Gelatos Play

Well, I did it again!  I forgot to take pictures of the cards I made & sent out in a hurry the beginning of the week - 3 birthday cards, 2 belated! Oh well, those WERE to have been the subject of today's post, but obviously that won't be happening.  One of the cards was made using papers similar to those shown above, so I decided to talk about my "playing with Gelatos" that resulted in those papers.

It started with some backgrounds I'd seen posted on the Paper Wishes Message Board that had been done using gelatos, embossing folders, and a sanding block.  The process is pretty simple:

1. Scribble gelatos on your card stock.
2. Blend with a baby wipe.
3. Place in an embossing folder and run through your machine.
4. Let dry - then sand lightly to remove color from the raised areas.  

That's pretty much what I did in the examples in the next couple of pictures - though I only sanded some of them. 

I experimented with a variety of colors & different embossing folders.  I really like this technique.  It's quick and easy and since I used a fairly wet baby wipe, the card stock was damp when it went through the machine so the embossed image was GREAT!  You can see on the blue one below what it looks like when you REALLY sand off the top layer.  The red one below was one I tried on glossy card stock.  Not the best, as the Gelatos could rub off if you tried hard, but they actually held better than expected. 

On the last one - the green one, you can see that I tried something a little different.  I had started thinking about how I might color a second sheet of card stock in a similar color and create coordinating focals.  I decided on some greetings/messages.  I stamped them with VersaMark ink and heat embossed the messages with white embossing powder before scribbling with Gelatos and blending with the baby wipe (didn't use an embossing folder with this one).  You can see a better view of it in the picture below:

Well, that embossing reminded me of my Color Me papers from HOTP (and similar product from other companies).  So, I just HAD to try it with some of those. The picture below shows a couple samples: 

I found I really wasn't as happy with the ColorMe papers done this way.  I've decided that when it comes to this type of product, I preferred to scribble the color on my craft sheet & pick it up with a water brush to apply it.  This allows me to be more precise in my application.  The picture at the top of this post shows several done with the water brush (they were from a ColorMe card topper set (HOTP).

Well, there's some of my gelato play.  Hopefully I'll soon find time to use some of these in cards (and remember to take pictures this time)!!!

HD Christmas Classics - Xmas Greetings #5

The last card in this set is an interlocking gate fold card.  

MATERIALS:

• 5" x 6.5" white card blank
• Hunkydory Christmas Classics - Christmas Greetings Topper Set
• Turquoise & Gold Foiled paper - not sure who makes this and it's not really Christmas paper, but it goes SO WELL! (I got it in a paper swap).
• Light aqua glimmer paper

METHOD: 

1. Card Base - Score 2 1/2" from each edge and fold with edges just meeting in the middle as for a standard gate fold. Crease well with bone folder.
2. Background - Cut patterned paper to 5" x 6" - then cut in half so you have two pieces that are 2.5" x 6". Glue in place on the card front - aligning with the top of the card.  Cut 2 1/2" pieces of the border strip & glue below paper.  If some of the card still shows below the border, trim card blank to fit.
3. Interlocking Focal & Sentiment - Center frame and glue to just the left side of the card.  Center focal inside frame and glue to just the right side of the card.  Add sentiment to frame and glue just to frame and left side of the card (making sure no glue from this step can touch the right side of the card!).
4. Inside (see below) - Cut a piece of glimmer paper just smaller than the inside of the card.  Glue in place.  Cut remaining strip of patterned paper in half lengthwise and add as border on either side.

HD Christmas Classics - Xmas Greetings #4

This 4th card in the Xmas Greetings topper set from HD started with the sledding strip from the patterned card stock.  The rest of that sheet didn't work well for what I had in mind, so I also used some of the patterned card stock from the Christmas is coming topper set.

MATERIALS:

• White 5" x 7" card blank
• Hunkdydory Christmas Classics Luxury Card Collection - Christmas Greetings and Christmas Is Coming topper sets
• Clear Adhesive glitter sheet
• Gold Metallic Sharpie

METHOD:

1. Card Base - Instead of folding card in the middle, score it on either side of it so it divides into 3rds (3 1/3 inches from each side).  Fold first as mountain, second as valley to create a standard tro-fold card.
2. Card Front - Cut sledding strip from patterned card stock and cover with clear adhesive glitter sheet.  Measure 1 3/4" from top and cut.  Using a straight edge & gold metallic Sharpie, draw a narrow gold frame around each side.  Set smaller piece aside for inside of card and glue the large one in place - centered on card front.  Add sentiment with foam tape.
3. Card Inside - Cut 3" wide strip of patterned card stock (from Christmas is Coming) - trim 1 3/4" from top and center largest piece on middle panel of card.  Center small piece at top & piece from card front at bottom of the 3rd panel, leaving room for your message. 

HD Christmas Classics - Xmas Greetings #3

Third card in this Xmas Greetings topper set is a shaker card.

