Joy to the World

Another Christmas card I made this past season was created using a template from Time For Crafting.  I cut the base of the card from a piece of heavy gold cardstock.  I then traced each letter from a different Christmas patterned paper using the patterns provided.  I embossed the letters with Cuttlebug's D'vine Swirls embossing folder and then applied to the card base.  Finally, I covered the inside with a striped paper in Christmas colors.  The card is designed in such a way that it stands on its own on the base of the "y".

 

Butterfly Wings

Paper Embroidery (one of my card making groups) ran a swap a while ago and this is the card I made.

The theme was butterflies and all swaps must have embroidery.  I chose a beautiful pattern of Ann's Paper Art and used a purple/blue variegated and a silver thread to stitch. The finished stitching was matted on a blue background and this was attached to a purple card base.

I used a punch to make the butterfly.  I had a holographic folder (bought in a "back to school" sale) that I used for the butterfly.  I attached the body to the card and left the wings loose and slightly folded up.  Finally I attached silver corner stickers and a silver border sticker to outline the spaces between the corners.

I have more information on "paper embroidery" in a previous entry.  Just click on the link provided.  To find more "Ann's Paper Art" patterns go to Card Stitching.

Circular Punching

On the third color challenge for Christmas I used a Planet Punch template to create the main design.  I love these templates.  They make it so easy to space out your punches on different shapes.  If you look closely at the circle you will see that I used more than one punch.

 

As luck would have it, I just happened to have a ribbon with the exact color scheme as the color challenge!  I added a background strip behind the ribbons and a verse inside and my third challenge was finished!

Deck the Halls

Another color challenge led to the following card!

 

I used a circle punch to make the ornaments and a Martha Stewart punch "Branch"to make the "greenery".  I embossed the ornaments with Cuttlebug's "Swiss Dots" and Candy Cane Stripes embossing folders.  Next I attached the ornaments and greenery to the card, added a black "rod" of black paper, drew the lines for string and finally added a paper bow from the same black paper.

 

For the inside I scanned the front, added the greeting and some extra branches and I had a finished card!

Forestry

Just Cards (another card group I belong to) was issuing weekly color challenges and the last few had to be a Christmas theme but only a minimum of 3 out of the 5 chosen colors could be used.  The colors were non-traditional so this made the challenge doubly challenging!  Here is the card I submitted and I'm proud to say that I won the week's challenge!!!

I punched out 15 trees and 24 stars from the 4 chosen colors. I then used a circular punch and punched around each tree giving them circular frames.  I made a grid of lines on a piece of  white backing paper using the same 4 colors.  At every intersection I glued on a star and inside each square I glued on a tree.  The last step was to attach all of this to the green card.

Shiny Bauble

Another card group swap (Card Crafts) lead me to making a card with a Christmas ornament using the "iris folding" technique.  This time I cut the strips from some very elegant foil Christmas wrapping paper of green and gold.

I made the design on gold cardstock and then attached the finished piece to the card form.  I added a bow of gold braid and then scanned the card front.  I imported the scan into Microsoft Word and added a greeting.  Lastly I printed this on shiny brochure paper and glued to the inside.

I also made a different version of the card by using more of the foil wrapping paper both on the outside and inside and this time no bow.

Sketchy Christmas

If you haven't tried a card sketch yet you don't know what you are missing!  A card sketch is just that...a generalized sketch to be used as a jumping off point for your imagination.  You can make changes to the elements as long as your card resembles the sketch.  One of my card groups (Card Crafts) had a swap based on this sketch.

How you decorate and what theme you use are completely up to you.  Since it was close to Christmas I used that for my theme.

I cut the circle first and then used my Planet Punch template to line up the tree punch (Double Framed Christmas Tree) from All Night Media.  The greeting was done in Microsoft Word and the center piece for the circle was made in Kaleidoscope Kreator from a picture of Christmas "lamps".  A couple small punched trees  and two  stripes complete the card front. 

On the inside I added a triangle with a punch out to make a place to write a personal message.

There are many sources for card sketches and here are a few...
   Card Sketch a Day 
   Car Positioning Systems  
   Card Patterns 
   Creatively Yours 
   Inspirational Card Sketches 
   Card Positioning System 
   My Sketch World

Kokopelli Tunes

An "easel" card looks much harder to make then you'd think!  I made this easel card for a swap that went to India.  I wanted to make something reflective of the Southwest area since this is where I live.  I chose one of my favorite figures of Hopi Indian lore...the Kokopelli (Ko-ko-pel-li (kô kô pel´ lê).

Look carefully at the bottom edge of the top card (by the feet) and you will see a square purple brad head.  This is what keeps the card open when it is in an upright position.  The picture on the bottom section comes from the original picture.  I manipulated it in Jasc Paint Shop Pro 9. 

