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

Scrapbook Page of the Week

Scrapbook Page of the Week:  No Regrets by Erika Martin at Stampin' Mama

Erika is a powerful scrapbooker -- I love how she manages to make her pages a true reflection of who she is.  The thing that makes a scrapbook page GREAT (versus one that is cute or engaging) is the ability to make your reader feel your emotion.  Erika did that here in SPADES.  I just truly love her style.

 

Runner Up:  Baking With Mommy by Kimberly at For the Love of Paper

Why don't I break out my camera when my kids do this with me?  This page really makes me smile, because it's that little thing that you did for your kids that made their day special.  I can totally see the fun that Kim and her son had baking.  Of course, now I'm hungry....

Amazing Project -- or perhaps -- Scrapbook Project of the Week:  Boys in a Jar by Jessica at the Pursuit of Craftyness

WOW!  I NEVER would have thought of scrapbooking in a jar and I love how this turned out:D  Think about that office cubicle that has no hanging space -- wouldn't this be great?!  It's just so clever and different -- I can see this in bathrooms, I can see this in my office, I can see this in my kitchen.  I like that I can change the picture out whenever I want...  Clever, clever, clever girl.  Loving this.  Really.

 

Best Mini-Book:  Sand Bucket Album by Jen at Jen Tapler Designs

Is this not so STINKIN' CUTE?!!!  I love this.  I may have to try to make this with my BIA.  It's just adorable. 

Digital Page Shout Outs;  Playing in the Pool -- two layouts -- by This is My Life

 

I just love the colors here -- I'm laughing that the hat and the decorative paper appear to be the same :D

I love that the journaling is directly on the picture.  The child remains the focus here.  Really cute page.

 

There were more -- if you don't read Card of the Week on a daily basis, do make sure that you go back and read yesterday's post.  The Best of the Blogosphere post includes all the scrapbook pages that I found last week along with other paper crafts.  Here is the link, just to make it easy on you -- http://www.cardoftheweek.com/2008/05/card-of-the-w-4.html

Card of the Week and Best of the Blogosphere: May 24- 30, 2008

Card of the Week:  Make a Big Splash by Amy Rysavy at Prairie Paper and Ink.

Does this card not completely kick ASS?!  This card is just fun on so many levels! Enough said.

Runner Up:  Blossom Bunnies by Kim at Paper in the Works

 

I love Kim's style.  She makes all of her cards using layers and dimensional's so that they literally pop off the page.  Besides, bunnies are cute.

Shout Outs:

Isn't this pretty?  This is the thank you note that Nicole Heady at Capture the Moment made for her daughter's teacher.  I love the scored, embossed lines at the bottom.  It's simple and elegant.

 

This is actually just one card in a set that was made by Michelle over at Mish Mash.  The entire set is adorable, so I highly recommend that you link on over so that you can see the finished gift set.  Too cute.  I love gift ideas. 

 

How could I not include this card?!  Isn't it beautiful?  Debbie Olson at Thinking Inking made this for Memorial Day.

 

Here are some more cards by Debbie at Thinking Inkling.  Each of the center medallions is personalized with the graduate's name!  Got to love that Just Rite Stamp set.  I bought one ages ago.  I still collecting dust, but I moved it onto the top of my desk just in case I decide to actually use it.  Ha.

 

Melanie at Hands, Head & Heart made this adorable shirt card for Father's Day.  I think its too cute -- she even included a sleeve!  Here is the extra bonus fun part of this card -- she used my tutorial video to make the neck tie :D  Ha ha ha

Project of the Week:  Fireflies and Fireworks by Nichole at Capture the Moment

I have to tell you that I just love, love, love this project.  If we had fireflies in our backyard, I'd throw the party just to make these things!  I'm totally going to CASE the invitation for our 4th of July cookout.  I'll be looking for opportunities to make the rest of the items.  Sigh.  I want to be you, Nichole.  No kidding.  I live in North Georgia -- I'm sure I could drive to Tennessee to work in your shop.... Let me know.  I'll promise to keep the open adoration to a minimum.

Runner UP:  Bracelet by Keri at Pink Lemonade

No kidding -- is this not FABULOUS?!  Wallet hurts from wanting this.

Shout Outs:

Chocolate Cake Favor Box by Linda at Mac's Catered Crops.  This had to be a ton of work, but for a shower, this would be the BOMB!

 

For a teacher gift, Julie at Paper Jewels made this clever coaster box.  On each side is something special -- post it notes, a calendar, etc.  It's filled with personalized note cards!  I hope the teacher appreciates how much time and effort went into this gift!  It's really so thoughtful!

***
OK, onto the BOB (Best of the Blogosphere).  Click on the "read more" button at the bottom of the page to see the full list as a web page.  There are MANY great projects this week, so make sure you give the list a once over.  As always, if you'd like to be included or if you think there is another blog out there that I should be reading, leave me a comment here and I'll add the blog to my Google Reader. 

Special thanks to Melanie at Hands, Head & Heart for leading me to the Paper Askew site -  her clever videos are awesome and I'm sure we'll be seeing her on Tutorial Tuesdays!

