April 2013 Card Group Projects

It was our April card group meeting this afternoon, a week later than planned 'cos I had to cancel it last week due to me being poorly.  I think it was worth the wait!  I came home with lots of lovely hand made birthday cards.  We each make everyone a birthday card and it's a highlight of a meeting to look at all the creations - they're all so different!  It's Lesley's birthday later on in April so we had a double dose of cards to look at today!

We used the SU! Bordering on Romance stamp set last month and it was a big hit so I thought we'd use it again this time but using the stained glass technique to colour in the image.  The flower spray was inked with VersaMark, stamped onto vellum CS, heat embossed with white embossing powder and then coloured on the reverse side of the vellum with markers.  I cut out the vellum plus a piece of Whisper White CS the same size with a square Nestie die.  I also cut Tempting Turquoise and Always Artichoke mat squares.  As vellum is tricky to adhere without adhesive showing I attached it with tiny silver brads.

The card base is 5 1/4" square and I cut a tad off the right hand side because I wanted the card front to have a fancy edge.  I stamped the dotty bracket border in Pacific Point ink, used an Edgelits die to cut the bracket shape and then embossed with the matching embossing folder.  If you emboss before cutting you flatten and smoosh the embossing so it's important to die cut the border before you emboss.  I glued a strip of Pacific Point CS inside the card and also added a narrow Always Artichoke strip.  I stamped the sentiment, cut it out with a Fishtail Flag die, cut another flag from Always Artichoke CS, layered the two banners and added silver nailheads.  I then popped the image square up on the card front.

 
Here's a close up of the image panel.

Onto card two which pairs the Cloudy Day embossing folder with the Up, Up and Away set - a perfect partnership I think!  The card base is A6 sized made from Baja Breeze CS.  I stamped the balloons with Baja Breeze, Riding Hood Red and Gumball Green inks and fussy cut them out.  I embossed the white panel with the clouds, added the Gumball Green starry patterned paper and a Riding Hood Red strip cut with an Edgelits die.  I stamped the sentiment, fussy cut it out and popped the banner up.  I laid the balloons down on the embossed panel to get an idea of where I wanted them placed and then made sure I stamped the black baskets on a smooth piece of the embossed panel - I didn't want to stamp baskets onto any of the bumpy embossed clouds.  I then stamped the birds - again avoiding stamping on a bumpy bit - and I popped up the balloons. 

Card three is a nice and easy butterflies card featuring dry embossing, punching and pretty details.  I took some SU! only cards with me to have on display when I held an SU! workshop for my card group ladies. One of the cards I took was a butterfly squares card that I originally made at one of Joanne's make and take meetings.  It was very popular, everyone loved it so I thought that would be a good choice for the ladies to make at card group! 

The A6 card base was made with Crumb Cake CS.  The Very Vanilla panel was partially embossed with the gorgeous Fancy Fan folder and I stamped the sentiment in Rose Red ink.  Before gluing the vanilla panel to the card front I added a strip of Rose Red seam binding ribbon.  I punched three Bitty Butterflies from a strip of vanilla CS and then punched out the negatives using the Postage Stamp punch.  Each vanilla butterfly square was glued to a 1 3/8" coloured CS punched square - the colours are Baja Breeze, Rose Red and Crumb Cake.  I added rhinestones to the butterfly bodies and popped up each square to finish off the card.

What a fab way to spend an afternoon, crafting and laughing with friends - oh, and there were cakes too - thanks Lesley!

Supplies for flowery birthday card:
Stamps: SU! 'Bordering on Romance' & 'Curly Cute' sets
CS: PaperMania square white card blank, SU! Tempting Turquoise, Always Artichoke, Pacific Point & Whisper White, white vellum CS
Ink: VersaMark, SU! Pacific Point, SU! Tempting Turquoise, Always Artichoke & Pacific Point markers
Tools: SU! Adorning Accents Edgelits die & matching embossing folder, square Nestabilities dies, MFT Fishtail Flags Stax die
Embellishments & accessories: white embossing powder, tiny silver brads, silver nailheads, 3D foam tape

Supplies for hot air balloons birthday card:
Stamps: SU! 'Up, Up & Away' & 'Itty Bitty Banners' sets
CS: SU! Baja Breeze, Riding Hood Red & Whisper White
Patterned paper: SU! Snow Festival DSP
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, SU! Baja Breeze, Riding Hood Red & Gumball Green
Tools: SU! Cloudy Day embossing folder, Finishing Touches Edgelits die, Stamp-a-ma-jig
Embellishments & accessories: SU! Dimensionals
 
