Floating Greeting Cards (several samples)

I wanted to create a card that has a greeting that appears to be floating. This is achieved by adhering the greeting die cut to an acetate panel which was inspired by this video by Sam Calcott.

I think the “floating” effect is really cool, but the clear panel creates a challenge when trying to include a sentiment on the inside. If you don’t want the inside sentiment to show through the acetate, you could either put it on the back or try to position it behind the card stock strips.

OR…

Here are two additional ways to make the card to include an inside message without it showing through the front…

The first way is to create a “card within the card” as shown in this video by Yana Smakula. A sentiment can be added to the inside as usual, but the middle panel hides it when the card is closed or displayed. She used a plain acetate panel for her card front, but I created my acetate panel with strips – exactly as I did on my first sample (literally – lol!).

Here is a Father’s Day sample made the same way:

Since the greeting die cut was too large to fit completely on the straight acetate panel like on the birthday design, I used a circle die before cutting my strips to make my window larger to accommodate the larger greeting. This one also has the “card within the card” to hide an inside sentiment.

The circle “scrap” I cut out of the above card was used on the final sample below.

The card base is all acetate. A sentiment could be hidden behind the focal circle so a “card within the card” was not needed for this one. Instead, I attached a card stock circle inside on which to add my sentiment.

Recollections Foil Paper (#313049) was use along with black and white card stock. The “Happy Birthday Friendship Script” die is by Memory Box and the Father’s Day die is by Alinacutle.

Obviously, these samples could be decorated more elaborately (and differently from each other – lol!). I was just experimenting with the different variations so I kept the designs simple and used the supplies that were out and handy.

Thanks for checking out my card projects!

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21Apr2023

Sweet Bouquet and Best Wishes

Posted in Birthday Cards, Cards, Holiday Cards, Mother's Day by lisababitz

Sweet Bouquet and Best Wishes

This bouquet image from the Stampin’ Up “Dear to My Heart” set (retired) is so sweet but so small (my card isn’t even A2 size!) so CAS it is – lol!!

Sticking with the “tiny” theme, I used a greeting from the “Tiny Words” set from Simon Says Stamp.

I applied ink to the stamps using Distress Markers (aged mahogony, rusty hinge, dried marigold, mustard seed, and peeled paint) which allowed me to get different colors on the single image.

The frames and panels were cut with Photo Dies #13 (which I bought at a scrapbook expo a few years ago and can’t find online to link), and I used my score board to deboss the background.

This card is small – 3 1/2 x 4 3/4 inches – so I created a custom envelope with my We R Memory Keepers envelope punch board. (6 7/8″ square paper punched at 3 7/8″).

Thanks for checking out my card project!

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13Apr2023

Twisted Easel Mother’s Day Card

Posted in Cards, Creative Folds, Holiday Cards, Mother's Day, Tutorials by lisababitz

Twisted Easel Mother’s Day Card

(inside: To an amazing Mom)

Easel cards look like you fussed a little more than a traditional, folded card, but they are actually SUPER easy to make! Simply create a folded card base as usual and then fold the front in half. Basic easel cards are folded in half parallel to the fold. For a twisted easel, fold the front in half on a diagonal instead of parallel to the fold. Then, add a focal panel to your decorated base. (More detailed instructions are included below.)

You can see the two (diagonal) halves of the card front in this photo:

The base is also the “inside” of the card.

And this is what it looks like when it comes out of the envelope (folded flat):

Here’s how I created my twisted easel card:

Create the base. (Decorate as desired.)

Cut and decorate your focal panel and adhere to card base as shown. (DO NOT put adhesive on the entire back of the focal panel. While the panel will ultimately be centered on the card front, the adhesive should not cross the fold.)

Use the diagonal score line to help you line up your focal image.

With the closed card flat on the table, open the card and fold the front down (mountain fold). The attached focal panel stands up creating the easel effect.

Here are my panel measurements:

For the front:

For the inside:

I used a square for my focal panel, but other shapes could also be used.

Originally, I had a square panel on the inside, and then I struggled with what to add as a “stopper” so the easel stayed up when opened. In the past, I’ve popped up a sentiment or die cut to sit in front of the opened easel. I had already made my sentiment panel and everything else I tried to add to the patterned paper interfered with the soft print. I ended up splitting the inside panel into triangles, and now the easel can sit in the center channel.

