Christmas Tag #6

 

Today I have another tag for the challenge at Joan's Gardens.  This one was created with the Marianne Design (DS0911) embossing folder for the embossed background.  The tag was die cut using the Tim Holtz Sizzix Tag die.  The embossed designed was backed with shiny silver paper.  The poinsettia was created with the Spellbinders Poinsettia dies.  Behind the poinsettia I have layered the Memory Box Bianca Snowflake which was die cut using silver card stock. On top of that, a black Memory Box "LaRue Flourish" was added. In the center of the poinsettia, I added a silver punched stamen which was punched with the Punch Bunch "Sky Snowflake".  Up on the left hand corner I added a  Marianne Designs Leafy Flourish (LR0192) and stamped "Noel" at the base of it.  Up on the right hand corner I added a small piece of the "Poppy Stamps, "Pine Tree Border" that was die cut using white card stock.  A large silver and black button from my stash was added below the poinsettia.  The border around the tag was punched using the Martha Stewart "Swirling Lace" punches.  To complete my white, black and silver tag, I added black ribbon and silver cord for the hanger.

Have you joined us yet in the challenge at Joan's Gardens?  The challenge this week is to create a Christmas Tag and anything goes.  You can read all the information about the challenge at Joan's Gardens.  Joan and I love seeing your entries in our challenges.  Someone will win a prize, plus the winner will be entered into the drawing for the $100 Gift Certificate to Joan's Gardens that will be given away later this month.  

 Memory Box Bianca Snowflake Die.  I have die cut one and placed it on the right side of this picture.  It is a very delicate snow and it does pop right out of the die.

 This is the Poppy Stamps Pine Tree Border.  I have included a punched tree border  at the bottom of this picture.  These are really cute little trees that make a great border.  I cut off just a few trees to add to my tag.

The products I use can can be purchased from Joan's Gardens.  I want to let you know that Joan has had many orders for Memory Box products and due to the volume, these products are kind of slow being shipped out to her.  She will be filling your orders and shipping them out just as soon as the product arrives.

Also - I have had some emails from you asking if these dies release the die cut easily.  I want to let you know that I have not had any problems with them releasing - in fact many times they fall out as soon as they are die cut.  This is really nice when you are working with some of the delicate designs such as the "LaRue Flourish.   I really love working with them.

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Another Tag - #5

 

l have another tag to show you that I created for the challenge at Joan's Gardens.  This one was also made using the Tim Holtz Tag Die.  The die cut tag was put inside the Marianne Designs Embossing Folder DS0907 to die cut the part of the embossing folder I wanted,  and backed with a piece of pearlized lavender card stock.  Yesterday I received some new dies from Joan's Gardens "Marianne Design Craftables CR1202".  This is a rectangle die with flower dies included.  There are four new Craftables shown on Joan's site.  I did not use the flowers but did die cut the rectangle frame three times and overlapped some of the scallops to create a frame for my tag.  This was really easy to do.  The purple poinsettia was created with the Spellbinder Poinsettia dies.  The different leaves behind the flower were die cut using all three dies in the Marrianne LR0192 die set.  All three were dies were cut twice - one set on light green card stock and one set on polka dot designer paper.  The pretty hearts are from Cheery Lynn "Two of Hearts" (DL 128).  They were attached with dimensionals between layers.  The sentiment is from the JustRite "Deck the Halls" stamp set.  I used purple "Liquid Pearls" by Ranger for the pearls on the heart.  Diamond Glitter was sprinkled over the Liquid Pearls and added to the poinsettia and leaves.    Kaiser Craft White pearls were added on the corners and one in the center of the poinsettia.  White ribbon was added in the hole of the tag.

I hope you will go over to Joan's Gardens and join us in the tag challenge this week.  You can read all the details on Joan's blog.

