Paper Pleasing Ideas

Sponge It On

For my card on Tuesday, I sponged on the frame work for the card. Some of you were asking how I did it. It is a simple technique and HERE IS THE TUTORIAL. Trust me, it is fabulously easy, and produces great results. Go ahead, give it a try! Have fun and happy stamping !!

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Gift Card With Thanks ... And A TUTORIAL !!

So, for this weeks Stamping Friends Reunion challenge, Lindsey and I decided to dive into our year end thanks for teachers. Course, you can make any thank you card you want, but we both need the teacher ones ... lol. I was looking at some cards in an old magazine and while the layout of the card caught my eye, I KNEW there was someting I could do to kick it up a knotch.

So this was the set of gift cards I made (and was afterwards informed I need one more), and I LOVE them. They are simple and beautiful, but there is something more special about them ...

YES, it holds a gift card on the inside !!  So, let's make it.

You need a base for your card, and in the above mentioned size, 5.5 X 8.25. Notice this is just 1/4 inch shorter than the normal 8.5. Fold your card, and then along the shorter edge, you are going to punch your fancy border. I chose the type with holes, so you would see more color through, and also since the card is more stark, it gives it another element.

Now, take your contrasting color (4.25 X 5.5) and put it into the word window punch as far as it can go on the long side, with about 1 inch remaining to the right side, punch out your first window, then move it over to the left side and punch again to make the opening longer, as one punch will not fit a gift card.

Put your glue for the inside ONLY AROUND THE EDGE, otherwise you will not get that card in there. There will also be a little over hang of color on the back, and you can trim that off if you like, I did. Now here is the finished card.

There is still room for writing on the insde. This template would also be perfect for birthday, grad, retirement, pretty much everything where you give a gift card. Now head over to see Lindsey's stunning creation, and play along with us. You can link you cards back to our blogs, OR upload using the keyword SFR23 over on Splitcoast, especially if you use my tutorial, so we can check out what you have done!! Have fun and happy stamping.

Gallery SFR22 on Splitcoast

For Another Mother

Well, I have three Mother's Day cards to make, and here is another one I finished. I have also had quite a few comments on my butterflies, and how they are done, so I put together a tutorial for you!!

I really like how this card turned out, with the sentiment on the card base, and the panel popped up. I used to do that a lot, and wanted to try again. Also, the embossing is indented instead of raised, just for a different perspective. I did add the darker blue with the marker, and after it was done, realized that I should have just left it. Other than that, I also like the pearls for the centers of the flowers, too.

NOW ...

Some of you have been asking, is it a die, punch, what kind of butterfly, or how did you do that? Well, let's get started !

So, first off you need to gather your supplies. I have the elegant butterfly punch, CARDSTOCK WEIGHT vellum (this is very important), dry embossing tool, and a foam mat. The reason we need the heavier weight vellum, is because often when you dry emboss on the lighter stuff, it tends to tear quite quickly. So punch out your butterfly and start drawing your design on the wings. It can be however you like it, but I tend to want to follow the design of the punch you are using.

You can see my finished design in my hand, and as you emboss, you will notice that the vellum is going to bend in towards you . The more times you go over a line, the whiter it will become, but go slowly as not to tear through. Then when you are done, flip it over on the foam. It should be raised off the foam, and this is the perfect way to get the "in flight" shape.

Now, all you have to do is run your embossing tool down the center of the butterfly. This will not only create a body look, but the wings will automatically start folding upwards. The vellum will again turn white, which hides glue perfectly, but I still like having the pearls or rhinestones down the center. So, go have fun and make some beautiful creations! Make sure to post a link here if you try it, so I can go check them out, and leave a comment. Have fun and happy stamping !!

 

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Spring Is In The Air - with TUTORIAL !

