Beyond the Garden VIII

This cute handbag can hold 3" x 3" notecards.  I was inspired by Gwen W.  You can find her picture tutorial HERE. 

Stampin' Up! Products

• Pacific Point cardstock
• Box inside the bag
• Measurements 5 1/2" x 3 3/4"
• ---Score at 1" on all sides
• Cut 2 pieces using Round Tab punch
• ---Cut each in half
• Whisper White cardstock
• Purse edges, cut two 1/2" x 11"
• Beyond the Garden Designer Series Paper
• Purse - 11" x 3"
• Broadsheet Alphabet stamp set
• Pacific Point ink
• Circle 1 1/4" & 1 3/8", Round Tab and Trio Flower punches
• Whisper White Bakers Twine - 7"
• Crop-a-Dile
• Sticky Strip
• Basic Pearl Jewels
• Uni-ball Signo® White Gel Pen

Other Products

• Two 8" pieces of 5/8" ribbon
• 1/4" white eyelet

Secret Garden Sympathy

Stampin' Up! Products

• So Saffron cardstock
• Card base measures 11" x 4 1/4 (scored at 2 3/4" x 5 1/2")
• Outside flap and inside card layers measure 4" x 3" (cut 2 total)
• Scrap for flower
• Old Olive cardstock
• Outside flap layer measures 3 3/4" x 2 3/4"
• Left side front measures 2 1/2"x 4"
• Whisper White cardstock
• Outside flap measures 3 1/2" x 2 1/2"
• Inside card layer measures 3 3/4" x 2 3/4"
• Patterns Designer Series Paper (retired)
• Left side front measures 2 1/4" x 3 3/4"
• Fabulous Florets, Love and Sympathy and Secret Garden stamp sets
• Stazon Jet Black and Versamark ink
• Black embossing powder (used for the flowers)
• Secret Garden Framelits
• Dimensionals
• Heat tool

I stamped, embossed each flower layer.  I cut out one of the flowers using the Secret Garden Framelit die.  The second flower was trimmed by hand.

Lost in the Bermuda Triangle

I was inspired to create a card similar to Linda Aarhus's card HERE.  I spent hours, yes hours, trying to recreate the triangle using the least amount of paper*. 

Once I was happy (sort of), I began to put my card together. One hour later, finally, I emerged from this Bermuda Triangle I created.

Stampin' Up! Products

• Rose Red cardstock
• Card base measures 5 1/2" x 4 1/4"
• The two triangle layers were created out of one 5" x 3 3/4" piece of paper
• Raspberry Tart Designer Series Paper
• Card layer measures 5 1/4" x 4"
• The two triangle layers were created out of one 4 5/8" x 3 3/8" piece of paper
• Kiwi Kiss
• Sentiment layer, for added depth I glued two cut outs together
• Leaves
• Just Believe and Vintage Vogue stamp sets
• Kiwi Kiss and Rose Red ink
• Blossom, Blossom Petals Builder, Modern Label and Word Window punches
• Birds & Blooms Sizzlit dies
• Framelits Apothecary Accents
• Basic Pearl Jewels
• Multi-Purpose Liquid Glue
• Dimensionals

Other Products

• Brad

*How did I do it?  Get the complete instructions in PDF format, by clicking HERE.

Fall Flowers

Stampin' Up! Products

• More Mustard cardstock
• Card base measures 4 1/4" x 5 1/2"
• Layer measures 3 1/2" x 4 3/4"
• Layer measures 1 1/2" x 4"
• Chocolate Chip cardstock
• Layer measures 3 3/4" x 5"
• Sage Shadow cardstock
• Scrap for leaves
• Autumn Vine Designer Series Paper (DSP)
• Layer measures 3 1/4" x 4 1/2"
• Layer measures 1 1/4" x 3 3/4"
• Itty Bitty Banners stamp set
• Chocolate Chip, More Mustard and Sage Shadow ink
• Birds & Blooms and Framelits Bitty Banners dies
• Blossom and Blossom Petals Builders hand punches
• Sponge
• I sponged Sage Shadow on the leaves and went over them again using More Mustard ink
• Dimensionals (under the More Mustard 3 1/2" x 4 3/4" piece)

