End of Year WOW

Today was the last day to post a project for the White On White challenge on the message board I frequent.  It's been a long time since I made one of these.

I started by embossing a piece of white glimmer paper (Brocade embossing folder from Fun Stamper's Journey).  This piece was cut to 4" x 5 1/4" so that it would fit with a bit of a border around it.  Before I added it, I created the border at the bottom.  I started by adding a strip of double-sided tape to which I added a piece of netting - ruffling it as I went.  Then I added another strip of double-sided tape and wrapped a piece of satin ribbon around to cover the tape (used scotch tape to fasten it to the back of the panel.  I found a narrow paper ribbon that I added to the top of the satin ribbon - again taping it in back - before gluing the panel to the card front.

To finish the card, I added a double layered die cut sentiment (Moonstone Happy Anniversary cutting die) - cut from white card stock, and 3 white butterflies that I had gotten from the dollar store.  Looking at it, it might have been better if the border had been raised a little to divide the card in thirds, but it is what it is.

KCC16 - Feels Like Frost

It's been awhile since I did a KCC, so I thought I'd do another KCC16.  I used papers from a Stampin' Up set called Feels Like Frost.  The papers were double-sided, but one side was a beautiful silver and white foiled pattern while the other was printed winter scenes and the two sides really didn't go together.  I found I generally had to choose to use one side or the other for all of the pieces as I was working with these.  As usual, I made the full set of 15 cards:

However, because the silver side didn't work well with the pictoral side, and some of the pictorals didn't go together (though quite pretty).  I left some pieces off of them - and then made a 16th card using those leftover pieces (see at the end of this post).  Below is a more in-depth look at each card I made.

Card #1: 

As you can see, I used the silver side.  I think this is my favorite sketch from this KCC set.  I matted some of the pieces in silver as you can see - including the Hunkydory sentiment.  I finished it by adding a ribbon bow and some Jewel Dazzles.

Card #2:

Again I used the silver side.  I embossed a piece of silver foil using a brick embossing folder by Darice.  I matted the center paper on white and added another white piece in the center (that one with inked edges).  I used Dazzles border stickers around the edge of the white mat.  For the focal I added greeting stickers, then added the leaves stickers.

Card #3:

This time I used straight line Dazzles stickers around each piece.  I turned the small white piece on point and added some balloon stickers for the focal.  I added a sticker greeting and this card was complete.

Card #4:

Again, I used the silver side - this time adding a silver ribbon across the center.  I matted my greeting on silver and then added the silver package stickers to each block to complete my focal.

Card #5:

Again I used the silver side and matted some of the pieces on silver.  I found this white tiger in my stash and thought it would make an interesting focal.  Then I found a Sassy's LLC greeting that went well.  Finishing touches were a fiber bow from my stash and Jewel Dazzles.

Card #6:

As you can see, this time I used the printed side.  I love some of the pictures on the printed size, but I'm finding it more difficult than expected to combine the various patterns.  At first glance they don't go together as well as I had hoped!  I matted the pieces with lavender card stock.  The focal was matted using a Spellbinders die (Splendid Circles) to die cut the mat.  The focal is a die cut sentiment (Creative Expressions - Stacked Thinking of You), matted on a white mat that was die cut using a die from Gemini's Winter Wonderland set.   I finished it by using a simple hole punch to create the decorative circles at the bottom left.

Card #7:

Even though I used the silver side of the papers, this one was one of the harder sketches for me this time - couldn't figure out about a focal and decorating.  I don't remember having this much trouble with this layout previously.  At any rate, after matting the squares and putting them in place, I finally decided to add a square of white to mat the little cat die cut (Temu).  You can't tell it from the picture, but I used a glimmer/glitter paint to add some sparkle to the cat.

Card #8:

Once again, I really liked the blue flowers, but the other piece didn't seem to go at all.  I finally discovered that if I wrapped the ribbon around the top of it - the part that was most glaringly out of place - I could make it work.  Anyway.  I matted everything on a dark blue paper, and added a strip of white card stock between the two papers.  Finally, I added the sentiment - matted on a blue punched scalloped circle and a silver glitzy mat die cut with Spellbinders Splendid Circles.

