Fluttering Butterflies with Anett

Sharing today the first class from Pinkfresh Studio Create & Connect which I participated with 2 friends in Auckland over the weekend but worldwide there was a total of 1270, I know of at least one other kiwi who was registered but her hubby wasn't feeling well so she crafted at home. This class was using a wide washi tape with it's corresponding stamp set, dies and stencils. It was a collection of butterflies and leaves and appropriately named Fluttering Butterflies. The class was taught by Anett Gelenscer who interestingly leads PFS Scrapbook Creative team but OMG she is so talented and so kind and nice. I loved her cards she taught us both had fancy folds, so she can card make as well all right. 

We received our class kits and essential items and swag in a beautiful but sturdy cardboard box with a magnetic lid. It was just the right size to transport all the ink pads I needed for the event to my friend's Denise's place in Auckland so it will remain for a long time in my crafting supplies

Here is my cards from this class together in front of the box.

As well as the Fluttering Butterflies suite of products we also received in our kits Stitched Octagons coverplate die and a set of Notched Corner Frames dies, both of these products were used on both cards.

The first card we white embossed the stamped image and then blended from the tips in leaving the centres light/white. We then made a shadow box for the die-cut images to be mounted on the front of the card. Plus I still have left over images to use on another card. We swiped the inkpad around the edges of the card base to make a Eucalyptus green card front and then also used the ink left on our blending brushes to shadow under where the images were going to be mounted.

The second card was even easier as we just placed a length of the washi on some white card stock and then cut out the images with the corresponding die. Again I have more images I can use on another card. PFS washi is amazing, the images are gold foiled and are so luxuriant. If they release this set I am definitely buying more of this washi tape. I think one roll has approximately 32 "image panels" per roll. For this card we made an easy Easel Card. I think the die cut frame piece is just perfect for attaching the washi die cuts.

And the official class picture showing Anett's fabulous creations:

She obviously did an awesome job of teaching us as I'm pretty rapt that mine look pretty similar to hers and are FABULOUS even if I say so myself;) Even my partner commented when he saw the bundle of cards I returned home with that they all looked amazing. So stay tuned for next blog post to see more fab, fab cards.

Been too long between glimmering all the things

I've been glittering all the things lately but I saw the last Pinkfresh Studio Craft Hour hosted by Jeff Lindberg showing how to make a Yaz card, Yasmin Diaz that is and I loved the fold and thought at the time that's a cool fold and even though I don't have the stamp set they were using I can play with my Small Butterfly set from Pinkfresh Studios as I was also thinking about the latest AAA Birthday Card Challenge to use "butterflies".

Now the fold they taught in the video and it maybe worth watching (it's only an hour long) is really similar to a pinwheel tower card without the tower. It's a freestanding card that fits in an envelope.

Cutting and scoring: 

• TWO pieces of white card stock 5" (h) x 4-3/4" (w), score at 1/2" and 4-1/4" - in one piece die-cut out a shape and make a frame I used my Honey Bee stacked circles to die cut out a circle and make a frame

• Four A2 panels (4-1/2" x 5-1/2") scored at 2-1/8". Yaz used 2 colours as I did but could also use all the same colour or even white. 

• adhere the A2 panels to the alternate colour to make "your pinwheel"

• attach the white panels from step one
  
  
  
  
  
  

• The only other cutting dimension you need to make note of is the pop-up bit to attach the middle circle which is 4" x 3/4"; scored at 1/2", 1", 1-1/2", 2-1/2", 3" and 3-1/2" inches.

• you glue this "pop-up tag" either side of the score line and attach the die-cut you are using directly to it.

• I also made the same mistake as Jeff I added my circle frame all around my opening instead of attaching only at top and bottom so the frame floats too but it's still pretty and worked.

I think you can see my shimmer and all the butterflies better here than on the actual card.

I also decorated the back of the card where you can write your message and I have some more butterflies stored for future use too.

Supply List:

Small Butterflies (PFS): hot foil plate, stencils and dies

Ink (all PFS):  Mint, Lemon Whip, Soft Lilac, Warm Buff, Doe

Paper: Neenah White #110, Lilac (C9), Sea Glass (C9), Memory Box delicate pastel glitter paper

Dies: Sweet stacks: Circles (HB), Curvy Leaves (PFS)

Other: Silver glimmer foil (SP)

Challenge: AAA Birthday #51

✿ Karen ✿

Double Pop Up Fancy Fold

Hi everyone, daylight savings has ended in NZ and we have foggy mornings and it's hard to take nice pictures again, so hopefully I can do justice to this Rainbow of Happiness card as it sure makes me happy looking at it in real life. 

