Snowman Hat With Love Floating Front Card

I love snowmen images and find it almost impossible to resist a cheery snowman stamp.  I bought this wonderful 'Love the Hat' stamp a bit before Christmas but didn't get time to make a Christmas card with it so I decided I'd use it to make a 'just because' floating front card for hubby.

To make the floating front card base I used Real Red CS measuring 10" x 7" and scored at 2 1/2", 5" and 7 1/2" - the finished card measures 7" x 5".  I stamped a tone on tone background of snowflakes using Real Red ink.  I bought a few sheets of paper from the Authentique 'Cozy' collection as I loved the colour combo of kraft, soft blue and a hint of red.  I stamped the snowman several times on different papers and fussy cut the sections to paper piece the hat.  I gave my snowman some rosy cheeks by adding a bit of Spun Sugar Distress Ink.  I added red Stickles here and there on the hat, the hat brim and bobble got some Stardust Stickles and I put Orange Peel Stickles on his carrot nose.  The sentiment element was easily made with punched circles and I replaced the 'o' in LOVE with a tiny punched red sparkly heart.

Here's a closer look at the snowman. 

Here's the back of the card.  One of the papers in the Authentique 'Cozy' collection had lots of word elements - I loved the 'We go together like winter and a sweater'.  I cut the text box, glued it to the white panel, drew red lines with a Real Red marker and added two punched red sparkly hearts

Here's the front of the envelope with a 'Baby it's warm inside' text element cut from one of the patterned papers.  I added a punched red sparkly heart to the owl to finish.  I'm very happy to say Owen loved his 'just because' card!

Supplies:
Stamps: Woodware 'Love the Hat' & 'Snowflakes & Sparkles' stamps, Personal Impressions 'Medium Everyday Messages' set
CS: SU! Real Red & Whisper White, Red Glimmer Paper
Patterned paper: various from Authentique 'Cozy' collection
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Ranger Tim Holtz Spun Sugar Distress Ink, SU! Real Red & Smoky Slate markers
Tools: circle punches, SU! 'Heart to Heart' punch, SU! Owl Builder punch (for tiny hearts), Simply Scored board, sponge dauber
Embellishments & accessories: Xmas Red, Stardust & Orange Peel Stickles, SU! Dimensionals

Sparkly Poinsettia Floating Front Merry Christmas Card

I've so enjoyed making floating front cards recently and I know that Jan loves the design of these cards too.  I thought a poinsettia design would be perfect to make for Alan to give to Jan.  This card is all about sparkle, texture and dimension!

For the 5 3/4" square card base I've used luxurious Centura Pearl Ivory CS.  I cut three panels of the ivory pearl CS, embossed each panel with a beautiful snowflakes embossing folder, rubbed Golden Light gilding wax over the raised areas and glued the panels in place. I added strips of holly ribbon to the front panels and added sparkle to the berries with Xmas Red Stickles.  Using three sizes of Pinstriped Poinsettias stamps I stamped two of each size onto the pearl CS using VersaMark ink and I heat embossed each flower with Red Tinsel embossing powder.  I die cut the six flowers, shaped them and stacked them together.  I die cut one large poinsettia from green glitter CS, cut the petals apart to use as leaves and adhered them behind the flower.  I stamped and heat embossed the sentiment and layered the Very Vanilla label onto a larger sparkly gold label shape.  I gussied up the Very Vanilla label with a holly embellishment and two red gems.  I placed a gold shimmer dome sticker in the centre of the poinsettia and attached the flower element onto the front of the card.

Here's a view of one of the side panels so you can see the pretty embossing and ribbon.

Here's a closer view of the sparkly poinsettia.

I adhered a piece of Very Vanilla CS to the back as a sentiment panel.  More seasonal sparkle went here in the form of a punched red heart next to the stamped sentiment and I placed sparkly die cut holly leaves and berries at the bottom.

I made an envelope for the card using holly patterned paper.  I punched two holes in the envelope, made green glitter CS washers as hole reinforcers, glued those in place, formed a ribbon loop and taped the ends inside the envelope.  The envelope is tied closed by threading ribbon through the top hole, through the loop at the bottom and by tying a bow.

