Fabulous Friend, Thank You Card Tutorial

This is a card called: Fabulous Friend, Thank You. It will be one of the workshop cards we will be doing this coming Saturday.

The above photo is of the supplies I used, but I did forget to include the stamp pad ink in the photo.

Items Used: Are from the Spring/Summer 2009 Idea Book & Catalog unless otherwise noted.

Paper Punches:

Scallop Oval Punch, Item #114889, Occasions Mini Catalog

Wide Oval Punch, Item #112082

3/16" Corner Rounder Punch, Item #109047

Paper:

1 piece 4 1/4" x 11" Perfect Plum for card base, Item #101889

2 pieces 4 1/4" x 2 3/4" Pale Plum, Item #101658

1 piece 4 1/4" x 5 1/2" Whisper White, Item # 100730

Accessories:

1 bone folder, Item #102300

1 Classic Ink Perfect Plum Stamp Pad, Item #101437

1 Oval All Stamp Set, Item #113790 - Occasions Mini Catalog

1 piece 6" of 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon, Elegant Eggplant, Item #109039

1 pair Paper Snips, Item #103579

1 Snail Adhesive, Item #104332

Scotch Tape

To Clean Stamps Use:

1 Stampin' Scrub, Item # 102642

1 Stampin' Mist Stamp Cleaner, Item #102394

Fold your piece of Perfect Plum paper in half using the bone folder to get a good crisp crease.

On this card we are going to round all of the corners. So using the corner rounder paper punch, round off the corners on the Perfect Plum card (2 on front & 2 on back) plus the 4 corners of one piece of the Pale Plum paper. I'm showing you the corner rounder's back in the photo. You put the tip of the paper into the pointed slot and punch --- perfectly rounded corners and so easy to do.

After putting just a slight bit of snail adhesive on the back of the center of your ribbon, adhere it to the center of the Pale Plum paper.

Turn paper over and tape the loose ends of the ribbon to the back.

Put adhesive on the back of the Pale Plum piece of paper, center on the card front (Perfect Plum) and press firmly into place.

Cut two ovals (1 in Pale Plum, 1 in Perfect Plum) using the Wide Oval Punch. These will be the background/shadow for your stamped images.

Using Perfect Plum Classic Ink Stamp Pad, stamp the Fabulous Friend and the Thank You Images on the white card stock. Allow ample spacing as these both will be punched out.

Punch out both of the stamped images using the Scallop Oval punch. The images will fit perfectly in the scallop image.

Please NOTE ... the solids ovals should be 1 of Perfect Plum to go with Fabulous Friend AND 1 of Pale Plum to go with the Thank You image. The photo above is using two ovals of Perfect Plum.

Using snail adhesive, adhere your images to the oval. (see note above about the background oval colors).

Using snail adhesive or dimensionals (Item #104430 - Stampin' Dimensionals) if you would like a raised image, to adhere the image to the front of the card.

Using snail adhesive, adher image to the inside of the card.

Be sure to sign the back of your card which is now complete.

The look of this card can be changed just by changing the color of the paper, or the ribbon. The Pale Plum center piece could be done with designer series paper too or using stamps created your own designer paper --- the possibilities are endless.

If you have any questions, please contact me.

Have a creative day!!!!

Mary

Happy Friday

I'm busy creating a couple of projects this weekend for my Stampin' Up! workshop next Saturday (April 4th) for my customers. It's always fun to get together with others who love to make cards and scrapbook. There are always so many ideas to share.

My workshop is going to center around products in the Stampin' Up! Occasions Mini Catalog that runs from April 1 thru June 30, 2009. My customers received their copies in the mail this last week. I'm so excited about the new items. I think they are all going to be a BIG hit.

In the meantime, don't forget that the Sale-A-Bration is going on now thru March 31st. Don't miss out on this great opportunity to receive Stampin' Up! products (stamp sets, designer series paper, and ribbion bundle) for FREE!!!!!

Have a creative day and a wonderful weekend.

Mary

Card made using Color Coach

Here's a sample of a few cards I made using the Stampin Up Color Coach to determine what colors to make the paper doll outfits. Even with the same paper used on the background you can change the look of the paper doll card but changing the colors on the outfits. NOTE: Paper dolls and outfits were made using the Stampin' Up! Big Shot die cutting machine and the Sizzix paper doll dies for the body, outfits and hair.

