Happiness Abounds Fun Fold Card

Hello friends!  Yikes!  It's still freezing cold weather around here.  Definitely winter!  So I'm still going to poke my head in the sand, keep stamping flowers, and wish for spring.  What about you?  Are you a warm weather person or do you love the cold weather and play at winter sports?  I used to love downhill skiing, but I gave that up years ago.  Now I have trouble staying warm enough to want to spend much time outside.  But I can stamp in any weather, and that's what I've been doing!  

I still had thoughts of the Hues of Happiness DSP that I used on my last card rolling around in my mind.  I wanted to play with that a little more, so I got out the Happiness Abounds stamp set and went to work.  I actually made a fun fold card for this.  It's not a new fold, but a card layout that I've used before that's nice and simple.  Besides I like the look of it!  So, we're going to use it again here.

The card starts with a Basic White Thick card base that measures 4 1/4" x 9".  This is scored at 5 1/2" so it's a regular size card when finished.  I next started with the Hues of Happiness DSP print that is covered with flowers in a rainbow of colors.  So pretty!  This is cut to 3" x 3 3/4" for the left side.   To contrast, I chose the "painted" backside of another print that has pinks, roses, and yellow/gold brushstrokes.  This piece measures 1 1/2" x 3 3/4" and is for the right side of the card.  Now, I need to be perfectly honest here and tell you I made a mistake in cutting the smaller piece.  You can see I cut it 1/4" too skinny, but I didn't have any more of that paper.  Boo hoo!  Since the card was almost finished by the time I noticed the problem, I went with the paper I did have.  So sorry!

Next, I decided on Melon Mambo for the framing layers.  These were cut to measure 3 1/4" x 4" for the left side, and 1 3/4" x 4" for the right side.  Now would be a good time to attach the layers together and then attach them to your card base to make sure you measured your pieces better than I did!  😁 

I die-cut several flowers from the DSP with the coordinating dies.  I didn't have enough leaves from the DSP, so I stamped the leaves with Granny Apple Green ink and also die-cut them.  The sentiment layer is a die-cut from the Labels Aglow Dies in the July - December Mini Catalog.  (only a few days left to order this!)  It's die-cut from Basic White and I used Melon Mambo ink to stamp the sentiment which is from the Artistically Inked set.  

Then I played around with all the pieces that I had ready.   I was struggling to get it where I liked it because the extra flowers just kept getting lost on the flowered print no matter how I positioned them.  Then I had an ah-ha moment!  I added a layer of vellum over the flower print and voila!  It worked out just as I had hoped.  Some sequins were added to finish off the look.

I had so much fun making this card and my card stash was a little on the low side.  So why not use this same fun fold and make a couple more cards that I needed.  So, here's a few more pictures for ideas on using this fun fold with whatever DSP you have sitting around.

Sentiment - Framed Florets

DSP - Fitting Florets

Die-cut pieces - Framed Florets

Bling - Festive Pearls

Flower stamps - Artistically Inked

Sentiment - Celebrating You

DSP - Expressions in Ink

Gold branches - Tree Rings Hybrid Embossing Folder

Sentiment Label - Labels Aglow Die

Bling - small gold rhinestones

Flowers & Leaves - Artistically Inked

Sentiment - Framed Florets

DSP - Expressions in Ink

Bling - iridescent sequins

Hope you have gotten some inspiration from today's post.  Rethink some of your favorite layouts and recycle them into something fresh and new by using different DSP or stamps.  Even color combos change the look of something that you do all the time.  

Looking forward to making many more posts in the new year!  Hope you'll come back often to see what's been happening here and visit on a regular basis.  Can you believe this year is pretty much over and done with?  In many ways it's been a rough one.  But God is still blessing us every day and God willing, I'll continue to walk with Him in the coming year.  I pray for God to bless you with His love and grace and fill you with His peace in the new year!

