Wednesday, December 4, 2013

My First tutorial

Two posts ago, I mentioned that I made the sparkly silver paper bow manually because I do not own the SU die that cuts them out for you. So it occurred to me to show you how I made the bow in a few simple steps.

First, this is the finished product, a birthday card for my good friend and fellow crafter. In fact, Wendy is the lady who first got me into rubber stamping and paper crafting. Here's to you, my friend. 





This picture is of my original pattern pieces, with a few dimensions written on them. I drew these pieces freehand, then worked with them to get them even. Cut 2 each of the bottom two pieces and l each of the top two.



I traced them with a pencil on the back of the paper I wanted to make the bow from, then cut them out. Here are the six pieces of the bow cut out and ready to assemble. 



And this shows the start of the assembly. I used a pencil to curl the pieces around , and then glue dots to hold them together. After I attached the five largest pieces together, I wrapped the small rectangle around everything and fastened it with glue dots.

Finally, I adhered the finished bow to the front of the card.




The patterned paper is from HFC's newest collection, Antiquity. The card base, bow and solid coloured diecuts are made with a great Swiss dot pre-embossed paper by Bazzil in the colours; Clover Leaf and Blissful.

The greeting, stamped with VersaMagic - Hint of Pesto - on a scrap of the same paper, is from the Justrite set, Celebration Labels One. I diecut the three layers using Spellbinders sets; Labels One, and Decorative Labels One. 




The inside is another square of the patterned paper with a handwritten message. Very quick and simple, and again, I am pleased with the look of the bow.


I hope you can put this information to use in your own creations. 

This will be the last post for a month or so. Now is travel time and Holiday preparations. I will try to get back at it by mid Jan. 

Meanwhile, I hope you all have a wonderful holiday season. And when it all gets too crazy, take some therapy time to get your fingers inky!! 


Monday, December 2, 2013

CASEing My Heart Out

That's right.; another case today. I came across this beautiful card and fell in love. But I don't own the Spellbinder 3D embossing folder, Rustic Wreath (yet) so I had to improvise.



Cut a piece of diamond sparkle c/s (Bazzil) to 4 3/4 x 6 3/4".

Are you noticing a theme yet? I love the Bazzil sparkle papers for Christmas cards - just as I love the velvet papers.

Okay. back on task. Run the paper through the die cutting machine with the Spellbinders 3D embossing folder - Basket Weave. Then lightly rub a Brilliance Pearlescent Beige ink pad over the front of the embossed paper until you get the amount of ink you like on the design. You want the most debossed areas to remain white for contrast. Attach the finished piece to the front of a 5x7" white card.












With the Build-a-Wreath die set from SB, cut the wreath and 10 extra branches from the Bazzil c/s. Attach the wreath to the front of the card. Shape the branches, then attach around the wreath with glue dots. Use glue dots or crystal effects to attach 5 small 'clumps' of red rhinestones (from stash - no brand name) to look like berries. Do not have the exact same number of 'berries' in each clump.







Die cut a round ornament shape from the white c/s with the round ornament die from Justrite's charm die set. Leave the die cut in the die and sponge on the Brilliance ink , then remove and stamp the greeting (Justrite - Festive Poinsettias) with red ink. Loop a piece of gold embroidery floss through the hole of the ornament, then attach just below the wreath with a glue dote.

Make a messy bow with 1/4" red satin ribbon and attach to the card with another glue dot.

I think the finished product looks quite a bit like the original. I have not finished the inside of this card yet but must set it aside for a few days.

That is the last of my Christmas cards for a while. I have all my 'special 'cards made, as well as all 90 of my other Christmas cards signed, addressed and ready to drop into the mail when I get back home next weekend. I do have a couple of birthday cards to get made for next Tuesday so I will have to get at those next. I may try to post them before we leave but time is getting tight and we have painters coming on Monday.

Meanwhile, find the time to get your fingers inky.