Supplies for butterflies especially for you card:
Stamps: SU! 'Made for You' set
CS: SU! Crumb Cake, Baja Breeze, Rose Red & Very Vanilla
Ink: SU! Rose Red
Tools: SU! Bitty Butterfly, Postage Stamp & 1 3/8" square punches
Embellishments & accessories: SU! Rose Red seam binding ribbon, Rhinestone Jewels, Dimensionals

Two Purple Fabric Dress Cards

Some friends recently showed me some of their wonderful patchwork projects.  Carol's beautiful quilt was in shades of purple and one of the fabrics she had used had silver glitter in it!  I had such an "ooooooooh, sparkly" moment!  Jean immediately knew that I was thinking about my Dress Up dies and what lovely dresses the fabric would make.  Carol very kindly gave me the strip of fabric she had left over from the project - I was so chuffed and I just had to make a thank you card for her!  What a sweetheart!

I used CS and double sided adhesive sheet to die cut the sleeved dress from the fabric .  I also cut just the bottom of the dress from Elegant Eggplant CS and tucked that behind the fabric so it's peeking out below the skirt.  I saw a neckline detail on Pinterest a while ago so I used that idea to give the neckline a scalloped edge.  I punched an Elegant Eggplant scalloped oval, then punched a plain oval from inside the shape, trimmed the piece to size and glued it to the neckline.  I added silver lurex ribbon and a flower shaped button to make a sash.  I die cut a white Labels 4 Nestie shape, embossed it with the Fancy Fan embossing folder, die cut the top and bottom of the label from Elegant Eggplant CS and glued the pieces together to get a mat border at the top and bottom.  I popped the label shape up onto the Barely Banana A6 card base and popped the dress up onto the label.  I stamped the sentiment, added the ribbon and bow and finished off the front with some silver pearls.

Here's a close up so you can see how sparkly the fabric is. * swoon *

I cut a white panel for inside the card and stamped opposite corners with a gorgeous stamp from the Flowering Flourishes set.  I stamped the sentiment onto Barely Banana CS and cut it out with a Labels Trio die.  I stamped the flourish again, punched part of the design out with a 1 3/4" circle punch and matted onto a 2" Elegant Eggplant punched circle to go on the envelope flap.

Card two was sent to Sandie, my sweet friend from the Inkspirational challenge blog design team.  Sandie is a CAS card maker and I wanted to keep to a CAS design for her card.  I have a sneaking suspicion that Sandie loves purple so I used a predominantly purple combo.  I threw in some Whisper White together with a hint of metallic silver CS.  This time I made a landscape orientated A6 Elegant Eggplant card and popped the dress up onto a shape cut out using an SU! Apothecary Accents die.  I used the Essentials piercing pack to pierce around the shape.  I die cut the sleeveless dress and added Elegant Eggplant ribbon and a button for a sash and then added bling to the skirt scallops.  I stamped and punched the sentiment element and added some teeny flowers with rhinestone centres.  The finishing detail for the card front was to round just the top right corner of the card.

Again I used the Flowering Flourishes set to decorate the inside of the card ...

...and the envelope.

I'm watching the Great British Sewing Bee on TV and am in awe of the talent demonstrated by the contestants.  I'm happy to watch but have no desire to try it for myself as I really don't want a repeat of the trauma suffered during my school needlework classes * shudder *  Die cutting with my Dress Up Framelits dies is the closest I shall ever come to dressmaking!  Just as well needlework is not my thing, I'd have a very hard job resisting pretty fabrics - I'm very glad to have kind friends who give me their leftover fabric pieces! 

Supplies for thank you card:
Stamps: SU! 'Thank You Kindly', 'Sweet Essentials' & 'Flowering Flourishes' sets
CS: SU! Barely Banana, Elegant Eggplant & Whisper White
Ink: SU! Elegant Eggplant
Tools: SU! Dress Up Framelits die, Spellbinder's Labels 4 & Labels Trio dies, plain & scallop oval punches, 1 3/4" & 2" circle punches
Embellishments & accessories: purple sparkly fabric, SU! Elegant Eggplant grosgrain ribbon, silver lurex ribbon, Dovecraft button, silver pearls, 3D foam tape


