Saturday, January 19, 2013

Look what I made! A tent card!

Every quarter I get to meet with my fellow Stampin' Up! demonstrators and we swap.  What does that mean?  I make 20+ card fronts (not a whole card, just the front) and swap, and come home with 20+ different card ideas I can use to copy and recreate or inspire me to make my own version of.
I got my idea from Beate's tutorial.
Here is my swap, it's a tent card.
 And here is a side view of it, see how it stands like a tent?  Here's how you make it.

I started with a piece of Whisper White cardstock and cut it to 4-1/4" X 11"
(Cut a sheet of  8-1/2" X 11" in half vertically), then score it at 1", 2", 3" and 7"

Then, I punched  the Extra-Large Oval as far as it could go on the paper and then used the Designer Frames Folder to make the oval frame around the hole I punched.



I punched a scrap piece of paper with the Scallop Edge Border and sponged "waves" with Pacific Point ink.  After sponging the first wave, I moved the scallop slightly and sponged it 2 more times.

I used the newest Clearlits Die Happy Whale to cut out a whale, and fish out of Pacific Point and used it again for the red heart.

Using a SU! Dimensional, I attached the whale to the card, put on a small pearl for the eye, stamped the hearts squirting and the words, "Whale you be mine?" and added the punched out fish.

Then, I folded the lines accordion style.  Starting at the 1" fold, fold up, then down, then up again.  The last line at 7" will be a fold down.

Then, I cut a piece of Designer Series Paper from the Afternoon Daydream Simply Scrappin' Kit and adhered it on the side opposite of the oval hole and glued the heart in the space by the whale.

Lastly, you adhere the last flap behind the side with the oval hole punched out. Depending on where you punched out the oval, you may have to trim a bit of the end of the card so it won't show  through the oval hole.
So, what do you think?
Thank you for checking in!
Sharon

Sunday, January 13, 2013

Organizing my card ideas

For anyone who knows me, I'm a list maker, I have them EVERYWHERE.  I have a list by my bed, one by my computer, another one at my craft desk, and I carry around a Franklin Covey planner with my calendar and another list of "Things to Do".  Yes, I am old school when it comes to organization.
So, to help me remember what I want to create, I keep a journal of ideas. It's just a sketchbook I got from my friend Nicole. 
 I take notes when I watch a video, write down the measurements, and draw out any diagrams I may need to duplicate the card.
When I find something online, I print out the tutorial and then make a sample of the card. I have a binder full of ideas I keep on my shelf, but I was inspired by Pinterest (yet again), I saw this sticker organizer.
I like the idea of having it more visible, and it's simple.  Just a paper towel holder, binder rings and sheet protectors!
So, here's MY version that sits on a Lazy Susan I keep on my desk so I can follow along as I craft and create.
I sat down today and even organized them by categories.  I have 3-D, Fun Folds, Gift card holders,  Moving cards, and Techniques.  Some I have made samples of, and some I intend to make, so they have post-its on it to remind me to make a sample and insert it in the sheet  protector.
Let me know what you think, and thanks for checking in!
Sharon

Saturday, January 12, 2013

My first card class of 2013!

For the first card, stampers picked one of these "Button Buddies" card to make.  I decided to use a faux ripping technique I saw Cindee Wilkinson do on her blog. I wasn't brave enough to use more than one color like Cindee did, maybe next time I will blend some colors together. I'm so "monochromatic" sometimes...
So, how did I achieve this look?  I ripped a piece of scratch paper and lay it on the card at an angle, inked up a sponge and started rubbing.  I found the more you rub, the darker the color.  So, a different way of adding color without adding the bulk of another layer of cardstock. Here are each of 3 cards close up.


Next up is a card using the new stamp set, Oh Whale!  I also used the Oval Designer Frame Folders to highlight the whale.  I love that you can stamp the whale and use the matching die to cut it out with the Big Shot, and don't have hand cut it out.

