Scrap Pile Challenge: Of Scraps, Fairies and Vellum

 A couple weeks ago, when I was looking for something in my craft closet, I came across a box of coordinated scraps that I had set aside for who-knows-what.  Rather than toss them or add them to my growing stash of "I'll use this someday" scraps, I decided to set a little challenge for myself:

The rules:

• The card base is the only "new" cardstock I can cut into. Everything else has to come from existing scraps.
• Use images I've already stamped and colored.
• If I use printed images, they have to come from what I already own (I'm a bit of an addict)
• All the patterned paper must come from the box.

Here's what I started with:

So far, I've made 14 cards and I still have enough scraps for more.  For the first five cards I chose images from the Fairy Days digital stamp set from RG Studio 360.

Aren't they adorable?

The background was a little overpowering so I cut some pierced ovals from vellum and hand stitched them over the patterned paper.  This softened the background and highlighted the fairies.

I used up a couple of the large labels on the next two cards as well as a strip of flocked pink paper.

Butterfly dazzles add a little sparkle.

A ladybug at the bottom left balances out the red of the apple and the fairy's shirt on the upper right.

I added a lace border and dragonfly dazzles to the final card

I had a lot of fun with this challenge.  Being restricted to a small set of papers helped me focus more on the creative process since my color pallet was already decided for me.

I will be sharing the rest of the cards I made in another post.  In the meantime, Take a look at your pile of scraps. What can you make with what you already have?

Butterflies! Using up Old Embellishments and Papers

I've been digging in my embellishment pile again.  I don't remember how long ago I created this butterfly circle. It's cut from the Kaleidoscope paper collection by Hot Off The Press which has since been retired.  I backed it with some pink holographic foil and layered that on top of a paper doily from my stash (both purchased from a dollar store years ago.)  The background is also from my huge stash of paper.

The center is a round teabag tile from my site embellished with Pink Taffeta Stickles*.  I've been playing with brush pens and that's what i used for the sentiment.  I definitely need more practice!

Here's a close-up of the butterfly cut and tuck design.  I created it myself.  You can download the svg file from my website here: https://www.handcraftedgreetings.com/card.php?card_id=00268&page=1

I used Spellbinders' A2 Scalloped Borders One Card Creator Edged Die Set* for the border on the mat inside the card.  The butterflies are from a PaperArtist set by Hot Off The Press that has been retired.

How about you? Do you have anything in your embellishment pile that's begging to be used?

*If you follow a starred (*) link and purchase products, at no additional cost to you, I will receive a small commission.

This Card May Look Difficut But It Isn't!

The cut an tuck technique has come a long way since I was first introduced to it years ago.  Back then it was called Lacé and it was done with a metal template and craft knife.  I am so glad I no longer have to do all that intricate cutting by hand!

The die I used for this card is the Shapeabilities Puzzle Effect Etched Die*. I used it to die cut the shape from some pink patterned paper I had in my stash and I backed it with Sweet Pear cardstock*. I layered that on top of a 5" paper Doily backed with Pool Play cardstock*.

I made a 6" x 6" easel card base with Whip Cream cardstock* and covered the outside with the pink plaid paper from the Create and Bloom Prints Paper Pack*.  I cut a 5.5 x 5.5 square from the other side of the same sheet of paper and used it to cover the inside of the card.

The sentiments are from the Birthday Greetings stamp set by Hot Off The Press. I stamped them on Whip Cream cardstock* using Sweet Berry ink*.  I used the Shapeabilities Ribbon Banners Etched Dies* to cut the top banner and an old die from my stash for the inside label.  I cut the flowers from  Pool Play cardstock* and leaves from Lemon Grass cardstock* using another retired die set. I added white Party Burst Enamel Dots* to the flower centers.

Materials list

Create and Bloom Prints Paper Pack*
Shapeabilities Puzzle Effect Etched Die*
Small flowers die
Birthday Greetings stamp set (HOTP)
Shapeabilities Ribbon Banners Etched Dies*
Party Burst Enamel Dots*
Pool Play cardstock*
Lemon Grass cardstock*
Sweet Pear cardstock*
5" paper doily
Pink patterned scrapbook paper
Whip Cream cardstock*
Sweet Berry ink pad*

*This post contains affiliate links. At no additional cost to you, I may be paid a small commission if you purchase items using these links - see my disclosure for details.