Supplies for to you from me card:
Stamps: SU! 'Best Yet' & 'Flowering Flourishes' sets
CS: SU! Elegant Eggplant & Whisper White, Canford metallic silver CS
Ink: SU! Elegant Eggplant
Tools: SU! Dress Up Framelits die, Apothecary Accents Framelits die, plain & scalloped circle punches, Itty Bitty Flower punch, corner rounder punch, SU! Essentials Paper-Piercing Pack, Paper-Piercing Tool
Embellishments & accessories: purple sparkly fabric, SU! Elegant Eggplant grosgrain ribbon, Dovecraft button, SU! Rhinestone Jewels, 3D foam tape

Field Flowers Happy Birthday CASEd Card

I really love the card on page 181 of the UK SU! catalogue made with the Field Flowers set and I decided I'd  CASE it.  It gave me the chance to use the Essentials Paper-Piercing Pack which I've had for a while but not got around to using yet.  Yeah, I really like the style but I'm not keen on the colours  - I'm not a fan of yellow and orange!  I used Primrose Petals and Midnight Muse for my card.

I made the A6 sized card with the fold at the side 'cos they stand up better than tent fold cards that have the fold at the top.  However, that creates a small issue if you want to wrap ribbon around the card - but I solved that issue by cutting a small slit in the spine, threading the ribbon through and I then tied a bow.   I stamped the solid flowers after inking the stamp with Primrose Petals ink and stamping off twice and then I stamped the outline flowers in full strength Primrose Petals ink.  I fussy cut the three flowers, glued one flat to the Apothecary Accents die cut shape and popped the two front flowers up.  I then popped the whole white shape up on the card front.  I added the birthday sentiment banner and some rhinestone jewels to finish off the front.

Here's the inside of the card and the envelope.  These flowers from the Field Flowers set are just so beautiful!

Supplies:
Stamps: SU! Field Flowers & Itty Bitty Banners sets
CS: SU! Primrose Petals & Whisper White
Ink: SU! Primrose Petals, Midnight Muse & Lucky Limeade
Tools: SU! Apothecary Accents Framelits die, Large Scallop Edgelits die, Essentials Paper-Piercing Pack & Paper-Piercing Tool
Embellishments & accessories: SU! Midnight Muse Stitched Satin ribbon, Rhinestone Jewels, Dimensionals

Gingerbread Sending Smiles Card - 52 {C}CT Apr Sketch Challenge

Our first April challenge for you at 52 {C}CT is this sketch - it's a goodie! 

  

It's a very versatile layout, I think it will work well with square or rectangular cards and would also look great in portrait orientation.  I decided I'd stick with landscape and I've used a 7" x 5" white card base.  I opted to ink up the cheery gingerbread man from the SU! Scentsational Season set and as he has a big smile I thought the 'sending smiles' sentiment was perfect!  I stamped three gingerbread men using Gingerbread chalk ink and I die cut them out.  I assembled the bottom panel, adding gingham ribbon and a die cut border edge to a piece of Old Olive polka dot paper.  I glued that to the card and added a thin strip of Real Red CS at the top.  

I went back to my trio of gingerbread men and then an idea came to me - how about making it look like the gingerbread men were on a baking sheet?  I cut a rectangle of silver CS, rounded the corners, added handles made from parts of a shape cut out with the SU! Round Tab punch and added tiny silver brads.  I popped up the baking sheet with 2mm thick 3D foam tape and used 1mm tape to pop up the gingerbread men.  I stamped and punched the sentiment, layered that onto a Modern Label shape cut from red Glimmer Paper and popped it up.  I added 3 red glittered dome stickers and used the Owl Builder punch to cut out red Glimmer Paper dots to use as buttons on the gingerbread men.

 

For the inside I used Real Red and Old Olive markers to ink the sentiment, punched it out with a scalloped circle punch, layered it onto a red Glimmer Paper plain circle and glued that to a strip of the Old Olive dotty paper.

I stamped and die cut the mug, steam and candy cane from the Scentsational Season set for the envelope flap.  I inked the mug with Old Olive ink, removed the ink from the drink part with a blender pen and then used an Early Espresso marker to add the drink colour.  I cut a slit in the mug, cut off the hook of the candy cane, tucked the steam and cane into the slit and taped them behind the mug.  I had a red Glimmer Paper dot left over and I glued that to the centre of the snowflake to finish off.

I hope you'll give this fab layout a try and enter our 52 {C}CT challenge this week, the other DT members will have great cards to inspire you!  I look forward to visiting your blogs and seeing your Christmas creations!