Stamping Friemds Reunion Challenge this week is all about spring - that is the theme ; spring colors, stamps, spring, spring, spring ! Maybe if we get enough cards out there, it will actually come! I decided to put together a tutorial with this card, as well, my first in a LOOOOONG time! So, let's get started

SFR12 Spring Easel Card

First up, the things you need. I have the Stampin' Up! Labels dies, and 4 pieces of cardstock : 2 baja breeze (or color of your choice) both sized 4.25 X 5.5 , and 2 white (or your choice) one sized 4.25 X 5.5 and one the is 5.5 X 8.5 (card sized), and scored down the middle at 4.25.

So, I cut with the second largest die (marked with red asterisk) both the baja breeze pieces. Then I cut the smallest white CS with the third largest dies (also marked).

Then with that same third largest die, you cut out the larger piece of white that you scored. Where I have the arrows on the picture, that is where the fold should be. You should end up with the same pieces in the second picture. Be sure to not put the die too low, and you need that fold for the card to work. No fold, no easel card. Lol

 

 

Then, it is time to score, and try for the center of one of the sides of the fold. You can now punch a scallop border to hold the card up, I do mine about 3/4 of an inch wide.

 

I glued it on, about halfway up the side that is NOT scored, and that same side, you will glue to one of the baja pieces. This is the bottom or back of the card.

On your other piece of white, you can now stamp you images and add all the accessories you want. Then add it to the front baja piece with dimensionals or any other adhesive you prefer.

Now it is time to put the card together !! Add glue to the little side of the fold, and attach it to the back side on the BOTTOM of the front panel that you decorated. You have now completed an easel card!

Thanks for stopping by. Please provide a link in my comments if you make this card, or upload it to Splitcoast with the keyowrd SFR12, so we can check them out. Now, head on over to see Lindsey's marvelous spring creation.

Last weeks SFR11 Splitcoast Gallery. Have fun and happy stamping along with us !!

 

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For Father's Day

Father's Day is fast approaching (next Sunday - AHHH), but I am prepared and have a great card to show you that will be a quick one to pull off. I gave it a masculine feel with fall colors, sponging and distressing. Sure, there is some ribbon, but it is a manly ribbon, check it out !

I used More mustard as a base, some DSP and very vanilla CS as well. The ribbon is espresso, and it doesn't seem too over the top for me. The technique for the Lovely As A Tree stamp is a wet watercolor.

MINI  TUTORIAL  ALERT : I soak my CS with a spray bottle, then I ink up my stamp (more mustard). Then I also spray my stamp until wet, and then stamp it down. The color spread nicely to create the base for the image. Then I wait for it to dry (or use my heat gun ... lol) and then stamp the darker color on top, in this case espresso.

It really is a easy technique that gives a little extra to the card. Have fun and happy stamping!!

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Framelits - Packaging Tutorial

ETA : I used the 8.5 X 11 sheets Avery Magnet Sheets that you could put through a printer.

I needed a way to see my framelits in the packaging from SU, without having to lift them out of the paper all the time. Also, I hate peeling it off that tape. I decided to package it the same way I did my Nestabilities when I got them {oh so long ago}.

Here is the finished product :

You can see everything, right there, and it is so easy to get them out!! Here is how I put it all together.

First, I measured the white layer that they came on, and then I cut the magnetic sheet to that size. **Each one is a different size, so measure each one !!** Then peel off the dies, so that you can put them on the magnetic sheet when you are ready. KEEP THAT CARDBOARD PIECE !

Now, add glue to the back of the magnetic sheet, and glue it to the sideof the cardboard piece that has the tape on it. This gives strength to hold them all, and not be flimsy. Then I also glue on the english instructions to the back of the cardboard piece.

All that is left is to add the the framelits on top and to slide it back into the package it came in! Done deal, and now you can see exactly what you need. I saw some folks doing this on Pinterest, as well, so I thought you may want to know how to do it. Hope this helps you all, have fun and happy stamping !!

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Framed Wisemen ~ with tutorial !!

Framed Wisemen ~ with tutorial !!

