Tag Archives: cards

Easy Birthday Card with a Scrap of Patterned Paper

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A card inspired by a scrap of paper from the Chalk It Up paper pack.

A card inspired by a scrap of paper from the Chalk It Up paper pack.

Often we’d like to make a birthday card, but really don’t have a lot of time. This birthday card went together rather quickly! The whole idea came from a scrap of paper! I knew the recipient liked orange and I saw this scrap of paper on my desk and thought it was close enough to orange. It is from the Chalk It Up Close to My Heart paper pack. I liked it because it already had some other colors and it would make my color choices fast and easy. The color along the left side is the decorative “zip strip” I told you about the other day. It is the extra 1/2 inch on one side of a patterned 12×12″ paper, which is a bonus decorative strip that coordinates with the paper pack.

Since I was in a hurry (and maybe a bit lazy), my plan was to just use this scrap and try to get as much mileage from it as possible. So I cut it into strips and then arranged them across the width of the card, and adhered them.

One thing I like about using clear acrylic stamps is the fact that you can pull them off the backing sheets and arrange them before you ever stamp them. If you don’t like the look you can move them around until you are happy, or entirely swap out the stamps. When you begin to accumulate stamp sets, it’s fun to mix and match. I decided to use the cupcake and candle from the Birthday set from the CTMH Cricut Artiste collection, and the Happy Birthday sentiment is from the Build A Cake set.

D1618 Build a Cake

CTMH – Build a Cake, # D1618

CTMH D1529 Birthday_Artiste

CTMH, Birthday – Cricut Artiste Collection

I stamped the “Happy Birthday” on white card stock, in Lagoon ink to match the color at the left side. This helped pull the Lagoon color across the entire card. The white card stock was matted with at piece of Sorbet card stock to coordinate with the color from the scrap of paper I started with. The cupcake and candle stamp were stamped in `black and were colored with the Touch Twin alcohol markers in Peacock Green, Barely Beige, and Golden Yellow. Then I added some glue to the cupcake to and sprinkled with glitter to make the icing look like it had been dusted with sugar.

Glitter was added for a little sparkle

Glitter was added for a little sparkle!

I was happy with the way it turned out, and extra happy that it didn’t take too long! Isn’t it funny how inspiration comes in many ways? This was simply because I only wanted to use one scrap of paper I found on my desk! What inspiration will you find today? Come over and share it with us on our Facebook Group! Cheers to YOUR Artful Adventures! KS       If you are in the US, please feel free to shop in my online Close To My Heart store. Here are handy links for the products in this featured project.

Base and Bling, More than Crafty Jewelry

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make it monday blog hop fall logoIt’s another Make It Monday blog hop! If you’ve come here from Alison Day’s site, welcome! Alison shared how she turned an inspiration prompt into a fall themed decoration perfect for her Canadian Thanksgiving today. She shows a lovely piece of home decor she has artfully created. Don’t forget to go back and see it if you haven’t already.

Don’t you love it when you can find more than one way to use something? I know I do! Previously, I introduced you to the quick and easy Base and Bling products in this post. But did you know you can use them for more than just accessories? Take a peek at this video and see more great ideas. Remember, I ALWAYS show you ideas because it can lead you to think of using things in new ways. This is another one of the the times that what was intended for one thing can lead you to use it in several different ways. I didn’t create this video, but why spend time doing that when I can share this one and I’ll be making something or looking for something else to share with you!

If you see anything for which you want more info, there are links below that will take you to my Close to My Heart online shop,

Here is a quick card made with one of the Base and Bling images. I will probably never use all the images for jewelry, so it’s fun to know they can work on other things! This image came from the Journey Style Sheet and was used with a piece of paper from the Chalk it Up paper pack, Black Shimmer Trim, and an arrow from the Chalk it Up Assortment.

base and bling card

base and bling journey style sheet image on card

Now you’ll want to go over and visit Connie Hanks from Clicky Chick Creates who has created fall banners in preparation for US Thanksgiving next month, but is saying “cheers” to her Canadian friends in celebration of Thanksgiving Day in Canada today! You’ll love her helpful hints regarding creating banners that have a cohesive look with their theme by the papers and textures you select.

See you next time!

Get your digital copy of the annual idea book here:

CTMH annual inspirations 2014-15

Right Click on the image to download your own digital copy of the Annual Inspirations Book.

Cheers to YOUR Artful Adventures,

KS

 

 

Look at all the options for Base and Bling!


