Crazy 4 Challenges 'Skinny Cards' Butterfly Pivot Card

 The challenge today on the Crazy 4 Challenges blog is 'Skinny Cards' where the card front measures 3.5'' x 5.5''. (This is the size of card stock left over when you cut a 5''x 5'' card from an 8''x 11'' piece of card stock.)

I've not really tried making cards this small before, and as I am playing with the dies from Karen Burniston's new Pop it Ups collection for Elizabeth Craft Designs, I thought I would experiment with her new Butterfly Pivot die. 

The new Pivot dies and Pop-up dies allow you the flexibility of choosing from many card base sizes (as long as it fits through the Die Cutting machine), and I found it worked just fine in my little 3.5'' tall card!

I used butterflies from the same Butterfly Pivot Card set, and also from the Butterfly Accessory set to decorate the card.

 All the papers are from Crate Paper's Flea Market collection.

 I also used the banner from Karen's 'Banner & Borders' Thinlit set, from her Sizzix Snippets collection.

I glued twine onto one side, and added little bunting flags on foam pads, plus a sentiment from a Tim Holtz stamp.

The left-hand butterfly pivots round so that it shows through to the card front, making the front really easy to decorate.

Some of products used:

   

Happy News! Purple Onion Design Team

I have the happy news that I have been invited to extend my 'Holiday 2013' Design Team spot with Purple Onion Designs, into a permanent place! 

I just love their stamps - they have a variety of different styles, which are all just great! If you aren't familiar with the company, I highly recommend you going and having a look.

I'm sorry I'm not sharing new cards here, but the stamps on these previous cards of mine are all from P.O.D.

Extra Stamp Set Release at The Stamps of Life

 I have a whole heap of cards to show you, each featuring one of two new stamp sets which are being released at The Stamps of Life today!

I love both the sets - one is 'wordsquares2stamp', and features lots of solid square sentiments, and the other is 'label6stamps', which includes lots of lovely label shaped stamps with either sentiments or patterns. Both the sets are really versatile, and co-ordinate beautifully with Stephanie Barnard's Sizzix products.

My first card uses one of the wordsquares2stamp stamps, along with Stephanie's new 'Ornate Flip-its 2' die, and the co-ordinating 'Labels, Ornate 5 Framelits' set.

 Inside I used The Stamps of Life's crayons2stamp set, and matching die, which I coloured with Copics... I think the crayon sets goes great with this paper!

For my next card, I used the same stamp set and dies, but this time used one of the Framelit dies to cut a window, then I stamped the sentiment on acetate, with Staz-On ink.

I also used The Stamps of Life's lovely banner dies, and dictionary4me definition stamp.

My last card using the wordsquares2stamp set, also uses Stephanie's wonderful new 'Square Flip-its 2 Framelits' set, which cuts the card base, the patterned paper layers, and also the cream dotty-edged square (plus loads more).

My next card uses a couple of the label6stamps, and some 'Labels, Fancy 6 Framelits'.

I used Sizzix's 'Rose Vines' embossing folder in the background.

Another of Stephanie's new Sizzix dies is this lovely Fancy Flip-its die, which matches perfectly with the Framelits and new stamps!! 

And finally, a simple card using the label6stamps, 'Labels, Fancy 6 Framelits' and a couple of Sizzix embossing folders - 'Trellis', and Tim Holtz's 'Woodgrain'.

Some of the products used:


   

Sneak Peek of new Stephanie Barnard dies for Sizzix!

I'm really excited to give you a sneak peek of cards using some of the lovely new products which Stephanie Barnard is releasing at CHA, for Sizzix!

I've said in the past how much I like Stephanie's Flip-it dies, and especially her more recent ones which are Framelits, and come with loads of decorator dies... well, amongst lots of other gorgeous goodies being released are some beautiful new Framelit Flip-its shapes, like this 'Elegant Flip-its Card' (with 10 dies) below.

I love how the set includes dies for cutting the patterned paper layers either side of the centre piece - it makes for such a quick and easy card each time.

There are also some fabulous new Elegant Labels Framelits (with 7 dies) which co-ordinate perfectly with it.

For the card centre here I used some of Stephanie's new felt from The Stamps of Life, which cuts really well in any dies, including the wafer thin ones. I made the cupcake using dies from another of Stephanie's new sets for Sizzix, 'Framelits Dies Set 8pk with Stamps - Ice Cream'... so much fun!

I also have to tell you about another fabulous new set of Thinlits Border dies which are coming out... one of which I used for the pink border here.