MATERIALS:

• Hunkydory Christmas Classics - Christmas Greetings topper set
• Fun Foam piece (from dollar store)
• Clear Acetate (from packaging materials)
• Double-sided Adhesive (Elizabeth Crafts)
• Brown StazOn ink
• Gold Metallic Sharpie
• Larger pieces of clear glitter

METHOD:

1. Background - Cut a piece of patterned card stock a bit smaller than your card front.  Ink the edges with Brown StazOn.  Then using a ruler, draw narrow borders with the Sharpie pen so it looks like you matted the piece on gold (you definitely save on Mirri board this way!).  Center on card front and glue in place.
2. Focal (uses 3 pieces from the topper set) - Cut a piece of fun foam just smaller than the largest frame.  Cut pieces of double-sided adhesive sheets & add to front and back of this fun foam (leaving outside protective sheet in place).  Tape the smaller frame & focal together on the back side, so they move as one piece.  Using removable adhesive, center focal on fun foam piece behind frame - then trace around it.  Fussy cut out center using a craft knife and/or scissors.  At this point, depending on the color of your fun foam, you may choose to take the gold Sharpie and color all the edges of the fun foam so an odd color won't be visible in your finished piece.  Now, cut clear acetate to size and glue behind large frame.  Then remove one side of paper backing from the adhesive on the fun foam and carefully center large frame in place so no edges are showing.  Take taped focal piece, and (using larger frame to help you) decide on proper placement and glue in place.  Carefully add a bit of clear glitter in the center of this focal (go easy on this step - I thought I did, but I still got too much!).  Then remove final adhesive backing sheet and glue acetate frame in place - being careful with placement.  Now the glitter is loose within the fun foam hole - trapped between the focal and the acetate.
3. Border & Sentiment (both from topper set) - Cut piece from border strip & glue in place about half-way between the bottom of the shaker frame and the bottom of the background piece.  Add sentiment with foam tape.
4. Inside - Cut a couple of small strips of the patterned card stock, ink the edges & frame with Sharpie as before.  Glue in place as borders on either side of the inside of the card.

HD Christmas Classics - Xmas Greetings #2

This card, 2nd in the Christmas Greetings topper set of HD Christmas Classics Luxury Card Collection, actually starts with patterned card stock that had been designed to go with the Nativity topper set!  Somehow I got them mixed up, but this works!

MATERIALS:

• Hunkydory Christmas Classics Luxury Card Collection (Christmas Greetings and The Nativity topper sets)
• The Essential Book of Christmas Sentiments 2016 
• Scalloped Oval die from Spellbinders set
• Red Jewel Dazzles
• Gold Metallic Sharpie pen

METHOD:

1. Card Base - I started by cutting the patterned card stock 5" up from the bottom edge. Using the die for placement, I laid out where I wanted to topper to sit - marked vertical center and drew a light pencil line.  I then drew another light pencil line parallel and to the right of that one so there was just a bit of the die cut (approx 1/2") hanging over the 2nd line.  Next I taped the die in place and ran it through my machine twice - making sure that the top plate in the sandwich was aligned so that either side would cut but not the center.  (See video example here - though she did score lines & I just did pencil lines at this stage.)  Finally, score on pencil lines above and below where the die cut - but not in the middle.  Fold 1st line as mountain and 2nd as valley (noting the way the center portion "flip flops" when you do this!).  Finish this step by trimming excess off right edge to create a finished size of 5" x 7".
2. Focal, Front - Before mounting the die cut with double stick foam tape, color all around the edge with the gold Sharpie to form a gold mat. 
3. Focal, Inside (see picture below) - Glue frame to piece of coordinating plain paper & fussy cut around it before gluing in place.  Add greeting from Essential Book & then draw a "hanging thread" using the gold Sharpie.  Add 2 small Jewel Dazzles top and bottom of this "thread".
4. Finishing - Add border strips (from die cut sheet) and Jewel Dazzles on either side.

HD Christmas Classics - Xmas Greeting #1

This  card is the first of those created from the HD Christmas Classics Luxury Card Collection - using the Christmas Greetings topper set.  For this one, I used my own prepared card stock for the background

MATERIALS:

• Hunkydory Christmas Classics Luxury Card Collection - Christmas Greetings topper set
• White 5" x 7" card blank
• White card stock
• M-Bossabilities Imperial 5" x 7" embossing folder
• Spellbinders Decorative Labels Eight die
• Gold-edged 1/8" White Satin Ribbon from my stash
• Gelatos - Silver Ice, Gold Champagne, Metallic Mint, Aqua Dolce
• Baby Wipes
• Sanding Block

METHOD:

• Background - Cut a piece of white card stock that is 8 1/2" x 5".  Scribble gelatos over it, then blend with a baby wipe.  While still damp, emboss with M-Bossabilities folder and let dry.  Sand with a sanding block to remove color from raised areas.
• Focal - punch out piece from topper set & mat with white card stock cut with Decorative Labels Eight die.
• Card Base - Card blank prepared as a standard Center Step card (see here), dimensions on this one are: step 1", sides 1 3/4". 
• Front - Cut background at 5" x 7", then cut away sides to fit card front.  Attach ribbon to lower edge, wrapping ends around to back - then attach background to card front.  Add prepared focal with foam tape & then greeting (also from topper set) - also with foam tape.
• Sides - The side pieces you cut off should be just the right size to cover the sides of hte card front.  Once again, add ribbon - on either edge this time - wrapping around to back as before before attaching to card base.
• Inside - Take remaining 5" x 1.5" piece of prepared background and cut it in half lengthwise.  Add ribbon as before and attach to inside of card for borders.
  
