Gatefold Birthday Card

Hi Dreamers!
How is your week going?  This week seemed to slip by me and here we are at Thursday already.  So, I thought I have better get something posted--for your viewing pleasure!!  Today, I would like to share a Gatefold Birthday card I made for a friend.  I used lots of pretty papers, punches, and a couple stamps.

Materials: 

DP from K & Company

Floral stamp from Stampin' Up

Sentiments from A Muse Studios

Punches: Circle (Marvy) Flower and  Border (Stampin' Up)

Satin Ribbon

Ink: Marvelous Magenta--(a retired SU color you may have in your stash.  It perfectly matched the CS color)

CS: dark rose--shared by a friend--I think it may be by Colorbox

• Start by cutting the card base 8.5 x 5.5"  I used a dark rose colored CS for my base.  
• Score at 2 1/8 and 6 3/8"  --this will make a 2 1/8" flap on each end.
• Fold in the flaps using a bone folder

• Cut two coordinating decorative papers 5 1/2 x 2 1/8" to cover the two flaps
• Punch a strip of CS (the same as the card base) with a border punch and glue to top flap
• Wrap two lengths of ribbon around upper flap and tie in knots

• Stamp Happy Birthday on lower corner
• Stamp Flower and punch out
• Punch a circle from a third coordinating DP and layer with punched flower
• Add flower to upper flap with dimensionals letting the flower hang over the upper flap edge

Inside

• This is what the card looks like unfolded from the inside
• Repeat the DP papers on the inside
• I stamped a partial image of the flower and another sentiment

Inside closeup

A very feminine Birthday card --who would not love getting this in the mail??!!  And, the special fold makes it a bit more interesting.

********A few fun Challenges:
C is for Challenge: flowers
Aud Sentiments: two word sentiment
Crafting with dragonflies: unusual  folded card
Lady Annes: monochromatic
Little Red Wagon: monochromatic
Penny's Challenge: think pink
Songbird : ribbon
Through the craftroom door: anything goes

So, I think I will post more bug themed cards tomorrow.  I have quite a few left you have not seen.  Stay tuned for that!   Hope you  are having a great day!!  Love ya.
Karen

Grad Cards--Feminine and Masculine

Hi Dreamers,
I have been making a few special order cards this last week.  The order was for a feminine and a masculine Graduation card.  For the girlie card, I used a large sentiment with flower stamp from American Stamp Company.

I did a bit of coloring with Copic Markers and die cut the image with a Spellbinders die.  The DP is from K & Company.

For embellishments, I added ribbon and pearls

Just a simple congratulations of the inside.  Lots of room to write a nice note too.

And the masculine card:

I started with some DP from Basic Grey and stamped a clock face and gears (Stampin' Up).  And did some distressing with Distress inks (Vintage Photo and Faded Jeans).

Add a nice sentiment for a focal point.

On the inside, I added a sticker graduation cap; and more sentiments ( A Muse studios)

Stay tuned tomorrow for more of my Bug Themed cards--more ladybugs!!  Sound fun??!!  Hope you are having a great day!  Love ya.
Karen

More Summer Fun with Butterflies and Flowers

Hi Dreamers,
How is your weekend going?  Good here.  My husband is finally starting to feel better.  He needs to get his strength back now.  (He is recovering from pneumonia.) Doctor said his chest is clear.  So, that is very good.  He has been sick for over a month now.  I think I will have to make another pot of chicken soup.

Well, on to crafty card things!!

I am continuing my Bug theme today with three butterfly cards with a stamped floral background.  I used an older Stampin' Up set  called Flora and Fauna.  (The same set as the ladybug cards)  The background is also stamped with a Polka Dot Background stamp.  I made three cards, each in a different color.

• Stamp the Polka Dot background stamp with a light pastel colored ink.  
• Stamp the flower repeatedly with Stazon Black ink
• Color with markers

• Stamp the butterfly with Stazon and color with marker
• Add a solid colored rectangle to center of card
• Layer Butterfly with some punched pieces
• Add a pretty ribbon

Inside

On the inside, stamp the Polka Dot background and one flower.  I will add a sentiment when I use the card.  Perfect for any occasion--birthday, thinking of you, get well, just because, etc.......


**************A few fun Challenges for my Butterflies with Floral background
One Stop Craft: anything goes
Sweet Stampin: butterflies and bows
Totally Gorjuss: circles
The Ribbon Girl: add a bow

Well, hope you liked that!  I will be back next time with some graduation cards and then more of the Goin' buggy cards!!  Have a great weekend!! Love ya.
Karen

Gettin' All Buggy

Hi Dreamers,
Today, I will be sharing a few of the Bug themed cards I have been telling you about.  I used some older Stampin' Up stamps  to make my buggy cards.  Let's jump right in with three different cards made with the same ladybug stamp.

• The DP is from Crate Paper
• Cardstock is from Stampin' Up.

• Ladybug is stamped with Stazon Black ink
• Colored with markers

• I used my punches to make bases for the cute ladybug
• Add some fun gingham ribbon 

Detail

Aren't these great summer cards!!?  Don't they make you think of a summer picnic in the park.  I will drop a few of these in the mail to special people on my card giving list.

