Materials Swap (Dots) and a Video

Today's card was inspired by two things.  First, I needed to create two identical sets of materials that included DOTS.  One of these sets was to be sent to my swap partner, and one I was to make a card from myself.  The 2nd inspiration was this video about using Hunkydory Little Book Pages.

The materials I gathered started with a piece of dotted yellow ribbon from my stash, and then I went looking to see what would coordinate well with it.  I found myself looking through the pages of the Hunkydory Little Book of Kittens, where I found the main focal, a coordinating greeting, and a smaller image (which I ended up putting inside the card).  Then I searched for and found a variety of coordinating papers.  These, with a card blank turned into the "kit" that I sent my swap partner and from which I made this card.  You can see the set of materials here:

Here's the card again and a few remarks about how I made it:

If you compare the card front with the materials, you can see that the first thing I did was to trim the sides off the focal to make it more narrow.  I matted it multiple times and cut away the card front to form a narrower panel.  The border is actually on the inside of the card. And the greeting, which I double-matted, extends beyond the card front as you can see.  I added a scrap of ribbon that was knotted and notched at the ends to look like a tie holding the balloons together.  I felt we needed a bit more yellow near the bottom, so I used a standard paper punch to create three yellow dots that I glued in place in the bottom left-hand corner.

 

Inside:

I wanted to make sure the dotted ribbon was part of a border that was seen when the card was unopened, since dots were an important part of the make (though the light blue paper also has dots on it).  After much consideration, I started by covering the entire inside of the card with a yellow checked paper.  Then I created a border using a strip I had cut from the focal, multiple mats, and the ribbon - making sure it showed to the front of the card the way I wanted it to do.  As you can see, I completed the inside by adding a textured yellow piece in the center (that would allow for easier reading of a hand-written greeting), adding another strip of the blue for a border on the left, adding my fussy cut image, and a die cut greeting.  (Cutting die was from Spellbinders Joyous Celebrations Sentiment die set.)

It's always fun to see what a swap partner does with the same materials!  I actually ended up making 3 sets and gave one to my Mom.  Here's the card my Mom made:

Outside: (aperture card)

 

Inside:

And the one my swap partner made:

 

Inside:

HD Little Book of Memorable Moments - Part 1

Once again today, I'm making cards from 4 Hunkydory Little Book pages that I have chosen - this time from the Little Book of Memorable Moments.  Here are the 4 pages I started with:

 

To these, I added materials from my stash to create the following 4 cards:

Here's a closer look at each:

Card #1:

 

 

This first one is made using a Made To Surprise die set called 5X7 Terrific Towers to create the card base and several of the mats.  The base was made from white card stock, and green, purple, and lavender papers from my stash created many of the background pieces.  I fussy cut the little butterfly from the little book page - then used a die (Labels Twenty-Seven from Spellbinders) to cut the focal from the little book page.  I matted this focal piece on a purple glimmer paper.  I also used the purple glimmer paper for the side background pieces, the greeting (Creative Expressions With Sympathy die - which I cut apart), a small border at the bottom, and matting for the butterfly.  I used a couple different types of ribbon.  One scrap was used as a border behind the focal, the other was used for a little bow.  I added a couple more strips of scraps to the sides - and then stamped a border greeting (HOTP Matching Borders and Focals) using Dusty Concord distress ink.

When folded for mailing, the card looks like this:

 

 

 

Card #2:

This is a pretty weird card - based in trying to cut out pieces of the little book page to create the card.  I started with a 5 x 7 craft card base, and trimmed a cream colored card stock piece to serve as the background.  I used a die (Spellbinders Scalloped Labels One) to cut around the glasses, then trimmed so each was only 1/2 the size of the die, and glued them to either side of the card front.  I used another die from the same set to cut out the top of the bottle & put it in place near the top of the card.  Then I cut two pieces of scrap - blue and brown - and die cut the word Celebrate (Spellbinders Joyful Celebrations die set) from each - inlaying the pieces as you see above.  To finish, I added pieces of some party hat confetti.  