Other Products

• Brad

Live Simply (in Polka Dots)

Stampin' Up! Products

• Really Rust cardstock
• 2 3/4" x 4 3/4", then use Scallop Trim Border punch
• 2 1/2" x 3 1/2"
• Whisper White cardstock
• 2 1/4" x 3 1/4"
• Old Olive cardstock
• Scrap for leaves
• Fall Flowers Designer Series Paper
• 4" x 5 1/4"
• 1 3/4" x 4 3/4"
• Trust God stamp set
• Really Rust ink
• 5-Petal Flower and Scallop Trim Border hand punches
• Birds & Blooms Sizzlits dies
• Dimensionals

Other Products

• Brad 1/8"

Lattice Cross

Stampin' Up! Products

• Crushed Curry cardstock
• Card base measures 4 1/4" x 5 1/2" (folded)
• 1 3/4" x 5" for cross from Lattice Bigz die
• Dusty Durango
• Card layer measures 4" x 5 1/4"
• Scraps for stamping butterfly
• Old Olive cardstock
• Scraps for leaves
• Whisper White cardstock
• Layer is 3 3/4" x 5"
• Designer Series Paper Patterns (DSP) - Dusty Durango
• 4" x 7/8"
• Papillon Potpourri and Trust God stamp sets
• Dusty Durango ink
• VersaMark ink (for embossing)
• Bird Builder and Elegant Butterfly hand punches
• Lattice Bigz die
• Embossing - Black
• Heat tool
• Two-way Glue Pen
• Dimensionals

These are some of the steps I took to create this card.  After determining the size of my card layers, I held them together with sticky notes.  At this point I wasn't sure how I would arrange the patterned paper, cross, leaves and butterfly.

I glued together the Crushed Curry card base and Dusty Durango card layer.  I determined the best layout for the DSP, cross and sentiment.

I stamped the sentiment on the Whisper White cardstock and attached this layer to the card. 

I used temporary adhesive to hold the lattice cross in place.  I moved the leaves around and decided how I wanted to place the leaves and butterfly. 

I took another cross and set of leaves, mimicked the leaf layout and glued the leaves in place on the cross.

I glued the finished cross to my card.

I glued one embossed butterfly directly on the card.  I placed a Dimensional to the other butterfly, lightly bent the wings and attached it to the card

Tango!

It takes two to Tango!  I liked how this card turned out and I made more than two (five to be exact). 

Stampin' Up! Products

• Tangerine Tango cardstock
• Card base measures 5 1/2" x 4 1/4"
• Layer measures 5" x 3 3/4"
• So Saffron cardstock
• Layer measures 5 1/8" x 3 7/8"
• Strip for Scallop Trim Border; start with 6" x 1", punch, then trim
• Old Olive cardstock
• Strip measures 5" x 1/4"
• Leaves
• Haiku Designer Series Paper
• Layer measures 5" x 1 3/4"
• Trendy Trees stamp set
• Stazon Jet Black ink
• Blossom, Blossom Builder and Scallop Trim Border punches
• Birds & Blooms Sizzlits
• Dimensionals

Other Products

• Brad

Frugal tip:  I punched out the large flower using the So Saffron cardstock layer.  Insert punch into cardstock as far as you can.  The Tangerine Tango and DSP layers cover up the punchout.

Do you have any frugal tips you can share?

Creating Cards from Scratch

Sometimes I struggle creating a card from scratch.  Most of my inspiration - okay, all of my inspiration comes from the talented cardmakers that share their love of crafting online.  Several crafting websites have weekly contests on creating a card from a card map.  Clean and Simple Stamping (click HERE) is one of those websites.

I am trying to use discontinued cardstock and pattern paper.  With that in mind, I pulled out one of my favorite green - Kiwi Kiss and the coordinating Patterns Designer Series Paper and started looking for a card map.

I choose this card map ---- >

...and grabbed my cardstock, Color Coach, Big Shot and adhesive to come up with.....

