She Sells Sea Shells

Here's my version of "By the Sea" pg 46 of CardMaker July 2010 issue.

I embossed the left side of a turquoise rectangle with Cuttlebug's embossing folder called "traffic jam".  I took an emery nail file and lightly sanded the ridges and then glued that piece to the card base.  Next I made three different cuts with "Labels Two" Nestabilities from Spellbinders.  Two were on the green and turquoise cardstock pieces and the last was the smallest size which I used on the seashell picture.  Before adhering the label pieces I cut two pieces of matching ribbons and tied them around the card's front piece, tied a knot and trimmed the ends.

Challenge Card 16

I did something a little different today.  I took the base card and embossed the front with Cuttlebug's "Tiny Mosaic" embossing folder.  Then I stamped the harlequin in brown on top of the embossing.

I used stamps from Whipper Snapper Designs to make the hen and her chickies with "nesting hen" and "hen and chicks".  I used a marker to make extra grass for the hen.  The sentiment is done with Microsoft Word.

Bloomin' Sketch

For a sketch challenge in Card Making International I made this card.

The patterned paper has been embossed with Cuttlebug's Swiss Dots embossing folder.  The center square on point is made on glittered cardstock and is glued on top of a light yellow ribbon which crosses the center of the patterned paper.  On top of the square is a flower I made out of the patterned paper (which is also embossed).

The flower instructions can be found on Valita's Designs & Fresh Folds.  The paper I used was not double sided so I cut pieces of the glittered cardstock to hide the outside edges underneath the flower folds.  I added leaves by folding some green paper in a similar manner and gluing in between the petals.  The center needed something so I glued a floral stamine (found in the bridal section of Hobby Lobby)in the center.

On the inside I used three scalloped circles cut out of the patterned paper and "tied" them together.  The border was created with the EKSuccess punch called "Daisy Chain".

This is the "sketch" that inspired the card.

Hello Chickie 2

Here's another version of this card that I made last Saturday.

This time I changed the colors, used the opposite side of the same embossing folder and added a feather to the chickie!

I didn't use a brad this time.  Instead I printed off Happy Easter on yellow paper.  I punched the bottom edge with an EKSuccess punch called "argyle".  I glued together two pieces of the turquoise cardstock and then glued the yellow paper to it.  I used foam squares on this section to raise it up far enough to prop up the front of the card instead of using a brad.  I also saved the "cutoff" section of the scallop from the first card and attached it to the top of the yellow for some added texture.

Ok sis, now you know why I save strange things, so BUG off!!! LOL

And here's a side view of the open easel card.

 

Egg-stra-ordinary

Another day, another swap :-)  This one is for my Paper Embroidery group.  We had to combine "iris folding" and "paper embroidery".

I started by cutting the lavender cardstock to fit the paper embroidery pattern.  I wanted an oval frame to surround an egg shape.  I only used the design (Ann's Paper Art-a392A) in the middle of the oval frame.  I stitched the design in dark purple thread.

After finishing the frame I cut an oval shape out of the middle.  Then I embossed the lavender with Cuttlebug's Swiss Dots folder.  I used purple and gold foil wrapping paper for the iris folding.  I wanted it to look like a fancy Fabrege' egg.  I finished it off by edging the egg with a gold edging stitcher.  Lastly, everything was attached to a purple card base.

Hello Chickie

Oh no, not another swap :-)  Yes indeed...this time an "easel card" swap for Cardmaking.  Since Easter is around the corner I chose a chick (with a twist) as my theme.  I was inspired by a card on Valita's Fresh Fold Patterns.  I made my own pattern and voila'!

I first cut an oval in the purple cardstock (to which I had already added one scalloped edge) and then embossed it with a QuicKutz embossing folder (retro diamonds).  Next I pieced together the wing sections and attached them to the sides by taping them on the backside.  The "chick or chick in an egg" was done with "iris folding".

After the iris folding was finished I cut the nose and feet freehand and glued them onto the chick and lastly I added the "wiggle eyes" and the "Happy Easter" sticker.

The purple has been attached to the card base with double sided tape.  On the inside I used a square yellow brad that is  holds the card up when it is open.  As you can see I also added some cute "chickie" stickers on the inside.

This picture shows the card at a side view.  To put in an envelope you just lift the standing section and lay it flat. 

 

The top photo has the shape of the cutouts and aperture.  The bottom photo is the "iris" pattern to use with the outline.  A PDF of the two can be found here.

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

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.

Sketchy Snow

 February's sketch swap for Card Crafts turned into another snow card.  I think I have snow on the brain since so much of the country lies blanked by continuous snowstorms.  My swap partner lives in Israel, so I hope she enjoys a change of weather...so to speak ;-)

Since a sketch card doesn't have to be done exactly like the sketch, you are free to improvise.  I decided to forgo the bird and make my central theme a snowflake.  The buttons on the sketch became snowflake ornaments.

I used a piece of glossy banner paper and embossed it with Cuttlebug's "Snowflakes" embossing folder.  After attaching this to the card front I then attached the blue strip of paper to the middle.  This paper was punched along each edge with Martha Stewart's "Snow Flurry" corner and border punch set.

In the center I stacked two differently sized punched scallops with Paper Studio punches.  On top of the two scallops I glued a single embossed snowflake made in the same way as the other embossed paper.  The snowflake ornaments were glued on last and pressed overnight to assure good adhesion.

For the inside I scanned a piece of "snow flurry" embossed glossy banner paper with high contrast.  I imported the scan into Microsoft Word and added the greeting.

Bitter Sweet

February brings mixed emotions to my sister and I.  We lost our mom on Valentine's Day eight years ago.  Both of us have found Valentine's Day extremely difficult.  This year I decided to start the healing process and celebrate my mother's life and not dwell on her death.  Baby steps...

I love to make cards for my sister and this is the one I made for Valentine's Day.

 

I used my new Martha Stewart "Hearts" corner and border punches and created the red and the white rectangles.  I embossed the white piece with Cuttlebug's "Swiss Dots" embossing folder and the red piece with Cuttlebug's "Heart Blocks" embossing folder.  I topped it off with a pretty ribbon bow held together with a heart button and placed a paper doily heart below.

 

On the inside I cut red carnation patterned paper to fit and glued it on one side.  To make the greeting I punched three hearts with an Anna Griffin punch, and then I punched around each of the hearts with a scalloped circular punch from Paper Studio.  I glued the circular part and the center of the heart down and left the "wings" of the heart loose.  I bent the heart wings up and wrote "I", "Love" and "You" on the centers.

In addition to the card, I included a bookmark I made using red cardstock, a piece of Valentine ribbon and the same Martha Stewart "Hearts" punch.

To complete the ensemble, I used another piece of red carnation paper and formed an envelope using "The Enveloper".

  

Here are some tutorials for "The Enveloper"...

   Paper Pressings 

   Sara's Blog

   Crafter's Companion Video Clips  

   You Tube 

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".

 

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!