Getting in Shape

No, this isn't a post about exercising! It's the name of the August MISTI Monday challenge on Splitcoaststampers. We have to use a geometric shape to create our background. I am also entering this in the Gina K. Designs Monthly Mix challenge - For the Boys (Make a masculine card); Simon Says Stamp Monday challenge - S is for...; and Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge - Anything Goes.

I used my MISTI and my wreath template to make the oval background pattern. For the Simon Says Stamp Monday challenge, my S stands for Shades of green. 

I used the small oval from the Gina K. Designs (GKD) Holiday Frame Filler stamp set and stamped it in GKD Jelly Bean Green, Grass Green and Fresh Asparagus ink. 

I stamped the sentiment, from the GKD Birthday Blessings stamp set, in GKD Jet Black Amalgam ink and used my Cut-Align to cut it out. I brushed the Fresh Asparagus ink cube along the edge of the sentiment piece to give it some definition against the background. I layered this on the background, which I had matted with Fresh Asparagus cardstock, and placed the whole thing onto a white card base. 

  

One Layer Masculine Card

There are a few challenges this week that seemed to go together, so I made a card that satisfied them all. I made a one layer masculine birthday card.

My MISTI and the Gina K. Designs (GKD) Wreath Builder template make one layer cards easy to make. I picked small images from a number of GKD stamp sets: Electro Pop Flowers, Autumn Wreath Builder, Made with Love, and Holiday Frame Fillers. I stamped them with GKD Sea Glass, Ocean Mist, Turquoise Sea, and Tranquil Teal ink.


I entered the following challenges:

Mod Squad Challenge - Layer Me Not

GinaK. Designs Monthly Mix Challenge - For the Boys

SimonSays Stamp Monday Challenge - Happy Birthday

Scor-Pal's More Than One Score Challenge #62 - Stylish Storage

This month, the More Than One Score challenge is to create some Stylish Storage. I made a Patterned Paper and Scor-Tape Holder.

I was looking on Pinterest and found this post, which sends you to two posts that explain how to make the two sections. I kept the back section the same and tweaked the front section slightly. I will give you the directions to make the project as I made it.

For the back section, the patterned paper pack holder, start with two pieces of cardstock that measure 8 1/4" x 8 3/4". On each piece, score the short side at 2" and the long side at 1/2" and 2 1/2". On one piece, with the 8 3/4" side at the top of your Scor-Pal and the 1/2" score line on the left, make a mark at 5 1/2" down on the right hand side. With a pencil, join that mark with the bottom of the 2 1/2" score line. See the picture below, which will hopefully make this clear!

On the other piece, with the 8 1/4" side at the top and the 2" score line on the left, score at 5 1/2" down to the 2 1/2" score line. Draw a line from here to the bottom right corner. 

Cut along the pencil lines and score lines to create the tabs as shown below.

Add Scor-Tape along the tabs as shown, attach the two pieces along the sides and fold in the bottom.

You will end up with this:

For the Scor-Tape holder, start with a piece of cardstock 8 1/2" x 10 3/4". With the 8 1/2" side at the top, score at 2" and 4 1/4". With the 10 3/4" side at the top, and the 2" score line on the left, score at 2 1/4" and 8 1/2". Then score at 1 3/4" and 9", just down to the second score line (4 1/4"). Cut along these two score lines, down to the 4 1/4" score line, and then cut along the 4 1/4" line to the 2 1/4" line on each side. Cut along the 2" score line into the 2 1/4" line on each side. This will give you two tabs on each side.

On the top section, measure up 2 inches and draw a line from there to the top of the 10 3/4" side at the 2 1/4" score line. Do this on each side and cut along the lines. You should end up with this shape.

Add Scor-Tape along the tabs, fold the back up and attach to the bottom. Then fold the front up and attach.

