Father's Day Gift Bag

The gift bag I am demonstrating today is one that I designed after I was inspired by several different Father's Day projects I saw on Pinterest. I just love that fact that you can make it in only a few minutes with a few basic craft supplies. This would be a great project to make with your children and it makes a cute presentation for a  Father's Day or  man's birthday gift. Enjoy!

Card in a Box

Wow! I am so excited to show you what I learned today. The "card in a box" idea is all the rage right now and today I figured out how to make one. For some reason I thought it would be difficult to measure and cut and complicated to assemble but that's just not true! It is a snap to make and it really doesn't require many tools.

How you decorate your card in a box is what makes it unique. I had the Just Sayin' stamp set and framelits out on my desk (Nope, I still haven't put them away since I made the cell phone card) so that's what I used. Then I couldn't resist making a second one with the Sentsational Seasons stamp set and matching framelits. I have seen crafters make them for birthdays, graduation, congratulations, get well .... I am absolutely certain you will come up with a reason you need to make one of these.

You might want to add a writing panel to the back of your card in a box so you can write a personal message to the recipient. Just cut another 1 3/4 x 5 1/4 inch piece of cardstock and adhere in place. You could also decorate the outside of the box. The possibilities are endless!  Happy crafting.

P.S.  In my samples I used strips of acetate (3/8 of an inch wide x 2 or 3 inches long) to elevated some of the  elements on my cards. This adds height without taking up any visual space. Just attach them to the baffles inside of your card. You can just use the clear plastic from packaging if you don't have any sheets of acetate.

FYI, if you need to see more detail, you can click on any photo to make the image larger :-)

Leah's Tiny Explosion Box

The project I am sharing today was inspired by one of my youngest followers. Her name is Leah and she is just about to finish the third grade (yeah!) Leah loves paper crafting and is lucky enough to have a mom who is willing to share some of her tools and supplies. The other day she showed me a darling little box she made, so I ask her if I could share it on my blog. Thank you Leah for being so kind :-)

The box is a 2 inch cube and it opens up like and explosion box. There is a little "platform" in the bottom that can be sized to hold lots of goodies. Leah's box was designed to hold a votive candle but I put glitter in mine. It is a fun project to make and is a great way to get a little extra mileage out of your scoring board. 

Leah made her box from solid card stock and decorated the sides with pieces of patterned paper. I thought it might be easier to use a nice heavy weight patterned card stock to make my box and decorated it with a simple tag. No matter which way you decide to make your box, I'm sure you will love this project!

Cell Phone Card with Speech Bubbles

Cards with speech bubbles are very popular right now and texting is about the only form of communication teenagers respond to.  I believe a card that combines both is perfect for a teenager. Today I made a fun, trendy card similar to one Becky Jensen posted on Pinterest.  It resembles a cell phone with texting on the screen in the form of little speech bubbles. I sent the original to my 16 year old niece. I hope she likes it enough to send me a cool text!

It would be fun to create your own personalized speech bubbles. Just type whatever massages you like on your computer and print them out. Then use a punch or die to cut them into shapes. You may have to experiment with font size to get the words to fit properly but the possibilities are endless!

Memo Pad Card

I had no intention of posting again today (because I am supposed to be packing and cleaning!!) but I just couldn't help myself. My local craft store just got a few new Technique Tuesday die sets and I couldn't wait to play with the one I bought. It is called "Memo Pad Card" and I think it is just adorable. I took a short break from chores and decided to sneak back down to my craft room for some fun. 

I wound up making two similar cards with different color schemes. I think the one with the early espresso card base is a bit more masculine and the one with the primary colors on a white card base is more juvenile but that's just my opinion. If you have an opportunity to try out these new dies, please share your projects. I would really love to see what you come up with. 

Tone On Tone Embossed Card

I am supposed to be packing for vacation but instead I have been playing in my craft room. This morning I made a tone on tone card that features one of my favorite new embossing folders. The embossing folder is called "Grass" and it is made by Darice. I really like the way this card turned out (but it was extremely difficult to photograph) because the embossed image is definitely the star of the show and plain white cardstock provides the perfect backdrop for this heartfelt sentiment. 