I made a frame to fit the picture and used my corner punch to create "photo corners".  The picture is fitted in the frame and the whole thing is glued to the front of the card.

I used a template from Penny in one of my groups to make my easel card.  She also has a label to add to the card so the recipient will know how it operates.

This view shows what the side looks like when the card is open.

Here are some tutorials for the easel card...

   Stampin Moments 

   Stamping is my Passion 

   My Stampin' Dreams 

   Stampin Stress Away 

   Flowerbug's Inkspot 

Ghosts of Christmas Past

Last year all my card groups kept talking about all the Christmas cards they had to make and how far behind they were.  Since this was in the summer I got to thinking that maybe I should get an earlier start this year.  I've decided to try and make my Christmas cards a few at a time over the months so I won't be so overwhelmed.  This is the first.

Look carefully...I typed Merry Christmas And Happy New Year from top to bottom and across left to right.  Each word changes color from red to green and back again.  I printed this on a sheet of glossy banner paper and then cut it to fit a tall card.  On the edge I used border punch of pine trees (Alpine Trails) made by EK Success.  To finish it off I used a green and red ribbon to tie it like a package!

Thanks for the Memories

Had lunch the other day with a good friend of mine (Bernie Baby).  It was so good to get out of the house and "shoot the breeze" and combine that with good food!  After getting home I decided to get out one of my favorite punches from Martha Stewart and make a thank you card.

I cut the top a little shorter on the leading edge and then punched out a white card that was the same dimension as the original top.  I then glued the white to the inside of the front and this edge has the darker color behind it when closed.

This is a scanned image (thus the difference in shade from the first photo).  This illustrates how the "thanks border" shows against the back page of the card.

I took a rectangle and punched around the edges as you can see.  I decided it reminded me of spirelli so I used a shiny bronze thread to wrap the the shape simply.  I attached it to the front of the card with glue stick.  I use glue sticks a lot.  To keep the paper from curling and to make sure the glue holds well I weight the card down with something heavy (usually a stack of books).  The amount of time I leave it to be "pressed" depends on the amount of glue and number of layers.

I did some "cutting and pasting and punching" and created an area on the inside to write a message. 

Kaleidoscope Capers

I had so much fun making my first kaleidoscope card that I decided to make another one for my friend Linda's birthday.  Her birthday is in the fall, so I chose a picture with pinecones and berries and fall colors to make a kaleidoscope from.

I was on a roll so I made another kaleidoscope card for another friend's birthday...Bernice!  Her birthday comes in winter around Christmas so I chose a picture of candy canes and Christmas ornaments.

On the inside of this card I did another kaleidoscope with the same picture but a different shape.  I saved this picture, imported it into Microsoft Word, added a message and glued it on the inside of the card.

The Envelope Please

I joined a swap a while ago to make an "envelope" card for exchange.  I chose an African theme because I had some cool looking "faux animal skin" cardstock.  

It is called an envelope card because the inside is made with several envelopes cut to size and glued together and to the card covers.

You can learn how to do this envelope card here...

   Dawn's Stamping Studio 

It's Raining, It's Pouring

One of the ladies from my card groups had a friend who was in need of cheering up and asked for us to help by making a cheery card.  I had a cut House Mouse stamp that I stamped and colored in with colored pencils.  I added a caption and mounted both to a card.  Easy peasy!

 Here are some tutorials for using your colored pencils...

   Practical Painting 

   Craft Stew 

   Colored Pencil Drawing 

   Elf Wood 

   Art Instruction Blog

What a Pane :-)

I was looking for a new way to use a favorite stamp of mine..."Correspondence/Quill Collage from Hampton Art Stamps.  I stamped the image on white paper with brown ink and then used my watercolor pencils to block in different colored sections.  Then I took a cotton swab, wet it and rubbed the image to blend the colors together.

I cut the image apart into nine equal parts, spread them out on the blue cardstock and carefully glued them down so they would look like window panes.  Then I backed this with the tan and glued to the card base.  I added a strip of tan and a piece of the blue to the bottom and glued and used a decorative brad to attach.  Then I took two words from the inside sentiment, stamped, backed and attached to the tan strip.

I carried part of the front pattern (simplified) to the inside.  The middle column was stamped with the complete sentiment and viola' I was finished.

This technique is very similar to the "Serendipity" technique which can also be thought of as a collage or mosaic.  In my card the grid pieces are the same size and are in the same direction.  However if you change the size and/or direction you will get a totally different design.

Here are further sources of information...

   Serendipity Technique  

   The Stamper's Mall 

   Art Without Anxiety

A Stitch in Time

One of the Yahoo groups I belong to is Paper Embroidery.  We make all kinds of cards with embroidery on paper.  Paper embroidery started in Holland and one of the first designers was Erica Fortgens.

