A Foxy Mother's Day Card

Happy Friday!  I have an adorable CAS Mother's Day card for you today.

This card was created using dies from Cottage Cutz. 

I made the foxes using Very Vanilla and Cajun Craze cardstock.  A multi-liner pen was used to color the eyes and Copic markers to color the noses and inside ear pieces.  For the legs I wanted just a touch of black so I took a sponge dauber and went over the edges.

 

I stenciled hearts in Soft Sky on the front panel.  I thought the hearts went well with the "Love You Mom" sentiment.

This card makes a precious CAS Mothers Day card!

Dies used: Cottage Cutz Mama Fox & Baby, Spring Meadow and I Love You Mom Phrase
Stencil: My Favorite Things

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3-D Thursday Interactive/Interchangeable Card

Today's 3-D Thursday post is an interactive card.  I made this card for my daughter's friend who likes to cook for others.  She stayed with us for a while and as a thank you she made us a wonderful lunch.  But it was more than that - she made several different dishes, had menus, sent out invites - she called it "Anushka's Bistro".  She has done this for other hosts when traveling - she says she has Bistro's all over the country (and I believe even an international one!)

When her birthday came around I knew exactly what stamp I wanted to use.  A super fun thing about this set is that your cook can hold any one of a number of different foods.  Since I couldn't choose one I colored them all.  Then I took a clear velcro dot, cut it in half and positioned it slightly over her hand.

All of my food pieces have a half circle on the backside so Anushka can "play" with her card and put out whichever food suits her at the moment.  I mailed the card with the cake on it and made a small envelope to hold the others.

The card was extremely fun to color and put together.  I decided to use a banner for her name.  When creating a banner, start in the middle and work out.  It is much easier to get things lined up this way.

Stamps and Dies: Essentials by Ellen - Leading Ladies Baker Lady
Dies: MFT Stitched Alphabet and Stitched Banner Alphabet
Copic Markers


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Organizing Your Patterned Paper

Hi fellow paper hoarders!  My name is Jeanne and I hoard paper - but no more!  I've decided that part of my life is over.  I realized that I often use the same patterned  paper over and over.  And I tend to use paper that is in 6x6 pads because they usually have a cover that shows the patterns inside.  I came to realize that once I put my paper away I couldn't easily see it.  Out of sight - out of mind.  I have some nice storage for my paper, but that's just it - storage.

My solution was to create a system where I could SEE my papers and card stock.  I've tried swatch books where swatches are held together with rings but that didn't work well for me.  I wanted to see both sides of the paper at once and also be able to move things around to see what looks good together.

My daughter has trading cards that she keeps in divided plastic sleeves in a three ring binder.  I liked that idea but those are only 9 to a page and most paper (at least Stampin' Up!'s patterned paper) has 6 sheets with 12 designs.  I found plastic sleeve sheets that are divided into twenty 2x2" sections. (I think these are for coin collectors.)

I cut two squares from each of the 6 sheets so that when looking at the page I could see all the patterns without having to turn anything over.  One goes in front side showing; one goes in back side showing.  The size works well for most patterns.

I cut the information on the paper from the backing to the packet and placed it in one of the pockets. This way I have the paper's name and colors that coordinate.  I also cut card stock from the coordinating colors and placed those in the remaining squares.  Not only can I see the patterns and their colors but it is very easy to see how patterns/colors look together by pulling the swatches out of their sleeves and moving them around.

In this example, there were more than seven coordinating colors, so I cut a few swatches 1x2" and placed them over a 2x2" square in one pocket.  In the previous example, there were only 5 coordinating colors, so for the few pockets would be empty I filled them with white squares.  I don't want to see the next sleeve through an empty pocket.  I just want one paper pack and coordinating card stock per page.  With this system, if you run out of a pattern you can simply remove it.

For my storage I still use my Stamp-n-Storage paper cabinets, but instead of just putting a still-wrapped-paper pack that has been slit open in each section, I unwrap it and put it in using cardboard dividers so I have three per section.  I write the name of the paper on the divider.

While creating my pages I discovered SO MANY beautiful patterns that I had either forgotten or didn't know I had!  I'm certain I will use more of these papers.  And I also discovered some that just aren't my taste anymore.  Not sure what I will do with those yet, but I did not bother taking the time to index them.

This system does take a little effort but is easy to do while watching TV or a movie.  Not a lot of thought to it.

I hope this helps with your paper taming issues. I know that one size doe not fit all, but this works for me!  I'll post how I organize my solid card stock soon.