I hope you enjoy experimenting with this technique. Now I really MUST get back to work packing. We will be out of town until after Memorial Day so check back then for a new project and video. 

P.S.  If you want to see the details of this card more closely, just click on the photo.

How to Color Vellum Cardstock

Lots of folks love the look of vellum and would like add some to their cards and scrapbook pages but feel like they just don't know how to use it. There is absolutely no reason you should be intimidated by vellum! Today I am focusing on one vellum technique that is fun and super easy. You can take ordinary white vellum cardstock and add any color you like using ink and a sponge dauber. I made flowers but it would be fun to use this technique to color other shapes and images.

You will need vellum card stock, a line stamp (as opposed to a solid stamp), versamark ink, white embossing powder, a heat tool, colored inks and sponge daubers to create flowers similar to the ones I have made. It is a great time saver if your stamp has a coordinating punch or framelit to cut the image out. If not, just cut it out by hand. These colored vellum flower are a great addition to cards or scrapbook pages and they are just beautiful!

Stop Light Card

I just love the bold bright colors in this card and I think it is fun and cheerful. I made this card for a very special young couple. Both are graduating from college this weekend. He has earned a doctorate in pharmacy and she has earned a degree in education. Soon they will begin the next phase of their lives and they will be faced with many decisions about where their dreams will take them. I just love the sentiment from the Word Play stamp set that says "Go confidently in the direction of your dreams." That pretty much sums up all of my hopes and desires for them. 

If you want to know how I made this card, just click on the video link below. In addition to the Word Play stamp set, I used the Label Love stamp set and the Artisan punch. If you don't have these items, get creative and use something similar from your own stash. I hope this project makes you smile.

Emboss Resist Easel Card

Today I am sharing a tutorial that actually demonstrates two techniques. I will show you how to use clear embossing powder to create a resist that can be colored with ink daubers and I will show you how to make a simple easel card.

An easel card is an ingenious way to surprise someone who likes to display their cards. It's also a great way to present a card to someone who is hospitalized or in a nursing home because they can see their card without having to handle it. Sit your card up in a  prominent area and they will be repeatedly reminded that you are thinking of them.

The emboss resist technique looks much harder than it is. You begin by stamping an image using Versamark ink. Next you apply clear embossing powder and heat. Then you use sponge daubers and colored ink to fill in the details. It is not meant to be perfect. The finished product will look like a vibrant water color image and the embossed area will be bold and shiny when you buff off the excess ink using an ordinary tissue or paper towel. (click on the photo to see the details close up) You could try these techniques together, as I did, or use them independently. They are both a lot of fun!

Simple Stems Swap Card

My friend Amber recently hosted a card swap. Each of us brought a sample card and created 10 kits with all of the pieces needed to recreate our sample. We exchanged kits and took turns teaching the others how to make our card. At the end of the day we all went home with a lovely stack of cards. It was awesome! 

This is the card I made. It features the Simple Stems stamp set from Stampin Up and the Scalloped Tag Topper punch also from Stampin Up. The Embossing folder I used to give the yellow some added dimension and texture is made by Darice. Tonight I will finish the video tutorial for this card and post it below. I hope you are also taking time to craft and enjoying the company of dear friends and family. 

Random Stampin Technique

The video tutorial that I am sharing today is about a technique that I call "random stamping." I used three stamps, three colors of ink, and an embossing folder to create a unique and beautiful background layer for a card. The fun thing about this technique is that no two cards ever turn out exactly the same. You can use three stamps from the same stamp set or you can use three individual stamps that you really like. Experiment with the things you have on hand and send me a picture of what you make. I'd love to see your work!

FYI, I added a little bling after the video was done. I just popped a clear rhinestone in the center of each of the purple medallions. Want to see the details up close? Just click on any photo on my blog to make the image larger.

