Secret Sister Backup Cards

Since the large envelope with multiple cards went astray, I quickly made 3 more cards for my SS the day I was leaving on a trip.  I wanted to make sure she got some!  

This first one was made from the Hunkydory Paws for Thought card making set, ribbon from my stash, and the Swiss Dots embossing folder from Cuttlebug.  Here's the inside:

Next up is a Thanksgiving card.  Paper is from my stash (ki memories - grateful multi-stripe).  The stamp is from JustRite (Good Friends Labels 29) and the embossing was made using a "fall leaf background" embossing folder from Darice.  

Inside I made a pop-up with a die-cut "YOU" (HOTP) from foiled tag board. I hope that die doesn't give me away!

The last was a Halloween card made using lots of Halloween Dazzles from HOTP.  The "BOO" is from a lettering set I have.  I hope this doesn't give things away because I used the same letters for another card posted on this board! 

Inside is much the same:

Variations on a Theme

Here are three "multi-lingual" thank you cards - all created essentially the same way - just different colors.  

They started with a Cuttlebug embossong folder called "Thanks", and white card stock that I had colored with gelatos (choose several colors - scribble over paper, blend with baby wipe).  After embossing, I colored the raised areas with metallic cream chalks from Pepples.  These were applied with the clip applicator and mini cotton ball as usual.  I sprayed each with a sparkle spray (Sheer Shimmer Sparkle Spritz).  While that dried, I found coordinating card stock which I cut & folded to make the card base.  Then I rounded the edges of both the base cards & the focal embossed pieces before adhering in place.

For the insides I simply took pieces of paper the same size as the card fronts, then cut a piece that was about 3/8" smaller on all sides.  I rounded all the corners & used the smaller one on top as a mask while I applied gelato colors to the edges in the same way I had done for the front.  Here's one.  Simple but effective:

TODO Foiling

I finally got some heat activated foil so I could try foiling on my TODO machine (thanks Lee!!!!).  This first card has 2 separate foiled elements.  I made these back in September, but waited to post until now, since a couple of them went to my "Secret Sister".

Hot Foil Stamp: The "Thanks" was a hot foil stamp I got from cheap from somewhere before I realized I could only use with a hot foil machine (which I didn't have at the time!).  I used a machine setting of 4 or 4.5 (tried it tighter than that and it cut through the card stock & messed up my A plate). It was created on black card stock with silver foil.

Impressabilities: The foiled pattern was also created on black card stock with silver foil, but this time I used a Spellbeinders "Impressabilities" embossing stencil called "Floral & Stone".  This worked best at a machine setting of 1.5 - 2.  (I also tried placing the leftover foil directly on my TODO machine and covering it with black card stock.  It worked somewhat - needed to be set at 1 - 1.5.

Another Cutting Die: Next up is a Christmas card. The green foiling on white was another one using a die I had in my stash (from Gemini Crafter's Companion).  

It's always hard to really see what something looks like when the materials are shiny, but this one is particularly challenging!  I paired the foiled piece with holographic wrapping paper in red & green & a "holly confetti" set that I had in my stash.  The ornaments are die cuts from Spellbinders dies (2012 Holiday Tree, and 2013 Heirloom Ornaments).  The sentiment is Hunkydory from my stash.

The inside is more of the same - but no foiling.

Cutting Die - My last card was made using a Spellbinder's "Bonsai Tree" die to create the foiling (machine set at 4 - 4.5).  I LOVE how this tree turned out!

The tree is so delicate & shiny in real life!  Pictures certainly do NOT do this card justice.  In addition to the foiled tree that I created with my TODO machine, there is foiled tag board and foiled patterned paper (both came that way).  The card is simply beautiful (if I DO say so myself!).  Creation was pretty straight forward:

Background - I got this beautiful gold-foiled paper in a paper swap.  I cut just a little smaller than my card blank & inked the edges in black before gluing in place.  

Frame - cut/embossed with 2 dies from gold tag board.

Leaves - Confetti pieces from a Thanksgiving mixture

Greeting - outline stickers 

INSIDE: more of the same - once again no home done foiling on the inside, though there is foiling on the patterned paper..

I made this Thanksgiving card for my Secret Sister & sent her a card stock piece with the same foiled tree on it.  Here's a picture of the card "bootsie" made using it:

Isn't it gorgeous!

