LAYERED HEART CARD

CARD FRONT

Here is a super simple card idea to use up some of those small paper scraps we all accumulate (or at least those of us who hate to throw things in the bin). Simply choose your favourite nesting die (or the one most appropriate to the occasion), and cut out each size with a different co ordinating colour and stack them.  This card has been made with a flat stack, but you could use foam dots to add dimension if you wanted, and/or ink the edges of each shape.

I've embossed the front of a smooth white singlefold card (PL2) from Regal craft cards, and added a greeting sticker, a pre-made bow and three little rhinestones to finish.

It could be a 5 minute make depending on how quickly you can die cut - remember if you're using the same brand of die you can cut more than one piece at a time.

If you add an insert you will have to allow a few minutes more.f  I found a once-loved and now hardly ever used hole punch in the drawer and used it to decorate a plain pale pink insert,which was secured to a slightly larger piece of paper in a darker shade.  Both pinks were the same colours as the plains used on the front of the card.

INSIDE THE CARD

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!

LIVE LAUGH LOVE HEART CUT OUT CARD

HEART CUT OUT CARD WITH EMBOSSED BACKGROUND

Another one of Janet's pretty cards this week.  This example uses an ivory heart cut-out three panel card as a base.

It may be a little hard to see in the picture, but one of the stand-out features of the card is the background patterned paper, which has been embossed using a folder featuring fern leaves.  Die cut leaves in three different shades are on the left of the card and other embellishments are paper flowers, a printed greeting and enamel dots.

Janet has inked around the heart cut-out that surrounds a striped, unembossed  green background, with white ink, and around the greeting with a bright green, which she has also added to the flower centres

All the techniques used in the card are straightforward, but used in combination and with attention to detail has resulted in a very striking card, that attracted a lot of positive comment when it was on display.  You can make it, or a similar version too.

REGAL THREE PANEL HEART CARD

Regal Craft Cards make three panel cards in a variety of colours with a heart cut-out (supplied with the card)

Tania has used a Forest Green base card (XHE11), and plain papers to construct a sweet card "Just for You."

BOX CARD USING REGAL ZIG ZAG CARDS

FRIENDSHIP BOX CARD

Every month at Regal, we chose a card and each of us makes an example.  It's always interesting to see how different ideas can be, using a single card base and fun to pick who made each card.

This is one of mine, and it was for the Zigzag card (DLZ) challenge.  I used two ivory cards, and overlapped the back and front panels to make a box card.  I then added some "rungs" by cutting strips of card to fit inside, with ends bent down to make tabs, which were taped to the sides.

As I was using a thin acetate to make the strips to support the heards (to give the impression of floating), I didn't make them very high above the sides of the card (also so that the card would fit into an available envelope), but if you like a higher look, just use thicker co ordinating card to make the supporting strips.

I've used some Kaiser paper for the decorations, and by careful die-cutting have (I think) managed to give the impression of lots of different patterns, even although it was a single sheet.

This is the sort of card to give to someone who loves cards not the person who displays them for a day and throws them in the recycling (unless of course you enjoy crafting so much that you don't card). but its a fun make, plus its a design that could easily be adapted to show off photos e.g. of the family, and remain on semi-permanent display.

LIQUID CHROME PEN ON GLOSS CARD

GLOSS CARD WITH LIQUID CHROME PEN

Regal sells a range of colours in gloss card but black is a favourite - its just so hard to photograph. particularly under flouro lights.  Still if  you don't know me you now have a picture (of sorts) for reference!

We've just had these really lovely liquid chrome pens come in at Regal.  They give a really shiny silver finish to most surfaces.
For this card I've used them to colour in embossing and wooden shapes as well as to add a couple of hand drawn dots at the end and to rule a silver border around the sides and base of the card.

The photo really doesn't do justice, but the silver looks very effective on the black, so if  you are looking for an engagement or wedding card that's just a little different, something like this might be worth considering,

I folded the DL card myself and if you want to do this, do remember to gently score before folding because the gloss surface can sometimes crack if you don't.

