Tuesday 22 December 2015

Clint Eastwood Accordion Christmas Card

This card will probably seem a bit random, but my husband chats with an old guy in a wheelchair at church, who thinks Scott looks like Clint Eastwood (I can't say I'd noticed the similarity myself!) Anyway, Scott has gone to visit him today, and wanted to take him a Clint Eastwood Christmas card. We'd had a look on the internet for one, but didn't find very much, so I quickly made this one this morning...

I used Karen Burniston's Gift Card Accordion die set for the card base, and used a rectangle from the Flourish Gift Frame die set to cut out a photo I'd printed of Clint.
For my adaptation of one of his catch phrases, I used the Alpha 1 - Caps set, with double-sided tape on the back, and the 'Christmas' from Karen's Merry Christmas Pop Up set.
I used a punch for the holly leaves, and a snowflake from Crafter's Companion Die'sire Snowflakes die set.

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Friday 18 December 2015

Purple Onion Design Gingerbread Man Christmas Card

 A quick little Christmas card idea today, with stamps from Purple Onion Designs, and Crafter's Companion Die'sire Snowflakes die set.

I added Stickles to the snowflake, and coloured the gingerbread man with Copics, cut him out, them coated him with Crackle Accents. For the sentiment, I stamped it in VersaMark ink, used white embossing powder, and added some Stickles after it was heat set.
I bought the bells from Ebay, and tied them up with Baker's twine.

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Tuesday 15 December 2015

Karen Burniston's December Designer Challenge 'Home for the Holidays' Gingerbread House Stand Up Card

 It's the last Designer Challenge of the year, and this month the theme is 'Home for the Holidays'.
I know I've done gingerbread house cards in the past, but I really enjoy them, and thought I'd make one on a pop stand this time. (Apologies for the gloomy photos - it's a dismally grey day here today.)

This will be my last spot on Karen's Design Team for a while, as I'm taking a break while I get on with my Fire Fighter training in the new year! I'll look forward to seeing what the rest of the team come up with in 2016!!

I started with some card 6 inches wide, and cut the pop stand from the Barn Pop Stand set into it.
I stuck a folded over piece of card to the two sides of the pop stand to make a background for me to stick my scene to. I started off with some trees cut from the Outdoor Edges set.

I used dies from the Holiday House set to make a house with two additional wings to it, and outlined everything with dots of Liquid Pearls.
I added another layer of snowdrifts either side if the house, and cut a path by hand.

I added strips of card from First Edition's 'Nordic Christmas' 12x12 pad to the borders of the card, and added a couple of bows, with a snowflake decoration.

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Friday 11 December 2015

Wreath Christmas Card, with Purple Onion Design Calligraphy Stamp (by me!)

 I have a simple Christmas card to share today, with a new stamp from Purple Onion Designs, from the 'Helen's Hand - Holiday Sentiment Set'.
I'm the Helen of 'Helen's Hand'! I did some calligraphy sentiments a while back, which Michele from Purple Onion Designs made into stamps! It's a bit strange seeing my own handwriting in stamp form, but very exciting! There is also another set, called 'Helen's Hand - Everyday Sentiment Set'.
We have all been taking it in turns to be ill in my house for about the last month, so not much card making has been going on - hence just a simple one today. I'll hopefully have more of a chance to play with my new stamps at some point!

I used Tim Holtz Boxwood Twine for the wreath, and a Stampin' Up punch for the bow.

Saturday 5 December 2015

Stacey Yacula Tree House Pop it Ups Card

I have a little Lorna Label Pop it Ups card today, featuring some of Stacey Yacula's newest stamps at Purple Onion Designs... Flora the owl, and a fabulous Treehouse.

Also, you have until tomorrow to buy any Purple Onion Design stamps at 25% discount!

I coloured with Copics, though I stamped the Treehouse onto kraft card, and coloured the windows white with a Signo Uniball pen. I cut all the pieces out by hand.
I used a Stampin'Up scalloped punch for the edges, and added some Tim Holtz tinsel.

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Stacey Yacula

Thursday 26 November 2015

Pop it Ups Accordion & Purple Onion Design Christmas Card

Here's another Christmas card I made, using Karen Burnison's new Gift Card Accordion die, teamed with the Flourish Gift Frame, and stamps from Purple Onion Designs.

I used a metallic coppery card for the flourish frames, and added a little arrangement in the bottom left-hand corner using punches, including the Martha Stewart Branch punch.
I coloured the bunny and bridge with Copics and added Stickles for some glittery detail. I used dies from the Flourish Gift Frame die set to create the glitter background layer, and the green and white layers on the other side.

