Card Chain Challenge - April 2024 reveal

 Today is reveal day over at The Card Chain Challenge - where all the cards exchanged around the world in April are revealed.

I sent my card to Kath in the UK and I received a card from Jeanne in Minnesota.

Each month we are given options for our cards - a sketch, themes, colors, product/technique.  We have to use one but can use more.

This month I used two of the colors - green and lilac (didn't use silver!) and I used two of the themes - Spring and Friendship.

The images (flower box, bunny and butterflies) are all rub-ons from the Easter Collection from Taperlogy.  The sentiments are all from Garden Sayings from Impression Obsession.

The card fold is called Center Display Fold.

It folds up to 4 1/4" x 5 1/2" so it fits into a regular A2 size envelope for mailing.

View from the back when it's open.

The card fold is called Center Display Fold and I found it at one of Splitcoaststampers Technique Lovers Challenges.  

You will find Sabrina's challenge here.  

And here is her diagram and tutorial that she shared on the challenge. 

You will need a piece of cardstock for your base 8” wide by 5 ½” high.

Score from top to bottom at 2” and 6”.

1 ¼” from the top and from the bottom, cut between the 2” and 6” lines. 

Now score at 3” and 5” between the cut lines, and at 4” above and below them as shown in the diagram. 

The 2” and 6” score lines become valley folds.

The two shorter inner scores and the ones at the centre of the card become mountain folds.

I cut my DP for matting just ⅛” smaller than each cardstock panel I was layering it onto.

So for the two tall side pieces, that was 5 ⅜” x 1 ⅞”.

For the four smaller strips top and bottom, that was 1 ⅞” x 1 ⅛”

For the centre panel it was 2 ⅞” x 1 ⅞”

And if you want to layer the strips on each side of the centre, that was 2 ⅞” x ⅞”

As mentioned in my write-up, when you are adding die-cuts to the centre panel, make sure that you can still easily fold and open the card.

Folds to 5 ½” x 4” so will fit in a regular US A2 envelope.

For metric measurements:

Base is 20 cm x 14 cm.

Score at 5 and 15 cm.

Cut between these two score lines at 3 cm and 17 cm.

Then score above and below the cut lines at 10 cm, and in between them at 7.5 and 12.5 cm

So please check out all of the cards exchanged in April over at The Card Chain Challenge and sign up to join in for May!  You have until May 6th to sign up.

I'm just in time to link my card to:

Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers

F is for FOLD It -  ends May3

NBUS

First time using this Garden Sayings Sentiment set

Tic Tac Toe

Ends 5/9

Middle vertical - Butterflies/Free/Patterned paper

Stamps: Garden Sayings - Impression Obsession

Paper:  White - Papertrey Ink, DP Dainty Flowers 12x12 pack - Stampin Up.

Ink:  Nocturne - Versafine Clair

Accessories:  Oval die - Spellbinders, Oval Punch - SU, Easter Collection Rub-ons - Taperlogy

Love from Us and the Dogs

 I made this duo doggy card for my friend (who owns two dogs) to send to her grown son Andy for his birthday.   

I stamped, colored and die cut the pups and placed them inside a Polaroid frame up on foam dots.  The blue DP actually has paw prints on it if you look closely!  I added the ball as if it had just dropped out of the pups mouth - he's ready to play!  The sentiment from Simple Strips - Woof, from Taylored Expression, worked perfectly for this card

I'm linking my card to:

TIME OUT Challenges

NBUS

first time using this sentiment set

Stamps: Dog Talk - Tim Holtz/Sizzix, Simple Strips Woof - Taylored Expressions
Paper: white, True black - PTI, Hammered White - Amazon, DP My Dog - 6x6 paper pad Echo Park
Ink: Nocturne - Versafine Clair
Accessories: Dog Talk Dies, Alphanumeric Tiny Type Upper dies - Tim Holtz/Sizzix, Simple Strips Die - Taylored Expression, Polaroid Die - Whimsy Stamps, foam dots, Copics, Glossy Accents

Group of Seven April Technique - Coloring with an Elegant Writer Pen

 It's time for the April Group of Seven Cardmakers Post -  this month we are using an Elegant Writer Pen to color our images.

There are two YouTube Videos linked over at Group of Seven for techniques and I'm sure there are others available as well.

For my first try, I used 2 of the 4 floral images in the Bold Botanicals stamp set from Tim Holtz/Stampers Anonymous.  I inked the stamps with Nocturne Ink and most of the image is black when you stamp it.  I wrote over most of the lines with the Elegant Writer then I started brushing water over the image, which pretty much, turns blue.  I like to have some pink, so I dab over the watery blue and, like magic, some of the area turns pinkish!  You can get a greenish tinge as well.

For my third try, I found this really large funky kind of floral image Doodle Bouquet from Lavinia and used the same process on this.  I then stenciled around the image with the Bubble Layering Stencil from Tim Holtz/Stampers Anonymous with Iceberg Ink.

