Envelopes for 5" x 7" cards

Often when I make 5" x 7" cards, I'm starting with a card base that already has a matching envelope.  Sometimes, however, that is not the case, and then I'm faced with a challenge.  I love my Enveloper, but it requires the use of square paper.  In this case, one that is 9 1/2" x 9 1/2".  Since most paper I use is 8 1/2" wide, this poses a challenge.  I can either sacrifice a piece of 12" x 12" paper to the cause and cut it down to size or . . . . ?  

Since an 8 1/2" x 11" sheet of paper should be wide enough for a card this size, I finally broke down & worked on making an envelope from a standard letter size sheet - recording sizes so I won't have to do this math again!  I drew these measurements up and scanned in the picture.  

Unfortunately, this resulted in a document that is harder to read than I would like, so I'll call out the measurements again as I describe my method (though I think if you click on it you'll be able to see it okay):

1. Using your score board, score each long edge of the paper at 5/8".
2. Turn the paper 1/4 rotation (rotate picture to the left), then score at 3 1/2" and 8 3/4" (this is 3 1/2" from left edge & then 5 1/4" from that 3 1/2" score line).
3. Cut away the four corners along the score lines.  This means you'll cut away 2 pieces that are 3 1/2" x 5/8" and 2 pieces that are 2 1/4" x 5/8".  Now you can fold along the remaining score lines (dotted red lines in above picture) and round all corners if you wish.
4. Rotate so paper is in portrait mode with largest (3 1/2" section) towards you. (See picture below)
5. Fold narrow sides in along score lines, fold up bottom portion along score line.  Crease all folds well & then glue bottom portion to the narrow sides that have been folded in. (See picture at the top of the post.)
6. Remaining flap will be closed after the card has been placed inside.

2 Lavender Blue Birthday Cards

Both of today's cards were made using Lavender Blue Opal Polish from Cosmic Shimmer.  The first was made using an image & tags from Hunkydory's Cute and Cuddly Whopper Topper Pad.  

The front was created by applying the opal polish directly to the card front, then embossing it with an embossing folder (Teresa Collins - "Decor Circles" - European A4 size).  A couple Hunkydory pieces and a piece of purple glitter velvet ribbon completes the card front.

INSIDE:

For the inside, I cut the center out of a A2 sample I had embossed earlier (Spellbinder's 3D Mediterranean Medallion - see here) - matted it on a lavender scrap of card stock, and added a bit of ribbon peaking out from either side (to hide a scored line that was on the scrap!).  A couple more Hunkydory sentiments completed the inside.

My next card was made in a similar way:

This time I started with black card stock, added the opal polish (same one) and embossed the card front (same embossing folder).  This time I used images, tags & frames from Hunkydory's Twilight Forest Luxury Card Collection - the set called "Under the Stars".  This time I used black fun foam to raise the frame of the star around the focal.  A bit of 1/8" satin ribbon added to a tag adds the finishing touch.

Thanksgiving Cards

Thanksgiving is just around the corner & I needed to get some cards made & sent.  I didn't have much in the way of inspiring stash to use, so decided to use some napkins.   For more info on how to use napkins for card making, check out this post.  You can see a lot of card examples here.

This first card uses a napkin from a set my SIL used to set a table recently.  I was careful to save one because I thought they were so pretty! I simply cut the napkin to size, matted it on paper (to which I added a bit of distress oxide ink to get it the right color!).  I inked the edges, used a punch to round the corners, and added a narrow ribbon before gluing in place.  The sentiment is a die I borrowed from my mother - not sure where she got it.  I cut it 4 times & layered it - top layer for color, next two layers were white card stock for dimension, last layer is brown that I offset a bit for a shadowed effect.

For the inside, I used the same mat paper & ribbon to create a border.  I decorated it by fussy cutting another floral cluster from the napkin.  I finished it by using the same distress oxide ink to stamp a sentiment (JustRite - Autumn Vintage Labels Three).

Next are two cards I made for people who will not be able to join us for Thanksgiving dinner this year.  They are made using the napkins that will grace our table this year.  

For this first one, I glued yellow paper to the card front.  Then, after cutting a narrow strip of the napkin focal, I matted it on embossed brown paper & added it to the card.  Next, I fussy cut some printed leaves & added them in a cluster at the bottom along with a ribbon bow.  The 3 dots in the upper right corner are gold Jewel Dazzles to which I've glued small round brown circles to match the card.

For this last one, I used a metallic golden frame (cut from poster board) to frame the napkin piece.  Then I added a couple of gold Jewel Dazzles (one in the center of the printed ribbon, and one for the dot over the "i" in "Blessings").

