May 2018 Card Group Projects

It was our May card group meeting today - postponed for a week due to me being ill with a nasty flu virus.  My card group ladies had told me last time that they wanted to make another card using a Tim Holtz Mixed Media die plus a double dutch fold card.  Also, another card was suggested - a dangly tent fold card - but I decided to save that one for our next meeting.

For this card I've used a beautiful, elegant die from the Sizzix 'Mixed Media' Thinlits die set.  I applied Mustard Seed and Broken China Distress Inks to a piece of Whisper White Thick CS using ink duster brushes, adhered the inked piece behind the die cut panel, stamped the sentiment and attached the panel to a black A6 sized card base.  The black flower and leaves were cut out using dies from the Sweet Dixie 'Daisy' set.  I added a small punched circle to the daisy centre that had been inked with the Distress Inks and glued the stamen shape over the top.  The flower is popped up.  This card is very similar to the card I designed for card group last month.

After I'd made the card I wanted to do a similar version but this time I applied inks to the die cut panel itself rather than to a separate panel to go behind.

Here's a comparison shot of both cards together. I love the serene feel of the background of the first card but I also love the more dramatic look with the black background.  It's easy enough to do either version so I let the ladies choose which version they wanted to make.  I was so interested to find out if a clear favourite would emerge - and it was a unanimous victory for the first card - all the ladies chose to make the version with the inked background behind the white die cut panel.

I decorated the inside of the cards and the envelopes using the Spellbinders 'Floral Corner One' D-Lites die set.  The die cut can be tricky to get out but it's such a beautiful image it's worth putting in a bit of effort and patience is rewarded!  I always rub a tumble dryer sheet over the die before I cut it and then rub over the die with a die brush on a foam mat to release the shape from the die.

So, onto the double dutch fold card which is a fab card design for using patterned papers.  I've used Tranquil Tide papers from the SU! 'Fresh Florals' DSP pack and paired Tranquil Tide with Pool Party - a great colour combo!  Here's the card closed flat ready to go in an envelope.  

Here's the card open on display.  It's easy to make a double dutch fold card - I love a fancy fold card that's simple to put together!  I made an A6 sized card with the fold at the top, cut 2" off the bottom front of the card, cut an 8 1/4" x 2" strip, scored the strip at 2 1/16" on both ends and glued the strip in place.  The strip of 'ribbon' was cut out in Pool Party CS using a die from the wonderful Memory Box 'Grosgrain Ribbons' die set. I've used stamps from the SU! 'Flower Shop' and 'Petite Petals' sets for the trio of blooms and the leaves were cut using the SU! 'Leaf' punch.  I snipped between each petal, shaped each flower, glued the smaller flowers on top of the larger ones and popped each flower up on the die cut oval layer.

Here's the inside decorated with a stamped and punched birthday sentiment.

Here's the decorated envelope flap.

One morning I was idly browsing on Pinterest whilst leisurely drinking a cup of coffee and I came across two striking cards made by Julie DiMatteo.  I visited Julie's blog post and found out that the cards contained a secret - a gift card holder pocket.  Julie has kindly provided a wonderful video tutorial.  I was so taken by this simple but fab design and decided I just had to include it as a project this month - it was a big hit with my card group ladies!

This is also one of those designs that lend themselves to using patterned paper.  As the 'Fresh Florals' pack was still out on my desk I chose the zingy Lemon Lime Twist floral paper from the pack and added Night of Navy and Whisper White to form my colour combo.  Like Julie, I used the bold 'Stylized Birthday' sentiment stamp and I embellished the panel with gem centred, punched and shaped flowers.

Here's the card open on display.

Here's the inside showing the sentiment panel and the gift card pocket.

Here's a close up of the gift card holder pocket.  You could easily place banknotes inside instead of a gift card.

I used the lovely floral image from the SU! 'Floral Phrases' set to decorate the inside of the card and the envelope flap.

Next time we'll be making a dangly tent fold card, a bridge fold/U fold card and we'll be revisiting the water stamping technique.  I'm looking forward to it already!

Supplies for Best Wishes card:
Stamps: SU! 'Petal Palette' set
CS: SU! Basic Black & Whisper White
Ink: Ranger Tim Holtz Black Soot, Broken China & Mustard Seed Distress Inks
Tools: Sizzix 'Mixed Media' Thinlits die set, Sweet Dixie 'Daisy' die set, Spellbinders 'Floral Corner One' D-Lites set, Inkylicious ink duster brushes
Embellishments & accessories: SU! Dimensionals

Supplies for double dutch fold card:
Stamps: SU! 'Flower Shop', 'Petite Petals' & 'Label Me Pretty' sets
CS: SU! Pool Party, Tranquil Tide & Whisper White
Patterned paper: SU! 'Fresh Florals' DSP pack
Ink: SU! Pool Party & Tranquil Tide
Tools: SU! 'Pansy', 'Petite Petals', 'Leaf' & 'Pretty Label' punches, Petite Oval Nestabilities die set
Embellishments & accessories: SU! Dimensionals

Supplies for Happy Birthday gift card holder card:
Stamps: SU! 'Floral Phrases' set, SU! 'Stylized Happy Birthday' stamp, Stampendous 'Sending Wishes'
CS: SU! Lemon Lime Twist & Night of Navy 
Patterned paper: SU! 'Fresh Florals' DSP pack
Ink: SU! Lemon Lime Twist & Night of Navy
Tools: SU! 'Layering Squares' Framelits die set, SU! 'Boho Blossoms' punch, SU! 1" circle punch, SU! paper trimmer
Embellishments & accessories: self adhesive gems, navy Sharpie marker
Ruth