Happy stamping and creating,

Sharon

Hues of Happiness Meets Fancy Flora

Greetings friend!  I hope you're keeping warm wherever you may be.  Today is rather frigid with the temperature reaching only 14 degrees.  Brrrrrr!   That can't be right, can it?!  I don't think this is what I was expecting when we moved down here.  Oh well, guess it feels like Michigan today so I'm right at home!  With the weather being so cold, I've been stamping with flowers and pastels while I pretend spring is right around the corner.  Hope this brightens your day.

Now, doesn't this look like spring?  I love the soft colors with that punch of dark flowers to balance it.  Plus, it's a fun fold card which always makes it special to me.  

The card starts with a Fresh Freesia base that measures 5 1/2" x 6 1/2" and is scored at 2 1/4".  When folded, this makes a regular size card and fits in the envelope with no problem.  There are two other pieces of Fresh Freesia cardstock.  They measure 3 1/4" x 3 1/2" for the side flap and 2 1/2" x 3 3/8" for the inner sentiment.

Next the Fancy Flora Designer Series Paper is cut.  You can see two different prints that look like paint dabs.  These are the two different sides of one paper.  The pieces are cut to 2" x 5 1/4" and 2 1/2" x 3 1/4".

Lastly, the two inside Basic White cardstock pieces were cut.  These measure 4" x 5 1/4" for the back piece.  The smaller sentiment piece measures 2 3/8" x 3 1/4".  This will leave a small frame of Fresh Freesia cardstock around it, and it will fit behind the flap and not show when the card is closed.  Ok, let's start putting this card together.

The first step is to score the 3 1/4" x 3 1/2" Fresh Freesia cardstock piece at 1/2" along the longer side.  Fold this and use a bone folder to give it a really good crease.  Put Tear & Tape on the outside of the fold.  Attach this to the inside edge of the card base as shown in the picture. 

Emboss the large Basic White layer.  I used the Gingham Embossing Folder for my card, but there are other embossing folders that would work nicely too.  This was attached inside the folded card using Tombow Multi Purpose Liquid Glue.  This hides the edge of the flap you glued to the front of the card and gives it a nice finish.

Stamp a sentiment on the smaller white cardstock piece.  I used Night of Navy ink and used a birthday sentiment from the Framed Occasions stamp set.  Attach it to the Fresh Freesia piece, then to the inside of the card using the Tombow Liquid Glue. Make sure that it's tucked behind the flap so it doesn't show.

On to the front of the card.  Attach the larger DSP piece to the outside of the front of the left side of the card using adhesive.  Attach the smaller DSP to the outside of the opposite flap so it shows when everything is closed.

Instead of stamping and coloring flowers for the front, I die-cut two flowers from the Hues of Happiness DSP with the coordinating dies called Blossoming Happiness dies.  I did stamp the different leaves and colored them in with Soft Succulent and Evening Evergreen inks and a Water Painter brush, then die-cut them also.   They were arranged on the card front then attached with Dimensionals.

The birthday sentiment was stamped on Basic White strip with Night of Navy ink.  It is from the Go To Greetings set.  The left end was punched with the Lovely Labels Pick a Punch.  The right end was tucked in under the rose and leaves and attached to the car with adhesive.  Make sure your adhesive doesn't extend past the edge of the flap.

A large Opal Round jewel was attached to the end of the sentient to accent it.  And two extra Opal Rounds were attached just under the flowers at the bottom of the flap.  Simply beautiful.

I loved how this turned out.  The Fancy Flora DSP is just so gorgeous, and I know you'll love it.  It really makes it fun to design your cards just using the colors in the prints.  That print I used almost reminds me of a minty ice cream flavor I get at the beach.  Oh yeah, I'm thinking warm sunny days as I sit here in the cold!

If you haven't received your new Mini Catalog and Sale-a-bration brochure, please let me know.  All of them should have been delivered by now.  Have you had a chance to look through them yet?  I know with Christmas right upon us, it's hard to take the time for yourself.  But I hope you can sit back with your coffee or tea (or maybe a glass of wine?) and enjoy yourself.  It's good to dream a little and get your creative juices flowing!  You don't want them freezing up on you!  LOL

I just want to wish you a very blessed Christmas as we pause in our busy lives to ponder the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  May He bless you with His mercy and grace.

