Enjoy Your Day

Pink, silver and white is a pretty combination that works well for engagement or anniversary cards.

Add some dry embossing to the background for texture, and a little mirror card for an elegant shine.

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Tutorial - Tall Trees

Last month I showed you how to stamp the narrow tree image to create a lovely wide Christmas tree (you can find the tutorial HERE), and this month I want to show you how to make that same tree appear taller.

1. Start by stamping and fussy cutting your tree images. I used all three trees, stamped with oxides onto white cardstock. You'll also need a long, narrow sentiment that is at least as wide as your image panel.

2. On a scrap of cardstock, stamp three, long straight lines. Since I don't have a long straight stamp, I inked the flat edge of an acrylic block. Have a look around your craft room for an object that would suit, such as the side of a pencil or paintbrush. Alternatively, you could dab the edge of the ink pad directly onto the cardstock.

3. Fussy cut the long lines, which will become your tree trunks.

4. Position the sentiment to cover the join between the trees and the trunks.

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Thinking Of You

A simple Z-fold card decorated with one of the yellow magnolia images.

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Scoreboard Embossing

I used a score board to add diagonal, embossed lines to the background of my card, then added tiny rhinestones to the intersection of each line. It's a fun and effective way to add a little texture without needing an embossing machine and folders.

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Gold Embossing

To create the sentiment panel for this card, I added gold embossing over one of the images from the Magnolias cut sheets, coloured the edges with black marker, and cut with the coordinating dies. I trimmed the image into three pieces and secured each piece to the panel with glue. To add some interest to the background and break up all the white, I stamped and gold embossed the magnolia image multiple times in different orientations.

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'Tis (Almost) The Season!

Inky Backgrounds

Give me stamps and give me ink, and I'll give you a great big mess and a couple of colourful cards!

P.S. I'm happy to report that distress inks do wash out of clothing and will successfully mop up from a vinyl floor. It is, however, best not to roll a desk chair through the ink before clean up has occurred.

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Tutorial - Hammock Gatefold Cards

Combine two basic gatefold cards to create an awesome upright display card!

1. Place a 12" x 6" piece of cardstock horizontally on your score board and score at 2", 4", 8" and 10". Fold along the score lines to form a gatefold card.

2. Now make a second, smaller gatefold card using a 9" x 4" piece of cardstock, scored at 11/2", 3", 6" and 71/2".

3. To decorate, you'll need one piece of contrasting cardstock measuring 37/8" x 57/8", four pieces measuring 17/8" x 57/8", and two pieces measuring 13/8" x 33/8".

You'll also need one piece of patterned paper measuring 33/4" x 53/4", four pieces measuring 13/4" x 53/4", and two measuring 11/4" x 31/4".

4. Secure the patterned paper to the cardstock with glue or tape.

5. Secure the patterned paper and cardstock panels to your larger card base, except for the two outside panels, which will be added later.

6. Adhere the two small cardstock and patterned paper panels to the smaller gatefold card as shown in the photo below.

7. Prepare a 27/8" x 4" decorative panel and secure to the centre of the small gatefold card. (NOTE: If you prefer, you can simply decorate the centre section of the card with stamps, embellishments, or patterned paper.) 

8. Use glue or strong double-sided tape to secure the small gatefold to the large gatefold, lining up the first and last score lines. I found it easiest to apply glue to the end panel of the small gatefold, position it over the larger gatefold and then close the cards together. Repeat for the other end.

9. Secure the two remaining panels to the ends of the large gatefold.

10. (OPTIONAL) Create a simple belly band by wrapping a 11/2" wide scrap of cardstock around your card and glueing the ends together. Decorate as desired.

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