TIPS AND TECHNIQUES

Monday, January 30, 2017

Valentine Sampler

Hello Monday!!!  Today is just a little share.  Over the weekend my ladies group got together and we put together our Valentine samplers.  For those who don't know the story of how we started this I'll fill you in.  It all started with our friend June giving us a Christmas Sampler framed in an 8x8 shadow box as a Christmas present in 2015.  During the year of 2016 we made, St Patty's day, Easter, Patriotic, Halloween, and Fall.  So last Friday we did our Valentines one.  These are so cute and so much fun to make.  I would like to be able to make a bigger shadow box and maybe have 1 square dedicated to each holiday of the year.  Right now we switch out our samplers as the times change but if I made a larger one with One of everything I could leave it up all year long.  I'm not sure if the ladies would like to do this but if so it would be a fun project.  Anyway here it is:

I've got supplies lines up for a 5x7 shadow box to do with my grand-daughter tonight.  I can't wait to see how hers turns out.
Til Next Time

HAPPY CARDING!




Sunday, January 29, 2017

Birthday card for Cindy

Hello..............Is it snowing by you???  We have a few little flurries here but it has been a winter of little snow.  But boy oh boy has it been cold and we have only seen peeks of the sun for 5 days during the entire month of January!!  Today will be a good day to stay inside and maybe work on more cards!  But first Today's Card!

I love the look of Anna Griffin cards.  Last year I signed up for auto ship on HSN of Anna Griffin dies.  I seemed to be so busy with other stuff that I never really got around to using them.  Then this year started and January had my friends Junes' birthday and I pulled out those dies and made her a card.  Loved it.  Now it's Cindys' birthday and she Loves Anna Griffin too so I just had to make her a special Anna inspired card.  





I guess I needed a little sunshine because for this card I went right for my K&COMPANY paper pad of the Susan Wingets design.  The sheet I choose paired beautifully with the golden color shimmer paper I had in my stash.  My little bow was made with a pretty yellow sheer ribbon I got from the Dollar Tree.  I added just little bits of bling. I think it turned out just lovely!  

My Nieces birthday is coming up this March so I think I'll make another Anna inspired card for her.  Right now though I have some more Valentines Day cards to get done so I think that will be today's plan.  That and making a nice pot of soup to warm my bones!!

Til next time........................

HAPPY CARDING!
 

Tuesday, January 24, 2017

Easel Card

Today I made a  Center Easel card.  For me it's a new card fold.  Others may have already seen this but not me.  I was on You-Tube (as always..LOL) and was checking out Dawns Stamping Thoughts and she was showing the Center Easel card.  I realized this was a way to use up every tiny scrap I had from my Graphic 45 papers left over from Christmas projects.  I just can't seem to throw away even the tiniest of pieces.  I just love the Christmas line.  So I decided to give it a try.  OMG....how easy...quick and cute!
Then I decided what the heck I need a belated Birthday card so I made this one.
Then what the heck I also needed a get well card for an elderly (93) woman I know so I increased the card size to a 5.5 x 8.5.  You know how those elderly eyes are (LOL).
I know I will be making this card over and over and over again.  In fact I'm meeting up with my carding friends this Friday night and I even put together kits of this card for us to make.  And you know what?????  I still have alot of my Graphic 45 Christmas collection scraps!
Here's a link to Dawn's video if your interested.          HERE             Till next time...........



HAPPY CARDING   




























Monday, January 23, 2017

QUICKIE VALENTINES

Hello!!  Hope everyone had a great weekend.  I spent it mostly in the craft room.  Today I have a few quickie Valentines to share.  I originally designed these for the nursing home but I'm not sure if the project will take place as we have a different project for them to do this week.  Maybe the grandkids will want to make these and like I said they are quite easy.


