Window View

This was a fun card to make.  The butterfly on the circles is actually on the inside on the yellow spotted paper.  The scroll shape is a cut out window.  I used an emery board to "sand" the edges of the scroll window.  The other butterfly was cut out of the same yellow paper and attached to the front of the card.

For the final touches I added a ribbon and two green stripes.  The words were printed out on the same yellow paper and glued to the front.  I used three different scallops that I punched out and the butterfly was made from an Anna Griffin punch.

Stamp of Approval

Here is an example of a stamped collage card.  The rose collage stamp (Rose Print) is from Stampington and the "screen" stamp is from Magenta.  Three square brads have been added as a final touch. 

On the inside I repeated the screen motif and the colored stripes.  The sentiment (Time to Enjoy) is from Hero Arts.

Poke Poke Poke

This technique is quite easy but the results can be spectacular!  It is called "Paper Pricking" or "Ornare".  The template or pattern can be printed on paper.  You can also purchase metal or plastic templates that make the job so easy.

Some directions say the smooth side is the front but I like to use which ever side appeals to me.  On this card I used the rough side as the outside.  I used a metal template by Marianne Design to prick the design.  I originally was going to do a "white on white" card but I decided it needed the silver cardstock to set off the design.  I added the silver ribbon for the finishing touch.

Here are some tutorials to help you on your way...

...The Artful Crafter 

...Cloud 9 Tutorials  

...Card Making Inspiration  

...Paper Transformer  

...The Classroom  

Here are some free patterns...

...Webshots

Deer in the Light

Moonlight, that is...  I found this pattern on Craft Creations in Magazine 51.  I had some wood grain paper that I decided to use for the base card and some white vellum that had spots on it that reminded me of clouds.

 

I shone a flashlight through the vellum from the back to similulate moonlight. 

Here is some more information on silhouettes...

...Molly Lee Cards 

...Craftzine 

...Paper and Stitch 

Falling, Falling

A "waterfall" card is so cool.  When you pull on the ribbon the small cards literally cascade over each other forming the waterfall.

 

Each of the cards has a different butterfly.  The green has a pin pricked design around the edges.  The bar is held on by two brads.

This is what it looks like when you "open" the card.  A message is placed on the hidden flap and appears as you pull the ribbon.

Here are some tutorials to get you started...

...Sunflowers and Dragonflies 

...Creative Cuts and More 

...Split Coast Stampers 

...Do-It-101 

...Dawn's Stamping Thoughts 

For reverse waterfall try these...

...Extreme Cards and Papercrafting 

...Craftster

You On My Mind

I stitched this special paper embroidery card for my good friend.  The pattern can be found at Stitching Cards.

 

I stitched the patten of the front of the card and lined the inside front with a piece of white paper.  My last step was to use Martha Stewart's "Doily Lace Edge" punch on the opening edge of the card.

Circular Decor

This is a simple card made with a great Cuttlebug embossing folder of a Christmas Wreath.  Since it had poinsettia flowers on the wreath I decided to add a 3D layered poinsettia as I had done with yesterday's post.

 

 I decided to use white paper for the wreath to contrast with the poinsettia and the red cardstock.  Lastly I added a bow to top everything off.

 

Spring Has Sprung

"Spring Card" that is...  My card group (Just Cards) had a swap last December and one of the choices was a "spring card" (a pop-up card of sorts).  Since it was nearing Christmas I used the poinsettia as my theme.

 

I used red cardstock for the base.  The greeting was printed out from Microsoft Word and the flourishes were stamped in gold.  The poinsettia's were from a 3D sheet that I cut out and layered.

After making the first card I decided to try a couple more versions.  This time I used Cuttlebug's "Swiss Dots" embossing folder on the greeting.  One was made on red and one on green cardstock. 

 

Here are some tutorials for you...

...You Tube 

...Spirit of Creativity Tutorial & Tips Blog

...Craft House Tutorials 

...Andrea's Stampin' Moments

...Split Coast Stampers

Mo La La La

I borrowed a book called Traditional Card Techniques by Marie Browning from the local library not too long ago.  There was a section on African masks that inspired my next card.

 

I made this using a technique called "Mola" which in sewing (the original use of the Mola design) is an intricate reverse applique style.  In paper craft the Mola design is achieved by cutting out the outline of the original object (the blue section above).  Then the next color is attached to the back of the original and the design cutouts are made by cutting a small margin of the second color (yellow).  This continues as long as you wish.

The finished mola was attached to the card base to which I had already attached a piece of packing paper that I had saved (because it was cool).  Then I tied some red yarn around the fold of the card and attached three of my cockatiel's feathers.

On the inside I took a picture of African baskets, lightened it and added words using Microsoft Word.

Here is some additional information on the Mola technique...

...Mola Cutting 

...Card making Inspiration 

...PDF

I Just Couldn't Resist

I like to rag on my sister on occassion ;-)  So...I made her another fishing card to give her a hard time.

 

I used this picture of a trout that I found on the web and printed it out, backed it with the "salmon" color paper and attached the whole thing to the card base with photo corners I made with Fiskar's Diamond punch.

 I also found the inside picture on the web (which inspired the card idea).  The fish on the front (The Dream) and on the inside (The Reality) were made in Microsoft Word.

For the final touch I added the lure to the top corner.

A Fine Time Was Had by All

This is the card I made for my nephew after the fishing trip to celebrate his success.

 

This time I attached an actual lure with jute string and a picture of a trout.  There are four layers on the front and the last three are attached with more of my "homemade" photo corners.  The punch I used is by Fiskars (Diamond). 

Both the images on the front and on the inside are from a pair of 3D sheets I got from another card group I am a member of (3D Sheets 4 All).

