
Here's what you'll need to make this card:
  • Cardstock cut to 5 1/2 x 8 1/2" for your card base.
  • Scoring board and tool
  • Trimmer
  • Bone folder
  • Coordinating cardstock
  • Stamping and die cutting tools needed to finish the card
Let's get started! On your card base score it at 2 3/4" short ways.
Then rotate it 90 degrees and score it at 2 3/4" and 4".

Fold your card in half along the long score line with the shorter panel on your left. What we are going to do here is score a diagonal line between the 2 3/4" and 4" score line. Please make certain that the opening flap of your card is pointed towards you when you do this. You will line the top of the 4" score line in your cutting mat and the bottom of the 2 3/4" score line with the cutting mat as well. I slipped my bone folder in the arm and scored instead of using the scoring blade so I could apply more pressure.
When you've done this and open the card you'll have score lines that sort of resemble arrows.
Now, your long score line is folded as a mountain fold. The 2 3/4" and 4" score lines should be folded as a valley fold. It'll look something like this:
Next we are going to fold the angled score lines in a mountain fold. I ended up propping it on the side to do it and I burnished my creases with my bone folder.
Next you'll want to lay your card down like this so that the last portion of the folding is easier.
Then fold the let panel up on its valley fold.
Then just fold that bit over on both sides and it will pop into a diamond. You'll have something like this:
Burnish your score lines with your bone folder for crisp creases. All that's left is just decorating! Here are the measurements for the diamond, outside panel, and inside panel.
  • Diamond: 2 3/4 x 2 3/4" (You could actually make your layer as large as 3 x 3" to hang over a little.)
  • Both outside and inside panels are 2 3/4 x 4 1/2", to make layers you'll want to cut to 2 1/2 x 4 1/4".
The next step you'll want to wait to do until you've written your message otherwise you won't be able to open it all the way and it might prove to be difficult to do so. But when you're ready to, you can add a bit of adhesive to the inside angle so that the card stays in place. This is optional.
Here's the inside of my card. I have not added any tape to the the angle though.
That's all there is to this tutorial! The first time folding through it can be a little tricky, but once you do it the folding becomes easier.

I hope you enjoyed today's tutorial. Thanks for popping by, Crafters! I'll see ya soon.

Saturday, September 27, 2014

Gatefold Easel Card Tutorial

Hiya, Crafters! Happy Saturday! I am back from my little break. I have to admit that I just didn't feel creative this past week until now. That's OK as it happens to all of us. Normally I would just force myself to sit down and look through all my stuff, but I just simply didn't want to. But today I was finally struck by inspiration! I saw this lovely tutorial and I finally felt like doing something. I'll be glad to show you how I did it!
Here's what you'll need to make this card:
  • Cardstock measured at 8 1/2 x 11" (How convenient!)
  • Coordinating cardstock
  • Trimmer
  • Scoring tool
  • Brads
  • Stamping and die cutting tools needed to finish the card
Let's get started! First things first we will score the cardstock longways in half at 5 1/2".
Rotate the cardstock 90 degrees and score at 2 1/8". Flip the card over and repeat.
Next we are going to cut out two flaps from the 5 1/2" score line and the 2 1/8" score line. You'll want to cut on the inside of the 2 1/8" score line so that it is a little skinny and will fit easier when you fold it.
Then all you need to do is score the panel at 2 3/4" and then fold your card. You'll have something that looks like this:
All that's left for you to do is decorate! Here's what I came up with:
 This is how it looks when it is not propped up as an easel.
 I tucked my banners under the flaps to keep it closed.

That's all there is to it! I hope you enjoyed today's tutorial. I appreciate your patience with my sojourn from crafting. Thanks for popping by, Crafters! I'll see ya soon.



Monday, September 22, 2014

Cascading Butterflies Card Tutorial

Hiya, Crafters! I hope everyone is had a great weekend and a good start to their week. Today I am going to show you how to do this cascading butterflies card. I got the idea from this video. It's a very fun and simple card and I'll be glad to show you how to do it.