Here's the envelope tied closed with the ribbon bow. All ready to be popped in a cellophane bag and delivered to Alan.  Hope he - and Jan - approve!

Supplies:
Stamps: Creative Expressions Sue Wilson 'Pinstriped Poinsettias' cling stamp set, SU! 'Seasonal Wishes' set, Penny Black 'Wish from the Heart'
CS: Centura Pearl Ivory, SU! Very Vanilla, Champagne Glimmer Paper & Red Glimmer Paper, Christmas Green glitter CS
Patterned paper: 'Frozen Lobster Tail' from Jillibean Soup 'Christmas Eve Chowder' Collection
Ink: VersaMark, SU! Garden Green
Tools: Creative Expressions Sue Wilson 'Classic Poinsettia' dies,  Leane Creatief 'Snowflake Background' embossing folder, Spellbinder's 'Grommet Tags' dies, Cottage Cutz 'Holly Berry Mini' die, SU! 'Heart to Heart' punch, Envelope Punch Board, various sizes of circle punches
Embellishments & accessories: Stampendous Red Tinsel embossing powder, Creative Expressions Golden Light gilding wax, holly design satin ribbon, SU! Real Red satin ribbon, PaperMania Gold Shimmer Dome Sticker, PaperMania red gems, Joy Crafts Add-ies holly embellishment, 3D foam tape

Embossed Snowflake Floating Front Card

Angela and Janet are coming round tomorrow to make a Christmas card and I decided I'd show them how to make a floating front card.  I was given a Sizzix snowflake die and embossing folder set a few months ago and it occurred to me the large snowflake would make a good floating front card element.  

I cut a piece of Core'dinations CS, die cut and embossed the snowflake, scuffed the shape with sandpaper to bring out the embossed detail and glued a Night of Navy circle behind the snowflake shape.  I cut a piece of Whisper White CS to 11" x 5 1/2" and scored at 2 3/4", 5 1/2" and 8 1/4" to make the card base.  I cut some pieces of Authentique blue patterned paper which has a lovely ombre, graduated colour effect and adhered the paper pieces to three of the card base panels.  I  glued the snowflake to floating hinges (punched circles folded in half), placed a 3/4" navy circle in the centre of the snowflake and added the fancy embellishment.  To complete the card front I added four Night of Navy die cut photo corners.

For the back of the card I stamped a sentiment, added some punched snowflakes and made a punched circle and slit closure.  I simply stamped a snowflake border on the front of the envelope. Full instructions for making a floating front card can be found on my Tutorials page HERE. 

Supplies:
Stamps: Hero Arts 'Holiday Cheer' clear set, My Cute Stamps 'Let It Snow' set
CS: SU! Night of Navy & Whisper White, Core'dinations 'Harborside' CS
Patterned paper: Authentique Classique Elegant Ten
Ink: SU! Night of Navy
Tools: Sizzix 'Snowflake #4' Bigz die & embossing folder set, Nestabilities circle die, circle punches, X Cut snowflake punch, SU! Simply Scored board
Embellishments & accessories: SU! Frosted Finishes embellishment, jewel rhinestones, ultrafine sandpaper

Flower Patch Floating Front Birthday Card For Gill

Our wonderful friend Gill is celebrating her birthday today and I made a floating front card for her.  I've used feminine, lacy paper and a blue and aqua colour combo as I know those will go down well! 

The Island Indigo card base measures 5 3/4" square.  I stamped the largest flower in Island Indigo ink, the smaller flower in Pool Party ink and I used Pear Pizzazz and Old Olive inks for the leaves.  After I'd finished die cutting I adhered the flowers and leaves together so it formed one element and I stamped and die cut the sentiment element.  I attached both elements to butterfly hinges (punched circles folded in half) so the elements float when the card is open on display.  I added white ribbon and a bow, two butterflies and placed a sparkly embellishment in the centre of the flower.  I punched and shaped two tiny flowers and placed them over the 'oo' in the word 'blooming' - I thought that was a fun touch!  To complete the card front I sprinkled on some rhinestones. 

If you'd like to make a floating front card yourself, I have instructions on my Tutorials page HERE.

This photo shows the back of the card with the sentiment panel and the punched circle and slit closure.