  
  

HD Christmas Classics - Robin and Friends #5

Compared to most of my most recent cards, this card is really simple.  But it's still nice!  This makes the 5th card from the Robin & Friends topper set from Hunkydory Christmas Classics Luxury Card Collection.

MATERIALS:

• Hunkydory Christmas Classics Luxury Card Collection - Robin and Friends topper set
• Hunkydory's Essential Book of Christmas Sentiments 2016
• White card blank & additional small scrap of white card stock
• Ribbon from my stash
• Spellbinders Decorative Labels Eight

METHOD:

1. Card Front - Cut piece of patterned card stock with border so that it is just smaller than the front of the card base.  Wrap 1/8" wide gold-edged white ribbon around border and glue in place - then glue whole piece to card front.  Add ribbon bow.  Sentiment (from Essentials book) is edged with silver so I colored it with a gold Sharpie so it would blend better with the gold foiled card.  I matted it on white card stock that was die cut with a die from Spellbinders Decorative Labels Eight - then attached to card front with foam tape.
2. Inside - remaining piece of border decorated card stock is glued to the bottom of the page.  Small focal is glued to that (from die cut sheet).  Finally a tag is added (from Essentials book - edged with Gold Sharpie as before) - after a small piece of ribbon was attached.

HD Christmas Classics - Robin and Friends #4

The 4th card made from the HD Christmas Classics Robin and Friends set is an interlocking gate fold card.  Very easy to make!  

MATERIALS:

• Hunkydory Christmas Classics Luxury Card Collection - Robin and Friends Topper Set
• Cream colored 5" x 7" card blank

METHOD:

1. Card Base - DON'T fold on score line.  Make your own that are parallel to it and half way between it and the edge on each side.  Fold so edges meet in the middle.
2. Card Front - Cut two squares from patterned card stock measuring 2 3/4" square. Glue to bottom of each folded panel, leaving a small edge around each.  Glue frame and sentiment to left side panel (ONLY!).  Center focal inside frame and glue it to the right side panel (ONLY).  (Focal, frame and sentiment are all from the die cut sheet)
3. Inside - Cut pieces of patterned card stock to fit side panels & center top as shown in the picture below.  Then add border piece and robin from die cut sheet (I added robin with foam tape).

HD Christmas Classics - Robin and Friends #3

Today's card (#3 of Robin and Friends card topper from HD Christmas Classics) is a folding 3-D Shadowbox card.  This card is SO EASY to make!!!

MATERIALS:

• Hunkydory Christmas Classics Luxury Card Collection (Robin and Friends card topper set)
• Greeting scavenged from a Christmas card I received previously.
• Glitter fun foam
• Patterned paper (HOTP)
• White card blank - 5" x 7" size
• Spellbinders die - Decorative Labels Eight

METHOD:

1. Card Base - Cut in half along pre-scored line giving you two pieces that are 5" x 7" in size.  Score at 1/2" and 1" from each 5" side and crease well.  (picture at end of post shows how these two pieces will go together)
2. Card Front - Cut a piece of patterned card stock that is 5" square.  Attach in place in center of one piece of prepared card stock (step #1) using repositionable adhesive.  Die cut a hole through both pieces - setting removed pieces aside for another card.  Cut a piece of acetate (clear plastic from packaging works great!) and sandwich this between card stock and card front, gluing all in place.  Glue large frame (from die cut sheet) centered on card front, making sure not to get glue between scored lines.  Frame will overlap center front area, but this is fine so long as no glue is on the overlap!
3. Inside Shadow Box - Cover inside of "shadow box" (center part of 2nd piece of scored cardstock) with a coordinating print paper, making sure to avoid getting glue between scored lines.  Mat scavenged sentiment piece on glitter fun foam with added foam tape for dimension.  Then carefully place so it will be centered behind the acetate window in the finished card and glue in place.
4. Finishing - Glue sides together along out edges ONLY (between edge of card and 1st score lines).  Glue 5" border strips (from die cut sheet) in place on top of these outside edges, making sure not to extend them past the scored lines.  Grasping each side and pushing toward each other will create a nice shadow box - pulling away will help it lie flat for mailing.  Add a small piece of scored card stock to the back of the card to serve as a stand - see picture below.

HD Christmas Classics - Robin and Friends #2

My second card from the Robin & Friends topper set in the Hunkydory Christmas Classics Luxury Card Collection is an Inverted Center Step Card - turned UPSIDE DOWN!!!  