Watercolor Background Effect Using Ink

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make it monday kristie sloan artful adventuresWelcome to another Make It Monday blog hop project! You can check out the list of participants later in this post.

In today’s project, we’ll learn how to create a watercolor background using water soluble dye based ink pads that you may have on hand for stamping. Creating this effect uses very few items.

All we need are:

  • Ink colors
  • Acrylic stamp block
  • Tiny mister for water
  • Card stock or other paper
watercolor ink background tools

Very few items are needed for this technique.

A quick and easy way to apply the ink to your block is to just rub the corner of your ink pad onto the center of the block.

Rub ink into the center of the acrylic block.

Rub ink into the center of the acrylic block.

Mist the ink with your sprayer and let it mingle for a moment before applying it to your paper. I just used a piece of card stock for this project, but you could certainly use watercolor or a mixed media paper. If using card stock, make sure to not over saturate your paper with water. Wipe the block off between colors, or even between applications. Baby wipes are a great item to have in your craft room! Continue to randomly stamp the colors until you are happy with the results. Don’t worry about leaving white spaces, they can work well into your finished piece.

Stamp the ink from the acrylic block randomly on the paper, changing colors as desired

Stamp the ink from the acrylic block randomly on the paper, changing colors as desired.

Now you have a background piece to use as you wish. I cut a piece to use as a card front, however you can use this technique in selected spots on a scrapbook page background for a nice artsy feel. Since the background has so much going on, I wanted to just create a simple card by only using black to stamp any designs or greetings. Here is the finished card, using a black card base (with white liner), backed  with a piece of CTMH Thistle card stock.

Design and greeting stamped in black

Design and greeting stamped in black.

For a finishing touch, I added a rhinestone for the head of the butterfly on the right.

I’m happy with the way the card turned out, and I have enough paper to use for another card. These are not colors I would normally use, but I’m glad I gave them a try!

Be sure to visit the next stop on the Make It Monday hop, Jen Wright. She’s got some ideas for a scrapbook template and a challenge. Here is the whole list this week:

Connie Hanks: Layers on scrapbook layouts

      You’re Here — Kristie Sloan: Watercolor Effects Using Ink

Jen Wright: Scrapbook template ideas and challenge

Alice Boll: Capture the beauty of fall on a ‘WonderFALL’ scrapbook layout

Gina Zee: Make a school themed tag from a cereal box

 

Until our next Artful Adventure,

KS

 

 

Here are some handy links to some of the products in this project. When you use these links to purchase these items, I receive a commission. Yes, shameless promotion!


Skylark One Sheet Wonder – update

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skylark paperThere have been requests for coming up with how to cut this specific sheet of CTMH Skylark paper to create the One Sheet Wonder cards shown in this previous post. Although I shared the basic idea and how to cut a 12×12 sheet of paper to make the cards, some of you wanted help utilizing the idea specifically for this sheet. Even though the paper is retired, there are many of us who still have some on hand. So, here is the cutting info, and access to the cut files!

Here are the cards which were made from this one sheet of paper, along with 2 pieces of coordinating card stock, (plus the card bases).

CTMH Skylark paper coded one sheet wonder cards

 

One Sheet Wonder Skylark cutting diagram

Digital Cut files are at the bottom of the post!

 

As promised, here are the MATTING SIZES!

Card A:  Lagoon – 5 1.2″ x 1 1/8″,  Sweet Leaf – 3 3/16″ x 2 1/4″
Card B:  Sweet Leaf – 2 3/16″ x 1 1/4″
Card C:  Sweet Leaf – 5 1/4″ x 1 1/4″, Lagoon – 5″ x 1 1/4″
Card D:  Lagoon – 2 1/4″ x 2 1/4″ plus punched scalloped border (you could cut 2 1/4″ x 2 1/5″ and punch that piece; Lagoon – heart die-cut 1 1/2″ high.
Card E:  Lagoon – 1 3/4″ x 5″
Card F:  Sweet Leaf – 5 1/2″ x 1″, 5 1/2″ x 1 1/2″, 3 1/2 ” Zip Strip or 3 1/2″ x 1/2″; Lagoon – 1 3/4″ scalloped circle
Card G:  Lagoon – 4″ x 1/2″ (2 pieces), Skylark paper was scallop punched on top and bottom edge.
Card H: Lagoon – 2 1/2″ x 5 1/4″, Sweet Leaf – 2″ x 5″, Lagoon – 2 1/4″ x 5/8″, Sweet Leaf – 2″ x 1/2″
Card I:  Lagoon – 7 1/2″ long scalloped edge piece, 1 3/4″ flower punch or die cut, Sweet Leaf – leaf sprays pouched or die cut as desired
Card J:  Not matting
Card K:  Lagoon – 5 1/2″ x 2 3/4″, 2 1/2″ x 2 1/2″, Sweet Leaf – 2 1/4″ x 2 1/4″ (cut 3)
Card L:  Lagoon – 2 3/4″ x 2 1/2″, Sweet Pear – 2 1/4″ x 2 1/4″
Card M:  Sweet Leaf – 2 1/4″ x 2 1/4″, Lagoon – 1 1/2″ high heart punch or die cut
Card N:  Lagoon – 2 5/8″ x 4 1/4″, Sweet Leaf – 1 1/2″ x 1 1/2″
  