Inside:

On the inside, I have a couple of small pieces that I die cut from the Little Book (Spellbinders Adorning Squares die set) that I glued on either side of a small brown piece with party hat confetti pieces.  I stamped the sentiment in blue dye ink (using one of Mom's stamps).

Card #3:

This one is an A2 birthday card for a grand nephew.  I started by using a cutting die (Stampendous Make It Pop die set) to cut out the puppy - then matted it on white.  I tore the edges of the remaining part of the little book page to fit the A2 card, glued it to the card front, and then added the focal dog with foam tape for dimension.  A die cut sentiment (Stacked Happy Birthday by Creative Expressions) was cut a couple of times from white card stock - glued together and adhered to the rainbow balloon.  I finished the card front by adding yellow stars brads & a larger star cut out (from a Crafts U Print freebie).

Inside:

For the inside I tore plain light blue to form sky, added a rainbow/star cut out from the same freebie used on the card front, and a couple hearts from my stash.

Card #4:

The final card started once again with a 5 x 7 craft card base - which was turned into a center step card.  I cut the borders off the little book page & used them for the border at the bottom of the card.  After squaring up the edges of the remaining piece of the little book page, I matted it on white & slipped it behind the border.  I found some blue scraps in my stash, matted them with white & glued on either side of the focal.  I die cut "Celebrate" from 3 different pieces of card stock (brown, white, gold - Spellbinders Joyous Celebrations die set).  Then I scattered a lot of stars (white & gold punched stars) on the borders & focal.

Inside:

I completed the card by adding a couple of pieces of card stock - blue and tan - and a few more punched stars.

Mother's Day 2022

 

Today I actually have a scrapbook page!  It's been too long since I made one.  My daughter sent a lovely bouquet for Mother's Day and I dried one of the petals and decided if I didn't get it put on a page soon, it would be ruined.  SO - here it is!

It is based on a sketch by Christy Harriman.  I really needed to use this sketch because: 1) part of the photo of the flower arrangement needed to be covered because I did a poor job of composition when taking the photo! and 2) The only thing I found that was the right dark color to match the photos was a small piece of glittery fun foam - and I had JUST ENOUGH of it!

The paper is from a paper pad I got years ago.  Unfortunately the company name & the name of the pad was lost long ago.  But the plaid and the stripe worked well together.  The plaid was cut to 8" x 10" and the edges inked with dark ink before adding it to the page.  I already mentioned the foam - which I think I got at the dollar store.  The roses are ones my mother made - and of course, the dark petal is the one that I dried.  I added a bit of bling from my stash, die cut a title (HOTP Love & 5 Hearts die set), hand wrote some journaling, and glued it all in place.

Rainbow Card Swap

This is the card I made for a swap that was to be inspired by rainbows.  I started with a watercolor paper card base and colored the front with Distress Oxide inks, blending from one color to the next like a rainbow.  Next I glued a background die cut from black card stock (Banana Leaf background die from Spellbinders).  The sentiment is another die cut from black card stock - this time matted with yellow (Thinking of You dies by Card Making Magic).  The toucan is from a Debbi Moore freebie.

Inside:

Inside I have more of the freebie cut outs.  NOTE - since I wanted the toucan to be facing right, I had to print it reversed!

HD Little Book of Kittens - Part 1

 

Today I chose 4 little book pages from which to make a set of cards.  I decided to look for ways to chop them up a bit and see what I could do to make them look unique (rather than that I just took a little book page & plopped it on the front of  a card).  Here's the set I chose from Hunkydory's Little Book of Kittens:

And here are the 3 cards that I made using them & miscellaneous materials from my stash:

And here's a closer look at each of the cards.

Card #1:

This first one took FOREVER because I ended up doing a bunch of fussy cutting.  I started by cutting the rectangle of cats and the butterfly from the page using cutting dies (from Spellbinders' Matting Basics & Adorning Squares sets).  I then fussy cut the inside of the wreath and backed it with light pink paper.  Then I matted the whole thing with hot pink vellum.  For the focal cats, I cut a rectangle a bit larger than the cats piece and the used a corner punch to create the look you see - I wove some of the "wreath bits" on top of the frame as I added my focal.  If you pay attention, you'll see that I oriented the card horizontally - even though the little book page was vertical! The sentiment/tag were die cut with HOTP dies from the set called 6 Layered Labels and Swirls, and stamped with a stamp from Divinity Designs Happy Birthday set.  I matted the butterfly on a little die cut vellum piece (Spellbinders  Labels Eleven).