Here are some Hot Foiling Tips I picked up as I was playing with my TODO:

1. Cut the smallest piece of foil you can get away with.  Excess foil sometimes transfers.
2. Set the dial to the least pressure you can get away with, and hold the plates as you crank them through.  This will help reduce "shifting" which can mess up your foiled image.
3. Make sure your plate is hot & give the stamp/die time to warm up too before adding the foil & paper.  If foiling multiple items, check the light each time before starting.

2019 Thanksgiving Mini's Part 2

Here are the rest of the mini Thanksgiving cards I've been working on.  

These all required hand-made greetings/focals - and all were made using two stamp sets (JustRite Antique Autumn Tags One and Autumn Vintage Labels Three) and the matching dies (if applicable).  Papers were from a variety of sources - DCWV mat stacks, papers from cardmaking magazines, and color me paper.  Sequins, and brads from my stash. 

Sometimes, to get the right color, I had to stamp with 2 different inks - one on top of the other.  I also did some coloring with water brush & ink, as well as with my Scroll & Brush markers.

The first card uses color me paper - which was colored using gelatos - scribbling directly on & using finger/baby wipe to blend.  After stamping the tag for the last one, I heat embossed it with clear embossing powder to keep it from smearing because it didn't want to dry very fast!

2019 Thanksgiving Minis - Part 1

Each year when I host Thanksgiving, I like to make little cards to set at each place - a special thank you to each person for what they've meant to me through the year.  We generally have a house full, so these 13 mini-cards are just a start!  I really like these first two.  While many of the mini-cards were made using items I found in my stash, I had to make my own focals for these two using JustRite stamps (Autumn Vintage Labels Three) and dies (Vintage Labels Three).  

You can't tell it in the picture, but the first one is REALLY sparkly.  There is glitter in the background papers, so after created the focal by heat embossing with carmine embossing powder & inking with a brown ink, I sprayed the whole with a gold glittery spray (Shimmer Mist).  

The 2nd was stamped with green ink & then I smeared a bit of the green ink around the center to soften it a bit.  I inked the edges with a distress oxide ink (Candied Apple) and then used the same two inks with a water brush to color the stamped image before adding it with foam tape.  I find I like that it extends beyond the edges of the card.

Next are 3 more in the peach/orange range.  These use misc from my stash.  The first uses a Copper Color Me tag from HOT - stamped with a sentiment from Autumn Vintage Labels Three (JustRite), fussy cut & added with dimensional tape.  The border was a really old piece from HOTP.  The middle was from paper I got in a swap.  The third uses die cut & embossed elements from my stash to which I added a bit of color.  The greeting was stamped & heat embossed using a stamp from JustRite's Antique Autumn Tags One.

                                                                                                                                                         

Here are some yellow cards - all three stamped with greetings from JustRite stamp sets (either Autumn Vintage Labels Three or Antique Autumn Tags One).  The first uses die cut leaves from my stash (not sure where I got them - perhaps cut with my Silohette?) and a small acorn cut from a napkin.  The middle one uses misc from a HOTP scrapbooking set. And the third uses scrapbooking images that were printed and cut for this card.

Two more peach-based cards - both use scraps from my stash (probably from DCWV mat stacks).  Both also use greeting stamps from Antique Autumn Tags One (JustRite). The cut on the first card was that way in my stash - probably made with my Fiskar's paper cuter.  The leaf was also in my stash - no idea where it came from.  The 2nd card has another Copper Color Me tag - colored to coordinate with the background.

Three more with a yellow card base round out my first 13 cards. Since I had a few in my stash from last year, I only need to make 8 or 9 more!  

Anyway, these all use paper from my stash.  The ones on the ends are probably from a DCWV mat stack, but I have no idea where the middle paper came from.  For the middle card, I glued more of the paper to a piece of card stock so I could fussy cut another turkey & pop him up on foam tape.  The greeting was a Dazzles sticker (HOTP).  The outer two cards are made similarly - with black ribbon borders & brown stamped focals on yellow card stock.  The first was stamped using stamps from the Autumn Vintage Labels Three set (JustRite) and cut with the matching die.  The third was from Antique Autumn Tags One (JustRite) - also cut with matching die.  This one was curled a bit and then attached with brads on either side so it had some dimension to it.  I DID find I wanted to put some foam tape (with top protective paper left in place) underneath it to help it not get flattened out.