MATERIALS:

• Hunkydory Christmas Classics Luxury Card Collection - Robin & Friends Topper Set
• Hunkydory Red Mirri Card Stock
• Clear Acetate
• 5" x 7" cream colored card blank
• Paper Artist 9 Tiny Christmas Things & Shadows
• Red Jewel Dazzles

METHOD:

1. Card Base - Make card as inverted center step card (see here).  Then turn it upside down so the "step" is at the top of the card. 
2. Recessed Card Front - Cut patterned card stock at 7" from side with robin.  Place in front of you with robin in lower right corner - cut horizontally 4" from bottom. Then cut 2" off the left side, leaving a piece that is 5" x 4" and has the robin.  Glue this to the "upside down" center portion of the card.  Reserve cut off pieces for step 4.
3. Middle Layer - Cut a piece of acetate - 1 1/4" x 5".  Score at 1/4" on long edge and fold.  Glue 1/4" folded edge to bottom of upside down "step" - butted up against the patterned card stock.  Align 5" long border strip (from die cut sheet) along lower edge of acetate so it can be seen below the fussy cut leaves.  Glue in place.  Using ornament die from 9 Tiny Christmas Things and Shadows (HOTP) cut an ornament from red mirri card stock.  Trim ornament in two - uppper bulb portion & lower pointed portion.  Attach these as two ornaments hanging from the border strip.
4. Sides of Card Front - Cut 5" x 7" piece of acetate. Taking largest remaining piece from step #2, cut opening in it to fit the card base - 1" from each side & fussy cut along the border. Sandwiching acetate between this and the card base, glue this piece to the top and sides of upside down card front (card stock will not come all the way down sides of the card).  Take remaining 2" wide piece & fussy cut along the leaves like you did for the piece along the top of the card.  Trim to 1" pieces and glue to bottom of sides to finish them off.  Cut strip from die cut sheet and glue along bottom of acetate. Add sentiment (from die cut sheet), and a few small red Dazzles to embellish sentiment & edges where strip joins sides.
5. Stand - Card is basically finished, but with the acetate and card stock glued to it, the front was way to heavy to stand in place - so I added a piece of card stock in the back that could be folded to hold it in place (See picture below).  This was just a piece of left over card stock approximately 2" square.  I scored it at 1/2" from one side.  Then, with scored line on my left, I measured 1/2" from the bottom edge on the right side & draw a line from that point to the bottom at the fold and trimmed along this line so the card would sit at the right angle.  Then I just folded it along the score line - and glued just the 1/2" part to the back of the card, lining up the bottom of stand with the fold line of the card as you see in the picture below.

It folds pretty flat for mailing, but makes a really nice 3-dimensional card.

HD Christmas Classics - Robin & Friends #1

Today's card is from the 4th topper set in the Hunkydory Christmas Classics Luxury Card Collection - the one called "Robin and Friends".  I came across this "inverted" center step card the other day and just had to try it.  It's super easy.  For the card base - instead of the step being on the outside, we move it to the inside.  This sets the center portion back instead of the edges - though I'm not sure how well you can see it in the picture above.  (Perhaps you can see the depth better in the last picture in this post.

MATERIALS:

• Hunkydory Christmas Classics Luxury Card Collection
• Essential Book of Christmas Sentiments 2016
• Cream colored card base for 5" x 7" card
• Red Glitter foam from the dollar store
• Ribbon from my stash
• foam tape
  

METHOD:

1. Card Base - In the picture above, the dotted lines represent scored lines, and the sold represent cut lines (though please make them straighter than I could get in the picture!!!! )  The two score lines on the outer edges of the cut lines are along the original score line of your card.  I started with a 5"x 7" finished card size.  Score line A in this case is 1" from the lower edge, score line B is 1" above that.  Score line C is 1" past the original center score line.  Cut lines are equidistant from the edges - in this case I cut them 1 1/4" from the edge.  As you can see, they run from scoreline A to scoreline C.  All folds are mountain folds except for scoreline B.
2. Sides & Lower Step - I cut a piece of Gold Mirri card stock at 5" x 7" - then cut out a piece in the upper center portion that was 4" x 4 1/2" so it perfectly fit the sides & lower step. I glued that in place, then added a strip of glitter foam tape - then added a greeting from the die cut sheet using foam tape.
3. Center Portion of Card Front - I cut a piece of patterned card stock (from a previous topper kit in this same set) 4 1/2" x 4" and glued in place before adding the topper with foam tape.
4. Finishing Front - Finally, I added a little greeting from the Essential book to the upper left corner with foam tape.
5. Inside:  On the inside I took two strips of the patterned card stock and glued a 1/4" cream colored ribbon down the center of each strip (wrapping ends around to the back and gluing in place).  Then I centered pieces of 1/8" shiny gold ribbon down the center of the cream colored ribbon and glued in place - again wrapping the ends to the back.  Now I simply glued the strips in place as borders on each side of the inside of this card.

HD Christmas Classics - The Nativity #4

This is the 4th card from the "The Nativity" card topper set - made as a center step card.  Sometimes my card designing process is a bit unusual.  This one was a case in point.  I first decided I wanted a card topper that was 3 3/4" x 5" in size.  Why?  Because the border I wanted to use at the bottom was only 3 3/4" wide!  As I was playing around with elements on the card topper, I realized that rather than making such a small card, what I wanted to do was use the topper as the center piece of a center step card!  Once I knew that, the rest was pretty easy.

