November Pop it Ups Designer Challenge - Double Evergreen Pivot Christmas Tree Card

The theme for November's Designer Challenge is to create a card based on one of Karen Burniston's previous DC Technique Videos. If you haven't watched one of Karen's videos before, you are missing out! She creates great tutorials which are well made and so easy to follow.

I chose to make my card based on Karen's November 2014 video on how to make a Double Evergreen Pivot card.

I followed Karen's directions, using a piece of card 12'' x 5.5'' (from K&Co's 'Christmas Cheer' 12x12 pad), and a Martha Stewart score board to create the folds needed, prior to die cutting. 

The card ends up looking like this from above - a really pretty combination of folds and pivoting panels!

For my version, I cut two decorative layers for each of the trees. I stuck one on with foam pads, and the other I folded in half, and glued on just along the crease line.

I stuck on glitter card stars to the outer four trees.

I stuck on extra strips of cardstock behind the gaps left by the pivoting trees.

I then added decorative strips made with a die from the Agatha Edges set, and made little arrangements with leaves from the ECD Candle set, in the centre of each. I also glued on metal bells (from eBay) with Bakers Twine tied in each.

I used grey ink and a foam applicator to ink around the edges of the card and all the pieces.

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Accordion Circle Cowboy Birthday Card

Hi everyone - I'm on the Elizabeth Craft Design Blog today, with a tutorial for this card...  I thought I'd challenge myself to tackle one of those trickier male cards. Fortunately, Karen Burniston has created some wonderful products perfect for celebrating the boys and men in your life!

Instructions for making the card:

1. Using the Accordion Circle Card die set cut four panels from kraft cardstock, and four more from differing patterned papers. Trim the tabs from the patterned paper panels.

2. For the first panel of the card, cut the two circles, clock face and hands, as shown below. The larger circle was made with a die from the Accordion Circle Card die set, and the smaller with a circle punch. Use dark brown ink and a sponge applicator to ink round the edges of the patterned paper pieces.

3. Assemble the first panel as shown below, using a brad through the clock hands and smaller circle. Stick the smaller circle on with foam pads.

4. For the second panel of the card, cut the circle, 'TIME' letters and 'Birthday' as shown below. (The circle was made with a die from the Accordion Circle Card die set.) Stamp 'Pardner' in dark brown ink, and cut a larger orange border rectangle for it. Ink the edges of the patterned papers.

5. Assemble the second panel as shown below, sticking the 'Pardner' pieces on with foam pads.

6. For the third panel of the card, cut another circle using the same die, a piece of twine, and four flags from folded over pieces of patterned paper. Ink the edges of the patterned papers.

7. Tape the ends of the twine to the back of patterned paper circle, before sticking it to the panel. Glue on the flags as shown below.

8. For the last panel of the card, cut another circle, and pieces from the Props 6 die set as shown below. Cut by hand the little decorative parts of the boots. Ink the edges.

9. Assemble the last panel as shown below, sticking the hat and boots on with foam pads. Make a little lasso by coiling up some kraft twine, and tie another piece of twine round it to secure it. Glue on the lasso.

10. Finally, attach all of the panels to each other, and you are done!

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Purple Onion Stamps - Deer Christmas Card

A quick card using another of Stacey Yacula's new stamps from Purple Onion Designs - 'Meadow' the deer.

I used My Favorite Things Stitched Rectangles for the pale blue background piece, and Lawn Fawn Stitched Hillside Borders for the snow. I hand cut a couple of banners, and used a Tim Holtz Tattered Banner for the sentiment.

For the deer, I stamped onto patterned paper, and again on white and red card stock, then cut out the parts that were needed. I added some shading with Copics, some white stripes to the scarf with a Signo pen, and a spot on the cheek with Liquid Pearls. I stuck the deer down with foam pads.

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Pop it Ups Gift Card Holder Accordion Card

I have been a bit busy lately, with not much time dedicated to crafting... about three months ago I started the process of applying to be an On-Call Fire Fighter, and this week I had my final interview and the last lot of assessments, and I'm so happy because I passed them all! It was hard work! (I have the bruises and aching muscles to prove it!)