Supplies:
Stamps: SU! 'Scentsational Season' & 'Wacky Wishes' sets, Hero Arts 'Mini Messages' Sparkle Clear mini set
CS: PaperMania 7" x 5" white card blank, SU! Real Red & Whisper White, red Glimmer Paper, Canford metallic silver CS
Patterned paper: SU! Polka Dot Parade DSP
Ink: VersaMagic Gingerbread chalk ink, SU! Old Olive, Real Red & Early Espresso, blender pen
Tools: dies from SU! Holiday Collection Framelits dies set, SU! Finishing Touches Edgelits die, SU! 2 3/8" scallop circle, 2 1/2" plain circle, Word Window, Modern Label, Round Tab & Owl Builder punches
Embellishments & accessories: red gingham ribbon, tiny silver brads, PaperMania red glittered dome stickers, 2mm & 1mm 3D foam tapes

Z Fold Happy Easter Card & Gable Box

I don't know why but I just wasn't enthused about Easter this year - possibly the very chilly weather hasn't helped.  I mean, here we are the 4th April and I'm watching snow flakes swirling around outside!  I usually make around half a dozen Easter cards but this year it just didn't happen.  I was thinking I might send out springtime wishes cards after Easter but folks I usually get Easter cards from didn't send them out either.  So now I don't feel quite so bad!  I must admit my Easter was pretty miserable 'cos I was battling a throat infection and felt awful.  I'm not feeling all that much better yet and I think a second trip to the doctor's may be in order.  I didn't even eat any chocolate - although ice cream has been a soothing treat now and again!

I did manage to make a card and a gift box for Jan and Alan though.  I pinned this card by Dawn Olchefske to Pinterest ages ago.  It features the faux mother of pearl technique and I thought I'd like to give it a go.  I bought the Frost White shimmer paint in preparation months ago but it's only just recently that I got around to trying it out.  I cut a piece of Whisper White CS, scrunched up some cling film and dabbed on the shimmer paint.  Once that was dry, I sponged Baja Breeze over the panel and stamped the cherry blossom image using black StazOn ink.  I used inks and a blender pen to colour the image.  I stamped the sentiment, cut the panel to the size I wanted and layered it onto a narrow black mat.  I then layered onto Lucky Limeade and Pretty in Pink mats and added the pink pearls.  I made a 5 3/4" square Z fold card using Baja Breeze CS and I adhered the image panel.  

Here's a close up of the faux mother of pearl panel.

I glued white CS to the inside, stamped the cherry blossom a few times and sponged the edges with Baja Breeze ink.  I know Jan loves the little girl silhouette image so I had to include her too! Then I stamped and punched the sentiment oval element.

For the envelope flap I stamped and fussy cut eggs and layered onto circles.

I really like the Natural Composition DSP to make these gable boxes so I used that - even though it doesn't match the card I made, I'm sure Jan and Alan will let me off!  You can find instructions on how to make these gable boxes using the SU! Scallop Envelope die on Jenni's blog here.  I die cut a rosette flower and some leaves and added a Designer Builder Brad in the centre of the rosette.  I stamped the cherry blossom image using Daffodil Delight ink onto the Apothecary Accents label, stamped the sentiment and tied it to the Daffodil Delight ribbon bow.

A side view of the box.  Hmmm, so what was nestled inside the tissue paper inside the box?  There were lots of Lindor mini eggs, two mini Lindt Easter bunnies and two Lindt carrots.

A close up of the rosette and leaves.

Finally, here's a close up of the tag.

Supplies for card:
Stamps: SU! 'Easter Blossoms' set
CS: SU! Baja Breeze, Lucky Limeade, Pretty in Pink, Basic Black & Whisper White
Ink: Black StazOn, Memento Tuxedo Black, SU! Baja Breeze, Pretty in Pink, Regal Rose, Rose Red & Lucky Limeade, blender pen
Tools: SU! scalloped & plain oval punches, Perfect Layers, sponge daubers
Embellishments & accessories: SU! Frost White Shimmer Paint, cling film, pink pearls

Supplies for gable box:
Stamps: SU! 'Easter Blossoms' set
CS: SU! Lucky Limeade & Whisper White
Patterned paper:  SU! Natural Composition Specialty, Polka Dot Parade & In Color DSP packs
Ink: SU! Daffodil Delight & Lucky Limeade
Tools: SU! Scallop Envelope die, Apothecary Accents Framelits die, plain oval punch, tiny circle punch, Tim Holtz Paper Rosette Decorative Strip die, Memory Box Fresh Leaves dies
Embellishments & accessories:  SU! Daffodil Delight stitched ribbon, Designer Builder Brad, Whisper White baker's twine

Hot Air Balloons Happy Hello Card - Inkspirational Challenge #14

As it's the first challenge of April at Inkspirational we're kicking off with a colour challenge.  A very springy palette of pink, banana and slate.