NOTE: it was only as I started on another topper set from this card collection that I realized I had switched two of the patterned card stock pieces!  What you see here was actually from the Christmas Greetings topper set! (though still HD Christmas Classics collection)

Materials:

• Hunkydory Christmas Classics Luxury Card Kit - The Nativity topper set
• Star embossed cream colored paper from "hand made" paper kit I got at Costco years ago.
• The Essential Book of Christmas Sentiments 2016 (Hunkydory)
• Cream colored 5" x 7" card base

Method: 

• Card Structure: I followed the standard procedure for making a center step card - making the front step 1" tall and calculating how wide the sides needed to be to leave me with 3 3/4" in the center portion.
• Center Panel: Often I make the side of the front step a part of the center - cutting patterned paper to cover it all in one piece.  This time, I decided to do things differently.  The center panel goes all the way to the bottom of the step, but is straight on the sides, leaving the side portions of the step uncovered.  I cut a piece of the embossed "hand-made" paper that was 3 3/4" wide and 5" tall.  I glued my left-over border piece (the rest of it was glued to the bottom of Nativity card #2) to the bottom of this panel.  I centered the focal elements in the remaining space and glued them in place - the wise men piece on foam tape.  Then I added a sentiment (from the Essential book) using more foam tape.
• Sides: Taking the remaining piece of border print card stock, I cut two 1/2" strips of the gold foiled portion - just a little shorter than 4" long.  That left a just a bit of the foiled border on the remaining patterned card stock.  I cut this at 1" tall and then into two pieces approximately 1 3/4" wide to form the sides of the front step.  I then cut two matching pieces from the remaining patterned card stock - each about 1 3/4" x 4" - just the size of my sides.  I glued the 1/2" foiled strips down the center, then added gold-edged ribbon (from my stash) on either side of the foiled piece - wrapping ends around to the back before gluing the whole in place on the sides of the card.
• Inside: The inside has borders done in a similar way as the sides - except the center part of the border is not foiled, but is in fact made from scraps that coordinate but were from my stash rather than the kit.  After gluing them in place I added a couple of sentiments (from Essential book) - one at top left and one at bottom right.

HD Christmas Classics - The Nativity #3

The third card from The Nativity topper set was a Angled Z-fold card.  This is what it looked like closed:

As you can see, I also made a matching envelope for it. as it was a less common sized card.

Materials: 

• Hunkydory Christmas Classics Luxury Card Collection - The Nativity topper set
• Leftover card stock from the Hunkydory Cute Christmas Luxury Card Collection
• Gold Ripple Holographic paper
• Blue patterned paper from my stash

Method:

• Card Base - I scored a piece of coordinating card stock (from the kit) in 3rds, folded it like a Z (accordion fold), then opened it back up and cut the top off at an angle - tallest on the right side of the page.  The cut line went approximately from the upper right corner, to a spot 3 1/4" from the top on the left side. (I could have cut the angle first so the left over piece wasn't folded, but I wanted to see what it looked like folded to get an idea of how steep an angle I wanted to cut.)
• Card Front - Since I used such a pretty piece of printed card stock, I didn't need to do too much to make a pretty card.  I matted the greeting (from the kit) onto blue patterned paper from my stash, then onto gold ripple holographic paper.  A strip of the gold paper was also added hanging from the top so it looks like it's holding the greeting. 
• Behind the Card Front - since the back of the middle section is visible when the card is closed, I glued a piece of coordinating card stock (leftover from Cute Christmas kit) on the back of this section.  It doesn't go all the way to the bottom, but really doesn't need to as only the top part of it is visible.
• Inside - Above the manger scene I added another tag (from the kit).  The I cut out a "guiding star" from the ripple holographic paper & glued it above the manger.

HD Christmas Classics - The Nativity #2

A few days ago (on the 16th) I posted a Gate Fold Marquee card made from The Nativity card topper set (Hunkydory Christmas Classics Luxury Card Collection).  This is the 2nd card made from that set.  It is an easel card. 

NOTE: only when I got to the Christmas Greetings topper set did I realize that I had paired one of the wrong card stock pieces with this set, so much of the patterned card stock you see here is from the Christmas Greetings topper set - though still the HD Christmas Classics collection.

Materials:

• HD Christmas Classics Luxury Card Collection
• HD The Essential Book of Christmas Sentiments 2016
• 5" x 7" white card base

Method:

• Card Base:  I folded along the pre-scored line as usual.  Then I scored & folded the card FRONT in half again parallel to the other fold.  
• Card Front: I cut a piece 7" wide from coordinating adorable scorable card stock.  I cut it 5" high and set the remaining border piece aside for the inside of the card.  I glued my 5" x 7" piece to just the BOTTOM HALF of the card front.  I glued a border strip (from the kit) along the bottom.  Centered the focal die cut and added it with foam tape.  Then added the sentiment (from the Essential book) - again with foam tape.
• Inside: I glued the border piece (left over from card front) to the bottom of the inside of the card.  The only other thing it needed was a sentiment (from Essential book) on foam tape to serve as a stopper to hold the easel card as seen in the picture above.

