Papercrafting: Layered LOVE Valentine's Cards

 

This week's party continues here through tomorrow. 

Busy as I've been, I found some time to make Valentine's Day Cards for family and friends. I had some great papers left from a stack I bought last year so I used them, along with a few new embellishments I picked up this year. 

Supplies:

• 110lb Cardstock (Recollections, Michaels)
• Seasonal Papers (Sweetheart Day Stack, Michaels)
• Coordinating Glitter Papers
• Adhesive Foam Dots, Glue Runner
• Misc. Embellishements
• Cut File
• Digital Cutting Machine

I always plan cards by the focal image I want to use and build around that. I went with this LOVE image from Cricut Design Space. 

In Cricut Design Space, I used the offset function to create two additional layers. I cut and assembled all of my focal pieces, then cut and assembled my cards following my go to 5x7 card and 4.75x6.75 panels. This stack had some great acetate papers included which I had fun with!

TIP: If I don't want to cut more papers for my panels, I combine leftover pieces and just measure them the same size as the panel. 

I found these embellishments at DAISO, and they were perfect for my cards!

Just added them to the letters etc.

These conversation hearts are from one of the acetate panels. 

That's about the extent of my Valentine's crafting this year, but I couldn't NOT show the people I love that I love them! 

Sharing At:

Cardmaking: Hanukkah Cards

 

This week's BFF Open House Link Party continues here. 

Tonight marks the first night of Hanukkah and I always enjoy making cards for special friends. These may be my favorites yet!

Supplies:

• 110lb Cardstock (Recollections, Michaels) in Dark Royal Blue
• Coordinating Scrapbook Paper
• Gold Mirror Cardstock (Recollections, Michaels)
• Silver Glitter Cardstock 
• Menorah Cut Image (Cricut Design Space)
• Digital Cutting Machine (Cricut Maker)
• Coordinating Large Rhinestones (Dollar Tree)
• Foam Dots

My go-to card size is 5x7 so I cut the solid cardstock to 7x10 and scored in the middle. I had the foiled blue paper in my stash.  I found a beautiful Menorah image in Cricut Design Space. I deleted the flames because I knew I wanted to use abstract rhinestones (Dollar Tree) for the flames. In Cricut Design Space, I then created an offset for the Menorah which I cut from the gold mirror paper. 

I attached the silver glitter layer to the gold layer using foam dots, then embellished the "candles" with coordinating royal blue rhinestones. The abstract rhinestones just screamed flames to me and were the inspiration for this entire project!

The center candle of the Menorah is used to light the other candles, with the other candles being lit from left to right, one candle each night, so I chose one color for it, and used the two gold shades for the remaining flames. 

And there you go! 

Wishing all those celebrating LOVE, LIGHT, and crispy LATKES! 

Papercrafting: Layered Turkey Thanksgiving Cards

 

This whole trip down the Crafting rabbit hole started with card making. It will always be my first love and the "ber" months, are my favorite cardmaking time of year. Sharing this year's Thanksgiving cards sent to family and "framily" (friends who are like family!). 

Supplies: 

• Craft Smith Rose Gold Paper Stack (an older stack from Michaels)
• Recollections 110lb Cardstock, Cream (Michaels)
• Recollections 65lb Cardstock, Kraft (Michaels)
• Recollections 65lb Cardstock, Metallic Copper (Michaels)
• Coordinating Glitter Papers (Online)
• Foam Squares (Dollar Tree)
• Self-adhesive Rhinestones (Stash)

I always cut my components first. I have a tendency to make heavy cards and I'm trying to skinny them down because postage keeps going up! Still, even when I do need two stamps per card, it's less expensive than buying cards. 

My cards are generally 5x7. I cut the solid copper panels 4.75x6.75 and the patterned papers 4.5x6.5. Layered as shown.   

The layered turkey is a Cricut Design Space image from my CDS subscription. I cut the base layer from kraft cardstock, and the detailed layer from a coordinating glitter paper. Attached these using my tape runner. 

I used foam squares from Dollar Tree to attach the turkey to the base. I also did the GOBBLE sentiment in Cricut Design Space. 