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Combining Challenges for a Baby Card

It's Tuesday and another sketch challenge at CAS Colours & Sketches!  For my card this week I actually used two challenges!

I don't normally combine challenges for my DT cards but I needed to make a baby card for my niece and this just clicked for me.  Combining challenges can be a great time saver, but you just can't combine two of the same - two sketch challenges or two colors challenges - because then neither is true to the challenge.  I opted to use the theme, colors and elements from the Fusion challenge and the sketch from CC&S.  I've had this cute stamp for a year and not inked it up so I decided that this would be a good time.  Here are the posted challenges:

Using both challenges made the this card go super fast.  Not a lot of decisions!

Stamps: Stampin' Up! A Little Wild and Teeny Tiny Wishes
Copic Markers: R0000, N0, N1, N2, N3


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CAS Mother's Day Card

Mother's Day will be here before you know it, so today I have  a clean and simple Mother's Day card that I also posted in Splitcoast Stampers color challenge this week.  The colors are Blackberry Bliss, Mossy Meadow and Soft Sky.

I used the Cottage Cutz Garden Frames die which cuts three separate circles with motifs that can be combined or used alone.  I used all three with each layer in one of the challenge colors and die cut the word Happy.

Next I layered the circles and glued them together to form a medallion.

For the front I cut an A2 panel, stamped the splatters in Soft Sky and used a stamping platform to stamp "Mother's Day" in Blackberry Bliss.

I adhered the medallion to the front panel.

Finally, I added some faceted crystals to give it just a little bling. I used Stampin' Up's Crystal Effects (Glossy Accents works also) to adhere them.  A tip for the crystals - glue them upside down with the flat side facing up and the facets pointing to the card.  I tried gluing them with the flat side down but light couldn't get into them from underneath and they didn't sparkle much.  This way they sparkle a whole lot more!

Dies: Cottage Cutz
Stamps: Stampin' Up! Touches of Texture and Crazy About You


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3-D Thursday Easy Gift Box

I have an easy gift box for you today.  I received one of these from my friend Estie and thought it was so cute that I'd make several as thank you gifts.  I put a tiny bottle of Bailey's inside but you could also fill with candy or other treats.

They are fun to embellish.  The one I made coordinates with my card from Monday April 9.  I used leftover elements that I had from making my swaps to decorate.  And I used my leftover swaps to make matching Thank You cards!

Above is the "naked" version.  Here are the measurements and directions (they may be self explanatory from the measurements)

1. Start with a piece of 11 x 4 inch card stock
2. Score 1 inch from each side
3. Score 5 inches from the top and bottom
4. Cut out each of the four corners (see lines squares in photo)
5. If you want a hole for ribbon, this is a good point to punch the hole in the center of the top and bottom (you could wait until the end)
5. On the long score sides, cut the score line that is 5 inches from the top and bottom to the 1 inch mark on both sides
6. You'll have a small 1 inch square flap in the middle of each side which form the flaps for the bottom of the box
7. Fold all score lines
8. Glue the small square flaps to the longer flaps from one side making sure to place them on the inside
9. Glue the other long flaps to the outside of the flaps that have already been glued together
10. Decorate how you would like

I hope you enjoyed today's 3-D project.  It is very easy and fun to make!

Products used:

Stamps: Oh So Eclectic
Dies: Eclectic Layers
Save 10% on the bundle
Paper: Naturally Eclectic Designer Series Paper, Vellum, Berry Burst, Lemon Lime Twist
Ink: Berry Burst, Rich Razzleberry
Accessories: Lemon Lime Twist Mini Striped Ribbon



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Fearless Butterflies - Partial Die-Cuts

I'm sorry I didn't post yesterday - life happens and I just did not get a card made this weekend for yesterday.  (Okay - I admit it, I have a backlog of cards from years past that I COULD post, but I didn't have the time.)  I did spend some time organizing my craft space and will post a few of the things I'm doing later.  I'm excited about how I'm organizing my paper!   Sounds weird I know, but I'm sure at least a few of you will understand how exciting that can be.

Today's card is for the Tuesday color challenge at CAS Colours & Sketches.  The colors this week are brought to us by Karen and they are beautiful:

For my card I used butterflies.  Perhaps I was subliminally influenced by the graphic.

I purchased these dies recently and really wanted to use them.  A quick tip - you receive two of each butterfly die and I did not realize that one partially cuts (see photo) and one fully cuts.  Let's just say I messed up my first attempt.

I used the challenge colors under each butterfly and for their bodies which are covered in Wink of Stella to add just a little sparkle.
 
