Holiday Card

Looking for a little last-minute holiday inspiration?  This card is elegant yet simple.  A few quick score lines, a bit of sheer ribbon and a die-cut dove provides the backdrop for the season-appropriate verse.

The verse is embossed using Judikins gold detail embossing powder and the stamp is from Verses Rubber Stamps.

Box of Chocolates

Remember the line from Forrest Gump - ". . . life is like a box of chocolates . . . "?  Well, that's what I think of whenever I look at this card.  Verses Rubber Stamps has come out with some fabulous new designs and this card features one of them so be sure to check them out online or in person at Stamp Your Art Out.

I made the background paper with a quick swirl of chocolate brown acrylic paint and pink shimmer mist.  The little gold "faux" brads were made using Duo Glue and Gilden Glitz flakes from USArtQuest.  And the cardstock is my favorite KaleidaPaper from Marco's Paper.  And the best part?  The embellishment is a gold foil-wrapped chocolate!  Add this to a tin of your favorite homemade or store bought chocolates and you've got the perfect girlfriend gift for any occasion.

Happy Birthday Mom!

Today is my mother's birthday and she is quite the firecracker.  She loves to dance and strut her stuff so I decided the peacock (from Magenta) was the ideal image for this year's birthday card.  I stamped and embossed the image in gold (Judikins) on watercolor cardstock (Marco's Paper) and then painted it with watercolor paints (USArtQuest).  I matted the finished image with two colors of Stardream cardstock (Marco's Paper). 


 
Lately, mom's been a bit frustrated because she's "off the grid" and everything she wants to do seems to require internet access and/or an email address.  My siblings and I decided to help her get connected and we bought her a laptop.  To say she was surprised is an understatement.

It isn't often we can pull one over on my mother but with a little planning and some fancy footwork, we managed to really get her good this time.  We started her off slow - teaching her how to play solitaire and do some basic stuff in Word.  We're working on getting her on email and maybe even Skype so she can virtually visit her out of town family and friends.  Oh, the possibilities are endless and, while she admits to feeling a bit overwhelmed, she is really excited to be learning all kinds of new things.

If you're interested, you can leave her a quick birthday message via a comment on my blog because, of course, I know it will be one of the first places she'll want to visit wants she begins surfing the net!


Happy birthday, mom!

Sketch 6 - Card #3

Well, I apparently got carried away with taking time off over the holidays and I am now quite delinquent in finishing up the Sketch 6 series.  I really didn't get time off - I had several sewing jobs that needed to be finished for customers for the Christmas holidays.  I am happy to report that they were completed on time and now I'm catching up on my blog posts.

If you've been playing along with this series, you know that I created lots of cards for the "Cards with Versatility" class from last year's Stampaway class.  At some point in the process, I got a little slap happy and started playing with fun and funky colors.  This card is the result of one such moment.

The verse comes from Verses Rubber Stamps.  The brackets and scallop border are from Accucut dies.  I love combining die cuts, pretty papers in bright colors and fun verses for quick cards that I can use for most any occasion.

Check back tomorrow for the next card in this series. . .

Gift Card Holder

For all of you who attended the MiTi at Stamp Your Art Out last weekend, I'm finally getting around to posting the promised instructions.  The supplies and instructions are for an A2 size card.

This is what the finished project will look like:

You'll need the following general supplies:

• Card stock for an A2 size card and a 5-1/2" x 6" piece of card stock to match the card
• Printed papers, coordinating card stock,  punches, stamps, ink pads, etc. to decorate the card
• 1/4" and 1/2" wide red line tape
• Other adhesive, paper trimmer and scoring tools
  

I'm assuming you can figure out how to decorate the card, so I'm only going to provide photos (click to enlarge) and instructions for the pop-up gift card assembly, followed by some general notes on how I decorated my MiTi card.

Start by cutting a piece of card stock 5-1/2" x 6" and place it in your Scor-Pal (see photo).  This is the piece you will use to make the pop-up.

Note:  For illustration purposes only, I'm using yellow and green card stock in some of the photos and I've highlighted the scoring marks with black and red markers.

Next, score your card stock at the 1-1/2", 3" and 5-1/2" marks (black lines in the photo).

Move your card stock to the right so that the line you originally scored at the 3" mark is now aligned with the 4-1/4" slot (see the red arrow in the photo).

With the 3" score line aligned with the 4-1/4" mark, score the panel at the 5", 5-1/2" and 6" score lines (red marks in the photo).

Fold the card stock on all scored lines.  The middle red line is a valley fold.  All others are mountain folds.