I often fall asleep watching videos on YouTube by creative crafters and I fell asleep the other night watching Susan Levasseur from WOW NOLA Creations, I nearly actually got out of bed to make it at the time as I love cards that are "simple" with a bit of WOW and this sure ticks that box. 

Like Susan, I also used Magenta Madness as my cardstock as it was an in-colour that never ticked any boxes for me and I was actually glad it is finally retiring in just under a month, but now after making this card I'm wishing I had more than 2 pieces of card stock left in my stash.

I had originally intended to use the Sweet as a Peach stamp set and its coordinating DSP which are also retiring but was thinking lets get rid of that Magenta Madness I hate.

 I love cards with card stock and matching DSP as in all honesty the rest is pretty easy after that.

 The cutting and scoring dimensions are:

Card stock: One piece 4¼" x 9½" (score at 5½", 6½", 8" and 9"). One piece 3½" x 5¾" (scored at 4¼" and 5¼").
DSP mats: One piece 5¼" x 4", one piece 4" x 1¼", 2 pieces 4" x ¾" and one piece 3¼" x ¾"
Basic White mats : Back mat 4" x 5¼", front mat 4" x 3¼"

This is a really sturdy card and I think this is an excellent design for a Christmas card as it shouldn't blow over and there really isn't too much cutting and scoring of bits, it also folds flat to fit in a standard envelope. It has a big mat on the back to write on and decorate. So Susan sure did a WOW-tastic job!

Supply List (all Stampin' Up! apart from cloud stencil):
Stamps: Rainbow of Happiness
Ink: Pool Party (clouds), Bermuda Bay, Mango Melody, Magenta Madness, Early Espresso
Paper: Magenta Madness, Basic White, Sunshine and Rainbows DSP (SAB)
Dies: Brilliant Rainbow (wee cloud), the rainbow is hand cut
Other: Dimesionals,  Wink of Stella (on clouds), left over self stick sequins from a Paper Pumpkin kit, small wee cloud stencil (Dutch Doobadoo)

 

PS the Rainbow of Happiness and matching dies are in SU! current January-June mini catalogue but they are NOT in the next Annual Catalogue coming May 2 2022, so they like Magenta Madness are also "retiring" so if you thought you might want to get it I would highly recommend it. I have some more cards that I have made with this set including a cool shaker card which I must share real soon!

I hope to blog more now I am officially retired and enter a few challenges to stretch me, one of my fav sites is Just Add Ink and their challenge this week is to Use Two (Flower, Paper, Pattern) so I will enter with my DSP and my rainbow pattern

Inky hugs until next time
✿ Karen ✿

Using A4 (metric) card stock to make a gatefold card

I'm not sure if I'm the only person in the world that wishes our card stock was just plain inches, it would make cutting and scoring a lot easier.

Anyhow I shared a cool gatefold card that a friend taught me the other day using the Geared Up to Celebrate stamp set & I thought I would share the cutting dimensions as going metric isn't that easy.

So to get started take a piece of A5 card stock (21 cm x 14.85cm). I find the easiest way to do the half measurements is go to the bigger number then bring it back a teeny bit.

Score in from each end at 5.25cm mark. I just used my paper trimmer that has a scoring blade as an attachment otherwise the Stampin' Up! metric scoring plate has a grove at 5.25cm.

Other cutting dimesions for card above two pieces of 14.35 x 4.75cm (card stock) and 2 pieces of 13.85 x 4.25cm (DSP)

I used the largest layering oval framelit for the biggest oval, I then used 2 ovals smaller to make the hold in it as I wanted it to be sturdy. Then I could have used 1 oval smaller but I used the 2nd largest Stitched Shapes Oval as I wanted the stitched details.

I've used On To Adventure  stamp set for the cute wee golfer (149334) which goes nicely with the very cool Country Club DSP in our current mini catalogue, as well as cool golf-themed papers there are some lovely plaids etc for masculine cards. The only other trick is when gluing down the oval enclosure is to only glue half the oval, attach the largest oval ring first.

• All my bits & bobs to start constructing. 

