Pile It On - More Than 2 Folds

Every now and then a challenge gives me a good prod to do something outside my comfort zone and to me that's a good thing.  This week our challenge at Pile It On is to make a card with more than 2 folds.  The only fancy fold I can make on demand is an easel card, anything else I have to look up the directions.  That's pretty much the only thing that holds me back, I just don't want to take the time to look them up.  So, I'm glad for this challenge.  I've been wanting to make another center step card for awhile but have been too lazy to make the effort and now that I have I'm glad I did.  If you don't know how to make one here's a link to a tutorial that's easy to follow.

Of course there are plenty of other fancy folds you can use.  One my sidebar there are labels, if you click on "Fancy Fold" you'll get all my posts for cards with fancy folds.  I think I put a link for the tutorial in all of them.  

This week the sponsor for our challenge is Digi Doodles.  I'm using the sewing basket image.  I think center step cards look best with a dominant image.  Since this is a digi stamp it can be made as large or small as your requirements.  You can also adjust the size of your card if you're daring.  I made my card larger than the tutorial by using a 6-1/2" x 11"piece of cardstock, this just requires a slight adjustment in your cutting lines. 

This image made me feel notalgic so I wanted a vintage/shabby chic llok.  To get that look I used tea dyed lace, Cosmo Cricket "Circa 1934" papers and sponged around the edges with Ranger Distress Inks.

Here's the deets:

stamp - Digi Doodles "Sewing Basket"

ink - hp printer; Ranger "Scattered Straw" and "Tea Dye"

paper - Bazzill "Beeswax" cs; scraps of grey and beige cs for die cuts

miscellaneous - copics; buttons; lace; burlap twine; pin cushion charm; My Favorite Things  "Sew Nifty" die-namics

Here's the challenges:

Pile It On #22 - Two or More Folds

Polka Doodles Week 21 - Make a Doodled Edge or Border

Southern Girls #45 - Dying to Die Cut or Punch

Charisma #20 - No Flowers Allowed

The Pink Elephant TPE149 - Buttons Galore

Creative Card Crew - Dimension

Partytime Tuesday PTT#49 - Vintage or Shabby Chic

the Sisterhood of Crafters - Old Fashioned Project

Thanks for stopping by, I hope you'll get adventurous and try making a card with 2 or more folds for the Pile It On challenge.

Fun, Fun, Fun with Katie

Actually, this week's Cooking It Up with Katie challenge is "Fold me a fun Flower" but it reality it's fun, fun, fun.  If it isn't fun, fun, fun then it's time to put the stamps and toys away and figure out what you're doing wrong. 

Don't be stressed by having to do a different fold.  That used to throw me but most of them only take a few extra minutes and most of that time is spent reading the directions.  If you don't know how to do any fancy folds there are lots of places to get directions.  Since you're here you can go down to my labels at the bottom of the sidebar and click on "Fancy Folds".  that will bring up my cards made with fancy folds.  I usually put a link to directions for the fold in the post.  This card is the "Origami Fun Fold".  Here's a link to Wendybell's You Tube directions.  You'll be able to make one of these in no time.   You'll be so proud of yourself.

It's hard to see in the photo, a sentiment is stamped there.   If you have a stamp set with lots of little images, like this one from Crafty Secrets, you can use a few of them on this kind of card.  On my card I put a flower on the inside flap because the recipe calls for a flower but that's a good spot for another image of sentiment.

Give it a try, it's good to try something different. 

Here's the deet:

stamp - Crafty Secrets "Easter Joy"

ink - Memento "Tuxedo Black" and Versa Magic "Sprout" for the sentiment

paper - K & Co "Tim Coffey Cottage Garden" dp, Stampin' Up "Peach Parfait" cs

miscellaneous - copics; Stampin' Up corner punch and crocheted lace ribbon; ribbon; twine rabbit charm; Martha Stewart flower

Here's the challenges:

Cooking It Up with Katie #92 - Fold Me a Fun Flower

Ribbon Carousel RCC47 - Spring Is in the Air

Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes

There She Goes TSG150 - Metal Embellishments (charm)

Thanks for stopping by, I hope you'll come back again and of course I'd like to see you join us at Cooking It Up With Katie.

