Sunday, October 31, 2010

How to get the most out of your card stock

I'm a card maker.  AND I love to save money.  So, when I'm making cards, I like to be really efficient with my paper.  So here's how I make the most of my card stock when making card bases.

A "standard" size card is 4 1/4" x 5 1/2" (finished size).  This is the card size that you would get if you took a regular 8 1/2" x 11" piece of paper and cut it in half to make 2 pieces that are 5 1/2" x 8 1/2".  Then you fold that in half to make the finished card base.

I usually make my cards a little smaller -  4" x 5 1/2"...I figure that no one will miss the 1/4".

I start with a 12x12 piece of white card stock.  I cut off a 4" strip, so the paper is now 12" x 8".  Then I take the 12" x 8" piece and cut an inch off the bottom to make it 11" x 8".  THEN I cut it in half to make the paper 5 1/2" x 8".  When you fold it in half you get your finished card base.


Yes, the base is now a finished size of 4" x 5 1/2" instead of 4 1/4" x 5 1/2"  BUT I have a scrap piece that is 4" x 12".  A 4" wide scrap is big enough to make another card.  I usually make 4" x 4" cards, but you could also make a 4" x 5 1/2" card folded sideways.

The envelope size for this "standard" size envelope is called "A-2."  I think you can get A-2 envelopes in bulk (like a box of 250) at the big office supply stores.  I like to get mine at Xpedx, because it's super cheap.


Thursday, October 28, 2010

Bountiful Blessings

Designed by Eileen Black-Rodriguez




I love this card.  It's so elegant, and easy to make.  I love the Mocha Opaques Eileen used to accent the leaves.  At first I thought there was a lot of complicated stamping involved with this card, since there are 3 colors of leaves on it.  But no, the swirly with the brown leaves is one stamp.  Then she took the separate leaf that's included in the stamp set and randomly stamped it in Pear and Sunset.  (Great combination!)

Here's a close up of the pearls on the card.  


SUPPLIES USED:
Olivia Paper Pack (X7128B)
In the Month of November (C1432)
Sunset Card Stock (X5758)
Chocolate Stamp Pad (Z2108)
Sunset Stamp Pad (Z2191)
Pear Stamp Pad (Z2197)
Mocha Opaques (Z1333)


And Kitty says, "Mmmmmmm, I love the smell of bleach on clean socks!  So relaxing..."




Sunday, October 24, 2010

October Stamp of the Month

October Stamp of the Month - Share the Magic

OOPS!  I just realized I didn't post this month's Stamp of the Month!  Here it is, along with the card we made this month in card class.  I used the new holiday paper - Mistletoe.  It's beautiful!

SUPPLIES USED:
Mistletoe Level 2 paper pack (X7130B)
Share the Magic, October Stamp of the Month (D1244)
New England Ivy Card Stock
Cranberry Card Stock
Archival Black Stamp Pad
Cranberry Stamp Pad (candy cane)
Cocoa Stamp Pad (bear outline)
Markers:  Cranberry, Creme Brulee, Parchment (for face), Desert Sand (Bear)
Texture Tools (Z1298) - Sea Sponge (on a stick)
Black Extra fine Sharpie
Round Punches: 1 1/4" and 2 1/2"
Additional Option:  Liquid Glass and Glitter for his fur OR Liquid Applique OR Glitz Glitter Gel

Here's another sample that I got in a swap, which uses the reindeer.  I think it would be really cute if you put a big red sparkle or Liquid Glass and/or glitter on Rudolph's nose.  :)

Designed by Eileen Black-Rodriguez

Eileen also embellished the stars with the new Mocha Opaques (pearls). 

You could easily use any or all of the papers in the Mistletoe paper pack and make a bunch of these cards...and they would different, but still beautiful.  The nice part is that you're only using a 3" square of B&T (patterned) paper.  Very efficient with your resources!



Tuesday, October 19, 2010

It's Gift Card Time!



It's so easy to give a gift card nowadays.  My mother-in-law doesn't like giving them, because she likes taking the time to shop for something special for the recipient.  I agree, BUT, I also like that I don't have to bother with getting the right size, shape, or color of gift, AND my friend (or relative) can get whatever his or her heart desires (ok, within reason, because I'm not giving big expensive gift cards!)  :)  

I loved the simplicity of this gift card holder.  It's one 4" x 12" piece of paper folded into quarters (like a "W" shape.  (You glue the two center sections together.)  The finished piece is 3" x 4".  Then you just decorate the various sides as desired.  The slider thingy (yes, that's the official term) on the front slides up; it's a band around the card and keeps it shut.  Plus, I put a big brad to keep the slider-thingy from coming off the bottom.