These fab floating front cards fold flat to go in an envelope - I love that!  Here's the card ready to be slipped inside the envelope.

I used the SU! Envelope Punch Board to make a 6" x 6" envelope with the beautiful, lacy paper and simply added a name label to the envelope front.

Supplies:
Stamps: SU! 'Flower Patch' & 'Papillon Potpourri' sets, Hero Arts 'Special Birthday'
CS: SU! Island Indigo, Pool Party & Whisper White
Patterned paper: Authentique 'Classique Elegant - Three'
Ink: SU! Island Indigo, Pool Party, Pear Pizzazz & Old Olive
Tools: SU! 'Flower Fair' & 'Apothecary Accents' Framelits dies, 'Bitty Butterfly' punch, circle punches, Simply Scored & Envelope Punch boards, Woodware multi flower punch, Petite Oval Nestabilities die, sponge dauber
Embellishments & accessories: Creative Expressions 'Crystal Sparkler', SU! Whisper White stitched ribbon, rhinestone jewels, Dimensionals

Snowflake Floating Front Card - 52 {C}CT Oct Colour Challenge

We have a colour challenge for you this week at 52 {C}CT.  I do love a non traditional combo for a Christmas card and these colours are bright and fun!  Remember to use at least three of the colours in your card.

 

Floating front cards are my current fave style of card to make - I love that they're dimensional but  fold flat to go in an envelope and that they're easy to make.  If you fancy trying a floating front card yourself there are instructions on my Tutorials page HERE.  

I chose the blue, aqua and magenta colours for my card.  The card base is made from Coastal Cabana CS and I covered three panels with Whisper White CS dry embossed with a polka dots folder.  I layered three stamped and die cut snowflakes together to create a floating front element and I attached that to the card by gluing the snowflake to butterfly hinges I made from punched circles folded in half.   I die cut two Coastal Cabana scallop edged borders, glued them to the card and added white punched snowflakes.  I added coloured rhinestones to the snowflakes - the aqua ones I had in my stash but I used Sharpie markers to add colour to clear rhinestones to get the deep blue and magenta gems.  To complete the card front I added some clear rhinestones to the arms of the large blue snowflake.

Here's a view of the card from the top.

Here's a view of the butterfly hinges which allow the image to float when the card is on display but allow the card to be folded flat to go in an envelope.  I used a 1" circle folded in half.  I applied glue to the front tabs of the hinges and pressed the snowflake floating front element down onto the hinge tabs.    

Here's the back of the card where you can see the sentiment panel and the closure made with a punched circle and a cut slit. 

Here's the card folded flat with the envelope.  My finished card measures 5 3/4" square and I used a 6 1/4" square envelope.

Putting this card together reminded me of a favourite Laura Ashley shirt I owned back in the 80's - one of those long oversized shirts with the shoulder pads - it had a magenta background and large royal blue and paler blue flowers and jade green leaves - I REALLY loved that shirt - and the bright pink suede pixie boots I most probably wore with the shirt, ah, happy times!  

I hope you'll play along with this fun colour challenge and add a Christmas card to your stash.  Link up your colourful Christmas creation at the 52 {C}CT challenge post, I look forward to seeing what you make!  

This is my last card for 52 {C}CT as I'm stepping down from the DT after this challenge.  I joined in June 2012 and I've enjoyed creating many festive cards over that time - huge thanks to the lovely ladies at 52 {C}CT who made it fun!

Supplies:
Stamps: SU! 'Festive Flurry' set, Hero Arts 'Wonderful Christmas' cling set
CS: SU! Coastal Cabana & Whisper White
Ink: Memento Danube Blue & Lilac Posies, SU! Coastal Cabana, Sharpie markers
Tools: SU! 'Festive Flurry' Framelits dies, Large Scallop Edgelits die, 1" & 1 1/4" circle punches, Simply Scored, Cuttlebug Polka Dots embossing folder, Fiskars Snowflake punch
Embellishments & accessories: SU! rhinestone jewels, Dimensionals

 

October 2014 Card Group Projects

It was our card group get together this afternoon - I can't believe we're in October already - and a very happy time was had by all!  As per usual, I made three cards for the ladies to make, two Christmas cards and a masculine birthday card.  Yep, that's right - another masculine card -  that pleased the ladies enough to allow me three Christmas cards next month, yay!