I've used SU! Barely Banana and Pretty in Pink with white and a dash of  Early Espresso as neutrals.  The slate was stumping me for a bit until I remembered Wisteria Wonder has quite a bit of grey in it and could act as the slate colour.   I've used the very cheery hot air balloons from the SU! Up, Up & Away set.  I bought this set ages ago and I've dabbled with it a couple of times but nothing has ever made it onto a card as I haven't been happy with my end results.  Sadly, this means the set has remained neglected and overlooked in the drawer.  When I saw the Cloudy Day embossing folder I thought "aha, that would be great to use with the balloons" and now I'm happily creating cards with the set - hooray!  Huge thanks to Jan for loaning me her Cloudy Day folder until I get my own!

I embossed the white panel with the clouds and stamped the birds.  I stamped the balloons and fussy cut them, I glued the Wisteria Wonder one down flat to the embossed panel, popped the Daffodil Delight one up with 1mm foam tape and popped the Pretty in Pink one up with 2mm foam tape.  I added a strip of striped ribbon and popped up the sentiment label.  I layered the white panel onto Wisteria Wonder and Early Espresso mats and glued the whole thing to a Barely Banana 5 1/4" card base.  I sprinkled on a touch of sparkle with a few pink rhinestone jewels.

I stamped the birds and stamped and fussy cut three more balloons for inside the card.  I popped up the Wisteria Wonder balloon.

I then used the Simply Scored tool with the Diagonal Plate to make a Wisteria Wonder dotty patterned paper envelope.  I've added a name label and two more balloons - the pink one has been popped up.  Now I've started stamping with the balloons, I can't stop LOL!

Please stop by the Inkspirational blog to see what the other DT members have created to inspire you and then I hope you'll join in with this fab colour challenge.  I'm looking forward to seeing what you create for us!

Supplies:
Stamps: SU! 'Up, Up & Away' set, Hero Arts ??? Sparkle Clear mini set
CS: SU! Barely Banana, Wisteria Wonder, Early Espresso & Whisper White
Ink: SU! Daffodil Delight, Wisteria Wonder, Pretty in Pink & Early Espresso
Tools: SU! Cloudy Day embossing folder, Word Window & Modern Label punches, Simply Scored & Diagonal Plate, Apothecary Accents Framelits die, oval punch, Stamp-a-ma-jig, Perfect Layers
Embellishments & accessories: SU! Pretty in Pink striped grosgrain ribbon, PaperMania pink rhinestone jewels, 1mm & 2mm 3D foam tape

Roses Fantastic Day Card - Inkspirational Challenge #13

It's sketch time at Inkspirational this week and I'm here with an end of the week encouragement post.  If you haven't joined in with the challenge yet, take a look, it's a fab layout!  It would be great if you played along with us, I'd love to come and see your interpretations!

My card started off with the pretty patterned paper, once I'd chosen that I knew which stamps and colours I wanted to use and I was away.  I used my Circle Scissor tool to cut the semi circles at the side.  The white looked too stark left as it was so I stamped a background stamp in Antique Linen ink, it's very subtle but it made a difference.  I stamped the roses and leaves, fussy cut them and popped them up.  I used an oval punch layered onto an Apothecary Accent die for my sentiment - that die has such a beautiful shape!  For the three small circle elements of the layout I positioned two pearls and placed a silver brad between them. 

Ta dah, surprise - it's not a conventional card - the semi circle swings up to reveal a birthday sentiment!  I glued the Pool Party semi circle to the patterned paper and attached my front semi circle with the brad to enable it to swing up.  I then glued the whole thing to an A5 piece of Riding Hood Red CS to form the card.  I love cards with an unexpected twist!  The layout made this card come together so quickly and easily, it was really fun to make!

I fussy cut three pretty roses from the patterned paper to adorn my envelope flap. 

I hope I've inspired you to try this sketch layout, please check out what the other DT members have come up with also and then do join us at Inkspirational!

Supplies:
Stamps: Clearly Besotted 'Blooming Marvellous' clear set, both sentiments from Hero Arts, Penny Black 'Delicate Pattern' background stamp
CS: SU! Riding Hood Red, Pool Party & Whisper White
Patterned paper:  My Mind's Eye Miss Caroline 'Wild Flower'
Ink: SU! Riding Hood Red & Pool Party, Antique Linen Distress Ink
Tools: EK Success Circle Scissor Plus, SU! Apothecary Accents Framelits die, SU! oval punch
Embellishments & accessories: aqua pearls, silver brad, Dimensionals