A Bolt out of the Blue

Today's scrapbook page is the first of several for my "faithbook" that details God's leading in our unexpected move to Idaho. I was grateful to find some on-line pictures that helped illustrate the subject. The title & journaling on the lightning bolt were created on my computer. I didn't feel like going to all the work to die cut the title pieces.  Nor did I want to individually fussy cut each letter! At first, each word was a simple rectangle shape, but it really didn't look that good. I thought to use a corner rounder on them, but realized that wouldn't go with the sharp angles of the lightning bolt. I finally settled on slashing across opposite corners on each - and cutting the vertical word into individual letters where I did the same.

The darker turquoise & narrow patterned strip behind the smaller photos were scraps from my stash.  I wanted to add a touch of the same patterned paper behind the focal "Moving to Idaho" picture but wasn't sure I could easily cut it from the narrow strip (where it goes behind the photos) and get everything to work right.  Then I remembered that I had scanned in that paper when I was doing a layout with the main part of that paper so that I could use scrapbook software to create a draft layout and decide how I wanted everything and exact sizes before cutting into my papers and printing my pictures.  Sure enough, I had it and was able to print a copy to enable me to just simply cut a square and turn it on its ends behind the focal.

The smaller pictures open like books to show hidden journaling behind them.  To make them, I simply glued the photos to a folded piece of cardstock that was the same size when folded - and that had my printed journaling on the inside.

Belated Birthday

Today I have two cards made for friends whose birthdays I missed.  Both were made with pieces from a Debbi Moore download.  

Card #1 (above): In addition to pieces from the set, I used an embossing folder (Darice - Card Suites) and added red ink.

Inside:

Inside there are more pieces from the set.  Greeting was stamped with stamps from Phil Martin's Sentimentally Yours - A6 Sentiments.

Card #2:

This time I used the Darice Clock Background embossing folder.  I added distress ink & some golden spray ink.  The branch is from Altenew's Winter Cardinal stamps & dies.  The rest are Debbi Moore pieces.

Inside:

I forgot to take the picture before starting to write a greeting inside, so I "erased" it with software.  The pieces are again from the Debbi Moore set.

Going to the Dogs

Today I think I set a record for myself!  I made 9 cards from the ONE dog set from Hunkydory.  The kit was Woodland Wonder and the set was "A Walk in the Countryside" (I only got a 1/2 kit, so just ONE set of each type).  There were basically 2 and 1/2 sheets in the set - The 1/2 sheet had one focal, 2 borders, and one greeting.  Then there was a sheet of deco pieces designed to go on top of the focal - though that sheet DID have one more greeting on it.  The third sheet was a piece of printed card stock.  From those sheets (and stuff from my stash) I got NINE cards!  You see the first 4 in the picture above, and the other five in the picture below.  As we look at them individually you'll be able to see the insides as well.

Card #1:

Here I've taken a piece of the printed card stock & paired it with a scrap of burlap-look paper from my stash and some greeting pieces (from an old HOTP "Instant Card Art" set).

Inside:

More of the burlap paper, another piece of "Instant Card Art" and a scrap from the printed card stock finishes the inside of this one.

Card #2:

This card was more trouble than it was worth because I only had one rectangle of the green printed paper that was the same size as the focal (yes, this was the main focal from the set) - but I wanted to use it for both a mat & an inside border!  I ended up slicing the center out of it (for the inside), putting a piece of plain card stock to hold the two outer pieces together (hidden by the focal), and putting it at a different angle than the focal.  The "H" was another piece of Instant Card Art, and the rest of the greeting was something I printed on my computer.

Inside:

For the inside, I took a second "H" circle (same as on the card front), covered the "H" with a circle of plain white card stock, and added a dog's head die cut from the set.

Card #3:

I decided this partial piece (dog on stony hill) looked fine on it's own on an A2 card.  I added brown border stickers (Dazzles from HOTP) for a border all around, then used part of the border strip from the kit across the top of the card (with additional brown border stickers top & bottom).  The sentiment was from my stash.

Inside:

Since it was an A2 card, I didn't feel it needed much on the inside as I need room for my message.  Border strips top and bottom & a die cut piece of a couple of rocks complete the inside.