Make It a Fun Fold

It's time to do something a little bit different.   For some of you it'll put you out of your comfort zone but that's not a bad thing. 
The challenge at Pile It On is to Make It a Fun Fold.  There are so many fun folds to try and if you haven't ever tried one now's as good a time as any to start.  If you have no idea where to begin I've added  "Fancy Fold" to my label list near the bottom of my sidebar.  If you click on the words "Fancy Fold" you'll get a list of my posts using some different folds like the Origami Diamond Fold, the Center Step Fold and the Pop Up.  In the posts there should be links to tutorials on how to make them.  Or you can try going to the Splitcoast Stampers resource section for tutorials.  And when all else fails you can do a google search. 

This card is a plain Easel Fold.  There are so different versions of the Easel Fold but I haven't learned them.  I chose this fold because it's easy, I can do it without looking up directions and I was short of time this week but if you've got some time to play around try the Pop Up, it's really fun.  Actually so are all the others.  I think I am going to resolve to use a fancy fold at least once a month so that I will be able to do them without needing the directions. 
Here's the deets:
stamp - Crafty Secrets "Easter Joy"
ink - Memento "Tuxedo Black"; Versa Magic "Spring Pansy"
paper - Bazzill "Purple Pizzazz" cs, Best Occasions green cs; K & Co "Susan Winglet Botanical Specialty paper" dp
miscellaneous - copics; ribbon; DMC embroidery floss; charm; mini brads; Doodlebug Easter assortment brads; sewing machine

Here's the challenges:
Pile It On #9 - Make It a Fun Fold
Crafty Catz #121 - I Spy Something Beginning with B (bunny and basket)
Moving Along With the Times - Lots of Layers
Delightful Challenges - Use Patterned Paper
Paper Pretties PWC194 - use punches or die cuts
Stamp Man - Colours of Spring - Easter
Fairy Tale #35 - Spring
Crafty Sentiments - 2 Designer/ Different Papers
Truly Scrumptious #74- All Creatures Great and Small
Crafts and Me #72 - Shades of Spring
Allsorts - Anything Goes
2 Sisters #80 - Anything Goes

Thanks for stopping by, I hope you'll come back often and I hope to see your creation posted on the Pile It On challenge blog,

Triangle Star Card

This is a fold I've wanted to try for a long time, ever since I saw it on Stamp Owl's (Frances Byrne's) blog.  So when the Pile It On Challenge called for a fancy fold it was time for me to make a triangle star card.  I used Frances' tutorial which you can find here.

It's actually pretty easy.

Because I put some ribbon rose on the inside the card didn't want to stay closed, so I stuck a piece of velcro to the bottom of the star. 

Here's the deets:

stamp - the Cat's Pajamas "Shine Brightly"

ink - Stampin' Up "Brocade Blue"

paper - Best Occasions light blue cardstock; Stampin' Up "Bella Bleu" dsp

miscellaneous - Nesties "circle and lacey circle" die; Stampin' Up oval and scalloped oval punches; the Cat's Pajamas "ocean" seam binding; Basic Grey pearls

Here's the challenges:

Pile It On #39 - Fancy Folds

the Cat's Pajamas TCPTUES177 - Create Roses with Seam Binding

Stampin' B #129 - Use 2 or more Spellbinders

Card Makin' Mamas #29- Get Punchy

Sweet Stampin' - Anything Goes

Southern Girls #28 - Anything Goes

Simon Says - Use Dies and/or Punches

Going Grey with Scrap Creations - Anything Goes

Thanks for stopping by, I hope you'll play along with the Pile It On challenge and make a card with a fancy fold. 

Later Gator

 If I had to give one reason why I didn't want  to move to Florida it would be the wildlife.  My brother e-mailed me a photo of a gator in his backyard while I was still living in NJ.  When I told him I didn't want to live anywhere that held the remotest chance of one of these creatures appearing in my town yet alone in my yard he actually responded that "they don't bother you".  Now i don't know about you, but just their existence in the world bothers me but I have gotten over it and have got to the point that I felt bad when I didn't get to see the one that had made a nest around the corner from my house.  As it turns out they don't bother with people unless they are "harassed" and the poor dear around the corner was being harassed by neighborhood kids and that's when they become dangerous.  Neighbors said the animal control officer was really upset about having to remove it.  I don't want to sound too cold hearted but all I could muster was an "oh, well".

After we moved here my brother told us not to leave our car windows open or we might find snakes in them.  Now if he had mentioned this before the move we'd still be happily residing in the garden state.  Needless to say I keep my windows closed, I don't care if the car is an oven when I open the door, at least I don't find any visitors in it.  We have glass doors next to a small patio beside our kitchen table and a couple meals have been interrupted by the yell of "snake".  Oh what fun!  And, no I don't eat out on the patio anymore.