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Joan's Weekly Challenge - Create a Box

It is time for another Weekly Challenge at Joan's Gardens.  This week we want to show you how to create a small gift box with a band.  This style box is called "Mini Pizza Box".  There are tutorials on how to create this box at SCS and also Sherry Cheever has a video.  The measurements on my box are the same as these but the way I complete it is a little different, which is explained below.  The band I created is a 1" strip lined with a slightly wider band.  The design paper used on my box is from the Graphic 45 "Christmas Emporium" 12x12" paper pad.  The pretty poinsettia was created using the Heartfelt Creations "Petite Poinsettia Precut Set" (HCPC 3415).  A Cheery Lynn "Holly Flourish (B148) and Geometric Snowflake (DL176) were added under the poinsettia.  The tag is also from the Graphic 45 Christmas Emporium pad.  A small bow was added at the top of the tag.

Mini Pizza Box Tutorial

 Start with a piece of card stock or double sided design paper cut 6" x 11".  Place on ScorPal, with 11" side along the top.  Score at 1", 5", 6", and 10".

Turn paper so 6" side is going across top of ScorPal.  Score at 1" and 5".

Use a bone folder to crease all score lines.  This is where I have changed my directions.  Cut from the short end to create "tabs".  Do this on both ends.  Then cut "tabs" along score lines in the middle of the box.  The reason I want you to cut the tabs from the end is to create a box without the seam showing when looking at it from the front.  There are two pictures below to show you the difference when you cut from the short end and how it will look if you cut the tab on the side.  
 

Place ScorTape or a strong adhesive, on each of the tabs.

Start by folding the center tabs in on one side of the box to form the bottom of the box.  Next fold in the end tabs to form the top and the bottom of the box.

Below are examples of how corners will look according to where you cut the tab.

Front of box will have a smooth front if tabs are cut from the short end.

If you cut your tabs along the side, the front edge of your box will look like this.  The box will work the same but I like the way it looks it the first picture.

Next create a band that will slip off and decorate it.  Cut a 1" strip for a "belly band".  Wrap it around the box, creasing on the corners, and attach ends with a strong adhesive.  This band will slip off the box.  Now you can decorate the band with any embellishments you like and add a tag..

Go over to Joan's Gardens to get complete information about this challenge.  I'll be looking forward to seeing your boxes.

Joan's Gardens Challenge - Creating a Snowy Background

 

The Challenge at Joan's Gardens this week includes a technique. We thought it would be fun to teach you how to create a fun background. Above is my card completed using this technique.  You will be able to see the snowy background better in photo below.  The stamps I used are the two new Heartfelt Creations  "Magnificent Spruce Trees" (HFC 3432) stamps from the Classic Christmas Collection.  I wanted to make the larger tree the focal point and use the stamp with the three trees to create depth in the background then create a snowy scene without using stamps -- this was done by using water!   I have never seen this technique before - it kind of happened by accident and I love the results. I'm going to call it "Snowy Background Technique".  After completing the background, I added some die cuts to complete the card -- they are the Marianne sleigh (LR0178) and reindeer (LR)179).  A gold cord was used to connect the two images.  The corners are from Spellbinders.  The flourish is one of the new Cheery Lynn dies "Holly Flourish" (B148).  The flowers were punched using the "Super Giant Lilacs/Daphne"  Punch  shown below:

Now for the Challenge

This week Joan and I would like to challenge you to create a card using the following technique.  We would like for you to create an "outdoors" scene using tree stamps, if you have them, but you may use any other stamps.  The challenge is to do the "snowy background technique".   You may embellish your card any way you would like.

Here are the steps taken to produce the snowy background for this challenge:

 

Step 1:   you need a piece of Glossy Card Stock, a light ink and a darker shade of ink.  Blend (or sponge) the lighter ink over the glossy card stock covering the entire piece.

Step 2:  It is hard to see in the photo, but the glossy card stock is completely covered with light green ink.  Next use VersaMark Ink and ink up the stamp you want to use in the background.  Stamp onto the sponged background.  I stamped the three trees  twice, reinking the stamp before stamping the second time.  It will be really hard to see your stamped image at this point.  Use your heat gun to dry the ink.