How about a few fun challenges for my Ladybugs!!
365 Cards: finished in 15 minutes
Aud Sentiments: two word sentiment
Penny's Challenge: spots and stripes
Anything Goes Challenge: checks, stripes, flowers


So, check back for the next posting of my Buggy cards.  Could be butterflies, or dragonflies, or maybe some more ladybugs!!  Oh, and I will also sneak in a few Graduation Cards.  I have three of those to share too.  Happy Friday.  Hope you have a great weekend!!  Love ya.
Karen

Vintage Bird Single Layer Card

Happy Fourth of July!!

Hi Dreamers,
Not doing too much today for the holiday.  My husband is still not feeling well ( still recovering from pneumonia).  He has been off work for a month now.  He is taking a nap right now.  That gives me some free time to do a bit of blogging.  I have a fun single layer card to share with you today!  I used "Timely Bird" from Hero Arts  for this project.  I went all vintagey!!

• Make a folded card from pale yellow CS (this is Barely Banana from Stampin' Up)
• Tear bottom edge
• Stamp image with Onyx Black VersaFine ink
• Layer a paper doily onto the card--cover the stamped image with a scrap piece of paper
• Spray paper doily with spray inks (I used Willow Walnut ink)
• Let Dry

• Spray more of the Willow and add a bit of Walnut spray ink
• Color the flowers, leaves, and clock faces with Distress Markers
• Distress edges with Antique Linen Distress Ink

• Add a bow and some tiny pearls
• All done!  Stamp your favorite sentiment on the inside

This card is entered in the:
Hero Arts: single layer card
Ruby's Challenge: things with wings


So, that is all for me today.  I will be sharing all my bug themed cards next.  So, stayed tuned for that!!  I made a bunch of those.  Very fun!!   Have a great day!!  Love ya
Karen

Summer Fun with Blockheads Stamps

Hi Dreamers!
Today, I have two summer themed cards.  The stamp is from the Hearth Mice full sheet by Blockheads.  This set is on sale for $10!!!  In fact, the entire Blockheads Online store is 50% off!!  Check out all the stamps and supplies!!

I stamped the Summer Mouse on Solar White Neenah CS and colored with Copics.

Card #1

Card #2

Same stamp, but different color scheme for the cardbase and background papers.

Isn't this little guy sweet!??  Such a relaxing image!    Lots of fun coloring with this stamp!

A few fun Challenges!!!
Loves Rubber stamps: anything goes
Addicted to stamps: markers
Rhedd and Rosie: summer

See you tomorrow with a vintage bird single layer card!!  Doesn't that sound fun!!?  Hope you are having a great day!!  I mowed the lawn this morning.  Still have a pile of ironing to do.  Better get at that!  Love ya.
Karen

Beach Themed Mini Mini Cards

Hi Dreamers!
Since I have been working so hard in my yard/garden, I was thinking a nice vacation by the sea would be just what I needed.  Well, I don't think I will be going anytime soon.  LOL!  But, I can make some Beach inspired projects!!  I picked up a new stamp set called Beach Babes from Rogue Redhead Designs.   I could not wait to try out these fun stamps.  I made a bunch of mini "Scraplings".  A Scrapling is a folded card that measures 1.5 x 4.25 inches (See Rogue Redhead challenge here)  Take a look at my Beachy Keen minis.

Let's look at them in close up view:

• All stamping was done with Rich Cocoa ink from Memento.   
• The two little darlings were colored with Copic Markers. 
• I added a narrow ribbon and tiny pearls.  
• I used a soft green CS for the folded base with a layer of baby blue CS.  

• I stamped the border stamps on white CS and distressed with Antique Linen and Pumice Stone Distress ink.   
• I stamped the sentiment and added a sheer ribbon

• The cranes are colored with watercolor markers.  
• Distress edges with Forest Moss and Antique Linen inks
• Add narrow ribbons and tiny pearls

• Die cut images and distress edges 
• I added some small scale DP on two of the cards.

These minis were really fun to make.  And, as their name "Scraplings" implies, I was able to use  papers and CS from my scrap basket.   I think the mini cards would be great on top of a package or tucked in a small gift bag.  Or, I could make a few envelopes to fit the cards and hand deliver.  Aren't they just so cute!??


Challenges for my Beachy Keen Mini Cards
Rogue Redhead Designs: Scraplings or Moos--mini cards
Crafting Musketeers: pearls and ribbon
Cupcake Craft: anything but square.
Incy Wincy: summer lovin'
City Crafter: cooling colors
Paper take weekly : anything goes


We have been having lots of rainy weather here in good old Michigan, USA.  I snapped this photo of a rainbow the other day.  Pretty!

I have more summer themed cards to share with you over the next few weeks.  The bug cards I mentioned will be posted soon.  I also have two super cute Summer Mice cards coming up.  Lots of summer fun!!!  I hope you are having a great day!  Love ya.
Karen