Snowflake Wreaths & Stamping on Custom Size Panels

Posted in Cards, Other, Tutorials by lisababitz

I have several small snowflake stamps and thought it would be fun to create a winter wreath card with them. I don’t usually use pink, but I decided to try something a little different for me, and I like it more than I thought I would! The Gina K Designs wreath builder template helps you create a perfectly positioned and evenly spaced circular pattern with your stamps. A tutorial on how to use this tool can be found HERE (beginning at the 6:40 mark). While it is easier if you use a stamp positioner (like a MISTI), I show you HERE how to use the template without one.

For this card, I wanted my wreath to be on a 3 inch panel but was using a 4 inch template. It is super simple to use any size panel (the template size or smaller) with any size template.

Let’s say you wanted your stamped panel to be 2 1/8 inches square. In addition to the 2 1/8″ panel, cut a scrap panel to the correct size for the template. If you are using a 4 inch template, you need a 4 inch square panel. With a pencil and a ruler, draw diagonal lines from each corner to it’s opposite corner. Put a spot of removable adhesive in the center of this panel.

Take the 2 1/8 inch square you need for your project. Center it on the “adapter” scrap. Use the diagonal lines to help you position it; when all 4 corners of your panel touch the diagonal lines, it is centered.

Then, just rotate and stamp with the “adapter” (and your temporarily attached panel) as you normally would.

Remove your stamped panel when done. Save your adapter panel. If you used removable adhesive, you can rub it off and use this adapter again and again (although it is so easy to just make another one if needed)!

I used Milled Lavender and Seedless Preserves distress inks and Memento Danube Blue and Summer Sky.

While I had these ink pads out, I made another card where I stamped the wreath directly on the rectangular card panel (instead of on a smaller square). If you focus on the top edge and corners of the panel (and ignore the bottom half that hangs out of the template) and rotate and stamp as you do with a square panel, you can achieve the same result.

Both of these cards were made with just white card stock. I applied ink to some of the card stock to create the matching background panels and mats. I also added ink to white ribbon (on the second sample) to make the purple bow.

Thanks for checking out my card projects!

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25Feb2019

Another Double Z-Fold Card with Pop-up Panel (Wiper Card) – with Tutorial

Posted in Birthday Cards, Cards, Creative Folds, Interactive, Tutorials by lisababitz

Another Double Z-Fold Card with Pop-up Panel (Wiper Card) – with Tutorial

Recently, I shared a wiper card I made for my class and have another sample (with same image from the “Cup of Thanks” stamp set by Studio Katia) that I did with different colors. (If you care to see how I made this card base, I’ve included a short tutorial at the end of this post.) Again, I used Bic alcohol markers (polynesian purple, stone grey, petal pink, tranquil teal, cloud nine grey, ocean blue), and a blender pen to color my image. I found this patterned paper called “Watercolor Dots” by Recollections at Michaels and liked that it had so many colors that worked well with the pencils, markers, and inks available to my students.

Here is a tent fold card layout with the same image.

If you wish to see how I made my Double Z-Fold card base with a pop-up panel (Wiper Card)… Continue reading →

28Nov2018

Using a Wreath Builder Template WITHOUT a Stamp Positioner

Posted in Tutorials by lisababitz

Using a Wreath Builder Template WITHOUT a Stamp Positioner

Making wreaths is easy with a template from Gina K Designs. (HERE is a video showing how to use this tool.)

While it is easiest to use a wreath builder template with a stamp positioner (like the MISTI), it is possible to create wreaths and other circular patterns without one and still achieve the same result. Anything that has (2) raised sides at a 90 degree angle (like a shoe box top, a cookie sheet, a frame, a Stamp-a-ma-jig, etc.) and a large, rectangular acrylic (or wood) block will work.

Here’s how to do it using a photo box lid:

Place your template in the corner of the box top. (Once in place, the template cannot move. Use tape to secure in place if desired.) Place your card panel in the template in the square orientation (not diagonal/diamond orientation) to begin. Place your first stamp on the card panel as desired. (Place the stamp closer to the edge for a larger wreath or closer to the center for a smaller wreath.)

2. With your acrylic block squared/wedged in the corner of the box top, carefully lower the block to pick up the stamp. It is important to keep the two sides of the block touching/wedged in the corner/two sides of the lid.

3. Remove the acrylic block with the stamp, and ink it up as desired.

4. With your acrylic block and inked stamp squared/wedged in the corner of the box top, carefully lower the block onto the card panel to stamp the image. (Again, it is important to keep the two sides of the block touching/wedged in the corner/two sides of the lid as it was when you first picked up the stamp.)