Dual Aperture Tri-Fold Up-Cycle

This is the Christmas reveal card for my "secret sister".  It's a dual aperture tri-fold card & it's a fun card to make.  

Card Base: Start with a piece of card stock that is 7" x 12" - score at 4" & 8" - fold & crease on score lines to create a 7" tall tri-fold.  I used a glittered card stock, placing the glitter on the outside of the card.

Background: The background was cut a bit smaller than the card front out of green suede paper (HOTP).  

Focal: A piece of coppery gold card stock was cut for the frame on the inside of the card and the piece from the inside of that frame serves as mat for the focal.  The focal itself is in two pieces.  A die cut sentiment (Spellbinder's D-lites "Happy Holidays") & die cut ornament (Paper Artist die from "3 Lacy Christmas Ornaments").  The sentiment is matted on the gold glitter card stock  (same as card base).  The ornament is also matted on the gold glitter card stock, but also matted on the green suede paper.  It is placed so it partially covers the opening (die cut from matting die that matches the ornament die used for the inside) that lets you peek through to the middle layer of this card:

The aperture on the card front lets you peek through to the fancy ornament toward the bottom of this card.  It was cut using a Paper Artist die from the "9 Tiny Christmas Things & Shadows" die set. This time the background is red suede paper, and an aperture is cut near the top (using a die from Spellbinders "2010 Heirloom Ornament" die set), so you can peek through to the inside:

The focal is cut from a card I received.  I thought it worked GREAT for a secret sister card.  The frame was cut to size on the outside with corners rounded before cutting the inside with a Spellbinder's die from the "Captivating Squares" set.

Wild at Heart Elephants with Horizontal Z-Fold Closure

Today's set of cards started with the "Elephant Adventures" deco set from the "Wild at Heart" card making set by Hunkydory.  This first card is called a "Horizontal Z-Fold Closure" - since it clasps closed with the focal tucking under the greeting (see above - and compare below where the card is partially opened).  The green embossed paper is from my stash - no idea where I got it! 

To gild the edges, I ran Versamark ink along the edge & then sprinkled it with "Sticky Embossing Powder" from Ranger.  Then I spread gilding flakes along the "sticky" edge that this created and burnished them to adhere them well & remove any excess.

I'll talk about the focal when I get to the inside of the card.  The border is a piece of tan card stock with a foiled border piece on top (from the HD set).  The greeting is also from the set - adhered only on the left side so the focal can slip under it.  The bow was made using an old piece of jute I had lying around.

As we open the card:

We see the hidden giraffe (also from "Wild at Heart" - but the giraffe set) & star shaped message "You're a Star!" - from the HD little book of essential greetings.  Since being unclasped, the "focal" now appears on the inside.  You can't really tell in this picture, but the focal is several layers added with foam tape - quite dimensional.  It is actually the front of a smaller attached card that opens to show:

A tan piece of card stock with the edges inked gives a place for our message.  The greeting in the upper right is from the set, the border at the bottom is from a piece of paper in my stash - not sure who made it.

The base card was created from a piece of embossed card stock that was cut to 5 1/2" x 12" - with score lines at 3" & 6" to create the fold back piece.  The inner card started as a piece that was 4 1/4" x 8 1/2" - scored at 4 1/4".  If I were to make this style of card again, I might adjust the dimensions so that it was less square (less expensive to mail) - perhaps start with a 4" x 12" so the finished card would be 4" x 6".

Next up we have this card:

Background: White paper - embossed with a Spellbinders 3-D embossing folder called "Cane Weave".  After embossing and cutting just a bit smaller than the card front, I applied ink lightly with a foam applicator - over the top of the design & around the edges.  

Borders: I cut the border from one of the card stock pieces that came in the set.  Then I trimmed a small piece of brown from the bottom & put it at the top of my card before adding the remaining piece to the bottoms of the card.  A few sequins dress it up a bit.

Focal & Sentiment: straight from the HD set except that I trimmed the water & reflection from the bottom of the elephants & fussy cut a little closer than the piece punched out.

