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

Another Endless Birthday Wishes Card

Today my oldest daughter turns twelve.  Every year when birthdays roll around, I have a hard time believing my children are as old as they are.  I remember thinking this when she turned four, and now she's twelve.  I am confident this is a universal problem for parents everywhere, as my dad tells me he has a hard time believing that his oldest (that's me) is in her forties!  Anyway, today we celebrate our sweet girl, who has a heart of gold and that's as big as an ocean.  She's just an amazing kid and I hope it's the happiest of birthdays for her.  (And please don't remind me that on her next birthday she'll be a teenager!) 

I needed a purple card for my purple girl, and I thought she'd appreciate one that's a little different.  I made a simple shadow box card for her, and the only embellishment is the Strawberry Slush ribbon and the Dazzling Details I dabbed on top of the candles.  Unfortunately, it doesn't show up well in the picture, but it gives just a bit of sparkle.  I also cut out the cake and greeting with my Ovals Framelits, then mounted them in the center with Stampin' Dimensionals.  It's a little different, and adds some extra dimension to this card.  For directions on how to make a shadow box card, check out this one...I even used the same color scheme!

Supplies

Stamps:  Endless Birthday Wishes
Ink:  StazOn Jet Black, Wisteria Wonder, Smokey Slate, and Strawberry Slush
Paper:  Wisteria Wonder, Naturals White, and Strawberry Slush card stock
Accessories:  Big Shot, Ovals Framelits, Strawberry Slush Stretch Ruffle Trim (I love this...why did they retire it?!?),  Dazzling Details, Stampin' Score scoring tool, Stampin' Dimensionals

Simple Shadow Box Card

This simple shadow box card is for one of my daughter's good friends.  We just found out that she has to have surgery, so I wanted to have a special card to give to her to let her know we're thinking of her and praying for her.  Thankfully it's a relatively minor issue, but she's going to have a rough few days as she recovers.  What better color combination for a little girl than pink and purple?  I love how Wisteria Wonder and Strawberry Slush look together!

I've made shadow box cards before, and even won an award for one (although technically these are called diorama cards).  But those were a bit more complicated to make.  This one is SO simple.   It really only took me a few minutes to make this!

Tips & Tricks

• Just cut two pieces (one for the front, one for the back) of card stock 4 1/4" x 5 1/2" and score at the 1/2", 1", 4 1/2", and 5" marks.

• After you've scored, cut out some type of hole in the center of your front piece.  I used the Deco Labels Framelits* here.

• Stamp the background.  I also spritzed some sparkles using the Glimmer Ink Refill and some rubbing alcohol in a spritzer bottle.  If you plan on stamping or embossing the front, go ahead and do that now.

• Once everything is stamped and embellished, adhere to two pieces together along the sides using Sticky Strip.

Supplies

Stamps:  Just Believe, Gorgeous Grunge, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Ink:  Wisteria Wonder, Strawberry Slush, and Wild Wasabi, Glimmer Ink refill
Paper:  Wisteria Wonder and Naturals White card stock
Accessories:  Big Shot, Deco Labels Framelits*, Strawberry Slush Stretch Ruffle Ribbon, Dazzling Details, Bitty Banners Framelits, Linen Thread, Button, Spritzer bottle

*The RETIRED PRODUCTS LIST comes out on Monday.  Be sure to check back here for links to the list.  I have no inside knowledge, but I highly suspect that the Deco Labels Framelits will be on that list.  Due to the fact that Karen Burniston has not renewed her contract with the makers of our Framelits and other Sizzix products, I'm guessing that everything with her name next to it in the catalog will also be retiring. 

If you want to be sure to get the items from your wish list that appear on the retiring list, go here to place an online order.  If you use hostess code 9WKB7ZYE, you'll receive a gift from me. :)

Valentine Shadow Box Card

It's been a long time since I made a shadow box card, and I'm so glad I decided to try it again.  These are such fun cards to make, and are super-impressive without a lot of work.  The best part is that they fold up and fit into a standard sized envelope!

Tips & Tricks

• You'll need to cut three different pieces of card stock:  the front and back pieces should be 3 1/4" x 8" and the middle piece should be 3 1/4" x 6".

• Score your strips of paper at 2" and 6" for the two longer pieces, and at 1" and 5" for the shorter piece.

• Cut out the hearts using the Hearts Collection Framelits.  It is so easy to get perfect placement using Framelits and the Magnetic Platform.  It's SO much easier than when I made this type of card using punches!

• Do any stamping on the back piece before you start to assemble...it will be MUCH easier that way! 

• Be sure to use Sticky Strip to adhere the card stock pieces.  There is no substitute!  Attach the middle piece to the back piece, setting it inside of the sides of the back.  The attach the front to the back.  The sides of the front piece should be the sides of the card.

Supplies

Stamps:  Yippee-Skippee (love), Oh Hello (chevron), Map It Out (little heart)
Ink:  Raspberry Ripple Classic Ink Pad and Stampin' Write Marker, Early Espresso Stampin' Write Marker
Paper:  Naturals White, Primrose Petals, and Raspberry Ripple card stock
Accessories:  Big Shot, Hearts Collection Framelits, Chevron Embossing Folder, Clear Block A, Raspberry Ripple Stitched Satin Ribbon, Stampin' Dimensionals, Sticky Strip