Birthday Cards Only - CAS

Stocking up birthday cards for the year?

I've been sick this week with a cold, and haven't been up to working much or posting the two classes I prepared for just before getting sick. I'm not 100% yet, but on the mend and feeling well enough to post the net two March classes I prepared for.

After a few requests for teaching a class that had only birthdays cards, I also decided it was a good time to create as many as we could to help stockpile, and therefore the cards have to be CAS cards so that they can easily be mass produced for the participants should they choose to make a batch of them for the year at home, or as card set gifts.

It wasn't until I was editing the photos that it slowly began to creep into my head that a couple of these cards may not have been my own idea. You know how you see so many cards online and with the passing of time when the idea pops into your mind you at first think it was your own. If anyone has seen cards similar to these, let me know so I can give credit where due. I just have this feeling that a couple of them aren't my own idea after all.

On to the cards. Here are the five that we will be making in class.

So let's take a closer look at each of the cards, shall we.

Not long ago I taught a class with scrapbooking layouts that had 1/4" borders around the edge (here to view) and when I saw all the strips I had in my scrap bins I remembered the nice touch those narrow borders were. I thought, OK, I can cut these strips into 1/4" strips to use up some the scraps, but what can I do with them? Then I remembered some Christmas paper that had diagonal stripes  and how fun and striking it was. So this is what I did. Since I used a dark or navy blue I thought it would be fun to compliment the blue with some bright and fun colours. The leafy flourish and buttons are dies from My Favorite Things Die-namics.

Next -

I wanted to make a card that was generic and could be for either a man or a woman. I had an ulterior motive for this card as I made it with my oldest son in mind. His birthday isn't until the beginning of July, but my younger son whose birthday is in March wouldn't be able to get this card in time for his birthday as the time won't allow me to mail it in time to him once the class is completed. So I'm making him a different card, not for a class.

I love black and gray together. The gray is dry embossed using Spellbinder's M-Bossabilities Flora, and the black Fleur De Lis at the top and bottom of the monogram is from Spellbinder's Fleur De Lis Accents.

Now let's take a look at -

I love the colours against the black. I've been seeing a lot of cards using black with multiple colored stamps lately that just made colour so beautiful. So I thought cutting letters out of coloured cardstock on my Cricut would be almost as wonderful as the beautiful colouring of stamps on black. A more CAS approach to what I saw. I then stamped 'birthday' on the second 'P'. A fun card!

Next is -

a card that allowed for a bow. I kept it small though and sheer so it didn't dominate. I used Spellbinder's Standard Circles Large to emboss into the white cardstock, and then placed the ink resist rose I coloured using Tim Holtz's Scattered Straw, Tattered Rose, and Peeled Paint with an ink blending tool, with dimensionals. I made the notched banner, stamped it and attached it with dimensionals as well. I might try this again using a different Nestabilities shape.

And, for the last card -

I promised myself to do more stamping this year. I like doing it and want to increase my skill at it too. So for this card, I second stamped the background stamp twice. Once one direction, and the second time inverted. Then with the damask stamp over top of it I stamped with all the ink on the stamp. I believe some call this Generation stamping. If I'm wrong, please let me know. This would be a fun card to do as a desk set in all different colours; maybe, even with a monogram on it instead of the birthday greeting.

That's it for this set of cards. Oh, I forgot to mention that these are all A7 cards (5 x 7).

Thank you for stopping by to have a look. Hope you all have fun making your birthday cards.

Beginner's Scrapbook Layout

Forgot to post this a while back

I've started teaching Beginner Scrapbooking, and have already taught one class. It was a wonderful class with eager women wanting to preserve memories in a beautiful and creative setting. I look forward to the next one. There are two classes, and in the first one after taking a tour of the store and learning a few basics we made a CAS single layout, while in the 2nd class we'll discuss more elements of scrapbooking design and create a CAS double page layout.

Here is the layout I'll be using for all of the Beginner 1 classes.Will end up using different paper when we eventually run out of this line.

I created the tags using an Upsy Daisy journaling stamp on white cardstock and the cutting the tag to size. Once I attached the green 1" circle folded in half over the top, I punched a hole and fed the string through and then tying the little bow.

It's a little difficult to see, but some of the polka-dots are light blue. In real life the blue cardstock helps to accent them better than in this photo. The letters for the title were cut on my Cricut.

February will be part two of the Beginner Scrapbooking class and I'll post the double layout when I have that completed.

Thank you for stopping by! Happy crafting!

January Visiting Teaching Gift

-Every month Gail and I go Visiting Teaching to three women assigned to us in our congregation. We visit with them, check to see how they are doing and if they need any help, and also leave them with a message. When I have time I like to make them something to remind them about the message we discussed at our visit.

Seldom do Gail and I have the chance to complete our Visiting Teaching early in the month like we wish we could do because of everyone's schedules. For that reason I knew the chances of seeing them in February before the 14th would be slim, so I tried to base this month's message in that of love so that I could 'Valentize' the gift we would leave them.

Here it is.

I wish the Dollar store still carried these 8 x 8 frames (4 x 4 window). I got them a year ago when I purchased a bunch of them for a class, and bought a few for myself. Now I wish I had bought a few more. It would be fun to custom make one for each of my seven grandchildren with their initials! I just have to come up with something a little different.

Thank you for having a peek. Happy crafting!