Until our next Artful Adventure,
KS
 
 
 
 

One Sheet Wonder 12×12

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kristie sloan one sheet wonder 12x12The One Sheet Wonder is not my original idea. It is not a new idea. However it is still a WONDERful idea! The concept is to take one sheet of paper and cut it so that you are able to use the many pieces to decorate quite a few cards from just a single sheet. I guess it makes you “wonder” how you could make so many cards with just one piece! When you use a double sided sheet of patterned paper, you can really take advantage of how many looks you can create.

This is the perfect plan for a sheet of paper that you are saving for something special because you feel like it is too fabulous to cut up. By using this method, you can get great mileage from that loved piece of paper!

There are many variations of the One Sheet Wonder. Some people like to cut a piece of colored card stock in the exact same way, so that they have even more options. I have even heard of using two coordinating double-sided sheets, and one each of two coordinating solid colors, for making an incredible number of cards. I hope I’m not confusing you!

My mother recently told me she had depleted her set of cards my daughter had given her, which had been made with this method. I decided I would make another set for her.

While looking through my paper I looked at this sheet and noticed how many things it had already printed on the sheet and wondered how it might work. I had never seen anything except an all-over print used for a one sheet wonder set of cards. I grabbed it along with 2 sheets of coordinating card stock.skylark lagoon pear

Although it was double sided, I wasn’t sure how much I would use the second side, because the front side had so much to select from. However, there was the little bonus decorative strip I could cut off and use in some way.

skylark double sided

Here are both sided of the decorative paper

I decided to just use a cream card stock so they would be easy to write on the inside and easy to see. My mom’s sight is not like it once was, and I knew using colored card stock would be difficult to see her writing. I didn’t want to have to cut liners for each card. Plus, by using the cream card stock for the base, she could write on the entire inside of the card instead of on one side if I added liners. (I really don’t know if that is what you could call them. I know envelopes can have liners!) I used 8 1/2 x 11 card stock, cut in half to make two cards per sheet. You can actually find a great value back of cards and envelopes at the bottom of this post.

Only 2 ink pads were used for stamping and inking any edges, Pear and Chocolate.  A variety of stamps were used for the sentiments. The inside is blank on each card.

Here are the cards I came up with using embossing folders, punches and bits of ribbon, etc.

kristie sloan skylark 14 card one sheet wonder

Here you can see each one larger by clicking on the card image:

Kristie Sloan one sheet wonder card 1

Kristie Sloan one sheet wonder card 2

Kristie Sloan one sheet wonder card 3

Kristie Sloan one sheet wonder card 4

Kristie Sloan one sheet wonder card 5

Kristie Sloan one sheet wonder card 14

A bit of gesso over the stamping on the right, helped tone it down a bit. Details hand drawn on the flower and leaves done with fine line pen.

Kristie Sloan one sheet wonder card6 Kristie Sloan one sheet wonder card 7 Kristie Sloan one sheet wonder card 8

Kristie Sloan one sheet wonder card 9

Decorative strip from the back side of the paper added this card.

Kristie Sloan one sheet wonder card 13

Embossed card front and glitter tape made this a quick card. Stamping added to the punched heart.

Kristie Sloan one sheet wonder card

Kristie Sloan one sheet wonder card 12

Embossed edge was hand cut along the scalloped border.

Kristie Sloan one sheet wonder card 10

This card has a diagonal piece of the paper, and then was stamped over the entire card front.

 

Here are basic cutting dimensions.

One Sheet Wonder 12x12 cutting guide

Update: See this post for more specifics and mat dimensions.

Cheers to YOUR creativity!

KS