Stars and Doilies

Hiya, Crafters! Happy Friday!! I hope everyone had a good week. I've been a little busy this week but I made sure to carve out some time to make cards and post. I didn't run out of tutorials, I promise. Anyway, today's make is a mash up of a sponged doily and masking. You can see my masking technique post here. I never thought I would ever utter these three words but I LOVE DOILIES! The more I use them, the more I want to use them in everything that I do. Do you have something like that? Here's what I came up with today.

Here's what you'll need to make this card:

• Cardstock cut to 6 1/2 x 10" scored at 5"
• Layer coordinating cardstock or designer paper cut to 4 3/4 x 6 1/4"
• Scrap paper for border; I made sure it was only 4 3/4" long.
• Glitter paper
• Punches
• Doily!
• Sponges
• Scissors 
• Paper trimmer
• Stamping and die cutting tools

I haven't decided yet what kind of card this is going to be. It could be a graduation card, but I'm leaning towards birthday with a "Wish Big" sentiment inside. What do you think? I hope this gives you a little inspiration. Have fun with this! Thanks for popping by, Crafters! Have a great weekend and I'll see you on Monday!

Vintage Birthday

Hiya, Crafters! I hope today finds everyone well. Today's make involved sponging! I sponged in on every bit of this card except for the buttons. Yes, I sponged ink on the twine too! This card came from a sketch I sloppily drew a little while ago. I was most likely inspired by pinterest. 

Here's what you'll need to make this card:

• Sponges
• Border Punch
• Doilies
• Twine
• Buttons (Sweet buttons embosslits used here)
• Paper piercing tool
• Paper trimmer
• Scissors
• Adhesive
• Stamping tools

I sponged every piece first before I did any gluing. Then I grabbed some scrap paper and punched out the border and glued them to the edges of the card. I eyeballed all the measurements here. I didn't write anything down. For the doily I cut out the edges, sponged them and adhered it to the back as a kind of bunting. I pierced the paper with my sew easy tool and drew the stitch lines to connect the dots. For the twine, I tied the bow first, then just sponged it while holding it firmly with my other hand so the bow didn't come undone. That was it!

Hope you enjoyed my creation today and I hope it gives you inspiration too. Thanks for popping by, Crafters! I'll see ya soon!

Thinking of You Boxes

Hiya, Crafters! How are you today? We're having yet another gloomy and rainy day. It makes me want to stay huddled in my craft room, or read a book! Today's make is a simple thinking of you card with colored layers. There's no tutorial, but I'll give you the measurements if you want to CASE it.

Here's what you'll need to make this card:

• Cardstock cut to 6 1/2 x 10" scored at 5" for your base.
• Cardstock (purple) cut to 3 3/4 x 5 1/4"
• Cardstock (white) cut to 3 5/8 x 5 1/8"  to layer the purple panel
• (3) pieces of cardstock (pink, green, and blue) cut to 1 3/4 x 1 3/4"
• (3) pieces of (white) cardstock embossed with polka dots cut to 1 1/2 x 1 1/2"

Have fun with this! Thanks for popping by, Crafters! I'll see ya soon!

 

Masking Window Technique

Hiya, Crafters! How is everyone today? I'm doing well, thank you. Today's make is a masking window technique - I didn't know what to call it. Anyway, all I did was the masking to the next level and made a recessed window for my sentiment. It was quick and easy.

Here's what you'll need to make this card:

• Cardstock cut to 6 1/2 x 10" and scored at 5" for the base.
• Cardstock in coordinating color cut to 4 1/2 x 6" - middle layer
• Cardstock (in white) cut to 4 3/4 x 6 1/4" - top layer.
• Nesting dies
• Post it Notes
• 3D foam stickers
• Stamping and die cutting tools

Let's get started! Pick out your dies. The second die will always be the next size smaller. (Or larger depending on how you look at it.) Line them up on your cardstock and use a Post it Note to keep them in place.

Once ran them through your machine, just flip them over and emboss them with your embossing mat and cardboard.

Oh, check that out. An embossed frame!

You can toss that or set it aside for later. I set it aside because I save things that can be re-used. Because I'm using the Secret Garden set and dies, the punch out would be hard for me to discern what goes where when I need to mask the stamped image. So I stamped on post it notes. Be sure to stamp over the area where the sticky stuff is. I also dotted my stamps and the image in case I became disoriented and needed to get it straightened out. Cut those images out.

All that you need to do is stamp and cover your image with the coordinating post it note shape. In my case, I always had to keep them all covered. Sometimes, depending on how bright and how thin the post it note is, I stamped the ink off first before stamping it to my cardstock.

Once you've stamped as much as you wanted, it's time to assemble the card. Line your middle layer on the base of your card and adhere it. Of course you'll want to stamp it first. Then slide your top layer over it where you want and glue that that cut out you first made and adhere it through the window.

Flip the top layer over and place 3D foams on all four corners.

