Monthly Archives

December 2014

Wreath Gate-Fold Card and Snowman Shaker Card

December 6, 2014

We would like to welcome Nancy Walker back as our Guest Designer. For today’s post she created two stunning Christmas cards.

Wreathbow2

WreathbowOpoen

Wreath Gate-fold Card by Nancy Walker

How exciting to know that the month of Christmas is here at last. Along with the parties and decorations, holiday baking, and gift buying, wrapping, and all, we realize our time to make Christmas cards for family and friends is sneaking up on us! Having made cards off and on all through the year, I just realized that I need to get them all addressed and mailed soon! That makes me stressed!

As today’s guest blogger, I am honored to be asked to do some more card creations to share with you. The first card is a quick and simple card, using Elizabeth Craft Design’s Wreath Bow.

Instructions:

1. Cut a piece of light gray cardstock 8 ½” x 11”. This is a gate-fold card, so score cardstock at 2 1/8” measured from both ends. Carefully bring the two gate-fold panels together so they meet in the middle.

2. Stamp the front of the gate-folds  with light gray ink and a woodgrain background stamp.

3. Cut 3 wreaths using different shades of green. Cut one bow from red cardstock and one from glitter cardstock, or make your own with Elizabeth Craft Design’s amazing Silk Microfine Glitter.

4. Assemble wreath by layering the three die cut wreaths. To stabilize the wreath so it won’t flop around when opening the card, cut two circular pieces from matching green in the shape of the wreath. Adhere one hand-cut circle between each die cit wreath using liquid glue.

5. Using white craft paint and a craft sponge or pouncer, sponge small bits of white paint so it resembles snow on the wreath. Let it dry.

6. Adhere wreath to card front on the right gate-fold panel. Adhere so half of the wreath is extending beyond the panel. When the card is closed the extended part of the wreath will cover the right gate-fold panel. (Note: make sure not to put any adhesive on the back of the wreath that is covering the left gate-fold panel when closed.

7. Adhere the glitter bow to the top of the wreath and top with the red bow that is popped up with a dimensional adhesive. Place a rhinestone in the center of the bow.

8. Using Liquid Pearls in red, make small holly berries around the wreath and allow to dry.

9. Add “Merry Christmas” Peel-Off on the inside of the card.

This is a great simple card for quick assembly-line style crafting! For variety, use all white on white or other Christmas color combinations. The wood stamping can be varied in color to fit a special scheme, too or use a wood grain paper instead.

Elizabeth Craft Designs Products used:

731 Wreath Bow Die
2576 Merry Christmas Large Peel-Offs in Silver
502 Transparent Double Sided Tape Sheet
505 Transparent Double Sided Tape 3mm

Other Products used:

Gray Cardstock and Matching Ink  – Stampin’ Up!
Red, Green and Glittered Cardstock
Hardwood stamp – Stampin’ Up!
Liquid Pearls – Ranger
Dimensional adhesive squares
Liquid Glue
Scor-Pal

SnowmanShakerCard

Snowman Shaker Card by Nancy Walker

As winter seems to have hit parts of the United States with heavy snow, I began dreaming of having some of the rare white stuff here in the Mid-South. So naturally, I thought of Elizabeth Craft Design’s Snowman in a snow globe. But to try and keep this card simple, I decided to make it a shaker card instead. Of course the only addition to this card to make it a snow globe, would be a base for the globe! That could be one of the label dies, trimmed and tucked against the globe.

Instructions:

1. Cut a piece of winter theme cardstock 6” x 12”, score and fold in half to make a 6” square card. Set aside. Cut one accordion page from coordinating cardstock using the Circle Accordion card. Remove pivoting circle from the middle. (This circle can be used on another card, so don’t toss it!) The flap that is normally on the die can be removed, but it is left on this card it to allow “Merry Christmas” from the cardstock to remain as the sentiment.

SnowmanShaker1

2. Cut another accordion page from the same cardstock. Cut a piece of clear plastic from packaging slightly smaller than the die. (I save and cut all plastic packaging into usable pieces for crafting.) Adhere this piece to the back of the frame cut with the Circle Accordion die as shown below, using Elizabeth Craft Design transparent double sided tape.