I used these stamps on the other page: 'Have yourself a merry little Christmas', MERRY, and Jungle Bells, using inks from Stephanie Barnard.

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Purple Onion Design Stamps - Warmest Wishes Christmas Card


For the background, I used white textured cardstock, stamped a few snowflakes on with Versamark ink, heat embossed them with clear embossing powder, then I blended some Panpastels over the top.

I used Copics to colour the house, and cut out an extra layer house layer, stuck on with foam pads.
I added some Stickles for the sparkle.

You can see the embossed snowflakes a bit better in this picture.
I used this stamp set for the sentiment, also from Purple Onion Designs.

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Tuesday 17 November 2015

November Pop it Ups Designer Challenge - Double Evergreen Pivot Christmas Tree Card

The theme for November's Designer Challenge is to create a card based on one of Karen Burniston's previous DC Technique Videos. If you haven't watched one of Karen's videos before, you are missing out! She creates great tutorials which are well made and so easy to follow.

I followed Karen's directions, using a piece of card 12'' x 5.5'' (from K&Co's 'Christmas Cheer' 12x12 pad), and a Martha Stewart score board to create the folds needed, prior to die cutting. 
The card ends up looking like this from above - a really pretty combination of folds and pivoting panels!

For my version, I cut two decorative layers for each of the trees. I stuck one on with foam pads, and the other I folded in half, and glued on just along the crease line.
I stuck on glitter card stars to the outer four trees.
I stuck on extra strips of cardstock behind the gaps left by the pivoting trees.

I then added decorative strips made with a die from the Agatha Edges set, and made little arrangements with leaves from the ECD Candle set, in the centre of each. I also glued on metal bells (from eBay) with Bakers Twine tied in each.
I used grey ink and a foam applicator to ink around the edges of the card and all the pieces.

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Wednesday 11 November 2015

Accordion Circle Cowboy Birthday Card

Hi everyone - I'm on the Elizabeth Craft Design Blog today, with a tutorial for this card...  I thought I'd challenge myself to tackle one of those trickier male cards. Fortunately, Karen Burniston has created some wonderful products perfect for celebrating the boys and men in your life!
Helen Cryer - 1
Instructions for making the card:

1. Using the Accordion Circle Card die set cut four panels from kraft cardstock, and four more from differing patterned papers. Trim the tabs from the patterned paper panels.
Helen Cryer - 2

2. For the first panel of the card, cut the two circles, clock face and hands, as shown below. The larger circle was made with a die from the Accordion Circle Card die set, and the smaller with a circle punch. Use dark brown ink and a sponge applicator to ink round the edges of the patterned paper pieces.
Helen Cryer - 3

3. Assemble the first panel as shown below, using a brad through the clock hands and smaller circle. Stick the smaller circle on with foam pads.
Helen Cryer - 4

4. For the second panel of the card, cut the circle, 'TIME' letters and 'Birthday' as shown below. (The circle was made with a die from the Accordion Circle Card die set.) Stamp 'Pardner' in dark brown ink, and cut a larger orange border rectangle for it. Ink the edges of the patterned papers.
Helen Cryer - 5

5. Assemble the second panel as shown below, sticking the 'Pardner' pieces on with foam pads.
Helen Cryer - 6

6. For the third panel of the card, cut another circle using the same die, a piece of twine, and four flags from folded over pieces of patterned paper. Ink the edges of the patterned papers.
Helen Cryer - 7

7. Tape the ends of the twine to the back of patterned paper circle, before sticking it to the panel. Glue on the flags as shown below.
Helen Cryer - 8

8. For the last panel of the card, cut another circle, and pieces from the Props 6 die set as shown below. Cut by hand the little decorative parts of the boots. Ink the edges.
Helen Cryer - 9

9. Assemble the last panel as shown below, sticking the hat and boots on with foam pads. Make a little lasso by coiling up some kraft twine, and tie another piece of twine round it to secure it. Glue on the lasso.
Helen Cryer - 10

10. Finally, attach all of the panels to each other, and you are done!

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Tuesday 10 November 2015

Purple Onion Stamps - Deer Christmas Card

A quick card using another of Stacey Yacula's new stamps from Purple Onion Designs - 'Meadow' the deer.

I used My Favorite Things Stitched Rectangles for the pale blue background piece, and Lawn Fawn Stitched Hillside Borders for the snow. I hand cut a couple of banners, and used a Tim Holtz Tattered Banner for the sentiment.