First up is a floating front card - I just had to design a Christmas version for card group!  I love that the card is dimensional on display but that it folds flat to go into an envelope. I have written instructions for making a floating front card and the PDF tutorial can be found on my Tutorials page HERE.  I used 12" x 12" textured Island Indigo CS to make the base, the finished card size is 6" square.  I adhered snowflake patterned paper to three of the panels.  I chose a snowflake as the floating element, layering the Smoky Slate stamped and die cut snowflake onto a larger die cut Island Indigo snowflake.  I placed a punched snowflake in the centre of a circle and embellished with a Marianne Designs 'Diamond Gem'. 

This second photo shows the circle and slit closure, the sentiment panel and the decorated envelope flap.

The Glitter Pot, my local craft shop held a Christmas demo this weekend and I went along to check out the wonderful inspiration on offer.  Alex Kamann demoed techniques using embossing folders, she had inked inside embossing folders with Memento inks before dry embossing Centura Pearl CS.  What a fab effect, I was really taken with how the Memento inks, normally so bold and vibrant, appeared soft and muted when applied to the pearl CS.  Rather than inking inside the embossing folder I chose to simply apply ink over the embossed card front using an ink duster brush.  I made an A6 card base with Centura Pearl CS and embossed the front with a holly frame folder.  I applied Memento Bamboo ink, shading from dark to light going from top to bottom to get an ombre effect and lightly buffed the card front with a piece of kitchen towel.  I placed stamped and die cut ornaments back to back, pierced holes in the tops of the ornaments, pierced holes along the frame and added gold lurex thread.  Tiny gold brads keep the thread in place and the ornaments dangle freely.  I adhered the sentiment label to a strip of Cherry Cobbler CS and added a punched holly sprig with tiny red pearl berries.   

Here's the inside and the envelope - I thought the vintage flourish complemented the large elegant ornament on the front of the card - any excuse to ink up that gorgeous stamp!

Onto the final card, the masculine birthday card.  Nothing fancy here, just simple stamping, paper piecing and fussy cutting.  The balloon and basket portions of the image are both popped up.

I simply stamped a sentiment on the inside.

Supplies for snowflake floating front card:
Stamps: SU! 'Festive Flurry' set, Hero arts 'Holiday Cheer' clear set
CS: SU! Island Indigo 12" x 12" textured, plain Island Indigo, Whisper White
Patterned paper: Echo Park Home for the Holidays 'Merry Icons'
Ink: SU! Smoky Slate & Island Indigo
Tools: SU! 'Festive Flurry' Framelits dies, Simply Scored, 1" & 1 1/4" circle punches, X Cut Snowflake punch
Embellishments & accessories: Marianne Design 'Diamond Gem', SU! Dimensionals

Supplies for dangly ornaments card:
Stamps: SU! 'Ornament Keepsakes' & 'Sweet Essentials' sets, Stampendous 'Christmas Cheer', IndigoBlu 'Vintage Flourish'
CS: Centura Pearl Snow White Hint of Silver, SU! Cherry Cobbler, Wild Wasabi & Whisper White
Ink: Memento Bamboo, SU! Cherry Cobbler, Wild Wasabi
Tools: X Cut Holly Frame embossing folder, SU! 'Holiday Ornaments' Framelits dies, Spellbinder's 'Labels Trio' die, X Cut holly punch, Inkylicious ink duster brush, paper piercer
Embellishments & accessories: gold lurex thread, tiny gold brads, tiny red pearls 

Supplies for hot air balloon card:
Stamps: Hero Arts 'Clouds' DesignBlock background stamp, Woodware 'Hot Air Balloon', Hobby Art 'Flock of Birds', SU! 'Sassy Salutations' set, inside sentiment from PSX
CS: PaperMania A6 white card blank, SU! Basic Black, Crumb Cake & Whisper White 
Patterned paper: Bo Bunny Double Dot papers in 'Almond' & 'Mellow Yellow'
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, SU! Soft Sky, Crumb Cake & Basic Black markers
Embellishments & accessories: SU! Dimensionals


 

Floral Floating Front Birthday Greetings Card

Whilst at my local craft shop, the Glitter Pot,  a few weeks ago I saw an interesting 3D card on display so I snapped a couple of pics and made a few notes 'cos I knew I wanted to have a go at making one.  I've since discovered that this style of card is called a 'Floating Front Card' and Joanne Wardle's original designs were featured in the April 2011 issue of the UK Craft Stamper magazine.   Joanne's blog can be found HERE.  It's a fab design - there's the wow 3D aspect but the card folds flat to go in an envelope plus it's so easy to make - that ticks all the boxes for me!