SnowmanShaker2

To create the shaker:

3. Adhere a piece of double-sided adhesive to fun foam the same size. (The piece has to be large enough to cut one accordion page) Cut accordion page using the Circle Accordion Card and trim away the pivoting circle in the middle. This circle can also be re-used in another project, so put it into your stash (Hint: it would make a great Christmas ornament if you coat it with ECD Microfine glitter and color it with markers!)

4. Adhere this fun foam accordion frame to the frame cut in step 3. Make sure to line up the accordion frames correctly so no foam is visible through the window.

SnowmanShaker4[1]

To create the Snowman:

5. Adhere a piece of ECD double-sided adhesive sheet to white cardstock. Cut snowman body and snow pile (cut snow pile 3 times). Remove the release from the other side of the adhesive and cover die cut pieces with Cool Diamond Silk Microfine Glitter. Polish and brush of excess glitter.

6. Die cut other part of snowman from cardstock scraps (hat, nose, holly, broom, scarf, etc.)

To assemble shaker:

7. Using die as a guide, trim and apply the snow piles to the bottom of the scene on the backing card as shown below. Add snowman on top of the snow piles on the backing card, keeping all parts inside the circle area. Add small self-adhesive rhinestones that will remain on the area around the snowman for sparkle.

8. Fill the shaker card (see right on photo below) with fake snow or glittery objects. I used both iridescent sequins and some iridescent flakes of plastic snow I have had in my stash for years. Tossed in a few loose rhinestones as well.

SnowmanShaker5

9. Peel off the release sheet and carefully place the backing card with the snowman adhered on top of the shaker card. Adhere shaker to card front. Add Silver/Gold Glitter Border Peel-Offs around shaker frame. Optional: Using Tags & More 3 – Leaves die set, cut two corners from glitter paper for bottom corners of card.

10. Another hint: use a Sharpie marker that matches the cardstock and go around the foam edge to help disguise it. This isn’t a good idea to do on the inside after assembly, but it could be done on all sides before assembling the card.

Finished card:

SnowmanShaker6

Elizabeth Craft Designs Products used:

769 Circle Accordion Card Die
929 Snowman Die
953 Tags & More 3 – Leaves (Corners from die set – Optional)
7010 Silver/Gold Glitter Borders Peel-Offs
502 Transparent Double Sided Tape Sheet
505 Transparent Double Sided Tape 3mm

Other Products used:

White cardstock and scraps
Plastic from packaging
Rhinestones – Stampin’ Up!
Sequins
Fun Foam

Upright Z Fold Cards

December 5, 2014

ECDSnowmanZwm

Hi everyone,

It’s Frances here today with another fun idea for using the endlessly versatile Stand Up Helper Dies. Recently, one of my daughters gave my other daughter an Upright Z-Fold card I’d made. That got me thinking about whether the Elizabeth Craft Designs Stand Up Helper dies would work for this style of card. Of course I had to give it a try.

The dies that will work for this technique are the dies from the Stand Up Helper Sets 1 and 2. Some won’t work because the image will be upside down, for example, the Christmas Tree in Set 2, but many in both sets will be just right!.

Here is how I created my card:

1. Cut a piece of red card so it measures 4.25 inches x 11 inches. Score along the long side at 2.75 inches and 5.5 inches. Fold so that the middle score line is a valley fold and the score line closer to the edge is a mountain fold.

ECDSnowmanZ5wm

2. Cut a piece of designer paper 4 inches x 2.5 inches and attach to the front panel.
Cut another piece of designer paper 4 inches x 5.25 inches and attach to the back panel.

3. Cut a piece of red card 3.25 inches x 4 inches and a piece of white card 3 inches x 3.75 inches. Layer these pieces together and attach to the card so half is attach to the front panel and half is not attached to anything. (Mine is approx 0.75 inches from the bottom of my card.)

4. From the Christmas Ornaments 2 Peel-Off Stickers, place Snowman Ornament & Medium Holly Peel-Offs onto white card that has Elizabeth Craft Designs Transparent Double Sided Tape Sheet on top. Remove release sheet, cover peel-offs with Warm Diamond Silk Microfine Glitter and polish glitter with your finger. You can see a video Els created using this technique here. Color your images as desired. Add Red/Gold Glitter Dots to the circles on the Snowman Ornament.

ECDSnowmanZ4wm

5. Cut out the Snowman Ornament and Holly created in step 4 and attach the ornament to the lower portion of the white card using foam tape. Add a small piece from the Line Dots Peel-Off Stickers that goes from the top of the ornament to the top of the card so it appears the Ornament is hanging from something.