Stampin' Up! Products

• Kiwi Kiss cardstock
• Card base measures 4 1/4" x 5 1/2"
• Perfect Plum cardstock
• 3 1/4" x 4 1/2"
• 5" x 1/2" strip
• Pale Plum cardstock
• Scrap
• Whisper White cardstock
• 3" x 1 3/4"
• Patterns Designer Series Paper
• 3" x 2 1/2"
• Perfect Plum ink
• On Your Birthday stamp set
• Birds & Blooms Sizzlit die
• Small Oval Punch
• Crimper
• Dimensionals

Other Products

• White brad

The Popular Z Fold Card

The Z Fold Card is a hot design on a few message boards.  The look is very similar to the Joy Fold Card; however, this stands on display much better than the Joy Fold.

Stampin' Up! Products

• Crushed Curry card base
• 11" x 4 1/4" (scored at 2 3/4" and 5 1/2")
• 4" x 3" (cut 2)
• Melon Mambo cardstock
• 5 1/4" x 4"
• 2 1/2" x 4"
• 3 3/4" x 2 3/4" (outside of card)
• Razzleberry Lemonade Designer Series Paper
• Left side (outside of card) measures 2 1/4" x 3 3/4"
• Inside measures 5" x 3 3/4"
• Whisper White cardstock
• 3 1/2" x 2 1/2" (outside)
• 3 3/4" x 2 3/4"
• Old Olive cardstock
• Leaves (cut 5)
• Happiest Birthday Wishes stamp set
• Melon Mambo, Old Olive and Rich Razzleberry inks
• Sponges (flower only)
• Bird Builder Blossom Builder and Blossom hand punches
• Birds & Bloom Sizzlit dies

Other products

• Brad
  
  

Blossoms Easel Card

For a unique card layout, try the Easel Card. Basic instructions can be found at Splitcoaststampers.com. If you wish to duplicate my card, please refer to the measurements below.

Stampin' Up! Products

• Certain Celery Cardstock
• Main section of the Easel Card measures 4 1/4" x 11", scored at 2 3/4" and 5 1/2"
• Top section of the Easel Card measures 4 1/4" x 5 1/2"
• Old Olive cardstock
• Card layer measures 4" x 5 1/4" (cut two)
• Scrap piece
• Very Vanilla cardstock (inside of card)
• Card layer measures 3 3/4" x 5"
• Baja Breeze cardstock - for blossoms
• Green Tea Designer Series Paper

• Top card layer measures 3 3/4" x 5"
• Lace Ribbon Border punch
• Finished length is 5 1/4"
• Blossom punch
• Bird & Blooms Sizzlits dies
• Inside embellishment
• Decorative Label, Scallop Oval, Small and Large Oval and Trio Flower punches
• Jewels Basic Pearls
• Old Olive ink
• Teeny Tiny Wishes stamp set
• Dimensionals

Other Products

• Brads

CASEing - A Simple Tutorial

When I saw this card online (created by a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator named Claire), I knew it would be perfect for my Card Mission for the United Methodist Women of First United Methodist Church of Jasper.

When I find a card online that I like, recreating the card can take some time and possibly waste of precious cardstock.  I use a very simple method to recreate the card.  Using inexpensive cardstock, I cut the cardstock layers to the size I think will work for the card.  I write the width and height on each piece cardstock and keep them as templates in a folder. It is so much easier to take the different size card templates I created (from my folder) to more accurately "guess" each card layer size.  Time Saver AND Paper Saver! 

Stampin' Up! Products

• Lavender Lace cardstock

• Card base measures 5 1/2" x 4 1/4"
• Basic Black cardstock
• Layer measures 3 3/4" x 3 1/4"
• Strip measures 1 1/2" x 4 1/4"
• Old Olive cardstock
• Strip measures 1 1/4" x 4 1/4"
• Whisper White cardstock
• Layer measures 3 1/2" x 3"
• Fresh Vintage Stamp set
• Lavender Lace and Old Olive Stampin' Write Markers
• Scallop Circle and 1 1/4" x 1 3/8" Circle punches
• Designer Jewels - Black Flourish

Other Products

• Sentiments were created on my computer and printed on Whisper White cardstock and punched out

I also did the same card using Ballet Blue cardstock.  This time, I added a slight change - on the Old Olive strip (1 1/4" x 4 1/4") I stamped the image using Old Olive ink.  I also placed the sentiment layers at the bottom edge. Dimensionals were placed under the scallop circle punch.


