Simple Washi Tape Card

This is just a simple card I whipped up in a few minutes.  It's one I'll be making with about 20 tween girls later today, so I needed something simple and easy, but also on that's fun to make.  I think they'll love the splatters and the washi tape.  At least I hope so!

Supplies

Stamps:  Thoughts & Prayers, Gorgeous Grunge
Ink: Daffodil Delight and Melon Mambo
Paper:  Naturals White and Island Indigo card stock
Accessories:  Large Oval Punch, Scallop Oval Punch, Gingham Garden Designer Washi Tape

Stampin' Up! Designer Washi Tape Card

If you visit my blog regularly, it's probably obvious that I love Stampin' Up!'s Designer Washi Tape.  I first bought it on a whim, and wasn't really sure what to do with it.  But I've fallen in love with how easy it is to use, and how quickly I can pull together a card when I'm in a hurry.

Tips & Tricks

• The cork flowers in the Sale-a-Bration Sweet Sorbet Accessories Pack are a fun new element.  They are self-adhesive, which makes them even better!  Since two of mine are hanging off the edge of the tag, some of the sticky back was still exposed.  I covered up those sections with scrap card stock and trimmed around the edge.  This way nothing will get stuck to the sticky backs.

• I'm sure there are several ways to go about matting the tags made with the new Tag Topper Punches, but I just trim my card stock to be a bit smaller on the sides, punch it, and then just trim the top with my trimmer and angled sides with my paper snips.  The angled sides are small enough that it's not difficult to just eyeball it.

Supplies

Stamps:  Gorgeous Grunge, Yippee-Skippee
Ink:  Crumb Cake ink pad, Old Olive, Tangerine Tango, and Daffodil Delight Stampin' Write markers
Paper:  Naturals White and Daffodil Delight card stock
Accessories:  Angled Tag Topper Punch, Daffodil Delight Seam Binding Ribbon, Sweet Sorbet Accessories Pack, Season of Style Designer Washi Tape, Gingham Garden Designer Washi Tape, and Retro Fresh Designer Washi Tape

Gorgeous Grunge Valentine

I can't believe I forgot to post this on Friday!  What can I say, it was a busy day.  But now I have something on a Saturday, which is kind of a fun change. 

As I mentioned before, I've been having fun making Valentine cards, and this one is definitely my kids' favorite. I think it might be mine, too.

Tips & Tricks

• I love this layout, as it's so versatile.  If it looks familiar, it's probably because you've seen it before here.  Two very different cards, using the same layout (and even some of the same elements, like washi tape!)  Don't be afraid to CASE your own cards!

• Vellum can be tricky, because it's transparent.  That means that your adhesive is going to show through.  I've found that just a dot of the Tombo Multipurpose Glue, or even a glue dot are the best adhesives to use.  I used the glue on the lower vellum heart here, and it's barely visible.  For the higher heart, I just tucked it behind another heart, which is where I hid my adhesive. 

Supplies

Stamps:  Gorgeous Grunge, Tiny Tags (retired)
Ink: Raspberry Ripple, Blushing Bride
Paper:  Raspberry Ripple, Pink Pirouette, and Naturals White card stock, Vellum
Accessories:  Big Shot, Fashionable Hearts Embosslits, Bitty Banners Framelits, Gingham Garden Designer Washi Tape, Linen Thread

Gorgeous Grunge Washi Tape Birthday Card

I made this card as a birthday card, but it kind of makes me think of New Year's Eve with the "confetti" background and the party hat.  Although there are never celebrations of that level at my house on New Year's Eve.  We have a long-standing tradition (this will be 19 years!) of getting together with college friends and just hanging out together.  I'm usually fighting sleep from about 10:00 on and have all I can do to stay awake to watch the ball drop.  I'm pretty pathetic. 

Tips & Tricks

• Washi Tape is an easy way to add a fun element to a card.  Simply tear off a piece and stick it to your card front.  I let it run off one edge here, and just folded it around to the back.  You could always trim the excess, but in my opinion, that's just an extra step that's not necessary.

• Since there are some see-through parts on the designs of the Gingham Garden Designer Washi Tape, I suggest adhering the tape, masking it off, and then stamping.  Otherwise, you'll see your background through the tape.  I've use lighter colors here, so that step wouldn't be necessary, however, darker colors would really show through the tape.

Supplies

Stamps:  Gorgeous Grunge, Pennant Parade, Itty Bitty Banners
Ink:  Melon Mambo and Daffodil Delight
Paper:  Island Indigo, Whisper White, and Melon Mambo card stock
Accessories:  Big Shot, Bitty Banners Framelits, Pennant Builder Punch, Scallop Circle Punch, Gingham Garden Designer Washi Tape, Island Indigo Baker's Twine, Paper Piercing Tool and Mat

So how about you?  What New Year's Eve traditions do you have?  Do you prefer big parties, or mellow get-togethers?

Peekaboo Frames Window Card {Tutorial}

 

This is the other card we made a club this month.  It's an interactive card that uses the Peekaboo Frames Die.  Below is the card once the tab is pulled.  Fun, isn't it?  