HD Christmas Classics - Xmas Cocoa #3 & #4

Card Number 3 of Christmas Cocoa (from HD Christmas Classics Luxury Card Collection) is a Center Step card (for directions on making the basic shape, see here).  

Materials:

• Hunkydory Christmas Classics Luxury Card Collection - Christmas Cocoa set
• Essential Book of Christmas Sentiments 2016 (Hunkydory)
• Gold Dazzles - 63 Thin Line Borders, Jewel Borders (used diamond shaped "innies")
• 1/4" cream colored satin ribbon

Method:

• Card Base: Follow basic directions for center step card - making each side 1 7/8" wide and the front step 1" tall.
• Card Front: Cut 1" wide border strip from patterned card stock (HD kit) and glue across bottom of card on the front step.  Center rectagular die cut (from kit) on card front and glue in place.  Add additional pieces of cocoa picture with foam tape (paper tole style).  
• Card Sides: Cut two strips that are 1 1/4" x 3 7/8" from red star patterned card stock (from kit).  Glue short piece of ribbon to center of these strips, wrapping it around to the back and gluing in place.  Now place each strip in the center of one of the sides and glue in place.  Using fine-line Dazzles, add gold lines on either side of each ribbon piece and on either side of each card stock strip as per picture.  Finish by adding the diamond shaped "innies" from the Jewel Borders to add interest down the center of the ribbon.
• Finishing: Add sentiment at an angle partially off the card front and glue in place (ONLY to the card front).  Finish the inside as you wish.  I didn't take a picture, but I finished it with a strip of patterned card stock that had the rest of the green border across the bottom of the inside.  I added a couple of brown fine-line Dazzles at the bottom & between the green & the cream.  Then I added more diamond Dazzle innies along the top edge.  A rectangle of the red with stars was a mat for another small sentiment that I placed in the upper left corner.  Another sentiment - this one a bit longer and thinner fit nicely in the lower right corner of the border.

Card Number 4 was created in a similar way with similar materials.  In addition to that listed above, I added a wide wired ribbon from my stash and used a Spellbinders Edgeability die.  Here's what this card looked like:

• Card Base: For this one the sides are only 1" wide, giving a wider center piece.
• Card Front: I cut a piece of patterned paper to the exact dimensions of the whole of my card front (forming a shape that looks a little like a top hat with a brim).  I glued that in place before doing anything else.  Next I put the cocoa die cut piece in place - leaving about 1/4" on the left side of the center part.  I cut a piece of red card stock for a border - using an edgeabilities die to form the scallops.  I wrapped a piece of wired ribbon around this and glued it in place.  I added a red sentiment & red tails (small piece of red 1/8" ribbon) to the center of the ribbon, then glued the entire border in place.  The last thing was adding the little red bow (from kit) to the lower left side of the border.
• Sides: These were very simple - a strip of the light-colored printed card stock & a narrow strip of red card stock on each side.
• Inside: Once again, I don't have a picture, but used scraps of the patterned card stock, a "cookie" piece from the kit and a sentiment (Essential book) to complete the inside.

HD Christmas Classics - Xmas Cocoa #2

This second card, from the Christmas Cocoa die cut sheet (Hunkydory Christmas Classics Luxury Card Collection), is a cutaway card with Acetate!  Very easy to make!  Simply cut away a portion of the card front and replace it with acetate (a border on the inside can hide the glue from the join).  

Materials: 

• Hunkydory Christmas Classics Luxury Card Collection
• Essential Book of Christmas Sentiments 2016  (Hunkydory)
• White "Stitched" Border Dazzles (HOTP)
• Clear Acetate (I cut mine from packaging materials)
• Tissue paper that came with floral bouquet
• White paper
• Martha Stewart Lacy Doily punch
• Spellbinders Edgeability die and small die from Labels One
• Red card stock

Method:

1. Card Base: Cutaway 1 7/8" of card front. Cut piece of acetate same height but 2 1/8" wide and attach behind cutaway edge (or wait until card front has green tissue paper on it if you wish).
2. Inside: Because you see through to the inside of the card, I found it easier to do the inside first this time!  I started by cutting the gingerbread men border off the printed card card stock (HD kit).  Before adding it to the card, I cut a piece of white paper & created a lacy effect with the Lacy Doily border punch.  Layering the punched "lace" on the left side of the gingerbread men, I glued to the right side of the page as you can see from the picture below.  I cut 3 strips of red star patterned card stock (from the kit) that was 3/4" wide and then cut one edge of each using an Edgabilities die from Spellbinders.  Two of these were placed as you can see here.  On on the border at the far right side of the card.  The other hides where the acetate is glued to the card front.  Inside was finished by adding a die cut bunch of cinnamon sticks from the kit.
   
   
3. Card Front: Cover remaining card front (not acetate) with green tissue paper (using glue stick and smoothing solidly with bone folder).  Put remaining scalloped strip on the left edge of the card front and tuck the focal die cut piece (from kit) behind it.  Add white "Stitched" Dazzles along the edge of this scalloped strip & another on the acetate above the scalloped strip you can see from the inside.  Take gingerbread/lace scrap from the inside of card and place it at an angle as you see.  Mat cream-colored sentiment (essential book) with red cardstock (cut using smallest Spellbinders Labels One die) and place half on card front and half on acetate (glue ONLY to card front).  Add red oval sentiment (essential book) as shown.
   