Inside:

On the inside of the card I added more vellum, a couple fussy cut images, and a sentiment (one of my Mom's stamps).

Card #2:

This is the one where I played the most with the little book page.  Inspired by a video by scrapbooking station, I used cutting dies to cut several rectangles and squares - including cutting a square in the green background itself (using dies from: HOTP-8 Squares & Scallops, Spellbinders Matting Basics, and Spellbinders Adorning Squares). Then I fussy cut around the cat & the flower.  I die cut the word celebrate out of yellow and again out of blue - then fussy cut a white mat for it (Spellbinders Joyous Celebration Sentiment dies).  Then I assembled them as you see here: the square cat piece is inserted behind a cut out from green background, the small rectangle near the bottom left is glued directly to the background and the focal is added with foam tape.  Then I added a fussy cut kitten to the lower rectangle, and scattered the butterflies and flower as you see.  The sentiment was layered with the words offset a bit so you can see all 3 colors.

Inside:

A border of strips of the 3 main colors on the card forms the foundation for a fussy cut pail of kittens, and 3 die cut circles of flowers (from the little book page - dies are from Lifestyle Craft's Nesting Circles).

Card #3:

My third card is a slimline card.  I trimmed the little book page and added blue scraps to form a border top and bottom with fussy cut sentiments (also from the little book).  I had expected to add layers to the border - extra strips to fancy it up - but I found I really liked it without!  As you can see, I DID add a bit of green leaf ribbon for extra embellishments.

Inside:

Inside I added more blue strip borders.  At the top I added a sentiment - mostly using alphabet stickers from my stash.  At the bottom I added a fussy cut boot & flower head - with more leaf ribbon to form a stem & leaves.

HD A Sparkling Season - Winter Wonderland part 3 (deer)

Today I've completed the cards from the Hunkydory A Sparkling Season, Winter Wonderland set.  This time I was working with the deer from the set.  You can see the set as it comes below:

The set consists of a sheet of die cuts and two sheets of AS (Adoreable Scoreable printed card stock).  I also purchased some coordinating card stock and the 8 x 8 paper pad.  Some of the materials from the paper pad that coordinate with the Winter Wonderland set are shown below:

I got eight cards from the "deer" portion of the materials.  You can see them in the picture below:

As you can see, I got 4 slimline cards and 4 that were 5" x 6.5".  And here's a closer look at each of them.

Card #1:

The main panel for this card is cut from one of the 8 x 8 papers.  The deer is fussy cut from the paper pad as well.  I added a strip of teal to the bottom - helps balance the snowy sky.  The sentiment is die cut with a Moonstone mini die. 

Card #2:

Next up is a panel cut from one of the printed AS sheets. I split the panel and added a strip of brown from my stash for a border.  I once again die cut a sentiment with that Moonstone die and scraps.

Card #3:

This one was an experiment gone wrong.  I based it from a sketch, but it would have looked better if the deer and the lower sentiment were closer together.  I used a pearlescent vellum over the glittery background.  The upper sentiment is a die cut from the set.  The deer and lower sentiment are fussy cut from the 8 x 8 paper pad.  I added a foam pad under the main body and head of the deer, but glued ears, nose, and legs directly to the front of the card.  This gave some nice dimension.  A scrap of aqua from my stash - ends trimmed with Stamp 'n Up label punch -  forms a bit of a border in the center of the panel.  Snowflake Dazzles and a ribbon from my stash complete the card front.

Inside:

Inside is another piece of the AS forming a lower border, and a stamped greeting (one of Mom's stamps).

Card #4:

The main panel of this card is from the 8 x 8 paper pad.  I edged it with silver border stickers and added some silver corner stickers as well.  The sentiment is die cut from silver poster board using a die from the Moonstone set called Splendid Snowflakes.