• I've flipped over my oval ring so you can see I have only attached the Tombow mono glue to one half of the oval.

•  It's a good tip to have the silicone craft mat under your work surface so it doesn't get sticky.

• This is what it looks like open at this stage. 

• I added the glue to the RHS half stamped image which is attached to the Crushed Curry oval. I found it easier to close the card down & pop the oval straight through the hole to line it all up.

•  Again just an image to show you what it looks like from inside at the moment.

• The completed card I have added a scrap of the plaid DSP underneath the white mat for the inner.

The colours in the DSP are Night of Navy, Garden Green, Crushed Curry, Poppy Parade (& Whisper white). I also saw on a You Tube video a good tip for making a wee closure if you want something to close which is using an embossing buddy on a mini glue dot, it's not really necessary for this card as it is actually a really snug closure.

Well I sincerely hope everyone is safe & locked down. I have tidies up most of my crafting room & it's a much nicer space to play in :)

Inky hugs
✿ Karen ✿

Twisted greeting cards for Christmas

Yes been MIA (again) but was prepping for my team's Extravaganza which 58 ladies had the pleasure of attending & doing 5 projects yesterday afternoon - this is the project I taught with Sally Williams which looks really hard but is very easy when you know how. Thanks to all that attended the response has been very positive .

Stamps:  More Merry Messages, Ornament Keepsakes

Ink:  Cherry Cobbler, Illuminate

Paper:  Gumball Green, Cherry Cobbler, Very Vanilla, Silver glimmer, Be of Good  Cheer DSP

Framelits:  Labels Collection, Holiday Ornaments

Other:  Snow Flurry Bigz die, dimensionals, basic jewels, square punch

Cutting Instructions:  Gumball Green A4 cut in ½ lengthwise, DSP 28.5cm x 9.5cm, Very Vanilla strip 10cm x 2.5 cm wide (banner) 

 If you want to know how-to; I’d recommend watching the creator of this fold's card Kelly Gettelfinger’s video 

Flip Flop Card

Well I'm not sure what you'd call this card but I really love cards that have a wee twist & this is a card inside a card to me  - the original I found on the fabulous Nancy Riley's blog - where she calls it's a 2-way open card.

Stamps: Teeny Tiny Sentiments, Cottage Garden
Ink: Poppy Parade, Pear Pizzazz
Paper: Poppy Parade, Pear Pizzazz, Peach Parfait, Sunny Garden DSP (retired)
Punches: Word window,1-3/4" scallop circle, 1-3/8: circle, 1-1/4" circle & the flower is hand cut using our fabulous paper snips (I've had a few comments that it looks punched out when seen in real life)
Other: Old Olive brad, dimensionals

Well it's a gorgeous Spring day in Auckland today so I hope everyone has a super weekend.
Happy stampin' in the interim

Do not open until Dec 25........................

Yummy DSP: the new spring mini has 2 new DSP's Walk in the Park & Ski Slope & I love them both but I do adore Baja Breeze (so that may have something to do with it). Only $19.95 for 12 sheets of co-ordinating designer series paper - how can you go wrong!

My home class tonight is looking at Fancy Folds & I think the Tri-shutter fold card is certainly that - looks hard but is so easy - click HERE to see a great tutorial.

Stamp set: Winter Post
Ink: Baja Breeze, Real Red, Chocolate Chip
Paper: Baja Breeze (textured), Chocolate Chip, Whisper White, Ski Slope DSP
Other: Ticket corner punch or ½" circle, designer label punch

Fancy Folds Part 1

This was the first card my class attendees made yesterday (hi ladies) & they all did so well!

This is what I call the secret compartment card as there's a trick to find the middle compartment - the only problem is the person receiving the card doesn't know it's there either but it's a very cool card.

Stamp sets: Good Friend, Cheep Talk, Really Retro
Ink: Baja Breeze, Kiwi Kiss, Riding Hood Red, Summer Sun, Pumpkin Pie, Chocolate Chip Creamy Caramel
Paper: Baja Breeze, Kiwi Kiss, Whisper White
Other: Sponge, dimensionals

This is the secret compartment revealed:
If you want to know the secret to this card book a workshop or a class with me. I can be contacted by e-mail HERE.

I've also released it has the right colour combination for Kristina's latest colour inspiration as it has a red, an orange, a yellow, a green & a blue in it.