MARIGOLD MAGIC

This bright and breezy Marigold card is one of mine. A pretty generic card for anyone of any persuasion. Just divide the card into random sections and put some strips of card as the divider. I did think later that you could change the panels into different colours to add a difference. I have just added two squares of contrasting card .


Marilyn

TULIP TIME

I believe this card may be a Heather creation. Using a pre-cut scallop edge card from Regal Craft she has chosen a couple of tulip images and covered one with a film type clear sheet to give the effect of a film strip. This is a very simple but effective card that could be changed to suite anyone for any occasion.

TEA TIME CUP AND SAUCER

This is another of Sharon's  { tea time} cards. Made from the ready made tea cup cards available at Regal Craft Cards. She has used pretty papers to decorate the cup  and plainer paper for the base. Accents are border stickers and a flower to lift the design. Sharon has then slit the base and folded the card so that it sits up. In this instance the card can'not be flattened for postage but what a great idea for a place setting at a party.

TRAVEL CARD

Been on a trip or know someone who is going and need to make a card? What better example than this one Sharon has made.
The photo /slide lines are cut from a strip of printed acetate and a number of travel stickers we have in store have been placed under the acetate. It's finished off with the camera sticker. You could use stamps or die cut to achieve the same style card

ROSES AND LACE

As the easel/tilt card was a monthly challenge so there are a number of these on offer. This special card is Sharon's offering. This would make a great Mothers Day card or birthday. Lace trim and and a burgundy bow and a couple of Kaiser baby blue adhesive pearls set off the rear panel .Large pearls are used to stop the card from coming forward

Tania's clock step card

Tania has made this step card using Regal's pre-made card  base. By using browns and blacks this has given the card a masculine feel but if you used pastels for example, it would be a totally different look. The black triangle on the left has been embossed with a pattern that goes well with the background paper which is from the Ultimate Crafts Evening Cocktail 6 x 6 pad. She has used a nesting die to create the circles for both the back panel and the forward decoration. Not sure where the clock face image came from but maybe a stamp or from the Kaiser antiques sticker sheet.
 What can you do when you run out of room to fit the greeting? Now was the Best wishes deliberately stuck on that way or not? Either way it looks good and gives a quirky twist to the card! It's finished off with four sticker dots and borders for a very pleasing effect!

stacked ovals

Another offering from Heather. This card is made using a set of  nesting dies. She has used the entire set for this. The ovals are cut out of black card a contrasting card with some surprise images or greetings on each oval. Then a hole punched in the top. The bunch has been fixed together using a split pin and a piece of ribbon so as to allow he whole thing to swing. Finished off with a bit of bling, Kaiser adhesive pearls and a greeting sticker.

Sparklelight Stacker Card

This lovely card Heather made is a simple stacker 3d from the Sparklelight range. Easy to make as all the pictures are numbered. Working from the lowest number, i.e number 1 to the highest you just line up the image so all the edges match. Use mounting squares or silicone glue {make sure it's paper glue} to separate and lift each image and give you depth.
Heather has then mounted the image onto navy and silver card to make the image pop out. The finished card is an Amethyst single fold card from Regal Craft.
There are several of these images available in the shop.

A CARD WITH AN ACETATE FRONT

ACETATE PANEL CARD

Although its not evident from the picture, this card features an acetate front that makes the design elements appear to "float" in front of the background panel.

Sharon has die cut the front of a Regal single fold card to make a decorative edge (pink with white spots) and secured a panel of see through acetate (also available from Regal) underneath. She has then used fussy cut pictures backed with double sided Jac paper (Regal again!) to decorate the front.  If you don't have a suitable die you could cut a decorative edge with scissors or just make it straight about 2.5cm below the fold.

If you are looking for something to do that is a bit different but doesn't involve complicated templates this could be the card for you!

Well, this is my last "ghost post".  Marilyn will be doing the card posts as well as the updates from now on. It's been so nice to have the opportunity to share card making ideas.  Cheers!

I

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.

Z FOLD OVERLAPPING CARD

SITTING OPEN

TOP VIEW SHOWING FOLD

FOLDED FLAT

This is a very simple variation of Regal's three panel card, which is easier to show in pictures than to try and explain in brief......but as we have the pictures I'll give it my best shot!

Fold each of the side panels in turn over the middle panel, adding an additional fold, half way so that the edge of the panel lines up with the original fold (i.e. the edge of the card). The card edges (see the small picture at t he top) will look like they have a Z shaped fold, and the overall card will appear as a gatefold card.  Add any background papers at this stage.

Next, using a set of nesting dies (any will do, but I've used stitched circleds cut a shape that does not overhang the sides of the card (I've done this out of gloss red).  Using removable tape, centre a smaller die in the middle of the shape and run it through your die cutter so that there is a hole in the middle. Stick this shape half over the edge of the left hand folded panel of your card

Using the same die (or a smaller one) cut another shape.  I've used black gloss this time.  You could use the circle you've just cut out if you want although I think a contrast looks nice.  With your card folded shut, centre the smaller shape so that it sits inside the first shape, and stick it down.  It will be approximately half on and half off the folded edge of the right hand side.

Add whatever decorations take your fancy at this stage.

This card looks fine folded flat (see small picture above), and is easy to post like this, but it sits really nicely with a great three-dimensional effect (see large picture).  It could easily be adapted for any occasion.

SPIRELLII GREETING CARD

SPIRELLI CARD

It's probably obvious that this card makes use of scalloped circle nesting dies.  (You can  experiment with different shapes and scallops).

