Calling all coffee lovers!

Calling all coffee lovers!  This card is made into a shaker with the beautiful papers from Unity Stamp Company, Coffee Lovers Pattern Paper. I actually used the front page of the paper pack to create this shaker card!  I also used this awesome stencil by A Colorful Life Designs called Big Blot and made it look like a coffee stain. I used my Cricut and the glitter copper vinyl for the "Calling all". The inside is blank for your own sentiment.

 

Coffee: Day 4 Coffee Blog Hop

Today is Day 4 of the Coffee Loving Card Makers Hop!  We're back with the digital papers that I used from Taylor Made Cards 4U!  Using her papers and ephemera to create this vintage card.  I used Tim Holtz distress ink in Vintage Photo to distress all around the edges of the background and ephemera.  Brought in some jute to create the finishing touch for our card and there you have it!  I left the inside blank for any occasion.  Please check out the hop for more great cards and inspiration!  Thanks for stopping by!!

 

Coffee Blog Hop Day 3

Today is Day 3 of the Coffee Loving Cardmakers.  

What's better than coffee?  It's coffee & friends of course!!  I created this card with adorable coffee patterned paper from Unity Stamps, rightly called, Coffee Lovers Paper Pack!  This cute card is perfect to send for any occasion and include a nice gift card for coffee of course!  I popped up the sentiment that I printed out with my Cricut machine on glitter vinyl in copper.  Inside sentiment says, "a cup of cheer".  

Coffee Blog Hop Day 2

 Today is Day 2 for the Coffee Blog Hop! I realize that I neglected to leave a link for the hop on my post from yesterday (OOPS!!) It's being hosted over at Coffee Loving Cardmakers and you will find so many amazing cards and inspiration!  For today's card I created this pretty in pink tea card.  I dug out some pattern paper I've  had for quite a long time and thought they really brought this card together!  I inked the edges of the sentiment and added Nuvo Drops as accents.  Let me know what you think!

Throwback Thursday Technique - Chalking & Color blocking

 Time for another issue of Throwback Thursday Technique!  This week we will be looking at chalking and color blocking.  Color blocking was (maybe still is?) popular with scrapbooking however, we are going to see it used to create cards!  Most crafters I know seem to grow a collection of scraps of leftover papers from projects. We hang onto the because we know that 'one day' we will use them!  If you read my blog post on Masculine Cards, then you would know that I am the type of crafter that likes to use up as much paper scrap as she can. That being said, it's not always possible on every project and thus, we have scraps!

For a color blocking technique I find this to be one of the best ways to use up scrap paper, both solids and patterns.  Start with a theme, usually directed by your color choices, for this installment I'm going with fall colors, after all it's still October!  Grab a nice array of papers, it's important to use scraps but occasionally you'll need to bring in other papers like a card base and possibly a card front. I created 6 cards, 4 of those cards I used all scrap pieces with the exception of the card base. For the last 2 cards I used pre-cut 4"x5.25" white card fronts. Regardless which way you go, start with any piece of scrap and place it on your card front, the important step in the process is to try and not alter that scrap to much. You will need to adjust to size as necessary and maybe even trim an edge or two to even it up, but the whole point to color blocking is just that, blocks of color!

For my first two cards it was simple, the scraps I had barely needed any adjustment and they fit side by side giving this card a solid along a piece pattern paper, easy peasy really!  

For my next two cards the process was just about the same with the exception of the second card, I trimmed two pieces of solid cardstock to give it a block look and then added a strip of the pattern paper that was already a perfect size and match, I only needed to trim it down to fit the card front.

For my last two cards I decided to use that white card front and build upon it. Using the same technique for that last card above, again I barely needed to cut my cardstock, just a few trims here and there. For the last card, it was almost magical! I grabbed the pattern paper and thought it would look perfect down the middle, there was an golden color strip already ready to go, the width was perfect for one side. I had a nice green cardstock that all I needed to do was trim the width as the length was the perfect fit, a trim for them all to fit the card front and there was my sixth card front.  

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Before mounting these down I used my Pebbles Classic Chalks to chalk all the edges of each piece of paper and then glued them down to the card front and then onto their respective card bases.  Because I choose to use all colored card bases, I then used 4"x5x25" white Neenah 80 lbs cardstock for the inside that I chalked with these Metallic Cream Chalks, they are dreamy and pearlescent, I love the look they made!

And there you have it, 6 cards ready to go for anything you need, just add your sentiments and decoration!  Color blocking is fun, easy and a great way to use up that scrap paper!  For a video tutorial on this please visit my You Tube Channel, Throwback Thursday Technique, Chalking and Color Blocking.

Give Thanks

 Years ago when I started making cards I would participate in card swaps, long before the birth of the internet as we know it. Each month there would be theme and we would create as many cards as there were people that were participating in the swap (sometimes up to 12)! I have many fond memories of doing those card swaps and that was the beginning to the hundreds of swaps I would come to do once the internet for home use came into play! 