Merry Christmas!

Sharon

Pretty Paper Cards

Hello and an early merry Christmas to you!  Life has been really busy lately, but I did get some quality time spent in my stamp room.  It was awesome to start out with an idea and watch it actually get accomplished.  What a great feeling!  I can't tell you how many times I sit down to stamp a project and just run into roadblocks, finally put the project aside and try to work it differently another day.  But today's idea went smoothly from start to finish.  Hooray!

I wasn't in the mood for making anything else Christmas.  I figured you were probably finished with all of your cards too.  So, I thought I'd make some cards focusing on the Fitting Florets Designer Series Paper that is only available until January 4th.   It is lovely and it's still in stock!  What a surprise.  I started out this project by cutting three pieces of the dark blue floral print to measure 5" x 3 3/4".  These would be my main layer and really show up on my cards.  Plus it's my favorite print, so why not!

Here's the first card I worked on.  It starts with a card base of Evening Evergreen cut at 11" x 4 1/4", scored at 5 1/2" and folded at the top.  The next layer is Soft Succulent that measures 5 1/4" x 4".  I had a 1" strip of the same print left over from cutting the DSP.  This I flipped to the back side and attached this to the DSP layer that I cut for this card.  It's about 3/4" from the left edge.  Then the DSP layer was attached to the Soft Succulent layer with adhesive.  This was all attached to the folded card base with adhesive also.

The sentiment on this card is from the Framed Florets stamp set.  It was stamped on Basic White cardstock using Evening Evergreen ink.  It was die-cut using the Stylish Shapes square die.  I also cut a square from Balmy Blue cardstock that is the same size.  I angled these and attached together with adhesive.

Before attaching this to the card front, I felt it needed something else added.  I couldn't find anything current that added to the design.  But then I remembered the blue ribbon from the Boho Blue Kit from two years ago.  I dug it out and loved how it looked together.  The ribbon is attached with a small amount of Tombow Multi Purpose Liquid Glue right down the center of the Soft Succulent strip of DSP.  The bottom was angle cut.

The sentiment was attached over this with Dimensionals.  Perfect!  Lastly, I added three Iridescent Pearls to the card front.  Oh yes, just lovely!  One down, two more to go. 

When I started working on this card, I was using the other side of the print just like the first one.  But after getting all the pieces of the design together and getting ready to glue them down, I decided I liked this side better.  Nothing like changing an idea at the very last minute.

The Basic White circle is die-cut using the Stylish Shapes again.  The bold sentiment comes from the Garden Birdhouses stamp set and is stamped in Evening Evergreen ink.  

The flowers and leaves are stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black ink and are from the Framed Florets stamp set.  (This set and the coordinating dies that I used will be in the January - April Mini Catalog.)  I used Stampin' Blends for coloring:  Balmy Blue Light & Dark and Soft Succulent Light & Dark.

There is a spray of open-work leaves cut from silver paper that was added to the design, and one open-work single leaf in Evening Evergreen cardstock.  All of the pieces were attached to the circle with adhesive, except for the middle flower that has a Dimensional behind it.

When I had die-cut an earlier project, the one frame is surrounded by tiny hearts.  You know me, I couldn't throw them out, because I might need them someday.  Well, today was that day.  I added three of them to the card as bling.  They are attached with a tiny drop of Tombow Multi Purpose Liquid Glue.  Pretty, aren't they?

A retired twine that is white and silver was tied into a bow and attached with a Mini Glue Dot as a finishing touch to the card.  Now on to the last card.

For this one, I wanted to try a stamp set that will be in the new catalog.  So here we go for a quick sneak peek.

The stamp set is called Two-Tone Flora.  I was sticking with the same color palette of Balmy Blue, Evening Evergreen and Soft Succulent to match the DSP.  In my die-cut leftover stash, I had both the Basic White and Balmy Blue Stitched Nested Labels already cut and ready to layer together.  It's a retired die set, but I liked how it fit with this card idea.  