Poster Board Cutting Templates

Alright, I know these cutting guides aren't pretty, but they are VERY useful!  Here's why.  I find I often want a pretty shiny mat, frame, or border around card elements - examples:

I LOVE Hunkydory's Mirri board - but it gets a bit expensive.  Right now I could buy 10 sheets (8.27" x 11.7") for $6.99.  At that size, I could get TWENTY 5" x 7" or 5" x 6.5" pieces (my most common card size) - which comes to 35 cents each.  Since these sheets aren't fully 8.5" wide, I can only get 2 A2 size pieces - but even if I COULD get 4 per sheet, it would be 17 1/2 cents per A2 piece.

BUT, I find if I go to my local craft store in the fall, as the holiday season nears, I can purchase several colors of the shiny metallic POSTER BOARD (22" x 28") for $1.19 - or often quite a bit less on sale (I've gotten it as low as 4/$1!).  From one sheet, I can get SEVENTEEN 5" x 7" pieces - bringing it to 7 cents each for this size - obviously I could get more of each of the other sizes, so they would be even less!!!

I find it works best to cut it into my most commonly used sizes - easier to store & easier to use when needed.  

I use mostly 5" x 7", then 5" x 6.5", then A2 (4.25" x 5.5") and tall ones (9" x 3 3/4")  SOOOO, I made a couple of cutting guides.  The first cuts a whole sheet into 5" x 7" sized pieces.  The 2nd cuts a whole sheet into a variety of the other sizes.  My cutting guides aren't pretty, but I'm saving them here so I can easily find them - and maybe they'll help someone else too!

Here they are cropped so they're a little easier to see.  First is the "KEY" - what size each letter stands for (in inches):

The first guide is the easiest.  It simply cuts as many 5" x 7" as possible - with a 3" x 7" piece remaining:

To use this one I turn the poster board over & measure on each of the short sides of the poster board marking at 5", 10", and 15" from the bottom. Use a long straight edge to draw a line between marks forming THREE 5" wide strips & leaving one strip that is 7" wide.  Carefully cut along these lines with scissors.  Using your paper cutter, cut each 5" strip into 4 pieces - each 7" long.  Then cut the 7" strip into 5" wide pieces.  You should get 5 of these with a smaller piece left over.  These leftover pieces are great for die cutting smaller elements like flowers or sentiments.

The 2nd cutting guide is a bit more complicated, but it cuts several pieces of the remaining sizes I might want:

This guide gives me EIGHT pieces that are 5" x 6.5", SIX that are 9" x 3.75", FOUR that are 4.25" x 5.5" (USA size A2), ONE more 5" x 7" and a couple smaller leftover pieces.  This one takes a bit more careful measuring & cutting!  I suggest you read through the entire description before cutting anything, so you're clear about what you'll be doing. 

1. Place your piece width-wise in front of you and proceed as follows. Measuring from the bottom at 6.5" and 13" gives 2 strips for cutting the size B (5" x 6.5") pieces - BUT only take these strips down to the 20" mark (measuring from the left side).  As you can see from the picture, the rest will be used to get some other pieces.  The top 9" strip needs to be a bit longer - 22.5" from the left.  After measuring carefully, cut away these strips using scissors.  This should give you two strips that are 6.5" x 10" and one that is 9" x 22.5".  From the first two strips, you will cut FOUR pieces that are 4.25" wide.  From the 9" strip you'll cut 6 that are 3 3/4" wide.  
2. Now, the remaining piece is a bit oddly shaped as part of it is 5.5" wide and part is 8" wide.  Using your paper cutter, cut 5" off the 8" wide side, and set the rest aside momentarily.  Trim an inch off the piece you just cut - so it is 7" x 5" rather than 8" x 5" (these smaller leftover strips work great for borders!)
3. Returning to the piece you set aside, trim the rest of the 8" wide side off so the whole strip is 5.5" wide.  This 5.5" strip can now be cut into FOUR pieces that are each 4.25" wide (making FOUR A2 sized pieces).

Addendum: Here's an additional guide if you want more that are 5" x 6.5" (I'm not sure how useful this really is unless you make this size card all the time - I'm inclined to just cut 5" x 7" panels with the idea that I can cut some of them down by 1/2" if need be!):

1. Measure on each of the short sides of the poster board marking at 5", 10", and 15" from the bottom. Use a long straight edge to draw a line between marks forming THREE 5" wide strips, & one that is 7" wide.  Carefully cut along these lines with scissors.  
2. Using your paper cutter, cut each 5" strip into 4 pieces - each 6.5" long (you'll have a couple of inches left over).  
3. Then cut 7" strip into 5" wide pieces.  You should get 5 of these with a smaller piece left over.  
4. Trim 1/2" off each of the 5 pieces to make each 6 1/2" long (save remnant pieces for borders).