 I also wanted to show you another card made using the same Elegant Flip-its Framelits set, but this time in a slightly different way. The front of the card looks normal, but as you open it there is an extra panel. 

I made it by first folding over the top third of a piece of card stock, and placing it (still folded) under the Framelit die with the folded over edge just inside the vertical blade, before cutting.

You may then need to trim some of the extra folded over piece, so that it fits perfectly up against the middle panel when the card is closed.

 I used some petal dies from another of Stephanie's new Sizzix sets 'Framelits Die Set 10pk with Stamps -Flowers & Tags' to decorate the front, and added some twine and bunting.

Another exciting new addition to Stephanie's Sizzix range are word dies!!!! (LOVE!!)

They come as part of three new Framelit Stand-up Card sets, and I love them all!

Here, I used 'thanks a bunch' from the 'Framelit Dies Set 19pk - Card, Elegant Stand-ups'. The word dies also come with shadows, which I didn't use here, and there are other words as well as these in the set.

And one last card for now... again using the same Elegant Flip-its Framelits set, and also the Icecream Framelits and Stamps set, mentioned above.

Well I hope I have given you a slight taste of the delicious things to come from Stephanie Barnard for Sizzix, this CHA!!

'Lucy Label Pop-up' Thank You Card from Karen Burniston's new Pop it Ups

Yesterday I showed you the new 'Garden Bench Pop-up' die from Karen Burniston's new 'Pop it Ups' range for Elizabeth Craft Designs, and today I want to show you a card made with another of the new Pop-up dies - this time the 'Lucy Label Pop-up'.

It's a lovely feminine label design, which also has an extra pop-up part incorporated onto the shelf.

Karen's new Pop-up dies let you put the pop-up mechanism into any card, so I chose to use a pre-scored card from Pebbles' 'From Me to You' collection for my card base. (More things from my lovely new Christmas stash!!)

I just wanted to show you close up what one of the die sets looks like when all the pieces have been snipped apart. You can use snippers (which will also be sold by Elizabeth Craft Designs), or strong scissors for the job. If the little bumps left over from snipping bother you at all, they can easily be filed off. (I think a file will also be available from ECD.) 

Each of the dies comes with extra decorator pieces included!

I wanted to cover the whole of the popped-up label in a different paper, so I used the mechanism part again to cut the big label shape, and then used one of the decorator dies for a smaller label.

Before adding a couple of stickers from the co-ordinating Pebbles card stock sticker pack, I cut down the top edge of the inside card layer with one of Karen's new border dies from the 'Agatha Edges' set.

I finished off by backing the card in some plain card stock, and adding a washi tape border with another of the decorator dies and a heart from the Sizzix Owls#2 Bigz die.

Products used:

(Karen's new dies are with Elizabeth Craft Designs, who retail in many countries including the UK and Australia, so when they start reaching the shops later this month look out for them, or ring up your local retailer now and request them. Elizabeth Craft Designs will be at booth #441 at CHA, so if you are going, have a look first hand at the dies, and lots of wonderful sample cards.)

   

Karen Burniston's 'Pop it Ups' Accordion Circle Minion Card

OK, I couldn't resist showing you one more card today, which I made using some more dies from Karen Burniston's superb new 'Pop it Ups' collection for Elizabeth Craft Designs (coming out this month - see my previous post for more details.)

Karen's original Sizzix Accordion Album has just been amazingly versatile and fun to play with, and now she has created three more accordion album dies, in different shapes!

I saw her new circular one, and immediately thought 'minion eyes'!! This was a really quick card, and one which I thoroughly enjoyed making, then running round the house to show each of my kids. They are usually pretty blase about my cards (as in 'blah-zay'... don't know how to add accents in Blogger!), but this one they liked...

 This is the new set I used (which is wonderful in itself, but also comes with all the extra decorator dies pictured too), plus I used a couple of circle punches. Then I glued some sections of pipe-cleaner to the back, stamped the sentiment, then hand cut a speech bubble and shadow.

Other products used:


   

Karen Burniston's new Pop it Ups Collection from Elizabeth Craft Designs!

I am so excited to share this post (and following posts) with you! 

You may have seen some previews of Karen Burniston's new 'Pop it Ups' die collection from Elizabeth Craft Designs, which is shortly being introduced at CHA (and will be for sale later this month), anyway - I was lucky enough to receive the collection in the mail this week from Karen, and I'd like to share my first project with you.

