StarLitStudio

basic grey serenade...oh the flowers

I put together only two colossal Basic Grey Serenade kits - in each of these kits there is a package of paper flowers and canvas flowers.  

Card base uses Spellbinders grand scallop circles and the flags and banners from the kit. Finished size is five inches in diameter.

Card interior - Papertrey Ink stamps and banner die.

The photo above shows the entire package of Serenade flowers used - one on the notebook, five others at the top left (created most these based on the product packaging photo), and two machine-stitched card fronts using up the little extras.

Notebook uses a Zva vine, 7gypsies tissue paper, butterfly pins and crochet/velvet ribbon.

Flower center is from Jolee's.  

Notebook interior - another flower used on the interior pocket, as well as two Memory Box dies (Pocket Gift Tag and Perfect Gift Card) - makes a nifty pocket for post-it notes once the recipient has removed the gift card.  Finished notebook measures 5 x 8 inches when closed.

I'll detail the other cards made with the Serenade flowers in Monday's post - next week I hope to detail my latest love - how I make custom envelopes, as well as bubble-lined envelopes.  Best wishes for a great weekend and Happy Birthday Bevie!

sitting cat

During the power outage from Superstorm Sandy, our cat, Ryan, sat as close as possible to the metal screen of our fireplace.  Every evening at sunset he would wait on the hearth for my dear husband to build the fire that kept us warm until bedtime.  

All Memory Box dies (sitting, cat, flower box, small arched window, small flowerbox, grove branch). Background was airbrushed with a Copic marker;retired 7gypsies patterned paper; card base is Memory Box Endive.  Happy Monday!

 

stitched pocket chads

Leftover butterflies (I call them 'chads' - will detail why at end of post if you're interested) from the Memory Box Butterfly Delights die were saved and used in today's project.  Incorporated Danni Reid's confetti pockets I saw here using clear acetate, a white tag, circle layers of poly crinoline die cut then stitched securely to the card base.  

An old 7gypsies Savannah fabric brad and Spellbinders grand butterflies were used with Want2Scrap butterfly bling.  White textured cardstock is from Bazzill.

Interior sentiment is from Impress Rubber Stamps, and all patterned paper used is Woodland Park.  Martha butterfly border punch - and yes, that is a handmade envelope - finished card measures 3-7/8 x 5-3/4 inch.  Happy Friday!

My story of chads:
The house I grew up in had a special room - one that was completely lined with cedar, even the ceiling.  It had no windows and one door that was airtight:  it closed so securely that when standing inside the room and closing the door, my ears would feel like they do when I take off in an airplane.  Wide shelves made from cedar, and lots of closet rods with pretty wooden hangers:  this room served as an enormous closet for winter and special clothing storage.  

Sweaters, interesting hats, fancy jackets and winter coats and other treasures filled this room.  Also hanging in that cedar-scented room under a protective cover was something quite magical to me...my mother's wedding dress.  

Periodiocally I would wander into this magical room and lift the cover, and spend time studying the dress.  What struck me as odd were the vast number of very tiny paper rectangles - each with a number - wedged between the fabric panel and the lace overlay near the bottom of the dress.  They were much smaller than my eight-year-old pinky fingernail.

On one occasion while in the closet my mother was with me, and I asked her about the funny, punched numbers behind the lace in her dress.  

She stated at her wedding, "they threw chads and not rice".  I asked her, "What's a chad?"  She informed me many of her girlfriends worked in offices that had these in abundance and they were from IBM machines.  Hence my affection for the word 'chad'...

quietfire anniversary card

Another anniversary card - inspired by Andrea Ewen's card; size is 4.75 inches square.  Used Spellbinders labels 18 and their teardrop circles die.  Quietfire sentiment, silver Liquid Pearls.

Patterned paper is Bazzill Timeless 6x6.  Handmade envelope; idea-ology timepieces and game spinners.  Labels die was sponged (with die in place) using Vintage Photo and Antique Linen Distress inks, then flicked with water, allow to sit for a few seconds, then blot dry with a clean paper towel. Happy Friday! (envelope paper is retired 7gypsies).

a father's day card

October Afternoon 9 to 5 used for today's project - old Stampin Up Father's day sentiments and a 7gypsies tag, mini fasteners, 

Memory Box Kraft cardstock for base. Lockhart Stamp Company's Slippers (#4001) were pieced using 9 to 5's 8x8 pad (houndstooth) and Memory Box Vanilla Bean.  Hope you're having a great week!

happy eleven eleven eleven

Today's project when mailed will definitely require additional postage - these embellishments protrude over a half-inch from the card base.

October Afternoon 5 & Dime papers used. Card base is Thistle (Memory Box). 

7gypsies rubbings used for the sentiment.  Sizzix pleated flower die; Spellbinders dies for the remainder. 

And I LOVE these Want2Scrap Nestaboard and Nestabling for the Spellbinders labels!  The board adds an amazing amount of depth.  Finished card size is 5-1/2" x 4-1/4".  Whoo hooo it's Friday!!  What did you wish for/what are you going to wish for today at 11:11?  Happy 11-11-11!!

valentine

This was a commission made for my neighbor's wife.  Very inspired by Debbie Olson page 27 in the latest Cards publication.