I started with just basic pink card and embossed the fronts with different folders.  On 3 of them I stamped little red hearts added die cuts "Love" and a little ribbon or stickles.  The 4th one I added the doily and made a tiny envelope with a little greeting in it.  Super simple.
Today's post is quite short but that's what happens with super simple!  LOL  Back to craft room today as I need a get well card for a 93 yr old.  Hmmmmm...what to do?
See you next time!


HAPPY CARDING!!











Sunday, January 22, 2017

Pocket Cards

While on the Internet I noticed that there are a few You Tube videos that have shown up in my stuff.  The videos are all on Pocket Pages.  I didn't even know what a pocket page was so of course I had to investigate.  Well I tried.......but no one really said what you actually do with these pages.  I get it that you mail them to other people with little "Do Dads" and that some are actually themed but........................  What do you do with it when you receive it?  Ok obviously you can use the "Do Dads" but then what?  Do you make a special album to hold these pocket pages or do you reuse the pockets and send to someone else?  Just didn't make sense to me.
So I liked the concept of sending someone little "Do Dads" and I decided that instead of a "Pocket Page" I'd make a "Pocket Card".  Concept is kinda of the same.  Then again since I don't understand Pocket Pages maybe this is NOT the same concept.  LOL
So I started with a book type Z fold card.  As far as I know I made the template myself as I have not seen anything on line like this but if you did it first please let me know so I can give credit where credit is due.  I started out with 2 pieces of card stock measuring 8.5" x 7.5".  Then on the long side I scored at 3.75",  4.25"  and  8" on both pieces. I glued the end 1/2" of both pieces and formed a Z fold type of card.


DSP was used on each panel measuring 3.5 x 7.25.  You need 8 pieces of this size and 6 pieces .25 x 7.25" for the little spines.  Then just make coordinating pockets or matchbooks or what ever can hold a "Do Dad".    Here's the finished project.  I added a few dangling beads just for pizazz!  LOL

I made some tiny bows and taped them to some acetate and clipped it to the border trim using tiny clothespins.  A small pocket holds a few fibers.  Some Washi in a match book and Swirl die cuts in a flip up are all on the inside.  For the outside I made a large side pocket to hold a small bag of buttons and then there is an envelope pocket with more die cuts and a few tags tucked behind the envelope.
So I decided to send this to a new friend.  This was so much fun and I know I will make more.  If I was smart I wouldn't have told my friend June about it because I could have made one for her.  Maybe next idea!  Kind of wish I didn't have to send it but I know Linda will appreciate it.  Til next time...


HAPPY CARDING!!!








Saturday, January 21, 2017

A SCENIC VALENTINE

Today I use an old die.  Sizzix BIGZ XL many years ago had a card die where you use a 5.5 x 12" paper to make the card.  Its kind of like a tri fold with a window in the front panel.  Hard to explain and I have been all over the Internet looking for an example with no luck.  So lets just jump right in.  Here is the first one I made.  No idea why I used the wax paper doily and now looking at it it seems kind of dumb but oh well...live and learn!
The second picture shows you what I mean by tri fold with a window.  When you close the card the little flap on the far left (of pic on right) slides into a slit in the back causing the front of the card to bend a bit.  Very cute so I decided to make 2 more.  This one turned out better since I put the fence on the window side.  One the first card I had it on the inside panel and when you slipped the flap in the slit to bend the fence bended too and looked goofy to me.

I like the last one the best. I still used a paper doily but this time just for texture.  I also added little butterflies.  I think they are adorable.

I really haven't made very many scene cards.  The scenes I have made are generally a scene stamp like the Northwoods stamps.  I love them but it is alot of coloring and I swear I still don't have shading right.  I've even attended a Northwoods Rubber Stamp class that was taught by the owners of Northwoods Rubber stamps.  I've bought their watercolor paper and use the suggested Tombow markers and my coloring is just ok.  The above scenes are more die use than stamps.  And I have a ton of dies.  Maybe I'll be making more scene cards in the future.  I'd like to make one with the box fold card so stay tune.   More may be coming.

