Cards as a gift made up from card kits

 A friend of mine is having a significant birthday in a bit and I made her a few cards.  I made these from card kits I have in my stash!! 
#1 - Embossed and sanded background with a serendipity heart and a bit of fiber.  Check out the other ones here.
#2 - a stamped image encased in a folded circle like a cathedral window quilt with a greeting tag.  I have included a couple of greetings so she can customize the card.  You can check the other ones out here.
#3 - decorative paper with an opening filled with a glittery flower.  You can find the other ones here.

#4 - decorative paper, some embossed rectangles and a layered silk flower embellishment.  You can find the others here.   Therese

Birthday card from a kit featuring paper strips, laser printed digital greeting and some embossing

I am preparing a package of cards for a friend and have managed to find most of what I need from my card stash - amazing!!
For the balance of the cards I dug through my supply of card kits and found this one that would make a great versatile card.  You can see the others I made here for my March card making class a while back.
I started by adhering my decorative paper strips to the back of my embossed green strip.  I simply applied a strip of double sided tape and placed them neatly in place.  I embossed the top portion of my navy layer and applied the decorative paper layer I had just created so that it covered the bottom edge of the embossing.  I adhered this large layer to my medium blue card front and then trimmed the strips diagonally so they would end above the bottom of the navy layer.  The greeting is a digital one from Desert Diva which I laser printed on white cardstock and trimmed to size.  I sponged its edges in green and then mounted it to a blue layer with distressed edges.  I mounted it to my card front using 3D foam tape.   Using card kits to make cards is so quick and easy when all the pieces are already prepared and ready to go!!!!!!!!!!    Therese

Graduation card from a card kit which features layered die cut, embellished scrapbook paper and a laser printed greeting

With a few requests for graduation cards I made another.  This is a card kit from the May card class.  This scrapbook paper has been in my stash a long time and I decided it needed some embellishing before I would every be able to use it so I stamped with a variety of stamps using a variety of green ink pads.  It was orginally the dark plaid which you can see on the flaps.  The back had been white and it got the stamping treatment as well.  I was much happier with it after the embellishing!!!  I cut the four little rectangles, scored their corners and fold over the flaps before adhering them to my green card front.  I layered the star and the circle to create my central focal element.  I adhere it in place using 3D foam tape.  I cut through my stash of greetings and found this one which I laser printed from a digital stamp I downloaded from Desert Diva.  I trimmed it down a bit, flagged one end and sponged it with green ink.  Thinking it still needed "a bit of something" I auditioned several options before deciding on this white star eyelet.  I punched a hole and set the eyelet on the left hand side of my greeting and the hole seemed large and empty so I added a glue dot on the back and a clear rhinestone to the front.  That was much better!!!!!!  I adhered it to the front of my card using 3D foam tape.  To finish it off I added clear glitter to the star and the cap on my greeting!!  Love it!!         Therese

Graduation cards from card kits featuring hand decorated paper, metallic die cuts and gold embossed greetings

It is the time of the year when graduations are happening everywhere!  I received a request for more so I made up these two from kits which I did a while back as well.  

I embossed the stamped greeting with gold embossing powder, adhered the decorative paper to the back of the frame and adhered this large element to the front of a coordinating card front.  I added tiny dots of white glue to the back of the die cut greenery (TH) which were cut from metallic cardstock and then gently placed them on my card fronts.  Just a bit of pressure to make sure they were in contact and then left them to dry.  It is not pretty when the white glue squishes out from under the leaves.  Really quick and easy to make cards up from kits!!!!!!!!!!  You can check out the last  one I made here.  That is the end of those card kits so I will have to invent something new for next time!!

Therese

Special Card class - simply elegant cards with an embossed layer and ribbon that are quick and easy to make

For our last card I made kits that came together fairly quickly.  Though these were quick to make the cards are simply elegant and can be used for a variety of occasions.  The one on the right uses a tree embossing folder (SX) with a quarter sheet of white cardstock which was trimmed after embossing to leave a small border all the way around.  The one on the left uses a floral embossing folder (SU - Manhattan Flower) which I trimmed down to the edge of the embossed flower which reveals more of the card front for a very different look.  I added organza ribbons that coordinated with the card fronts.  We adhered the ribbon to the back of the embossed layer and trimmed off the excess which we tied to the front using one knot to simulate a bow.  I ended up with two black and white ones.  These are always elegant made up in in dark regal colours like cranberry, navy, forest or spruce green, etc.  Again, without greetings these cards can be used for a variety of occasions from weddings to funerals!!              Therese

A thank you card featuring a large reused layer - quick and easy!!