And if you want more that are A2 size (4 1/4" x 5 1/2"):

1. Measure 17" from the left along long side of poster board at the top & bottom.  Draw a connecting line and cut along this line.  Set remainder aside.
2. Without turning this 17" piece, mark on the left and right sides to divide it in 1/2 & then 1/2 again (horizontal lines at 5.5", 11", & 16.5").  Cut along these lines to give you 4 strips that are 5.5" wide.
3. Using the paper cutter, cut each of these 4 strips into FOUR pieces that are 4 1/4" wide - total of 16 A2 size pieces.
4. The piece you set aside is 11" wide.  Cut a 7" wide piece from this - then cut TWO 5" x 7" pieces from this (should leave you with a 1" x 7" strip which you can save for borders).
5. You now have a piece that is 15" long and 11" wide.  Cut this into FOUR pieces that are 11" x 3 3/4" wide.  (If you wish you can trim these to 9" x 3 3/4", or leave them as is.)

Peacocks

About a month ago, I showed my first "diamond painting" - a cat with fish.  That one was a small one - 30x40 cm (a little less than 12" x 16").  This one is 60 x 100 (a bit under 24" x 40")!

Here's a closeup of the birds:

And a closeup of the feathers:

I think these are gorgeous, but they sure take a LONG time!  I'm glad to see this one finished so that I can get back to my normal paper crafting.

A Very Merry Toyshop Treasures #1

Today I started work using the "Toyshop Treasures" set from "A Very Merrry Christmas - deco large - from Hunkydory.  I will get a lot more cards from this set, but just got two made today.  Materials for this first one:

• Spellbinders dies - "Captivating Squares" and "Fancy Tags Two".
• Cuttlebug Embossing folder - "Holly Ribbon" 
• Hunkydory Supplies - "A Very Merry Christmas Deco Large" (children & wreath put on foam tape, sentiment at bottom), "A Very Merry Christmas Little Book" (page used for main image), sentiment from "2016 Essential book of Christmas Sentiments".
• Gold metallic tag board
• Red glimmer paper
• Red ribbon
• Narrow gold ribbon
• Card Blank

Inside was very simple:

Ribbon border with printed Hunkydory border from set.

Here's the 2nd card I made.  I loved the full scene found on the "papers & inserts" page.  It was an image on a diagonal, so I made a card on a diagonal that would fit the scene & cut the scene up to fit as you can see here:

This is what the card looks like when opened.  When it is closed, it looks like this:

Sentiments are from the 2016 Essential book.

Pumpkin Card Swap

Today's card was actually made toward the end of October, but it was made for a November card swap, so I waited to post this until my friend had received her card.  The only requirement for this card was that it was to have something to do with PUMPKINS.

I started with a blank cream-colored card and colored the front of it using a TCW stencil (Mini Maple Leaves) and 2 colors of distress oxide inks (Spiced Marmalade and Peeled Paint).  Holding the stencil in place, I first dabbed the orange color onto the leaf areas.  Then I removed the stencil and went over the whole very lightly with the green, using a sponge applicator & circular motions.  Then I put the stencil back in place and added more of the green by gently "pouncing" the sponge applicator over all.

Next I took a piece of green tissue from my stash (it had come with a flower arrangement), crumpled & tore it, then glued in place before trimming around the card to remove the excess.  The pumpkin focal was in an old book of printed paper pockets from HOTP.  

Sentiment on the front is hand lettered.

Inside:

I continued the theme on the inside of the card, adding the same colors to a piece of card stock and matting with the green tissue paper.  This time I stamped a bit of a scene & some sentiments on it using Walnut Stain distress ink (tree, pumpkin, leaves, and 1st sentiment all from set called "Four Seasons" (HOTP) - remaining sentiments from set called "Holiday Greetings" by Melissa Frank).  I colored in the leaves & pumpkins with a bit of the spiced marmalade distress oxide ink & a water brush.  Hope my swap partner likes it!

Cosmic Shimmer Polish

Today's card comes from playing with my new paints.  I got 4 jars of Cosmic Shimmer paint.  Painted each on white cardstock (left) & black cardstock (right) - before embossing with Spellbinder's 3D embossing folders:

This first one is Raspberry Sorbet Luster Polish - embossed with "Celtic Weave" 

Next up is Pink Thistle Opal Polish - embossed with "Cane Weave". Because of the luster on these, it's not always easy to see the same color as you would in real life, but it's close!  The one on the left is sort of lavender & the one on the right is more towards salmon.

Next is Golden Glow Opal Polish - embossed with "European Tapestry"

And finally - my favorite - Lavender Blue Opal Polish - embossed with Mediterranean Medallion.  The one on white appears to be more aqua in real life with a lavender sheen.  

These are GORGEOUS - and a great way to apply color to a shaped card made from white card stock!  

So far I've only used the Raspberry Sorbet on white card stock in an actual card.  You see the card front at the top (with Silver Tag Board frames (Crafti Potential die from "Stitched Rectangles Dots & Stars" - Spellbinder die "Happy Holidays" for focal sentiment using same tag board).  Here's the inside:

Stamps are from JustRite ("Antique Christmas Tags One" & "Christmas Vintage Labels One") - heat embossed in silver (Hero Arts).