The sentiment was stamped in Evening Evergreen ink.  You'll find this sentiment in the Happy Thoughts stamp set.  It has a great bunch of sentiments in the set with the fun font combo used here.

The flowers and leaves were stamped on a Basic White cardstock piece.  The flowers were either just Balmy Blue or Balmy Blue with a detail stamp inked with Night of Navy, off-stamped, and then stamped on the flower.  The leaves were either stamped with Evening Evergreen by itself, or first inked with Soft Succulent and Evening Evergreen added over it to get a two-tone look.

Some of the pieces were attached directly to the card front, but the larger flower and one smaller flower were attached with Dimensionals.  The leafy spray that extends off the label has a Dimensional under the tip of the leaf.

To finish off the design, I added three of the Iridescent Pearls to it.  These pearls really pick up the blues on the card and mimic the berries on the background so they're perfect.  

So, there you have today's offerings.  It's fun how different you can make a card look just by changing up the components you add to the card.  These all have the same color scheme, but the die-cuts, sentiments, etc. all come together to give you a different card.  Hope these ideas give you some food for thought and spark your imagination a little bit.

Christmas blessings to you!

Sharon

Cottage Wreath Christmas

Hello all!  I have to know, does the weather affect your frame of mind?  I never thought it made all that much of a difference to me.  But the last week or two opened my eyes to how much it really does make a difference.  We've been having cold and dreary, rainy days every single day for over a week, and it really started to get to me.  Today I woke up to sunshine and blue skies and my attitude has changed immensely!  All of a sudden, I have inspiration to get things done and energy to do it!  So let's get started with sharing a Christmas card.  This might be the last Christmas card I share as it's getting so close to Christmas.  I just got my pre-order delivered with all the new products I ordered from the new mini catalog that goes live on January 5th.  If you haven't gotten your catalog in the mail yet, let me know so I can check on it's whereabouts.  I'm so excited to sit down and play with the fun things that came in that box.  I guess Christmas came early for me!!  But back to this last Christmas card...

It's not only Christmas themed, but a fun fold card too!  That makes it just about perfect in my book.  The card starts out with two quarter pieces of Mint Macaron cardstock that measure 5 1/2" x 4 1/4".  These are the front and back panels of the finished card.  Also cut a piece of Mint Macaron cardstock that measures 5" x 1 1/2" for layering later.

A Basic White piece comes next.  This measures 5 1/4" x 11".  It's scored at 1 3/4", 3 1/2", 7 1/2", and 9 1/4".  Fold the two outer score lines to the back and fold the two inner score lines in towards the center.  This gives you almost a gatefold card that doesn't meet in the middle.  Are you with me so far?  Correction:  Thanks Kathy for finding the mistake I made in measuring.  These figures should now be correct.

I think from this picture you should be able to tell where the folds are and how they're folded.

There are two pieces of the Splendid Day Designer Series Paper that are cut next.  I used the Soft Seafoam and Basic White pearlized print for this. They measure 5 1/4" x 4" and 4 3/4" x 1 1/4".  The larger DSP piece gets attached to one of the Mint Macaron quarter pieces for the front panel using adhesive.  The smaller piece is attached to the smaller Mint Macaron strip.  

There is a Shaded Spruce layer cut that measures 4 1/2" x 3 1/2".   A Basic White piece measuring 3 1/4" x 4 1/4" is cut for the stamped images.  The leafy wreath from Cottage Wreaths stamp set found on page 59 was stamped on this using Mint Macaron ink.  Over this, multiple evergreen stems were stamped with Shaded Spruce ink to fill it in nicely.  

Shaded Spruce ink was also used to stamp the sentiment along the bottom.  The sentiment comes from the Peace to You stamp set found on page 41 of the July - December Mini Catalog.  Another sentiment from the set was used to stamp inside the scored and folded card as shown.  