6. Use the Merry Christmas Stand Up Helper die and die cut this 3 times from Red card.
Trim along the bottom border on all three pieces and stack the three sentiments together. (Tip: Add Elizabeth Craft Designs Transparent Double Sided Tape to the bottom of the red card prior to die cutting sentiment). Adhere the sentiment underneath the image panel on the front of the card (refer to photo for placement).

7. To work out where to die cut the Holly Stand Up Helper from the Stand Up Helper Set 2 die set. Fold your card so it is flat, the score line portion of the die needs to be positioned so it is just above the image panel when it is closed, so that the card will fold flat with the holly in position over the top of the image panel. On my card I positioned it 0.75 inches from the top of the card. Add some repositionable tape to the top of the die so it does not move. Carefully unfold the card so that the die is only on the back panel … die cut.

ECDSnowmanZ6wm

8. Die cut an additional Holly Leaves from the Stand Up Helper 2 die set and the Holly Berry Cluster from the Tags die set from white card that has been covered with Elizabeth Craft Designs Transparent Double Sided Tape on the front.  Remove protective backing from the die cut pieces and cover with Warm Diamond Silk Microfine Glitter, polish die cuts with your finger and color die cuts. Adhere over the Holly die cut piece on back of the card.

9. Cut a piece of white card 3.5 inches x 2 inches and a piece of red card 3.75 inches x 2.25 inches and layer together. Add the Season’s Greetings Peel-Off Sticker to the top portion of the card. (TIP: Use transfer sheet to remove each part of the sentiment from the Peel off Sticker sheet so you can get the correct placement on your card. You can see a video Els created using this technique here. ) Add the holly leaves we created in step 4 to the lower right hand side of this panel … adhere panel to lower part of the back panel, so it cannot be seen when card is closed.

ECDSnowmanZ3wm

10. Refold card so that the white image panel is tucked under the Holly Stand Up Helper piece. (Tip: If your card isn’t staying closed when standing, use a bone folder to reinforce the score lines on your card or fold your card completely and set aside for a while and it should then work fine.)

ECDSnowmanZ2wm

Thanks for stopping by today!

Supplies: 

Elizabeth Craft Designs
Stand Up Helpers Set 2 (930)
Tags (763)
Merry Christmas Stand Up Helper (939)
Christmas Ornaments 2 Peel-Off Stickers (SKU 2536)
Merry Christmas Large Peel-Off Stickers (SKU 2576)
Season’s Greetings Peel-Off Stickers (SKU 2581)
Line Dots Peel-Off Stickers Black (SKU 1134)
Red / Gold Glitter Dots (SKU 7018)
Transfer Sheet (SKU 600)
Warm Diamond Silk Microfine Glitter (639)
Transparent Double Sided Tape Sheet (502)
 
Other
White Card
Red Card
Graphic 45 Twas the Night Before Christmas 6 x 6 Paper Pad
Foam Tape

Hanukkah Card

December 4, 2014

Hi, Karen Aicken here. Today I have an elegant Hanukkah card to share. There are a few Elizabeth Craft Designs dies that are my favourites – ones I turn to again and again because of their versatility. The Candles die is one of those favorites. Here I’ve made a long, narrow card that fits in a #10 business envelope for mailing.

HanukkahCard_1_KAicken

1. Using white cardstock, create a top fold 9″ x 4″ card.  Cut a navy card stock panel 8 3/4″ x 3 3/4″ and adhere it to the front of the folded card.

2. Cut a 8 1/2″ x 3 1/2″ panel from white card stock and ink the edges with navy blue ink. Adhere a horizontal strip of 10mm Transparent  Double Sided Tape close to the bottom edge of this panel. Adhere a horizontal strip of 6mm above the first, leaving a little space between the two. In the next step these rows will become the menorah in which the Hanukkah candles sit.

3. Remove the liners from both strips and cover exposed adhesive with Silver Silk Microfine Glitter. Tap off the excess and return to the jar, then polish the glittery stripes with your fingertips to bring out the shine. Adhere to the navy panel as shown.

4. Die cut 9 candles (the basic candle with attached wick and flame silhouette shape) from navy cardstock and emboss eight of them with the Swirly Curves embossing folder. Tip: Make sure that the flame is not inside the embossing folder so only the candle (wax) portion will be embossed with pattern and the flame will remain flat.

