Card of the Week.com | Cards, Scrapbooking, and Papercrafts

February Stamping Workshop

As you may know, I'm a Stampin' Up! demonstrator.  I wrestle with what to present in my workshops because I tend to like really "involved" cards, and I can't use some of my favorite non SU tools -- like the Scor-Pal for demonstrations. 

While I was brainstorming workshop ideas for February, I ended up making this card:

It was SO easy!  I cut the card size to 4x4.  I turned it upside down and used the scoring blade on my Fiskars cutter to make the embossed lines.  I water colored (with dye inks and a blender pen) one of the images from the Fast & Fun Notes set.   I used the small square punch to punch the Bali Breeze DSP and the water colored image.  I adhered everything on mats cut 1/4" larger and then popped up the center image.

I figured that I had a theme now -- Fun & Fast Notes stamp set, Bali Breeze paper and embossing as the technique. 

Second card: 

Soft sky stamped in Versamark using the Paisley and Canvas background stamps for a soft fabric look.  (Hard to see on camera, but a nice subtle effect.)  I made the embossed square by cutting a small piece of thin cardboard (the kind that comes with DSP works well).  I taped the cardboard to the front of the card with repositionable tape (I just used a little, so that I wouldn't leave any visible residue).  I flipped the card over, and using a light box, ran a stylus around the square edges.  I flipped it back to the front, removed the cardboard and attached my image. 

Tip:  For this stamp set, I cut the sentiment off the main image and mounted it on the side of the block.  Now I have two stamps to use as I please!

Last thing:

I like to have three projects at a workshop.  I saw the bag (picture above) in the Hostess Preview Brochure and decided it would round out the collection nicely.  Here is the template:

Download hostess_brochure_template.doc

 

If you have any great workshop ideas -- or requests -- please leave me a comment here!

Jumbo Outline Alphabet Cards

Stampin' Up! had the nerve to retire both the alphabet sets that I own.  As a demonstrator, I'm supposed to use products that are currently available when I do workshops, etc.  At almost $50 a pop, it's a hard pill to swallow when when they take both my sets off the table.  I really did agonize over what to order as a replacement.  I really liked this outline set, but I don't have a lot of ideas of how to maximize the set. 

I was surfing SCS and saw two cards very similar to these by StarofMay.  StarofMay is actually Kristina Werner and I love her work, so I ran off to CASE.  The originals said "thanks" and were different color combos, but the ideas definitely belong to her. 

 

I would LOVE to see your ideas for how to use this alphabet set.  If you have a sample that you'd like to share, please email me and let me know.  You can have a "Guest Stamper" slot here and showcase your ideas!

Technique Challenge

OK, I got completely carried away with the SCS Technique Challenge this week.  I love, LOVE, paper folding.  I think the 3D effect is just so beautiful.  When the challenge included something that I hadn't seen before, I had to try it.

This fold is called the Dahlia Fold.  The instructions are here.  You basically take 8 circles and fold them and then glue them down in a circle. 

This card is popped up on dimensional's.  The vines are just small slivers of paper, curled around a pencil.

For these two cards, I punched holes and then backstitched ribbon to look like stems and leaves.  I didn't make the flower petals go all the way around for a different look.

 

I used my Scor-Pal to create decorative leaves and edges on this one.

Such a fun technique -- definitely give it a try.  Email me if you have trouble.  As a user tip, larger circles are easier for folding. 

Grumpy Altered Coffee Travel Mug

My local Starbucks has started carrying the coffee tumblers that you can customize.  I was just delighted.  I love making things that are personal, especially for gifts.  My sister-in-law just celebrated a birthday, and a travel mug for the car seemed like a nice idea.  The best part is that I have lots of pictures of my nieces and nephew, so I could load the mug with photographs!

I went to one of the digital scrapbooking sites and bought a template for the tumbler -- just a note, the tumbler pattern I bought turned out to be too short, so I made a new one.  I'm putting it here as a freebie template for anyone who wants to try it.  You have to have a basic Photoshop knowledge and know how to use clipping groups.  If you need help, please email me and I'll be happy to walk you through it.

Download tumbler_template.psd

 

 

This is a close up view of the birthday card.  I just love Grumpabella from www.stampingbella.com.  I think she's hilarious.  I have yet to find a sentiment stamp that really "goes" with her, so I just keep printing the sentiment on the computer.  I colored her robe by stamping her on DSP and then cutting the clothes out and gluing them on like a paper doll.  If you are a seasoned stamper, you'll know that the technique is called "paper piecing". 

Enjoy the template -- here are some other coffee mug template ideas --

 

Scrapbook Saturday

We had snow in Georgia!!!! I don't think Jake has ever even seen snow!  I had been drooling all over the wonderful snow layouts in all the scrapbooking magazines, just knowing I would be unfulfilled.  The snowflakes fell, and I grabbed my camera :D

Guess what -- 2 snow days in one week.  I made the second page using the lessons from Jessica Sprague's Now We're Rockin' With Photoshop class.  I changed the colors, etc., but basically this is the week 4 layout.  The digital papers are from her Echoes of Asia kit. 

Jake finally learned how to ride a 2 wheeler.  He really wanted to go ride bikes with all the other kids and his bike with training wheels was broken.  He took the big bike outside and taught himself how to ride it in about 10 minutes -- all by himself!  Of course, this was another great excuse to grab the camera and take some pictures.  I love that I captured this time.  I wasn't scrapbooking when Eric was learning, so we'll have to rely on an unreliable memory for him.