To make the semi-circle card-holder, I used a Coluzzle, which, sadly, has been discontinued by the manufacturer.  BUT you can just use a piece of double-stick tape to stick your gift card on there.  (So much easier, too!)

So, the advantage of making a pretty gift card holder for your gift card (that you took 5 minutes to buy at the grocery store) is that you took the time to make a really special gift card holder for your friend.  That's worth something, isn't it!??!  :) Your friend will still feel special.

Supplies Used:
Cherry O Paper Pack, X7123B
Fringed Phrases, C1366
Butterfly Wings, D1341
Sweet Leaf Card Stock
Colonial White Card Stock
Tulip Card Stock
Tulip Stamp Pad
Blush Stamp Pad
Sweet Leaf Stamp Pad
Texture Tools, Z1298
Crystal Blue Marker
Sweet Leaf Marker
Tulip Mini Medleys, Z1320
Opaques, Pearl, Z1336
Piercing Tool (to lift off the Opaques and position them on the card)
Coluzzle Circle Shape

Thursday, October 14, 2010

Using a dryer sheet and glitter for snow
Every month in my card classes, I try to teach a new technique or something a little unusual.  This month is no exception - and you know I love glitter!  Plus, the holidays are a perfect time to use LOTS of glitter.  



You can see from the picture that there's something fuzzy on top of the stamped image.  I glued (using Bonding Memories) a used dryer sheet on top of the paper, then rubbed glitter on top of that.  (You can't really see the glitter, but it makes for a great snow scene.)  I was working from a cute swap card of a card I got from Antoinette Herrin.  On her card, she used Stardust Glitz Glitter Glue (Z1313, $2.95) (under the buildings on her card (a much neater prospect, if you don't want glitter all over you...but glitter is so much more fun!  Who doesn't love it!?)  

Try this technique - it's wonderful for those wintery scenes!

Supplies Used:
Creative Basics - Mistletoe 
  (X5811, $7.95) - comes with 6 sheets of 2 patterns AND 4 yards of gold satin ribbon
C1420 Snow Days Stamp Set ($18.95) 
Bonding Memories Glue (1512, $6.95) -  LOVE IT!
New England Ivy Card Stock
Cranberry Card Stock
Brads, Metal Assortment (Z1217, $4.95)
Dryer Sheet (a used one) (yes, I have been doing a lot of laundry, lately, to get supplies for my classes!)
Prisma Glitter (I love our glitter because you can see through it.  It's clear.) Z134, $4.25

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

Designed by Linda Caler

I love the monsters in the stamp set.  Monsters aren't just for Halloween, any more...They're also for those "little monsters" in your life!  The Hooligans paper is great!  My favorite paper in the pack is this green one, with the little monsters (look like a Pac Man) on the maze.

I think it would be fun to put some Liquid Glass on his horns.

If you're not into coloring the monsters, try buying the already-made-up felt Monsters in the Hooligans Level 2 Assortment.  SO easy!

Supplies Used:
D1437, Party Animal
Stamp pad colors used:  Archival Black, Gypsy, Sunset, Pear
X7129B, Hooligans Paper pack
Prisma Glitter
Sparkles,
Water Color Pens



Creative use of Strips of Paper

Card designed by Rose Mary Steel

So sorry about the lateness of my post.  Crazy days, lately.  :(

I love to use up little strips of paper I have hanging around (especially if I don't have to recut them.)  I love how Rose Mary used  3/4" strips to make a picture frame around the tree.  This is one of the new Christmas stamps, Tannenbaum.  It kind of reminds me of Dr. Seuss!

Supplies Used:
B1361, Tannenbaum
Cranberry Stamp Pad
New England Ivy Stamp Pad
Mistletoe Level 2 paper pack
Gold Embossing Powder




Monday, October 4, 2010

A spooky wind

Card designed by Antoinette Herrin

I love when I discover a new use for an old tool.  This card has a spooky wind (reminds me of The Wizard of Oz).  Antoinette used a Sponge Dauber and Black ink to show the wind whipping up the graveyard.  She also used the new Licorice Opaques (pearls) as an accent.  Love it!

I don't make a lot of Halloween cards, so I like seeing what other people have come up with.  I hope this has inspired you to spook someone!

Supplies Used:
C1423 Captured Moments
X7129B Hooligans Level 2 Paper Pack
Z2105 Black Stamp Pad
1386 Black Card Stock
Z1335 Licorice Opaques 
Z726 Sponge Daubers