I've taped the end of  some thin metallic thread to the back of the circle and threaded it between the scallops to another gap, a few spaces away, and then just continued to thread all around the circle until each has been filled.  The closer the first distance the bigger the hole in the middle will be.  This technique is known as Spirelli.

I've  used Kaiser paper for the back (unthreaded) circle, border and greeting, and inked some white gloss cards with a variety of pinks for the light and dark circles.  The smalled one has a heard die-cut from the middle and is mounted on foam tape to add depth. 

You have almost certainly guessed that the base card is from Regal Craft Cards.  If you want to make a more "masculine" version, why not go for cogs instead of scalloped circles and change the colours.

STITCHED CARD

Regal Craft Cards make these nifty "stitched" cards already printed so that you can get straight to the fun part and decorate them.

Tania has selected black and gold as the dominant colour theme, which matches very well with the flax base card. and has put her nesting dies to good use to add the decoration.

These cards are a great way to use up all those little pieces of paper that you just can't bear to throw away, and can be modified to suit the interests of the receiptient of the card.  Someone who enjoyed sewing for instance could have a card with pins, needles, fabric scraps, buttons etc.  Someone who enjoyed woodwork might enjoy nails, washers, die-cut tools etc.

Why not buy a pack and have some fun!

SUSPENDED DIE-CUT CARD TO SUIT ANY OCCASION

DIE-CUT BUTTERFLIES

This will take you a little bit longer than five minutes - but not much.  It's more the technique than the card (which I found in Regal's Bargain Corner) I wanted to show this week.

 Just pick a singlefold card, cover the inside right-hand panel with paper (I used plain lime green but you could use patterned paper). 

Die-cut a hole or two in whatever shape takes your fancy .  (At risk of stating the obvious, I chose two sizes of circle).

Now choose dies, that just fit over the edges of the cut apertures, so that there is enough to glue to the front of the card, but so that most of the die is over the hole,  Cut them out, fix in space. 

The finished card has a lovely 3D effect when it is opened or displayed in this way.  I used butterflies but you could equally well use tools (hammer, saw etc) or flowers, or words or anything really, as long as they fit with the holes that you cut.  As a result, you could make a card like this for any occasion!

HEART CUT-OUT CARD WITH FLOWERS AND BUTTERFLIES

DOUBLE HEART CARD

Spring is in the air (or am I just being overly optomistic).  In any case here's a pretty card by Marilyn to get you into the spirit.

She has taken a textured white heart cut-out card (HE1) from Regal Craft Cards, and used both the aperture and the heart.  Decoration is added with lots of hole-punched flowers in various sizes and some butterflies fluttering around. Kindyglitz, glitter glue has been used around the outside of the large hearts to finish off.

Since die-cutting machines have become the go, a lot of us have a drawer (or two) of neglected hole punches.  Why not get them out and play and remember why we all thought they were so good in the first place!

SIMPLE GATEFOLD CARD

GATEFOLD OVERLAP CARD

This is another example of an overlapping card - a little simpler than last week's example.

Start with a gatefold card base (these are not in Regal's catalogue but do appear as specials from time to time).   Adhere patterned paper to a piece of card and die-cut a heart.  Position the heart half way onto one side and stick it in place, leaving the otherside unstuck to overlap the other side of the card.

All  you need to do then is add a bit of decoration.  As you can probably tell, I made this card in a bit of a hurry - mainly to illustrate how well the white greeting stickers (STIC3) coloured with marker pens!  Hasty design aside, its a really nice format for a card, and it sits well when opened so the challenge is to use your own design and make a really lovely example.

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.

PRETTY FLORAL CARD

PRETTY STAMPED FLOWERS

Tania has featured a stamp from Paper Roses on her pretty floral card.

The image is has been heat embossed in black, and coloured with blended pencils.  By using colours more or less opposite on the colour wheel, Tania has made the image almost leap of the page.

A selection of greet decorative papers, a plain green backing and a die-cut bow complete the picture, with inked edges helping to blend the layers.

A single fold Regal card has been used as the base.

COLOURED CHALKBOARD EFFECT WITH STAMPS

WHITE STAMPING WITH PENCILS

I've used a blue cardbase from Regal Craft Cards, nesting dies and a stamp from Kaiser to make this card which illustrates a simple technique you might like to try next time you want to stamp on a dark background.

Select a fairly solid stamp, and stamp the image using white ink.  When the ink has dried (if you want to be sure, just whizz over it with a craft heat gun for a few seconds), colour on top with coloured pencils.

As you can see - super simple, but quite effective.  You end up with a gentle chalk-boardy effect.

I deliberately haven't added a greeting as you could use this card for many occasions.

CARDS USING STENCILS AND DISTRESS INKS

STENCILLED BUTTERFLY CARD

Stencils are all the go at the moment.  There are lots of different designs available at Regal right now and so many different ways to use them.

Lee has made the butterfly card at the top, using a distress ink background, with flicked water features and added a die cut greeting.

I've done something very similar for the feather card, only I've stamped on a more sparsely coloured distress ink background using a misted acrylic stamping block, before stencilling on the spots.

The third card has used the same stencil through the Cuttlebug (any similar machine will work), using a rubber mat to emboss the light card.  (I cut the circle in the middle out first).  I then just lightly rubbed some ink over the top to emphasize the texture.

All three cards feature die cuts.  The big butterfly is layered for a 3d effect.  Lee had added a glitter tape border to the edge of her panel, and I've inked mine to make it stand out a little more from the background.

TWO MORE EXAMPLES OF STENCILLED BACKGROUNDS