Then line everything up with the cut out and the window and stick it down! Now you've some nice added depth for the card.

I hope you've enjoyed today's tutorial. Don't forget to subscribe. Thanks for popping by, Crafters! I'll see ya soon!

Triple Tier Slider Card Tutorial

Hiya, Crafters! Happy Monday - hope today finds you well and I hope everyone had a good weekend. I made chocolate zucchini muffins and framed some special cards that were given to me. Today's make is a triple tier slider card. I used this tutorial. I also referenced Splitcoaststampers.The stamps I used are some photo-polymer stamps, I think I got them from Michael's or Joann Fabrics. The ink blurred a lot. I saw somewhere that is the result of an oil residue and to wash them in soapy water. I will give that a go later on and let you know if it worked.

Here's what you'll need to make this card:

• 12 x 12" piece of cardstock - recommending designer paper.
• Paper trimmer
• Scoring tool
• Strong double sided tape
• Ribbon
• Coordinating cardstock 
• Scrap paper
• Materials to finish card

Let's get started! Take your 12 x 12 DSP cardstock and cut it into 3 pieces measuring at:

• 4 1/2 x 11 5/8". This is your bottom layer.
• 3 3/8 x 10 1/4". This is your middle layer.
• 3 x 9 3/8". This is your top layer.

On your top layer, score at  3 1/3" and 6 3/8". (I only took one picture of this as I liked my score board for the scoring for this project.)

Your middle layer will be scored at 3 3/8" and 6 7/8". Your bottom layer will be scored at 3 7/8" and 6 3/8". On the bottom and middle layers we'll need to cut two slits on either end, it doesn't matter which one. I only took pictures for one layer, but the idea is the same. I'll show you the bottom layer, but I'll give your the measurements for all of them.
On the bottom layer, line up one of your score lines closest to the edge at the 1" line. Place your cutting blade at 1/2" line and cut a 2 1/2" slit. That should take you to the 3" mark on the cutting arm.

Next, you will line your edge up at the 1" mark to the left of the cutting mat and repeat by placing your blade at the 1/2" line and cut a 2 1/2" slit. So what you're doing here is creating the slits an inch from the score line and an inch from the edge.

Your middle layer has different measurements for the slits, but you're still creating them an inch from the score lines and the edge. The measurements for the slits are 1/4" in the cutting arm and the slit is going to be 2 1/4" long. That should take you to 2 1/2. You will not need to cut slits in the top layer.

All of this you will have the side you do not want facing out up. I'm using two sided DSP, the top and bottom layer will have polka dots facing out and the middle has the green pattern. On the top layer, you'll need to cut a tab and paste it on the side that will be the back of the card. I used the modern label punch and folded it in half. Then fold them over and tape it shut.

Bring your middle layer forward and cut a strip of scrap paper. We need this strip to be woven through the slits in the middle layer. On the wrong side facing up, slide your strip through. Remember that my middle layer will not be showing polka dots. The cut marks for the slits closes to the edge of the card is the top.

Flip the paper over and fold the end over. Don't burnish the folds because it might not allow the strip to move. Don't tape it either as we need the strips to move.

Now with the strip pushed down all the way, take your top layer and line it up even with the top of the card and center it over the panel. Then tape the middle layer up.

Repeat the same process with the bottom layer and middle layer.

In the end when you tug on the tab you should have something that looks like this:

Decorate your card! I would recommend on the top and middle layers to mat as little as necessary and use thin cardstock. You don't want it so thick that it won't easily push in again. For my card, I only layered the front bottom layer. Here are the measurements:

• Bottom layer: 3 5/8 x 4 1/4". Also 3 3/8 x 4"
• Middle layer 3 1/4 x 1 3/4"
• Top layer 3 x 1 5/8"

After that I took my 1/4" hole punch to my tab and then pushed ribbon through to be tugged on. I'm not over the moon about the markers and stamps I used, but the continuity is what I really wanted to show for this card. Here it is all being pulled out.

If anything needs clearing up, leave me a comment and I will do my best for you. I hope you enjoyed today's tutorial. Thanks for popping by, Crafters! I'll see ya soon!

Reflection Technique

Hiya, Crafters! How is everyone today? It's a rainy day here in the Midwest. I've really enjoyed this "cool" summer we've been having. I just hope this doesn't mean we're going to have another bitter cold winter. Today's make is based around the reflection technique that I've seen on Pinterest and card communities ever since I started. It was something that I thought was too difficult for me to do. I was wrong. There are plenty of tutorials out there, but I didn't really use one, although the way I did this might be better for a single image.

Here's what you'll need to make this card:

• White cardstock and anything else needed to make the card.
• Sponges
• Ink
• Stamp-a-ma-jig (SAMJ) and image window/ strong, clear acetate
• Stamp
• Scrap paper
• Anything else to finish the card.
• A demanding kitty.