The sentiment was chosen because I know someone who is in a delicate state right now.  I'd like to inspire her to move on.  Butterflies, although appearing delicate, are incredibly strong.  Just look at the monarchs and their migration!

I hope you enjoyed today's post.  I will be posting Friday - I am not sure about this Thursday.  I hope to get back to my regular schedule next week.

Dies: Lawn Fawn

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Live a Little

Today's card features only die cuts and was created for two challenges on Splitcoast Stampers.  I love the flowers in these die sets because they are ultra versatile.  You can put these together many ways to come up with some really gorgeous flowers.

Here is the color challenge: Crumb Cake, Powder Pink, Wild Wasabi and Chocolate Chip

And this is the sketch challenge:

You see I varied a little from the sketch by substituting flowers for stars and I used a Double Stitched Rectangle as my bordered frame in the center.

I sponged the edges of my flowers in Powder Pink and used a cotton swab to add Wild Wasabi ink to the center of the flowers.

I used a stack of three Chocolate Chip rectangles glued together with a rectangle of Crumb cake on top.  The stack adds just a hint of the dark brown. Before gluing the rectangle stack to the Crumb Cake card base, I added the branch cut from Crumb Cake die under the stack.  It is very subtle and adds an embossed look to the card. 

For the flower on the upper corner I added some Powder Pink ink to the petals and also to the stamen.

I am quite pleased with this card and how it fits the challenges. 

Dies: Cottage Cutz Garden Botanical 1, Garden Bird, Live Laugh Love and Double Stitched Rectangles

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Pop-Up Pirate 3-D Thursday

I have a pop-up card for you today!  Basic pop-up cards are super easy to make.  This card use a die but I will show you how to create your own.  It's so easy you'll wonder why I wasted money on a die!

This is a birthday card for a friend who is a big Jimmy Buffett fan.  If you know Jimmy Buffett fans you know that you can't go wrong with Margaritas, sharks or pirates.  So this year I went with pirates!

The small die cuts are all colored with Copic markers.  Lots of fun to color and they went faster than the rest of the card!  I used distress inks and sponged the background using blue and a stencil for the clouds and Antique Linen for the sand.  I splattered some darker brown ink for "sand".

The front was just as much fun to make. The map is kraft paper roughly cut into a map shape.  Then I stamped various images from the set in Crumb Cake ink.  I used Lawn Fawn's Stitched Trails die to cut paths.  Finally I used Distress Inks to sponge the paper to give it an old look.  Once all that was done I mounted it to a card base.  It was just as enjoyable to create the cover as the inside.  So often with pop-up cards the cover gets neglected, but this was one where the front of the card was at least as much fun as the inside to make.

I used dies for this card but creating the pop-up brace is very easy.  Start with a base that is the same size as your card base and scored in the middle (For example, for an A2 card it would be 8 1/2 x 5 1/2 inches scored at the 4 1/4 inch mark.)  Then cut two parallel slits that extend the same distance above and below your score line.  Look closely at the photo below and you will see the lines.  I used my paper trimmer to do this.

The length of these will determine how far out your pop-up piece goes.  You can make these as large or as small as you want, but your die cut piece should cover them.  Cutting more than one and varying the size will give more depth to your pop-ups if you have more than one item you want popped up.  If you want a pop-up that extends the width of the card. then make two braces the same near each side of the card.

You'll want to score the top and bottom between your parallel slits to make folding easier. The brace you cut will be folded opposite the the fold on the card.  See above.

After that - it is just a matter of decorating the card!

All stamps and dies by Lawn Fawn: Ahoy Matey, Stitched Trails, Palm Trees, Ocean Hillside Pop-up add-on, Stitched Hillside Pop-up

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Floral Panel Card

It's Tuesday and another challenge at CAS Colours & Sketches!  This week is a sketch challenge.

Here is the posted sketch:

I was originally going to put a sentiment across the floral panel but decided to try something a bit different.  This is my favorite ribbon so I wanted to use it.  Since it just didn't look right laid across the panel as a single piece, I folded it in half, angled the halves slightly and used a copper colored staple to adhere it.

I used four pieces of the Wisteria Wonder cardstock under the panel to lift it and add just a hint of color.  It still needed a little something so I put on a few sequins.

Stamps: Stampin' Up! Painted Petals
Dies: MFT Stitched Rounded Rectangles
Ink: Wisteria Wonder, Perfect Plum, Pera Pizzazz; Old Olive
Ribbon:  Lemon Lime Twist Mini Striped Ribbon

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