OSW 7-13: The Final Installment

Well, these One Sheet Wonders certainly have been fun!  Here are the final seven cards.

I had a lot of fun with this birthday cake.  Once again, I dug into my hand made background stash.  The large background is on watercolor paper.  It's just a very simple gradient from yellow to orange.  The candles were cut from another background that had splashes of reds and yellows.  I managed to position the candles so the flames were more or less over the yellows.  I cut the balloons from Buttercream cardstock*.  I stamped, "happy birthday," on one then shaded them with Limeade Splash* and Chambray Shirt ink*. I added some Natural Journey Thread* for strings and popped the blue balloon up on Journey foam squares*.

Supply List:

6.5" x 5" Card blank

4.5" x 6" Watercolor background

3" x 4" patterned paper rectangle

3 1/4" x 4 1/4" Limeade Splash Cardstock*

Silver Jewel Border Dazzles 

Paper Artist Cake, Candle and Flower cutting die

Uplift die set*

Limeade Splash ink pad*

Chambray Shirt ink pad*

Buttercream cardstock*

Chambray Shirt Cardstock*

Hammered Silver Paper

Journey Foam Squares*

Sponge Daubers*

For my next card, I used the Anchored stamp set from Maymay Made it.  This one went together very quickly.  Mat the 3" x 4" patterned paper rectangle on a piece of 3 1/4" x 4 1/4" piece of Chambray Shirt* cardstock. Use Journey glue to add some sand to the bottom.  Stamp the sentiment on a 2 x 1 3/4" piece of Buttercream cardstock* and ink it with Chambray Shirt ink* then mat it on a 2 1/8 x 1 7/8 piece of Chambray Shirt Cardstock*.  Next, stamp the anchor on Chambray Shirt Cardstock* and fussy cut around it. Layer it all on the front of the card, popping up the anchor on Journey Foam Squares*.

Supply List:
4 1/4" x 5 1/2" card base
Handmade background
Anchored stamp set
3" x 4" patterned paper
1 3/4" x 2" Buttercream cardstock*
Chambray Shirt Cardstock*
Black Licorice ink  pad*
Chambray Shirt ink pad*
Sand
Journey Craft Glue*
Journey Foam Squares*
Sponge Daubers*

For the next two cards, I matted the 2 1/4" patterned paper squares on 2 1/2" Chambray Shirt Cardstock* squares.  I really like this verse from Maymay's Anchored set and wanted an undersea background so I drew one with PanPastels.  One thing I love about PanPastels is that they are very forgiving.  If you make a mistake, you can just erase it.

Supply List:

Chambray Shirt Cardstock*

Anchored stamp set

Rich Sorbets PanPastels*

Party Pop PanPastels*

The background for this next card was made with liquid colors on photo paper.  It's a fun, easy and quick technique for making backgrounds. You can find a tutorial for making them on my YouTube channel.  The Sentiment is from the Your Faith is Showing stamp set and the butterfly is from the Small Things stamp set.  I colored it with Journey Splash Watercolor Pencils.

Supply List:
Your Faith is Showing stamp set
Chambray Shirt Cardstock*
Small Things stamp set*
Small Things die set*
Black Licorice Ink*

Here's another card featuring a Maymay Made It stamp set.  This one is Then Sings My Soul.  I adhered a 2 1/4" x 5 1/4" piece of patterned paper on the bottom of this card and added a washi tape border along the top of it. I stamped the wavy music strip directly onto the card base with Black Licorice Ink*.  I cut the circles from Chambray Shirt* and Whipcream cardstock*.  I stamped the sentiment on the Whipcream circle and stamped a few musical notes on the patterned paper.  I popped up the circles on foam squares and added them to the left side of the card front.

Supply List:

Then Sings My Soul stamp set

Chambray Shirt cardstock*

Whip Cream cardstock*

Black Licorice Ink*

Journey Circles die set*

Circle Around die set*

Well, hello!  The triangles in the upper and lower corners make a perfectly sized negative space for the large hello greeting. The hello is three layers thick so it stands out nicely. I used PanPastels to shade the background

Supply List:
Huge Hello die*
Party Pop PanPastels*
Chambray Shirt cardstock*
Journey Craft Glue*

And last, but not least, Thank You for visiting my blog!