This is what the frame looks like, partially ... lol. I did add some dazzling diamonds to the star for some sparkle - glitter is ALWAYS  good! So, here is how you get the framed look.

I saw some cards on Pinterest with the frames cut on the front of the card with the image underneath, but I could tell they used Nestabilities, so I pulled out my Framelits Labels. Here is the sizes of cardstock you need : the white in the photo is 3 3/4 X 5, the navy is 4 X 5 1/4. The card base was white and is the regular size, 4 1/4 X 5 1/2. I used the biggest Framelit I could fit on the white without cutting over the edges and ran it through the Big Shot.

I thne glued the white onto the navy layer. This way I could guarantee no shifting while they went through to cut the navy cardstock. I had everything ready on the Big shot and laid the cardtock down. I got the next smallest Framelit and centered it on the navy within the white. I laid down the top plate and ran it through.

You now have a perfectly centered frame and then as well, 2 cutouts that you can use on other projects. Would this not be a great way to send your own family picture on a card ?!?

I did the stamping of the sentiment right after this and also pierced the edges, for a bit of texture.

Here is the finished card. The navy and white frame was added onto the cardbase with dimensionals. I could not find any place to put a ribbon, because of the sparkly star, but it looks like a classic card, I think. Try the tutorial, have fun and happy stamping !!

 

Mini Prima-Like Roses Tutorial !!

 

I hope you thoroughly enjoy making these tiny roses. It is surprising how fast and easy they are to put together. The fact that you can make them in any color you want, just seals the deal!

Someone also found me the original video (THANK YOU) , but I wanted to show it with Stampin' Up! only product. Here is where I got the idea from. Have fun and happy punching!!

Update Complete !!

I just finished adding another 17 tutorials to my FREE TUTORIAL PAGE. They are in chronological order, so the newest ones are to the bottom of the page. If you want to find this page on a regular basis, it is in the right hand tool bar ----> in the section under my facebook button.

There are over 150 for you to go through, so tootles, have fun and happy stamping !!

 

Elegant Lace ... CARD ... I KNOW !!

Yes, I did make a card and yes you can say FINALLY!! It even has a tutorial to go with it.

I got my inspiration for this card from this picture.  There is even a tutorial on how to make it HERE !! First off, I absolutely LOVE pencil skirts, they can really slim aperson down, and they are sexy without being showy. Add in the lace and you have a feminine SHOWSTOPPER.

I have had this idea for quite sometime to put this on a card (because I don't sew), and saw someone else (maybe Splitcoast ??) use punches for a lacey look. I decided to try my hand at it, and came up with a card that is perfect for many occasions - bridal showers, engagements, christenings, birthdays, baptisms, etc. The one I made is for my Mother In Law's birthday.

OK, now get out your punches and create along with me!

  The punches you are going to need for this are the scallop edge (#119882), the eyelet border (#119853), and the dotted scallop ribbon border (#119275).

I am sure that you could use other brands or ones that are similar, but these are the Stampin' Up! punches that I have and am going to use. Find what works in your room and play along.

  My first layer is punched with the eyelet punch on card stock weight vellum, and then it is glued on ONLY ON THE TOP EDGE. I got it as close to the bottom as I could and my base is very vanilla.

  The next row is punched with the scallop edge using the Vanilla DSP from the Nuetrals Prints pack (#117157). This was glued on top and again only on the top edge.

  The next layer is the ribbon punch and it is punched into plain vanilla card stock. I glued it over the top edge of the DSP layer to cover it. I punched 3 strips of each kind of paper and then glued them in the same order up the rest of the card.

 

And here is my finished card. Doesn't it totally go with the skirt up top?!?  I added one of my FAVORITE FLOWERS and some organza ribbon. I also stamped a sentiment in the same color that I sponged the flower in, pink pirouette.

I know my MIL will absolutely LOVE this card, since she is very into the Victorian style. Hope you have fun, tootles and happy stamping!!