Valentine Day Cards Day #1

Hello friends.  I have several post coming with inspirational Valentine cards over the next couple of weeks.  Love this set, 

"Simple Hearts" by Tami Mayberry for Gina K. Designs.  Using it makes it easy to create some clean & simple Valentine Cards.

The first card above is a mini easel card I created using Spellbinders "Classic Heart" and "Classic Scalloped Hearts" dies.  I also used "Cupid" 2 x 2" die by Lifestyle Crafts.  Apparently Lifestyle Crafts was purchased by We R Memory Keepers back in 2013 and they did not continue to carry this little guy : ( .  But it looks like you can still get this one on Amazon HERE  and Ebay HERE and Creative Cutters Corner HERE  and Shopping.com HERE.  

The other 3 are 3" x 3" mini cards.

TOOLS :

stamps : "Simple Hearts" Gina K. Designs

embossing folders : "Swiss Dots" and "Hugs and Kisses" Provo Craft Cuttlebug

dies : Spellbinders "Classic Heart", "Classic Scalloped Hearts", 

and "Classic Scalloped Circles"

border punch : "Dotted Scallop Edger Punch" EK Success

punch's : "Heart" Martha Stewart, 1/2" & 1", 1 1/4", 1 1/2" circle punches

Thanks for stopping by!

Melisa

You can check out all my Valentine projects HERE.

Fun Fold Card

Hello everyone.  I hope you have all had a great week so far.  We had another beautiful day wit 71 degree weather, so I got out and pulled some weeds.  No fun there, but I had fun after I finished.  I created this fun / fancy fold card.  It was created for this week's challenge over at SpeedyTV.  We would love to have you join us.   I used "Big Boy Toys" by Mark's Finest Papers.  It's a really cute set with another truck and cute sentiments like "keep on truckin" and "Boys never grow up ... their toys just get bigger and more expensive! ".

I started with a 4.25" x 11" piece of cardstock.  I scored at 3.5" from the top and then again at 2.5" from the bottom.  The rest is obvious.  The buttons are paper.  I didn't have real ones.  Real ones would have been sturdier.  I only glued them on one side so that I could wrap the twine around them.  I left a really long piece after tying the knot in the middle of the top button, and then used that to wrap it up.

I was trying to go for a masculine look.  So I didn't want to do bows, or flowers.  It was hard to come up with embellishments that are masculine.  I guess less is more in this circumstance.

Before I let you go tonight I want to make sure you know about the Layers of Colors HUGE SALE! 

50% OFF !!  and free stamps as well ....  read all about in HERE.

Thanks for stopping by and please stop by and see us over at SpeedyTV!

hug, Melisa

You can view all of my Fun Fold Cards HERE
You can view more of my Masculine / Father's Day cards HERE.

You can view more of my Mark's Finest Papers projects HERE.

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Project Details

Stamps : Mark's Finest Papers "Big Boy Toys"

Cream Cardstock : Papertrey Ink

Blue Cardstock : Bazzill

Ink : Tsukineko VersaMagic "Night Sky"

Border Punch : Fiskars

Embossing Folder :  Cuttlebug "Swiss Dots"

Button Die : Memory Box "Scalloped Buttons"  ( I purchased mine from Frantic Stamper)

Twine : Papertrey Ink

Gate-fold Card Tutorial

Hello stampers.  I'm back today with a gate-fold card designed for Speedy TV's Challenge #1.   I hope you will join us. I used Trip to Lancaster by Mark's Finest Paper.  

Check out the step-by-step tutorial photo's below.

I over-lapped the images slightly.  I had to cut down along the horses back so that the fence would fit where the images over-lap.

If you are inspired to create a similar gate fold card link me to it. I would love to see what you come up with!

Have a great night!

hugs,

Melisa

 

You can view all of my Fun Fold Cards HERE

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Project Details

Stamps : "Trip to Lancaster" by Mark's Finest Papers

Patterned Paper : My Mind's Eye Blush "Sweet" Eiffel Paper

Gem swirls : Prima

Begin with a 4 1/2" x 11" sheet of cardstock.  Find the center at 5 1/2" and add light pencil marks 2 1/4" to each side of the center point.   Don't draw the pencil lines all the way down.  I did it to show you where you were going to score.  Score.

 

Fold both sides / gates in.  They will overlap one another.  Measure over 2 1/4" from the fold lines on both sides as shown on panel A.  Draw a very light pencil line from top to bottom at this point.  This will serve as a guideline for cutting later.

 

Cut patterned paper panel slightly smaller than 2 1/4" x 4 1/2" x 2, ink edges,  and adhere to card front as shown on B.

 

Stamp images on both sides as shown above and below.