England has several sites that cater to paper embroidery.  There are many ready made patterns and kits and you will also find free patterns as well.  Form-A-Lines was one of the first craft companies to offer kits.  Stitching Cards also has much to offer.

Our swap this time was any style of Valentine card as long as it had embroidery on it.  I used a section of a free pattern for the center and designed my own border.  I attached the center to the border with ribbon and then glued it to a card form and finished stitching and adding beads.

There are oodles of sites and information on the web.  Here are a few sites to get you started...

   Card Embroidery 

   Terryfic Times 

   Stitching Cards 

   Prick and Stitch is my Craft

Free patterns

   Stitching Cards 

Tutorials

   Stitch a card 

   My Kinda' Living 

   Dot Com Women

Double Trouble Double Take

The next version of the "double slider" Valentine card was done for a swap that went to Australia.

I used a small paper doily, a sticker and Valentine ribbons to decorate this version.  Below you can see the card when extended.

I made a slightly different second version of the pink Valentine  "double slider" again using a paper doily, sticker and Valentine ribbon.

Double Trouble

There are several versions of "slider" cards on the net.  This particular one is a "double slider"  that I made following Dawn's directions found on You Tube.  This technique is so cool that I made three different Valentine versions.

 The first Valentine card is the picture above.  It shows the card when it is closed.  I die cut the cat and added a bead on floss for a collar.  The fence it sits on is a piece that has been border punched.  I also added ribbon and a heart button.

The next view shows the card after being opened by pulling on the top ribbon.  Both the top and bottom extend at the same time...thus the name "double slider"...lol! 

This card uses a plastic bag as part of the mechanism as seen in the video.  There is also a different version of the "double slider".  I've found tutorials for both.

   Stamping with Princess 

   Obsessed with Scrapin'

Different version...

   Angel Stamper 2 

   Split Coast Stamper 

   Stamping It Out 

   Chia's Rubber Stamp Art

Wipe Out

There are tons of videos on the web that teach you how to make different cards.  Dawn's videos are among my favorites!!!  She also has a blog with lot's of info.  One of her videos shows how to make a "wiper" card.

This is my version of the wiper card.  The stamp I used is from the "House Mouse" collection.  The "wiper" part is hidden until you pull on the sides as you can see in the following picture.

 

Besides Dawn's video there are other tutorials available for a wiper card.

   Stamps, Paper, Scissors 

   Split Coast Stampers 

   Ink Artist 

The Eyes Have It

The Iris Eyes that is..."Iris Folding" is a technique that originated in the Netherlands.  It is named after the spiraling design formed as the paper strips are added to the pattern.  The traditional iris folding design's final pattern resembles the iris of an eye or the opening of a camera lens. 

Over time the materials and patterns have changed and many designs do not have the "iris eye" in the center or at all.  I have done both and this card is done in the shape of a fan without an eye or a spiral.

On the inside I used a simple technique  to make the frame for the verse.  I cut the background rectangle first and then used a corner punch on all four corners.  Then I cut the polka dot rectangle to fit inside dimensions and slipped it under the corner decorations which act as photo corners.  Finally I glued the verse.

Iris folding is a lot of fun and lends itself to a wide variety of patterns and techniques.  Patterned or plain paper can be used for the folded bits as well as material and foiled gift wrap.  The strips are generally an inch wide and then folded  in half so there is a clean leading edge.  The back of the design is quite a jumbly mess but the outside is beautiful!

To help you get started I have found some tutorials...

   Iris Folding 

   Pee Jays Crafty Bits 

   Stamping with Blue Moon Creations 

   The Everyday Scraper 

   Split Coast Stampers 

   The Craft Directory 

   The Winnie Factor 

   Handcrafted Greetings 

   Iris Folders Yahoo Group 

   You Tube

Far East

This is my version of a Kimono card.  I used origami paper and cardstock layered together.  After the card was folded I added "binding" around the edges.  I cut strips of matching turquoise paper, folded this in half and glued it to the edges.

The last step was to add a belt made out of a strip of paper and ribbon around the kimono.  This can be removed by untying it or just sliding it off.  There is a personal message inside.

This particular kimono does not have a collar while others you find directions for have different kinds of collars and decorations.  Here are some tutorials for you...
   Michelle's Rubber Room 
   Creations by Patti 
   Sunflowers and Dragonflies 
   Card Inspirations 
   You Tube 
   Mirkwood Designs 
   Kimono Project

Around and Around

A technique that is very easy but can turn out looking very complicated is Spirelli.

Spirelli starts with a basic geometric symmetrical shape with points or scallops cut out of sturdy cardstock.  There are punches and dies available or punch out patterns.  On this card I found a shape I liked and did the basic wrapping on  the cardstock shape and the rest of the cutouts were done on patterned paper.  I took the original pattern and enlarged it over and over until I had four more sizes and glued them all together.