The shoes and face I drew on the doll body using Stampin' Up! write markers. The outfits were on the Sizzix die with the paper doll body. I changed their color using the Stampin' Up! write markers also. The hair styles were cut out with a Sizzix die using my Stampin' Up! Big Shot and color paper.

Have a creative day !

Mary

One of my favorite Stampin' Up! Products

One of my favorite Stampin' Up! products is the two sided "Color Coach" (creative color combinations). From time to time in my blog, I am going to highlight a product so that you will know more about it.

You will find the "Color Coach" on page 153 of the Spring/Summer 2009 Stampin' Up! Idea Book and Catalog. It is # 105796 and sells for $9.95.

The Stampin' Up! Color Coach can help you determine which colors look best together for all of your crafting projects. Designed to use with Stampin’ Up’s! exclusive color families.

■ 8" diameter

■ Durable, laminated card stock

■ Easy-to-follow instructions

■ Instant guide to pleasing color combinations using Stampin’ Up!’s exclusive colors

■ Does not include In Color colors

Tonight I was working on some cards and was having a hard time deciding what colors would look best together. I pulled out my "Color Coach" and had answers right away. My base for the card was Brilliant Blue. I put the arrow of the "Color Coach" to Brillant Blue and in the window it immediately showed me that Rose Red, More Mustard, and Garden Green would coordinate with it and that Only Orange was a complementary color.

In the middle of the white circle on the "Color Coach" it shows me that the following are Neutral colors that I could use:

Whisper White, Very Vanilla, Sahara Sand, Basic Brown, Going Gray, and Basic Black (Note: Basic Black and Basic Brown are used for waterproof projects and Going Gray is used for shadowing.)

It also shows me that if I want a Dynamic Duo (a color combination with the WOW factor) to use Bashful Blue with my Brilliant Blue.

The "Color Coach" saves me so much time and guarnatees me that my color choices will always look great together if I follow the guidelines from the "ColorCoach". So whether using cardstock, stamp pad ink, color pencils, water color crayons or accessories like brads and ribbon, the "Color Coach" can help make the right decision for the perfect color combinations.

The "Color Coach" includes all of Stampin' Up!'s exclusive colors: Rich Regals and Earth Elements on one side and Bold Brights and Soft Subltes on the other.

If you don't have this product, it is definitely worth considering. Mine was a gift from my upline (MaryT), and I use a great deal.

Hope you all had a great weekend.

Mary

Almost Sunday

Hi,

It's been a busy day, and now it is almost midnight. Purchased a new camera today that really should help with my tutorials and videos (yes, videos). My new tiny Canon camera takes HD videos, so I am looking forward to actually giving it a try. I spent the evening taking photos, deleting them, taking more, deleting, trying out the flash, trying out the auto focus, etc. So much fun and appears to have a pretty easy learning curve for the camera.

It was 90 degrees here today. We are bound and determined NOT to turn on the air conditioner just yet.

Last night I started cutting my paper stash (huge box of non-Stampin' Up! papers that I bought ages ago). I'm cutting all into 6" x 6" pieces for fronts of cards and designs. This size is perfect to run thru the Big Shot die cutting machine also. It's funny, when the sheets were 12" x 12" I couldn't decide what to do with them, HOWEVER when I downsized them I began seeing more and more possibilities. My 8 1/2" x 11" paper I leave intact, then when I am ready to make a card I cut it in 1/2 to make a sheet 4 1/4" x 11". When you fold that you have a perfect 4 1/4" x 5 1/2" folded card that will fit into an A2 envelope perfectly.

I do like the quality of the Stampin' Up! paper better. It is perfect for cards and a thick paper. I use the DSP (designer series paper) for accents on the cards. DSP is lighter weight than our solid color paper. I've created a good stash of Stampin' Up! paper too. My goal eventually is to only use the Stampin' Up! paper because I like it better.

Have a wonderful weekend.