Supplies
Party Pop PanPastels*
Chambray Shirt cardstock*
Lemon Drop cardstock*
Journey Craft Glue*
Charming Thank You die set*

* denotes an affiliate link. At no additional cost to you, I may be paid a small commission if you purchase items using these links - see my disclosure for details.

Use Designer Frames With Your Photos

THIS POST MAY CONTAIN AFFILIATE LINKS. PLEASE READ MY DISCLOSURE FOR MORE INFO.

I just went on a trip to Hawaii and of course, I took lots of pictures. What better way to share them than put them on cards, right?  The Designer Frames die set is perfect for photos.  These went together in minutes and they look great.  The words are interchangeable and you can put them at either the top or the bottom of the frame. The set comes with three words, thanks, congrats and birthday plus a solid band so you have the option of stamping or writing something different.

You can cut these frames in two steps, but I found it easier to cut them in three.  I cut the outer 4" x 5.25" frame first, then I centered the inner cut-out on that, then I cut out the word last.

I printed my pictures on 4" x 6" photo paper and added the frame to the photo before trimming the top and/or bottom off.  That way I get a perfect fit every time.  For these photos I used Rich Coral and Lemon Drop card stock for the frames and mounted them on 4.25" x 5.5" Whip Cream card bases.

Our card  stock is on sale until the end of this month so be sure to grab some soon!

Materials list:

Designer Frames die set DI-0318 *

Whip Cream card stock CS-0040 *

Rich Coral card stock CS-0093 *

Lemon Drop card stock CS-0018 *


* denotes an affiliate link - see my disclosure for details.

Happy Birthday Mom

THIS POST MAY CONTAIN AFFILIATE LINKS. PLEASE READ MY DISCLOSURE FOR MORE INFO.

A friend asked me to make a card for her mother-in-law.  She didn't give me any specifics but wanted something special.  I must have changed the design at least 5 times before I finally settled on this easel card with quilled flowers.

I really love how it turned out. I used my Box Envelope Tool to generate the instructions for making the envelope for the card.  This really wasn't as hard to put together as it may look.  I think I could do a second one in far less time.  The supply list is quite lengthy, but you could substitute quite a few of the items with something you have.

Instructions:

Card base:

• Cut one 5" x 11" rectangle from Pretty Pansy card stock and score it at 6 1/4" and 9 3/8". 
• Cut one  5" x 6 1/4" rectangles from Pretty Pansy card stock.
• Adhere the first and second rectangles to form the base of an easel card.
• Cut one  5" x 6" rectangles from Pretty Pansy card stock.
• Center and Adhere the 5 1/2" doily to the 5"x 6" panel. Wrap the left and right edges of the doily around to the back of the panel and secure with tape or white liner.
• Adhere the 5" x 6" rectangle to bottom flap of the easel card.
• Stamp the banner from the Easter Blessings stamp set onto Cool Pool carsdstock using Turbo Teal ink.
• Stamp "With Love" from the Dancing Wildflowers stamp set onto the Banner using Turbo Teal Ink
• Use the banner die for the Easter Blessings die set to cut out the banner.
• Pop up the banner onto Journey medium foam squares and adhere it to the inside of the card between 1.5 and 2" from the fold line.

Front Panel

• Cut a 4.75" x 6" rectangle from Banana Cream cardstock.
• Use Clear Pigment ink and to stamp the small flower cluster from the Love Life stamp set randomly across the panel, stamping some of the images off of the edges.
• Let the ink dry for a minute or two, then use a Sponge tool to sponge Pretty Pansy PanPastel over the entire surface to create a floral background.
• Adhere the 7.5" doily to the panel, aligned slightly below the center with the right side aligned just inside the right side of the panel (refer to photo).  Wrap the edges around the panel and adhere them to the back with tape or White Liner
• Stamp the music score from the Fancy Patterns stamp set onto a scrap of white paper. Tear it out and ink with Ranger Tea Die Distress Ink.  Adhere it to the lower right portion of the front panel.
• Center and adhere the panel to the front of the card.