The paper I used is from the “Our Family Tree” 12 x 12 paper pad from The Paper Studio. I wanted to use silver card stock for the mats to add some elegance, but the paper is kind of vintage looking, so I made my borders super thin for just a touch of silver. My focal panel is pretty big to accommodate the large greeting die cut. Measurements can be adjusted if you want larger borders or a smaller focal panel.

The greeting was cut with the “Happy Mother’s Day Phrase” die by Cottage Cutz. The circles were made with my “Bubbles Border Punch” by Fiskars (no longer available?). The inside sentiment is from the “Fabulous Holiday Fillers” stamp set by Gina K Designs (no longer available).

I made a square envelope for this card using my We R Memory Keepers 1-2-3 (envelope) Punch Board and will need to mail at the Post Office.

Thanks for checking out my card project!

11Apr2023

Happy Mother’s Day with Floral Strips

Posted in Cards, Holiday Cards, Mother's Day by lisababitz

Happy Mother’s Day with Floral Strips

In my continuing effort to use more of my patterned paper, I decided to revisit a technique I had done several years ago on this card after watching this video by Gina K. (Click on the video link just to hear the nostalgic StampTV theme song – lol!)

I don’t have a box of strips/scraps like she did, so I just cut strips (mine are 3/4″ wide) from a single sheet from the “Floral Essentials” paper pack by Gina K Designs (no longer available although any patterned paper would work for this technique). I paired this paper with some GKD Wild Lilac card stock and ink.

The dies I used were “Grosgrain Ribbon” by Poppy Stamps, “Mini Fanciful Flourish – Left” by Cheery Lynn Designs (no longer available?), a circle from the “Standard Circles Large S4-114” by Spellbinders, and an unbranded scalloped circle die.

The greeting stamp is from an old set that coodinates with some Spellbinders label dies. I no longer have the original packaging (and cannot find it online) so I’m not sure exactly what it is called (or the company that made it), but when I labeled it for storage (eons ago), I called it Spellbinders – Labels 2, 4. and 8. Hmmm… (If anyone knows what this stamp set is called, please let me know.)

One more sheet used….

Thanks for checking out my card project!

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9Apr2023

Happy Easter Free Standing Tunnel Card (and another card sample)

Posted in Cards, Easter, Holiday Cards by lisababitz

Happy Easter Free Standing Tunnel Card (and another card sample)

Happy Easter!

This “box card” features the “Happy Easter” die (#367-J) from Impression Obsession and the crosses from the “Easter Edges” die set (D21024) from Creek bank Creations.

The white heavy weight “base” for this card was cut from the “Free Standing Tunnel Die Set” from Creek Bank Creations. HERE is a video showing how to use this die set. There is also an oval die set (available for purchase separately) to use instead of the rectangle openings.

The greeting and crosses were cut from Recollections holographic foil card stock and mounted on a piece of acetate before adding to the center layer of the card. The tutorial does not demonstrate using the acetate, but my greeting was not wide enough to attach directly to the edges of the opening. (CBC recommends that you use edge/border dies in this type of card.) With the acetate, any dies can be used on the front or middle panel.

The background paper is “Blue Agate” by The Paper Studio (Hobby Lobby).

I attached a panel on the back for my sentiment and signature.

This card folds flat and fits in an A2 size envelope for mailing.

Here’s a head-on view where you can see the holographic effect a bit better…

The holographic foil looks silver when light is not shining directly on it…

This card was very difficult to photograph! Acetate, holographic foil, and layers creating shadows caused issues with glare, reflections, lighting, focus… Ugh!! I think it looks quite elegant in real life.

While I had the papers out…

This simple card features the beautiful “Outline Floral Cross” wafer die from Simon Says Stamp (and an unbranded frame die). You may be able to see that the cross die cuts in two pieces, and the center cross can be removed so you can use each of the die cuts on its own or paired as I have done here. With no greeting on the front, it could be used for a variety of occasions (Easter, baptism, first communion, sympathy, etc.).

Thanks for checking out my card projects!