This card was quick and easy!!  I trimmed the rose layer from a used card, layered it onto green cardstock and then onto a pink card front.  Done!!

Therese

November cardmaking - sponged circles on laser printed images with some embossing on the edges

For these cards I printed a variety of silhouette digital images in black onto white cardstock and trimmed to 4" x 5.25"  This image is a compilation of several images from CLKER to which I added several wavy lines to create a bit of a horizon.  Once trimmed I emboss the images with several Christmas embossing folders just using the areas of the embossing folders that worked for each design.  Each person was supplied with a circle stencil which was created using a quarter sheet of transparency plastic from which a central circle had been cut using Nestibilities Classic Circles dies.  They secured their cardstock with some painters tape and then positioned the stencils over the area of the image they wanted to highlight and secured that with painters tape as well.  Next, they used a variety of little sponges to add colour to the open area of the stencil which created  a beautiful circle on the image.  We used 1" sitcky note circles to create white "moons" in our landscapes as well.  I used the edge of torn paper to create a bit of interest just above my horizon line which sort of mimics mountains and/or clouds and used several coordinating colours of ink to get a beautiful circle.  To finish off the cards we glued our layers to coordinating card fronts and embellished them with clear rhinestones.  

Therese

Reused a card front for the panel on this card and added a little layered greeting

This card's main panel is from a used card and features a nice garden path with a gate.  I trimmed the panel, layered it onto purple and then mounted it to a green card front.  I added a simple layered punchie greeting which coordinates perfectly!!  The punches are from SU  - Modern Label and Word Window with a colour printed font greeting.  This one was quick and easy!!

Therese

A beautiful birthday card which reuses a panel from a commercial card with a large die cut greeting

Birthday cards are essential parts of every card stash so I am making a few of those as well.  For this one I am reusing a panel from a commercial card that was donated to me for use in my cardmaking that features these wonderful glittery poppies!!  I used the other half on this card.  After trimming the image to size I added a red strip to the right hand side and mounted this large element to a green card.  I die cut this large laser printed font greeting with my Nestibilities, sponged the edges in green and added an innie outie bow in pink seam binding before mounting it to my card using 3D foam tape.  A quick and easy card!!             Therese

Friendship card that features a layer from a commercial card!

I loved this wonderful card front from a commercial card that was donated to me for cardmaking!! The poppies are beautiful and glittery!!
I trimmed the card to size and added a little green strip to the right hand side before gluing this large element to the front of a pink card.  Quick and easy!!!!  The message continued inside the card so I trimmed it and added to the inside because it was so nice!!

Therese

Cards from kits - a sanded background along with a fun tea digital image and some raffia

I am making cards for my stash and am making up card kits from past classes.  This one is from my May class which featured sanded white core backgrounds and fun image which created cards without greetings which are more versatile as they can suit more than one occasion.
This card features a laser printed digital image form Pixabay - Artsy Bee of a stack of coffee cups.  I love the colour on these cups!!!  I started with a red card front and sanded the embossed background to reveal the white core of the cardstock.  This leaves a very velvety smoothness which adds texture to the card.  I tied the green raffia around the background before adhering it to my card.  I used my distressing tool around the edge of the cup image and mounted it over the frame in the embossed design using 3D foam tape.  This was a really quick one!  Love having kits on hand for getting cards made fast!!

