Twilight Free as a Bird Card

Sometimes I love going into my craft room with an idea, but no fixed formulation about what I am actually going to make. I have seen some gorgeous cards on Stamp Junkies on Facebook (it is an amazing group, if you have not seen it before, I highly recommend joining the group, the cards are fabulous.) The cards were twilight scenes using some tree stamps, I decided to create my own card using the free as a bird stamp set. I have used a mask and blending brushes using misty moonlight and balmy blue. If you wanted a darker background you could use night of navy,

My Metric

10.5 cm x 14.5 cm (14.5cm by 21cm scored at 10.5cm)

Silver Foil - 10cm x 14cm

White layers – 9.5cm x 13.5cm

Metric

10.5 cm x 14.8 cm (14.8cm by 21cm scored at 10.5cm)

Silver Foil - 10cm x 14.3cm

White layers – 9.5cm x 13.8cm

Imperial

4 1/8 " x 5 ¾" (5.75” x 8 ¼ scored at 4 1/8)

Silver Foil – 3 3/4” x 5 1/2”

White layers – 3 1/2” x5 ¼”

The darkness of the birds depends on the darkness of the blends I used light basic black blend, but it also works with the dark basic black blend or the Basic Black Stampin’ write marker..

For the moon I added texture using the blending brush, but it was too dark so I used a finger dauber with Craft white ink to add texture to the moon and cover my boo boos.

I am planning on trying the technique on the Peaceful; Deer Stamp Set in the new July to December catalogue. Do you prefer the lighter of darker birds.

Blended Tree Card

When choosing a stamp set and punch, I try to use items which can be used again and again and again. I loved the Perfectly Plaid Suite when I first saw it and am so glad I added it to my basket, It has been around for a while but it is still one of my Christmas favourites. I have made a number of cards using the Perfectly Plaid stamp set and have now challenged myself to use the Pine Tree Punch. If you search on Pinterest there are more cards using the punch so there is lots of inspiration available.

Todays card uses the punch to create a stencil in order to add ink blended trees to the card, You can place the trees in lots of different places on the card. The red strip works well to hide any boo boos from the ink blending.

Measurements

My Metric

10.5 cm x 14.5 cm (14.5cm by 21cm scored at 10.5cm)

Red Panel - 10cm x 14cm

White layers – 9.5cm x 13.5cm

Metric

10.5 cm x 14.8 cm (14.8cm by 21cm scored at 10.5cm)

Red Panel - 10cm x 14.3cm

White layers – 9.5cm x 13.8cm

Imperial

4 1/8 " x 5 ¾" (5.75” x 8 ¼ scored at 4 1/8)

Red Panel – 3 3/4” x 5 1/2”

White layers – 3 1/2” x  5 ¼”

The card looks better if you do the trees in order, it is best to work out where you want the trees in the background, blend these first and then add the darker trees, I would start off with a lighter amount of ink, I would ink blend off on a scrap piece of paper and then add the lighter trees. Before adding the darker trees after, ensure to remove the excess to prevent streaking.

For the Misty Moonlight, again ensure that there is only a light amount of ink left on on the blending brush and add colour sparingly.

On the first card the adding of the sequins went a bit wrong, if using the fine tip glue pen, ensure that you do not squeeze too hard, it just needs a slight touch to add a dab of glue to add the sequins.

I added ‘snow’ using the Stampin’ Chalk marker ( you could also use a Gel Pen or Blender pen and White Craft ink.

I am off to my craft room to play with my punches. I have a few more cards to make using the Pine Tree Punch. Do you have a favourite punch?

Party Hat Gift Card Holder

I recently got to spend some time in the craft room, I was playing with some ideas and had pondered whether I could use an envelope punch board to make a smaller gift card holder. I love the ones that I have made recently but they use half a sheet of A4 each. Todays gift card holder is sized so that, you can get 4 from 1 sheet of A4. I also love that the party hats are created using an ice cream cone builder punch. They are super cute, I first saw the idea on Patty Bennet’s blog. It uses the punch to create a hat and the trim.

Measurements: 

Metric

Card -  10.5cm by 14.8cm

Score at – 4.5cm and 10.5cm

DSP and Inside White Panel – 4cm by 10cm

Imperial

Card -  4 1/8 inches by 5 ¾ inches

Score at – 1 ¾ inches and 4 1/8 inches

DSP and Inside White Panel – 3 7/8 inches by 1 5/8 inches

Tips and Tricks

• choose a DSP which works in small areas

• punch all the ice cream cones required

• add an ice cream cone to a sticky note (this allows you to line up the ice cream punch and create the hat trim.

You could decorate the hats any way you wishes. I am hunting for some pom poms to add to the top of the hat, I think these would make the perfect embellishments. How would you decorate yours?