Card #4:

The focal for this slim line card was cut from the printed card stock in the set.  I cut an extra strip of the burlap border to add to the top since it didn't come that way.  The plaid strip on the side was scraps from the die cut sheet - with more brown border Dazzles.  The rest of the "Happy Birthday" border and a Dazzles sticker form the two-part sentiment.

Inside:

For the inside, I took various scraps I found from the set & created borders top & bottom.  Then I stamped a sentiment (HOTP Birthday Cheer).

Card #5:

This card is probably my least favorite.  I don't really like the way the elements go together - different styles.  But it will be fine for some recipients.  I made this one a slim line cutaway card.  (The dark brown you see at the bottom is from the inside of the card.)  I started with the rocky outcropping and added a dog (both die cuts from the set) and backed it with a scrap of blue from my stash.  I used some white ink & a sea sponge to create a few "clouds".  It's not really the right style for the focal, but it is what it is.  Then I used a border strip to run along the rest of the lower edge.  I didn't like where the rocky outcropping & the border piece met, so hunted for some trees I could add at the join.  I found some, but since they're a different style from the focal (stamped & die cut with stamps/dies from Heartfelt Creations Woodsy Landscape/Woodsy Treescape) - and frankly smaller than they should be - I'm not as happy with them as I might be. The top border was more brown paper scraps & thin line gold stickers (Dazzles).  The sentiment was from my stash (old scrapbook set from HOTP).

Inside:

Obviously the inside is just a scrap strip of brown with gold fine line sticker.

Card #6:

This was one of the larger deco pieces - had all but the sky - so I added a scrap from the printed card stock for the sky. I had thought I'd use it on an A2 card, but decided to make a tent-shaped 5 x 6.5 card instead.  The striped card stock was scraps from my stash - as was the brown ribbon.  I drew around the piece with a black Sharpie so it stood out from the card base a bit better.  The greeting was made using a tag piece I cut with a die, and a piece of sticky-backed vinyl that I cut with my Silhouette.  I finished it off with some gold thread tied in a bow.

Inside:

In addition to more of the stripy scraps for the inside, I cut a label from brown scraps (HOTP 9 Tiny Tags & Little Labels die) & decorated it with stripy scraps & Dazzle greetings.

Card #7:

For this A2 card, I took a die cut piece (rocky outcropping with a dog on it) and backed it with a scrap of brownish patterned paper, framed it with gold poster board (cut with Fun Stampers Journey Rectangles set), and added the large sentiment that came with the set.

Inside:

Inside I have some borders made with brownish card stock scraps & scraps from the die cut sheet from the set.  I also added a dogs head die cut (from the set).

Card #8:

I had a piece of the printed card stock left & decided I could park this dog die cut on top of it to make another focal.  I ended up using a few additional rock pieces to flesh out the scene.  The frame is cut using a Labels 29 die (Spellbinders) and decorated with stickers (Sticker King).  The smaller of the sentiments from the set is added near the top of the card.

Inside:

I cut a smaller frame from the piece cut out of the first frame - then inlaid a piece of tan card stock on the inside of the frame.  More of the stickers decorate the frame.

Card #9:

For this last card, I used a die cut piece that had both dogs on it and backed it with a piece of card stock that had been colored with alcohol inks.  I added a gold frame (Spellbinders Card Creator Basics).  The diagonal border strip was made with brown scraps, scraps from the die cut sheet, and Dazzles greeting.  The circular greeting was die cut from scraps (gold poster board for the mat, die cut sheet scraps for the center) with another Dazzles greeting placed in the center.  After the card front was completed I added it to a white card base that had been embossed with a Cuttlebug embossing folder called Kitchen Weave.

Inside:

The inside evolved.  I made these borders with scraps & added my last die cut piece (a small rock).

I had a few little pieces left over, though & thought they'd make a nice tag (cut with HOTP die from 10 Tags with Trims) - which I decided looked quite nice with the inside of this card.

I added a Dazzle greeting and a scrap of brown ribbon & glued it in place - but then I realized that I really didn't want the rock on the same side as the tag.

I had hoped to be able to move the rock, but it was firmly attached - so I moved the tag instead.

And there you have it.  NINE cards from one small Hunkydory deco set!

Up-cycled Gifts

Today I have something quite different from my usual cards.  A couple of years ago my husband ran across this display in a grocery store right after Christmas. It had blue cars & green trucks.  He got me 4 of each.  I'll get to the cars another time, but the trucks looked like this:

Knowing that I'm often interested in craft projects, he checked with me and then picked up several.  Frankly, they were pretty ugly - which you can see if you look closely.  They had a very distressed look (a look I don't much care for), and a very poor paint job on top of that.  And the green color was NOT what I would have chosen! 