You will end up with this:

Tape the two sections together using Scor-Tape. Then you can decorate it as you wish. I used Gina K. Designs Delicate Essentials patterned paper pack and some pink cardstock that I had in my stash. I made dividers for the patterned paper, labelled them with the name of the pack and wrote the coordinating cardstock colours on the divider for each one. 

The front part, which holds my Scor-Tape, also holds my Scor-Envi, which fits in my Scor-Pal to create envelopes.

I hope I have explained how to make this! If you have any questions, please leave them in the comments and I will do my best to answer them. Thanks!

Altenew July Inspiration Challenge

This beautiful photo is the inspiration for the Altenew July Inspiration Challenge. We can use the colours, the composition, the elements, the texture, or any combination to create our project. Here is the card I created.

I used the colours and the flower for my inspiration.

On a piece of white cardstock, I stamped the flowers and leaves, masking off the flowers when necessary. I coloured them with alcohol markers, and added the sentiment.

I attached this layer to a piece of pink cardstock and then added this to a white card base. To finish the card, I added a few sequins.

I used the following supplies:

Altenew: Always There, Beautiful Day stamp sets
Spectrum Noir Alcohol Markers: BP1, BP5, BP6, GY1, GY2, GY4, GB6, JG3, JG5, LG1
Gina K. Designs Black Amalgam ink
Scor-Tape

Post-It notes for masking
white and pink cardstock, , sequins from my stash

Red, White and Blue

This month, the MISTI Monday challenge on Splitcoaststampers is to make a card with red, white and blue that is not for the July 4th holiday, but is for summer.  On the Gina K. Designs website, the Monthly Mix challenge is Flag, You're it!  We need to use the colours of any flag. I chose New Zealand, because I've always wanted to visit.

The butterflies were made using the Gina K. Designs (GKD) Butterfly Kisses stamp set, Dies and Foil-Mates. The Foil-Mates have the details of the butterflies printed with toner and that is where the foil adheres. Before foiling I stamped over the toner with the outlines of the butterflies with GKD  Powder Blue ink, and then foiled with Brilliant Blue Fancy Foil. I then cut them out with the matching dies. I went over the antennae and bodies with a Staedtler triplus fineliner Black marker.

I made a white gate fold card base and used a piece from the Floral Essentials patterned paper pack to decorate the front. I then put two butterflies on one side and one on the other so they interlock.

The photograph doesn't do justice to the sparkle and shine of the foil. In real life it is so pretty.

Thanks for stopping by. Hope you have a good week.

Just in CASE

This week, the challenge on the Mod Squad Challenge Blog is called Just in CASE.  We have to CASE (Copy and Share Everything) the card that's on the blog post. Here's my version:

I am also entering this in the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Make your own Background.

I stamped the flowers and leaves, from the Gina K. Designs (GKD) Where Flowers Bloom stamp set, with GKD Black Amalgam ink on a piece of Spectrum Noir Ultra Smooth Premium White cardstock. I coloured them in with Spectrum Noir Alcohol markers HB1, HB2, HB3, LV2, LV3, AG1, AG3, AG5. I used PL4 to add groups of dots around the images.

I cut this panel into three pieces, and matted each one with a piece of white cardstock that had the edges coloured with the PL4 marker. I attached these to a white card base with foam tape.

I then stamped an extra flower on a separate piece of cardstock, coloured it and fussy cut around it. Using a couple of the Cottage Cutz Stitched circle dies, I cut out two circles that were a little bigger than the flower. I coloued the smaller one with the PL4 marker, and for the larger one, I just coloured the very edge, so it looks like a white circle on top of the purple circle. I used Scor-Tape to adhere all of these layers together. 

Using VersaMark ink, I stamped the sentiment, from the GKD Stamper’s Favorites stamp set, onto a rectangular piece of cardstock. I heat embossed it in silver, matted it with a piece of coloured cardstock, added the flower, and attached it with some foam tape.

To finish off the card, I added Simply White Nuvo Crystal Drops to the centers of the flowers.