Card #9:

This time I gave up on the extra pieces - they were supposed to be added as little banners in the lower right corner and I just didn't like it.  I set them aside thinking maybe I could use them to make a 16th card.  We'll see.  At any rate, I embossed a light lavender mat using my Darice Damask folder.  I found a light purple card stock and die cut the sentiment from the center (Creative Expressions - Stacked Just Because) before matting the focal picture.  I glued it in place on the embossed mat, then wrapped the whole with a narrow silver ribbon before gluing the whole to the card front.  I added a ribbon bow and the sentiment as you see in the picture.

Card #10:

Again, I had two papers that I wasn't sure went together.  I decided to create the background from a green card stock this time - embossing it with my Swiss Dots folder from Cuttlebug.  I matted both pieces with a purple glimmer paper, then added a darker green mat to the lower piece.  The focal is a Sassy's LLC sentiment, matted with a scalloped punched purple mat before matting on a plain white circle inked with green.  I added a narrow purple ribbon bow.  I added purple punched dots to the upper right corner, then added gold Jewel dazzles to the center of them.  It still felt really plain, so I added a butterfly sticker from the dollar store (and drew in antennae for it).

Card #11:

This time there were multiple pieces arranged in a frame.  I glued them to a white piece of paper - then matted them on silver glimmer paper.  I decided it might be interesting to add the "Mrs. Santa" to the center of the card for a focal.  Finally, I added the Jewel Dazzles to the lower right corner, and the sentiment (from a Hunkydory sentiment book) to the upper left to complete the card.

Card #12:

I was disappointed with this card because the glue lines on the back of the papers showed through - which did not happen on any of the other cards.  Not sure why, but I did my best to disguise this (not entirely successfully).  At any rate, I glued the pieces to a silver mat, wrapped the white ribbon around the center.  I used another of my Snowflake Foiled Fancies from HOTP for focal and embellishments.  I matted the focal on a piece of white card stock that had been die cut with a Spellbinders Teardrop Circles cutting die. I added a Hunkydory sentiment and a silver ribbon bow.

Card #13:

After embossing the card front with a Fun Stamper's Journey embossing folder called Brocade, I matted the patterned piece and glued it in place.  After punching a blue scalloped card stock mat, and a silver die cut mat (Splendid Circles from Spellbinders), I added a blue matted silver tag piece behind it before gluing everything in place and attaching a sentiment from Sassy's LLC.

Card #14:

As you can see, I matted the patterned paper on white and wrapped a ribbon around it, then matted them on silver linen card stock.  The sentiment (another Sassy's LLC) was matted with the same silver card stock.  Last touch was a ribbon bow toward the lower left corner.

Card #15:

This last of this KCC16 set was turned on its side.  I matted the papers on silver linen card stock.  Then added more of that card stock to the upper left and lower right corners.  I then added some silver holographic border Dazzles before creating the sentiment pieces.  The main one is a Sassy's LLC sentiment matted on silver linen card stock (die cut from a Spellbinders Teardrop Circles die set).  I used a narrow border sticker to border the sentiment.  The smaller sentiment in the lower right corner is one stamped and die cut using one of my mom's sets - matted on a scrap of silver linen & then silver mirror, I also used the narrow border sticker right around this sentiment.

Leftovers:

This final card was created from leftover pieces that I had decided NOT to add to the KCC's because their patterns really didn't go well with the other patterns I was using.  By using the silver side, they all went together and I created this final card.  I matted a piece of white card stock on silver glimmer paper and embossed the two together (Fun Stamper's Journey Brocade again).  After gluing that to the card front, I put the patterned papers together as you see - dovetailing the ends of the smaller pieces.  I glued them in place and added silver narrow border strips.  After double matting the sentiment (another stamp and die set of my mom's) and putting it in place, I added 3 small Foiled Fancies Snowflakes (from HOTP) and a white ribbon bow to finish the card.

December Swaps 2024

Card Swap: (see above) Today I'll start with the card I made for the regular card swap.  The theme was WINTER and I think that snowy scene is definitely winter-like.  I like the pop of color the little fox makes.  He's a die cut from Karen Burniston (Forest Animals).  The paper is some from Stampin' Up - from the pack of 6 x 6 papers called Feels Like Frost.  As you can see, I used it to make a center step card.  The ribbon and bow are from my stash.  The greeting is one that was stamped/die cut using one of my mom's sets.

Materials Swap - Snowflakes - My Materials:

These papers are again from the Feels Like Frost set.  It is double sided with one side picture scenes like I used for the card swap, and the other side silver foiled designs like you see here.  To this I added, white card stock, silver card stock, Snowflake Foiled Fancies from HOTP, a sentiment from Hunkydory, and a length of silver ribbon from my stash.

My swap card uses pieces of both papers cut a bit wonky and arranged as you see here (I actually cut the papers as per a sketch template and will get 4 more cards from these pretty papers).  Before gluing the papers in place, I wrapped the ribbon around them near the bottom.  After gluing them in place, I added the largest snowflake - then the middle one on top of it with foam tape.  I added a ribbon bow in the lower right corner, on top of which I added the sentiment.  Finally, I added the smallest snowflake in the upper left corner.

Materials Swap - Snowflakes - Partner's Materials:

My partner sent me a light blue/white patterned paper, an A2 card blank, a piece of snowfall acetate, and two colors of card stock.  In addition, there were several die cut snowflakes, a sentiment, and a rhinestone type embellishment.  This is what I made from these materials:

It's a little hard to tell from the picture, but the front has an acetate-covered aperture - die cut with a hexagon die from Fun Stampers Journey.  I cut through all layers after gluing the darker aqua, and the patterned paper in place - with the darker aqua forming a very narrow mat for the patterned paper.  I cut the remaining patterned paper with nesting rectangular stitched dies from Fun Stampers Journey and double-stitched dies from Crafti Potential (Stitched Rectangles, Dots, and Stars) into frames to use inside the card.  Then I took the middle piece and fussy cut a mat for the sentiment from it.  I cut apart the leftover piece outside of the frames I had cut - and used these pieces to border the hexagon shape on the outside.  Before I could finish the outside of the card, though, I really had to work on the inside.

 

First, I used the rectangle to cover the edges of the acetate where I had glued it to the inside of the card.  I was careful to ensure that it wasn't seen from the outside of the card.  Then I positioned the large snowflake so that it could be seen centered in the acetate window I had created on the outside of the card.  Then I went back to the front of the card and added a couple layers of snowflakes that centered on the acetate over the large snowflake when the card was closed.  I once again opened the card and glued a snowflake to the inside of the acetate to cover the glue.  Finally, I tossed several other snowflakes around the outside of the card to finish it before returning to the inside.  I had wondered about using a smaller frame I had cut, but decided it didn't work well with the large snowflake.  I decided that a bit of the darker aqua near the bottom would be nice, though, so I used up my scraps to form the border that you see.

Card #2:

I had some pieces left over, so I embossed a card front (Darice - Snowflake Swirl embossing folder), added the remaining dark aqua piece (it had the center cut out for the sentiment's mat on the last card.  I die cut a snowflake (Paper Artist (HOTP) - Snowflakes) from the lighter aqua - one that would fit the hexagon piece I had cut from the previous card when making the aperture.  Then I pulled in one of my foiled fancies snowflakes to add to the center of that die cut.  I finished with a sentiment from Hunkydory (one of their Christmas sentiments books) and added a few snowflake Dazzles to finish things up.

Digi-Swap:

 

Both of these pretty papers were digital downloads.  After cutting them as you can see in the photo above, I added a strip of washi tape to form borders between the two papers.  I added a white ribbon bow from my stash.  Then created an embellished sentiment piece - using punches with black and white card stocks, a Dazzles sentiment (HOTP), and die cut music pieces (Music Panels cutting dies from Paper Discovery) - which I added with foam tape to the upper left corner of the card.