Place 1/2" red line tape just below the bottom score line and 1/4" red line tape just above the top score line.  You'll also need two small pieces (about 1/2" in length of either width) positioned at either end of the piece just above the 3rd score line (below the valley fold).

Do not remove the tape liner until you are ready to adhere that portion to the card.  It will save you a lot of frustration later . . .

Now, it is time to place the pop-up assembly into the card.  Remove the tape liner from the 1/2" strip at the bottom of the panel.  Line it up just below the inside fold line of the card and press it onto the bottom half of the card.





Fold the panel back on itself at the second score line (top of the decorated panel.  Remove the tape liner from the two small pieces and press sections together on the valley fold line.  In my illustration, the "1/2" marking and the little square will be pressed together.

This forms the "pocket" for the gift card to sit in.

Remove the tape liner from the 1/4" wide strip.










Press the front/top of the card down over the exposed tape to adhere it.  Press firmly.

Open the card and ***presto***  just like magic, your gift card holder pops up!










 NOTE:  If you don't have a Scor-Pal, you can use the Score-It Board or a bone folder and ruler. Laying your card stock in the same orientation (6" width running left to right), score at 1-1/2", 3", 3-3/4", 4-1/4", 4-3/4" and 5-1/2".  The rest of the instructions will be the same.

For my "Cool Yule" MiTi card, my supplies were:

• White, dark green and dark red card stock (Marco's Paper)
• Printed paper (JoAnn's)
• "Cool Yule" stamp (Judikins)
• "Trees" stamp (Judkins)
  
• "Happiest Holidays" stamp (Verses Rubber Stamps)
• "Dots" and "Snowflakes" stubbies (Stamps by Judith)
• Tree and zig zag border (Accucut dies)
• Mementos dye ink pads - Summer Sky and Cottage Ivy
• Memories dye ink pad - white

General instructions for decorating the card:

• Stamp snowflake and dots with blue ink on top half of white card
• Stamp "Cool Yule" verse in green ink
• Adhere printed paper to bottom portion of front card
• Adhere strip of dark green card stock across bottom edge of card - use die cut, border punch or decorative scissors to jazz it up!
• Die cut tree from green card stock and stamp dots with white ink.  Adhere with foam tape.
• Cut and score pop up assembly panel.  Decorate panel before applying tape!  
• Follow instructions above for pop-up assembly.
• Stamp verse with green ink and mat with dark red card stock.  Adhere to inside panel.

Thanks again to all who attended the MiTi!

Sketch 5 - Card #4

Another quick version of this sketch was created using the pre-printed cards.  This one could easily become a Valentine for that special someone by simply changing the flower to a heart-shaped embellishment, using a pink or red square and a valentine sentiment.  If you're looking for that perfect sentiment for any occasion, check out Verses Rubber Stamps.  They carry a wide variety of verse stamps! 

Sketch 5 - Card #1

After a long pause, I'm back to posting the cards from the final two sketchs of the Cards with Versatility class.  But before I do, I owe a very big "THANK YOU" to Bonnie and Jan, two students from my "Cheaper by the Dozen" class.  As my regulars know, I always bake something special for us to munch on during this class but on Monday, Bonnie and Jan brought baked apple dumplings for me (with lots to share with the other attendees)!  And, they were still warm from the oven - talk about heaven on a plate.  Yum, yum!!!

Now, back to our regularly scheduled posting . . . . Sketch #5 was based on a folded square, positioned on point, with a stamped verse tucked inside.  Using a pre-printed card, a silk flower and an acrylic bead lets you make this card in a jiffy!


I'm going to have to end this post and head off to my kitchen to bake some of those apple dumplings - just remembering them has my mouth watering!

Sketch 3 - Card #3

Today is a busy day so I've only got time for a quick post, a quick card and a quick recap of the challenge rules.

Happy crafting!

Sketch 3 - Card #2

Well, in case you are wondering why I haven't posted a winner for the 2nd challenge, it is because no one entered!  My crafty sister has encouraged me to keep up the challenges so I'm hoping one (or more) of you will enter this one! 

You'll find all the info you need to post your card here.

There are only seven cards for this sketch so your window of opportunity is a bit shorter than the last two sketches. 

Sketch 1 - Day #9

I know this looks like a repeat of Day 7 and it is very close.  I only changed the ink colors and the mat color.  Apparently, by this point in the process, I was beginning to lose my creativity!  Oh well, it happens to the best of us.

Don't forget that tomorrow is Day 10 and that you will only have until Friday to enter your card in the challenge drawing!  Click here to get more info.