Can you see the peas in a pod charm, you can click on the photo to enlarge it.

But you didn't stop here to hear about Florida wildlife.  You want to see cards.  So today I bring you a Center Step Card.  A week or two ago on the Crazy for Challenges blog Cindy Haffner issued the challenge to make one of these and I didn't get around to it till now.  It was fun to try something different, if you've never made one and would like to try one you can find Frances Byrne's (stampowl) tutorial here.   It's worth visiting just to hear Frances' lovely Aussie Accent.  When you come from the New York area, every one else sounds sweeter.
here's the deets:
stamp - My Favorite Things "WTG Goes Green"
ink - Memento "Tuxedo Black"; Stampin' Up "Glorious Green"
paper - MFT "Perfect Panel" for image; Stampin' Up "Confetti White" for card base and sentiment; Stampin' Up "Black" cs; Cosmo Cricket "Garden Variety" dp
miscellaneous - copics; mini brads; baker's twine; peas in a pod charm; sewing machine

Here's the challenges:
it's still "Dare to Get Dirty" at Splitcoast challenges.  You gotta be a fan club member to know the details.

Thanks for visiting, I hope you'll come back again.





Origami Diamond Fold

can you tell the dots on the cupcake are embroidered French Knots?  click on
the photo to enlarge

The Japanese art of paper folding.  Papercrafters do love to play with their papers and sometimes that gives rise to a fun and interesting card.  So, if you're tired of making the same old rectangular card and want to try something new, give the Origami Diamond Fold a try.  It's pretty easy to do.  I followed Wendybell from Splitcoast's tutorial.  You can find it here.

This technique is great for stamp sets that have lots of matching pieces.  I chose to use a Crafty Secrets set that features baking. 

Fun, huh!?  Guess you can't forget the inside of this one.  But did you notice the envelope in the first photo?  There's another spot that often gets overlooked.  One of my buddies (Jennik) from the MFT forums often sends me cards and most times she decorates the envelope.  It's so fun to get a piece of mail that's already got the goodies happening on the envelope.  So much better than the usual bills and promos.  Must add "decorate envelopes" to my to do list.

Here's the deets:
stamp - Crafty Secrets "Sweet Stuff"
ink - Studio G mauve; Memento "Tuxedo Black"
paper - Recollections "Cupcake" dp; Stampin' Up "Pale Plum" cs
miscellaneous - copics, Recollections pearls; Martha Stewart border punch; baby pink Candy Dots; DMC floss; sewing machine

Here's the challenges:
ah, it's another card for the Splitcoast Dare to Get Dirty challenges.  You have to be a fan club member to play and the details are hush, hush.  You might as well go over there and sign up, what are you waiting for?

Really a Challenge

I start most of my days browsing through the challenges.  Most of the time they are things that aren't particularly difficult and I just pick out one that sounds like fun and make my card.  But every now and then I find a challenge that really is challenging to me.  One that makes me do something new, something out of comfort zone.  This week's Tuesday Morning Sketches challenge #24 was just that kind of challenge.  They are asking us to make a Surprise Pop Up Card.  Well I've never made one of these before but they linked up to Beate John's Splitcoast Tutorial for making them and after watching Beate's video I was game to give it a try.  Boy am I glad I did.  This wasn't very difficult to do and it is really neat.  It got a thumbs up from my teenage daughter and her boyfriend and that's not easy to do. 

when you pull the tag!

here's the inside

Here's the deets:

stamp - Crafty Secrets "Sweet Stuff"

ink - Memento "Tuxedo Black" 

paper - Stampin' Up "Orchid Opulance" and "Pale Plum" cs; Georgia Pacific white cs; Basic Grey "Kioshi" dp pad

miscellaneous - copics; Webster's little Whimsies (flower); My Favorite Thing die-namics "Faux Crochet Border" and "flower"; ZVA crystals; eyelet; mini brad; ribbon; Scallopy scallop EZ border punch

Here's the challenges:

Tuesday Morning Sketches #90 - Surprise Pop Up

TTT challenge - Show Us What You Got

Nadia #4 - Vintage

DYSU #16 - Use a Flower 

C.R.A.F.T. #99 - Flowers

Truly Scrumptious #55 - Vintage

Top Tip #30 - Open challenge

Really Reasonable Ribbon #22 - Violets, Lilacs and Plums oh my!