 Next up is a stair step card. On the outside, I used the new Vine Streeet Embossing Folder on the cover along with the Fun Flowers Bigz L Die.  I cut out Pretty in Pink and Rose Red flowers and alternating the different size flowers. I also used a bone folder to curl edges of the flowers to give it a little more dimension.
 For the inside, I used Laura Lipe's Tri-Step card technique,  I also cut out a piece of Whisper White cardstock with the Floral Frames Framelits so something could be written in the card. And as an added accent, I used the "A Fitting Occasion" stamp set which has 6 different circles with different messages and 15 different little pictures to stamp on the inside of the circles.  I chose a pair of scissors with the sentiment "Made for you." I love being able to customize my cards depending on the theme of the card.
 The last card is one I made before for friends, and decided to make it in class today.  I used the Woodgrain Textured Impressions Folder to add texture to the front of the card.  I love that the newer Embossing folders are longer and emboss so much more cardstock (The Vine Street one from the previous card is also a longer folder too).
Here is the inside of the card.

I hope you can join me on April 13th when I have my next card class.  Contact me at lim5harona@gmail.com for more information.

Thanks for checking in!
Sharon Lim

Friday, January 4, 2013

More creations!!

Here's a birthday card I made with the new woodgrain texture embossing folder and the owl punch.  Inspired by Jodie Seavor on Pinterest.  SO CUTE!!!

Here is a "car" I made to put on a card to hold some car wash gift certificates, inspired by Marlene Salvato on Pinterest (yes, again Pinterest!)
Do you think it looks like a car? I used the scallop envelope die and cut off the top flap of it, and cut out a "window" and punched out a "license plate" using the curly label punch.
For the "license," I also used a technique that I learned at one of my Stampin' Up! meetings where you use a marker and mark the inside of the paper BEFORE you punch it so it becomes a frame on the inside. I forgot who showed us that technique...sorry for not referencing you if it was you!
Here is a swap I made for my last stamping meeting, I was inspired by another card I found on Pinterest. I used a variety of embossing folders and made the card horizontal instead of vertical.  I used Baja Breeze, Wild Wasabi and Rose Red cardstock  in different sizes and shapes, and accented them with a pearl and a couple of rhinestones.
 Here's a card I made for a friend who needed one for her friend who was retiring.  It's suppose to look like a bouquet of flowers.
And presenting the 2013 calendar!!! I got the small calendars at Impress, they were 8 for $3.00.
I used two different Embossing Folders for the background, so I could run 2 at a time.  
I also used the Mixed Bunch stamp set and the Blossom punch for the flower and A Fitting Occasion stamp set for the Old Olive circle, Rich Razzleberry for the ink and a little strip of Pumpkin Pie for a color accent.
 Here's a closer look at each calendar:
 And here's the Perfect Polka Dots folder one:
Thanks for checking in!
Sharon

Thursday, January 3, 2013

Apparently I've been channeling Martha Stewart for a while...

Continuing on the Christmas theme...
So, once December rolls around, in the house we grew up in, we used to tape up the Christmas cards that we received on the double closet doors by the living room.  When we moved to the new house, the coat closet was a small one door version.
Way back in 1998 (Yes, I still have the Martha Stewart magazine with the page still bookmarked), I saw this idea Martha made with some wide green ribbon and fancy loop paper clips.
I put my twist on it and got some red velvet outdoor ribbon (more durable and longer lasting) and sewed on some of these paper clips by hand.
I made four of them and each year I tape them onto the door with  painter's tape on the back so this is what you see on the outside of the door.

So, all of our cards are still on display, but with a different look, and no tape residue on the door after the holidays.
What do you think?
Thanks for checking in!
Sharon

Christmas Crafts

A little late, but here are some crafts I created for other groups to make for the holidays.
I got a gingerbread man die from a discount store, in one swipe you get the man shape and one long white squiggle, enough to decorate the "cookie."
Then, with the retired pillow box, I used scraps to create a snowman and reindeer.
And I tied over 100 bows on candy canes for a Christmas party, here are a sampling of them.



Thanks for checking in!
Sharon