Putting the card together, start with the back Mint Macaron panel.  Centering the folded white panel, attach it to the Mint Macaron in the center.  Using adhesive only on the left folded panel, attach it to the back of the front Mint Macaron and DSP piece.  This should be lined up with the back panel, so you only see a card front and no extra edges peeking out.  The skinny strip of DSP should be attached to the skinny Mint Macaron strip with adhesive.  This is attached to the folded panel on the front right side of the card.  Check above photo for placement.

The stamped white cardstock piece was attached to the Shaded Spruce piece using adhesive.  This was attached to the card front using Dimensionals.  A retired sheer white/ iridescent ribbon was tied into a bow and attached to the card front between the wreath and sentiment using Mini Glue Dots.  An assortment of small green iridescent Seasonal Sequins were scattered around the wreath to give it some sparkle.

Hope you like this card idea.  If you have questions about this fun fold and how it's put together, just call and I'll be happy to help.  If you're totally done making your Christmas cards, start thinking about using this fun fold to make some cute birthday, or even Valentine cards.  Oh my goodness!!   Did I really just mention Valentine's Day?  I didn't mean to jump ahead of myself so far.  I'm not thinking that far ahead myself yet.  I've still got Christmas cookies to make and gifts to buy and decorating to do!  Oh my!  So it's time I leave you and get back to work on my lists.

Until next time, keep at those Christmas cards.  Get them finished and in the mail.  Your family and friends will love getting them so it's all worth it!

Happy stamping and creating,

Sharon

More Snowflakes

 Hello again.  Just can't seem to get enough of that flocked and/or iridescent snowflake vellum.  It sure is gorgeous and I've got another card idea for you using this paper.  This time around the card is a fun fold so it's even better yet!  Come along and see what else we can make using this fabulous vellum paper.

I love adding blue tones when using this snowflake vellum to make you think of icy temperatures.  It just gives me the brrrrr-y chills thinking of freezing temps and snow crystals blowing in your face when you're outside.  This time I chose to use Tahitian Tide cardstock for my blue tone.  Yeah, the name sure doesn't fit the cold weather, does it?  But I think the color worked out nicely here.  

Start with an 8 1/2" x 5 1/2" piece of cardstock.  Score this at 2 1/8" and 4 1/4".  Fold the center over like a regular card and then fold the left-hand side back to the front to make a Z-Fold card.

Then I cut the Snowflake Vellum Specialty Paper.  The flocked dotted vellum is cut to 2" x 5 1/4".  The flocked snowflake vellum is cut at 4" x 5 1/4".  I added the dotted vellum to the front section of the card.  There is adhesive only underneath the area with the focal piece.  It's brought right to the folded edge.  Next the snowflake vellum was added to the inside back layer.  Make sure the adhesive is added only to the underside of the flocking, so it doesn't show when the card is finished.

The focal point on the card is made from using one of the Fabulous Frames Dies.  These are found on page 171 of the Annual Catalog.  This frame is the perfect size to showcase the Wonderful Snowflakes I wanted to use in the center.  If you don't have this die set, you could always use something similar.  I cut this twice - once in Basic White and once in Tahitian Tide so I would have the outer and inner frame pieces.

One of the Wonderful Snowflakes found on pg 45 of the July - December Mini Catalog was attached to the center of the Tahitian Tide rectangle using a Mini Glue Dot.  This was positioned inside the white frame and Tombow Multi Purpose Liquid Glue was placed on only one half of it, then it was attached to the folded front panel of the card.  I made sure it was dry and secure before going any further with it.

A small banner was die-cut from Basic White cardstock using the Stylish Shapes Dies.  The sentiment was stamped on this using Tahitian Tide ink.  It was attached over the middle of the snowflake using three Dimensionals.  A bow was made using the White Glittered Organdy Ribbon.  It was attached to the card front with Mini Glue Dots.  Three of the white iridescent Seasonal Sequins were attached to continue with the dotted look.