Classic Rock Card

I hope you had a happy Easter. I took a short break from crafting and spent a little extra time with my husband and friends. Now I am busy making new cards. Today I am sharing a card that may make you a little nostalgic. If you are old enough to remember vinyl records, this might be a card you'll like. It is a quick and easy birthday card that features a punch art focal image that looks like an old vinyl record. The stamp set I used called Bombs Away. It is one of the photopolymer stamp sets available from Stampin Up. This was really a fun card to make!

Water Bottle Treat Holder

Today I am sharing a project that I've made many times. It is a little treat holder that hangs on the neck of a water (or soda) bottle. You can fill the pouch with a drink mix packet, candy or an individually wrapped towelette. These are easy to assemble and make nice picnic or table favors. A friend recently made these as one of her teacher appreciation gifts. I hope this inspires you to get crafty!

Spellbinder and Stamp Storage

I recently received a question regarding how I store my Spellbinder dies so I thought I'd share a little about that. I purchase "DVD stamp storage cases" in bulk to store my thin dies and clear stamp sets in. To keep my dies in place, I add a 4x6 inch self adhesive magnet sheet to the inside of the case. If I have dies and stamps that are designed to coordinate, I store them together in the same case.

DVD stamp cases can be purchased from many places. Stampin Up sells them or you can purchase them in bulk on the internet.  Just do a Google search. You will want to look for cases that say "no hub" (that's the thing inside the case that holds a DVD in place)

I hope this information is helpful.

Z Fold Card With A Flip

The cards I'm sharing now were both made using my Sizzix Big Shot and Spellbinder dies. The Cards have a simple Z fold but they also have a die cut area that flips out to create the perfect place to display a focal image. Clear as mud huh? Well check out the video tutorial below for all the details. If you love making cards that have a unique presentation then this will be perfect for you. 

Window Frame Card

I love, love, love Spring and Summer and they are almost here! I can't wait to see the flowers and the birds again. I am so incredibly sick of being cold and if I never see snow again it will be too soon.  That's why today's card just makes me feel happy. It is bright and fun and the flowers make me think of warm weather.

The card I am sharing is a window card. I will use two different sizes of square Spellbinder dies to create a window opening in the front of my card. The sentiment is actually stamped through the window but you can see it even when the card is closed. I decorated my card with flowers but you might want to experiment with other ways to embellish your window card. Let me know if you come up with something different that works well.

Fresh Vintage Card

I am a HUGE Pinterest fan! When I see a card or scrapbook page that I really like, I can't wait to see if I can recreate a similar piece with the supplies that I have. Well, that's how this project was born. This card is made with a retired stamp set called "Fresh Vintage" but you could easily substitute another floral or "scrollie" set that is in your stash. The basic design is very straight forward and the classic black and cream colors palate give it a sophisticated feel.

Criss Cross Card

Today I am sharing information about one of my favorite card styles. It is called a "Criss Cross" card because the front flaps of the card criss cross over one another. Now this is not a new style and I certainly didn't invent it but I am sure some of you have never seen one before.  This card has a unique look and great visual interest. At first glance you may think it is complicated but it's actually quite simple. All you need are some fun print papers, cardstock, a paper trimmer and some adhesive. You can embellish it any way you like. Come on, give it a try!

Slider Treat Box

Wow! I have been super busy at work this week but today I took time to finish a few projects and put together another video tutorial. I want to show you how to make a "slider treat box." It has an outer sleeve and an inner base that slides out. I filled my box with 5 Rolo candies but I'm certain there are other treats that would fit nicely. The finished treat box is 4 1/2 inches long, 1 inch wide and 3/4 inch tall. I hope you enjoy this quick little project and that you will check back to see what I share next.

Stacking Rings Baby Card

The card I am demonstrating today was inspired by a project that I saw on Pinterest. It is made with a piece of punch art that resembles the "stacking rings" baby toy. Everyone has owned or at least seen one of these toys before! To create the focal image you will need a few punches. I used three Stampin Up punches - the wide oval, word window and small heart. Check out the video below for complete step by step instructions.