Step 3:  Use a darker shade of ink and sponge all over the front of the card.  The more sponging you do around the stamped images the better they will show up.  Be sure to add the darker ink all over the entire piece.

 Step 4:  Use the embossing buddy and rub it all over the the card.  Ink up the stamp that will be your focal point with VersaMark Ink and stamp it.  You will notice that part of my larger tree is stamped over one of the smaller trees in the background.  The background is a smooth image so the image you white emboss will stamp perfectly.  See how the trees in the background seem to add depth to the  card.

Step 5: Next you will need a spray bottle with a fine mist.  With your card on the table, hold the spray bottle up about 10 inches and lightly mist the entire front of your card.  Do NOT over spray.  It takes a little while for the water to do it's thing - it will remove some of the ink and create a "snowy" effect.  I did not use a heat gun to speed up this process.  Once you can see the water spots you can decide if you want to lightly spray certain areas again.  Warning - if you spray too much you will get a washed out area.  I like this technique using the trees because it looks like snow falling.   You now can add additional embellishments or just use this as your entry in the challenge. I think these trees are so beautiful you really don't even need other embellishments.   Be sure to go over to Joan's Gardens and link your card to the challenge.  We always look forward to seeing your beautiful cards.  You will be eligible to win a prize plus the winner will be in the drawing at the end of the year for a $100 gift certificate to Joan's Gardens.

Below is how I completed the inside of the this card.

 The sentiment is from Penny Black, the trees are from Heartfelt Creations, and the Christmas Sleigh Border (B140) from Cheery Lynn.

I hope you will join us in the challenge this week at Joan's Gardens.

Joan's Weekly Challenge

 

It is time for a new challenge at Joan's Gardens.  This week Joan and I have each used one of the new Cheery Lynn Christmas dies to show you the versatility of these pretty dies.  We used the "Christmas Candlelight" (DL174) die.  It is a beautiful very dainty die. Below is Joan's gorgeous card created for this challenge showing how to use just the outline die cut of this Candlelight die. 

Even though we both used the same die, our cards look very different, don't they!  Joan's card is very "elegant", die cut using shinny gold card stock,  and mine is more traditional.   I used black card stock to die cut the image, and in order to add color to the image, have filled in the open spaces by die cutting additional pieces of the die using colored card stock,  i.e. red for the poinsettia, white for the candle, etc.  

Before I explain how I added color to the candles, I want to tell you I used a piece of design paper from the "Authentique " Christmas paper pad.  The green doilies are the two largest Cheery Lynn  "Doily Stacker Circles 1,2,3 (DL164).  You get 3 doilies in this set and each one is solid in the center.  Using the smaller stacker doily, I glued the dainty candle outline to it using "Glue n Seal".  You need to glue down the outline image prior to gluing in the colored pieces.  This is a glue that comes in a jar and it is very easy to brush it onto the back of this candle die cut. It dries clear so if some of it get on the top, it won't show. I also used the same glue to attach the colored pieces to the image.  This was kind of like putting a puzzle together.  I suggest when you die cut, for instance the poinsettia out of red, you push out one red petal at a time and place it in the same place in the main die cut.  It is easier to know exactly where they go if you push them out one at a time and glue in the main outline you are using.  When I pushed out the white portions of the candles, I decided to put an embossed design on them.  They were placed in the Sizzix "Ribbon Set" (656980) embossing folder, taped down, then embossed to give them some texture.  I don't know if you can see it very well in the photo because I then added some glitter to the candles.  

To give my card lots of shimmer I used the "Glue n Seal" to brush glue just inside the black outline to either add beads or glitter.  There are tiny red beads on the flower, and glitter on everything else.  I'm sorry it is hard to see the glitter and beads but they look beautiful on the card.  Gold Stickles was added to the center of the poinsettias.  Red corners were die cut using the Spellbinders "Lace Doily Accents" dies.  The JustRite sentiment is from the "Christmas Trimmings" stamp set and die cut using the new Spellbinders "Picot Edge Circles".  It was attached with a dimensional dot.