*CASE means Copy and Share Everything. 

I have also used various software programs to create my layer templates.  One program you can use is Stampin' Up!'s My Digital Studio.  I have more experience using Microsoft products and have used Microsoft Publisher to create my layer templates.  For those who are not familiar with Publisher, the simple cardstock layer template mentioned above is all you need to save time and money.

Get Well Soon

Stampin' Up! Products

• Ballet Blue cardstock
• Card base measures 4 1/4" x 5 1/2"
• Sage Shadow cardstock
• Layer measures 4" x  5 1/4"
• Whisper White cardstock
• Layer measures 3 3/4" x 5"
• Mixed Bunch and Sincere Saluations stamp sets
• Ballet Blue and Sage Shadow inks and Stazon Jet Black ink
• Blossom, Blossom Petals , 1" Circle and Owl Builder (flower circle center) punches
• Dimensionals

Other Products

• Brad

Almost Amethyst Tea Party

Have you ever gone into your craft room and can't even create a simple card?  That has been my problem for the last few days.  If you are not familiar with Clean & Simple (CAS), check out the blog HERE.   To inspire card makers, this blog uses "card maps."  The card map used for this card is at the bottom of this posting.  You can access all the card maps from this blog HERE.

I am not in love with this card, but I know the recipient will love that I took the time to say "thinking of you."

Stampin' Up! Products

• Almost Amethyst cardstock
• Card base measures 5 1/2"x 4 1/4"
• Strip measures 5" x 1/2"
• Certainly Celery
• Scraps for leaves
• Pretty in Pink cardstock
• Card layer measures 5 1/4" x 4"
• Tea Party Designer Series Paper
• 5" x 1 1/2"
• 5" x 2 1/2"
• Almost Amethyst, Basic Black, Certainly Celery and Pretty in Pink ink
• Trendy Tree stamp set
• Blossom, Blossom Builder, Modern Label and Word Window punches
• Bird & Blooms Sizzlits die
• Sponges

Other Products

• Brad

Creativity Can Take Months

I started making a Joy Fold Card in early November using my new favorite color combination Elegant Eggplant and More Mustard.  I prepared are the cardstock layers and I drew a blank on what stamp set I should use.  I pushed the cardstock pieces aside and waited, and waited, and waited until last week.  Over two months to create one card - seriously??  I am glad I didn't toss the cardstock pieces into my scrap bin to be used for another project. 

Stampin' Up! Products

• Elegant Eggplant cardstock
• More Mustard cardstock
• Fresh Vintage (Sale-A-Bration freebie!!!), On Your Birthday and Well Script stamp sets
• More Mustard ink and Elegant Eggplant and More Mustard Stampin' Write markers
• Punches
• Circle - 1", 3/4" and 1/2"
• Boho Blossoms
• Dimensionals

I loved the card so much; I thought it would make a great Valentine's Day card using Basic Black and Real Red cardstock.

Joy Fold Basic Measurements

Card Bases (Basic Black)

• Main Card 8 1/2” x 4 1/4” (score at 5 1/2”)
• Smaller Card 3” x 8” (score at 4”)

Main Card Base Layers (Real Red)

• Main Card inside measures 5 1/4” x 4"
• Right side measures 2 3/4” x 4" (If you want your card to open differently, this layer would be on the left side.)

Smaller Card Layers (Whisper White)

• Outside and inside layers both measure 3 3/4” x 2 3/4”

Constructing the closure made for this card

• The 1" circle is glued to front of the card on the the right side of the card. 
• Layer together the 1/2" circle onto to the Boho Blossom flower, then glue them onto the 3/4" circle punch out.  Place a Dimensional on the back and attach to the 1" circle already glued to the card. 

