One Sheet Wonder Card Set - part 1

WHEW ! I did it - I left comments on every single bloggers post from the 

Operation Write Home blog hop, nearly 100 wonderful creations were shared !

Now I'm suffering from Inspiration Overload =)

 I made this project for the Papercrafts magazine blog tour celebrating World Card Making Day.

The diagram I created for the One Sheet Wonder set of cards I shared .

I created seven cards. 

The decorative paper I created using rubber stamps and inks.

This photo shows it cut into pieces already.

SUPPLIES used to make the decorative paper,

all from Stampin' Up! unless otherwise noted:

Naturals card stock

Really Rust, More Mustard, Chocolate Chip card stocks

Lovely Leaves stamp set

All Year Cheer stamp set 

Itty Bitty Backgrounds stamp set

 inks: Really Rust, More Mustard, Chocolate Chip, Creamy Caramel, gold metallic

Randomly stamp the images all over your card stock.

This can be cut up into several pieces to make cards or

other small projects or kept as an entire piece to use as 

a background paper for a scrapbook page.

You could also use it on other larger projects.

TIP: to create multi colored leaves,

first ink your image with the lightest color of ink

then roll the edges of the stamp on a darker color.

You could also color the rubber stamp with water based markers

or water color crayons.

Another option is to stamp the leaves with Versamark ink

then pounce on Pearl Ex powders or chalks.

Here are a few of the cards I made with the pieces.

I'll share the rest tomorrow.

4" x 4" piece

The "flag" was hand cut.

The leaf eyelet was a gift, I don't know who manufactured it.

I lightly sponged a bit of gold ink onto the naturals card stock.

I distressed the edges of the rust card stock layer.

4 1/2" wide x 4" tall piece

I tore one of the edges.

I ran the Rust card stock through the Herringbone embossing folder then

lightly sponged the edges with Chocolate Chip ink.

I also lightly sponged the edges of the stamped naturals card stock piece . 

The gold organdy ribbon has a piece of chocolate colored mulberry paper torn into a strip behind it.

TIP: use a small dampened paintbrush or aquapainter to run a line on the mulberry paper

where you'd like to tear it. It really does help !

TIP: you can color clear rhinestone accents and the silver metal edge of tags with permanent markers to change their color ! I used a brown Sharpie on a silver metal edged tag to give it a sort of copper look.

TIP: punch out different colors of card stock to fit inside your metal edge tag.

I punched out a circle from the naturals card stock to match the stamped paper background.

TIP: you can ink portions of your stamp image with water based markers and create masks to

change the way they stamp. In my sample I used a single line, long sentiment stamp. I inked it with a Chocolate Chip marker to color "Happy",

 stamped it on the punched out circle. Clean it off well then reink "Thanksgiving", stamp underneath

the "Happy" to make it fit on the circle tag.

3 1/2 " x 2 1/2" piece

layered under a piece of vellum

and topped with a skeleton leaf that I colored

by sponging on various inks

Thanks for looking =)

Christmas Tree Card How To - OWH WCMD Hop

These are the dimensions I used to create the card I shared yesterday  

They were altered from the original sketch since my finished card is 5" x 7". 

Supplies used (almost all of which came from Stampin' Up!,):

Navy blue card stock

Silver metallic card stock

Gold metallic card stock

Glossy white card stock

Various colors of card stock scraps

Decorative paper, lightweight

Dark green marker

Dark brown marker

Navy blue ink pad

Metallic silver ink pad

Dark green ink pad

White crayon

Glitter and dimensional glue

Textured embossing plate

Rubber stamps

Pop Up Christmas tree die

Star paper punch

1/4" circle paper punch

3/8" circle punch

Tiny flower paper punch

Tiny heart paper punch

Snowflake border paper punch- for the teeny snowflakes used on the red ornament, not from Stampin' Up!

Large scallop circle punch, not from Stampin' Up!

Dimensional paper paints, not from Stampin' Up!

Sponge

Facial tissue

Adhesives

I used the crayon resist technique on the tree then added glitter sprinkled onto clear drying dimensional glue to simulate sparkling snow. I added the glitter highlights to some of the branches as well as the ground. NOTE: if you are making cards to send to Operation Write Home, please do not use glitter !