Until next time

HAPPY CARDING!


Friday, January 20, 2017

Sticker Cards

So today was a Nursing home day and June and I joined some of the ladies there for some easy card making.  June was able to get some sheets of stickers from Tuesday Morning at a real reasonable price.  The store is closing and they are clearing everything out.  The small scrapbook area is really clearing out fast.  The store will be missed.  So last night she and I sat down with the stickers and designed 3 cards.  2 are everyday type cards and the third one is a Valentines Day card.  We used a basic white card for the base and added a layer of pink that was left over from another project.  Some baby powder was added to the sticky side of a few pieces so that we could pop dot them up to add a little dimension.  I think they turned out pretty cute.
Here's the sticker sheet we used.
I'm not sure what June paid for them but I know it wasn't much and she got a pack that contained 12 sheets.  
Well back to the craft room.....I have a valentine to send to a fellow carder so I better get going!

HAPPY CARDING!

Thursday, January 19, 2017

June's Birthday Card

Another year has gone by and it's Junes Birthday again.  I sat down at my desk trying to decide what kind of card to make this time.  It's funny because when you make a card for a fellow cardmaker it has to be SUPERB!  And everything coming into my mind was anything BUT superb. This is what I came up with and though it's OK..... it's not SUPERB in my book.
I must have taken 10 shots of this and the coloring is coming out all weird.  The card is two tone green shimmer paper with a white border stripe down the middle.  Liquid pearls were also used.  I really need to start using more of my Anna Griffin dies.  They really are quite beautiful and delicate.  All in all I'm sure she's going to like my card just fine.
Until later..................................

HAPPY CARDING!!

Sunday, January 8, 2017

Too Early for Valentines Day?

Hello!!  Ever look at a calendar and say "Wow it's still ____________?  I usually say "Wow time is flying"  But today I looked at the calendar and said."it's only January 8th?"!  I swear it feels like it's been January forever.  It's been super cold in my neck of the woods.  Sub zero with windchill around -19.  The grandkids have been restless so this weekend we had a craft day.  They decorated my chandelier for Valentines Day and made a Valentine mobile.  We will decorate the mantle later this week.  May as well enjoy the holiday!  My granddaughter informed me that the red Christmas placements just won't work as the red for Valentines day!  I guess the red plaid is just a bit too Christmasy so we are going to try and find a runner maybe for Valentines Day.  That girl had to be stopped!!!  She wanted to plaster red hearts all over my walls and windows.  She definitely has the crafting fever!  LOL  
Here are the projects of the day:




















Hopefully this will satisfy her crafting urges for a while and maybe I can get back on track with cards.  So check back again later and hopefully I'll have a new card for you.
Til then stay warm and................................

HAPPY CRAFTING!!

Tuesday, January 3, 2017

Year End Round Up #2

Hi!!!  Well another day in the craft room and a few more forgotten things found.  Funny but I'm still not done cleaning!  Every notice how distracted you get in your craft room?  I start trying to sort and organize and then BAM!!!  I start punching out some labels or flowers or hearts etc. just so I don't have to throw out that little tiny scrap of purple polka dot paper or what ever scrap!  I just can't help myself!  I'm cleaning and then all of a sudden I say "Hey wait..... I bet Laura at the nursing home would like some of this!" and then there I go again....distracted!  At this rate I seriously believe that it will take me a month to clean up the mess I made 4 months ago(sigh).
Anyway on to what I found.  First a couple Christmas cards that I totally forgot about.  Both of these were not my design but rather ones I made in my card group.  Both totally cute and now I'm sad they didn't make it in the mail this year.  For sure they will make it next year because they are finally being put in the Christmas card box where all my finished cards should be!

Another 2 Christmas ones found had some issues that I needed to address and never did. first up the snowman card.  This was also done in our group.  It was actually from a kit that one of the ladies brought and was super super simple.  Although I liked it, I had wanted to add a bit more to it.  It needed some sort of sentiment on the front and maybe a little bling but of course I didn't get to it and it never made it into the Christmas card box. 


