Flower Patch Card in a Box

If you follow my blog, then you've probably realized that I really, really like the Flower Patch stamp set from the annual catalog.  I tend to use it a LOT.  It's just a fun set, and the possibilities are endless.  It's also the perfect set to use for a card in a box. 

I wanted to make a special card for a friend of mine.  She does so much for our homeschool community in general, as well as some other things specific to my family.  I don't really know how she has time for it all...we joke that she has 36 hours in her days!  But a card in a box definitely qualifies as special, and I modified it a bit to allow for two people to write a message on the back.  Typically when making a card in a box, the back panel is where the message would go.  I added a flap over that so that it actually opens like a card, and then both I and another friend were each able to have a panel's worth of space for writing our message of thanks.

I used the retired Gingham Garden Designer Series Paper for the flaps of the box.  You know a card is special when I give up any of my gingham or plaid DSP!  But it suits this card so well, and really was perfect for it.  I used my Flower Fair Framelits to cut out the various flowers, then whipped out my Fringe Scissors to cut some grass for the flowers to peek out of.  I love how it turned out! 

Oh, and since I went a little crazy with the flowers, they ended up sticking out of the sides when the card was folded up.  Did I worry about it fitting in to an envelope?  Of course not!  I got out my envelope punch board and made a custom envelope to fit this card.

Supplies
Stamps:  Flower Patch
Ink:  Pool Party, Island Indigo, Cantaloupe Crisp, Calypso Coral, Daffodil Delight, Pear Pizzazz, Wisteria Wonder, Rich Razzleberry
Paper:  Island Indigo, Crumb Cake, Pear Pizzazz, and Whisper White card stock, (retired) Gingham Garden DSP
Accessories:  Big Shot, Flower Fair Framelits, Paper Snips, Fringe Scissors, Sticky Strip, Simply Scored Scoring Tool, Stampin' Dimensionals, hot glue gun, hot glue, and Blendabilities markers

Nuts About You Joy Fold Card

I have had so much fun with the Nuts About You hostess set.  It's just so cute.  This card is a joy fold card turned on it's side.  The grass is what keeps the first flap closed, and I love how it looks cute and is functional all at the same time!

I'm keeping it short and sweet today...I hope you'll forgive my brevity.  I'm hoping to get back into a more regular posting routine now that school is starting and (hopefully) life will settle down a bit.  Does that make any sense at all?  Isn't summer supposed to be a time to relax before the hectic school year?  Apparently that's not the case for my life!

Supplies

Stamps:  Nuts About You
Ink:  Wild Wasabi, Soft Suede, Early Espresso, and Basic Gray
Paper:  Garden Green, Whisper White, Wild Wasabi, and Soft Suede card stock, Gingham Garden DSP
Accessories:  Big Shot, Fringe Scissors, Linen Thread, 3/4" Circle Punch

Nuts About You Shadow Box Card

So I'm totally in love with the new hostess set, Nuts About You.  I almost never get hostess sets anymore, but this one was way too adorable to pass up.  I love the cute animals, the funky tree, and all the fun ways you can use the stamps together. 

Tips & Tricks

• I've posted about shadow box cards before, (here and here), so check out those posts for directions and to see some other example of this easy-peasy card.

• It's kind of hard to tell in a picture, but I cut the tree out by hand and then popped it up a bit using Stampin' Dimensionals.  It adds more interest when the image isn't flat on the card...you'll have to trust me on this one, since you don't have the card in your hand!

• The grass in front was made with my handy-dandy fringe scissors, and layered on the front piece of the card.  I highly recommend using sticky strip for this part.  It just makes life so much easier than snail or glue would, although both of those option would work.

• I think my favorite part of this card is the little "you & me" in a heart that looks like it's carved on the tree.  I'm pretty good at eye-balling things to line them up, but even I had trouble with this one.  It's most definitely a job for the Stamp-a-ma-jig!

Supplies
Stamps:  Nuts About You
Ink:  Crumb Cake, Garden Green, Smokely Slate, Basic Gray, Early Espresso, and Cherry Cobbler
Paper:  Naturals White, Crumb Cake, and Garden Green card stock
Accessories:  Big Shot, Ovals Collection Framelits, Woodgrain Embossing Folder, Fringe Scissors, Sponge, Stamp-a-ma-jig, and Paper Snips