Any Way You Fold It

Folding...it's not just for laundry!

The latest challenge on the Frilly and Funkie blog is all about folds.  For detailed info on the challenge click on this link and you can also see samples from the DT.  Wow!  I wasn't going to participate as I am supposed to be cleaning, purging, rearranging in my art space this week but I googled 'folded cards' on Pinterest and came up with this beauty that was my source of inspiration.  You'll have to scroll down a bit on her post to find the tutorial for the folded part.

Folded insides - valley, mountain, valley

Decorated card front

The front of my card is cream card stock.  I inked up the lace directions from Studio 490's Believe In Art with Black Soot Distress Ink and rolled the stamp over the card front in different places, varying the pressure.

From black gingham decorative paper I cut a 3.25"x5" rectangle then used a Martha Stewart 'Around the Edge' corner and straight punch.  Underneath is a black layer of cardstock that barely shows through the holes.  On top of that is the scalloped oval cut from the other piece of decorative paper that was used on the inside.  The flowers, leaves, branches and bow were attached to this.  This piece has dimensional foam tape under it for elevation.

The flowers and are Spellbinders dies (Rose Creations), the mini branch is from Tim's collection by Sizzix.  The leaves were swiped with distress paint (Peeled Paint and Walnut Stain)as were the branches.  Both were formed to give them dimension, texture and interest.  The label punch is by StampinUp, not sure about the 2 circles on it.  The 'create' is by JustRite.

The sentiment inside the card is from the Studio 490 set Dressed For Art.  It was stamped in Jet Black Archival Ink.  

You might think black roses are morbid or creepy but I think they're elegant.  Or can be.  Beauty is in the eye of the beholder!

Summer window box

So that blasted 'daisy' sentiment stamp was still on my desk and calling out to me.  Here's the card I made using it.

My first ever square card!  It's 5.5" square so you can calculate the inset pieces yourself.  The daisy background (Hero Arts) was stamped on white card stock and water colored using distress markers that were scribbled on my craft sheet.  I used the Ranger EmbossIt dabber (love this!) over the image best I could but not solidly.  Several blue distress inks were rubbed over the whole piece.  Turned out better than I thought.  The sentiment is by My Sentiments Exactly.

I didn't want to squish the bow so I devised a template that would make a box for the card.  The flap wasn't big enough to cover so I added a decorator sheet of card stock to it and fancy cut the edge with a Fiskars punch.  From 'Wordplay' (TH Sizzix die) I cut the recipient's name from card stock.  The letters were run through the Xyron and placed on the bottom of the decorated flap.  I had a kraft gift bag but it had stuff on the front I needed to cover.  I was going to use the same card stock as the envelope flap but came up with something even better.  I punched 2 holes in the back of the envelope box and 2 more on the gift bag so that the box covers the printing.  A bit of twine run through the holes keeps it in place.  Voila!  No one would be the wiser. 

A birthday hat is mandatory when you turn 70, isn't it?  lol

 
The card will accompany this window box garden.

One side

The other side

All the dies are by Sizzix...the Window Box was designed by Eileen Hull and from Susan's Garden (how appropriate!) comes Mini Daisy, Mini Petals, Pansy/Violet, Leaves-Fern & Ivy.  Other items I used include card stock, chipboard, crinkle ribbon, Flower Soft, floral wire and tape, distress inks, Claudine Hellmuth paints, Antique Linen Distress Crackle Paint.

I cut 2 windows and 1 box from chipboard.  All were painted with CH Sable Brown paint (but don't cover the areas that get adhesive); let dry.  Cover this with the crackle paint (again, don't cover the adhesive areas - use washi tape to keep out the coloring mediums).  Assemble.  The windows were glued together then attached to the back of the window box.  I wanted to make sure this was really stable.  Inside I glued 4 1" styrofoam balls so the picks would stay in place.  Perfect fit!  On top I spread spanish moss.

Using various colors of 80# card stock I cut multiples of the flowers and leaves.  Once they were formed (see the Sizzix site for detailed videos for how-to info) they were attached to toothpicks painted green.  Shape, place and adhere the floral wire before gluing on the ivy leaves. Some of the flower centers are just markers, some are flower soft (ivory tinted with yellow distress re-inkers) and some are glue/CH acrylic paint (violets).