Color your stamp image with water based markers if you'd like it to be multicolored. Stamp your image on glossy white card stock; make sure the ink is dry before moving on to the next step. 

Use the white crayon to draw on areas you want to remain white. Create a mask from a sticky note to cover the area you wish to remain white for the snow covered ground. Sponge ink over the top. The crayon will resist the ink. It is similar to drawing designs on Easter eggs with clear crayons or old wax candles, then the die resists where the egg was drawn on. 

Remove the paper mask. Gently wipe the ink and crayon off with a soft tissue to reveal white highlights where the crayon was. 

To see how to use this technique to create a "black and white" photo stamped image, see my post here. I was quite pleased with how this idea of mine turned out on rubber stamp images of classic vehicles, making several of them to send in to Operation Write Home last year.

Stamp the six silver squares using silver ink. Set aside to dry. For added dimension, heat emboss. TIP: it would be easier to stamp before cutting into pieces, but I wanted my words to line up just so on each piece, so I stamped after cutting. I used a small sentiment stamp that fit almost perfectly, stamping twice per square. 

Dry emboss the large navy blue piece of card stock with an embossing folder, texture plate or brass templates/stylus (remember those?) . You could also heat emboss stamped images or simply stamp the card stock. You may even have preprinted decorative papers that you would like to use in place of the navy and silver pieces. 

The pop up tree was created with a special die made by Sizzix.

Notice that I wrote on the die with a permanent marker

to remind myself how many of each piece to cut out.

All cut out and ready to stamp before assembly.

Stamping isn't necessary, but I like the extra detail.

Assembly is a bit tricky, but once you've made a few of them it gets easier.

Punch two stars from gold metallic card stock then glue back to back on either side of the tree to make the tree topper.

I punched out a large scalloped circle from lightweight decorative paper to glue inside the card before adhering the pop up tree. This made my tree skirt.

I use hot melt glue to adhere the tree to the inside of the card - which for whatever reason, every single one of them I have made doesn't want to fully open / stand upright. It still makes a fun surprise for the recipient.  

Punch numerous little ornaments with various tiny paper punches and papers. Decorate. Apply glue dots to the back of the ornaments and adhere to the release paper the glue dots come on. Perhaps you have some tiny stickers or sticky backed rhinestones/pearls that would work as ornaments, it sure would be easier and less time consuming. You may want to include a note inside the card with the ornaments letting the recipient know that they can be removed from the release paper then be attached to the tree.

Click Here to see my first detailed pop up Christmas tree card. It has the ornaments already attached plus I lightly sponged "snow" on the tops of the tree branches  It is a trifold photo holder card I created my own pattern for. It folds up into a 5"x7" card, opens up to display two photos and a pop up tree. It is still one of my favorite creations. 

Thanks for looking and if you are back from the blog hop yesterday, thanks for visiting me again  =) 

Blog Hop - Operation Write Home World Card Making Day

http://operationwritehome.org/starsandstamps

Be sure to click the link above to be taken to the list of
awesome bloggers sharing their wonderful creations this weekend !

Also, if you've not heard of Operation Write Home,
take a moment to read about this wonderful organization.
It is gratifying to make works of heart to be sent to the troops
 overseas so they have something special to write home on.

I'm thrilled to be a participant in this years 

Operation Write Home World Card Making Day blog hop! 

Thank You So Much for stopping by =) 

Sorry that this is not the best photo, 

it does not show the glittery accents on the snow,

silver ink or dry embossing details very well.

I assume the different shimmery effects as well as the 

contrast of dark and light colors messed with

my camera, not allowing it to capture the image well. 

I used the crayon resist technique and added glitter highlights

on the tree and snow. Please remember, NO GLITTER on the cards

you make to send to Operation Write Home. 

Our challenge was to create a holiday/wintry feel card based on a sketch from the Operation Write Home sketch designs. My card front uses a slightly altered version of sketch number 21. I changed the dimensions of the pieces since the finished card is a 5" x7" size.