Here's what you'll need to make this card:
  • Cardstock cut to 6 1/2 x 10" scored at 5" for the base of your card.
  • Scrap paper in the same color.
  • Trimmer
  • Scissors
  • 3D foam stickers 
  • Glue - liquid or double sided
  • Punches/dies to match the image you picked.
  • Stamping tools needed to finish the card
Let's get started! Take your card base already scored and folded to your trimmer and cut a 1 1/4" off of the front panel.
At this point you'll want to decorate that front panel. You can emboss it or use a stencil. Once you've done that we need to start stamping the images on your scrap paper. I cut a piece long enough to cover the front and staggered my image first in blue.
Then I used the same image and went over it in yellow. It's OK if the images overlap.
After that you'll need to get out your scissors and cut along the sides of this. You don't have to get right up to the edge of the image. It's easier if you move the paper to cut instead of your scissors. Do both sides. You'll have something like this.

In the video, she ran a line of glue down the edge of the card. I did too, but if you would rather use strong double sided tape that will definitely work out. Then just line up your cut out paper over the edge of the front panel.
All that is left is stamping more images for you to punch or cut out. I used my 3D foam stickers and just layered them over the flowers. If I found a mistake, I covered it with a butterfly. I also used them to hide more of the edge. Once I was happy with my results, I glued my sentiment on. That's it. This is one piece of cardstock and a bunch of scrap paper that I had.

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial and that you have fun making your own. Thanks for popping by, Craters! I'll see ya soon!


Friday, September 19, 2014

Tri-Shutter Tutorial aka Accordion Card

Hiya, Crafters! Happy Friday!! I hope the week treated everyone well. I am looking forward to the weekend. I've been working on my first commissioned request and I am so thrilled that I am nearly finished. All that's left to do is fold and glue the envelopes! I'm pretty proud of myself so I'm going to treat myself, and get them glue to seal the envelopes, at the craft store with my 50% off coupons that have been burning a hole in my pocket. Yay! Anyway, I wanted to give my customer a card; on top of all the cards that she requested, to say congratulations!! You can find this type of card all over pinterest and I can't remember the original one that I used. But for today's card I specifically wanted 4" panels and came up with these measurements.
Here's what you'll need to make this card:
  • Cardstock cut to 12 x 6" for your base. 
  • Coordinating cardstock.
  • Trimmer
  • Scoring tool
  • Stamping and die cutting tools needed to finish the card.
Let's get started! Take your base card with the 6" edge against the top (or bottom) of your trimmer and line it up at 5", You'll see that I flipped my trimmer upside down so I could see what it was that I was doing. Then line your cutting blade up at the 2" mark and cut to 10". Rotate your card 180 degrees and repeat.
Rotate your cardstock longways and line it up at 10", you'll only want to score the 1" from your cut line to the edge of the card. Do this on both sides. Then score through the entire card at 8" and 4". Lastly, line it up at 2" and repeat the score lines as you did with 10". (Score lines are hard to photograph.) Once you've completed that mountain fold the middle panels and then the top and bottom 1" panels. Be sure that the top and bottom do not mirror the middle panels. You'll have something that looks like this:

All that's left is to decorate! Here are the measurements that I used for the middle panels. Remember they are 4 x 4" to start with.
  • Bottom layer: 3 3/4 x 3 3/4"
  • Middle layer: 3 5/8 x 3 5/8"
  • Top layer: 3 1/2 x 3 1/2"
I only used the top layer to give myself writing space. I also did not measure out the top and bottom panels because I used patterned paper and didn't see the need, but they are 1 x 4". Here's what I came up with:

I used versamark and white embossing powder on the dress.  Then I added a pearl to the center waist and also made a frame. I really like how that stands out!




For the cake, I used clear embossing powder this time to make it a couple shades darker than the paper and placed pearls inside the flowers. This is what it looks like folded flat:
I did my best to mimic their wedding colors. Sage is in, friends. I might come back to it and add more bling, I do not know. The patterned paper is pretty busy and I don't want too much going on all at once. So I'm going to go shopping, then come back and look at it and see if I think I did enough.

I hope you enjoyed today's tutorial and that you find some inspiration in it! Thanks for popping by, Crafters! I'll see ya on Monday!