Bridge Card

The theme for the Scor-Pal challenge this month is Anything Goes, with the option of Patriotic. You just need to have more than one score on your project. I am  Canadian, so I used red and white on my card.

I saw this card design on Jennifer McGuire's blog, and thought I would give it a try. It is called a Bridge card, because the layer in the front bridges the two sides together.

I started with a piece of Gina K. Designs Red Velvet cardstock that measured 5 1/2" x 8". With the 8" side at the top of my Scor-Pal, I scored at 1 1/4" and 2 1/2" from each side. I folded both sides in at the 2 1/2" mark, and then folded them back at the 1 1/4" mark. This makes a 5 1/2" square card. If you want an A2 size card, you can either start with a 4 1/4" x 8" piece and score as indicated above, or you can start with a 5 1/2" x 5 3/4" piece and score at 3/4" and 1 1/2" on each side. 

I took a piece of white cardstock, and using my Scor-Pal, I scored a diamond pattern on it. I cut it down to 3" x 5 1/2" and adhered it to the inside of the card with Scor-Tape.

Using Spectrum Noir Ultra Smooth Premium White cardstock, I stamped the flowers and leaves, from the Altenew Always There stamp set, with Gina K. Designs Black Amalgam ink. I coloured them with Spectrum Noir Alcohol markers: CR7, CR11, DR3, DR7, CG1, CG2, CG4, LY3, GY1, fussy cut them and went around the edges with the True Black marker. That covered up any spots that had a bit of white showing.

I took another piece of white cardstock and die cut the edges, using a die that came with a Cardmaking & Papercraft magazine: Sara Davies Signature Collection Shabby Chic Antique Edge Die. I arranged the flowers and leaves, and used Scor-Tape to adhere them. I taped this piece to the left hand side of the card, folded this section in, folded out the right hand side, and taped it to the outside right hand piece. That way, when you stand it up, both sides will be standing out to the front.

I didn't add a sentiment to the front, but I attached a piece of white cardstock to the back of the card and added a sentiment and personal message there.

I had an extra flower and leaf, so I decided to make a matching envelope.

I used the Scor-Envi, which has the measurements of the paper and where to score printed on it. It makes it so easy to create all sizes of envelopes.

I hope everyone in Canada and the United States has a happy holiday - July 1st and 4th, respectively!

Scor-Pal Pinspired Card Holder

Hi, everyone! I am Dawn, your Pinspired host this month. We look at the Scor-Pal Pinterest page, pick a project and re-create it, putting our own spin on it. I found this Cardfolio, by Toni Storie and thought I could make it fit this month's theme on the Scor-Pal blog, by giving it a Summer feel.

Here is my project:

I live in Nova Scotia, Canada, so when I think of Summer, I think of the ocean, lighthouses and beaches. When I came across this piece of patterned paper in my stash, I thought the large yellow shape looked like a sun, so it seemed perfect for this project.

To make this Cardfolio, start with a 12" x 12" piece of two-sided patterned paper. I used a piece of  My Mind’s Eye - The Sweetest Thing Paper. Trim off a 2" x 12" piece, and cut it in half to give 2 pieces measuring 2" x 6". Trim off another piece, measuring 1" x 12". Cut that in half, to give 2 pieces measuring 1" x 6". This leaves you with a 9" x 12" piece.

Place the 9" x 12" piece into your Scor-Pal with the 12" side along the top. Score at 1/2", 5 1/2", 6 1/2" and 11 1/2". 

With the 9" side along the top, score at 1", 1 1/2", 7 1/2" and 8".

On the 2" x 6" pieces, place the 2" side at the top and score at 1/2".

On the 9" x 12" piece, cut out the four corners. Cut on the 1/2" line until you get to the 1 1/2" line, and cut off. On the 5 1/2" and 6 1/2" lines, cut down to the 1 1/2" line. Cut on the 1" score line between them, leaving a 1/2" tab.

Round the corners of the four inside flaps.