I'm going to attempt a photo tutorial, and I'll admit right off the bat that it leaves much to be desired.  But you'll show me some grace, right, and just be happy for my attempt?  Thanks!  OK, ready?  Here goes...


The first thing you'll want to do is cut a standard card size in Pear Pizzazz and score it.  Cut a piece of Gingham Garden Designer Series Paper (DSP) to 4" x 5-1/4" and adhere it to your card.  You'll notice that I made three different variations of this card with different papers in this pack.

Yes, I took a picture of DSP on card stock, but don't have one for the next step.  Because no one knows how to adhere DSP to card stock.  Really, I don't think any of you are really that dense.  Next up, you'll want to cut out a piece of card stock using your Big Shot and the Peekaboo Frames Die.  Use the shape that looks like a big Curly Label Punch.  It's in the corner of the die.

After cutting, you'll need to score.  Get out your handy dandy Simply Scored Scoring Tool and line it up as shown below.  You'll want to score at 3/4" and 1-5/8".

Use your bone folder to fold on the two score lines you just created, as well as the original line made by the die itself.  Set that aside for a few minutes.

Take a piece of Daffodil Delight card stock, cut to 3-3/4" x 1-3/4" and insert one end into the Decorative Label punch as shown below.  This allows you to cut one end, leaving the length of the strip intact. 

After punching the end of your pull tab, stamp an arrow on the punched end.  I used one of the tiny arrows from the Designer Typeset Photopolymer Stamp Set.  I love how the stamp shows the color ink that you use.  Yes, I get excited about the little things.

Here's how it looks once it's been stamped.  This will indicate to the recipient that they should pull on the tab...you know, so they aren't completely confused about what they are supposed to do with your card.

OK, it's important to pay attention to this step.  Cut a piece of Whisper White card stock 2-3/8" x 2-1/4" and stamp your sentiment slightly to the left.  Do not do this:

 It should look like this...see how it's not centered, but slightly to the left?

And now it's time to start putting the whole thing together.  Place a piece of sticky strip on the front of the Daffodil Delight strip.  Be sure it's on the same side as the arrow, but at the other end.  Attach this to the back of the Pear Pizzazz piece.  It will adhere to the part with the little notch in it.  I've shown it here from the back and again how it looks from the front.  Don't worry that the Daffodil Delight is showing through...we'll take care of that later.

Now that you have that done, it's time to attach your sentiment.  The best adhesive for this step is Glue Dots.  Feel free to use whatever adhesive you like, but don't say I didn't warn you.  Put a glue dot right at the point of each corner, on the back of the Pear Pizzazz piece, as shown here:

Try to get the glue dots as close to the inside opening as possible, but don't stress about it.  These dots will be used to attach the window to the Whisper White piece that's stamped with the sentiment.  You have a little bit of play, so make adjustments if you accidentally stamped crooked. 

I find that it works best to pinch the window open while doing this...it makes centering the sentiment a bit easier.  Be sure not to get any adhesive between the Daffodil Delight card stock and the Pear Pizzazz card stock.

Go ahead and adhere this to the front of the card.  Keep your adhesive to the Pear Pizzazz and Whisper White.  Again, don't get any adhesive on the Daffodil Delight or the pull tab won't work.

Are you hanging in there?  The hard part is behind you and it's easy peasy from here on out.  You'll need a piece of Whisper White cut to 1-1/2" x 1-3/4" and a piece of Daffodil Delight cut to 2-3/8" x 2-1/4".  Stamp one of the splotches from Gorgeous Grunge in Daffodil Delight on the Whisper White card stock, then adhere that to the Daffodil Delight card stock.

To adhere this piece to the window, put adhesive only on the panel shown below.  If you put it on the entire thing, the window won't open and then you'll have to start all over.  You don't want that.

Next up is a step that I neglected to photograph.  Cut a teeny piece of Whisper White to 5/16" x 2" then cover it with a piece of Gingham Garden Designer Washi Tape.  I used the floral, but any of them would look great.  Put some adhesive on the smallest part of the window (the part with the notch.)

Place your Washi Tape covered card stock on that section.  It should cover the notch and go right up against the Daffodil Delight piece.  Once done, embellish with an Island Indigo butterfly cut out with the Beautiful Wings Embosslit and the Big Shot.  Use a Stampin' Dimensional so it pops. 

One more thing...if you'd like to add a little something to the inside of your card, stamp it with the Gingham wheel.  Since you're just going the width of a card, you can ink it up with an ink pad instead of a cartridge.  Just be sure to do your stamping on some grid paper, and not on the Simply Scored Tool, as it looks like I'm doing here. :)

And that's it...you're done!  I'd love to see your samples...be sure to add a link in the comments if you make one!  Or, email a picture of it and I'll feature it here!