Therese

Quick and easy handmade card for a friend

Needed a few cards the other day and made them as quick and easy as I could. 
I found this background in my stash.  It is preprinted scrapbook paper with three different layers which coordinate beautifully.  I trimmed the piece to size and adhered to a dark red card front.  I perused my stamps to find one that would be suitable for making a friend card and lo and behold I found one I had never used before.  I stamped it in brown on yellow and punched it out using the Decorative Label punch (SU).  I punched another one from dark brown, cut it apart and adhered the piece to the back of the yellow one to create a highlight on both the left and the right.  I mounted the greeting onto my card front using 3D foam tape and found that it needed a bit of something so I watercoloured the flower and the dots and added clear glitter gel pen dots all the way around the edge as well.  That was better!!!!!!!!!!!                       Therese

Quick and easy cards for gift giving

 I am making cards for my stash and in cleaning up a packed box I found several of these paper backers which I created when I first designed these cards.  It involves printing two lines that intersect with a greeting on the bottom right side of a white backer.  I went looking for some bright decorative paper to create my "flower".  I cut four 1" squares from the paper I chose and corner rounded two corners on each square before gluing them to the backers.  I cornered rounded two corners of the backers and glued it to a card front that coordinated with my decorative paper squares.  These are quick and easy cards that can be made for any occasion and combine nicely for a set of cards for gift giving.  And, everyone can use a few cards for sending out to their friends and family.    I did add a rhinestone to the intersection of the lines which nicely finishes off the flower.  The first two have scrapbook paper, the pink one uses scraps from a used commercial card and the last one uses an alcohol ink background which I stamped with a flower and embellished with clear glitter gel pen.  Therese

Fun cards with rounded squares

Made a couple of these cards with rounded squares.  I found these laser printed backgrounds from a while back and decided to fill them with some purple decorative papers.  I cut the squares 1" and rounded two corners of each using a corner rounder.  I glued them on the backgrounds, rounded two of the corners and then applied them to purple card fronts.  Quick and easy cards!!  

Therese

Quick and easy cards from kits!!

A friend wants to buy a few cards and I needed to get a few more made to add to the options she could choose from so I put together these two from kits from my last class.  The first card has a purple card base, a decorative check paper layered with some strips of magenta cardstock, a length of white gros grain ribbon folded with flagged ends overlaid with a scallop punchie and a birdie greeting which was watercoloured!!  The greeting is a layered - a laser printed greeting over a label punchie with a little coordinating rhinestone which I adhered with 3D foam tape.
The other is a label die cut from an embossed paper quilted background to which I added a length of ribbon onto which I had tied a short length in a different coordinating colour.  Like the look of that!! I adhered the ends to the back using double sided tape and glued this whole element to a distressed purple card front.  I layered the laser printed greeting onto a coordinating rectangle of cardstock and added it to the card front using 3D foam tape.
Quick and easy cards!! Worth making a few extra when you get started making cards and having them ready for "the last minute"!!

Therese

Elegant cards with scroll works embossing folder

I am in the process of finishing off a few of the card kits I had leftover after my cardmaking class.  These are created using the scroll works embossing folder.  I laser printed digital images centered on a quarter sheet of white cardstock, embossed them and then trimmed them to the edge of the embossed design.  The bride is from Graphics Fairy, the graphic flowers, the dress, the tree and the loon are from CLKER.  The old car is from Arthur's Clipart and the Celebrate is from Melonheadz Illustrating.   I used a hand cut oval stencil to sponge ink around the images.  I did add a bit of pearl paint to the bride and the dress to give them a bit of sparkle.  Love this classic design.

Therese

One Sheet Wonder - 6" x 6" template makes four cards

My sister was visiting last week and she has been working on One Sheet Wonder cards. She is working on ones for a 6" x 6" piece of decorative paper.  She has developed one or two which create 3 cards and was currently working on one that creates four cards. I decide to challenge myself and see what I could design.

Here is what I came up with.  I am happy with the results of this effort.  Below is the template I used to cut my decorative paper, the supply list for four cards and the instructions on cutting the rest of the supplies for creating the cards.
Wanting to add a bit of interest to my card fronts I stamped them with a background stamp (SU -Worn) in coordinating ink before I started assembling my cards.  I colour printed my greetings (SU) on white cardstock,  cut them apart to be 2" x 3" and layered them to their layers.  Each card gets one half inch strip of accent cardstock.  The layouts are quite easy and can be modified as you wish.