'Plant' the garden as you like.  The bow was actually for the daisy tag in a previous post but it turned out too yellow-green.  It's just right for this window box display. 

The finished window box is approximately 6"x4"x1 1/4".  The flowers are all less than 1 1/4".  Yes, it is fiddly and time consuming.  Yes, you will need patience and perseverance.  Yes, allow plenty of drying time.  Yes, I would do this all over again.   And most definitely will. 

I can see this being planted with the dogwood blooms and forsythia branches for spring, mums and black-eyed susans for fall, and poinsettias and pinecones for winter.  Or maybe I'll make the wheelbarrow for the fall version.  Hmmmm.....

Grid Block Stamping

Wendy shared her version of Grid Block Stamping earlier this month.  I had a devil of a time getting my background stamp to show up.  Numerous efforts ended up in File 13.  But if at first you don't succeed, try, try again.  And again.  I finally had one that made me happy.  (That's very important, don't you know??!)

Since Lori's challenge theme for July is 'Anything Goes' on the EverythingWendyVecchi Yahoo group this works perfectly!  I've made a notecard and coordinating envelope.  Yay!!!  Something useful and pretty all at the same time!!!

A2 card (Bazzil card stock), Studio 490 stencils (Diamonds Are A Girl's Best Friend, Classic Words, Manly Art), distress inks, graphite pencil, sewing machine, distressing tool, archival ink, clear embossing powder, 3"x4" grid block

With the heat wave in place for the rest of the week, I hope to get in my space and purge.  Way too many new things I'd like to have and certainly way too many things I no longer use need to make way for CHA sneak peeks.

Daisy, daisy, give me your answer do

I've had this stamp sitting on my desk to use on another project when I decided it would be perfect to use for the 12 tags of 2013 - July.  Here it is mid-July and I just wasn't 'feeling' my patriotic images.  Best to go with the direction you're meant.

 

#8 tag, Tattered Florals movers & shapers dies, Clear Rock Candy Crackle Paint, distress stains, archival ink, crinkle ribbon, distress inks, stamps (Mixed Media - honeycomb, Wallpaper & Wood - wood), tissue tape, memo pin, Hero Arts alpha (D), vintage button, sentiment (My Sentiments Exactly - O283)

I stayed pretty close to Tim's instructions other than the color palette and theme.

My garden is full of daisies...these white ones bring the outside in since it's too blasted hot to go out and enjoy them.

Rough start to summer

Even though we got a summer off from cancer treatments life continues to throw us some curve balls.  I caught a nasty cold, and, being the good wife that I am (lol) I just had to share it with Walt.  After 2+ weeks we're finally seeing the end of that mess - thank goodness.  But then our little tortoiseshell kitty, Amber, developed health complications that couldn't be fixed.  My sister's cat was in grave health.  Monday afternoon both crossed the Rainbow Bridge.  I've had no energy or desire to craft in any way, shape or form.

But yesterday I got a bee in my bonnet, as my grandma would say, and I decided to make a retirement booklet for an old friend back in NJ.  I think he'll get a charge out of the card/gift.  I made a female version of this a number of years ago and it was the hit of the party.  Hope this one brings a smile to JT's face.

 

I found an 8-panel accordion fold card by The Paper Cut up in the closet - perfect!  The day stamps are Jenni Bowlin; the fellas are from Art Impressions, the dies are by Sizzix and the ink if Ranger's Jet Black Archival and Watermark Resist.  The text is Hero Arts.  All images were stamped on watercolor paper and colored using distress markers scribbled on my Ranger craft sheet.

Happy 4th of July!

 

1.  Emboss the watercolor paper using Tim's Americana Print embossing folder

2.  Die cut star using Tim's mini star die

3.  Gentle swipe distress ink over stamp from Americana Silhouette set; press onto embossed image (red over 'July' and brown over 'America')

4.  Cut more stars from watercolor paper; color with yellow pen, ink or paint

5.  Edge embossed layer with gold distress paint

6.  Adhere embossed image and star to blue card stock