A piece of Basic White cardstock was cut to measure 1 7/8" x 5 1/4".  The sentiment used is from the Decorated with Happiness stamp set.  It's stamped with Tahitian Tide ink.  A snowflake from the Season of Chic set was inked with Tahitian Tide ink, off-stamped, then stamped on this panel for added interest.  I added 3 partial snowflakes.  The panel was attached to the inside left of the card as shown.  And the card is complete.

These were all made when my sister was visiting.

The Orchid Oasis card uses a sentiment from the Hope & Peace stamp set.  The snowflake was raised higher, so it wasn't covered over so much with the sentiment. The vellum used wasn't the flocked, but the iridescent pieces in the same set.  Lovely!  The middle card has the vellum switched, so the snowflakes are on the left and the dots are inside.  Also, the ribbon used is the retired dotted and flocked ribbon to carry the dotted vellum look even further.

Hope these ideas inspire you to play with this lovely vellum specialty paper.  It really does make beautiful cards.  Thanks for stopping by to see what's been happening here.  A quick medical update - it looks like the Cardioversion is working.  Praise God!  Hope my energy will start increasing quickly.  Yes, I do get impatient at times.  Anyway, for those of you praying about this, thank you!!!

Happy stamping and creating,

Sharon

Winter White Snowflakes

Hey there, friends.  Sorry for the delay in getting another post finished.  I've been having a little bit of a struggle lately, but another cardioversion will be done tomorrow.  I truly hope that helps and my aFib gets under control.  It will be nice to have more energy afterwards too.  Please pray for me. 

Today's card features some gorgeous snowflake vellum specialty paper.  Unfortunately, as I sat down to write out this post, I noticed it is totally sold out.  But if you already have some, give this card a try.  It is absolutely gorgeous in person.

Let's start with the snowflake vellum layer.  The vellum was cut to 5 1/8" x 3 7/8". A Basic White layer was cut to match.  Using small amounts of Tombow Multi-Purpose Liquid Glue only behind the snowflake flocking, it was adhered to the Basic White layer.  This is so pretty all by itself with the frosted look of the vellum and the velvet flocking of the snowflakes.  It was layered onto a Thick Basic White cardstock base that is 8 1/2" x 5 1/2".  It's scored at 4 1/4" and folded in half.  The snowflake layer was added with Dimensionals to hold it up from the card base.

Next was added one of the Wonderful Snowflakes found on page 83 of the July-December Mini Catalog.  It was attached with the iridescent side up on the card front with only one Dimensional right in the center of the snowflake.  To the center of this was added a silver snowflake that I die-cut using the larger snowflake from the Chic Die set.  It was attached to the first snowflake with one tiny Mini Dimensional right in the center of this.

The next step was deciding on a sentiment for the card and how I wanted it on there.  I decided on a sentiment from the Leaves of Holly stamp set.  After trying it with Smoky Slate ink on white cardstock, I decided to go with white embossing on vellum to stay with the white-on-white look.

After embossing, the ends were trimmed with the Banner Pick A Punch to finish.  I left enough room on each end for one the Seasonal Sequins in white, of course.  One of them was also attached to the center of the silver snowflake to finish it off.

There you have it - a truly gorgeous, elegant Christmas card that really wasn't as hard to make as it looks.  If you're looking for a wow factor on some of your special cards, this is it!

Thought you might like to see my sister, Connie's version of this card.  She used a different flocked velvet snowflake paper as you can see.  She didn't add the die-cut silver snowflake like I did.  

She also chose to change the sentiment.  This one comes from the Framed & Festive stamp set that is a limited edition set.  The set is only available until the end of this year or while supplies last.

She did use the same iridescent white sequins for her card like I did.  They were just the perfect touch for the all-white card of hers.

Hope you liked today's card offering.  I'm having a problem sharing ideas because so many items I've used are out of stock right now.  How frustrating!  Maybe I should just pretend that you've got everything I've got so it won't make any difference.  You can always substitute anything similar that you have.  It'll work just fine.

If you're ordering soon, please consider using the Host Code at the top of the blog post.  It's greatly appreciated.

Happy stamping and creating,

Sharon