Round the corners opposite the 1/2" scored side on the 2" x 6" pieces.

Adhere Scor-Tape to the 1/2" scored sections. I used a strip of 1/4" tape and a strip of 1/8" tape. I find this to be easier than using a 1/2" strip. That way, if your scoring is slightly off, you won't have tape going off the edge. On one of the 1" x 6" piece, adhere tape to the back. You can discard the other 1" x 6" piece, or use it for another project.

Remove the backing paper from the tape on the 2" x 6" pieces and adhere them to the 1/2" flap on each side of the project.

Turn the piece over, remove the backing paper, and attach the 1" x 6" piece in the middle section. This will reinforce the spine of the cardfolio.

Make sure all your folds are well creased. Add Scor-Tape to the small spine tabs and to both sides of each flap, as shown. 

Remove the backing from the tape on the small tabs and adhere them to the inside of the spine. Remove the backing from the left flap, fold the top and bottom flaps in, and adhere the side flap down. Repeat with the right side. This creates the pockets that will hold your cards and envelopes. 

Now you can add your embellishments. I stamped the sentiment and lighthouse, from the Gina K. Designs By the Sea stamp set, with Gina K. Designs Black Amalgam ink. I coloured the lighthouse with Spectrum Noir Alcohol Markers: CR4, CR8, CR11, IG1, IG2, CT2, RB3, IG3, IG5, IG9, EB1, AG3, MB1, MB3, MB4, Blender pen, and fussy cut it. 

I cut out the sentiment with a die from the Gina K. Designs Decorative Label die set and used The Spectrum Noir marker MB3 to trace around the edge of the shape. I used the same marker to go around the edge of the lighthouse shape.

I added a piece of twine with some 1/8" Scor-Tape, and attached a button and a loop to keep the two sides together. I adhered the sentiment and lighthouse with some foam tape.

I put 3 cards and envelopes in each side, and there is still lots of room. You could also fill this with post cards or note paper to write to your friends and family when you are on vacation!

You still have a few days left to enter this month's challenge. Just make sure it has more than one score line and follows the theme of Warmer Days.

Shaker Globe

I made another shaped card for the Splitcoaststampers MISTI Monday June 2019 Challenge.

I used a Snow Globe die from Craftmania, but made a beach scene instead of a snow scene. After I folded my card base, I made sure the die was just above the top edge, so that the two layers would still be attached at the top. I sponged the background with Gina K. Designs ink: Sandy Beach, Kraft, Sea Glass, and Ocean Mist. I stamped the bird images and the sentiment, from the Gina K. Designs By the Sea stamp set, in Dark Chocolate ink. The seashells stamp is one that I had in my stash, but I don't know who made it.

I cut out a circle frame and sponged it with the same colours as the background. I cut a piece of acetate which was slightly smaller than the frame, and glued it to the back of the frame. I attached a double layer of foam tape to the edge of the acetate. I placed a couple of spoonfuls of shaker material on the background and placed the frame on top. You'll notice in the picture that the frame sticks up slightly higher than the card base since it's a full circle.

We're starting to get some warmer temperatures here, so hopefully it will soon be beach weather!

Nautical Masculine Card

The Mod Squad challenge this week is Light Your Way. We are to make a masculine card with a nautical theme. On the Splitcoaststampers forum, the Try a New Technique challenge is Ink Blending. I made this card that satisfies both challenges.

I used sponge daubers to ink up the background, using the following colours: Sea Glass, Ocean Mist, Turquoise Sea, Tranquil Teal, and Powder Blue. I stamped the images, from the By the Sea stamp set, in Moonlit Fog, and added the grass using Grass Green ink. I attached this panel to a Tranquil Teal card base.

Using a White Sakura Gelly Roll pen, I coloured in the front sailboat. I stamped the sentiment, cut it out and popped it up with some foam squares.

The stamp set, ink and cardstock are all from Gina K. Designs.