There are so many ways you can create a closure.  Check out my other Joy Fold Cards for more closure ideas.

Chris Twina created a great video tutorial on the Joy Fold card. The video with step by step instructions including measurements can be found here.  I am so grateful for the talented women who share and create wonderful tutorials. Comments are always appreciated; please leave Chris a comment or at least a "thumbs up" on her YouTube webpage.

Valentine's Day Card - Free Workshop

Stampin' Up! Products

• Pretty in Pink cardstock
• Card base measures 5 1/2" x 4 1/4"
• Real Red cardstock
• Beginning measurement is 4 1/2" x 3 1/2.  Punch one side (longest length) using the Scallop Edge Border punch.  Final layer measures 4 1/2" x 3 1/4"
• Whisper White cardstock
• Layer measures 4 1/4" x 2 7/8"
• Basic Black cardstock
• Strip measures 3" x 1/8" (length may vary depending on where you stamped the sentiment)
• Stazon Jet Blake ink
• Stampin' Write Markers - Pretty in Pink and Real Red
• Fashion Hearts Embosslit
• Outlined Occasions stamp set
• Heart and Scallop Edge Border punches
• Dimensionals

Participants in my free workshop will make one of these cards.  Cardmaking experience - NONE!  Workshop is scheduled at 1:00 PM on Friday, January 27 and 10:00 AM on Saturday, January 28.  Class size is limited to five - RESERVATIONS REQUIRED.  Contact me by EMAIL.

If you would like to purchase the supplies used in creating one of these cards, please email me.  The supplies will include everything you need except for the stamped image.  Stampin' Up! does not allow selling of their stamped image in card kits. 

My card was inspired by Debra C. of Art Felt Impressions. 

Check back or follow me by email (top of blog) and see how I CASE (Copy and Share Everything) a card when no measurements are given.

Valentine Thinking of You

I donate an average of ten greeting cards (every month) to the United Methodist Women unit at my church (First United Methodist Church of Jasper).  Our United Methodist Women unit meets the first Monday of every month for a general meeting.  The individual circles also meet, usually the third Monday of the month. 

Charlene Stephenson, UMW President, adds a scripture to the inside of each card.  Charlene has a flair for choosing the perfect scripture for the type of card that is being sent (Thinking of You, Praying for You, Sympathy, etc.).  The cards are signed by everyone who attends the meeting(s).  My hope is that each card represents how much the person is loved.

I made six of these cards to send to members of our United Methodist Women who are not able to attend most meetings.  I thought they would be great Valentine greeting cards.  

Stampin' Up! Products

• Pretty in Pink cardstock
• Card base measures 4 1/4" x 5 1/2"
• Strip measures 3 3/4" x 7/8"
• Regal Rose cardstock
• Card base layer measures 4 " x 5 1/4"
• For lattice die begin with a piece of 3 1/4" x 5 1/2"
• Certainly Celery cardstock
• Loves Me Designer Series Paper
• Card base layers measures 3 3/4" x 5"
• Fashionable Hearts embosslit and Lattice Bigz dies
• Bird Builder hand punch
• Sincere Salutations stamp set
• Stazon Jet Black ink

Mixed Bunch of Flowers

Stampin' Up! products

• Brocade Blue cardstock
• Card base measures 4 1/4" x 5 1/2"
• Regal Rose cardstock
• Start with 1 3/8" x 6" strip and punch using Lace Border punch
• Whisper White cardstock
• 3" x 9" strip for stamping
• Brocade Blue, So Saffron and Regal Rose ink
• Blossom, Blossom Petals, 1" Circle, Modern Label and Word Window hand punches
• Dimensionals
• Mixed Bunch and Teeny Tiny Wishes stamp sets