All being well, I will start my initial training in January.

Anyway!! I do have a new card to show you today, using some of Karen Burniston's latest fantastic dies!

I used the Gift Card Accordion die set for the card base and die cut words, the Flourish Gift Frame for the beautiful all-in-one scrolly frames and white rectangle layer, and the Props 7 set for the cute little woven basket and apples.

The Gift Card Accordion is such a great set! It's a beautiful shape for a start, and really versatile, in that you can use the die cut slots to easily slide a regular size gift card into, or you can just cover them over and have a regular card.

For this card, I used an Apple gift card, and based the colours for the rest of the card around it. I actually used the cardboard packaging that the gift card came on, for the die cut apples, and the lovely graduated colour words.

The card is quite a simple one, and came together really quickly.

Isn't the apple basket sweet?! Karen designed it really cleverly so that you slot three simple pieces easily together for the woven look.

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Christmas Trees Pop Stand Exploding Box Card Tutorial

Hello! I have this tutorial on the Elizabeth Craft Designs blog today, for a card idea I've wanted to try for a while - an exploding box card with a Pop Stand feature in the middle. I decided to use Karen Burniston's lovely new Christmas Trees Pop Stand, which has a beautiful floating centre.

Directions for making the card:

1. Score a 12'' x 12'' double-sided piece of card stock into 4'' squares as shown below.

It's been my first chance to use my new Martha Stewart Score Board, which I found lovely and easy to use!

2. Cut away the four corner squares. Fold under the two outer side squares (so that the card base can fit through a die cutting machine). Die cut the small pop stand tabs into the middle of the centre square. (This will also die cut the two folded-under side squares, but these die cuts will get covered up later.) Open out the card base again, so that it looks as below.

3. Using more double-sided card stock, die cut pieces to make the larger 3D tree from the Christmas Trees Pop Stand set, following Karen's directions in this video. Attach the tree to the die cut Pop Stand tabs, as shown below.

4. Cut four 3'' x 3'' squares from patterned paper, and die cut four contrasting coloured trees, using the die from the Christmas Trees Pop Stand set as shown, plus 6 silver glitter card stock stars.

5. Use the pieces shown in step 4 to decorate the four internal sides of the exploding card, as shown below. Adhere the trees with foam pads, and glue some silver tinsel to the trees. Adhere the stars, including two back-to-back at the top of the 3D tree. Glue a small amount of tinsel to either side of the 3D tree's stars.

6. Use a stamp from the Merry and Bright Clear Stamp set on cream card. Layer it onto red patterned paper. Cut two banner ends from silver glitter card stock, and stick everything to the card base as shown below.

7. To make the lid, cut a 6'' x 6'' square, and score it 7/8'' in from all four sides. Snip one side of each of the four little corner squares, to make tabs. Glue these tabs behind the long rectangles, to made the sides of the lid.

8. Cut two 3'' x 3'' squares and adhere one to the bottom of the box (to cover over the pop stand holes), and the other to the lid. Cut another tree and star, and add to the lid, along with some more tinsel.

9. Finally, cut four 2'' x 3'' rectangles of patterned paper, and adhere them to the box sides. Die cut an assortment of silver glitter card stock stars (from the All Seasons Tree die set and the Spiral Circle Pull Card die set), and use them to decorate the box sides.

The lid holds the sides of the box in place, and when the lid is removed, the sides fall open to reveal the trees inside. I hope you've enjoyed this tutorial, and perhaps come up with some other versions of exploding box Pop Stand cards!

The Christmas Trees Pop Stand die set is one of the new die sets and stamp set from Karen Burniston's 'Merry & Bright' Collection... so much fun!

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Purple Onion Design Stamps Halloween Card

I'm not much of a one for celebrating Halloween, but I do like this stamp set by Purple Onion Designs!