The first thing about the Pop it Ups is how little space they take up - ideal for my bulging dining room drawers!

This is my package with the whole die collection in! (Good things come in small packages!)

(Yours will come in nice packaging with pretty pictures of course!)

 Here's what all the new dies look like at first. All the dies come with accompanying decorator dies attached, and just need snipping apart...

First off I decided to use one of three new Pop-up dies - the Garden Bench. The new Pop-up dies let you use any size card that you like - the die provides the inner mechanism. 

For this card I used Karen's Pop 'n Cuts Square Card with Ornate Edges die for the card base (the kraft cardstock), and backing card (stripy card stock), and cut out the various layers needed.

I also used another die set from Karen's new collection - the All-Seasons Tree (isn't it completely gorgeous!!) for the tree, clouds (or can be used as foliage), small leaves and flowers.

I then Copic coloured and cut out some Lawn Fawn stamps, and some other bits I'll come on to later.

I stuck everything down with my ATG glue runner, and glue pen, and used a couple of foam pads on the smaller cloud and some of the leaves (and don't tell me off for mixing three kinds of leaves on one tree!!)

I added glossy black noses to the animals, and some white spots to the deer, with Enamel Accents.

For the sentiment, I used the scalloped oval die from the new Oval Accordion die set ('Eeeekkk!' about that one too!), and the lovely pink label is from the new Katie Label Pivot Card set. I also used two little slot dies from the new Lucy Label Pop-up set, to cut the slots to thread the ribbon through.

Anyway, I absolutely love the new dies that Karen has come up with - they are such clever designs, and allow for so much creativity! I'll have plenty more to show you in the coming days and weeks...

Some of the products used:

(Karen's new dies are with Elizabeth Craft Designs, who retail in many countries including the UK and Australia, so when they start reaching the shops later this month look out for them, or ring up your local retailer now and request them. Elizabeth Craft Designs will be at booth #441 at CHA, so if you are going, have a look first hand at the dies, and lots of wonderful sample cards.)

   

Crazy 4 Challenges Design Team - First Challenge

Guess what?! I was recently invited to join the Design Team of the Crazy 4 Challenges blog - which sets a new card making challenge every Saturday... I love challenge blogs - they always seem to give some inspiration, or stretch me to try things I wouldn't otherwise do. (I also love that the DT is know as 'The Crazies'!!)

For my first challenge on the team, I came up with this card:

We've been given the following picture to inspire us in any way we feel like, and I took the white bunting, black glitter stars and silver accents as my theme. I thought it quite a masculine look, so made a man's birthday card. (Not much colour, and a male card... definitely a challenge for me!)

I used Karen Burniston's Accordion Album for the card base, and the 'Frame and Label, Bracket' Bigz die for the white, and silver embossed inside panels.

I used Tim Holtz's Mini Rosettes die, plus his Crescent Moon and Stars die, which is great for cutting all the different sized stars.

I also used arrow dies and a stamp from the Sizzix/Hero arts Bicycle set, plus a top hat sticker from My Mind's Eye's Sky's the Limit collection.

 I embossed some silver card stock with a stars embossing folder, and punched out the little flags, which I glued on to twine.

I also decorated the back, using a couple of stamps from my stash, and leaving space for a note.

Join in with the challenge as well, over at the Crazy 4 Challenges blog!

Some of the products used:


   

Pop 'n Cuts 'Front Porch' Thank You Card

You know you have lots of lovely family and friends when you work out how many post-Christmas Thank You cards you want to make!

Here's one I made today using some of my beautiful new stash...

I'd asked Scott if I could put in a big order with Scrapbook.com from America, for my Christmas present.. and I did! And I mean big! I'll show you it little by little, as I make different projects with it. My card today uses some lovely papers, cardstock stickers, and chipboard from the Front Porch collection by American Crafts.

I used Karen Burniston's A2 card base, with the Multi-Tier insert, and also used her Flagpole with Lantern and Sign die. 

I have to tell you that I am in possession of Karen's new Pop It Ups die range in conjunction with Elizabeth Craft Designs, and you will LOVE them!! I cannot wait to be able to show you just what they can do... Have a look at some preview videos and pictures on Karen's blog here!

 This was a pretty simple card - the chipboard and stickers make life very easy, and I just made a string of bunting between the poles.

 For the lower border I also used a die from Karen's Banner and Borders Thinlits set, and some Stampin' Up ribbon.

I also added a quick card front, with more Front Porch papers and stickers, and an Eileen Hull die.

Some of products used: