Otterly Adorable 4A

Have you ever had a hard time cutting into a beautiful sheet of 12 x 12 paper?  Sometimes I find it especially challenging if it's a large scene.  That was the case with this gorgeous paper from the Otterly Adorable paper pack from Stampin' Up! ® ™     (Get yours here while supplies last!)  Here's a picture of the paper and how I cut it up:

Basically, I made two cards from each row (using the leftovers on the insides of the cards - didn't take pictures of those):

Below is a closer look at each of these 6 cards. 

Card #1: 

I started cutting from the bottom of the page, and that's the way I started making my cards, too.  This first card is a slimline (finished size 3 7/8" x 9") - with the main patterned paper cut from the lower right corner of the paper.  I made sure it was cut just smaller than my card front so I would have a white edge around it.  Before adding it to my card, I wrapped a piece of white 1/8" ribbon around the left side - then tied a bow and added it.  Next I found a strip sentiment (from Sassy's LLC) and trimmed the ends the way you see them.  I used the Otterly Amazing cutting dies to cut out some little fish and sea weed pieces.  I colored the fish with Pumpkin Pie ink, and the sea weed with Old Olive ink.  Before gluing everything in place, I took a very fine black marker and added eyes for the fish.

Card #2:

I really love the way this card turned out and it just goes to show that a little piece of patterned paper can really make a nice card.  The patterned paper used here was from the lower right corner.  I matted it on white, then on an embossed piece of Lost Lagoon card stock before adding to the front of my card.  Then I used one of the Otterly Amazing cutting dies to cut out a portion of one of the other pages in this paper set - giving me the cute focal you see here.  Finally, I used a stamp from the Otterly Amazing stamp set to stamp the sentiment, die cut with an old Spellbinders die in my stash, inked the edges of my sentiment with green ink, and added the sentiment with dimensionals.

Card #3:

This next card was made from the left piece of the middle row.  This time I made it into a 5 x 7 card.  I found a scrap of light tan patterned paper in my stash - no idea who made it - and used it to create a mat around my otter paper piece (but before I did, I cut out the center of this paper in case I wanted to use it for something else).  I then matted this with white - then with Early Espresso card stock. BUT, before I added the matted pieces to that last piece of card stock, I did two things.  First, I wrapped a piece of thin twine around the lower left corner and tied a bow.  Second, I cut the center out of the Early Espresso and saved it so I could use it on something else.  Turns out I DID need some of that light tan paper.  I used it to die cut a sentiment (cutting die was an old one from Creative Expressions), before also cutting it a second time out of white (to use as a shadow).  After layering the two sentiments slightly offset, I glued them in place.  And this card was complete.

Card #4:

This A2 card uses the other main panel cut from that center strip.  I inked the edges of the panel with brown before matting it on white and then the leftover Early Espresso from card #3.  BUT, before I glued it all in place, I cut out the center of the Early Espresso again in case I needed it.  It turns out that I did!  I die cut some decorative pieces from it to decorate the corners (old Spellbinders dies), then I cut a rectangular piece to mat my sentiment - which I typed up and printed from my computer because I thought that would make a great greeting for this card.

Card #5:

And now we arrive at the panels cut from the last strip of patterned paper - the one at the top.  This card comes from the upper right corner.   It's such a darling picture that it doesn't need much else.  I matted it on more of the Lost Lagoon card stock - yup, cut out the center and saved it for later.  Before gluing to the card front, however, I made my border.  I die cut a fancy mat for my sentiment from Pecan Pie card stock (using an old Spellbinders die from my stash).  Then threaded my brown twisted paper trim through it before taping the ends in place behind the mat.  After gluing the whole thing to the card front, I added the stamped sentiment (stamp from an old JustRite stamp set) with dimensionals.  

Card #6:

This time it looks like I started with a piece of Pecan Pie card stock - but I didn't.  This is made with a white card stock card base.  I simply inked a bit around the edges of the card front.  After gluing my patterned paper panel to the card front, I stamped the sentiment (Otterly Amazing stamp set) using the same brown ink.

 

There they are - six GORGEOUS cards made from that ONE sheet of GORGEOUS patterned paper.  I LOVE this paper and these cards came together so quickly once I got brave and cut up my paper! 

 

Here's a slightly different cutting guide giving 1 slimline and 5 A2 cards - made basically the same as what you see above.  It helps you know better about the order in which to make your cuts into the large sheet of paper:

 

 

Cutaway Gate Fold

I was playing around and came up with this card structure that I call "Cutaway Gate Fold".  It's pretty easy to make.  You just start with a piece of card stock that is 4 1/4” by 11”. Then you cut on the solid line and score on the dotted lines as per the diagram below (click on it to better see the dimensions):  

Step 1: Starting with piece A, fold as valley folds along both dotted lines and press folds flat (folded parts shown as lighter blue in diagram below). If you are going to add decorative paper to the flaps, do this before moving on to the next step.  

Step 2: Then take piece B, turn it sideways, center it on the card blank, and glue just the left side to the left flap as shown below.  Decorate as you wish. 

To make the card I showed above:

Card Structure: I made the basic card structure from Blackberry Bliss cardstock.  Then, I cut two pieces from my patterned paper (Favored Flowers from Stampin' Up! - unfortunately no longer available). These pieces measured 1 1/4" x 4 1/8" - so when I glued them to the front flaps there was a bit of the card showing around them.  

Focal: Next, I cut a piece of white cardstock that was 2 1/2" x 4" and glued it to the 2 3/4" x 4 1/4" piece that I had cut from the original strip of Blackberry Bliss cardstock.  Then, I fussy cut some flowers from the patterned paper and glued them to this matted piece.  I carefully glued this panel to JUST the left-hand flap so that when closed the focal was centered on the card.

Greeting:  I cut a piece of white cardstock that was 4" x 5 1/4" and glued it to the inside of the card.  I closed up the card and carefully stamped "HELLO" centered in the top area of what showed through to the front (stamp from Stampin' Up! Forever Fern - no longer available).

The finished card is a standard A2 sized card.

 And here's a second one made in a similar way:

Serene Love

Today I made some cards using Stampin' Up!'s Serene Love set of papers (currently on a close-out sale). I chose to use the Night of Navy colored papers from this set.  With double sided papers and two different papers in each color, there are a total of 4 patterns in each color.  I used these to prepare some background panels.  All stamping/inking was done with Night of Navy ink.

• Background Prep: I started with 4" x 5 1/4" panels cut from 3 of thosee patterns.  Then, I arranged them on top of each other FACE UP, and cut them in thirds at a couple of angles, making sure to keep them aligned.  By cutting all three pieces at the same time, I eliminated the need to be real precise in measuring my angles - just put them at an angle on my cutter and cut them!  Next, I mixed them up by choosing one piece of each paper for each of three cards.  I glued these in place, centered on a piece of white cardstock that 4 1/8" x 5 3/8".  Finally, I added white 1/4" strips of card stock between the pieces, trimming them to the edges of the cardstock.  
• Card Blank Prep: I also created 3 card blanks using cardstock cut to 8 1/2" x 5 1/2" (half sheet of standard letter size) and then scored in half and folded along that score line.  One of these was from Night of Navy cardstock, the other two were from white. 

That's where the similarities stopped.  

Card #1: First up, I combined these papers with Night of Navy cardstock. 

• Focal & Sentiment: I started by stamping the focal/sentiment with using stamps from Sit, Stay Relax stamp set. (This is a retired Stampin' Up! product, but you can choose any stamps you like and create something similar.)  I used a punch to round the corners and then inked the edges so it would stand out a bit from the background.  
• Assembly: For this card I simply took one of my prepared backgrounds, glued it to the center of my prepared Night of Navy card front, and glued my prepared focal to the center.  
• Finishing Touches: Using a standard hole punch to cut small white cardstock circles, then a smaller one to cut circles from the navy card stock, I added these as embellishments to the top left and lower right corners of the card.  My final step was to die cut a navy bow (die from Stampin' Up! Wanted to Say set of cutting dies) and add it to the upper left corner of the focal.

Card #2: Next, I paired the papers with Poppy Parade cardstock. 

• Focal & Sentiment: After stamping the focal and sentiment (again from the Sit, Stay Relax stamp set) with Night of Navy ink on white cardstock, I fussy cut around the stamped image and used a punch to cut out the sentiment (before cutting it down farther by slicing it at the top and bottom since the punch I had made the sentiment taller than I wanted it).  I then matted the focal and sentiment using Poppy Parade - and used a paper punch to cut 3 small circles to decorate the top right corner of the card. (BEFORE DOING THIS, see Tip in the next step!).
• Assembly: Taking another of my prepared backgrounds, I cut off the white edges to give me a panel that was approximately 4" x 5 1/4".  I then cut a piece of Poppy Parade that was 4 1/8" x 5 3/8" to use as a mat for the background. TIP: Before gluing the background to you mat, you can save a bit of money and make your cardstock stretch farther by cutting out the center of your background mat where it won't be seen behind the background.  Use this center leftover piece to cut the mats for focal, and sentiment, as well as the 3 small punched circles).  
• Finishing: After gluing everything in place, I added a ribbon bow from my stash to draw more attention to the sentiment and help the eye move around the card front.

Card #3: Finally, I paired them with yellow card stock from my stash (try Daffodil Delight cardstock).

• Background: I again cut down the prepared background and prepared a mat for it (this time in yellow), just like I did for card #2.  I again cut out the center part of the card stock (using it for the die cut greeting and the little spots of color in the upper left corner). 
• Focal Greeting: The die cut sentiment was cut from white and yellow card stock using dies from the Wanted To Say set of cutting dies that I mentioned earlier. I used two different sized circle punches to create the white and Night of Navy mats for the focal sentiment and arranged them somewhat offset on the card front. 
  

I don't know how soon I might get around to making more, but there are at least a couple more ideas I want to try.  The reverse side of one of those three patterns is larger flowers that could be fussy cut for a focal.  I think that could look really nice on a navy patterned background.  Then, I'd like to try a color that's a bit more on the pink side stamp some flowers - perhaps Blackberry Bliss, or Berry Burst - maybe even the darker red of Cherry Cobbler.  There are so many possibilities. I think perhaps just  strips of the patterned paper with coordinating embossed card stock would make a great background.  So many ideas, so little time!