RIBBON WRAP DRESS CARD

RIBBON WRAP DRESS CARD

This is such a simple idea, and as with the best of them I hadn't thought of doing it before I saw Marilyn's card.  She had cut out the shape of a dress, and carefully wrapped it with blue ribbon, adding a sparkly blue ribbon "belt" to finish.

The finished dress has been mounted onto a white singlefold card from Regal Craft Cards.

I can't wait to start wrapping other shapes.....if you do Halloween, a mummy would be an obvious choice, but trees would be effective (maybe even wrapped in twine for a natural look) or maybe actually wrap present shapes for your
Christmas cards.  The possibilities are endless!

CHRISTMAS STEPPER CARD

CHRISTMAS STEPPER CARD

Yes....it is getting to that time of year.  It's really not too early to get started on Christmas cards so (if I'm able) I'll try to put up a special post between now and the day each Wednesday for folks that are looking for a bit of inspiration.

Regal has made 5 special Robin Red Cards with Christmas in mind - stepper, gatefold, singlefold, horizontal fold and swing cards.

Tania has done a great job with the new red stepper card, decorating it with patterned and patterned paper (inked on the edges), and some die-cuts and paper flowers.
The "Merry Christmas" greeting is an outline sticker coloured with alcohol markers to match in with the red, green and white colour scheme.

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!

A SWING CARD FEATURING 3D JAPANESE LADIES

SWING CARD WITH JAPANESE LADIES

Here is an example of Regal's new (ish) swing card.
These cards are great when they're finished but quite hard to cut so its handy to know that you can now buy them with all the tricky bits done so you can get straight onto the fun bit of decorating them.

Trudy Meijer made this example, using some lovely Japanese papers, and Japanese ladies from a die-cut sparklelight sheet.  She has positioned the figures so that there is one on each side of the swinging panel.

REVERSE

USING A VELLUM OVERLAY

SCORED VELLUM

If you want to add a different look to an existing card, try adding a translucent overlay.
This paper (known as parchment paper or vellum, although strictly speaking it's neither of these) is available from the Regal Craft Cards website, and is useful for all sorts of things.

Most commonly used for parchment craft/"Pergamano" one of its properties is that when it stretches it goes white, which means that its great for embossing, either in a Cuttlebut/Big Shot etc., or by hand, or, as I've done here to add detail, just by using a stylus and scoring board to add some lines.

I've used thick parchment paper (its available in four thicknesses) with a paper insert (decorated with a Sparklelight sticker), but you could wrap a thinner parchment "coat" around an existing card or just attach it with split pins to the front!

BOX ZIGZAG BON VOYAGE

INSIDE TRUDY'S TRAVEL-THEMED CARD

Travel Card - cover

Trudy used a box zigzag card from Regal Craft Cards to make this great collage card - brilliant as a Bon Voyage greeting, a birthday card for a teenager or keen photographer or really just for anyone who appreciates a well-made card.  It features a die-cut butterfly, bird and kangaroo, as well as a selection of different papers and more.  If you like a well-decorated card, the box zigzag gives you plenty of surface area to play with, and Trudy's example will hopefully provide the inspiration to get started!

SPARKLELIGHT ART DECO LADY 3D

ART DECO LADY CARD

Another pretty card from Marilyn this week, featuring a sparklelight 3D Art Deco lady motif.

Marilyn has added specialty papers and some lovely floaty gold organza ripple ribbon to a DL card from Regal Craft Cards to make a card suitable for a special birthday.  Note how she has fussy cut "shells" from the embossed background paper to use as embellishment.

Just a quick note to let you know that double sided adhesive "Jac paper" is back in stock once more at Regal Craft Cards.  They have the big sheets, A4 and packs of A6 too!  Just writing this down makes me want to do "101 uses for Jac Paper" for a demo or on the Papertrek blog.....in fact as soon as the September demo (Stylish Cards) is done and dusted I'll get right on with it.  In the meantime if you use Jac paper already, you'll be as pleased as me that its available again, and if you don't, pop into the shop and I can give you a quick rundown of why its so very useful!

TEALIGHT CARD.

TEALIGHT CARD

Continuing on with last weeks theme........Here is another way to fold an aperture card that might come in handy for all sorts of occasions.

