February Sheetload of Cards

February 28, 2021 | Lisa K

I have been watching Crafty Al and trying her Sheetload of Cards sketch and cutting layout for February. This month, I used both a 6 X 6 pad and 12 X 12 inch papers. Get comfortable as there are many cards with the sketch or a variation of it.

The above card was created with Carta Bella Home Again 6 X 6 pack of patterned paper. I did not own matching cardstock, so I used the back side of one of the patterns for the base layer. This card was mailed immediately after making it a few weeks ago.

The above card and all following use the Home Again 12 X 12 scrapbook paper with stickers pack. The cardstock colors are Islands Indigo and Blue Lagoon from Stampin Up retired. The ribbon matches, Blue Lagoon. The banners are embossed with one of the Greenery embossing folders from SU; it is a set of 2 folders. The greetings are all from Gina K Designs sets. Some of the cards have smaller print patterns and those are from the 6 X 6 pad.

That is the many cards I created. It is a fast process when the paper is all cut and ready to assemble. I changed some of the paper after being cut. One of the choices was a bit too dark, so I was swapping out a piece here and there. Overall I enjoyed creating the cards this way. Because I kept changing my mind, they are all different. The insides have a white layer with a strip of cardstock. Some have stickers for embellishment. All have room to write a message.

Fun Fold with Tags

February 28, 2021 | Lisa K

I love fun fold cards. This month the Challenge Your Stash group at Split coast Stampers is to make a fun fold with the color red.

In making this card, I followed a tutorial and video by Connie Stewart: https://simplysimplestamping.com/how-to-make-2-beautiful-greeting-cards-custom-ribbon-accents/

The challenge called for the color red and a fun fold. I used Real Red cardstock by Stampin Up for the cardbase. Inks used are Gina K Designs Red Hot and Kraft as well as Pear Pizzazz by Stampin Up. I used a Scalloped Tag Builder punch for the tags. The stamp set used is called Floral Essence. I enjoyed stamping and creating with Connie.

Progressive Card Class 2 Day 6

February 26, 2021 | Lisa K

This is the last day of class and I think it is my favorite. I love fun fold cards. She began her lesson with Slimline cards, then onto Gatefold cards, and lastly the W-Fold card. I will show a Gatefold card this time.

I am using cardstock that was cut and given to me. A couple of years ago, I watched a video and there was a giveaway for a card kit and all that was needed was a comment. I received the kit and the card she made. This kit has been sitting there waiting to be used, so today was the day. The card base is a pool color or a lighter blue. I found a patterned paper pad by Carta Bella that has this geometric print that I thought matched the card. I left an 1/8 inch border on the patterned paper pieces. I had the Penny Black floral set out and decided to add a floral to the front of the card. I used turquoise colors for the flower. I am fairly sure it is a daisy and for this card, it is a turquoise daisy. I stamped the same flower on the inside.

I plan to work on the W-Fold card next. That is a fold that I have never made before. I am thinking on what images should be on the card.

Progressive Cardmaking Class 2 Day 5

February 26, 2021 | Lisa K

Day 5 was all about shaker cards. I own the foam strips, can find clear acetate or packaging for the shape to hold something, but could not locate sequins to use, so I improvised.

I cut balloons with Lawn Fawn balloon dies on white cardstock. Then I selected the patterned paper I wanted to use to place behind the balloons. This is an Echo Park birthday collection. I found cardstock that would work with the patterned paper, cut and scored it. Then I went looking for sequins. I really do not have many and couldn’t locate any that would really work, so I found buttons. There are colors of buttons that may not be the best for this patterned paper, but I decided to let it go and use them. I added Nuvo drops to the front of the card and this time they did stay clear. The greeting is also from Lawn Fawn. This is probably the second shaker card that I have ever made.

Progressive Cardmaking Class 2 Day 4

February 25, 2021 | Lisa K

This day was about inlaid die cutting and jazzing up those dies.

I created a beginner card. I had this butterfly die set out, so decided to use it for this card. The set has a detailed die as well as a solid layer, which is often called a shadow. I cut the shadow out of vellum to had a place to glue the detailed pieces of the other die cut. I glued the black butterfly outline to the vellum, then after cutting the detailed die out of patterned paper, I left the patterned paper in the die. I placed the patterned paper over the black butterfly, using a glue pen, applied the pieces one at a time. I found it easier to keep the pieces in the die, dab the glue to the vellum, then press the pieces into the black piece with a pokey tool. I hope this makes sense. In the class, she was using a sticky ended pick-up tool to grab each piece, add a dab of glue than place the piece into the die cut. Both ways work, but I found it easier to not pull each piece out before applying the glue.

