Sunday, October 28, 2007

Last of the Cards Using Winter Bright





I made these four happy cards to use up the last of the double-sided designer paper that came in the Winter Bright Simply Scrappin' kit. It's amazing what can be done with a few scraps, punches, and whatever else is sitting around.

Tutorial for Half-Sheet Criss-Cross Cards

Beate Johns has written a wonderful tutorial on how to make a criss-cross card. You can view it at:

http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/resources/crisscrosscard.php.
The instructions below create a similar card using less cardstock.



Supplies:


One 5 1/2" x 8 1/2" piece of cardstock for your card base


One 4" x 5 1/4" piece of double-sided print paper


One 3 3/4" x 5" piece of cardstock for insert


One 3 1/2" x 4 3/4" piece of neutral cardstock for insert


One 1 1/2" x 9" piece of colored cardstock for card band


Sticky Strip or Wonder Tape


Corner rounder


Ink, stamps, punches, embellishments





1. Score 5 1/2" x 8 1/2" cardstock at 4 1/4".





2. Take the scored piece and cut diagonally from center top to the bottom left corner.








3. Flip the triangle so the diagonal crosses the edge you just cut.





For a vertical card:

For a horizontal card:



4. Cut your double-sided print paper diagonally from corner to corner.





5. Adhere print paper triangles to your flaps.







6. Put Sticky Strip along the bottom and outside edge of your card base, and then adhere the loose triangle to form a pocket.





For vertical card:



For horizontal card:


7. Put Sticky Strip along the bottom and part-way up the edge of the remaining flap, and then adhere to bottom flap.





For vertical card:

For horizontal card:





Completed vertical pocket:



8. Take both pieces of the cardstock for the insert and use the corner rounder on the top corners.





9. Tape the insert layers together.





10. Wrap thin strip around card and adhere ends to form a band.





Stamp and embellish as desired.





Saturday, October 27, 2007

Priceless, Scraps, and Stickles





I had a few scraps of the double-sided designer paper left over from the Winter Bright Simply Scrappin' kit, so rather than pile them on my desk for "later," I thought I'd make some quick cards using them. With the exception of the big green snowflake accented with Ice Stickles, all stamps are from SU!'s Priceless set which happened to be sitting on my desk. Funny how things come together, isn't it?

Vertical Criss-Cross Card



I'd been told that criss-cross cards could be made vertically using a lot less cardstock, so I thought I'd give it a shot. Here's the same basic card as before, only vertical. By doing it this way, I saved one-half sheet of 8-1/2 x 11 cardstock, which is nice. I prefer the look and feel of the horizontal design, though, and the insert is easier to remove even though I left the same amount of space around it in both cards.



That other thing in the top picture? It's a 3-dimensional 6-pointed star. The tutorial said it was easy to make. I struggled, but then maybe most people have more talent than I do. You can view the video tutorial for both a 5-pointed and 6-pointed star at:

http://paperpleasing.typepad.com/my_weblog/2007/10/ive-gone-live.html.

Second Criss-Cross Card


I know this looks very much like the first one, but I rearranged the flaps to get better color balance, and also added a bit of double-stitched ribbon on the belly band. I think I'm addicted to criss-cross cards now!

Friday, October 26, 2007

My First Criss-Cross Card







I am delighted to be showing off my first criss-cross card! The base is Wild Wasabi, with accents in Real Red. I used double-sided designer paper from the Winter Bright Simply Scrappin' kit. Stamps are from my brand-spankin'-new Priceless set from Stampin' Up! I also got to use my new round tab punch and the scallop punch, along with all three sizes of circle punches. Gold brads accent the center of the flowers. I'm still debating whether or not to use some Dazzling Diamonds glitter on the flourishes.

Monday, October 15, 2007

57 Cards! from Winter Bright Simply Scrappin'

These 57 cards were made from Stampin' Up!'s Winter Bright Simply Scrappin' kit, supplemented by some of my own coordinating cardstock for card bases, a couple flower punches, a few brads and eyelets, some double-stitched ribbon, and irridescent Stickles (which doesn't show up very well in the pics). I still have two 12x12 sheets of double-sided designer print paper left, too!



They all have inside greetings and matching envelopes, and some of them even have a little decoration inside the card.



While I had my holiday stamps out, I finally completed the insides of the Christmas cards I've made in the last few months. My total Chrismas card count for this year to date is 75!! Gosh, I hope somebody buys these, since I'm not sure I have that many friends!























Saturday, October 13, 2007

A Few Christmas Cards

Well, my latest shipment from Stampin' Up! arrived Thursday afternoon, and after assembling the rubber stamp sets, I cracked open the Winter Bright Simply Scrappin' kit that I've had my eye on for a couple months now.



The kit contains textured 12x12 cardstock, 12x12 double-sided designer print paper, and six sheets of self-adhesive die cuts that coordinate. I supplemented the kit with my own supply of cardstock, and in the last 24 hours I made 52 Christmas/holiday cards, every one of them unique. I still want to go through them and add some glitter and bling, and (of course) I need to do something for inside greetings. Then I'll stamp up some matching envelopes and voila! I'm all set for the December holidays. (Sadly, it occurs to me that having the cards made doesn't guarantee I'll get the envelopes addressed and the cards out the door -- but I'm optimistic!)



And, after putting together 52 cards with the kit, I still have 2 1/2 sheets of the designer print paper, some textured cardstock scraps, and a handful of the diecuts remaining. I really think the Simply Scrappin' kits are a great deal!



Now I have to figure out how to show off my creations. There's no way I'm going to sit here and scan in 52 cards for your viewing pleasure, but maybe I'll take photos of them in groups once the glitz is added. Stay tuned...

Wednesday, October 10, 2007

Dry Spell

It's Wednesday evening and I haven't made anything since last week. My Muse is eluding me. I have a brand new Fall Stack from DCWV in my grubby little hands, and I keep looking at the pretty papers and my stamps and my inks and -- nothing.



Maybe things will shift for me tomorrow. I'm expecting a package from Stampin' Up! with some new sets and papers and toys. Perhaps this is just the calm before the storm... ?

Friday, October 5, 2007

Happy World Card Making Day!

Saturday, Oct. 6th, is World Card Making Day! To celebrate, check out the website:


http://www.worldcardmakingday.com/



Or even better, go make a card!

Another One Sheet Wonder




Katie wondered in a comment on a recent post how the One Sheet Wonder technique might work on black cardstock. I had flashbacks to some cards she made with a set similar to "Just Like You" awhile back, and so decided to give it a shot. Thanks for the idea, Katie! I love love love how these turned out. The scans don't do them justice, since it's hard to scan Pearlescent Brilliance ink.




Wednesday, October 3, 2007

Cardmaking for Guys

This has got to be one of the funniest things I've seen in a long time! You MUST watch this video!

http://www.livevideo.com/video/537FF9DA20B44560845DEE157D1F9DD6/man-made-card.aspx