Mary

Volunteers Needed

If any of you would like to help make cards to be sent to the soldiers overseas so that they will have cards to mail to their families, WE NEED YOU:

http://www.cricut.com/messageboard/tm.aspx?m=4204814&mpage=1&key=&#4204821

This challenge is for Father's Day and misc. cards for birthdays, thinking of you etc.

Hope some of you will join us whether to donate 1 card or 100 cards, all are needed.

Tutorial - Spring Birthday Card

I'm such a fan of anything purple, so making this card for a Spring birthday was the perfect choice for me. Because of its delicate colors and flowers, it could be easily made into a Easter card, Mother's Day card, Thinking of You card -- very versatile.

You will need the following supplies to make this card: (All products from Stampin' Up! unless otherwise noted)

***********************

1 sheet 4 1/4" x 11" Almost Amethyst cardstock (Item #102158)

1 sheet 3 1/2" x 5 1/2" Whisper White cardstock (Item #100730)

1 piece 2" x 5 1/2" Designer Series Paper - Tea Party (Item #113992) (paper is double sided)

1 piece 1" x 5 1/2" Designer Series Paper - Tea Party (Item #113992) (paper is double sided)

1 piece 6 1/2" x 5/8" Whisper White Organza Ribbon (Item #114319)

**********************

Lovely Lilac Classic Ink Stamp Pad (Item #102874)

5 Petal Flower Paper Punch (Item #109041)

**********************

Rubber Stamps:

Birthday Wish (Item #114486)

Polka Dot Punches (Item #113788) - From Sale-A-Bration mini catalog

Art by Design (Item #114920) - for back of card

**********************

Bone Folder (Item # 102300)

Paper Snips - Scissors (Item #103579)

Snail Adhesive (Item #104332)

Scotch Brand Tape 1/2" wide

Take your piece of Almost Amethyst card stock and fold in half. Use your bone folder to get a good crisp fold. Your card will now be 4 1/2" x 5 1/2" folded and will fit into an A2 envelope.

Using the snail adhesive, lightly attach the Organza Ribbon to the top side of the printed amethyst side of the paper (the other side is brightly colored) - paper is the 1" x 5 1/2" piece. The ribbon will be longer than the piece of paper, do NOT trim the ribbon.

Fold the ends of the ribbon over to the brightly colored side of the 1" x 5 1/2" piece of paper. Secure with small pieces of scotch tape.

Using the snail adhesive, attach the ribbon/paper piece to the brightly printed side of the 2" x 5 1/2 " piece of designer paper.

Now using snail adhesive, attached it to your card on the front, left side.

Stamp "Happy Birthday to you" using lavender lace ink, centering it from top to bottom and side to side.

Stamp 3 five petal flowers on your piece of white cardstock using the lavender lace ink.

As you can see, the 5 petal flower punch is a perfect match for this rubber stamp. Punch all 3 of the flowers out.

Using snail adhesive, attach the 3 flowers to your ribbon on the card.

Using the "Created By" stamp, stamp with lavender lace ink on the back side. (Card is shown above opened.) Be sure to sign the back of your card.

Card is now complete and ready to be given to someone special for their birthday.

Happy Saint Patrick's Day

Are you wearing a bit of the green today? No corn beef and cabbage here (much to Hal's dismay), but I did pick up a loaf of Irish soda bread to have with our dinner (cornish games hens).

I just charged the batteries for my camera and will be posting my first tutorial tonight or tomorrow. Hope this will be the start of something BIG that you will all look forward to.

Remember you can subscribe to my blog (link to the right, about in the middle AND also a link at the very bottom of the site). If you subscribe, you will receive an e-mail each time the blog is updated.

Happy Saint Patrick's Day. May the luck of the Irish be with you always.

Cards for Soldiers

The Cards for Soldiers Challenge is a project near and dear to my heart. I have participated now for a number of months and hope that this will get the word out to even more people by posting the information here on my blog. The challenge is done thru the Cricut message boards and anyone may participate. A new challenge is issued every 3 weeks (approximately) and all cards are appreciated.