Masculine Thinking of You

Stampin' Up! products

• Sage Shadow cardstock
• Card base measures 4 1/4" x 5 1/2"
• Chocolate Chip cardstock
• Strip 3/8" x 4 1/4"
• 2 7/8" x 2 7/8" for scallop circle
• Sahara Sand cardstock
• 2 7/8" x 2 7/8" for stamp image circle
• To the Nines Designer Series Paper (DSP)
• 4 1/4" x 3 1/4"
• Lovely as a Tree  and Teeny Tiny Labels stamp sets
• Chocolate Chip ink
• Corner Round, Modern Label, Wood Window punches
• Modern Label from the Movers & Shapers Curly Label Bigz XL die
• Multipurpose Liquid Glue

Other Products

• Circle and scallop circle dies

Helpful Hint - use liquid glue as your adhesive because of the textured DSP tends to pull away from adhesive tape.

Blossom and Mixed Bunch

Stampin' Up! products

• Cameo Coral cardstock
• Card base measures 4 1/4" x 5 1/2"
• Layer measures 2 1/4" x 3 1/2"
• Strip measures 4" x 1/4"
• Kiwi Kiss cardstock 4" x 1/4"
• Raspberry Tart Designer Series Paper
• 4" x 2 3/4"
• Whisper White cardstock
• Card base layer measures 4" x 5 1/4"
• Sentiment layer measures 2" x 3 1/4"
• Stamp sets
• Mixed Bunch
• Blessing from Heaven
• Easter Blossoms
• Kiwi Kiss and Stazon Jet Black ink
• Blossom and 1" circle punches
• Dimensionals
• Basic Pearl Jewels

All Occasion Planner

Amazing Crafters - Sharing Their Talents!

I am often inspired by the many women (mostly women) that share their talents to everyone via the internet. I have created a few tutorials in Adobe PDF and know how much time it takes to create on tutorial. I have not attempted to even make a video to post to YouTube. I use a customized search on YouTube and look every day for videos created with Stampin’ Up! tag lines. I stumbled on these videos this week and I had to create a planner for myself. I decided to make mine an all-occasion planner rather than a Christmas planner.

Check out these two videos by Michelle Suit to see the step-by-step process to make the planner. I did not come up with the planner idea and they are not my videos. Please take the time to “Like” the video and post a comment for Michelle. Videos: Part 1 and Part 2.  Please refer to Michelle's video for an explanation on how to put the planner together.

Stampin’ Up! Products

• Tangerine Tango cardstock
• 2 pieces, each measuring 8 1/2" x 11 (Score at 5 1/4" and 5 3/4" along the 11" length)
• 2 strips each measuring 4" x 1 3/8" (the final measurement after using the Scallop Trim Border punch is 4" x 1")
• Flower on envelope
• So Saffron cardstock
• 2 pieces, each measuring 5" x 4 (Score at 1/4", 1/2", 4 1/2" and 4 3/4" along the 5" length and score at 1/4" and 1/2" on one of the remaining sides (I constructed my pockets differently than Michelle)

• Front panel embellishment - circle
• Old Olive cardstock
• Front panel embellishment - scallop circle
• 1 3/8" circle
• Whisper White cardstock
• 1 1/4" circle
• Haiku Designer Series Paper
• 5" x 8 1/4"  to cover the panels.  (I covered four panels)
• 3/8" x 8 1/4" to cover the spines
• 4" x 1/2" for trim on pockets
• 5" x 2 1/4" to cover the legal pad (Score at 1" and 1 1/4")
• 5 1/2" x 4 1/4" to cover envelope
• 1" x 12" for front panel medallion embellishment
• Tangerine Tango and Old Olive Stampin' Write Markers
• Broadsheet Alphabet stamp set
• Scallop Trim Border and 1 1/4" and 1 3/8" Circle punches
• Flower Burst Embosslit die
• 5/8" So Saffron grosgrain ribbon
• Sticky Strip
• Multi-purpose Liquid Glue

Other Products

• Envelope - A2 size (5 3/4" x 4 3/8")
• Scallop circle die (3 1/4" diameter)
• Circle die (2 3/4" diameter)
• 3/8" coordinating ribbon (similar to Old Olive)
• Low-temp hot glue
• 5" x 7" legal pad
• Velcro dots (I placed these behind the legal pad instead of adhesive)