Je T'aime Card

I know Valentine's Day is not typically a huge card-making holiday.  But, I usually try to use it as an opportunity to send a little love to a few special people in my life.  However, I've been so busy in the last few weeks that I wasn't able to get my cards made.  

No worries...it's my stash to the rescue.  My first stop was my box of handmade cards that I keep on tap for "emergencies."  A quick search revealed this lovely little card that I had forgotten about.  

It was super simple to make.  The textured circle was made with a craft punch and an embossing folder.  And how adorable is the little girl?!  The graphic was a free printable from The Black Apple.  The illustrator has some amazing artwork. Definitely worth a look see.

Here's hoping you all have a wonderful Valentine's Day with lots of love!

Thanks for looking.

A little Trick and Treat

Hello my wonderful crafty friends, Sharette here with my monthly post; but before I do that I have  to say "Happy Anniversary to Tiara and SOC wow 10 years that's  along time in any form; yet alone in the crafting world. We all know it's because of supporters and fellow crafters such as you all. 

 With Halloween just a few days away of course I wanted to do a. "Halloween card"  I used a dig from one of my favorite site "Simply Betty Stamps"  this is "Devilish Betty Boo"  she is a digi I printed her out and colored her with my Prisma colored pencils, I added some glitter to her tail and horns and her sparkling drink.  Cars srock is from PTI. DPI and doily are from recollections from Michaels. The cute banner is a sticker from "jokers boutique." Sentiment came with the digi.

Here is a close up of her. She is just so sassy and cute to me.  Now it's your turn; if you have any "holloween or Harvest projects that you want to share I would love to see them. Or if you have any comments or questions; please feel free to leave a comment. I hope you all enjoy the rest of the month.


Happy Crafting.

Sharette

A Pile of Leaves

Ahh, autumn is officially here! It is my most favorite season of all.  The colorful trees are like beautiful bouquets of flowers...except tree-sized.  I was inspired to create a card that displayed the beauty of the changing leaves.  

It was simple to create, although there was a bit of fussy cutting involved.  To create this card print out photographs of fallen leaves.  If you don't have any, you can find lots of pictures online (these are the leaves that I used).  Once the leaves are printed, cut each leaf out being sure not to leave any white space around the edges.  Next, adhere the leaves to a card base in a random layout, try not to leave any of the card base showing.  The goal is to mimic the way leaves look when they fall naturally to the ground.  Finally add a sentiment and baker's twine to finish the card.  I chose a wooden sentiment from Studio Calico to keep with the organic feel.

This was a different style of card for me, but I really like how it turned out.  

Thanks for looking!

Easter Themed Card Box (A tutorial)!

Hello there!

I hope this Good Friday finds you in good spirit and with many crafty things on your to-do list this weekend!

For your viewing pleasure today, I've created what I hope is an in-depth tutorial as to how I made the box below.

 

I  made this box with the idea that I would also make coordinating cards to go inside of it (below).

I wanted to make a box that would have the following specs:
- only uses 1, 12x12 sheet of cardstock
- has a closure of some kind (in my case, a magnet closure)

The final dimensions of this box are: 8" x 3.5" x 1".

In doing so, I drew out a mini sketch to get the ball rolling:

And then I started getting crafty!

Tools you'll need include:
- a score tool of some kind
- scissors
- glue
- pretty papers and embellishments to decorate the box with!

Set your paper up on/with whichever scoring tool you're using.
I'm using my MS score board.

Score the paper initially at 1", 2", 5.5", 6.5", 10" and 11".
A total of 6 score lines!

Rotate the paper counter clockwise by 90 degrees and score at 1" and 2".

Rotate the paper AGAIN, but this time by 180 degrees and score again at 1" and 2".

You now have 4 scored lines perpendicular to the first set of score lines.

You end up with the same setup as what I have pictured above.
Once all lines are scored, using the guide above, cut out all the squares within the score lines marked with an "X".

You end up with this cool shape.

Fold all of the score lines.

Now that we see where all the lines will fold, cut out the section of the folded area shown above.

You're left with a tab like piece.

And again for the other side...

You can now start adding the glue! We first add glue to the tab we just finished making.

Then we bring the adjoining side up to meet the glued tab. 

Then we add glue to the top flap and glue it to the adjoining flap on top. 

Do the same for the other side/other tab.

Box is starting to come together!!! Whee!!

I used magnet closures on my box. You could of course use ribbon, seam binding, etc.

I marked the center of the flap where my magnet would go.

Then I added the other side of the magnet to the outer edge of the box where the flap would overlap.