I had fun making the background, by dabbing ink onto a large stamping block, and printing that onto white card stock. I sprayed it with water, sprinkled it with a bit of rock salt, and let it dry before stamping the black images.

I used Stephanie Barnard inks, which are incrediby vibrant and juicy!

I backed it with the Tim Holtz cobweb die.

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Purple Onion Designs - New Stacey Yacula Stamps Sizzix Flip-its Christmas Card

I have a Sizzix Flip-its card today, using another of the gorgeous stamps from Stacey Yacula's new collection at Purple Onion Designs. (There is a limited time special set price of $100, till the 4th of November!)

I used the 'Maple' stamp, which I cut out and layered with foam pads. I coloured Maple with Copics, and added spots to the scarf with Signo Uniball White pen.

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Purple Onion Design's New 'Snowflake Grove' Christmas Pop it Ups Accordion Card

Hiya! I am back today with a Pop it Ups Accordion Oval card, featuring new stamps by Stacey Yacula for Purple Onion Designs. 

A beautiful new Stacey Yacula collection is being released today, called 'Snowflake Grove'!

It consists of 30 gorgeous new stamps, and there is a limited time special set price of $100, till the 4th of November.

I used another new stamp from Purple Onion Designs, for the sentiment, from a set called Holiday Marquee Sentiments.

I added some bunting flags, which I inked along the edges, and I also added ink out the outer edges of the card.

The Stacey Yacula stamps I used on the card are Oakley the bear, and the Decorated Tree.

I coloured them with Copics, and added some Stickles.

I cut some holly leaves with a punch for the bottom corner.

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Karen Burniston's October Designer Challenge - Wonder Woman (Chick) Card

It's time for Karen Burniston's monthly Designer Challenge and this time we have a 'Characters in Costume' challenge!! I thought what better costume than a Wonder Woman costume, and on such a classy chick as Cheepers?!

Also - there is a sale on all Karen's Characters and Props dies at the moment!!

I used the Lorna Label die set on some red gingham card, for the card base.

 I added some card layers to the pop-out part, including a giant yellow star as a background for Cheepers (sorry - Wonder Chick!)

I die cut some extra body layers, and cut them down to make the different parts of the outfit. I cut out a tiara, and added a star from the Star Fancy Frame Edges die set.

I used the small cloud from the All Seasons Tree set, to make some blue hair which I coloured curls onto, and added some red Glitter Dots for earrings!

I printed off a Wonder Woman title, and modified it using letters from the Alphabet - Caps 1 set! I inked the edges of the white card stock with black Distress Ink.

Finally I added some cardstock strips for borders and rounded the edges.

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Thinking of You Circle Pull Card, with homemade Embossing Paste, and some new stash...

I attended the funeral of my friend's mother last week, and made this card for my friend.

It was a lovely day - sad of course, but simple and genuine and sweet.

For the card, I used the Circle Pull Card on some plain white cardstock, and made my own embossing paste (here is my previous tutorial for this - it's really easy), which I used with Tim Holtz's Flourish Stencil.

For the centre circle, I used gold heat embossing powder, with VersaMark ink and a Stampin' Up stamp.

I used Copic pen in the Copic Airbrush, to spray pink around the edges of the card. I backed the card with gold cardstock, which you can just see at the edges of the card.

Finally, I added some flowers from a gorgeous set by Crate Paper, called Open Book Floral Ephemera.

I spent most of August in France - away from my craft supplies, so to get my 'craft fix' I bought some new stash online instead. It was like Christmas when I got back from France! Here are a few of the new things, mainly by Maggie Holmes for Crate Paper, including the Flora Ephemera I used on the card.

And a few Tim Holtz items... (including the stencil I used on the card)

I decided to use a few more stencils while I had the embossing paste out, which I'll use on future cards. My 9 year old really enjoyed watching me make these - so satisfying to lift up the stencil and see the crisp, clear patterns!

I added Microfine Glitter to this page whilst the embossing paste was still wet. It adhered really well, and looks incredibly sparkly in real life!

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