Sketch 1 - Day #8

Another day, another version of Sketch #1.  This one is similar to Day 6 in that it uses patterned paper as the background.  I inked the verse stamp with Marvy brush markers so that I could make the paint brush and palette a different color.  I also used a corner punch from EK Success to coordinate with the paisley design in the paper.

Check out this post for all the challenge details.

Sketch 1 - Day #5

Well, so much for scheduling a post!  I had prepared my day 5 post and scheduled it to automatically post on the blog yesterday but it didn't work.  So, today you will get two for one.  First, day 5.  Using an A2 card with a pre-printed front helped make this a super simple, super quick card.  Stamp and mat the verse, add a heart punched out of red shimmer paper and you're done!

Don't forget to add your challenge entry for Sketch 1 - go to this post for all the contest details and the link for adding your card.

Sketch 1 - Card #4

I'm thinking about renaming this segment of my blog to "a new card idea a day keeps the creative blockers away" - what do you think?

I remember when I was working on all of the cards for the "Cards With Versatility" class.  Having to come up with so many ideas in such a short amount of time really did push me to my creative limits - and, yes, I did take a few prisoners with me!  My friends Kelly and Peggy traveled with me on the journey.  At various points along the way, each of them commented about how much I was testing their creativity.  Oddly enough, they said they not only enjoyed it but thanked me for including them.  Who would have thought I would be thanked for challenging (some may say torturing) my friends???

If your creativity is currently blocked, check out this post for all the key to unlock it (aka "the challenge details").  I hope you join in the fun today!

Sketch 1 - Card #3

This is another card from Sketch #1.  If you are interested in participating in the challenge, go to this post for more information and the link to upload your card. 

I used the same stamp for all of the Sketch 1 cards - it is from Verses Rubber Stamps.

While you are working on your card submission for the challenge, I'm off to the studio to finish several designs for my upcoming Copic and Cheaper by the Dozen classes - check out the schedule to the right for more information.

Happy crafting!

Sketch 1 - Card #2

It is Day 2 of the Sketch 1 cards and challenge. One thing you will notice is that there isn't a lot of variance in the card designs from Sketch 1. This was intentional and part of the teachings from the class. If you stick around for each day's posting, you will see that the creativity grows with each sketch and each card.

If you are interested in participating in the challenge, please see this post for the details and the link to upload your challenge entry.

The verse stamp is from Verses Rubber Stamps.

Good luck with your challenge entry!

Cards with Versatility - Card Samples and a Challenge!

At long last, today is Day 1 of the posting process for the cards from my Stampaway class. For those of you who attended the class, I'll identify the sketch number with each posting so you can link it to your class handout and card kit. If you have any questions about the cards, you can email at craftjunkies@gmail.com.

The stamp used in this card, based on Sketch #1, is from Verses Rubber Stamps.

I've also decided to issue a challenge based on the class concept:

• The challenge is open to everyone
• Cards are to be based on the original sketch (if you didn't take the class, you'll have to figure it out on your own!)
  
• The winning card will be selected based on overall appearance and creative interpretation of the sketch
  
• You can post your challenge card beginning on the day the first card is posted; each challenge will end at 5 p.m. (ET) on the day following the posting of the last card (I'll note it in that day's posting) - approximately 10 days per card
  
• You can enter all six sketch challenges but you will be limited to one card per sketch challenge
  
• Use the "Mister Linky" link at the end of this posting to add your card

The winner of each challenge will receive a card sketch kit, which will include a new card sketch and the materials to make at least 4 cards from each sketch.

A grand prize winner will be chosen from all sketch entries. The grand prize winner will receive all 6 card sketch kits!

Ready, set, go!

Real Heroes

I was doing some filing today, cleaning up from last week's classes and ran across this card that was part of my "Misty Masking Magic" class at Wishful Thinking. With Father's Day fast approaching, it seemed like an appropriate card to include with today's post. The crown is part of Ranger's new mini mask collection and the verse is from Verses Rubber Stamps.

The card was designed as a collaborative effort between me and Peggy - the Craft Junkies in their true element! We were working together in my studio when Peggy stumbled across the masked panel - a discard from another creative session wherein I was trying to create several cards for my "Just For Men" class. After a few rounds of trial and error, we settled on this as the finished card.

Don't forget to take time out of your busy day to remember the people who have made a difference in your life. Most importantly, don't wait for a special occasion or holiday to let them know how much they made a difference in your life - send them a handmade greeting card today!

To all the heroes in my life - thank you for being a special part of who I am.

Connie