5. Lift/remove the block. Rotate the card panel into the next position on the template. (It’s now in the diamond orientation.)

6. Ink up the stamp again, and repeat the stamping.

7. Continue rotating the panel (now in the square orientation) and stamping the image…

…until you’ve done it 8 times in each of the positions on the template.

8. Remove the stamp from the block, add another stamp, and continue adding images to your panel as desired. (Always start in square orientation when adding another stamp.)

* * * * *

As I said, it is easier to use a stamp positioner, but if you don’t have one, you can still create beautiful wreaths with a wreath builder template.

(The stamps used to create the wreath on the card above are from the “Wildflower Garden” stamp set from Altenew.)

Thanks for checking out my tutorial.

12Nov2018

Safari Birthday Box Card with Tutorial

Posted in Birthday Cards, Cards, Creative Folds, Tutorials by lisababitz

Safari Birthday Box Card with Tutorial

I really like box cards because they have so much dimension for displaying, but they fold flat for mailing. They are even better when you have adorable images to work with! (I’ve included a tutorial at the end of this post for creating the box card base.)

The stamp set is called “Safari Friends” and was included (a free gift) in the April 2017 issue of Papercraft Essentials magazine (issue 145). (I was lucky enough to find this set on ebay.)

I created cut files for the images with my Silhouette electronic die cutting machine, stamped them with Memento Tuxedo Black ink, and colored them with Bic Alcohol Markers. I also used a few colored pencils for the boy’s and girl’s skin.

The patterned paper I used to decorate the box is from a digital set called “Zoo Visit” by Scrapbook Gems and was purchased on Etsy. There is room on the back for a stamped or handwritten message.

This card is 5 x 7 inches when folded flat and easily fits in a regular envelope for mailing.

This card was a lot of fun to make!

If interested in seeing how to make a box card… Continue reading →

8Nov2018

CAS Embossed Birthday Wishes – 4 variations

Posted in Birthday Cards, Cards, Tutorials by lisababitz

CAS Embossed Birthday Wishes – 4 variations

I have so many embossing folders and rarely think to use them. And if I do, I find myself using the same few. I chose one I had not yet used (the Cuttlebug “Happy Birthday” folder by Provocraft) and thought I’d play around with some different techniques I have been wanting to try.

Double Embossing

It’s hard to see the shimmer in the photo above, but for this first one, the background was heat embossed with Stampendous Kaleidoscope embossing powder as well as dry embossed. I used a brayer to apply versamark ink to the front side of the embossing folder, inserted white card stock in the folder, and ran it through my Cuttlebug. I then covered the panel with the embossing powder and heated it.

This angle shows the sparkle a little better:

The greeting was cut with dies from the Spellbinders “Birthday Wishes” set (#661868) and Gina K Passionate Pink card stock. (I saw this technique HERE on YouTube.)

Partial Embossing

This partially embossed sample is similar to my “Scripty Balloon Birthday Card” which I made earlier this year. I used my score board to separate my greeting from the embossed side of the panel. (HERE is a video showing how to do this technique.)

Inlay Technique

Inlay is a technique where one “inserts pieces of contrasting, often coloured materials into depressions in a base object to form ornament or pictures,” (from Oxford Companion to the Decorative Arts). For this sample, I used small embossed panels in the openings of a die cut frame. The frame die was unmarked. The greeting stamp was from the “Massive Messages” set by Gina K Designs and was stamped with GK Passionate Pink ink. I embossed the background panel with the embossing folder as well.

Faux Pressed Flower Technique

The layout of this fourth one is similar to that of the first sample, but the technique used is different. For this one, I did the “Faux Pressed Flower” technique. You adhere your die cut (usually a flower; I used a greeting) to a (flat) piece of card stock. (Make sure all parts of the die cut are glued down.) Then, you place it in an embossing folder and run it through your die cutting/embossing machine. It creates cool texture on the die cut and makes it look like it is part of the card stock it is stuck to. I used the “Retro Triangles” embossing folder by mpress. (Any embossing folder with a small, detailed pattern will work for this technique.) After my greeting panel was embossed, I cut it to size with a die from the Spellbinders “ATC” set (#S3-208).

After my aunt passed away a year and a half ago, I was fortunate enough to receive all of the stuff from her “Cuttlebug Station” from her craft room. The “Birthday Wishes” die set and “Happy Birthday” embossing folder were hers, and I really enjoyed using tools that she had also used. Recently, I spent a fun afternoon searching online for the names of all the unmarked dies and embossing folders from her stash which led me to tons of card samples and tutorials that I am anxious to try. She continues to inspire me even though she is no longer here!

Thanks for checking out my card projects!

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