Wednesday, September 17, 2014

Big Buckle Card Tutorial

Hiya, Crafters! Happy middle of the week! I hope everyone is doing well. Today's tutorial is a card with a buckle. It's really cute and simple to make. You can watch the video here. This is a great card that can easily be switched from feminine to masculine. I suppose I went a little manly with this, but I did not add a sentiment to it as I don't have any plans for this yet.
Here's what you'll need to make this card:
  • Cardstock cut to 5 1/2 x 7" for your base.
  • Coordinating cardstock cut to 2 1/2 x 5 1/4".
  • Coordinating or patterned paper cut to 2 3/8 x 5 1/8".
  • Cardstock cut to 1 5/8 x 5 1/2" for your belt
  • Cardstock cut to 1 1/2 x 5 3/8" for your belt layer (optional)
  • Cardstock cut to 4 x 5 1/4" for the inside layer
  • Word Window punch or something similar
  • Scoring tool
  • Stamping and die cutting tools needed to finish the card
Let's get started! Take your base paper and line it up longways to your scoring board or trimmer and score at 4 1/4".
What I did next was decorate my panels for the front. I've given the measurements above, but do not adhere them to the front panel yet! Since I decided I wanted to layer my belt, I decorated the layer and adhered it to the 1 5/8 x 5 1/2" piece designated for my belt. Then I scored it at 3 1/2".

After that I took my word window punch and punched out a slot in the lower half. I would recommend that you punch further from the edge than I did just so you can add tape around it.  I still haven't adhered my decorated panels to the front of my card. I lined it up on the front panel to see where the punch is and then drew along the inside (with the end of a paint brush) so that it very lightly embossed the area on the front panel. Then I punched that out.
Once I was satisfied that the punches lined up nicely, I finally adhered the front layers to the panel.  Now is about the time that you'll want to decorate your inside 4 x 5 1/4" layer. Then fold your buckle around the edge. You will want to line up the long in with the punched slot. When you're satisfied that the inside layer lines up so that the buckle fits in the slot, tape the bit that you tucked under the inside layer down. Then adhere the inside layer to the panel.
You'll have something that looks like this:
All that's left is to add your embellishments or cut outs. Pretty simple, eh? 

I hope you enjoyed today's tutorial and have some fun with it. Thanks for popping by, Crafters! I'll see ya soon.

Monday, September 15, 2014

Wiper Card Tutorial

Hiya, Crafters! I hope everyone had a good weekend. Ours was relaxing and uneventful. It was great! Today I am going to show you how to do this wiper card. It has a flap that pops up when you fully open the card! I made this card around the brads since I never have been able to use them before. 

Here's what you'll need to make this card:
  • Two pieces of cardstock cut to 4 1/4 x 8 1/2" for the base of your card.
  • 1 1/2 x 3" piece of cardstock
  • Coordinating paper
  • Trimmer
  • Scoring tool
  • Ruler
  • Pencil
  • Stamping and die cutting tools to finish the card
Let's get started! On both pieces of your base card score at 1 1/2" and 3" and fold your score lines in a mountain valley fold. Ensure your peak is near the largest panel.

Set these aside and with your pencil mark 1 1/2" longways on your 1 1/2 x 3" piece of cardstock.
Next we need to score diagonally but only 1 1/2" long. I lined the pencil mark and point of cardstock diagonally along my cutting mat and scored. (Alternatively, if you like you can pierce the paper on half the paper to make it easier for you to find the 1 1/2" mark to score to.) Then fold your score line. This is your wiper.
Now you'll want to adhere what it is that you want to decorate your wiper. Make sure that it does not hang over the sides or the scored line or it will show when the card is closed. Then add adhesive to the bottom triangle of your wiper.
After that we will adhere this to one of your base pieces of cardstock. With the score lines on your right, adhere the wiper to your card. You'll want to make sure that it's in between the score lines closest to the large panel. Keep the top of the diagonal score line even with the top of the base piece of cardstock. You'll want to ensure that the bottom left corner is also the scored.
Then, since I don't have any score tape, I added adhesive just to the right edge and lined the other base cardstock over it. Make sure that the score lines are on your left. Once you have that adhered, do the left. When you're adhering the back of the base, it'll look like the wiper is folded wrong, or taped in wrong, just let it be. Once you have the bases taped together, it all comes into place. You'll have something that looks like this:

I burnished the creases with my bone folder and then decorated! Here are the measurements I used:
  • 4 x 5 1/4" in the blue patterned paper
  • Used the largest scalloped rectangle I had in green
  • 3 1/2 x 2 7/8" in brown
  • 3 3/8 x 2 3/4" in white
  • The side panels are 4 x 1 1/4"
  • For the border, I only cut the patterned paper by 4 x 1 and taped the punched paper under it to give it the full width.
 
I really like those brads and I thought they went great with that stamp set. Unfortunately, I can't remember the name of it, but I think they are from Hampton Arts or something similar.

Have you ever made a card around an accessory before? It's pretty amazing what comes out from them. I hope you enjoyed today's tutorial. Have fun with this one. Thanks for popping, Crafters! I'll see ya soon.