Pouch Gift Card Holder

I am continuing my gift card holder examples. Todays gift card holder is made using a simple pocket. This is one of my favourite designs from the absolutely fabulous Angie Juda, from ChicNScratch. Her original video can be found here. This is one of the easiest holders and I have tweaked the measurements, so you can make 4 from 1 piece of A4. I love that you can choose your own decoration and that they can be as simple or complicated as you want to make them. I have decorated all my examples for Christmas, however they can be altered for any occasion by changing the colours and punches.

The measurements are below:

Measurements

Metric

14.8cm by 10.5cm

Score on long side at 4cm turn and score at 4cm

Score on short side at 1cm

Imperial

5 ¾ inches by 4 ¼

Score on long side at 1 ½ inches turn and score at 1 ½ inches

Score on short side at ½ inch

You can add a sentiment or a to/from on a card inside the pouch or attached to the back.

Metric

Option 1 - 9cm x 6cm

Option 2 - 8cm x 5cm

Imperial

Option 1 - 2 1/2 inches x 3 1/2 inches

Option 2 - 3 1/4 inches x 2 inches

Tips and Tricks

Use a strong adhesive to ensure that the pouch stays in place.

Take a smidge off the bottom so that the bottom flap can fold up.

Unfortunately Stampin’ Up! don’t have any clips in the Catalogue, I used some retired clips and some pegs from my stash. Some of the pegs were plain and I coloured them with my Real Red blend, the others were metallic pegs and I think that they look good with the heat embossing. My question is do I need more bling?

Secret Message Gift Card Holder

Todays video is for a gift card holder using the same basic measurements as my last gift card. This is a design which I have been using for the last five years. The gift card holder opens to show a secret message as you open the holder. The original idea for this gift card was by Stampin’ Suze and her videos are the reason that I am a Stampin’ Up! demonstrator, I fell in love with the products and the adhesive remover (I am a very very messy crafter, who used to get glue everywhere.) I have used some host DSP and also the Hey Birthday Chick Stamps and dies to create a perfect Birthday Gift Card holder, but this can easily be made in to an any occasion holder by changing the stamps and DSP.

The card above uses one layer of DSP.

Metric

10.5 cm by full length

Score at 5cm

Punch at 1 inch on envelope punch board

Inside Panel – 9cm by 17cm

scored at 1cm reverse and score on 4cm

Single layer DSP –

Top Layer - 9.5cm by 9cm

Bottom Layer - 9.5cm by 3.5cm

Sentiment Panel –

Bottom Layer - 5.5cm x 3cm

Top Layer 5 x 2.5cm

Imperial

4 1/8 inches by full length (Score at 2 inches)

Punch at 1 inch on envelope punch board

Inside Panel – 3 ¼ inches by 6 ½ inches (score  at ½ inches reverse and score at 1 ½ inches)

Single layer DSP –

Top Layer – 3 3/8 inches by 3 ¾ inches

Bottom Layer - 1 3/8 inches by 3 ¾ inches

Sentiment Panel –

Bottom Layer - 2 1/8 inches by 1 ¼ inches

Top Layer 1 7/8 inches by 1 inches

As the card opens it reveals the message, only add strong adhesive to the sides of the flaps.

You can also use a base layer below the DSP if you like layers

Measurements

Metric

10.5 cm by full length

Score at 5cm

Punch at 1 inch on envelope punch board

Inside Panel – 9cm by 17cm

scored at 1cm reverse and score on 4cm

 Card Layer

Top layer 10cm x 9cm

Top layer - 10cm x 4.5cm

DSP –

Top Layer - 9.5cm by 9cm

Bottom Layer - 9.5cm by 3.5cm

 Sentiment Panel –

Bottom Layer - 5.5cm x 3cm

Top Layer 5 x 2.5cm

Imperial

4 1/8 inches by full length (Score at 2 inches)

Punch at 1 inch on envelope punch board

Inside Panel – 3 ¼ inches by 6 ½ inches (score  at ½ inches reverse and score at 1 ½ inches)

Card Layer

Top layer3 -½ inches by 3 ¾ inches

Top layer - 3 7/8 inches x 3 ½ inches

Single layer DSP –

Top Layer – 3 3/8 inches by 3 ¾ inches

Bottom Layer - 1 3/8 inches by 3 ¾ inche

Sentiment Panel –

Bottom Layer - 2 1/8 inches by 1 ¼ inches

Top Layer 1 7/8 inches by 1 inches

I love the secret message which appears as you open the gift card holder, I think that it is an unexpected surprise. I love the chicks, I am so glad that they are available all year in the catalogue. My favourite is the chick with the Balloon, what’s yours?