I forgot the step of fine misting the panel from a distance to be sure that all of the Elegant write ink has been activated - I'm going back and doing it now!!

You can find the Elegant Writer pens at most craft stores and on Amazon.  They are not expensive.  I used a 2.0 mm because that's what I had, but the video recommends a 1.3 mm extra fine tip.

So check out the rest of the GO7 team over at the GO7 blog and then get your own Elegant Writer and try it out -  then link it up so we can see it!

I'm linking my cards to:

NBUS

first time using the both the Bold Botanicals and the Doodle Bouquet Stamp 

Linking my daisy card to:

We Love Stamping:  spring/garden ends 5/1

Linking my rose card to:

The Card Concept

CAS card  ends 5/13

a rose with subtle blue and pink

Stamps:  Bold Botanicals - Tim Holtz/Stampers Anonymous, Doodle Bouquet - Altenew

Paper:  Water color paper - Canson Cold Press

Ink:  Nocturne - Versafine Clair, Iceberg - Altenew

Accessories:  Elegant Writer 2.0 mm, water, #3 paint brush, paper towel, Bubble Layering Stencil- Tim Holtz/Stampers Anonymous, blender brush.

Inkspirational #314 Mood Board Bouquet

 It's time for the next Inkspirational Challenge #314 - and this week it is:

I was inspired by the lovely bouquet in the center of the board and the overall colors of green, pink and orange, with a tad of blue in the vase!

Very CAS for me today!

I stamped the image on a panel of white hammered card and colored it with Copics.  I die cut the frame and adhered it around the image, up on foam dots.  I applied Glossy Accents to the vase so IRL it looks like water.  I tied a piece of twine into a bow leaving a long loopy tail and adhered it to the top of the vase.

So how does our Moodboard inspire you?  We hope you will join us and link up your inspired card.  Check out the lovely creations by the rest of the DT over at Inkspirational!

You have until May 3rd to join in!

I'm linking my card to:

NBUS

first time using this floral stamp set that I've had for over 5 years!

Die Cut Divas

Make a spring card   ends 4/30

We Love Stamping

Spring - ends 4/30

Seize the Birthday  

ends 4/23

Stamps:  Jofy JM22 - Paper Artsy

Paper:  Hammered White - Amazon

Ink:  Nocturne - Versafine Clair

Accessories:  Wood Frame Infinity Dies - Hero Arts, foam dots, twine, Copics YR02, YG03, RV02, W2, BOO, Glossy Accents - Ranger.

Inkspirational #313 Triple Floating Diamond Fold Birthday

 There's a new challenge up at Inkspirational - and the challenge is:

Now I have a few folds that I love to make - but since this is a challenge -  I went to Pinterest to find a fold I haven't done before.  

And I found this Triple Floating Diamond fold designed by Lisa.  Now, I cannot write out all of the instructions but you will find everything you need to know on the two links below if you are interested.

 

Here's a link to Lisa's blog where you can see 3 designs for the card and her Youtube tutorial on putting it together.

Here is a link to the Google Document list of what size pieces of card stock and patterned paper to cut. 

And here is the Triple Floating Diamond Fold Birthday card that I made.

Since I put the die cut mushroom up on foam dots on the middle diamond, I could slip the corner of the outside diamonds behind the mushroom which helps hold it open for display.

Here's a view looking down into the fold.

Here's the front opened up and flattened.

Here's the front with the outside diamonds flipped over.

Here's the back where I've put panels to write a note to the receiver.

Here it is folded up for mailing - it is a bit thick and I think will probably take two first class stamps to mail - I'll bring it to the post office to find out when I do mail it.  

It will fit into a regular A2 envelope.

Looking down into it folded up.

All of the patterned paper and the die cut mushrooms are from the Mushroom Medley Paper Die Duo  set from Divinity Designs.

So what is your favorite fold?  Or will you go and look for one you haven't done before?  

Either way - we hope you will  join us over at Inkspirational.

  

Please check out the lovely folds the rest of the DT has created and link up yours too!  

You have until April 19 to link up!

Also linking my card to:

Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers

F is for Fold It.  ends May 3

NBUS

1st time using this beautiful DP and first time making this fold!

Moving Along with the Times

fancy fold  ends 4/30

Stamps:  My Oh My - Rosies Road Show Wooden Stamp, Sentiment Suite: Birthday - The Greetery.

Ink:  Nocturne - Versafine Clair

Paper:  Pine Feather, White - Papertrey Ink, DP Mushroom Medley Paper Die Duo Set - Divinity Designs.  

Accessories:  foam dots, enamel dots - Altenew mushroom die - Mushroom Medley Paper Die Duo Set - Divinity Designs.

March 2024 Card Chain Challenge Reveal - You Make Me Snort

Today's the day for the March Card Chain Challenge Reveal -  I sent a card to Jo in the United Kingdom and received a card from Gail in British Columbia, Canada.