Framed Greeting:

• Print Happy Birthday Mom using size 28 ParkAvenue BT font.  Trim to fit the frame (about 2 1/4" x 3").  
• Use a Sofft tool with Pineapple Smoothie PanPastel to shade the edges.  
• Use Deep Lilac ink to stamp the small flower cluster from the Love Life stamp set two to three times in the lower left and upper right corners.
• Glue the greeting to the back of the vintage frame.
• Center and adhere the frame to the front of the card.

Quilled Roses

• Use the 3D Flowers template and trace one small and one large ruffled rose onto Cool Pool cardstock.  Cut them out, then ink the edges with Turbo Teal ink.
• Use tweezers or a quilling tool to create the roses.
• Cut two leaves from Lemon Grass cardstock using the Botanical Leaves cutting die.
• Glue the leaves and roses to the lower left corner of the frame.

Quilled Daisies

• Use detail scissors to cut a fringe along one edge of the 1/4" yellow quilling strip.
• Use a quilling tool and a 1/8" blue quilling strip to create small (just under 1/4") flower centers. 
• Adhere the fringed strip to the blue center and continue for 5 to 6 more turns or when you feel like there are enough petals.  Glue the end and remove from  the quilling tool
• Make 4 more daisies the same way.
• Use the two leaf and three leaf dies from the Flower Frenzy die set to cut two sets of leaves.
• Adhere the leaves and daisies to the upper right corner of the frame as shown.

Materials and Supplies

• 12 Flower Frenzy Cutting Dies (Paper Artist)
• Botanical Leaves Cutting Die (HOTP)
• Journey Craft Glue *
• Journey Foam Squares - Medium *
• Banana Cream Cardstock *
• Cool Pool Cardstock *
• Lemon Grass Cardstock *
• Pretty Pansy Cardstock *
• Confectionary Days PanPastels *
• Rich Sorbets PanPastels *
• Victorian Accent Bloom Benefit
• Clear Pigment Ink Pad *
• Deep Lilac ink pad *
• Turbo Teal ink pad *
• Easter Blessings Stamp set *
• Easter Blessings Die set *
• Love Life Stamp Set
• 5 1/2 inch paper doily
• 7 1/2 inch paper doily
• 1/4 inch quilling paper - yellow
• 1/8 inch quilling paper - light blue
• Dancing Wildflowers stamp set (HOTP)
• Fancy Patterns Stamp Set (HOTP)
• Tea Stain distress ink (Ranger)
• 3D Flowers template (HOTP)
• Dauber Dowel Small *
• Quilling tool
• Tweezers

* denotes an affiliate link - see my disclosure for details.

Stitched Birthday Card

If you like adding embroidery to your cards, you will love Fun Stamper's Journey's pierced cutting dies.

Birthday Balloons

THIS POST MAY CONTAIN AFFILIATE LINKS. PLEASE READ MY DISCLOSURE FOR MORE INFORMATION.

A nice little perk for ordering from Fun Stamper's Journey is you get free stuff with orders over $50.  Who doesn't want free stuff, right?  The balloons and the flowers on this card are made with the Blown Up Die and Celebration Trim I received with a recent order. 

Supply list

• To You stamp set (retired)
• Buttercream card stock *
• Huckleberry Fusion card stock *
• Lemon Grass card stock *
• Pool Play card stock *
• Orange Creamsicle card stock *
• Lemon Drop card stock * (I was out of Lemon Drop so I colored the yellow balloon with PanPastels)
• Huckleberry Fusion Ink Pad *
• Tangerine Fusion Ink Pad *
• Rich Sorbets PanPastels * - optional
• Blown Up Die Set (Retired - use Uplift Die Set * instead)
• Journey Ovals Die Set *
• Journey Thread Natural *
• Celebration Trim (Retired)
• Journey Sequins - Blue Skies *
• Journey Sequins - Special Celebration *Journey Foam Squares - Medium *
• White Liner *
• Journey Craft Glue *Journey Platinum * or compatible die cutting machine
• Journey Blooms Paper Trimmer *
• Quilling tool or reverse tweezers

INSTRUCTIONS

CUTTING

1. Cut a 8 1/2" x 5 1/2" rectangle from Lemon Grass cardstock and score at 4 1/4".
2. Cut a 5 1/4" x 4" rectangle from Huckleberry Fusion cardstock.
3. Use the largest Journey Oval to cut an oval from Buttercream cardstock.
4. Cut one balloon from each of the following colors: Orange Creamcicle, Pool Play, Lemon Drop.
5. Optionally shade the balloons with PanPastels.
6. Cut a 1" x 8 1/2" strip from Lemon Grass cardstock.
7. Score the Lemon Grass strip down the middle, lengthwise and fold on the score line.
8. Cut five leaves from the lemongrass strip and fringe cut the edges.