So, I repainted them all using acrylic/enamel paints - each one a different, more realistic color.  I added a glimmery paint to the snowmen & poinsettias & glitter paint to the tree.  It was a TON of work, but I like them much better now and think they'll make good gifts.

Campy Birthday

Since we're gifting a birthday camping trip, I thought these birthday cards would be great for telling the kids about it.  The main supplies for the first two cards were printouts from Debbi Moore - along with misc greetings & embellishments from my stash.

Inside:

Card #2:

Inside:

Card #3:

The main materials for this card were from a Cardmaker's Value Pack from HOTP - along one greating piece (round one) from my stash. 

Inside:

Once again, the materials are from the value pack EXCEPT - the fire is a Debbi Moore print.

HD Floral Favorites - Picturesque Poppies

Today I started on another set from Hunkydory's Floral Favorites - this set is called Picturesque Poppies.  While the materials are basically for making one card, I made six from this set:

Below there's a close up of each, along with information on how they were made.  In addition to the Hunkydory (HD) set, I used: 

• Card blanks
• Paper/card stock scraps - white linen look card stock, plain white card stock, red holographic card stock, gold linen look card stock, and gold poster board
• Sticky-backed red mylar
  
• Small paper doilies
• Die cuts from HOTP's Instant Card Art - Earth's Palette
• Sentiments from Debbi Moore download
• Clear/Gold butterfly stickers
  
• Ribbons
• Spellbinder's Cutting dies - Botanical Accents, Grand Ovals, Resplendent Rectangles
• Embossing folders - Gemini 3D Ornate Lace, Darice Damask 
• Stamps - HOTP Poppies, 
  
• Distress Oxide Inks - Iced Spruce, Peeled Paint
  

Card #1:

For this first one, I used the Ornate Lace embossing folder with Iced Spruce ink.  The greeting was from Instant Card Art - a doily & HD pieces finishes it.

Inside:

Border & greeting inside is from the HD set - gold strips are scraps from my stash.

Card #2:

Background made from linen-look card stock & iced spruce ink - same ink added to the doily.  Gold mat is linen look from my stash; white frame is from my stash (cut with resplendent rectangles die); greeting, both here & inside, came from Debbi Moore; butterfly is sticker.

Inside:

Inside is simply more gold linen card stock scraps, pieces from the HD set, and a Debbi Moore greeting.

Card #3:

Red ripple holographic card stock forms the background mat.  Background is from the HD set - but was sliced by the lower border to take out enough of the cream color so it fit the card.  A piece of paper doily forms a mat that the HD focal & greeting sit on.

Inside:

A piece of cream colored paper from my stash was inked around the edges & forms the background for the greeting (stamped from a HOTP Poppies set).  The decorative corners are from the set.

Card #4:

This slim line card was made using a piece from the card stock in the kit - as is with a mat of red mylar.  I simply added the greeting & a couple small flowers (from the kit) to the border, and a butterfly sticker.

Inside:

Inside I used another strip of the card stock, but it was too narrow, so I added ribbon from my stash to form borders on either side.

Card #5:

Linen look white card stock colored with iced spruce forms the background.  I used a straight-edged scrap to form an edge where I added more layers of the ink forming the darker rectangle at the bottom. Gold poster board forms a mat for the background & scraps were cut with a Botanical Accents die to form the decorative corners at the top.  The focal & greeting are from the HD kit.

Inside:

Inside I have a piece of card stock colored with the iced spruce ink and gold scrap strips.  The border & flower were from the set - gold pieces (innies from the front corners form added leaves).

Card #6:

Background is embossed (Damask) and colored with both iced spruce and peeled paint ink.  Gold linen card stock scraps created the frame, mat for focal, and border strip.  A piece cut out of the center of the circular doily turned it into an oval background for the flowers (from the set).  The sentiment pieces were Instant Card Art.

Inside:

Gold linen scraps & a scrap strip from the card front go together with pieces from the set to create the borders.  The word "celebrate" is Instant Card Art.

Since I already made 5 cards from another set in this kit (Floral Fancy), this brings my running total from my half of this kit to 11.