Secure some vellum behind the aperture - I've used some pretty patterned Christina Re paper but you could use plain, or draw your own design or print out a photo or clip art!  Its important for a fair amount of light to get through, so use a fairly thin paper and don't add too much heavy colour.

Measure and fold half way along on the side panels. Measure the piece of card you'll need to fit the back (paper clip card in place, move the card to how you would like it to sit, then mark with a pencil to show where to cut).
You might want to use a metallic or gloss card to reflect more light.  (I used shiny silver).  Then add some decoration - I've kept it very low key with just three ribbon roses, but clearly you could add as much in the way of embellishment as you like.  All that's left to do is to add a battery powered tealight candle.  I WOULD NOT ADD ONE THAT INVOLVED FIRE - IT IS AFTER ALL MADE OF PAPER!!!!!!!!

You don't, of course, have to use an oval card - Regal Craft Cards have lots of different shapes available (everything from rectangles to dolphins!) or you can get blank three panel cards and use your dies to cut whatever shape you want.

I think this would not only be useful just as a card, but also as a placecard or decoration.  I have plans (whether or not they'll translate to reality is a different matter) to print out some photos and make some to put on the dresser for Christmas

A NEW WAY TO FOLD AN APERTURE CARD

OPEN REVERSE OVAL CARD

CLOSED CARD

This week I've put up a couple of pictures of a way to use an oval aperture card, that's a little different to the norm.

The folding is easy - just add an extra fold to the middle of each of the outer panels, and fold them back in a zigzag .  The "front" of the card becomes the back and the folded side panels are now the front.!

I've used a 3D Sparklelight sheet (Regal Craft Cards have a good variety available) but instead of building all the pieces onto the base picture, I've put the base behind the oval aperture, and distributed the other pieces over the two front panels.

I've added an embossed red panel to the back of the card (you can't see it in the picture) and secured some red organza ribbon underneath so it can wrap around and securely close the card.  I've also added embossed red card to the inner halves of the folded front panels.

If you've got some half-forgotten aperture cards hiding in a drawer at home, why not get them out and play.  If not, you can always buy some from Regal Craft Cards.

SPARKLELIGHT WATERFALL CARD

SPARKLELIGHT WATERFALL CARD

 This is a waterfall card I made, using a die-cut Sparklelight sheet and a Sparklelight base card - both products available from Regal Craft Cards.
Waterfall cards are made of panels that flip over when you pull the end tab, and are far easier to make that they look.

The instructions come in the pack, but I modified them a bit, by mounting the pictures on some black lightweight card to add extra stability, and also by positioning the "waterfall" run across the card, rather than the more usual vertical orientation.  If I was making the card again, I would put the pull on the other side, as we're all so used to the way that book pages open, this doesn't quite look quite right, even although there is clearly no absolute right and wrong.

Other than that, I haven't really had to add much more other than a bit of "bling trim" (from Green Tara via Regal).

This would make a nice engagement card, but would do for all sorts of occasions.

AN ELEGANT CARD FOR SPECIAL OCCASIONS

ELEGANT SPECIAL OCCASION CARD

This lovely layered card could be used for all sorts of occasions, but engagements and weddings spring immediately to mind.

Marilyn has used a collection of layered materials to decorate the front of the card, creating a variety of textures and patterns which are tied together by the use of the black, white and silver colour scheme.

Working left to right there is printed organza ribbon, cotton mesh, black satin adhesive leaves, specialty paper, white organza ribbon with silver glitter hearts, and a congratulations peel-off sticker, coloured black.  Two paper flowers with rhinestones added to the centre have been added as a final finishing touch.
(All materials including the smooth square base card came from Regal Craft Cards).

SCALLOP EDGED HANDBAG CARD

SCALLOP EDGE HANDBAG CARD

Marilyn has found a quick way to make a handbag card.

She has covered one of Regal Craft Card's scallop edged cards with patterned paper, added a wooden button, and used a necklace chain as a handle.

If you make one of these cards, you could leave it so that you can open it out to a 2 1/2 panel card (This would be great if you wanted to have extra decoration inside, or had a lot to say, or wanted to use the form as an invitation.)