The goal was to position them so that the horse's head over laps the fence slightly.  Let me give you some measurements and you can put a light pencil line to guide your stamping :  The lowest point of the carriage image should a little more than 1/4" ( 5/16" to be exact)  from the bottom edge of the panel.  The lowest part of the fence line should be 1" from the bottom edge of the panel. 

 

Cut along the light pencil line til you reach the image.  Trim around images, then resume cutting along the pencil line again.   When you go to shut it, the fence line needs to lay behind the horse's head.  But to make it fit, you will have to cut in and down the back every so slightly.

Ink edges of card.  Adhere back of card to black cardstock.  Trim around the edges using deckled scissors.  Embellish with gem swirls.

Waltzing Reindeer

Hello friends!  I can't believe my last post was Wednesday.  Well I got tied up cutting out 60 reindeer and 20 sleds for a shoebox swap (card swap) I attended on Saturday.  It was my first and when I designed the card I really didn't think about how much work it would end up being for me.  But it was worth it.  I love the results and I had a fabulous time meeting other stampers in the area!  Lots of new friends were made and that was what it was all about!

It was my first side step card as well!!  I am in love with this card template and can't wait to make another one. 

You can check out a tutorial HERE.

I built this scene using stamps from 3 different companies.

Stamps : Reindeer - Layers of Color -  Reindeer Waltz, trees - Impression Obsession, sled - GinaK, sentiment, Crafty Secrets.

Colorization : brown ink - Brilliance Pearlescent Chocolate, green ink - VersaMagic Spanish Olive with Clusters Stardust embossing powder, Copic Markers on sled.

Brown glitter - Martha Stewart Brownstone, applied using Zig 2-way Glue Pen.

Cuttlebug Embossing folders : 1st and last steps I used "Snowflakes".  On step 2 I used "Swiss Dots".  For the vertical panel on the left side I used "Holly Ribbons".  I used a Tim Holtz distressing tool along the top of the snow hills.

Spellbinders Labels 1.  Ribbon - SU.

I am in love with these waltzing reindeer!! 

Stamps : "Reindeer Waltz" Layers of Color

The DP (American Crafts), string, and doily all came from a wonderful little shabby chic kit I recently purchased from a new kit company, Pixie Dust Paperie!!  Each month they will be releasing a new Shabby Chic Kit!  And there DT, the Pixies, share lots of inspiration on their BLOG.   For a chance to WIN a $15.00 gift certificate like I did last week, play along with the Pixie Dust Challenges on their blog or on City Crafters!

On a personal note:

I'm off to see if I can get something crafty done today!  I think I have talked DH into grilling out, so that will help.  Good news,  DS had a job interview at the end of last week for a REAL job (I'm sorry, but working at the Gamestop part time, with an engineering degree just doesn't count in my book!).  Please PRAY!  I love my son, but it's time to shove him out of the nest, teehee.  I mentioned to DS and DH that if this works out, maybe we can have him out of here by Christmas and in his own place.  DH quickly chimes in "Honey, don't rush him.  Let's just get him used to earning a paycheck and making his car payment and insurance".  I quickly replied, "Listen, sometimes you gotta throw the kid in the pool and let them flop around a little!!  Then they learn how to swim!"  DS thought that was funny.

Thank you so very much for stopping by and visiting!

Cool Beans Gift Card Holder

Ok ... so I'm loving this gift card holder. 

Guess how many people I know who love getting Starbucks gift cards??  Bunches!!  Ok, so I know some of you out there don't like to give gift cards.  You think it's not very "thoughtful" or personal.  I beg to differ!!   I would rather receive a gift card anyday, to my favorite store, where I can pick out the perfect item, that I really want, instead of receiving something that will end up in the next garage sale.  And if I'm going to spend money on a gift I want the same to be true for my recipient.  Besides it's thoughtful to find out where they like to shop!!   You could actually create a few of the actual holders and have them on standby.  Then you could add stamped images, ribbon later when ever an occasion arises.  You know...  for that last minute ... oh crap I forgot ... moment ! 

Never happens to me, hehe!!

Project Details ...

Stamp set : Escape the Daily Grind - FCD
Ink : Brilliance Pearlescent Chocolate
Kraft cardstock
Patterned Paper : Basic Grey
Ribbon : American Craft
Tools : Corner rounder, Scorpal, metal ruler, exacto knife

Cut Kraft cardstock 4" x 8.5".  Score using Scorepal at 2 3/4", 4 1/4", and 5 3/4 from one side.

Fold along score lines as shown below.  Cut opening as shown slightly smaller than 3 1/2" x 1/4" as shown below.  I used a metal ruler and exacto knife to do this.

Use a tape runner or red line double stick tape to secure as shown below.

Gift card will be held securely inside the slot you have created.

Stamp or hand write a message on the inside.

Stamp the outside and add ribbon!

You can view all of my Fun Fold Cards HERE