HD Christmas Classics - Xmas Cocoa #1

This is the first of the four cards I got out of the second set of toppers in the Hunkydory Christmas Classics set - the one called Christmas Cocoa.  (Previously I got EIGHT cards from the "Toyshop Window" topper set from this card kit - see "Nearly OSW Toyshop Window" posts from August of 2017.)  I'm calling it a Trifold Flap card - like more traditional tri-folds, but just a narrow 3rd panel that forms a flap.  Here's how I made it:

Materials: 

• Hunkydory Christmas Classics Luxury Card Kit
• Pebbles Welcome Christmas Paper pad 
• Red card stock
• Ribbon & Braid from my stash, 
• HOTP Design Tool Kit #1 templates
• foam tape
• 5" x 6.5" card base

Method:

1. Card Base - With card open horizontally in front of you (original score line vertical), start measuring from the left side and score a vertical line at 4".  From the other side (right side) score a vertical line at 1.5" (8.5" from left side).  
2. Front - Cut piece of patterned card stock with hot chocolate focal at 3 3/4" x 6 1/4". Wrap red snowflake ribbon around the bottom edge and glue in place. Wrap a 2nd piece on the left side and cut at an angle part way across the top as shown. Glue it in place. Cut a third small piece - at an angle on both ends, and glue across this ribbon at an angle near the left edge as shown.  Attach panel to front of card. Add greeting (from topper sheet) with foam tape, right where these two smaller ribbons cross.  With foam tape, add cookie cut-outs directly over their spots in the picture (paper tole style). 
   
3. Flap - Using largest template from Design Tool Kit #1, draw scallop-style design along the edge of the flap and cut it.  Do the same for two 1 3/8" wide strips of red card stock and sandwich the edge of the flap between the two red pieces - glue in place.  Wrap braid all the way around the flap and glue in place.  Add greeting (from topper sheet) with foam tape right where the ends of the braid join. (See picture above)
4. Inside - Using the same template as for the flap, cut a piece of red checked paper (from Welcome Christmas paper pad) and mat it on another piece cut from red card stock.  Finish by gluing image from die cut sheet in bottom left corner.
   

HD Christmas Classics - The Nativity #1

This is the first card I created using elements from "The Nativity" - the third die cut set from Hunkydory's Christmas Classics Luxury Card Collection.  It is a bit more complicated than most of the cards I've made recently, but now that I've worked out the measurements, it should be relatively easy to make another from a standard 5" x 7" card blank.

Marquee Card Basics:

1. Score base card as for a gate-fold card. (Image A above though cutout hasn't yet been done.)
2. Cut 2 pieces of light-weight card stock that is 4 1/2" by 3 3/4".  Score 1/2" in from long edge. These will be your sliders.
3. Create cut-out on each of these by tracing 1/2 of wanted opening on each (on opposite side of scored edge - see Image B in diagram above). Save leftover pieces for step 6.
4. Fold along scored edge and crease well with bone folder.  If you wish, cover area from cut out to folded edge with paper.  Apply adhesive on narrow side of folded edge and glue to card, lining up at least 1" from top of card and butting up to the fold line of gate-fold gluing to the INSIDE of the card FRONT(not the inside center of card).   
5. At this point, sliding flaps are still free.  Center focal picture (that will be hidden behind these flaps) so that when the flaps are fully open you see the picture as you wish.  Double check that as the card folds, the sliders will hide it. Glue focal picture it in place.
6. Cut panel 3 3/4" by 6 1/2" (Image C above).  You can use printed card stock OR card stock covered with patterned paper.  Center on card and see where you want the cut out to be.  Create cut out and then attach panel over top of sliding flaps, securing top and bottom with foam tape (making sure sliding flaps can slide freely!).
7. Cut opening in front of card to match the one inside - if you wish.  Alternatively, leave as a standard gate-fold on the outside.

Materials: 

• Hunkydory Christmas Classics Luxury Card Collection
• The Essential Book of Christmas Sentiments 2016 (Hunkydory)
• Leftover card stock from Hunkydory Cute Christmas Luxury Card Collection
• Gold glimmer paper
• Purple Mylar Tissue Paper
• 5" x 7" card base & additional white card stock
• Dazzles - Gold Jewel Border Dazzles

Method - Inside/Marquee Slider:

We'll start by following the steps above for making a Basic Marquee card.

1. Follow step 1.
2. Follow step 2.
3. Follow step 3.  Use die cut that will be marquee focal to draw cutting lines for opening.  Save cut away pieces for step 6.
4. Follow step 4 - covering sliders with gold glimmer paper.  
5. Attach nativity die cut as described in step 5. 
6. Cut panel for step 6 out of leftover starry card stock (Hunkydory). Overlap saved cutaway pieces, comparing them to the picture & slider opening until you have it the size you want (preferably just a little smaller than the hole created by the sliders, so edges are hidden) and tape together.  Carefully measure where you want the hole to be in your panel and use the prepared leftovers as a template to draw your hole - cut with craft knife.  Attach in place with foam tape as directed.  As you can see, at this stage, I added the "curtains" (die cuts from kit) and a sentiment (from Essential Book).
7. Cut panels from leftover dark starry card stock and glue from where the sliders attach to the edge of the card.   