Here is my card:

Every month there are options for designing your card -  you can use all of the options but just have to use one of them.

For my card, I used the color options - black, white and one other color (I used pink),  and I used the theme 'on the farm' - using a pig image.

First, I stamped the pig from Piggies Crushed It in the center of a white card panel.  I colored the image with pink and black Copics.  Then I stenciled around the image with Milky Way Stencil using a blender brush with pink ink.  I  die cut the Polaroid frame and layered it over the image, popping it up on foam dots.  

 I stamped the balloon again on a piece of white card, colored it, cut it out and layered it over the stamped balloon and over the frame.  I die cut the FRIEND from Fun with Words die set and adhered it to the lower edge of the Polaroid die cut.  I colored in the heart on the 'I' of FRIEND with a pink Copic and added 3 black Tuxedo hearts around the card.  Instead of adhering the panel to a folded card - I adhered a die cut easel to the back of the panel.

Please join us in this fun monthly challenge where we send and receive a card to places all over the world!  You'll find all the details about signing up for April at The Card Chain Challenge Blog.  You have until April 6th to sign up!

I'm linking my card to:

NBUS

First time using the stamps

Just Us Girls  ends 4/2

Tic Tac Toe

Middle Horizontal - Spring Colors/Free/stencil  ends 4/11

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge

Anything Goes  ends 4/3

Stamps:  Piggies Crushed It - Whimsy Stamps.

Paper:  White, True Black - PTI, Hammered White - Amazon

Ink:  Nocturne - Versafine Clair, Blush - Altenew

Accessories:  Fun With Words Die, Polaroid Die - Whimsy Stamps, Small Easel Die - Sizzix, Milky Way Stencil - A Colorful Life Designs, Copics R20, N10, foam dots, Tuxedo Hearts - Honey Bee.

Group of Seven Cardmakers - March 2024 - Cover Die Eclipse

 It's time for the Group of Seven Cardmakers March Technique.  This month we are creating using the Cover Die Eclipse Technique.

I recommended this technique to the GO7 after seeing it in a challenge over at Splitcoaststampers a year ago.  You will find a link to a video as well as a list of instructions over at the GO7 Blog.

I made 3 samples today. 

This first one using the Fresh Floral Background Stamp from The Greetery, Layered Plaid Cover Die A - Altenew.

My second card was made using a smaller image (Stiple Rose - SU retired) stamped in the center of a panel with  stripes cover die from Amazon.

And then I tried the technique but with no stamping -  just using two panels of the same patterned paper - one for the background and one cut with an Arched Deco Plate die.  I love how this came out!

Here are some photos of how I made the 2nd and 3rd samples.

1) Take two panels of white card stock (I used white A2 card size, 4 1/4" x 5 1/2")

2) Put your panel into a card positioner and stamp the image you have chosen,  Put the second panel in the same spot in your card positioner and stamp the image in the same spot on the second panel.  

3)  Die cut one of the panels with a cover all die.  Adhere the die cut stamped panel over the stamped panel and  the image should line up.

Then I wanted to see what would happen if I just used the same patterned paper for each panel - no stamping.

1.  Take 2 panels of patterned paper cut 4 1/4" x 5 1/2"

I used 2 sheets of 6x6 from the same pack and cut them in the same place on each sheet so the patterns matched.

2.  Die cut one with the cover all die and lay it over the uncut panel

It worked!

To finish this card,I hot foiled the sentiment with gold foil and popped it up on foam dots.

As with any technique - you need to play with the supplies you have to see which stamps/dies work best!

So please join us and try out this Stamped Eclipse technique, make a card and link it up over at the Group of Seven blog so we can all see it!   While you are there - check out all the samples created the the other G07 DT!

I'm linking my Birthday card to:

AAA Birthday Game #59  Geometric Ends 3/31

Die Cut Diva's Anything Goes  ends 3/31

Just a Note Card
Stamps: Fresh Floral Background Stamp, Little Labels Stamps and Die - The Greetery
Paper: white - PTI
Ink: Blue Lagoon - Elements Lavinia
Accessories: Layered Plaid Cover Die A - Altenew, Little Labels Stamps and Die - The Greetery, foam dots.

In this Time of Sorrow Card

Stamps:  Stiple Rose - SU (retired), Simple Strips: Sympathy - Taylored Expressions.

Paper - White, Vellum - PTI

Ink:  Confetti - Elements/Lavinia, Gold Pigment Ink - Color Box, Versamark.

Accessories:  Gonal Stripes Layering Dies - Amazon, Simple Strips Die - Taylored Expressions, Black and White POSCA pens, Gold Embossing Powder, heat tool.

Happy Birthday Card

Paper:  White - PTI, DP Welcome Spring 6"x6" paper pad - Rubbernecker.

Accessories:  Arched Deco Plate die - Poppy, Elegant Occasion Sentiments Hot Foil Plate and Die Set,  Gold Foil, Glimmer Hot Foil System - Spellbinders, foam dots.