 

Then, I needed to use up the rest of the digi paper I had printed - that made 3 more cards:

 

Digi-Card #2:

 

As you can see, I used both papers again here - this time mostly the striped paper - and again divided with washi tape. I noticed that some packaging material that had come with the Snowflake Foiled Fancies from HOTP was a glossy black card stock - perfect for matting & such.  I used it to die cut the largest Splendid Circles cutting die from Spellbinders - then a smaller one out of white card stock.  To this, I added a Dazzles sentiment (HOTP) a couple more music elements from the Music Panels dies, and a couple of decorative gold stickers.  Finally, I used some layered black and gold Jewel Dazzles in the lower right corner.

 

Card #3:

 

This time I started with just the music print.  I didn't have quite enough to cover the entire card front, but wanted a black border anyway - which stretched my paper just enough!  I inked the edges of this paper before attaching it to the card front.  Both the black border and the mat behind the focal sentiment were again cut from the packaging material.  The sentiment focal is again created with Dazzles sentiments and the same music elements I've used before.  I also created an embellishment piece - punched from white card stock, inked along the edges and decorated with more music elements.  Finally, I added a black ribbon bow to complete the card. 

 

Card #4:

 

I just had a little bit of the striped paper left.  I decided to emboss the card front with a Sheet Music embossing folder from Darice.  I lightly inked the raised areas, then a fine-line black marker to go over the notes and symbols.  I used more of the black card stock to mat the striped paper - and the same to mat the sentiment (Sassy's LLC).  I finished it off with a black ribbon bow from my stash.

Not Really Patchwork Stack and Swap

 

I wanted a last minute Christmas gift and decided to see if I had cards from a KCC challenge from which to create it (since I wanted them all to coordinate).  I looked through my stash and found some of these:

I only had 9 left - mostly thinking of you type cards and NO birthday.  I wanted an assortment to cover a variety of occasions so certainly wanted to include some birthday cards.  I knew I had more of the set of papers that I had used (a DCWV Mat Stack from years ago), so decided to make some more to go with that.  My papers were 4 1/2" x 6 1/2", so I went looking for a quick KCC-type cutting guide & sketch(es) that would work with those.  I found a set using A2-sized papers by Robin Armbrecht and decided to go with that (figuring I could use the 1/2" and 1" scraps on the insides of my cards.  The cutting/sketch guide was called Patchwork Stack Cut and Shuffle, and used 5 different 4 x 6 papers (actually 4 & some card stock) to make 5 cards like the one at the top of this post.  As you cut the papers, you arrange them in 5 different stacks and when you make the cards you make sure that for each card you have a paper from each stack that doesn't match the others - forming the same sketch but different papers in each position from card to card.  I don't like making cards that are all alike, but hoped that I would find that by having different papers in different spots I'd like it okay.  So, I cut all the papers and started working with them.  Below are the cards that I ended up with.

Card #1:

This card was made just like the sketch (except for decorating, of course).  Taking one piece from each of the 5 piles as per the sketch.  I taped them together and wrapped them with ribbon before gluing to the card - then used border stickers to differentiate between most of them.  I found a Sassy's LLC sentiment that I had printed 1/2-size and matted it in black before adding it as you see.  The focal was die cut using Spellbinders Tropical Friends (May 2024 SDOM) die set.  I matted it on a white stitched circle die cut (Kat Scrappiness Double-Stitched Circles) and a larger black mat (die cut with a die from Spellbinders Picot Edged Circles).  I was fairly happy with the way this card turned out, so I started another.

Card #2:

This time I rotated the sketch, as well as doing the "shuffle" so each paper was again different, but not the same as the previous card.  This time I used silver stickers between the pieces, a similar sentiment (as well as a second from the same place - this time printed with a black background & matted with white) and another of the Tropical Friends die cuts.  This time I just used a single black mat - die cut using a die from Spellbinders Splendid Circles.