Outside of Card:

Cover outside of card with mylar tissue paper and a glue stick.  Add die cuts to meet at edge and then cut along them to create a bit of an opening.  Add Dazzles border on either side and attach a sentiment (from Essential book) - gluing just to one side of the card front.

Finishing:  Finish the inside with more border Dazzles along the edges of the dark blue panels.

Deer Sympathy

Today's card is the result of a challenge on the PW wishes blog.  We were to make a patchwork background.  The examples were like those of a beautifully planned quilt, but I decided I wanted to just use the scraps I had on my desk from completing these recent projects -

• Thank You Challenge
• Get Well Challenge
• Woodsy Sidestep Sympathy
• More Heartfelt Sympathy

Most of these were narrow strips leftover from trimming things to the size I wanted them, but I hadn't managed to throw them away yet because they were so pretty!

1. I looked at my scraps and realized some were pretty short.  Measuring the various short ones, I decided to cut my pieces 1 1/2" tall - leaving them in varying widths as I found them.
2. After cutting my pieces, I decided I needed an easy way to glue them together.  I cut a piece of white card stock (4 3/4" x 6 1/4") for my base, covered it with double-sided adhesive and went to work. 
3. After I got my first 1 1/2" row completed, I realized I better see how many rows would fit on my base.  I realized I could do 2 more rows, but would have 1/4" or so not covered.  So, I found a couple more scraps that just happened to be about 1/8" wide and placed one between each row - fit just about perfectly.  (See first picture below.) 
4. You see the completed card front at the top of this post.  Focal & sentiment were from Heartfelt Creations Woodsy Wonderland.  Dark purple mats were purple glimmer paper embossed with an embossing folder.  I used some foam tape to add some of the pieces to give the card some dimension.

INSIDE: 

As you can see, I did another row of "patchwork" on the inside.  These ones were only 1" tall because that was all the taller some of the remaining pieces were.  I added another of the blue glimmer paper leftover strips and finished with a purple one trimmed from one of the mat pieces.  I matted the tag (also Heartfelt Creations) on purple glimmer paper and fussy cut around it leaving a narrow mat.

I'm quite happy with the finished product.  Not only does it look pretty, but I didn't waste all my pretty scraps! :)

Double Embossed Foiled Stickers

Watching the first of the fall Week of Webisodes on the Paper Wishes site, gave me ideas for using the double embossed stickers that came in their VIP mailing - so I had to try it.  Not having Spectrum Noir pens, I made do with Sharpies and Bic Permanent markers.  I learned a lot making this and would do some things differently next time, but am pretty happy with the way it turned out anyway.  Unfortunately, the picture does NOT do it justice!!!

Materials used:

• Double embossed foiled stickers (PW)
• Gold Dazzles (Christmas Greetings, Merry Christmas, Fine Lines, Jewel Dazzles) (HOTP)
• Red Jewel Dazzles (HOTP)
• Clear Acetate (PW)
• Clear glitter sheet (PW)
• Sharpies and Bic Permanent Markers
• Bic White-Out (Extra Coverage)
• Green Shine Design Paper (HOTP)
• Older Green plaid Paper (HOTP)

Method:  I made this much harder for myself than it needed to be since I actually cut a window through the card - and then covered it up!  SO, I'll list how it SHOULD have been done instead! 

1. Place double-embossed foil window sticker on clear acetate & cut around it.
2. Cut piece of green shine design to fit front of card with a bit of a border around edge.
3. Place cut out sticker on paper in the position you want it, draw around it lightly with pencil - then draw around it about 1/4" inside those lines (little more at the bottom) - basically following the inside of the window.  Using a craft knife, cut out this inside piece of paper.  Use the piece you removed as a pattern to cut the clear glitter sheet.
4. Glue shine design in place & attach glitter sheet in the "hole" (to be behind the window).
5. Color the acetate on the back using permanent markers. Then use White-Out to cover the areas you want to be opaque white (window frames).
6. Attach window to the "glittered hole" prepared for it using thin strips of double-stick foam around the edges.
7. Add border strip of plaid paper across the bottom with a fine strip of red card stock in the center & fine-line gold Dazzles on either edge. 
8. Prepare bow sticker in the same way you did the window - apply to clear acetate, color the back - then attach to one side of the border with foam tape.  Add small gold jewel dazzles on the other end of the border, and medium sized ones to the center of the bows on both the border and the window.
9. Finish the outside by adding your Dazzles Greetings.
10. Inside - add plaid and shine design papers as shown.  Using pieces from the Merry Christmas Dazzles sheet, apply them to clear acetate & color as you did for the double embossed foiled stickers on the front. (I could have used White Out for the bells, but instead just backed the whole thing with white paper after I had colored the back of the acetate.)
11. Fussy cut around the Dazzles and glue in place.