5. Tip: Turn inexpensive adhesive-backed fun foam from the craft store into double sided adhesive foam by adding 6mm Transparent Double Sided Adhesive Tape to the foam side. Use small strips of this foam to pop up the candles!

HanukkahCard_2_KAicken

HanukkahCard_3_KAicken

6. Cut  nine 1 1/4″ pieces from the long strip and adhere to the back of each candle. Cut off tiny pieces and adhere to the widest part of the flame area of each candle. Adhere the candles to the white textured panel as shown.

HanukkahCard_4_KAicken

7. Attach Glitter Dots to the flame area of each candle, and around the center candle.

HanukkahCard_5_KAicken

8. To decorate the inside of your card, cut a navy panel 8-1/2 x 3-1/2 and attach it inside the card. Cut a white panel 8-1/4 x 3-1/4″ and attach that over the navy one.

9. Die cut two corners from the Tags & More 2 – Deco and adhere as shown. Add a Glitter Dot to each corner.

HanukkahCard_6_KAicken

10. Using a fine point black marker, pen the words inside the card. Alternatively you could use a computer and print on the white panel before cutting it out, or use stamps.

HanukkahCard_7_KAicken

I hope I’ve inspired you to look at the Candles dies in a new way. They’re not just for birthdays!

Elizabeth Craft Designs Products:

732 Candles

7018 Glitter Dots, Transparent Silver

507 Transparent Double Sided Tape, 10 mm

506 Transparent Double Sided Tape 6mm

603 Silver Silk Microfine Glitter

952 Tags & More 2 – Deco

E-119 Swirly Curves Embossing Folder

Other Products:

White and Navy cardstock

Textured white cardstock

Adhesive Fun Foam

 

Pop it Ups

Spiral Pull Christmas Card

December 3, 2014

Card Front Closed

Created by Mary Dimercurio Prasad for the Elizabeth Craft Designs DT.

I’ve been itching to try the Spiral Circle Pull Card from Karen Burniston and thought this would be the perfect card for it. I wanted the snow to come alive when the card was opened so I used clear recycled packaging for the spiral as the base for my snowflakes.

Making the card:

1. As per instructions on Spiral Circle Pull Card, cut a piece of blue cardstock 5 1/2 x 7 1/4 inches. Fold in half; die cut along fold placing die closer to top (see image). Fold as instructed.

2. Adhere a sheet of double sided adhesive to white cardstock large enough to fit 1 Christmas Ornaments Sceneries Peel-Off. Peel off backing, stick Christmas scene to it and cover with Cool Diamonds Silk Microfine Glitter. Polish with finger. Cut around, trimming off ornament top so you will be left with only a circle. Stick to card front circle as shown using dimensional adhesive.

Inside Card

3. Cut a couple of tree lines from white cardstock covered with double sided adhesive using Outdoor Edges. Also cut a strip 1/2 to 3/4 inch wide and about 5 inches long. Peel off backing on all. Cover with Cool Diamond Silk Microfine Glitter. Polish with finger. Adhere tree line to bottom of card as shown. Note: you may have to cut off a tree and/or trim snow to get two strips to line up in the right places.

4. Stamp sentiment on glittered strip from step 4 with black solvent ink. Trim as necessary. Cut banner ends as shown. Adhere white ribbon around card edge as shown. Stick banner over ribbon using dimensional adhesive as shown.

5. Adhere a sheet of ECD Transparent Double Sided Adhesive to vellum. Cut 9 snowflakes (from All Seasons Tree set). Peel off backing on each and cover with Cool Diamonds Silk Microfine Glitter. Polish with finger. Add a glitter dot to the center of each.

6. I die cut one of the snowflakes from an extra background sheet when making my Soft Gel Snowflakes Christmas card (a previous project on the ECD blog). If you don’t have an extra, cut one from blue cardstock. Add gel or Glossy Accents and while wet sprinkle lightly with a very small amount of glitter. Let dry completely. Add glitter dots and glittered vellum snowflake as shown. Adhere to top left corner on the front of the card with dimensional adhesive.

Inside Close Up

7. Cut spiral from clear plastic packaging using metal adaptor plate (if plastic is too thick, it may not cut through – it should be about the thickness of a transparency). Adhere ends with strong adhesive to inside of card as shown. Cover ends with snowflakes. Add other snowflakes to spiral as desired (see image).