I liked this one, too, but by the time I was finished with it, I knew I did NOT want to make more like it.  It felt too much the same. 

So, I decided to take the remaining pieces and REALLY shuffle them, not using all types of pieces on each of the remaining cards, but finding a new way to use them.  This gave me 5 more cards (instead of the 3 I would have gotten).

 Card #3:

This card used 3 of the same sized pieces and one of the 1/2" scraps.  As you can see, I matted the 3 pieces on a black die cut mat (Spellbinders Romantic Rectangles Two), arranging them with space between each.  After adding this matted block to my card, I glued the 1/2" strip near the bottom and then used black border stickers top and bottom to finish it off as you see here.  Finally, I took another Sassy's sentiment, matted it on black, glued it to the card, and then used silver stickers to create the look of a second mat or frame.

Card #4:

This time I decided to use all 5 of the 1" scraps.  I cut a short strip off each (saved these scraps, put them together in the same order to create a border for the inside of the card) but found I still had to overlap each on the long edge by just a little bit so they would fit with a bit of a border around.  After I glued them together, I wrapped a black ribbon around and glued them in place on the front of the card.  The focal was created using a die cut black circle (Kat Scrappiness Double Stitched Circles) with a white punched circle glued to the center of this.  I die cut the sentiment using a die from a Gemini stamp & die set called Winter Wonderland, and added it around the outside.  Finally, I found a little penguin die cut in my stash (die from Temu) and colored it with markers before adding it as you see here.

Card #5:

This card made use of 3 of the cut pieces - two rectangles and one of the larger rectangles (which I cut down to a square to create this look).  I glued the two smaller rectangles to either side of the card front, then found a large black scalloped circle in my stash (Spellbinders Grand Scalloped Circle Dies), cut it down a bit on the top and bottom, and glued it in place before adding the square on point.  The focal was another of Sassy's - matted on a black circle (Kat Scrappiness Double Stitched Circles) and a white decorative circle (Spellbinders Picot Edged Circles).  I finished by adding Dazzles sticker strips and Jewel Dazzles as decorations.

Card #6:

It's a bit harder to see what I did with this one because I didn't use border strips between the pieces.  The piece on the far right is one of the large rectangles that had a striped pattern on it.  To this I added a green rectangle, and then a small rectangular strip in a black print.  My focal is again a Sassy's sentiment.  I triple matted this one - silver stitched circle (Kat Scrappiness Double Stitched Circles), then a black (die cut using a Nellie Snellen Multi-Frame Flower die), and finally a large white stitched circle (Kat Scrappiness Double Stitched Circles).  I decorated this with a die cut flower sprig (Spellbinders Holiday Blooms) which I cut into two pieces.  The final touch was the bow made from narrow black ribbon.

Card #7:

Finally, I took the remaining two pieces - matted them on black as you see (with an extra black strip glued to cover the join) and then matted the whole on a piece of silver linen card stock from my stash.  The focal started with another of Sassy's sentiments.  This time I inked it with distress ink before matting it on a white decorative circle ( Nellie Snellen Multi-Frame Flower), then on a silver stitched circle (Kat Scrappiness Double Stitched Circles) and finally a black decorative circle (Spellbinders Teardrop Circles).  I then used some layered Jewel Dazzles in teal and black to decorate before adding the butterfly (sticker from my stash) as a final touch.

 

Box:

I put all the cards in a decorative box that I made.  Making the box was pretty simple.  I decided I wanted it to be 6" x 4 3/4" x 2".  I made the bottom of the box from some light-weight chipboard.  I knew that if the box was to be the dimensions mentioned, I figured that I needed a piece that was 10" x 8 3/4" (adding 4" for the height - 2" each side - to the 6" x 4 3/4").  Then I could simply score each side at 2" and simply cut in on the two short sides along the score lines so I could fold the flaps in and glue them to the ends. 