CASING Valerie Stangle

It seems lately that there isn't enough time for me to play with my stamps just to play with them.  When the end of the school year rolled around, I decided it was play time and I broke out the supplies and the BOB list to look for some inspiration.  I found this card by Valerie Strangle and decided it was the perfect teacher gift. 

I didn't have all of the supplies to get the effect that I wanted, so I made some substitutions.  My version uses the Stampin' Up Spring Break paper and some digital notebook paper tinted Soft Sky to create the background.  Unfortunately, I didn't realize until after the cards were assembled that I could have made my stripes be on a diagonal just by angling the cut.  Oh well.  I'll know for next time.  As it is, they get a little lost in the ribbon, but the end effect is still good.  Thanks for the inspiration, Valerie!

 

Tutorial Tuesday

Tutorial of the Week:Creating Acetate Accents by Andrea Walford and Sunny Stampin'

OK, I love this.  I have transparencies and it never occurred to me to use them for accents!  I also didn't think to paper piece the cute little baby boat with designer paper!  Sigh.  Thank goodness for tutorials on the web!

  

 

SHOUT OUTS:  OK, no kidding, there are 7 more tutorials this week that I thought deserved a shout out --

 

Melanie at Hands, Head and Heart shows you an adorable accordion album for Father's Day -- including masking techniques.

 

Sherry Wright from the Pursuit of Craftyness had this great tutorial about using sharpies and transparencies in your cards.  Think about those great digital brushes and frames that you may use in your scrapbooking?  Now, you can print them and use them in your cards!!!!

 

Amy from Prairie Paper and Ink has this cute tutorial about using flock to make your baby animals look "fluffy" :D  Flock was something definitely invented by a woman -- who else would bother to make something that recreated a "fluffy" look?!  Love it!

 

Another great tutorial from Amy at Prairie Paper & Ink -- how to make a circle template for your square card. 

 

 

My dear friend, Adela, from Creations by AR, has a great tutorial showing you how to make this incredibly versatile box. 

 

 

How about this "paper lantern" technique by Jan Tink at Stamps, Paper, Scissors?  This is amazing to me -- it does look like a paper lantern!  This may be a fun patern to do on vellum and actually make a lantern....

 

Did you ever wish for another technique to use with your solid alphabet set?  Check out this tip from Laura at Scrapnextras!

 

OK, those were my favorites from this week -- make sure you check out the Best of the Blogosphere every Friday (same bat time, same bat channel) to see the complete list of tutorials, scrapbook pages, cards and paper crafts :D

Big Fat Head

First, Tutorial Tuesday is coming... we were blessed with some unexpected company and that has upset my blogging time.  It's my intention to get it together tonight. 

 

Now, big head news:  I was mentioned on Molly's blog as a new "tutorializer"!  How hysterical is that!  Ha :D

 

More news of note -- my favorite blogger in the world is Kristina Werner.  I've always completely loved her work, her funny wit and totally coveted her mojo.  Every week she faithfully posts a video.  Videos take FOREVER to make and edit and post -- and she does it EVERY SINGLE WEEK.  This week, she posted this - and it was the affirmation that we all feel this way -- it's NOT JUST ME! Loving today.  Happy, Happy, Happy Day.

Scrapbook Saturday

Scrapbook Page of the Week:  All You Need is Love by Janna Wilson

  

Just this week, I discovered Janna's blog and I'm awfully glad that I did.  As far as I can tell, all her pages are this good and she's even offering a scrapbooking class!  I love this page -- the bold colors against the black page just "pop" and the splashes of red tie it all together.   I hope she teaches me to scrap like this!  I'm always looking for inspiration!

Scrapbook Project of the Week:  Name Badge Book by Libby at Libby's Little Addiction

Isn't this precious!?!  Libby made this book out of name badges from the office supply store, baby stamp sets and (of course) cute baby pictures.  I think it's great, and she's making me want to make one.  Probably won't be as cute with an 8 year old as the feature subject!

 

Shout Outs:

 

Baby Badge Digi Book by Jen at Jen Tapler Designs:  Another cute name badge album -- this one is all digital using a premade kit.  You just plug your pictures into the design, print and cut.  Super easy -- very cute.

 

Authentic All Boy page by Edleen at Java Scrapper:   While I love, love, love this page (I have 2 boys), you should check out Edleen's banner.  She's incredibly talented and I'm loving the layouts. 

The list could go on and on this week, but I'm off to buy patio furniture.  Wish me luck!

Card of the Week and Best of the Blogosphere: May 16 - 23, 2008

Card of the Week:  Cut out Butterfly by Maren at Zany Not Crazy

I love cards that have something that grabs you on the outside AND the inside -- this card definitely does that.  The clean, simple lines, the way the coloring (or lack of it) goes with the sentiment -- everything.  This card is inspired.  It's art.  When I get some free time, I'm CASING a whole lot of these!  I think this would be a great gift idea!