This is the reason I added that extra 1" to the side with the closure.
If you will not be using a magnet, this could also be the side in which you hide any ends to seam binding or ribbon.
All you would need to do instead is pierce a tiny hole for it to come through. :)

I used my Deco corner chomper to do the edges of the box flaps.

Then I used my coredinations sanding block to rough up all the corners.

I then used some Sweet Sentiments paper from the 12x12 paper pack from Graphic 45 as the base paper for my box.

I also layered another sheet, this time from the 8x8 pad. Also from Sweet Sentiments.

Then I used some recollections bling stickers for my Easter greeting.
I also used a pencil to roll down the top left edge of the second layer of paper.
(It's easier to roll the paper if you mist it with water first!)

Then I threw on some random flowers and bling from my stash, and voila!
(Front View)

(Back View)

Phew!

I hope that wasn't an overload of a tutorial. :)

Oh! And I forgot to mention, I distressed ALL the edges of ALL the papers I used, except the paper I used for the base of the box.

Thanks so much for dropping by!
If you have any questions, please post them in the comment section and I'll hopefully be able to answer them!

Also! Please post a link to your blog or image gallery should you choose to make this box as well! I love looking at your pretty altered boxes!! :D

Super warm hugs!

Krafty Kerry signing off!
http://kerryscoolcreations.blogspot.com

Friends

Friends…everybody needs them or so the song says and I have to agree its true. I spent the weekend at the home of one friend and in the company of others. I could have stayed with family as I was in my home town, but this weekend was all about friends. When you live out of town and visit home everyone wants to see you; but you only have so much time. So this weekend I only saw my son cause he has the new Grand Guy and the rest of my time was spent with my crafting buddies.

Friday night we went to Ms. Vicky’s and I taught a bit of mixed media. We sprayed and applied gesso and modeling paste and matte medium and paint and on on mixed media goes. Our surface was a piece of mixed media paper and the completed panel is all well, pretty and good. But what do you do with it now?

You make a card to thank the home that received you, that feed you and chauffeured you around town.

I made a Center Step card. It is easy to do.

• Your card base measures 5.5” by 11.
• You cut a slit 1 inch in on the long side from 1’’ to 6.5” repeat on the other side.
• On both long sides score at 1”, 2”and 6.5” up to the slit (do not cross over).
• Beginning at the slit score at 5.5” in the center and end at the other slit.
• Mountain fold at the 1”score; Valley fold at the 2” score. Pinch a mountain fold in the center at the 5.5” score line and the 6.5 inch fold should fold itself. Burnish all your folds with a bone folder and your base is ready.

I cut up the mixed media panel to fit the card base both inside and out;

and also made 2 tags (Spellbinders labels ten) and a front pocket with a window cut in it for my sentiment. I added some stitching and my card only needed some personal words.

 

Its good to travel and its good to see Friends!

 

In His Hands,

QueenPam

Dance with Watermark Resist

This is my first blog post on Scraps of Color.  I’m not sure if I’m more nervous or excited.  Actually, in this moment, I think I’m more “envious” of the lucky ladies that were at the Scraps of Color Retreat in Atlanta this past weekend!

I want say a BIG THANK YOU for the warm welcomes that I received upon joining the Scraps of Color Blog Creative Team. There are some truly talented ladies on this team and I hope that I do not disappoint.

What I created to share with you is a card using one of my favorite techniques – Adirondack Dye Ink Watermark Resist.  I learned this technique at Ranger University and it has remained one of my favorite “go to” techniques.  Something about it just says “wow!”

Supplies: Ranger Watermark Resist; Ranger Archival Ink: Jet Black, Olive, Saffron, Sienna; Rubbernecker stamps: Kiyana, Hope You Dance Text; My Mind’s Eye Blackbird “Big Dot”; Paper Accents Black cardstock; DCWV Olive cardstock; Tim Holtz Distress Ink Rusty Hinge, Kaiser Craft Pearls; Spellbinders A2 Matting Basics A & B; Heat-it Craft Tool; brayer.

Here’s the technique:

1. Stamp image with Watermark Resist Ink Pad on Gloss Paper.
2. Dry ink with Heat-it Craft Tool for a few seconds only.
3. Brayer over image with various colors of Adirondack Dye Ink. 
4. Repeat with additional layers working ink into the cardstock.
5. Lightly wipe off excess ink from Gloss Paper with paper towel.  This will create a batik-like effect.

Well, I shared one of my favorite “go-to” techniques. What are some of your favorites?