Please go over to Joan's Garden's to get all the details about this week's challenge.  I hope you will play along with this fun challenge.  Remember, you will be eligible to win a prize, plus the winner will be entered in the drawing at the end of the year for the $100 gift certificate to Joan's Gardens. 

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Joan's Gardens Challenge - A Decorated Bag Mini Tutorial

 

It's time for another new challenge at Joan's Gardens.  This week we want you to create a FALL or Trick or Treat BAG with a topper. You can get all the details from Joan's Blog.

  

I decided to create a Trick or Treat bag using a lot of different products from Joan's Gardens.  I decorated a kraft bag with handles and have a mini tutorial below to show you how I created the topper.

The design paper on the bag is from the Graphic 45 "Halloween in Wonderland"

8 x 8" paper pad. 

To create the "topper", I used Kraft card stock.  First I decided how deep I wanted the topper, then doubled it, and scored across the middle and creased it will with a bone folder.  Using scissors I cut a small opening along the fold line that was just a little longer than the width of the handles.  I wanted to create a design on the front edge, so used the Cheery Lynn "Tiffany Border" (B137) die.  I taped it to the edge of the topper then die cut it.

After it was die cut, it cut the border out along the edge leaving an opening along the bottom edge.  I wanted to add the border back over the opening, plus wanted a color behind it.  

A strip of card stock was added it to the back of the topper over the die cut opening.

 

 When I added the die cut back into the opening, I placed it slightly higher so it left some of the color below the scalloped edge. The die cut was glued along the very top edge, to the edge on the topper.  A piece of the stripped design paper was added right above the die cut edge to give it a finished look.  I used grungeboard letters from Tim Holtz Idea-ology Mixed Minis alphabet for the "Trick or Treat" letters.  Distress Ink Stain Daubers were used to color the letters, to match the colors in the design paper.  I love how they turned out.

To decorate the top edge of the topper, I used the Sizzix "Autumn Gatherings" (657454) die, which has branches, acorns and different small leaves.  These were all arranged across the top.  All these dies are pictured on my last post.

For the Jack-o-Lantern I used the Sizzix "Pumpkin Jack" (657463) die.  This is the way it looked when cut.

I wanted to give the surface a texture so used the Wendy Vecchi "Funky Flower Art" stamp set.  In this set is a large background stamp that I clear embossed over the pumpkin.  The Jack-o-Lantern face was cut free hand from black card stock and glued to the pumpkin.

The pumpkin die includes the stem.  I die cut it using green card stock then embossed it with the Cuttlebug "Distressed Stripes" embossing folder.  To complete this bag, I die cut a lot of leaves using the Cheery Lynn Leaves dies (D133, D134, D135, and D136).  I used a variety of leaves from each of these sets.  The large acorn on the bottom is from the Sizzix Mini Acorn & Pumpkin Set (657457).  The handles of the topper were pushed up through the opening that was cut in the center of the topper to complete my Trick or Treat bag.

All the products used on this project can be purchased from Joan's Gardens.  Please go over to Joan's Blog to get all the details about this week's challenge. 

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Joan's Gardens Weekly Challenge #4

It is time for another challenge at Joan's Gardens.    Here is the challenge Joan gave us this week:

■ Create a Card using something from nature
■ Create a card using several layers
■ Create a card using glitter
■ Created a card using a border around the card