Although I am pleased with the front of my card, the inside is what I'm most excited to share: a decorate it yourself pop up mini Christmas tree ! I made tiny ornaments with various paper punches and backed them with adhesive dots. I left them on the release paper so the recipient can easily removed them to decorate the tree. Wouldn't this be fun to send to someone special, such as an injured service member recuperating in the hospital or one that is serving overseas ? Please don't use glitter if sending to service members though.

We were asked to keep our posts short for the hop, so if you'd like more information about how I made this card, please come back tomorrow, Sunday October 7th. I'll be sharing the technique I used on the tree, the supply list as well as a sketch with the sizes I used to make this 5" x 7" card.

Lastly, please take a quick peek at my second post for the day, One Sheet Wonder Cards, that I shared for the Papercrafts magazine blog tour celebrating World Card Making Day. I will post all of the details for this set of cards on Monday and Tuesday. So many details and photos it requires two posts !


Now go get inspired from the rest of the wonderful blogs in this hop ! I'll be visiting all the blogs throughout the weekend. Most of the time I plan on being in my craft dungeon to work on Christmas cards to be sent to hospitalized service members. Last year I stuffed a box full of over 350 cards to be sent to Operation Write Home. I'm not making nearly that many this year for OWH since I've already done nearly 100 for an Honor Flight and am working on those cards for injured heroes to be collected locally. It really is gratifying and fun making cards for our heroes, just a small way to show my support for all that they do and sacrifice for our country.

Thanks for stopping by,
Heather

Blog Hop - Papercrafts Magazine World Card Making Day

Celebrate World Card Making Day 2012 ! 

Looking for card making inspiration ? 

Visit the nearly 250 blogs that are a part of the

Papercrafts magazine blog tour this year.

Be sure to see my second post of the day for the 

Operation Write Home Blog Hop

for World Card Making Day 

where I share a wintry card 

with a pop up surprise inside.

My project is what is referred to by some as a "One Sheet Wonder": using a single piece of decorative paper (plus many extras) to create several cards or projects.

You can use preprinted papers or make your own using rubber stamps (or digital images) such as I did here.

I created my own diagram of the parts I wanted to cut out and use for cards. I made 7 cards with the sketch I created when the paper was cut into the various pieces. You can find many more One Sheet Wonder (also referred to as Double Time) patterns online or make your own.

The cards can be quite quick and simple or by adding numerous layers and embellishments, can become more elaborate. This is also a good project to use up scraps in your stash.

To keep the post for the hop short, I'll be sharing the diagram I designed, supply lists and individual photos of the cards on Monday and Tuesday. I must divide them up into two posts since each will be quite lengthy.

I'm off to the craft dungeon for a little while today, working on Christmas cards for the troops. I plan on making another set using the One Sheet Wonder idea and Christmas stamps !

Thanks for stopping by, enjoy the rest of the hop =)
Heather

Caterpillars and Squirrels........

are feasting on my tomato plants ! 

First bug I found Saturday morning

found two more Monday evening 

Somebody's been eating my tomatoes 

Now that the plants are finally producing decent looking tomatoes

(they are all still green, but they are larger than they have been all summer

and the bottoms aren't rotten anymore),

critters are munching on them ! Sigh.................

Once we got back from our trip, noticed leaves had disapperaed,

only small stubs of branches left on many of them.

I also noticed the bottoms of some of the

larger tomatoes were gnawed on. 

I'm no gardener and had no idea what to look for, 

figured it must have been some sort of bug munching on them.

While watering the other day, I noticed a slightly odd looking "leaf"

laying on the wire cage, deep inside. 

I kept watering the plants, picking off the new blooms

 and eaten tomatoes. 

Something about that "leaf" reminded me of a time

many, many years ago when my uncle paid each of us kids

a dollar if we found caterpillars in his tomato plants.

I didn't recall exactly what they were supposed to look like,

but do remember they would be difficult to spot which is why

he offered us money to find them

(I don't think any of us found any that day). 

I went back to take a closer look at that "leaf" 

and realized it was a large caterpillar type bug. 