Catch and Release

After the great "fish-a-thon" was over and Mom and Son were home again, I made a couple more cards.  This time I used a picture they sent me to make a kaleidoscope for my sister's card.  Since my sister doesn't like her picture displayed, the kaleidoscope was a perfect solution.  I printed it out in several sizes so I could make a pyramid on the outside.

 

The lake they fished in had a "catch and release" program.  The picture is of a trout my sister caught.  The star shape kaleidoscope went with the little tune that kept playing in my head.  The pocket also went with the song so I made a smaller version of the star and attached it to the pocket by a string.

Here is a close up scan of the kaleidoscope.  The scan colors are closer to the actual colors.  Look carefully and you can see the trout, a hand holding it and a peach colored jacket.

 Here is a close up of the pyramid.

Something Fishy Part Two

As I mentioned in yesterday's post I made a fishing card for my sister.  I also made one for my nephew and here it is!

 

I found some great pictures of fishing lures.  I enlarged them and printed them on glossy banner paper.  These were then attached to the green cardstock.  Again I made photo corners as I did for the last card and used these to attach the green to the base card.  If you look carefully you can see the fishing swivels hanging from the string.

I attached the inside and outside in the same way I did the last card.  I used Microsoft Word to make the inside by adding a greeting and pictures of fishing lures.  As an extra decoration I used my EKSuccess punch (Lines and Dots) to make a border on the right side.

Something Fishy

Last Autumn my sister and her son planned a "Mother/Son" fishing trip to Montana.  They live on opposite coasts and wanted to spend some relaxing quality time together.  I made each of them a card to get them off to a good start.  Here is the card I made for my sister.

 

I bought some pre-made fishing "accessories" to use on the front of the card which I attached to the green cardstock.  Then I attached the green to the base card with photo corners that I created using Martha Stewart's punch.

  

These photo corners are so easy to create and yet add so much depth!  See the tutorial below.

The inside I made using Microsoft Word, left over "accessories" and a couple pictures of flies.  I poked two holes two inches apart in the center and tied the inside and outside together with a piece of twine (to which I added a fish).

PHOTO CORNER TUTORIAL

 

The punch used on this tutorial was made by Fiskars and is called Diamond.

I Love You Mom

 

November 22, 1911-February 14, 2002

Red, Green...NOT Christmas

A challenge came up in my "Cardmaking" group to make a card using red and green but having nothing to do with Christmas.

 

I searched the web for pictures that only had red or green as the major colors.  I found nine of them and changed all of their sizes to 1 inch squares.  I mounted them on a slightly bigger square of black.  I cut one red and one green square and then cut those squares in diagonal quarters.  I arranged two red and two green triangles into a square and glued it to the black card base.  Lastly I arranged and glued down all the pictures.  This is not exactly a serendipity design but close.

Sketch in Bloom

Last November I did a sketch swap with Australia through my card group (Card Crafts).  Again I decided to go with a Southwest flavor.  I live in the desert and in the Spring the wildflowers can be gorgeous, especially if we had any rain in the winter.  Since Australia's seasons are the opposite of ours I thought it would be fun to do a Spring card in November!

 

The sketch I drew my inspiration from is shown below.

  

I traced a butterfly shape around the printed words, cut them out and attached them to the card only by the body so that it was "3D".  

The Organ Mountains in the picture are part of the Rocky Mountain chain.  I can see them out of my kitchen windows in the winter (leaves are off the tree in front of the window ;-).  Right now I can see snow on the Organs!!!

The mountaintops are said to look like the pipes of an organ and that's where the name comes from.

 

And when the setting sun shines on them...gorgeous!

Bouquet

Last summer I did a swap in my Paper Embroidery group.  I chose to do this lovely pattern by Erica Fortgens.

Tunnel Vision

My latest "Card Crafts" swap is a "tunnel card".  There are a couple styles for tunnel cards and I chose to do one that I found on Chia's Rubber Stamp and Asylum of Creative Expression (An interesting name don't you think?).

Since my partner is in Ohio I decided to do a card with a Southwest flavor.  I found a desert sunset picture and printed it out four times.  Each of the pictures has to be cut once, each at a natural division.

 

I used the template pattern provided on the Chia site but I made some adjustments to it.  I wanted it to have one more fold on each side and I changed some measurements to fit a 12 inch paper.  For my template click here!

Above you can see the template after being folded and the window being cut out.  Use a bone folder to make each fold crisp.

 

I started on the left side with the largest (whole) picture and attached it inside the last fold with double sided tape. 

 

I added the second piece to the next fold.

  

And the third... 

And last but not least the fourth!

Repeat this procedure on the other side.  I added a piece of matching lavender cardstock to the back (cut to the size of the finished card).  This is a top view of the folds and photos.

 

This view shows the "step" effect.

Here are some tutorials for you...

   Can't Stop Making Things  

   Sunflowers and Dragonflies 

   Chia's Rubber Stamp Art

And More

It is often hard to match a sympathy card with the person who has suffered the loss.  Sometimes a simple design works the best.  An acquaintance and friend of my sister lost her mother recently and this is the card I came up with.

 

I used the Cuttlebug "Swiss Dots" embossing folder on the white sections above and below the flourish.  I used a rubber stamp (Vintage Flourish 3) by Stampabilities for the flourish and printed out the word "sympathy".  The white paper I used was actually a very subtle blue and white cloud-like pattern.  The base card was royal blue.

I chose this verse for the inside.

Loss

A friend of mine lost her father last year.  I wanted to give her a special card.  I found a simple paper embroidery pattern and stitched the design.  I mounted the stitching on lavender cardstock and then on a purple card base.

Inside I added a simple verse.