Black and Cream on Kraft

This card was so fun and easy, I made six. I felt like it could fit a variety of occasions. Sympathy, Get Well, Birthday, Thinking of You, etc.

Bookmark Technique

When I use strips of paper to give a bookmark look, I like to leave them loose at the bottom. I feel like this adds depth and really shows off the "bookmarky" feel.

On these cards, I paper pierced the tag simply by following centimeter marks on my ruler.

Large flowers from WalMart scrapbooking section. Burlap flowers from Hobby Lobby. Leaves cut from the Cricut. Sentiment stamp from Meijer.

Bright and Cheery, Take Two

More from my happy paper pads.  Flowers from Michael's dollar bins and Walmart sewing area. Leaves cut from my Cricut. Sentiment stamps from a dollar bin at Meijer scrapbook aisle. I use hot glue on these kinds of flowers to ensure that they stay put while traveling.

Bright and Cheery

I purchased two paper pads that sat on my desk for a very long time. I still don't feel like I've used them to their maximum potential. But I loved the cheery colors and the designs on the paper. Since I didn't have a specific occassion in mind to make these cards for, I decided the "for you" greeting would work on the front and then I could make it fit the occasion when I use them and add my inside sentiment. It could be "for you...to cheer you", "for you...on your birthday", "for you...just because", "for you...to get well", etc. It was a also a win because it utilized the remaining titles I cut and didn't use from my friend's special card (see previous post). Oh, and by the way, I forgot to mention in that previous post that I actually cut two sets of paper for that card because I wasn't sure which direction I wanted to pursue. So, that's why the middle photo below looks oddly familiar (but notice I didn't handstitch on it...another test run using paper piercing which I didn't like nearly as much as stitching).

Back to this post...the cards with the tags below show a really neat way to use a short scrap of ribbon when there isn't quite enough to tie. And I like to bump the ribbon up to show depth, so I use a small glue dot to hold the ribbon in place.

A Very Special Card (for a very special friend)

This photo certainly doesn't do this card justice. But if you can overlook that for a minute I will tell you about this special card. A few times a year, I have a card that I make for a really special person. Special because they know a lot about me and love me anyway. Special because these few people not only appreciate me, they appreciate my fervor for crafting. Special because they will pay attention to all the little details that I took extra time putting into a masterpiece just for them...to let them know how much I think of them. For these few cards, I make sure the papers and colors are exactly what I want...even to the point of cutting out four sets of the "for you" sentiment to see how each color looks. On this card, I punched and traded three sets of the butterflies back and forth several times before I decided which one evoked the exact emotion and feel I was going for. All of this takes time that may seem senseless to most. But because I know that this card will most likely be tucked away in a night stand and then brought out and looked at again and again over the course of the year, I want everything to be as close to perfect as possible. Because the recipient of this card is my best friend.

Controlling the Scrap, Version 2.3

Another simple card but I just loved the banner and the partial circles of all kinds of patterns! I did two takes because I was going for a masculine/boyish look and didn't succeed with my first try - pink and flowers don't work for most men, lol! I am actually much happier with my second set for two reasons. #1 I made the mat smaller, allowing more of the card base to show. #2 I used a dark card base and I think it looks much better that way. So...here is take one:

And take two will follow the dimensions--

Card dimensions: 4.5" x 4.5"
Colored mat: 4 1/8" x 4 1/8"
White mat: 4" x 4"
Partial circles: 2" trimmed to .75" high

I placed, adjusted then adhered my circles. Then I stamped my sentiment while the surface with still flat. Last, I went back and added a strip of glue and ran my twine, wrapping it along the back and taping the edges with good old scotch tape to hold it in place on the back.

Celebrate in Style

Card size:
4.25" x 5.5"

Cartridge:
shoe, Paisley
label, Once Upon a Princess

Supplies:
herringbone and leopard patterned paper, Little Black Dress by Basic Grey
edge punch, Martha Stewart
gems, studioG at WalMart
cardstock, misc

Challenges:
CR84FN Color Challenge, #61
Mojo Monday, sketch challenge #255

Two Oh!

