BUTTONS BIRTHDAY CARD

Buttons, buttons and buttons, what useful little items they are to add interest to your card. Regal Craft Shop has quite a few in store and as you can see by Tanias card can make a good generic birthday card. This card is bright and cheery and would be great for a teenager or a young man perhaps. Tania has used the Regal three window cutout card and just chosen a complimentary variety of papers to add some life and interest. The sticker has been coloured using a permanent pen. Easy and quick.

APPLE CARDS

These apple cut-out shape cards were a card of the month on the facebook page and have been created by various people just to show you that an apple shaped card does not have to be boring. Three out of the four have just used paper as the feature point. In the instance of the front card the circles were die cut using nesting dies in graduated colours, the one behind uses the bit of paper you have left over when you cut the strips out.

ALL-PURPOSE SIMPLE SQUARES CARD

SIMPLE SQUARES

How super simple is this card.  If you have hole punches it may be time to get them out of the cupboard and put them to good use.

Select four different paper (a great way to use up your scraps), and cut four large squares (punch them, die-cut or just use scissors!).  If you have a corner rounder punch, round off opposite corners.  If you don't then you can buy yourself one at Regal /Craft Cards or use a coin as a template and cut with scissors..

Cut out a square in another colour that is big enough to fit all four square with a bit of space between and around them, and stick the smaller squares in place, with the non-rounded corners in the corners of the backing square (see photo).  Mount the whole thing onto a square singlefold card from Regal Craft Cards

You can just stop there if you like, but if you want to add further detail you can either add an embellishment to the middle of the shapes or to one or all of the smaller squares.  In this example I've punched out two circles, added some holes and threaded some stranded embroidery cotton through.  You could use a button as an alternative.

One of the great things about this card design is how versatile it is - you can vary the colours, or emboss each square with a different pattern or paint them etc, and couple this with embellishments appropriate to literally any occasion from weddings to birthday, to Christmas.  A little tip though - unless you use a really "loud" embellishment, the paper is the star of this card, so don't skimp on quality.

TWO MEN ON A FENCE

MULTI-USE TWO MEN ON A FENCE CARD

This is sort of a five and a bit minute "wonder" - it certainly won't take too long to make.

All you need is a base card from Regal Craft Cards and the Paper Roses die (which can also be ordered from them), a little white ink and some paper.

I put down the lightest green paper first and then lay the straight edges of darker green at an angle each side just slightly over the top, and trimmed to the edge of the card.  That way you don't have to measure or cut neatly!  I fussy cut a hill from dark navy cardstock, and die cut the men, stuck them in place and then sponged in some white clouds.  Technically "sponged", I actually used my index finger which I find worked just fine!

That's it.  You could easily add a greeting if you wanted, either on the bottom edge or in the sky space, and you could send the card for just about any occasion - everything from birthdays to greetings from Tasmania, to Fathers' Day.  Add a heart in the middle (the gender of the folks on the fence is not clear) for Valentine's or engagement, or stick down a couple of bunnies in the paddock and a tiny egg or two for Easter.  There's lots you could do with this basic design.

HOLLY CHRISTMAS CARD

LAST MINUTE CHRISTMAS CARD

OK, so if you are still making cards by this time of the year you are after something super quick to finish, and here it is!

Sharon has used a Regal holly cut-out card, put some patterned green paper underneath, and then added some gold greeting stickers and stars and a few red rhinestones and well....it's finished!

Unfortunately Regal will not be re opening until January 2nd but its an idea to keep in mind if you have to make a lot of cards next year, or if perhaps you'd just like to get the Christmas Cards out of the way in January.

Just think how proud of yourself you can feel for the rest of the year, especially in December when many more of us are in panic mode!

CHRISTMAS TREE CARDS

CHRISTMAS TREE CUT OUT CARDS

By this time of year, if you haven't already made your cards its time to get busy.

These two examples are both quick to make and really pretty too.

Sharon has used a gold base card.  You can buy gold cards in both single and three panel versions from Regal (which is also where the foiled white paper came from), or if you are in a huge hurry, you can get cards with the tree already cut out in white, red or green.

Sharon has put paper under the cut out panel of one card and used the shape for the other.  She has crimped the tree, but you could equally well emboss it, decorate it in other ways or just leave it plain. Adhesive pearls and fabric stars comple the cards.