Retired 7gypsies papers, heart buckle, Papertrey circle die and Spellbinders Labels 16.  Pearl flourish bling is Zva Creative, red crinkle ribbon is May Arts.  Eggshell wool felt; card base and envelope are Memory Box Cranberry.  Diamond Lace edge punch.

Papertrey Ink sentiment in black; A Muse sentiment in Distress Fired Brick.  I'm not sure of this neighbor's taste/style, so I made a card that I liked...hopefully she will too.

Best wishes for the remainder of the week and hope you are warm where you are - ice on the way here in NJ...

crystal bird cards

Prima's Say it in Crystals are self-adhesive designs that are super easy to use.  Last week some family visited and saw these cards, and my aunt told me she 'was floored' at the time it must have taken me to create these bird crystal designs - so to folks outside our crafting world, these elements really step up a card and look incredibly time-consuming.  In reality, it's just peel and stick.

Memory Box Robin's Egg cardstock and old dictionary sheets were used, along with 7gypsies Conservatory paper.  English paper doily and Papertrey Ink sentiment.

I'm going to make a few more of these to have on hand.  To ship these via post I'd place a piece of corrugated cardstock between the crystals and the envelope interior.  

I cleaned out and refilled the bird feeders in the fall and we see and hear the birdies all winter long.  Got a few months to go but I am sure looking forward to seeing the first robin - hope you are enjoying your weekend and best wishes, Cindy

more paper bag cards

Here are a few cards I made from paper bags, following Mish's directions.  I created the card fronts, attaching all elements, then sewed the pocket.

These are two of the holiday thank you's my kids wrote to relatives.  Each card features three inserts - each of my three kids wrote their thank you on an insert.  The finished cards measure 6-1/4" x 4-3/4".  October Afternoon Very Merry papers used; Papertrey Ink stamps; jute twine and large metal rimmed tags.

Here's some others, using 7gypsies Conservatory papers:

These are so much fun to make!  Thank you for stopping by today!

paper bag tri-pocket card

Today's project is a take-off of Mish Wooderson's Double Pocket Pretties, which features two pockets. 

Today's post will show you how to make a paper bag into a three pocket card, and I'll share some tips and tricks for a professional and finished look.

My dear friend Bevie sent me a double pocket paper bag card with a note in one pocket and candy in the other - the pocket card was done in Bevie's wonderful style and was incredible!  While I was holding Bevie's two pocket card, it got me thinking...could I make one with three pockets?

I have three kids, and for the holidays, today's project was ideal.  I had each child write their thank you note on one of the three inserts, then enclosed all in the paper bag tri-pocket card - one thank you per pocket.  Most of our relatives live far away and took the time and trouble to send gifts to the kids - I know the aunts and uncles will enjoy these!

I am working with these paper bags (1000 for $25).  These bags do not have a gusset, which is my preference, and measure 6-1/4" x 9-1/4". 

To begin, assemble the items you plan to use for the card front.  Cardstock used on this project is 7gypsies Conservatory 8x8.  The First Pocket Cardstock Piece measures 6" x 4-1/4" - round the bottom corners.  Sentiment is Papertrey Ink using their double-ended banner die; ribbon is May Arts crochet ribbon.  The idea here is we are going to eventually sew through all layers for a neat, professional look.

Chop off approx. 1/4" from the top of the bag for a finished top, and fold bag in half, leaving approx. 1/2" from the very top of the bag.

Adhere a 'lining' to the card (bag) front- this measures 6" x 2".

Punch the First Pocket Cardstock Piece twice, equidistant from each other, using a circle punch (1-1/4" diameter).

Add a tiny amount of adhesive at the bottom inside of the First Pocket Cardstock Piece (simply to stablize the layer), and line it up over the lining on the card front.  Using the circle punch, punch through the left card front (photo depicts card upside down for best angle), exposing the half-circle to the card inside.

Adhere all elements to the card front.  I added a strip of corrugated cardboard and the crochet ribbon.  The ribbon is adhered just inside the card front layer. You could wrap it all the way around the outside of the card if you wanted to - this technique just saves yardage and bulk.

The idea here is to finish the card front first, then stitch through all layers, forming the pockets.

A metal rimmed tag with Papertrey sentiment was added.  Note - the tag strings are hanging off of the edge.  These will be machine stitched into place next.

Machine stitch through all layers.  Backstitch at beginning and end for stability.

Trim the banner and tag strings, and round the bottom corners.  A neat, clean and professional look.

For the three pockets, I created three inserts (one thank you per child). Round the bottom corners of these to carry the look from the pocket card, and for ease in guiding them into the pockets.

For a thank you or birthday card I would use one or two of the inserts instead of three.  Tuck a bookmark or simple gift in one pocket; an appropriate sentiment in the second; and a few chocolates (flat ones like Andes), another small gift, or a few paragraphs of a note in the third.  Get clever and have fun!

Inserts measure 5-1/4" x 3-3/4".  I added a 5-1/4" x 3/4" header of Conservatory cardstock to each insert.  The tab at the top adds height, for a total measurement with tab of 5-1/4" x 4-1/2".

Lastly, using the 1-1/4" circle punch again, punch a half-circle in the center of the card opening - equidistant from the two existing ones - at the top, through all layers.  Bingo!  Three pockets!

I do not own this technique nor concept, as it was adpated from Mish's Double Pocket Pretties.

Best wishes in 2011!  Off to run a 5K at the gym tomorrow and heave some weights babyee! wooHOOOO!