Here's the explaination how this challenge works:

Make cards in any way that you want. All 15 different, all 15 the same, or a mix of both. Just leave the inside blank to give the soldiers room to write home in and include an envelope. NO stamp necessary, (soldiers get free mail when deployed.) When you sign up you will sign up for how many you want to do 15,30,45,100. You will also tell us what time zone you are in. The time zone will tell us to whom you will ship your cards to at the end of the challenge. That shipper will then compile all the cards and send them to units on the ground in Iraq and Afghanistan. Each time zone is assigned 2 or more units to ship to (a unit is 120-160 soldiers). Shipping is an expense to us that all the shippers have taken on out of their own pocket. However if you want to donate a dollar or two for shipping expense overseas then we welcome that. All money donated goes to pay for shipping to the soldier. YOU DO NOT have to donate any money to participate in this challenge. There are several great ladies that keep this going. Thank you for standing behind our troops.

Here's the message board link for the current challenge:

http://www.cricut.com/messageboard/tm.aspx?m=4057342&mpage=1

I was so excited to be able to complete and donate 200 cards this last week. Hope many of my blog readers will help out too. There is always such a need for the cards.

March Holidays

Just for fun ... got this from a local jewelry store via e-mail today:

Looking for something to celebrate this month? Your calendar may be bare now besides some St. Patrick's day fun, but there are many untraditional, silly and strange holidays that exist under our radar and can add a little sparkle to our lives. Below are some additional holidays that we can all celebrate in the month of March.

Want to celebrate your favorite foods this month? Great, because not only is March "National Peanut Month" and "National Frozen Foods Month," March also boasts "Potato Chip Day" (March 14), "National Chocolate Caramel Day" (March 19), "Chocolate Covered Raisin Day" (March 24), and "National Lobster Newburg Day" (March 25). If you are looking for a healthier alternative, you are in luck; March is also "National Nutrition Month."

March is the perfect month to celebrate your inner mathematician or chemist. The 14th of March is "Pi Day," celebrating everyone's favorite mathematical term Pi by marking the calendar's yearly trip to 3.14. You can also venture into the chemistry lab and celebrate "Bunsen Burner Day" on March 31, honoring the inventor of the essential science lab device, Robert Wilhelm Eberhard von Bunsen.

If you are in an altruistic or philanthropic mood, this month is perfect for you. March is "Red Cross Month," "Social Workers Month," and "Music in our Schools Month." You can also celebrate the medical professionals who keep us healthy on "Dentist's Day" (March 6) or on "National Doctor's Day" (March 30).

For those who want to celebrate a holiday that reaches into the final frontier, the 20th of March is "Extraterrestrial Abduction Day." The exact origin of this strange, but very real holiday is unknown. Rumor has it, an abduction may be to blame!

Some of my creations

Good Morning,

Thought you might like to see some of the cards I have created. Hal has set up a website for you to view them. I really appreciate all of his help. Thank goodness for all his experience with software development and technical support. It is such a big help to me when I need computer things done that I am not comfortable doing myself. But I am learning more and more each day.

Here's the link to the card site:

http://members.cox.net/kreateskards/

Let me know what you think by posting a comment on my blog.

Today and tomorrow I have a really busy schedule, but by this weekend hope to have my first tutorial posted for you.

Mary

What would you like to see?

Hi,

Was wondering what type of cards you would like to see presented here on my blog? Is there a specific holiday or type of card that is of interest to you?

Bit by bit I am learning more and more about using a blog, so please bear with me as I learn. I am really looking forward to sharing many card making ideas and techniques with all of you. Because having the chance to be creative, my card making gives me an escape to relax and enjoy in the time I have to make cards.

Please post a comment or send me an e-mail about what you would like to see here. I look forward to hearing from you.

Mary

The Beginning

Hi Everyone,

This is my very first post to my "KreatesKards" blog. I hope you will follow along with me on my journey.

I've been an avid fan of card making for years and have used many different mediums in the process such as photo cards, computer generated designs, and about 6 months ago I became involved with Stampin' Up! as an Independent Demonstrator.

I am having so much fun creating my cards using these high qualify rubber stamps, the Sizzix Big Shot (die cutting machine), paper punches and more. It is amazing how creative you can be with just a few supplies, some adhesive, and a little bit of time.

Please feel free to leave comments and/or questions that you may have. I'm just an e-mail away.

Mary