If you are well prepared and use pre-cut cards,  you could just about finish both of these in under ten minutes - great if you still have a lot of cards to make before the big day!

CHRISTMAS GREETINGS FROM AUSTRALIA

CHRISTMAS GREETINGS FROM AUSTRALIA

If you haven't already taken care of the Christmas card situation for overseas friends and relatives, you need to start giving the situation some serious thought now.

As time is of the essence, another quick card from Sharon is in order.

Regal make these Australia cut out cards in three colours - white, green and ivory, so all you need to do is pop some pretty paper in the aperture and embellish if desired (Sharon has used a paper poinsettia and leaves from Green Tara).

This card has been made in traditional Christmas colours but you could go for an outback palette of ochre, gold and burnt orange if you wanted something really different, and add a die-cut Australian animal or plant (Ultimate Crafts make some good ones) as embellishment.

Regal do some state cards as well, so if you want to be very geographically specific its worth contacting them to ask about availability.  I know that there are certainly Tasmania cut-outs.

CHRISTMAS PRESENT CARD

CHRISTMAS PRESENT CARD

As you've probably guessed by now, Sharon did the Christmas demonstration for Regal Craft Cards back in September, and we can now all enjoy a selection of her cards.

This is another quick card - just the sort of thing that's needed as Christmas gets closer.

She has placed a piece of decorative paper under the cut-out of one of Regal's square windowpane card (XSWP2), and covered the central cross with strips of shiny metallic paper, to make a "present."

A paper bow finished the project.  Sharon has cut her own, but you could use a diecut or even real ribbon as an alternative.

You could easily adapt this card for many different occasions simply by changing the colour choice.

FREESTYLE CHRISTMAS TREES

CHRISTMAS TREE CARD

Here's another one of Sharon's fun Christmas Cards.

She has cut the trees and ground freehand (no template required), stuck them to the white basecard, and then added some stars and a greeting from a peel-off sticker pack and its done!

If you have the materials at hand, you can make this card in just a few minutes and its a great way to use up leftovers from the paper stash.

5 MINUTE CROPPED THREE-FOLD CARD

This is another "taster" from the "Shiny" demo to be held by Regal Craft Cards next Thursday (26th October) between 10 and 3.

It  qualifies as a five minute wonder if you have all your supplies at hand (but not if you're like me and spend 3 hours deciding what to put on the card it might take a little longer).

I have cut the end panel of one of Regal Craft Card's three panel cards in half, and covered the other in foiled paper.  I've added a gold diecut (from Kaiser) and a greeting to the cut panel and that's it.

Two of the advantages of this format is that it gives you extra space inside on which to write, but that it can also be used to add a level of privacy when the card is displayed.  The card does sit nicely, and stands out from normal singlefolds.

QUICK ALL-PURPOSE HORIZONTAL CARD

QUICK CARD

Sharon has made this quick card using papers from FabScraps, some stickers and flower embellishments.

You can adapt the idea to suite the materials you have at hand.

Start with a singlefold base card from Regal Craft Cards (available in over 30 colours), and use it in horizontal profile as a base.

All you need to do then is add "stripes" of co ordinating plain and/or patterned papers, and some (optional) stickers to disguise the joins, and you're done.  You can of course add embellishments such as the flowers and rhinestones used here (or small stamps, diecuts, pearls etc) and a greeting.  Sharon has used a ration of 1/3 at the base to 2/3 above which works well visually.

If you save your scraps in colour-matched snaplock bags you're good to go and this can be a 5 minute card for any occasion.

FISH THEMED CARDS

FISH CALENDAR CARD

It's just possible that during the holiday period a few folk might be fishing, so these cards seemed appropriate.  The first, as you can see, has a calendar attached so it can be used all year.

I started with a centre stepper card from Regal, and added lots of blue and green inks and stamped images (I like to think it looks better off-screen (?!)).  The images are from a Kaiser paper but you could stamp some as an alternative.

The second card also uses an image from the same sheet of paper but I've added a postcard picture and a piece of thread - this is a genuine 5 minute card.  The background is a silver single fold card in a DL size.

FISHING CARD

VERY QUICK CARDS FOR CHRISTMAS

Well, if you're still making Christmas cards now, I'm assuming you're in a bit of a rush so these three cards from Marty will hopefully provide the inspiration you need.

Regal is closed for the Christmas break from today until January 3rd so sadly you won't  be able to rush down for paper, but raid your collection and you might be pleasantly surprised.  It doesn't have to be completely Christmassy - just using red green and gold can reference the season.