Another alternative would be to add strips of double-sided tape to the inside edge of the striped panel so that the top of the card opens to reveal a pocket - perfect for small presents such as paper flowers, pearls or gift cards.

UPDATE

A Wednesday update, just for a change!!  I thought I'd let folks who have been asking (and of course, those who haven't as well) that whilst we won't be at the Craft Fair in Launceston this weekend, Regal Craft will be open as usual on Saturday, and of course, Monday, and we'll have some extra special bargains for those who drop in to say hello.

SWEET FEMININE CARD

FLORAL NECKLINE DL CARD

Sharon has made this sweet feminine card on a Regal Craft Cards DL card base.

She has combined a pretty floral paper with gathered lace, pearl trim and an organza ribbon bow to make a simple but very effective card.

You could adapt this idea as, for example, a suit and tie for a man, or a clown frill and pom poms for a child.

FRIDAY UPDATE

Hello again.  Well stocktaking is finished in the shop...and new things are already arriving.  This week we have new Fabscraps paper  which is really different -  there are three different botanicals in blue, white and black, black and white sewing themes and a lovely rustic country/cooking set (sunflowers. pomegranates etc).  All the Kaiser products from the July release have are out in the shop too.  You can see them all on their website.  There are three interesting paper releases (including a super cute set for little people), and stamps with pictures (I do like words but its great to have something to colour).  Believe it or not, next month will see the start of the Christmas releases!!

Regal's next demo is with Trudy Meijer.  She'll be using a lot of the cards that Regal manufacture, particularly their newest release stepper and swing cards and showing some great ways in which they can be decorated.  The demo is on Monday August 3rd, and I'll post some more details closer to the time.

CENTRE STEP BIRTHDAY CARD

Sharon made this cute card using Regal's centre step card as a base.  (They also make a side stepper card).  You can, of course measure, cut and fold your own cards, but its so much easier to buy a pack pre-cut and scored (with envelopes to fit) and proceed straight to the fun bit!

Sharon has covered the card with a paper from Kaiser (note how she's made the best of it being two sided at the front), and embellished with wooden buttons, split pins and gold peel-off stickers.  This would make a lovely card for a young girl - either to give or for her to make for her friends.

A MULITFOLD CARD FROM SINGLEFOLD CARD

MULTIFOLD LAYERED CARD

 If you like to add a lot of decoration to your cards, here is a simple variation of a single fold card that might appeal.

SIDE VIEW

The back panel is scored and folded in half, the front panel is scored into two small sections of the same size at the end of the panel, and two slightly larger sections each measuring half the width of the remaining front section.  I've probably made it sound harder than it is, as the aim is simply to get three folds of ascending size from back to front.

 I've used a sewing theme for my embellishments which include stamped and fussy cut images, real buttons and stamped paperclay.  Because I have added a fair bit of weight to the front of the card, it tends to want to flatten out, and fall over.  To stop this happening I've threaded some twine through a button at the front and tied it behind.  This adds to the overall design theme, but if you had a more delicate theme you could use gold metallic thread, or make slotted pieces of the cardboard to the sides.

As usual, I have used a card from Regal Craft as the base - in this case, an ivory single fold.

BUTTERFLY ANNIVERSARY CARD

BUTTERFLY ANNIVERSARY CARD

The photo doesn't really do justice to this card, which is much prettier, and certainly a great deal shinier in "real life".

The leaf border and greeting have been sewn on using part of a pickpoint pattern.  Embossed lines have added subtle detail (I used a score board for a nice deep impression).  The butterflies are from a die-cut Sparklelight sheet, I've raised the wings of the bottom one to add dimension.  Six little rhinestones in two groups of three finish the card.

The base is a plain black singe fold from Regal Craft Cards, which is also where the other "ingredients" were sourced.
I've added a purple insert to pick up the colour of the rhinestones, thread and lower butterfly.

THE NEW SWING CARD FROM REGAL CRAFT CARDS

SWING CARD FROM REGAL CRAFT CARDS

 Here is a picture of one of Regal Craft Cards new swing cards, which are available in packs of ten or fifty.