INSIDE - as you can see, I simply cut more border from the card stock & added it with a few sequins:

My third card started with a piece of brown card stock cut to form the base for a 5" x 7" card:

I glued on of the cut outs to a piece of coordinating card stock from the set, inked the edges, and that serves as my focal AND my background.  I wrapped a piece of jute around the card at the top & tied a bow before adding a greeting (from the set).  A ribbon from my stash runs across the bottom of my card.

INSIDE - a piece of the same card stock forms a light background for writing a message.  I inked this and added another piece of ribbon at the bottom:

My 4th and final card from the elephant set is this one:

In many ways it's similar to card number 2.  The background is made with the same embossing folder & ink - just started with tan card stock instead of white paper.  I added a couple of ribbon pieces top and bottom for a border, adding sequins, a jute bow, and a sentiment from the kit.  The focal is a piece from the deco set - mounted to a piece of tan card stock & matted with strips of gold foiled card stock. 

INSIDE:

Inside is more of the same, with a little elephant die cut from the set to add a bit of interest to the inside.

August Papers from Cardmaking Magazine

Next up are 9 cards made mostly from the papers included in the August issue of Cardmaking and Papercraft magazine.  I tend to struggle to use patterned papers - preferring a more simple look, myself. So, I challenged myself to use all the patterned papers that came in the magazine - and to use multiple patterns on a single card when I could. 

This first only uses one of the patterns, though.  It is an A2 card to which I also added black paper, and orchid card stock.  The greeting was stamped using a "small stamp" set from HOTP called "Butterflies and Swirls".  Some flower "jewels" and small purple feather complete this card.  Here's the inside:

The second card is one of my favorites.  It uses two different patterns.  It is a fold back card & has added butterfly stickers from my stash. The sentiment is cut from the papers:

Here you see it opened up:

The 3rd card is made from a sketch - a technique I struggle with! Not liking the patterned papers I had to pair with this, I found a variety of green papers in my stash that I could use: 

   

I used die cuts for a couple of the mats & the "button" (Spellbinder's "Beaded Circles" and Nellie's "Flower Multi-frame"). Both inside and outside use some cut outs from the paper set.  Here's the inside:

The 4th card pairs black with the patterned paper, along with a few cut outs from the papers.  In addition, I added some sequins and butterfly sticker from my stash:

Inside:

This next one is kind of fun.  It is a Triple Gate Fold cards with a belly band.  I created it from a pattern found in one of the Card Folding CD's from HOTP. In addition to the pink and white butterfly paper from the paper set, I added some pink "salted" paper from my stash, some darker pink card stock, ribbon, doily pieces, and butterfly stickers:

Here it is with belly band removed & first gate fold opened, exposing the next one:

And here it is with the second gate fold opened, exposing the third:

And here it is with the final gate fold opened:

Card number six is a cut-away easel card, using two different papers from the set.  This is what it looks like closed:

Here it is set up as an easel:

And here it's open to show the message area:

The 7th card makes use of a textured lavender paper, purple glimmer paper and ribbon from my stash.  As you can see, many of the corners are rounded, and the edges of  most are inked.  The sentiment (cut from the papers) is matted on a lavender piece die cut with a die from "11 Labels and Trims" Paper Artist die set:

And the inside:

The picture for card number eight makes it challenging to see the patterned paper which is in between the black strips.  You'll be able to see the pattern better in the picture of the inside of the card.  The focal for this card was a label from "Butterfly Card Toppers" - a HOTP "Color Me" topper set.  I colored it using my Inktense pencils and a water brush.  After fussy cutting around it, I backed it with a black die cut mat (Spellbinder's "Decorative Labels Eight").  I added a Dazzle border sticker & strip of card stock near the bottom, and finished with a couple more butterfly stickers:

The inside used just the patterned paper matted on black with the strip of colored card stock & another butterfly sticker.

The 9th and final card from these papers is a cut away card.  I cut away both side edges of the front.  Here you see the card opened and propped up:

Here it is closed:

In addition to the patterned paper, I used black paper strips and mats on the borders & black & purple mats for the center section.  The sentiment is a scrap left over from a Hunkydory set - not sure which at this point.  The butterfly focal is a sticker mounted on a die cut tag (Spellbinders Fancy Tags), through which a strip of black paper has been threaded.  I added sequins to the borders.

Here's what it looks like on the inside:

As you can see, I added another butterfly sticker & more sequins as a "flight trail".