STAMPING

1. Stamp Happy onto the Pool Play balloon with Huckleberry Fusion ink.
2. Stamp Birthday onto the Lemon Drop balloon with Tangerine Fusion ink.

ASSEMBLY

1. To create the flowers, fold the celebration trim in half at the stitching.  Hold one end of the trim with a quilling tool or a pair of tweezers coil the fringe around itself snugly.  Stop when the coil is about 1/2" in diameter and glue the end in place.  Add glue to the inside bottom of the coil and set aside to dry.
2. Attach the Huckleberry Fusion rectangle to the card base with White Liner
3. Glue the Buttercream oval near the top of the Huckleberry Fusion rectangle, centering it horizontally.
4. Tie Journey Thread to the Pool Play and Lemon Drop balloons.
5. Glue the Orange Creamcicle balloon so that it overlaps the upper right side of the Buttercream oval.
6. Glue a short piece of Journey Thread to the Orange Creamcicle balloon.
7. Pop the Pool Play balloon up on Journey Foam squares and position it so that it overlaps the upper left side of the Buttercream oval and the lower left side of the Orange Creamcicle balloon.
8. Pop the Lemon Drop balloon up on a double layor of Journey Foam squares and position it so that it overlaps the Pool Play balloon and the Orange Creamcicle balloon as shown.
9. Position the Pool Play fringe flower over the balloon threads and adhere with Journey Craft Glue.
10. Position remaining flowers and leaves as shown, adhering the with Journey Craft Glue.
11. Use Journey Craft Glue to add a scattering of sequins.

 * denotes an affiliate link - see my disclosure for details.

Foxy Birthday Card

THIS POST MAY CONTAIN AFFILIATE LINKS. PLEASE READ MY DISCLOSURE FOR MORE INFORMATION.

I recently became a Fun Stamper's Journey (FSJ) coach and have been having fun playing with my new stamps and cutting dies.  I love that the FSJ inks match their cardstock.  You can see the results here with Happy stamped on Cranberry Bliss cardstock and Birthday stamped with Cranberry Bliss ink.  The same is also true for the Palm Fronds behind the fox, which are stamped with Kiwi Slice ink on Sweet Pear cardstock and the Palm Fronds stamped with Black Licorice on Kiwi Slice cardstock. It all co-ordinates and I didn't have to waste a bunch of time trying to find the right combination.

Here's what I used to make this card as well as step by step instructions.  You can order most of these supplies from Spellbinders *

SUPPLY LIST

Stamp Sets

• Creature Comforts Stamp Set *
• To You (Retired)
• Palm Fronds ATS *

Card Stock

• Pumpkin Bread Card Stock *
• Kiwi Slice Card Stock *
• Sweet Pear Card Stock *
• Cranberry Bliss Card Stock *
• Buttercream Card Stock *
• Oatmeal Cookie Card Stock *
• Orange Creamsicle Card Stock *

Ink Pads

• Black Licorice Ink Pad *
• Cranberry Bliss Ink Pad *
• Kiwi Slice Ink Pad *
• Pumpkin Bread Ink Pad *

Cutting Dies

• Journey Rectangles Die Set *

Embellishments

• Journey Thread Natural *

Adhesives

• Journey Foam Squares - Medium *
• Journey Foam Squares - Small *
• White Liner *

INSTRUCTIONS

Stamping

• Stamp Palm Fronds onto the right side of the Kiwi Slice rectangle with Black Licorice ink.
• Stamp Palm Fronds onto the Sweet Pear cardstock with Kiwi Slice ink
• Stamp the fox (Creature Comforts) onto Butter Cream and Pumpkin Bread cardstock with Black Licorice ink.
• Stamp Happy from (To You) onto Cranberry Bliss cardstock with Black Licorice ink.
• Stamp Birthday (To You) onto Butter Cream cardstock with Cranberry Bliss ink.
• Stamp the log (Creature Comforts) onto Oatmeal Cookie cardstock with Pumpkin Bread ink.
• Stamp the mushroom onto Butter Cream, Cranberry bliss and Orange Creamcicle cardstock.