 Neither did the other one here.  This Card had some issues.....First the die cut weird...see the little white spots in the corners when the card is closed.  That is not suppose to be there.  Second I hated the paper!  It cracked on the folds.  Now as for the Stamp???  I loved the Old lady!!  I only kept this card as a reminder to try it again.










Next I found 2 Birthday cards......Why these didn't make it into the finish box is beyond me!  LOL  Guess it's another case of "I'm too lazy to reach up on the shelf for the box"!  The one on the left is an Anna Griffin inspired.  Both of these were made in my group.   Hmmmm.....starting to see a pattern here!  LOL  Seems group cards are not making it into the box.  What's up with that!!!
Then there's this one.....cute cute cute idea but............................never completed.  Its a baby card that looks like a dresser.  Definitely needs more something.  I did this in the group too.  One of the other ladies brought in the supplies and I must have been too busy talking to actually finish it.  See I told you a Pattern!
And now just in time for Valentines day I find this one..................and...................I don't like it!  TOO MUCH RED.  This card really has to be toned down a bit.  Although I love love love the stamp.  That little hedgehog is so darn cute and I love his guitar!  Going to do a "do over" on this one for sure.  I should have colored the stamp too.  heehee
So..........you would think this should be enough right?????  Well................So far I have managed to fill this basket with a ton of leftover card kits I had made for our group and the nursing home! 

 A good percentage of them are Christmas cards.  I guess I have a New Years goal after all and that is to complete or give away every last card in this basket!  I'm pretty sure each one of the bags in there have all the pieces for making at least 1 full card.  Most I believe have multiple cards in the bag.             Hmmmmm..............................maybe I'll do a blog give-a-way!  I'm going to have to think this through so keep checking out my blog for updates!


Til later............
HAPPY CARDING!!


Sunday, January 1, 2017

End Of Year Round Up

Happy New Year!!!  Time for a fresh clean start and in order to do that we have to clear out the old.  I'm doing that by gathering all the previous un-finished cards lying around the craft room, get them posted and box them up.  This way I can be completely fresh as I go into this New Year Crafting.  Hopefully I will finish all my projects this year and maybe even start on some of the kits I purchased during the year that just got put into closets!  LOL  I think we've all done that at one time or another.  So lets start the round up!!
First I have 2 cards here made with the same die.  I have bought some of the Anna Griffin dies and in order to get the paper out of the die I always run it through the machine with wax paper.  Decided to actually use the wax paper and here's what I go.  Card on left is wax paper frame and the one on the right is the actual die out of paper.
The card on the left is an everyday card and the right one is a Christmas card.  I really need to start using more of the Anna Griffin dies I have.  I think I have 12 of the big ones.  They make bigger cards.  The two above are 5x7.

Next is another 5x7.  This card has quite a variety of items used by various vendors.  First the base is card stock from Stampin up.  Then the first layer (the dark blue squares) is from Heartfelt Creations.  So are the flowers and the stamped peacock.  The white layer is from Anna Griffin. 

Next up a couple of tags.   Awhile ago I posted a card I think I called a Sunflower Note.  I really loved that card and had scraps so I made a matching tag using the same techniques. Still having some scraps I made another tag but just a slightly different floral stamp.  I love these yellow colors!  It reminds me of the end of summer but before fall comes.
I would love to make a few more of these but with different colors.  Like maybe a sea foam green, or coral.  Sometimes I just prefer to have a tag on a gift instead of an actual Birthday or Thank you card so having some of these would be a good idea to have around.

Well that's all I found so far after 3 hours of cleaning up.  Yep it's that messy and dis-organized!!  I still have alot of work to get this room cleaned up.  Maybe I'll find a few more cards or tags in this mess!

Til next time...............

HAPPY CARDING!!!