#1 - glued the three 1.5" decorative pieces across the bottom of my stamped green card front, added two short pieces of .5" red accent strips just above them and used 3D foam tape to adhere my greeting over them.
#2 - Glued my two pieces of decorative paper (3" x 1.5") to diagonally opposite corners of my brown stamped card front, added two short strips of .5 red accent cardstock across the middle and added my layered greeting over them using 3D foam tape.
#3 - Glued my 3" x 4.5 inch piece of decorative paper to my stamped green card front, added two short pieces of .5 red accent cardstock to the top and bottom and adhered my layered greeting overlapping it using 3D foam tape.
#4 - Glued a long strip of .5" red accent cardstock to the left hand side of my stamped brown card front, glued my 1.5" x 4.5" piece of decorative paper next to it and adhered my layered greeting over it using 3D foam tape.

All of my greetings were HAPPY BIRTHDAY but of course you could print or stamp whatever greetings suit you when you are preparing your cards.  Consider as well that all of the pieces do not need to be cut up.  You could leave the long side whole and just trim off the half inch instead of cutting it in half like I did.  The same with the last 1.5" x 4.5" piece - you could use it whole or cut it differently which can also be said for any of the other pieces.  I think I will play with the pieces the next time I work with this template and see what I can come up with.  You can also consider adding images instead of large greetings to change up the look.

One Sheet Wonders are great for getting cards made fast!!  They are also wonderful for making cards for gifts because the four cards coordinate and look pretty as a set.  So for both reasons it is worth considering using a One Sheet Wonder template for your next cardmaking session.   Have fun!!

Therese
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OSW 6x6 May 2015

Supplies for making 4 cards:
6" x 6" decorative paper
2 - 8.5" x 11" coordinating cardstock
1 - 8.5" x 5.5" different coordinating cardstock
4 - 2" x 3" greetings on neutral cardstock
Glue
3Dfoam tape (optional)

- Follow this cutting diagram to get your decorative pieces ready.
- Cut both large cardstock in two to make 4 cards
- Greetings can be stamped or colour printed
- Cut smaller cardstock into four 2.25" x 3.25" pieces for layering and the rest will be trimmed into .5 strips.


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"Watercolour flowers" cards

 Here are a couple of cards I created using the backgrounds I created using this Watercolour Flowers Tutorial I created.  It is a quick and easy technique that requires minimal supplies and gives you very unique & artsy looking flowers. Check it out!!

For this card I trimmed the quarter sheet background down just a little, added a piece of black lace across the lower section, mounted a layered silk flower accent with a small black brad and added an embellished layered greeting.  I mounted this element to a black card front.  It still needed just a bit of something so I added five feathery leaf punchies (MS) in two colours of green.    Loving it!!

For this card, I trimmed the background quite a bit more and mounted it to a black layer.  I stippled the outside edge of my blue card using black ink and a stipple stamp (SU).  I added a piece of 1/4" black ribbon across the card front and added the layered accent over it.  I used the same ribbon to create a flag embellishment, glued it to the back of the layered greeting and glued this element to the card front using 3D foam tape.   Pretty happy with this one too!!

I am really loving the artsy look of these backgrounds and am looking forward to creating a few more with different elements!!  Hope you will give it a try!! If so, please leave a comment and a link to your creation if you can.

Therese

Quick and easy Christmas cards

Made a few more Christmas cards last night!!!!  These use the same vellum that I used on these cards with quite a different look.
Without much of an idea what I was going to do with the vellum laser printed greetings I started digging through my stash of Christmas paper which was all over my desk because I was in there looking for scraps for the last set of cards I made and I found the last bit of this wonderful Christmas paper - exactly four small sheets!!  Perfect!!  I trimmed the paper to size, adhered them to white card fronts and overlaid the vellum and stitched them down all the way around with white thread.  I added three snowflake brads to each card.  Quick and easy!!  Really happy with the way they turned out.  Four more for my stash!!

Therese

Pocket Christmas cards

I created these cards for a challenge on one of my groups - use a pocket!.  In this case, I laser printed my greeting on a quarter sheet of vellum, trimmed it and stitched it to my red card front using dark green thread.  I stitched between the words and added strips of decorative paper in the pockets I created.  They needed a bit of something so I punched little stars on the right hand edge of the card through all the layers.  I glued the little punchie stars to the vellum front.
These are quick and easy!!  I have made four of them to add to my Christmas card stash!!  I have four more pieces of printed vellum which I will use later this week using a different design.


 Here is my little sewing desk with my sewing machine.  I love how convenient it is to add stitching to my cards.

 Therese