Cutting

• Make the card base from a piece of 8.5" x 5.5" Pumpkin Bread cardstock, scored at 4.25"
• Use the largest Journey Rectangles die to cut one rectangle from Kiwi Slice cardstock
• Use the 3 3/4" x 2 5/8" Journey Rectangle die with the corresponding piercing die to cut one rectangle from Sweet Pear cardstock
• Cut out the tip of the fox's tail and the fox's face and tummy from the Butter Cream cardstock.  Glue them to the fox image on the Pumpkin Bread cardstock.
• Cut out the fox from the Pumpkin Bread cardstock.
• Cut out the top of the spotted mushroom from the Cranberry Bliss cardstock and glue it to the mushroom stamped on Butter Cream Cardstock.
• Cut out the top of the small mushroom from the Orange Creamcicle cardstock and glue it to the small mushroom stamped on Butter Cream cardstock.
• Cut out the mushrooms from the Butter Cream cardstock.
• Cut out the log from the Oatmeal Cookie cardstock.

Assembly

• Wrap Natural Journey Thread around the stamped side of the Kiwi Slice rectangle 3 times and finish with a bow.
• Adhere the Kiwi Slice rectangle to the card base with White Liner.
• Pop up the Sweet Pear rectangle on foam squares and adhere it to the left side of the Kiwi Slice rectangle.
• Glue the mushrooms to the lower right area of the Sweet Pear rectangle.
• Use Journey Foam Squares to pop up the log in front of the mushrooms.
• Use Journey Foam Squares to affix the fox to the lower left corner of the Sweet Pear rectangle.
• Use Journey Foam Squares to attach Happy Birthday to upper section of the Sweet Pear rectangle.

* denotes an affiliate link - see my disclosure for details.

Chocolate Dipped Artful Card Kit

While cleaning the other day, I came across what was left of an Artful Card Kit I bought a couple years ago.  I had already made several cards from it but there was still quite a bit of paper and lots of embellishments left, so I decided to finish it off.

The first card I made was for my Sister-in-law’s birthday.  It’s a double slider.  It looks complicated, but is very easy to make.  I got the instructions from Teresa’s Amazing Folded Cards CD from Paper Wishes.

Pull the ribbon and both ends pop out.

Other items used:

• Paper Artist 6 Layered Labels & 2 Swirls Cutting Die set
• Paper Artist 10 Tags & Trims cutting die set
• Birthday Cheer stamp set
• Birthday Greetings stamp set

The slider mechanism is made using a strip of plastic from a plastic bag.  I liked this technique so much that I used it again to make a get well card only this time I made it vertical.

         

Other items used:

• Paper Artist 6 Layered Labels & 2 Swirls Cutting Die set
• Paper Artist 10 Tags & Trims cutting die set
• Paper Artist Lacy Border cutting die set
• Paper Artist Flower Frenzy cutting die set
• Teal Jewel Butterflies Dazzles
• Teal Jewel Dazzles
• Teal Jewel Border Dazzles

The next card is a Pop-up slider.  The picture is from one of our trips to Klamath Falls.  I think it’s either a house finch or a purple finch.  They are really hard to tell apart.  I love taking pictures of birds and other wildlife and am always trying to find ways to incorporate them in my cards.

When you pull the tab at the top, the picture pops up and reveals a message.

 

I should have made the card a little bigger because when the picture pops up, it hides the greeting on the pull-tab.

Other items used:

• Paper Artist 6 Layered Labels & 2 Swirls Cutting Die set
• Teal Jewel Border Dazzles
• Gold Tiny Words Dazzles
• Gold Heart Pearl Jewel Dazzles

The next two cards are cut away cards (the front is narrower than the width of the card).   I finished the insides as well.

I made a get well card.

   

Other items used:

• Red Jewel Border Dazzles
• Foam squares
• Heartfelt Greetings stamp set (HOTP)
• Tiny Tags, Little Labels & Greetings stamp set (HOTP)

and a friendship card.

   

And the final card is a birthday card.

 

Other items used:

• Red Banner Greetings Dazzles
• Red Jewel Dazzles
• Gold Tiny Words & Phrases Dazzles

All that from an already used Artful Card kit!