My butterfly needed movement and I had a stamp set laying there with this movement image. In the class for the intermediate or advanced lesson, she used Nuvo drops to add color into her detailed die cut. I am a novice at Nuvo drops and own one bottle, so I used it on the motion image. I thought it was clear, but it seemed to have color. I added shimmer to the butterfly. I have done inlaid die cutting before, but not with this image and it has been quite a while.

Progressive Cardmaking Class 2 Day 3

February 24, 2021 | Lisa K

Day 3 was about embossing. I made a beginner embossed card.

For the beginner card, I used the SU Ornate Floral embossing folder and a die from The Stamps of Life. In the class, Justine embossed first, then die cut on top of her embossing. This did not work for me as my embossing went completely flat when I die cut after embossing. I tried again and die cut first, then embossed. I added the piece to a white card base and called it good.

I did try both the intermediate and advanced lesson. The intermediate is partially completed, as it was inking the embossing folder. I inked both sides and haven’t done anything with the pieces. The advanced one went to the trash. She used Perfect Pearls in the class to enhance the embossing. I couldn’t find my Perfect Pearls, so improvised with something else and it didn’t work well. There are always new ideas to try.

Progressive Cardmaking Class 2 Day 2

February 24, 2021 | Lisa K

For someone who has been spending a lot of time in the stamp room, I seem to be slow getting my cards completed. Here is the intermediate card for Day 2. It is all about adding stripes to the card. This is intermediate as one needs to know something about color theory and combining colors that look pleasing to the eye.

This card was completed on Day 4 of the class, so some of the lessons are probably getting combined. I chose paper from my SU stash. I am not sure of the color names, as they were cut and I just began pulling them out and making strips. I think the colors work well together. The hello die is from Gina K Designs. I think it works for this card.

Progressive Cardmaking 2 Day 1

February 22, 2021 | Lisa K

I am taking Progressive Cardmaking Class 2 with Justine Hovey at Altenew Academy. Each day covers 3 levels, beginner, intermediate, and advanced. As time permits, I hope to try all three of the ideas presented. Here are the cards I completed with Day 1.

The lesson for beginner showed using a stencil to color a vine. I do not own stamps and stencils that go together, so I chose a vine and colored the leaves with an alcohol marker. Then the lesson took the vine and cut it in pieces, then spread these out over a piece of cardstock. I trimmed my vine down, cut it into pieces, then added the greetings like shown in class. The first two greetings are from a SU set, and the last greeting is from a My Favorite Things set. As all pertained to birthday greetings, I thought they work together. I thought the black mat was a good addition to the card. The vine is from Gina K Designs. I am fairly sure all stamps used are retired except for the MFT one as it is still available in the store.

Emboss resist is the coloring method for intermediate stampers. Justine chose a large floral and embossed in white powder, then ink blended. I chose to emboss in gold as I knew it would pop, and it was laying there. I pulled out rose colors for my ink blending, all Lawn Fawn inks. I mounted the layer on white cardstock. Justine added a die cut greeting, but I think mine works without a greeting.

Masking was the Advanced Technique. I chose to use a stamp set from My Favorite Things and I have the die that matches the flowers. I used Gina K Designs masking paper and die cut the floral, then covered my floral before adding color. In class, Justine made a frame for the are around her flower. My flowers are larger than hers, so I added strips to the sides of the paper before adding color. I stamped this on watercolor paper and applied watercolor paint, rather than ink blend. The I added a die cut greeting as I think it needed something.

I am enjoying the class. I am sure I will learn new things to apply to my cards.

MSC Bear with Heart

February 7, 2021 | Lisa K

The following slimline card is for the Mod Squad Challenge All About Love.

https://modsquadchallenge.com/all-about-love/

The Gina K Designs image used on this card is the bear. I altered it to hold a heart, rather than the pumpkin it stamped with. His scarf is paper pieced to match the paper used in the hearts. The heart the bear is holding is from the set hearts2diefor from The Stamps of Life. The hearts dies are also The Stamps of Life, Love/Heart dies. The background is stenciled with a SU stencil. I enjoyed creating something different using something that I owned, specifically the bear. I had never masked what the bear is holding and having an image that fit perfectly worked great.