 

Unfortunately my chipboard was only 11 x 8 1/2" so I was 1/4" inch short in the one direction.  That wasn't really that big a deal.  I simply scored those two sides at 1 7/8", and it worked just fine.  The fact that the sides were 1/8" short wasn't that noticeable and was not visible when the box was closed. 

For the box top, I had a 12 x 12 DCWV mat stack that was the same pattern as the 4 1/2 x 6 1/2 one, so it was easy to find a pattern that coordinated with the cards - AND I didn't have the challenge of it not being large enough.  I added 1/8" in each direction so the lid would fit on easily - cutting the piece to 10 1/8" x 8 7/8".  Then I scored each side at 2", cut in on the ends as before and glued the pieces together to form my box top.  Then I decorated the top of the box and added my cards inside.  Because I wrapped the cards with tissue paper, the box top wanted to puff up, so I held it in place with a ribbon that I sewed magnets into on each end to hold the box closed.

Fun Gift Card Holders

Today I made some cute gift card holders.

For this first one, started as an idea by Jen Causey-Kidder here.  I used two canning jars, gluing their lids together. The smallest one - on top - is filled with candy. The bottom one has the gift card along with some colorful mylar threads.

2nd Type - started with an idea by Lina.  Instead of a snow globe, it's just a little decorative piece related to the type of gift card.

I made a lid for the jar lid by die cutting several layers of card stock and gluing them together.

 

After putting in some gauze, I added a Barnes & Noble gift card attached to a small binder clip to hold it in place.

 

Then, I made 3 little books (see YouTube video here) after stacking them and tying them with baker's twine, I placed them in front of the gift card. Last, I sprinkled some confetti all over the gauze before finishing the outside of the jar ring.

Use it Up in Silver

 

I had two sheets of silver patterned paper that were part of a materials swap (from Stampin' Up's Feels Like Frost 6 x 6 paper pack).  I decided to use a double one-sheet wonder layout to make 5 cards from them. One of those cards was used for my materials swap (card #1) - here are the rest of them. 

Card #2: (picture at top of this post) - This card started as simply a gate-fold card.  I cut an extra piece of white card stock to mat the overlapping silver piece - glued this to the right side of the gate-fold - and then cut away the rest of the right side of the gate-fold.  I had started this card with one piece of each patterned paper.  I chose to cut one of those pieces into 2 squares and a leftover piece.  I matted all three of these with silver and added them to the left panel as you can see.  I found 3 identical die cuts (Snowflake Foiled Fancies from HOTP), backed them with white, and added them as you can see here (the one in the lower right was added to the inside of the card after matting it with silver glimmer paper.  The one in the upper left corner was added with foam tape and serves as a "latch" to hold the card closed.  I also added a Hunkydory sentiment in such a way as part of it shows above the flap and the rest is hidden inside the card (again added to the inside of the card after matting the inside of the card).

Inside:

 

Inside, I added a silver glimmer paper to the flap (to cover the join) and to the inside.  In addition, I cut a strip of white for a greeting - cut to fit behind the left flap.

Card #3:

 

Once again, I had two pieces of patterned paper.  This time I matted the whiter one.  The one with more silver was attached to the bottom of the card.  It would have been better to wrap with the white ribbon before I added it, but I did not, so had to cut it and hope the adhesive will hold it and keep it from raveling.  I added the matted piece to the upper left side.  I found another of those snowflake foiled fancies - again backing it with white before adding it and a Hunkydory sentiment.

Card #4:

 

This was a really quick and easy card with just one piece of patterned paper matted on silver before adding it to the card front.  Again I backed the foiled fancy snowflake before adding it to the center.  The last step was a greeting (again from Hunkydory sentiment book) added to the center with foam tape.

Card #5:

 

The last card made use of a narrow strip of paper that had been left over from another card.  I trimmed it to fit and put it between the other two pieces of paper that made up the rest of the card background as you can see.  I added a white die cut circle and another foiled fancy snowflake for the focal - then added another Hunkydory greeting to complete the card.