Let's get started! Cut your white piece of cardstock to the measurements you want for your card. In this instance, I cut to 4 1/2 x 6". I decided that the reflection was going to be on a pond on a bright day. I did the water first. You'll want to rub it out lightly on your paper. When you come to an area where you want the break, tear some cardstock and rub ink over the edges. Then I took my green ink and rubbed over the edges.

You'll want to continue to do this adjusting your cardstock up and back and forth to break up the lines. I also flipped it over a couple of times for contrast. Next I picked a darker blue and made the sky meet the grass. You will see that you have a void of white, I just gently rubbed my sponge over that.

After that I stamped my image on the image window and lined it up on the card where I wanted it to be stamped. Then I slid my SAMJ to the side, removed the image window, and stamped the card.

For the reflection, I turned the card upside down and repeated the process, but I stamped off some ink first before stamping the image on the card.

Now you see that while doing this option it would probably be better to pick a single tree or flower. There are other techniques out there that fixes this problem and I'll get to those for you in the future. For now you have a quick and easy way to create a reflection.

Oh! Don't forget one of these!

 

I hope you enjoyed today's tutorial and have fun doing your own. Thanks for popping by, Crafters. I'll see you on Monday!

Lever Card Tutorial

Hiya Crafters! Thanks for visiting. I hope everyone is doing well today. I had to clean my craft room before I could do anything else. It looked like I had a tornado come through. I just couldn't concentrate with the floor covered in supplies. And the cats are still a wee bit clingy since being back from the trip. Anyway, I have a large family, and it doubled when I married my husband. So I have birthdays almost every month of the year. Ben's paternal grandmother is having a birthday next month and I wanted to send her something she has never had before. I found a tutorial for a lever card that reminded me of a swing card, and a tunnel card all in one. I knew this is what I had to do for her.

Here's what you'll need to make this card:

• (2) pieces of cardstock cut to 5 1/2 x 8 1/2"
• Paper trimmer
• Score board and scoring tool
• Strong adhesive - recommending score tape
• Designer paper
• Stamping and die cutting tools to finish the card

Let's get started! On your first piece of cardstock score at 4 1/4 and set aside. Do not fold yet. This will be your cover card.

Take your other piece of 5 1/2 x 8 1/2" cardstock and score at 4 1/4" and 6 3/8". We will need to do a partial score at 2 1/8", only an inch long. Flip the cardstock over and repeat at 2 1/8" only an inch long.

Let's take your cover card to your trimmer. Mine is upside down - again. Line the card up at 7 1/2". Position your cutting blade at the 1" mark and cut to 4 1/2".

Rotate the card 180 degrees and line it up at the 3 1/4" mark and repeat cutting from 1" to 4 1/2".

Turn the card 90 degrees and line it up at the 4 1/2" mark and cut to connect the lines. Rotate again and line at 1" mark and repeat. You will do this to cut out the window.

Fold that in half and set aside. Take your other piece of cardstock with the multiple score lines. Line it up at 7 1/2", and line your cutting blade at 1" and cut to 4 1/2". 

Turn it 90 degrees and line it up at 4 1/2" mark and line the cutting blade at 1" and cut to the 2 1/8" score line. Flip the card over and repeat.

Fold all the score lines in a mountain valley fold.

Then you'll want to sort of fold it back on itself in order to tape it. The reason why I recommend score tape is because things get sticky quick before you'd be ready to adhere it together.

With just peeling the left side of the tape off first, slide your "lever" through the window on your cover card with the peak pointing towards you. Line it up as even as you possibly can.

Then all that's left is to peel the backing off the remaining tape and line it up with the other side of the cover card.

You'll have something that looks like this:

Now it's time to cover it in designer paper, or you can leave it like this. Since I managed somehow to ink on mine without touching ink yet for the day, I opted for the DSP. (I found later that I touched a ruler my husband used a green sharpie with. We're getting his and her rulers soon.) Cut a 4” x 5 1/4” piece of designer paper for the front of the card. Cut in 7/8” from all 4 sides to make the decorative layer for the front of the card.

Cut a 1 7/8 x 5 1/4" piece of paper. We will need to make this to fit around the frame on the inside. Cut 1" in from the right side to 7/8". You'll need to do this to both ends.

Then turn it and cut to connect those lines to make a "C".

Next cut a piece at 3 1/8 x 5 1/4".To the left of your cutting arm line the paper at 7/8" and cut into your paper at 1 7/8". Do this to both ends.

You'll want to cut two to three pieces, depending if you want to mat or not, at 1 7/8" x 5 1/4" for the panels. If you decide to mat and still want an area to write a message or sign the card, you'll need to cut at 1 3/4" x 5 1/8" This is what it will look like flattened out and from the top.

And this is what also distracted me through my whole day. That's my seat, buddy!

I hope you enjoyed today's tutorial. It was quite the experience to put together and it took me longer than I anticipated. Thanks for popping by, Crafters! I'll see you soon!