I found a long enough stick to reach in there and 

get it out (it did not want to let go!),

snapped a photo then carried it across the yard and driveway

to the base of the old maple tree. 

I've no idea if it will eat leaves of the tree, but surely it won't 

make it back to devour the tomato plants. 

That evening I saw a cousin of mine that gardens

(who also happens to be the son of the uncle that

offered to pay us to find caterpillars all those years ago).

He told me that squirrels were probably guilty of chewing on the bottoms

of the tomatoes, looking for moisture and that the big bug

 certainly could have been the culprit that ate the leaves. 

Now that it is October, I'm not sure if any of the tomatoes

will turn, but I'm hoping. If so, they will be the best looking

and largest that I've picked all year. I must have thrown out

hundreds of small, rotten tomatoes; we maybe ate two dozen.

I think next year I'll just make it a point to go to a farmers market =) 

Sent Birthday Cards

A few cards I sent out recently.

I borrowed this Wolf set (Stampin' Up!) years ago 

and made numerous cards with it. 

I still have a couple leftover, this is one of them.

Bleach out an area of Going Gray card stock,

allow to dry well then stamp over the bleached out

area with Basic Black ink. 

Another old set from Stampin' Up!, I'm not sure of the name

I think it is Artifacts.

The background is Paint Prints (or Harlequin?).

This is a shaker card.

This was a an old swap I received, made into a card.

I've no idea the name of the stamp set but I do know it

is an oldie from Stampin' Up! 

Thanks for looking =)

Happy Fall Cards

I should go back in and add a few "leaves" on the ground

I'm pretty sure this card was copied from somewhere;

I made it so long ago and don't remember exactly.

All stamp images are from Stampin ' Up!

Breyer Model Horses

There are many wonderful shops and restaurants in Downtown Springfield, IL.

One of our favorites to go into is Recycled Records.

Don't let the name fool you, there are so many fun things to look at there.

It never fails, one of us finds something to buy.

Last year my husband bought a small model and postcard

of the old Admiral Riverboat from St. Louis.

Each year my son finds something he must have

(and many others he'd love to have, then again we all find things

we think we'd like to have but resist the urge to bring it home)

This year it was my turn to find something I just couldn't say no to.

We were walking by the store and I was joking, wondering aloud if
the model horses that I saw last year were still there (I knew they wouldn't be).
My son and I stopped in for our first of many visits.
We seem to stop in once a day to see if anything is new
or make up our mind about something we had seen earlier
and were thinking about buying.
Each time we go in, we see something different.

The second time we walked by they were closed for supper.

The third time that day I walked by,
lo and behold there were model horses in the window !



I immediately, without hesitation, snatched up the dapple gray Arabian =)

The rest of the weekend I wrestled with should I or shouldn't I

buy the little Clydesdale.

I knew my shelves were already full and wasn't sure I could make room for him ,

it was going to be tough making space for the Arabian as it was.

Of course I am now kicking myself for not getting him......................

Here are my Breyers -

(I think I could have made the other model fit.....)

Oh how I dreamed of buying many, many model horses and

devoting a room to them when I was a kid.

I loved looking at the catalogs and even subscribed to

their magazine way back when.

I also dreamed of owning a real horse one day.

The closest I ever came to that was

owning/driving Mustang cars, ha ha.

Happy Anniversary Card

Made with scraps leftover from the 

Negatives Notebook project I made last year.

The flower came from a little box kit of flower parts

to put together that I found at a yard sale 

a couple of years ago.

I do not recall the name of the manufacturer. 

Happiness is inked in Pumpkin Pie

and Always is inked in Island Indigo,

both are inks, as is the saying,

from Stampin' Up!

I'm A Color Explorer !

WOW, I'm so honored to be chosen as the Color Explorer at Color Me Beautiful Challenge Blog for their Aubergine Dreams Color Challenge last week !!!!!

The project I submitted was my Scrap Map Challenge 1 - a two page spread created with My Digital Studio from Stampin' Up!

Many Thanks to the design team for choosing my project , I'm tickled pink =)

Be sure to stop by their blog. This is week four of their color challenge, they have posted another stunning color combination to work with .