Inside:

Inside is a piece of AS & a stamped message (from Mom's stamps).

Card #5:

A piece of AS forms the background for this card.  The arched window is a die cut from the set that I backed with a pearlescent vellum.  I added a cutout deer and sentiment (from the 8 x 8 pad), and a few Dazzle snowflakes from my stash.

Inside:

More AS forms borders top and bottom on the inside.  A stamped message (Mom's stamp) and more Dazzles snowflakes and circles complete the inside.

Card #6:

The main panel of this card is again from the 8x8 paper pad - matted on a scrap of aqua from my stash.  I added a ribbon border, and a deer and sentiment that were cutouts from the paper pad.

Inside:

A strip from the paper pad and cutout sentiment (along with a scrap of the aqua from my stash) form the inside.  I finished it with a tiny star from a Dazzles set.

Card #7:

This background is beautiful foiled AS from the coordinating AS pack.  The focal & sentiment are die cuts from the set, and silver Dazzles border stickers are added top & bottom.

Inside:

The inside is quite simple - two pieces of the AS to form borders, and a stamped message (Mom's stamp).

Card #8:

The main panel for this card again comes from the 8 x 8 paper pad.  I inked the edges in brown and created a border using scraps from my stash and a white Dazzles border sticker. The sentiment is die cut using the same Moonstone die that I used earlier.

Inside:

Inside is more of the inked paper & a stamped sentiment (Mom's stamp).

HD Floral Shimmer - A Special Day to Celebrate

Today's cards again come from the Hunkydory kit called Floral Shimmer - this time from the set called A Special Day to Celebrate.  You can see the set below - 2 sheets of AS (adoreable scoreable card stock) and 1 sheet of die cuts.  Once again, I'm missing some pieces that I apparently used previously.

Here are the 5 cards I got from this partial set.

And now for a closer look.

Card #1:

This first card is a slimline card.  The matting and border is created from narrow scraps that were around other die cuts in this set.  The main panel is cut from the AS.  Narrow silver Dazzle Borders add interest & a sentiment from the set completes the card front.

Inside:

 Inside is a simple border (more scraps) and three tiny butterfly stickers from my stash.

Card #2:

As you can see from the picture at the top of this post, when this card is fully closed, the flowers on the inside show through to the outside through the vellum window.  After carefully die cutting the window, and covering it with this lovely subtle printed vellum, I added the panel I had made from the AS.  Before cutting the window in the AS, I had cut away part of the border strip on the one side, then added a narrow silver strip to the other side before adding part of the cutaway border.  The arched frame is great around the vellum covered opening, and I added a bunch of rhinestones to draw even more attention to it.  In the bottom left is a sentiment modified from a HD Little Book of Sentiments piece.  A large bow adorns the top left corner, and a butterfly with rhinestone body and a silver sentiment sticker complete the card front.

Inside:

Inside I simply have the arched die cut placed so it can show through to the front of the card.

Card #3:

This third card is really simple.  I started with pieces from the AS that I taped together to form this piece with a border strip.  The focal is one of the die cuts from the set, and the sentiment is from an HD Little Book of Sentiments.  Silver border stickers help set the border off from the rest of the card.  Looking at it, I may decide to add a few Jewel Dazzles in the lower right corner.

Inside:

I created a border with scraps from AS and die cut sheets from the kit.  A butterfly die cut tag completes the inside.

Card #4:

This is a shaker card.  I have a double layer of foam tape behind the acetate that holds the focal and the arched frame, with a variety of sequins and beads to form the shaker elements.

Inside:

The inside is pieced from a coordinating HD Little Book page.

Card #5:

As you can see, this one is a center step card.  Pieces from the AS form the bottom and sides of the card.  Part of a coordinating HD Floral Shimmer Little Book page forms the focal.  A small HD sentiment from a Little Book of Sentiments anchors the lower right corner, while a greeting sticker fills in the space near the top of the focal.  Scraps of thin line Dazzles complete the card front.

Inside:

Pieces of the AS and Thin Line Border Dazzles complete the inside.