It's my friend Wendy's birthday today and I decided to make a pretty, floral, floating front card for her - and it had to feature pink as that's her fave colour!  I made the card base from SU! Pink Pirouette CS and the patterned paper is from the Bazzill 'Vintage Lace' 6" x 6" paper pack.  I stamped and die cut the flowers and leaves using the gorgeous SU! 'Flower Patch' stamp set and matching 'Flower Fair' Framelits dies.  I used Pretty in Pink and Strawberry Slush inks for the flowers and Pistachio Pudding and Wild Wasabi inks for the leaves.  I added some Wild Wasabi stitched ribbon tied in a bow and used a sparkly embellishment to decorate the centre of the flower.  Here's a photo of the card on display.

Here's a view from the top. 

Here's a look at the front panel with the sentiment label and two butterflies.

In order to make the focal point element float on the front of the card you need to attach what I'm calling 'butterfly hinges' to the front of the card and then the element is attached to the front of the hinges.  The hinges are easily made by punching out two 1" circles, folding them in half and attaching them to the card front.  I got carried away making this card and attached my flowers and leaves before I remembered that I'd wanted to take a photo of the butterfly hinges!  So I started work on another floating front card and here's a photo showing the butterfly hinges in place.

Here's a side view of the card where you can see the element attached to the hinge.

At the back of the card you make a closure by adding a punched circle and cutting a slit for the circle to slide into.  I used a 1 1/4" circle.

Here's a photo of the back of the card when closed.

This photo shows the card folded flat ready to pop into the envelope.  The card measures 5 3/4" square.

I made an envelope for a 6" x 6" card using the SU! Envelope Punch Board and a piece of Rose Red Designer Prints DSP which has been hoarded in my stash for a very long time!  I wanted to try a different type of closure for an envelope and I was inspired by an envelope that Margaret, one of my craft group ladies, showed to me and said I could keep.  Margaret had received some theatre tickets as a birthday gift and they were presented in an envelope which was held closed by a bamboo skewer threaded through punched holes.

I punched four holes in my envelope and added CS washers (front and back) to add strength.

I snipped off a bit from a bamboo skewer but it took a bit of work to thread it through as it's rigid and I'd punched fairly small holes (1/4").  I decided I could use ribbon as a closure instead so I snipped a length of Wild Wasabi ribbon, threaded it through the holes and tied a bow.  Actually, the ribbon is a much more attractive option than a bamboo skewer!

Phew, a very picture heavy post!  I contacted Joanne and asked her if it would be OK for me to produce a tutorial for putting together a floating front card.  Joanne very graciously gave her permission and I've added a PDF tutorial to my Tutorials page if you'd like to check that out and make one of these fabulous cards yourself.  Many thanks to Joanne!

Supplies:
Stamps: SU! 'Flower Patch', 'Kinda Eclectic' & 'Wetlands' sets, Hero Arts 'Yummy Treats' clear set
CS: SU! Pink Pirouette & Whisper White
Patterned paper: Bazzill 'Vintage Lace' 6" x 6" pad, SU! Rose Red Designer Prints DSP
Ink: SU! Pretty in Pink, Strawberry Slush, Pistachio Pudding & Wild Wasabi
Tools: SU! 'Flower Fair' & 'Apothecary Accents' Framelits dies, SU! 'Bitty Butterfly', 1 1/4", 1", 1/2" & 1/4" circle punches, SU! Simply Scored & Envelope Punch Board
Embellishments & accessories: Creative Expressions 'Crystal Sparklers' embellishment, SU! Wild Wasabi stitched ribbon, rhinestone jewels, Dimensionals