Lady Bug #24 - Anything Goes

Thanks for stopping by, I hope you'll come back again. 

I {Heart} Paper - Day 6

Today's the last day of challenges at the I {Heart} Paper Birthday Bash. I've been playing along all week. If you want to see all the fun stuff I made this week just browse down through the blog. And if you want to join in the fun you have till Sunday night to finish up your projects and upload them. The winners of the daily challenges will be chosen randomly but the person with the most points will win the Grand Prize of being the Guest Designer for the month of November. All the details about the challenges and the prizes are posted on the I {Heart} Paper website which you can get to by clicking here.

Today's challenge is to make a special Birthday Card. Personally, I think every handmade card is special, including this one which is also a gift card holder. It's very easy to turn a regular 4-1/4" x 5-1/2" card into a gift card holder, it's just a matter of cutting a piece of card stock to 5" x 12" and folding it (score it) at the 4", 6" and 8", folding it so that the 6" is pointing up (it sort of looks like a "w"). Tape the sides of the center closed and cut out a slit in that section large enough to slip a gift card inside. Lastly you adhere the card stock to the inside of your card. It's easy peasy.

So here are the details about my card. Most of the things I used are available at I {Heart} Paper and I've highlighted them so that you can click on them if you want to go shopping for them. I used Spellbinder's Shapeablilities Cupcakes for my cupcake. I made two versions, the one at the top of this post uses a button as the cherry on top, the one at the bottom of the post uses the cherry die that comes with the Shapeabilities. For the die cut cherry I used red card stock and covered it with Ranger Glossy Accents, makes it look good enough to eat. For the cupcake I used pink card stock, after it was cut out I left it in the die and used the die as a stencil. I colored those spaces with copics and later I used Stickles to cover the sprinkles. The patterned paper is S.E.I. Chocolat on the inside and outside. One layer is cut out with the Sizzex Top Note die and the one directly under the cupcake is done with Nestibilities Labels 2. I used a Stampin' Up slot punch to thread the ribbon through, it's from MFT Chocolate Kiss collection and I made a buttony bow for Joanne's Birthoversary blog candy contest over on her "..Just a Little Something" blog. I love that little buttony bow. Joanne posted a video on you tube showing how to make the buttony bow and if you want to see it just click here and if you make a card with a bow you can enter her blog candy contest.

There are a couple other challenges I wanted to enter with this card. I found a new challenge because the creator commented on one of my cards, and I visited her blog where she's got some blog candy to give away, so if you like blog candy go there too. I followed the link Kate gave for her blog candy and then found a link to her Cooking It Up With Kate blog where she posts challenges and I love to do challenges so I figured I'd try the Challenge #3 which is to: 1.) use the image of something that's been cooked (the cupcake), 2.) add some buttons (the cherry on top and the buttony bow) and 3.) add something inside, decorate a message mat or a pocket for a gift card (I made it a gift card and I used the EK success Candles border punch to make a little decoration inside). This also works for the Paper Cutz #14 challenge to use three patterned papers, if you count the paper on the inside I actually used four.

I hope you enjoyed visiting my blog and will come back again, before you leave click the pink ribbon. And don't forget tomorrow's the big birthday bash as I {Heart} Papers . Lots of luck to everyone who's been entering the challenges. I hope you all win something.

I {Heart} Paper Day 2

It's day two of the I {Heart} Paper Birthday Bash and that means it's the second challenge. Are you playing along? You have till the 25th to do any or all of the challenges and get them posted, that's plenty of time so get hopping.

Today's challenge is to make a card or project using a non-traditional fold to invite your guests to the party. I like this challenge because it forced me to go outside my comfort zone. So I did a little search on the Splitcoast Stampers resource page to find something. This invitation is made with the flip flop fold. The directions were very easy to follow and it didn't take long to make. To make it I used the Inkadinkado Birthday Cupcake set. It's stamped in Stampin' Up Basic Gray on white card stock that was sponged around the edge with Ranger Tattered Rose. The cupcake was colored with SU markers, and SU Bright Beads were used for the sprinkles. This was mounted on SU Certainly Celery card stock. The card base is SU Bashful Blue card stock , it's stamped with the SU Birthday background stamp in SU Bordering Blue.
When you open the invitation you see the reverse side of the center. I invited you to the Birthday Bash, I hope you stop by I {Heart} Stamps and join in the challenges.

Thanks for stopping by to see my invitation. I'd love it if you left a comment before you leave.