When my kids were younger I seemed to have more time to craft, make cards, scrapbook and make A WHOLE LOT of stuff for swaps. I participated in scrapbooking swaps 10 fold to my card swaps. If you have been around for awhile maybe you remember Yahoo Groups? That was the birth of swapping online groups (I believe anyway). We had a lot of fun and I STILL have A LOT of scrapbook swaps from way back then.  

Seasons come and seasons go and just like that, so did the online swap groups, my time became less for doing anything crafty and then it would be months before I would craft or scrapbook. Just this year (2020), what a strange year indeed, I reconnected with a lot of crafters on Facebook Groups. I was so happy to be a part of that actually participated in card swaps!  Needless to say I signed up and have been doing it for a few months now. Today's card was inspired for one of these swaps.  

To create the background I used watercolor paper from Arteza *and watercolor paints*, also from Arteza. I gently sprayed the paper and then used an Arteza watercolor flat brush* and brushed on my first color, took a heat tool to it then added a second color, heated it and then my third color.  After drying it for a final time I then dropped on Brutus Monoe's surface spray, Cabbage* and Jack-O-Lantern*. I made my own homemade shimmer spray (using Gum Arabic* and Pearl White Mica Powder*, also from Arteza.  I allowed this to dry overnight just to  be sure nothing would smear.

To create the words "Give Thanks" I chose an image from Design Space for my Cricut, cut that out three times on white cardstock and once on a beautiful copper matte foil vinyl from Cricut (no longer available).  I stacked the words to give it dimension with the last layer being the vinyl. I mounted the background to my Neenah 80# solar crest white paper*, added some fabric leaves as well as some old 3D embellishments I've had for quite awhile (source unknown). And that was the card I sent to 5 of my card swappers!  What do you think?

 

*Products are inked for your convenience I do not have any affiliation with these companies at this time.

 

Masculine Cards

 I bought one of Scrapping for Less's mini kits some time ago called Dapper Man,  it's no longer available sadly.  I wish I had snapped a photo of everything that came in the kit, but if memory serves me it had 5 or 6, 6x6 double-sided pattern papers, a mini sheet of enamel dots, 2 metal arrow embellishments and a stamp set (that I still have)!  My goal for this set was to create as many cards as I could using all the paper in the kit along with the embellishments.  

As the days, months and years roll on from when I first started paper crafting, I have accumulated A LOT of product, most of it is really consumable and I shouldn't really have as much as I do if I crafted more. Can you relate?

On to my goal!  I managed to create 9 cards using a bit more than just the pattern paper, but using ALL the pattern paper!  What first inspired me was that back in September it was my husband's birthday. I make him a card every year no matter what and I remembered this card kit and got to work.

My additional products I brought in to create these cards were, Neenah solar crest cardstock 80#, textured pearlized winter gray 80# cardstock from Cut Card Stock, some die sets from unknown sources (looks like I should keep better details), stamps from MayMay Made It, distress inks and embellishments for accents from various companies (there are so many out there)!  The dies I used were party balloons in two sizes, tools, gears and party banner.  The cards are shown below, what do you think?  The very bottom right is the card that was given to my hubby for his birthday.  What are your crafting goals?

Harvest Fair Kit - Digital Images

 Fall is in the air!  I am sure that many of us are all lovers of fall, especially those that can experience the changing of the colors to the tress and shrubs, the drying of the corn fields and the noticeable change of the temperature.  Living in the Midwest has really provided me with such an array of wonderful colors to appreciate, I wish it could be fall all year round.  

This blog post is two-fold for me. First it's my official announcement that I am a brand new Design Team member for Taylor Made Card 4 U!  I'm SO THRILLED & EXCITED to join the ranks of some VERY talented woman bringing alive Monica's digital kits.  For this month, it's none other than the Harvest Fair digital kit.  The second is creating cards with fall colors as well as a more vintage style (something I truly love very much).  

There is a Design Team hop for this beautiful kit (Monica also offers a Harvest Fair Journal Bundle too).  There will be other blog posts and videos (see the end of my blog for all the links).  Using the Harvest Fair Kit, I printed out a few additional materials and added in some cardstock to create 8 beautiful cards.  If you'd like to see more details on how I made 2 of the 8 cards, please check out my you tube video: 

Crafter’s Castle is currently having a monthly challenge and you can find that link here: Crafter's Castle. This prize is the Harvest Fair Kit from Taylormadecards4u that the design team is working with this month.

Video Links:

Taylormadecards4u: https://youtu.be/sNLGNydlT5c

Janie: https://youtu.be/NE4um2lOThs

Mynn (On A Stampage): https://youtu.be/lA3VX_vrIK8

Monica Martinez (Heartcraftpaper): https://youtu.be/lV9G9X4aGRo

Jeanie Ellis: https://youtu.be/nLOsgom3F6c

Cyn / Stampin MunchKins: https://youtu.be/mO-rTMAbiQs

Additional Halloween Slider Cards

 These cards are so much fun to make! I'll be posting some fall themed ones soon too!  In the meantime, here are a few more that I created.  Enjoy friends!