The card is pre-cut and scored so you can get to the best bit (decorating) straight away!  I've used some specialty paper from Christina Re as well as plain (Kaiser Ballerina) embossed with a Kaiser folder.  Numbers and backing were also die-cut and the card was finished with some adhesive pearls and some lace from Green Tara.  A peel-off sticker features on the back of the panel, which swings around when you pull the sides of the card apart.

Its a super card, but surprisingly effective!!

MAKE A BOX CARD FROM A SQUARE CARD

Here's an easy way to make a folding box card using a pre-existing square single fold card.

Cut a double-sided tape width of card of the front of your card, measure and score down the corresponding edge of the card back.

Measure the width of the back after the edge has been cut off, and score a line half way.  Do the same between the fold and the scored edge of the front (the four panels you've created should all be the same size).

Decide how big you'd like your flaps to be.
Cut down along the folds to this length and score along the edge you'll be folding down.  (You can fold all four down, or leave the one at the back sitting up.  Cut across to the edge of the back panel from the last cut so that you are left with a tab.  Score Put some doublesided tape on this tab and stick the panels into a box shape.  Make two or three little rectangles to fit the inside of the box, bend the edges into tabs and secure with the flat side facing the front.

Now all that remains to be done is to go wild with the decoration........in this case a Sparklelight 3d sheet from Regal Craft Cards, spread over the card, with elements attached to little "sticks" made of acetate so they appear to be floating above the main part of the card

FOLDED EASEL CARD

FOLDED EASEL CARD

SIDE VIEW

Although you can buy pre-made easel cards from Regal (they call them tilt cards), you can also make your own from their 3-panel cards.

If you want to do this, then cut off one panel, and crease and fold the back panel in half.  Add double sided tape to the front of the fold, and stick the cut-off panel onto it (the tape will go half way up the panel).  Its probably easier to add your decoration and embellishment before you stick the panels together.  There needs to be some sort of raised shape or panel at the end of the inner back (which becomes the base) so that the panel will sit up.

I've used some stamps from Darkroom door, and as they make quite a statement on their own, I've kept the colour scheme very basic - just dark green Versafine on granite card.  I've cut out a couple of the leaves and mounted them on top of the base image using foam dots to add a little more height, to echo the two leaves on the base which are also stuck on with foam tape to make the "stopper" for the front panel.  I've added a few embossed lines using my scoreboard and a line sticker, that I've coloured in with a green alcohol marker to match.

3D SKATEBOARDER STEPPER CARD

STEPPER CARD WITH SKATEBOARDER

Regal has two pre-made stepper cards, and both of them can be decorated in so many ways!

Marilyn has used the newer centre step card to make this cool card which would particularly suit pre-teen boys -  a group for which cards can be a bit of a challenge.

The skateboarder is from a Sparklelight 3D sheet, the paper decoration and signs were fussy cut from Kaiser paper and the card has been finished with a Happy Birthday sticker.

GATEFOLD PENCIL CARD

PENCIL CARD

Here's a different way to use Regal's new DL gatefold card.

Add a little paper to the front two panels and cut the tops to points, to make pencils!!  I didn't use templates, just stuck the paper on "extra large" and trimmed it back to fit.  I randomly cut one edge of the the main colour to look as if the pencil had been sharpened, and used a 10c piece to get a rounded bottom on the tip.

The pencil paper on the back panel is by Kaiser and I've onlycut around the very top of the pencils before sticking it on.  The band is made from the other side of the same paper (including the bottom margin).  The "buckle" is a gold circle cut with a nesting die, with a smaller circle (still using the same sheet of decorative paper) within.

This would be a fun card to give to a child with a little packet of real colouring pencils inside, and perhaps a sketch book or colouring book , or even a pack of blank cards and a Bright Ideas Pack as a present!  Older children could make the card themselves.

MOTHER'S DAY CARD

MOTHER'S DAY WALLET/CARD

This is Janet's "take" on Regal's new DL gatefold card.

The pretty pastel papers and flowers add a feminine touch to the natural "Buffalo" base card.

She's coloured outline stickers with a permanent marker for a matching greeting, and added a rhinestone flourish and spiralled wire for accents.

With mother's day just around the corner, I imagine there are quite a lot of mums out there who would just love a card like this, especially if there was a Regal Craft Cards gift voucher inside.