To finish, I went to my rhinestone collection and found these antique gold ones that worked. Added these to the "GOBBLE", and done! I thought I was going to use the sequin mix shown above, but once I "rediscovered" these rhinestones...

Gobble til you wobble! 

Papercrafting: Happy Accident Paper Towel Flower Core

 

I had so much fun with the Dyed Coffee Filter Flowers I shared last week. As I was drying the coffee filters I dyed, I laid them on some paper towel to absorb the excess water and it resulted in one of my favorite things: a happy accident! 

Supplies

• Dyed Coffee Filters
• Dyed Paper Towel
• Stamens
• Dimensional Glue

This is the paper towel that absorbed the excess liquid from the dyed coffee filter flowers. It was too pretty to just throw away. I get giddy about being able to use things like this. Waste-not, justify more craft supplies, is my motto! 

Besides, I had some leftover filters to use up. I had just enough paper towel to use to make two flower centers. I folded in quarters, then cut and snipped the edge into a fringe. After cutting my coffee filter layers, I assembled as shown in last week's tutorial. 

I poked the stamen bunch through the center, added a few drops of glue (I used Glossy Accents by Ranger) and then pinched around the base. 

Side view.

I'm giddy! And will absolutely be repeating this as I make future flowers. 

Papercrafting: Dyed Coffee Filter Flowers Part One

 

I've seen so many Reels pop up in my social media feeds showing how to dye coffee filters for projects and I was excited to try my own. Once you start playing, it's very addictive! It's also a fun and inexpensive craft that is only limited by your imagination. 

Supplies:

• Coffee Filters (I got a 100 pack at Dollar Tree)
• Acrylic Paints (Craft Smart from Michaels)
• Water
• Bottles (Dollar Tree)
• Shallow Tray (Dollar Tree)
• Stamens (80% off JoAnn after Christmas!)
• Dimensional Glue

First, gather your supplies. I chose these colors of acrylic paint (Craft Smart, Michaels) and Dollar Tree has these three-compartment plastic trays that are PERFECT for this! They also carry the small bottles shown which are great for mixing colors. 

I squirted some of the paint into the bottles as shown. Then added water. There's no right formula. I wanted a more watercolor look vs intense colors so I mixed to a thin consistency. Shake well to blend. 

I then prepped my coffee filters and filled the tray with a little bit of water. I tend to crumple my coffee filters to disguise the fluting they come with and give them an even overall texture, plus I have this theory that "working" paper, scrunching, crumpling, etc. strengthens the paper. 

I did the colors standalone in two of the three sections of the tray and mixed them in the third. 

Then I added the coffee filters to their dye bath. I didn't time how long they took to absorb the dye...it's the kind of thing you can do in between other projects. When I was happy with them, I took them out and lay them on some cardboard to dry. 

And here they are all done! Now you're ready to make flowers and I'll show you how in Part Two tomorrow! 

 

Papercrafting: Mother's Day Cards

 

While I haven't been able to do much lately, I was able to knock out some Mother's Day cards for family and friends. Last year, I was busy with my Mom being in physical therapy rehab after a fall, this year it's been medical appts with my husband. Yikes! But I felt so bad last year when one friend thought my card hadn't made it, and I had to tell her I hadn't sent any, so I was DETERMINED!

Supplies

• Coordinating Scrapbook Papers
• Coordinating Glitter Papers
• Foam Squares
• Focal Image
• Digital Cutting Machine

I pulled together coordinating papers from my stash. A mixture of patterns, foiled, plain, and glitter. All of my papers are Recollections, from Michaels. 

I cut my cards to 5x7 using 110lb cardstock, cut the printed panels to the same size, and created the focal panel for the card in Cricut Design Space, using a floral image that I welded to a frame so it's all one piece. 

Then I attached foam squares (Dollar Tree) to the back of the panels as shown, and adhered them to the printed panels.

To finish, I got my stash of self adhesive rhinestones out and went to town!

I had fun mixing the glitter papers with the printed papers, sometimes matching, others, contrasting. And they're on their way to friends and fam. 

Amethyst

Fuschia

Rose

Turquoise

It also provided what I needed. A creative break and joy!