Use Marty's example as "card sketches" and off you go!  The time starts now...............

RED SQUARES - AN EASY 5 MINUTE CARD

RED SQUARES

I often look at the cards I make and think "Oh dear....", but I like this one.  I especially like it because its a great emergency card design for all occasions - just change the colour(s) and greeting to suit.

I've used a smooth white singlefold card from Regal Craft Cards as the base - they have lots of colours available if you fancy another alternative.

Next its just a matter of choosing a square hole punch or die (or ruler and craft knife) to cut some squares - any size will do - these are a little over 1 1/4 inch.  Any paper will do too, as long as yoy like it and think it goes together.  These are from a Kaiser paper pad, but experiment with old book pages, rainbow colours, embossed papers etc.

Arrange the squares in a way you find pleasing - I've put these on edge, left a little gap between them, and run them off the sides of the card, but there are lots of other choices - a grid, a portrait orientation, a mixture of small and big squares etc.

All that's left is to add a greeting.  I've used a pre-made one, but the circle is a good idea as it contrasts with the squares, and stands out a little more because I've popped it onto a foam "sticky fixer" and positioned it approximately a third of the way across, and down - a position that naturally draws the eye.

Give yourself permission to play!!

3 BUTTERFLY CUT OUT CARD

QUICK BUTTERFLY CARD

If you have the right base card like this one from Regal Craft Cards you can make a handmade card in record time.

Sharon has added a selection of pretty papers to Regal's white textured 3 butterfly card (NO58 or XNO58). (You don't even need to cut neatly as the card's third panel folds underneath to hide the back). A couple of stickers and an adhesive pearl later and your work is done!

This is a really nice way to use up left-overs or to showcase really special papers.

BLUE BUTTERFLY BEST WISHES

BLUE BUTTERFLY BEST WISHES

This is another 5 minute marvel, suited to many occasions.

Take a piece of patterned paper from the Ultimate Crafts Australiana range, stick it on top of one of Regal's singlefold dark blue cards (PL24), add a Sparklelight butterfly (stick it in the middle of the body so you can lift the wings) and finish with some rhinestones in opposite corners and a "Best Wishes" sticker.

How easy is that?!

A BON VOYAGE OR BIRTHDAY CARD

ADVENTURE CARD

This great card for the young at heart could be used for birthdays or bon voyage and for either male or female receiptients.

Marilyn has used paper from the Graphic 45 Worlds Fair Collection to fussy cut the features. The patterned background is from Kaiser.

Accents are provided by a row of gold rhinestones under the "Adventure" and in the top corner.

The card base is a singlefold ivory textured card (PL4) from Regal Craft Cards.

All in all a quick but effective card for many occasions!

STEPPER CARD WITH CALENDAR

STEPPER CARD CALENDAR

This is an example of Regal's newest stepper card - this one had the largest panel in the middle rather than at the side, but its still large enough to take a small Regal calendar (CAP1).

I've used Kaiser papers to make a bit of bunting and add a little decoration, but clearly there are lots of other design options and I'll be showing a few on the blog over the next couple of weeks.  The main point is that all the hard work measuring, cutting and folding is already done - all you need to do is decorate!

Although this example has this year's calendar on it, we do already have the small and medium 2016 calendar pads on line and in the shop for those folks who like to get a really early start!!!

SUPER QUICK NOTE CARD

SUPER QUICK NOTE CARD

Lynne made this true 5 minute card from one of Regal's black single fold cards and some scrapbooking paper from Graphic 45.

Just because its a quick card, though, doesn't mean that good design goes astray, and the way Lynne has arranged the elements in the 1/3 - 2/3 ratio means that this card really works.

It could be used for many occasions, including as a notecard - just to drop a quick line to a friend for no particular occasion (email's great but you can't sit them on a shelf).  If you wanted to make a set of cards as a gift, a simple design such as this would be perfect.

QUICK BABY CARD

A CARD FOR A BABY BOY

What better way to start the new year, than a card for a new baby.
Marilyn has used some simple materials to achieve a clean but cute result - just some striped paper, and a couple of plain blues coupled with some stickers.  All of which are stuck on top of a white textured singlefold card from Regal Craft Cards.

You could easily adapt the design by using different colours, and/or substituting the stickers for stamps or diecuts.