Card size:
5.5" x 4.25"

Cartridge:
number banners, All Occassions Cake Art
stars, Gypsy Wanderings

Supplies:
text and aqua  patterned paper, Dear Lizzy Neopolitan
orange subtle patterned paper, India Bloom by Basic Grey
cardstock, twine and string, misc

Challenges:
Unscripted Sketches, challenge #172
ColourQ, challenge #151

Bird with Balloons

Card size:
4.25" x 5.5"

Cartridge:
bird, Create a Critter

Supplies:
blue flowered  and green swirl patterned paper,  Hello Summer by Echo Park
tree patterned paper, Out of the Blue SixBySix by My Mind's Eye
edge punch, Double Embossed Dotted Lace by EKSuccess
cardstock, trim, buttons, gem and string, misc

 Challenges:
The Pink Elephant, sketch challenge
The Ribbon Reel, photo inspiration and button/ribbon/twine challenge
There She Goes, color challenge

"Deer" Birthday

Card size:
4.25" x 5.5"

Cartridges:
label, Martha Stewart All Occasions Cake Art

deer, Give a Hoot


Supplies:
pink dot patterned paper, Neighborhood Collection by Crate Paper

flowered patterned paper, Dwell SixBySix by My Mind's Eye

sentiment, Everything Happy set by Stampendous

butterfly gem, American Girl

twine, The Twinery

border punch, Recollections

cardstock and yellow patterned paper border, misc


Challenges:

Skipping Stones Design, color challenge

{PIN}spirational Challenges, photo challenge

Tuesday Morning Sketches, sketch challenge

Trio Stripe Birthday

Card size:

4.25" x 5.5"

Cartridges:

label, Once Upon a Princess

Supplies:

corner chomper-1/2", We R Memory Keepers

heart punch, Recollections at Michael's

patterned paper, picadilly and indie bloom by BasicGrey

white and kraft cardstock, string, misc

Just a Note on Your Birthday

Card size:

4.5" x 7"

Cartridges:

none

Supplies:

chipboard butterfly, Colorbok

gems, studioG at WalMart

white cardstock, ribbon, misc

Sweet Birthday Wishes

Card size:

4.5" x 6.25"

Cartridges:

banner, Birthday Bash

label and cupcake, Once Upon a Princess

Supplies:

embossing folder, dotted swiss by Sizzix

background patterned paper, Total Girl by Jen WIlson for My Mind's Eye

cupcake wrapper and banner patterned paper, Happy Go Lucky Lime Twist for My Mind's Eye

twine, The Twinery

white, cream and colored cardstock, misc

Happy Bee-lated Birthday

Card size:

6.25" x  4.5"

Cartridges:

scalloped circle, Martha Stewart All Occasions Cake Art
bee, Create a Critter

Supplies:

embossing folder, dotted swiss by Sizzix

patterned paper, My Mind's Eye

white, kraft and colored cardstock, chipboard photo corners, misc

Butterflies and Flowers Triangle Front Card

Card size:

4.75" x  4.75"

Cartridges:

butterfly and scalloped circle, Martha Stewart All Occasions Cake Art
flowers and leaves, Give a Hoot

Supplies:

patterned paper, Ancestry.com Mat Pad by K& Company

blue shimmer and bronze metallic cardstock, Mango Frost cardstock matstack by DCWV

tan , cream and green cardstock, misc

Birthday Blossoms

Card size:
7" x 5"

Cartridges:
silhouette, Nursery Rhymes page 46

Supplies:
patterned paper, Eskimo Kisses by Basic Grey
kraft, colored cardstock, ribbon and rhinestones, misc

Challenge: Create a Card Yahoo Group (photo inspiration)

Pinwheel Fold

Card size:
4.75" x 7.25"

Square size:
2.5"

Folding instructions here

Cricut Cartridge:
banner, All Occasions Cake Art pages 61, 56, 55 and 51 (banneret feature) cut at 1"
"birthday", All Occasions Cake Art page 49 (phrase feature) cut at 1.5"

Supplies:
dimensional sticker, Sticko by EKSuccess
all cardstock and all patterned paper, misc

Challenges:
Fantabulous Cricut

Third Tea Bag Fold

Card size:
4.5" x 5.5"

Square size:
2"

I did not have instructions for this fold--only a photo to go by. Basically you do the square fold and then fold the two top layers in toward each other. Sandwich the pieces accordingly.

Supplies:
patterned paper (except medallion), Sunday Brunch by Arctic Frog
brad, Recollections
dimensional stickers, Sticko by EKSuccess
kraft cardstock and medallion paper, misc