 

Runner Up:  Shore Do Love You by Mary-Jo at Beauty Lies Within

It was really hard to choose a winner this week -- there were several off the charts cards and this one with the layers and shades of cardstock and the cool fold definitely caught my attention.  The crab on the front is actually on a swivel, so the crab kind of dances!  When you open the card, the sun press down against the center panel to keep everything in proportion.  This card is amazing.

Shout Outs: 

 

Cathy from Crafty Thoughts made another cool folded card -- she tailored hers for a child's birthday.  So cute!

 

I've just discovered Kim's blog, Paper In The Works, and I love, love, love her style.  I actually had three cards of Kim's this week flagged for mention!  I narrowed my choice to this adorable farm card (the other cards are on the BOB list below).  Kim uses lots of texture in her cards, and lots of layers -- the farm house and the animals are actually cut out and "popped up" for some added dimension.  I was wondering where Kim got her inspiration from -- but for this card, she used a children's coloring page!  Clever girl -- I'll keep watching your blog -- I expect we'll be seeing a LOT more of you!

 

Isn't this Apron Card by Linda at LMac's Catered Crops just adorable?!  I love the recipe card with this -- how great would this be to send as a thank you note after the Memorial Day weekend?  I wasn't going to order this paper -- I didn't want it -- until I saw this great layout.  Toooooo cute!

Project of the Week:  Canvas Tote Bag by Julie at Paper Pleasing Ideas

Julie made this using a plain canvas tote and regular SU craft ink!  What a great gift idea!  I may make one for each boy for the pool.

 

Shout Outs:

Jennifer at The Buck Stops Here made this FAB candy wrap and matching card.  How often do you need a quick, happy, small gift for someone and you hadn't thought ahead?  Keep the candy in the pantry (have your husband hide it) and then you're ready in a snap!  Measurements and directions are on Jennifer's blog :D  Thanks for sharing this -- I love it!

 

I couldn't close this week without giving a shout out to Alli at Card Metaphors for this purse card -- I don't know if it opens to actually hold a gift card, so it's here under projects.  The use of lace and the big ribbon handles makes this look like a purse I would buy!  Great work :D

** Now, onto the BOB:  remember to hit the "read more" button at the bottom of the page to see the full list as a web page with pictures.  It's much more fun like that!  Also, if you'd like me to read your blog, you should leave a comment here.  Think I missed something -- comment here -- I love to see what's out there, so if there is a great blog and I'm skipping it -- let me know!

RAK from Nancy

Check out the great card I got in the mail today!  You can see more of Nancy's work at Nancy's awesome blog!

Some Card Fun

How fun is this card?! Believe it or not, it's not stamped -- it's printed.  I was surfing the blogs and found a lead for Pink Petticoat images -- which are printed through your computer.  My printer stinks, so the image was a little smeared, but it still made an adorable card.  I love this -- I just printed four images to a page and colored and cut them.  Since I'm a Photoshop Ninja, I can make must about any coloring work out here pre-printing, if I wanted.  The down side is that I love techniques like paper piecing and generally, just love ink, and you can't do that with a computer.  Not really.  I'll play and let you know.

I love to play in my craft room (really, the room is a desk in the corner of my actual bedroom...), and my mother loves to play in her garden. When Mother's Day rolled around, I simply had to make a card with growing things on it.  I fell in love with the Blooming with Love SU set, and started stamping.  I took all those coloring tutorials to heart.  Aren't you proud of me?  Look a the doodled ground and the shadows!  Check out how all the shading is on the same side!   I look back on the cards I made two years ago and shake my head...  "amateur hour".  I can't wait to see me 2 years from now.

Tutorial Tuesday

Tutorial of the Week: Crackle Flowers by Fiona at the Pursuit of Craftyness

 

Aren't these great?!  I haven't played with the crackle paints yet -- I never picked them up because I completely lack the imagination to know what to "crackle"!  Now I know... chipboard flowers!

 

Shout Outs:  Best Videos

Julie at Paper Pleasing Ideas shows you how to emboss with those Nestablities that are popping up everywhere!  I actually really liked seeing how fast and easy this was.  I'm moments away from caving and buying my first set.  I was hoping it was a fad...

Kristina at KWernerDesign Blog does part 3 of 3 of the video question and answer segment.  I really enjoyed this -- one of the three segments answers your question -- I promise!

 

Shout Outs:  Other Cool Tutorials

 

Jen Caputo shows you how to make a traditional scrapbook page using a digital template!

 

Debbie at Thinking Inking has a tutorial for making this cool circular flap card.

 

Michelle at Freedom in Creating shares another AMAZING coloring tutorial.  Actually, all her posts include AMAZING coloring tutorials, but if I shared all of them, I'd have to change the website to "Michelle's Card of the Week"!  I'm actually feeling brave enough to try to make this one.  I love the simple elegance of it.  I'll post my version and you guys can tell me how I did.

 

How about this cute tutorial -- Diaper Cake by Susie at Susie Stamp A Lot! 

 

Digital Shout Out:  Photo Collage by Bobbi at It Works for Me