Halloween Slider Cards

I watch a lot of You Tube videos, I blame my husband for that, ha ha!  Last year when I was going through all the cancer stuff, it was pretty much all I could do.  It really did a lot for me personally, such as opening my eyes to the crafting world in a whole new light.  I became more familiar with my Cricut machine even though I have owned one since the very beginning!  I had bought the latest model (The Maker) in November 2018, only I didn't even open it until August the following year! I wasn't even sure if that's what was in the box (it was still in the shipping box).  I even took a video of myself doing the unboxing, if I can remember where I dropped that video, it may make an appearance on my You Tube channel in the future. I could go on and on about this but that 's another day.

My point is that I recently watched a You Tuber (if that's what they're called?) that created this really cool slider card. I love interactive cards and that one not only really struck me, but it was definitely a card I could do. There are many that I'm afraid to even attempt!  She did it old school style (using a paper trimmer), I decided to create it using my Cricut! After all, what's the point of owning a cool cutting machine if you don't use it, right?   You can check out her video here: StampingImperfection.  She even provides you with a really nice pdf over at her blog at: Stamping Imperfection.  I will definitely give credit where credit is due. 😉

This a fun card to make and I also recorded it, it's my very FIRST posted You Tube video!  (Not my first recording, but it's the first one that I was able to voice over and have everything match up pretty well). I'd love it if you would check it out, like and even subscribe to my channel!  Please be kind, it has taken me A LONG time to get to this point, a lot of trial, error and TIME. Oh time.....When you're doing a voice over for your video, it's so different than having your thoughts on a blog where you can simply hit the backspace bar if you make a mistake.  😁

I didn't take a picture of the entire process since it only came to me after starting the cards that I would also add this to my blog.  Suffice it to say that all the cutting was a breeze, I will share the file here: Sliding Card Base if you have a Cricut and simply want to just cut it out instead of creating it from scratch.  Here is the link to my video: Halloween Slider Cards.

Here is the card already cut. I used a paper tape, much like the brand Score Tape, on the bottom of the flap as shown. I left 1/8" of space  when applying the tape so that it is easier to align the white piece of paper that will become the slide (I forgot to mention that in my video).

Here is the white card that is used for the slide, it measures 2 3/4" x 4/3/4" to match the opening for the card.  In my file, the Cricut will cut the opening AND score it, there are 3 score lines at 3/4", 2 1/4" and 4".  It is very important to make sure that is completed before you adhere the white slider piece.

Once the slider is adhered, then you will put the tape on the main card, again leaving 1/8" so you can easily align the front of the card to the back panel.  In my video you will see how I use the method I've seen in several other You Tube videos where you only peel a portion of the release paper back. This helps to ensure a straight alignment.

I also used my Cricut to create the fun attachment for the slider. Pinterest is such a great route to find those 'punny sentiments'!  Make sure when you glue this on (I used Art Glitter glue) that you're ONLY gluing this to the mountain fold area, use the bottom valley fold as your guide on placement.

And here are the two cards that I'm spotlighting.  You will see two additional ones on my You Tube video.  I'm also waiting for a stamp set that has all those fun action words so I can add the word "PULL" to the top white area, I'm sure people can figure that out, but adding that will just add another nice element to this fun card.

I ended up embossing the inside sentiments in a silver embossing powder by Stampin' Stuff (something I've had in my supplies for years).  I used some very old Close To My Heart stamp sets.  I highly recommend that if you want to emboss your sentiment, do it before you put these cards together - the heat warped my cards and even though I tried to use the heat on the back side of the cards, it didn't help.  I had to leave something heavy on top of them overnight.  I believe it's because of the tape I used vs. glue.  I hope you like these fun slider cards and I also hope that you will give them a try!  Happy Crafting!

Coffee Clutch

I was recently asked to create some coffee cards to sell for a friend of mine, in her newly found home business company called Java Momma. Java Momma is a home-based business created to sell quality coffee, tea, herbal tea, tisanes and cocoa. Being a lover of both coffee and tea, I was excited to oblige! What further sparked my creativity was using a digital kit and ephemera from an online company called, Taylormadecards4u. I really love how these cards turned out and now they are for sale in my friends online coffee/tea group. I am also entering these into a challenge on Crafter's Castle Blog. Listed down below will be the items I used to create these cards.

For these cards I used Kraft paper, Neehah 80# cardstock, Hammermill 60# paper to print the digital images on, Tim Holtz distressed inks: vintage photo, gathered twigs and brushed corduroy. I also embossed a fancy paper clip to use too. The kits I used to create these cards from Taylormadecards4u were: An English Garden, Coffee and Tea Labels, Coffee Blend Paper pack, Coffee Dictionary Page, Cofee Labels 1, Coffee Labels Set, Tea and Coffees, and Coffee Large Flash Cards. As you can see, I was able to create an amazing variety of coffee/tea/cocoa cards simply using digital kits!