Step Cards 3 - Side Step Card

The third card in this series for the Step Card class March 2nd

So good of you to come by for another look to see the third card for this class. This is a more boldly coloured card for St. Patrick's Day. Black, bright green, and cream are the colours I chose for this Side Step Card.

And some close-ups.

For this large four leaf clover, it is obvious that used a heart punch to create the clover. I free cut the stem and shaped it a little.

Here is the card from a little over the top of the card.

The small four leaf clovers are punched out using a Martha Stewart punch. The Labels Fourteen flourish stamp is from Waltzingmouse, while the sentiment stamp and floral flourish stamps are two different sets from Hero Arts. 

So for a quick visual review, here are all three Step Cards together. 

I'm so looking forward to teaching this fun class. Hope you had fun taking a look at these three basic Step Cards. Now it's time for you to try your creativity in making some. You'll love it!

Happy crafting!

   


  

Step Cards 2 - Double Sided Step Card

The second card of the Step Card class for March 2nd

Welcome back! This 2nd Step Card was so much fun to create. I love how the Step Cards encourage one's creativity. I made this one into an Easter card.

Can you see how the three smaller butterflies in the center are attached to clear acetate strips?  Center one is behind the middle folded section and the ones on either side of it are mounted to the front behind the Easter sentiment.

Here are some close ups.

A view from more over the top of the card, next.

As you can see I used the leafy flourish stamp on either side without re-inking to create a soft ghost-like look. The butterflies were stamped and cut out, then applying Star Dust Stickles with my finger for a little glitter. I used Platinum Pearls Liquid Pearls on the butter fly bodies and the  butterfly plaque at the bottom center.

Once again I used MFT Die-Namics Leafy Flourish on the center back piece behind the butterflies. Love that die! I promise you I don't use it on the third card I'll post for tomorrow.

Thank you again for stopping by, and come by again tomorrow for a peek at the third Step Card for this class.

ADDED March 13, 2013

There is now a tutorial on this blog, here, with step by step instructions on creating the double sided base card.

Happy Crafting and hugs!

Step Cards 1 - Center Step Card

Fun, fun step cards!

On March 2nd I'll be teaching a class with three basic kinds of step cards. They are so fun to make, and the ideas one can use to embellish them are unlimited. I've decide to split them up and show them to you one by one, instead of the way I usually do, including all the cards that are made in a class in one posting.

I'll begin with the Center Step card, which is almost square (5 x 5 1/2). I made it so that it could pass as a masculine card.

Here you can see the beautiful MFT Die-Namics Leafy Flourish die cut in three different colours and accented with hemp string.

Thank you for stopping by to have a look. Tomorrow I'll have the 2nd Step Card posted. See if you can guess what style of Step Card it will be.

Happy Crafting!

Tools & Supplies

Stamps: Penny Black - Enjoy Life, "Happy Birthday to You!" unknown
Ink: Memento Rich Cocoa, Tim Holtz Old Paper
Die: MFT Die-Namics Leafy Flourish, Spellbinders Classic Ovals Sm & Classic Scalloped Ovals Sm

Christmas Club 2013

-Scrapbook Parade has had several requests to have Christmas Card making all year round, so we've started a Christmas Club, and this is the first class

Recycling Old Christmas Cards

For our first Christmas Club class we will be recycling old Christmas cards. How we will do this is give everyone 5 sketches designed be me and they can create and adjust accordingly after selecting up to $10 worth of paper and products to match the colours of the cards they will be using.

I've taken some of mine, and this is what I made. The sketches and approximate measurements will be based on these five cards. Of course I'm not using any handcrafted cards. Those I keep!

Here they are individually so that you can see them better.

 So that's it for the recycling of Christmas cards. I have more I'd like to do, and perhaps closer to Christmas will make some of my own.

Thank you for stopping by to have a look. I'd be curious to know how many of you recycle your old (not handmade) Christmas cards. Let me now in your comment.

WRMK - Grandma's Kitchen II

To review the first two layouts from Grandma's Kitchen I, click here.

These two layouts focus on different colours from the collection, and the use of glitter for the title of one of the layouts, while using scraps for layered banners on the other.

Here are close ups starting with each half of the layout (one 12 x 12 page) and then going into more detail.

In this next one you can see the glitter better.

The second layout -

Again, each half of the layout (one 12 x 12 page) then the details.

Whoops. I see I forgot to put in that apostrophe in that I had promised myself to do.

If you have any questions, ask away in your comment and I will reply. Thank you again for stopping by to have a look.

Happy Crafting!

Come Fly With Me

-No Binding Envelope Mini & Display Stand

What a fun project this was to make. But then I say that with nearly all my creations, don't I.

For this project I used Basic Grey's "What's Up" in the 6 x 6 pad format along with some of the matching brads and 3D stickers of the collection.

Originally I was just making the mini, with the intent to make a stand for display at the store. But when I out together the little stand, I thought that perhaps we should make it in class as well. So I used some more of the collection paper to cover the box.

So lets start with the photos of both the mini and the stand together.

Here are photos of just the mini -

Front cover

Back cover

Standing alone

Here are some photos of the stand from all sides -

Thank you so much fo having a look at this project. I did take some photos for a tutorial which I can post once the class has taken place toward the end of February. So just leave a note in your comment if you are interested in the construction of the mini, the stand, or both.