This is a digital template by KH Mize -- it's called Year in Review.  I don't remember where I bought it, but I was enchanted when I saw it.  I love the idea of a summary page at the end of the scrapbook -- or even the beginning.  I left a spot on the bottom left for a library pocket to hold the dvd slide show of our pictures.

This is a CASE of a layout I saw in the August Scrapbooks, Etc., magazine.  They did an entire section dedicated  to scrapping sporting events.  I was so thankful.  My boys play all sorts of sports and I'm constantly struggling to make the 8th baseball season seem someone unique. 

It's hard to tell on this layout, but the basketball and hoop are interactive.  I'm trying to make more pages that move.  It's a hard desire to fill, when every page goes into a protector!

I'm already behind in my resolution to scrap events when they happen!  At least you know that we have a few more "scrapbook Saturdays" in the works!

Best of the Blogosphere: January 19-25, 2008

This week's Best of the Blogosphere has a lot to offer -- remember that I always say to leave a comment if you want me to read your blog?  Well, I was pointed to Verve Visual's blog, which has so many great ideas in all areas -- paper crafts, scrapbooking and cards.  I love it when I discover something that shows me some real versatility.

As always, leave a comment if you'd like me to read your blog and add it to my list.  Also, hit the "Read More" button on the bottom of the post to see the full list, with pictures. 

Enjoy!

RAK

I received this lovely card from Stephanie Severin -- isn't it amazing?!  I can't tell if the paper is DSP or painted, but all the gold swirls and the sentiment  are embossed and the paper squares are glued on.  I'm just amazed at this card -- it looks like a painting, and honestly, I think I might frame it!

Thanks Steph!  I LOVE it!!!!

Papercrafting can save your 8 year old's party!

 

My son, Eric, is seriously into Ben10.  He loves the show and the action figures and for his birthday, he wanted a Ben 10 Party.  Guess what?  Yep.  They don't make any Ben 10 party things.  There is no cake decorations, no invitations, no goodie bag items, no anything.  Ugh. 

I was saved by my love of crafting and a little Photoshop know how. I made my own invitations, plus I made pillow boxes for the goodie bags and stuffed them with wrapped candies.

To help all those who have the same problem, I'm attaching the photo files at "real size" so that you can print them if you need them.  I don't have a pdf maker, so this was my best idea.  Download the pictures, and just print them from Windows Media Viewer onto plain paper.  (The pillow box wrap was printed on card stock).  Let me know if you have technical issues.

Download ben10_wraps.jpg

Download ben10airheadswrapper.jpg

Download ben10hersheyswrapperpsd.jpg

Download ben10skittleswrapperpsd.jpg

Silhouette

For Christmas, my wonderful husband gave me a Silhouette die cutter.  I have really enjoyed playing with it.  I was talking to my girlfriend, Rachel, and she was asking me if I could make silhouettes with the die cutter -- you know, silhouettes like the ones you can occasionally get at the mall for $30.  I really hadn't considered it, but yes, I thought I could pull that off. 

I made my boys stand against a plain background (my kitchen wall) and I took a profile picture.  I put the pictures into Photoshop and erased the background.  I then filled the profile with black and made a digital silhouette.  I had a revelation at this step, and realized that I didn't have to have a fancy die cutter to cut this out -- I could just print the silhouette onto vanilla cardstock and I'd have the image that I wanted.  I tried it, and fell completely in love with the results. 

I printed this one small, and taped it into a blank pendant.  I filled it in with Crystal Effects and set it aside to dry for 24 hours.  It is not super durable -- you can scratch the surface if you try, but it does look great.  If I remember correctly, the pendant blank was only about $5 online -- so this is a great piece of personalized jewelry for very little money.

The box was an after-thought.  If I've learned anything from all the fabulous blogs I read, it's that packaging is important.  It makes the smallest gifts seem special.  I had an empty Altoids tin on my desk, and decided to Mod Podge on some pretty black and white DSP.  I added the hearts for Valentine's Day and some torn Mulberry Paper to set them off.  The inside of the box is just white cardstock.  I cut a piece of paper slightly larger than the box.  I traced the box outline and then snipped the extra paper so that it would fold around the box curves -- creating a raised piece for the necklace to sit. 

If you are interested in a digital silhouette of your child, and don't have a software editing program, I will be happy to do it for you.  Email me (barefootstamper@gmail.com) a profile picture of your child, against a plain background, and I'll be happy to do it for you.  I'll charge $10, using PayPal. 

Dry Embossed Valentines

Supplies: Whisper White cardstock and Ginger Blossom DSP by Stampin' Up!; Ruby Red Ink by Stampin' Up!  Brass template, light box, stylus and border punch from Michael's

My son, Jake, and I made a video to demonstrate dry embossing.  I normally wouldn't tape my introduction in sweats, at night, but Jake was so eager to help that I couldn't resist.  I'm a sucker for that kid ;D

 

 

 

The same dry embossed technique is used on this card; however, when I finished embossing, I moved the brass template to the front of the card and used it as a mask.  I just applied the ink using a sponge dauber and then cleaned the template with a baby wipe. 

This is the card we made on the video.

 

Thanks for looking!  Please let me know what you think -- I'll try to tailor the videos to what you're interested in seeing.