This is a 5 1/2" square card.  For the layers on my card I used the Martha Stewart "Doulbe Arches" border punches for the bottom layer. I started with a 6" square then punched around the edges and layered it on top of the white card.  On top of that is the Cheery Lynn Dainty Dutch Deco Frame (DL141).  This is the perfect size frame to layer on top of the Doulbe Arches punched border to give it an even more dainty look.  Behind the Dainty Dutch Deco Frame I have attached a piece of design paper from the Kaiser Craft "December 25th" paper pad.   The beautiful image is the Penny Black "Nature's Best" stamp.  It was colored using colored pencils and OMS.  I stamped just the bird a second time and attached it over the one in the design for additional dimension.  For the top I die cut the beautiful new snowflakes from Marianne Design (LR0123). There are three snowflakes in this set; they can be used separately, but I chose to layer them.  The three different flakes were attached with dimensional tape.  I wanted to add glitter,  so I used a new product you can get from Joan's Gardens called "Glue n' Seal".  Wow!  this glue is fabulous.  You can use it for many things such as when you paper piece, add paper to boxes, etc.  I used a brush and applied the glue all over the dimensional snowflake then poured glitter over it.  What an easy way to accomplish that.   Below is a picture of this glue. I still had some of the glue left on my brush so lightly brushed it over the holly around the bird and lightly sprinkled glitter on it. The sentiment is from the JustRite "A Merry Little Christmas".  It was gold embossed and placed slightly under the holly. 

Here is a picture of the Glue n' Seal I used to hold the glitter:

Please go over to Joan's Gardens to get all the details about this week's challenge.

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Joan's Gardens Weekly Challenge #3 and Card Box Tutorial

 

Every Thursday it is time for a new weekly challenge at Joan's Gardens.  This week we have something different for you.  Joan has completed the card for the challenge and I have the second half the challenge here, which is to create a box for your card.  You should start at Joan's blog to get all the information.

I have had a lot of people ask me how I mail out my cards since most of them are very dimensional.  I thought I would do a tutorial for you and we would incorporate it into this week's challenge.

I am sending out the above birthday card, which I posted here, and needed a box to put it in.  I think this box would be sturdy enough to use alone to mail off the card, but I put them into a padded envelope because I like to decorate the outside too.

Below are the instructions on how to create a box for your dimensional cards.

My card is 5.5" x 6".  You can use these directions to create a box any size to fit your card.   For the bottom you need a piece of card stock that is one inch wider and longer than your card.  For my card I cut it 6.5 x 7".  It is scored all the way around at 1/2".

This is the outside of the bottom of the box.  You need to cut a slit, up to the score line, on all four corners.  In the picture you will see the score tape on these corners.  Fold in the tabs to create your box bottom.

 

 For the lid you need to cut it 1/16" of an inch larger than the bottom, on  two opposite sides.  For my card  it is 6.5" PLUS 1/16" and on the other side it is 7 1/16". This extra 1/16" will allow the lid to fit over the bottom to close. You again score it at 1/2" all the way around.  On the front side of your lid, you will again cut up to the score line and attach ScorTape to the tabs to create a box shape, like for the bottom.  Do not do this to the other end.  We are going to attach the back of the lid to the bottom of the box.

 

On the backside of the lid, you want to cut off those two tabs as shown in this picture.  Place the ScorTape along the long edge.  I rounded off those two back corners for a neater appearance.  Place the lid over the bottom of the box.  Pull off the protective covering on the tape and press it to the side of the bottom of the box. You now have a hinged lid on your box.

 

The box will look like this when opened.  My card fits perfectly inside the box.

 

To decorate the top of the box, I die cut a doily from the Marianne LR0180 doily set.  There are three doilies in this set plus a corner.  I wanted the box top plain but wanted the doily to standout, so I placed the bottom half of the doily into the Sizzix "Flourish & Dots" (656980) embossing folder so there would be texture on the bottom half.  On the top portion of the doily I used a Heartfelt Creations  birthday stamp then added a bow.

I hope you will join us this week in the challenge at Joan's Gardens.  All the details for the card are on Joan's Blog then you can complete the box for it from this tutorial. There will be a random drawing for a winner from all entries in this challenge and someone will receive a prize.  The winner will also be in the drawing for the $100 gift certificate to Joan's Gardens which will be given away at the end of the year.  Wouldn't you love to win that prize!

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