Supplies

Stamps:  Gorgeous Grunge, Designer Typeset Photopolymer Set, and Gingham Wheel
Ink:  Pear Pizzazz, Melon Mambo, and Daffodil Delight Classic Ink
Paper:  Pear Pizzazz, Daffodil Delight, Island Indigo, and Whisper White card stock, Gingham Garden Designer Series Paper
Accessories:  Big Shot, Beautiful Wings Embosslit, Peekaboo Frames Die, Gingham Garden Designer Washi Tape, Clear Block A, Decorative Label Punch

Easy Washi Tape Card

I'm finally getting around to posting the cards we made a club...over a week ago!  This month I featured the Gingham Garden suite of products, and this card showcases the Designer Washi Tape wonderfully!  I saw this card by Mindy Backes and knew it would be the perfect card for club.  Our other card was a bit more involved, so I wanted to be sure this one was quick and easy.  And it is!  With Stampin' Up!'s variety of Designer Washi Tape, it could be replicated for all kind of occasions.  In fact, I'm pretty sure I'm going to make a Christmas variation of this card.

Tips & Tricks

• Stamp before adhering the Washi Tape.  It's just easier that way. :)

• Washi Tape is great, because if it's not lined up right where you want it, just peel it off and try again.   

• After punching our your card stock with the Decorative Label punch, you may want to snip off the points at the top and bottom.  They just kind of look weird sticking out from behind the oval.  You can leave the ones on the ends...those look fine!

Supplies

Stamps:  Yippee-Skippee and Gorgeous Grunge
Ink:  Daffodil Delight and Melon Mambo Classic Ink
Paper:  Melon Mambo, Island Indigo, and Whisper White card stock
Accessories:  Daffodil Delight Seam Binding Ribbon, Gingham Garden Designer Washi Tape, Decorative Label Punch, Extra Large Oval Punch, Paper Snips

Birthday Shaker Card

As you may (or may not) know, Stampin' Up! recently held it's annual convention in Salt Lake City.  This is always a big exciting event that demonstrators look forward to, but this year was supposed to be bigger and more exciting than normal, because it's Stampin' Up!'s 25th anniversary.  Once upon a time, we had planned to take a family vacation to Utah that coincided with Convention, and it really would have been amazing.  But you know how life is, sometimes throwing surprises at us that change our plans, and we didn't go.  But because Stampin' Up! is a fabulous company, they streamed both the opening and closing sessions live so all the sad demonstrators like myself could watch from home. 

One of the gems that I took away from watching these sessions was a really cool shaker card that was demonstrated.  I loved the idea of using washi tape this way, so I had to give it a try, and this card is my take on it. 

The Gingham Garden Designer Washi Tape is my favorite, although I will most definitely be getting the Christmas tape from the Holiday Catalog!  Simply cut a piece of Window Sheet the same size as a piece of Whisper White card stock, then use your favorite washi tape to adhere them to one another.  I put most of the tape on the front with just a tiny bit folded over to the back.  But only do three sides...you'll need one side open so you can add in your shaker pieces.  I just punched some circles using the Itty Bitty Punch Pack.  Once your shaker pieces are in, you can go ahead and seal the top. 

After that, it's all embellishing.  As you can see, I used the Create a Cupcake stamp set and Cupcake Builder Punch, then added a little banner from the two other Gingham Garden Designer Washi Tape patterns (I did adhere them to Whisper White card stock and snipped the ends.)  This is one of those cards that's not difficult to make, but really wows the recipient!  Plus it's fun to play with!

Stamps:  Create a Cupcake
Ink:  Daffodil Delight and Melon Mambo
Paper:  Melon Mambo, Pear Pizzazz, Daffodil Delight, Whisper White, Night of Navy, and Island Indigo card stock, Silver Glimmer Paper
Accessories:  Window Sheets, Gingham Garden Designer Washi Tape, Itty Bitty Punch Pack, Cupcake Builder Punch, 2-3/8" Scallop Circle Punch

Washi Tape Love

After dealing with computer issues yesterday, I'm a little slow in posting this week.  Nothing like starting out a Monday by discovering that your laptop is useless until you purchase a very expensive replacement part.  I love our Apple products, but they seriously need to develop a power cord that lasts more than two years.  Or, if they are really going to have such a short life span, then they need to drastically reduce the price on those babies.  We're on cord number three now.  And they are. not. cheap.  Oh, and the battery needs to be replaced as well, hence the uselessness of the laptop without the cord. 

But you're not here to listen to me whine about my computer issues...you want to see a card.  This is a quick and cute little 3"x3" card.  I simply cut out the heart with my trusty Big Shot and the Hearts Collection Framelits.  I then placed a few pieces of Gingham Garden Designer Washi Tape on a 2 1/2"x2 1/2" piece of Whisper White card stock, and adhered it to the inside of the front flap.  I popped a couple of (retired) buttons on the front, and stamped a little sentiment on the bottom.  Voila!  This would be perfect to stick in someone's lunch with a little "I love you" note.  Easy-peasy and super cute!

Stamps:  Pennant Parade
Ink:  Island Indigo
Paper: Island Indigo and Whisper White card stock
Accessories:  Big Shot, Hearts Collection Framelits, buttons, Whisper White Baker's Twine, Gingham Garden Designer Washi Tape