ROMANTIC CALENDAR AND GEOMETRIC STITCHED CARDS

ROMANTIC CALENDAR CARD

Not one, not two but four cards today!  Three of them, of course are more of Sandra Bell's beautiful stitched designs - with a geometric theme this time.  Sandra's use of colour is, as usual, quite striking, and she has used square cards from Regal Craft Cards as a base.  These designs could clearly be adapted for most occasions,

The "other" card this week is also from Regal (XSTE1 - Centre Stepper), as is the little calendar (which as you can see, is for next year).  The card has been decorated with patterned paper and little grey Couture Creations pearls, a topper from Darkroom Direct and some handmade paper flowers with die-cut flourishes to finish.  This would be great for an anniversary, or just to sit on your own desk at home!

GEOMETRIC PICKPOINT

CUTE STEPPER CARD

CUTE STEPPER CARD

We have another of Trudy Meijer's creations for you this week.  This would make a lovely card for a little girl's birthday.

Trudy has used one of Regal's stepper card bases, and decorated it with a variety of papers and embellishments, including fussy-cut shapes, ric-rac and stickers.  Notice the cute little La-La Land Marci stamp which Trudy has coloured using alcohol markers, and the big white organza bow that adds that special finishing touch.

Even although this card looks quite complicated, everything is tied together with careful colour choice (pinks, lime green and white), and the use of the pre-made base.  Have a rummage in your craft box and see what you can find!

ZIGZAG OWL CARD

OWL ZIGZAG CARD

Here, as promised, is another example of Regal's new Buffalo zigzag square card.

This one does fall a little bit into the "too much is not enough" category, but it was fun to make, with owl print paper from the specialty paper room, lots of border stickers, owl stickers stuck onto coloured card and  cut out, plus some mesh trim, a Sparklelight greeting sticker and more......

The heart is one of Regal's pre-cut gold hearts, embossed using a Cuttlebug  and inside the card are two owls, fussy cut from the patterned paper with a couple of heart stickers overhead.

I'm thinking perhaps a non-traditional engagement card?

VALENTINE'S DAY IRIS FOLDING

FOR SOMEONE SPECIAL

One of the really nice things about working at Regal is that we often have the chance to see some really great cards made by our lovely customers.

Kay brought this one, which she has made for a special person, in today, and has very kindly allowed me to pop it up so that you can see it too!

She has used a white base card but added a red panel with a large and several small heart cut-outs.  Kay has added an individual twist by Iris folding under the large heart but adding roses to the middle, and using the iridescent paper that would more traditionally be used there as an underlay for the red panel.

The result is a beautiful card which is ideal for Valentine's Day, but which could also be given on many other occasions - thanks for sharing your work Kay.

FRIDAY UPDATE AND VALENTINE'S DAY CARD

VALENTINE'S DAY CARD IN VIXEN RED

We have a new colour of limited edition card in the shop -Vixen Red.  Its really bright and perfect for Valentine's Day.  Its not in our catalogue but if you mention it to Regal's mail order department they will know what you're talking about.  I might have become a bit overenthusiastic with trying to complete this card in 5 minutes as the straight lines are a bit dodgy.  If you allow yourself 10 minutes you should have this card completed properly and well in time for Valentine's Day.

As you can probably tell its just a Sparklelight sticker with a couple of layers of matting, some letter stickers and a double heart sticker (you could use stamps or punched shapes).  I've just added a rhinestone here and there for a bit of extra bling, which hopefully isn't too over the top for either a male or female.

DOUBLE HEART CARD

DOUBLE HEART CARD

Janet has used Regal's black textured double heart card as the base for this unusual card.  The floral paper (from the Graphic 45 Playtimes Past collection) has been placed underneath the two heart apertures, but also  on top of the two corresponding cut-outs which have been attached with foam tape to give a 3d effect (this is not as evident in the scan as I'd hoped).  The text has been added with Kaiser sticker letters and the heart is a gold peel-off coloured with a red permanent marker.  Janet has drawn a border with a white gel pen, and added some little red rhinestones to finish.  Its a great card idea with lots of techniques that can be used on other projects too!