The spirelli itself is glued to the center and on top of that I added a faux gem flower.  To jazz it up I glued medium sized beads around the third tier.  Finally I added a backing paper and attached it to the card base. 

 

I made a much simpler version of a spirelli by punching out three scalloped shapes and only wrapping once around to make flowers.  I crimped some dark paper and used it for one side of the front along with the leaves and on the inside with the verse.

 

Check these tutorials for more help...

   Rubber Stamping Diva 

   You Tube 

   Flying Pigs 

   Scrap Jazz 

   And Another Thing 

Shining Star

It is harder to create card designs for men unless you know them well.  I decided to stitch a star pattern in the Temari style (based on geometric patterns done in Japanese embroidery) backed with holographic silver paper for my nephews birthday card.  I used a pattern from Erica Fortgens book (Embroidery on Paper 2)for the star.  I used a Planet Punch circle template to add points to the silver circle.

For the inside I scanned the front and then imported it into Microsoft Word and added text and printed it on banner paper.

Holy Cow

I combined tea bag folding and twisted pyramid on this "cow themed card".  I used a sheet made by Penny ( a member of a couple of my card groups).

Tea bag folding has been around a long time and ranges from simple to very intricate.  I did a simple fold on eight squares and then interlaced them to form a "star" shape.


Here are a some tutorials to get you started":
   Video Jug 
   What The Buz is About 
   Folding Trees
   Stamping with Lisa Tedder
   Origami Resource Center 
   Card Inspirations 
   Ruby's Tantalizing Designs 


The cow itself is a twisted pyramid which is done in the same way you do a regular pyramid except that the segments are differently shaped.

On the inside I used some more sections of the sheet and found a different cow picture to finish it off.

Colliding Kaleidoscopes

 

I have a great program called Kaleidoscope Kreator.  Originally I got it to design quilt squares and then one day decided to play around with it to make a design for a card.  I found a small picture of berries and pinecones and used it as the basis for the kaleidoscope.  Then, because I like the pyramid technique, I decided to print the design in several sizes.

This is a side view so you can see the layers of the pyramid.  The bottom layer is glued to a slightly larger piece of contrasting cardstock which was centered and glued to the card.  Each subsequent section is added on top of the previous section.  I used foam dots around the edges and in the middle of each section.

For the inside I copied the original kaleidoscope into Microsoft Word and stretched it to fit the inside.  I added a message, cut the image out and attached to the inside with glue stick.  I use glue sticks a lot because they dry fast.  After gluing an element I "press" it under several books while I work on the next part.

For those of you who have Kaleidoscope Kreator and want to print out pyramid sections, here is a short tutorial:

Open your program, import your image, choose the square shape with 16 pieces and play around until you like what you see.  When you save your image choose "save worksheet".  Once you've made your kaleidoscope image you will need to print it out in several sizes.

When you are ready to print make sure you choose "print multiple". In the size section check to see that "maintain proportions" is checked then enter "4 inches" for the width and "1" for the quantity and click "add".  Now you are ready to add your other sized pieces.  Change width to "3.4 inches" and click "add".  Continue on in this manner with "2.9 inches", "2.45 inches", "2.1 inches" and "1.45 inches".

Make sure your print margins are "0.1" for size and that "show cutlines" is NOT checked.  Make sure your printer properties are set for glossy photo paper, print the sheet and let dry a few minutes.

Here are some tutorials for pyramid or pyramage cards:

   Crafty Ann 

   Paper Craft Junkies

Get Your Fingers Dirty

As I mentioned previously I belong to several Yahoo card making groups.  One of my groups (Just Cards) had a soot technique swap.

To do this technique you will need some glossy paper or cardstock (I used photography paper), a rubber stamp, a candle and some clear acrylic spray fixative.  I always find tutorials helpful and here are some that explain this technique...

   Lasting Impressions with Panache

   Stampers Pad Tutorials 

   Split Coast Stampers 

I found that it took a bit of practice until I got enough soot built up.  Once you have enough soot you apply the stamp.  This is a little tricky as well to get a good imprint, so take your time.  I sprayed immediately after stamping and when it was dry I trimmed around the imprint.

I chose a grey colored cardstock to simulate moonlight.  I backed the imprint with black paper and then attached  it to the upper left corner so that I could extend the image with a black colored pencil.  I used a ruler and lightly drew lines to match the stamp.  I then colored the sections to match the picture.

I did a search for a picture of a full moon. I cropped the one I found and added the first verse of a poem I found by Walter de la Mare entitled Silver.

Slowly, silently, now the moon 

Walks the night in her silver shoon;

This way, and that, she peers, and sees

silver fruit upon silver trees;