For the deer, I stamped onto patterned paper, and again on white and red card stock, then cut out the parts that were needed. I added some shading with Copics, some white stripes to the scarf with a Signo pen, and a spot on the cheek with Liquid Pearls. I stuck the deer down with foam pads.

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Saturday 7 November 2015

Pop it Ups Gift Card Holder Accordion Card

I have been a bit busy lately, with not much time dedicated to crafting... about three months ago I started the process of applying to be an On-Call Fire Fighter, and this week I had my final interview and the last lot of assessments, and I'm so happy because I passed them all! It was hard work! (I have the bruises and aching muscles to prove it!)
All being well, I will start my initial training in January.

Anyway!! I do have a new card to show you today, using some of Karen Burniston's latest fantastic dies!
I used the Gift Card Accordion die set for the card base and die cut words, the Flourish Gift Frame for the beautiful all-in-one scrolly frames and white rectangle layer, and the Props 7 set for the cute little woven basket and apples.

The Gift Card Accordion is such a great set! It's a beautiful shape for a start, and really versatile, in that you can use the die cut slots to easily slide a regular size gift card into, or you can just cover them over and have a regular card.
For this card, I used an Apple gift card, and based the colours for the rest of the card around it. I actually used the cardboard packaging that the gift card came on, for the die cut apples, and the lovely graduated colour words.


The card is quite a simple one, and came together really quickly.
Isn't the apple basket sweet?! Karen designed it really cleverly so that you slot three simple pieces easily together for the woven look.


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Saturday 31 October 2015

Christmas Trees Pop Stand Exploding Box Card Tutorial

Hello! I have this tutorial on the Elizabeth Craft Designs blog today, for a card idea I've wanted to try for a while - an exploding box card with a Pop Stand feature in the middle. I decided to use Karen Burniston's lovely new Christmas Trees Pop Stand, which has a beautiful floating centre.
Helen Cryer - 1

Directions for making the card:

1. Score a 12'' x 12'' double-sided piece of card stock into 4'' squares as shown below.
Helen Cryer - 2

It's been my first chance to use my new Martha Stewart Score Board, which I found lovely and easy to use!

2. Cut away the four corner squares. Fold under the two outer side squares (so that the card base can fit through a die cutting machine). Die cut the small pop stand tabs into the middle of the centre square. (This will also die cut the two folded-under side squares, but these die cuts will get covered up later.) Open out the card base again, so that it looks as below.
Helen Cryer - 3

3. Using more double-sided card stock, die cut pieces to make the larger 3D tree from the Christmas Trees Pop Stand set, following Karen's directions in this video. Attach the tree to the die cut Pop Stand tabs, as shown below.
Helen Cryer - 4

4. Cut four 3'' x 3'' squares from patterned paper, and die cut four contrasting coloured trees, using the die from the Christmas Trees Pop Stand set as shown, plus 6 silver glitter card stock stars.
Helen Cryer - 5

5. Use the pieces shown in step 4 to decorate the four internal sides of the exploding card, as shown below. Adhere the trees with foam pads, and glue some silver tinsel to the trees. Adhere the stars, including two back-to-back at the top of the 3D tree. Glue a small amount of tinsel to either side of the 3D tree's stars.
Heen Cryer - 6

6. Use a stamp from the Merry and Bright Clear Stamp set on cream card. Layer it onto red patterned paper. Cut two banner ends from silver glitter card stock, and stick everything to the card base as shown below.
Helen Cryer - 7

7. To make the lid, cut a 6'' x 6'' square, and score it 7/8'' in from all four sides. Snip one side of each of the four little corner squares, to make tabs. Glue these tabs behind the long rectangles, to made the sides of the lid.
Helen Cryer - 8

8. Cut two 3'' x 3'' squares and adhere one to the bottom of the box (to cover over the pop stand holes), and the other to the lid. Cut another tree and star, and add to the lid, along with some more tinsel.Helen Cryer - 9

9. Finally, cut four 2'' x 3'' rectangles of patterned paper, and adhere them to the box sides. Die cut an assortment of silver glitter card stock stars (from the All Seasons Tree die set and the Spiral Circle Pull Card die set), and use them to decorate the box sides.Helen Cryer - 10

The lid holds the sides of the box in place, and when the lid is removed, the sides fall open to reveal the trees inside. I hope you've enjoyed this tutorial, and perhaps come up with some other versions of exploding box Pop Stand cards!

The Christmas Trees Pop Stand die set is one of the new die sets and stamp set from Karen Burniston's 'Merry & Bright' Collection... so much fun!

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