8. Add Glitter Dots Peel-Offs as shown, including the smallest size Dots randomly over snow dots on the Christmas scene Peel-Off). Note: Make sure that only the Dots and one snowflake show when the card is closed so the rest are a complete surprise when the card is opened!

Card Front Standing

Supplies

Elizabeth Craft Designs

Other Supplies

  • Cardstock: Blue, White
  • Clear Recycled Packaging (Thin)
  • Vellum
  • Solvent Based Ink, Black (e.g. StazOn)
  • Technique Tuesday Clear Stamps Be Jolly (Sentiment)
  • White Ribbon, Thin
  • Dimensional Adhesive

Tags & More – Time for Stamping

December 2, 2014

Judi Kauffman’s back with some more amazing tags. This time she’s been stamping up a storm! As always, she’s selected quirky color combinations. Who else would have considered rust and purple for Christmas?

???????????????????????????????

Tags & More – Time for Stamping
By Judi Kauffman for Elizabeth Craft Designs

Thanks for inviting me back to the Elizabeth Craft Designs blog, Joset. I’ve been totally into the Tags & More die sets lately. This time I thought it would be fun to use exclusively vintage rubber stamps from my collection for the projects.

One tag is all about stars. It’s sized to hold a small gift and measures 3.25” x 5” x 1”
(11” long before folding). The other tag is a mix of words and symbols, along with a particularly wonderful canceled stamp (modern art by Marcel Duchamp). It measures 3.25” x 6”.

???????????????????????????????

A few design strategies to get things rolling:

Build your rubber stamp collection by choosing a few categories and buying within those categories. I have a lot of stars, words, and small symbols in my collection and used exclusively “retired” stamps. This will challenge you to get creative and make substitutions.
Choose different words. Instead of words stamps use alphabets and stamp them one letter at a time. Alternatively, hand-letter or computer-generate words or cut them from magazines or damaged books, ransom note-style.

The key to both tags is mixing large and small elements for contrast, whether it’s stars,
or words and symbols.

As an unexpected twist for the holiday tag, stick with traditional motifs (like stars) but go for an unexpected color combination like the one shown – black, gold, purple and rust. Alter a Greetings peel-off (Gold) with alcohol ink (Purple) just for fun!

Let a large and interesting canceled postage stamp star on a tag and pick a palette based on the colors in the postage stamp. Alternatively, start the collage with a ticket stub, small photo, or other memorabilia.

Remember, you can change the length of the tag if you want! This is a unique feature of Elizabeth Craft Designs Tags & More die sets.

GREETINGS: HOLIDAY GIFT TAG
By Judi Kauffman

???????????????????????????????

1. Use the basic tag shape from Tags & More 1 – Lace to die cut a 2-ended tag measuring
11” long. Score twice, five inches from each end, leaving 1” to form the base of the tag when it is folded and standing upright. (Do not fold the tag till step 6.)

???????????????????????????????

2. Using an art sponge to apply the color, smudge Ginger ink on the sides and edges of the tag. Allow ink to dry.

3. Using Pitch Black ink, stamp 5-point stars in a variety of sizes. Be sure to turn the stars so they are upright on each side of the tag (point at the top, two legs at the bottom). Start with the largest stars; use the smaller ones to fill the space and create movement so the stars seem to flow or “dance”. Refer to the photo above for a possible layout.

???????????????????????????????

4. Use colored pencils to fill in the stamped stars.

5. Alter a peel-off greeting with alcohol ink in a color that coordinates with the tag. Add the greeting, oriented vertically at the left side of the front of the tag. (Shown: Greetings from a Season’s Greetings Peel-offs sheet)

???????????????????????????????

???????????????????????????????

6. Fold on score lines. Use temporary tape to secure a small gift to the base of the tag.
Close and tie the top of the tag with fine gold cord, doubled so there are four loops and four tails on the bow. Option: Make a pocket for the inside of the tag and insert a gift card, theater tickets, or any flat item that fits.

COURAGE: COLLAGE TAG
By Judi Kauffman

???????????????????????????????

1. Use the basic tag shape and the decorative overlay from Tags & More 2 – Deco to die cut a 6” long tag from medium brown handmade paper.

12-2-I
12-2-J

2. Back a piece of chocolate brown cardstock measuring 1.25” x 1.5” with ECD Transparent Double Sided Adhesive. Alter a piece of Gold Metallic Shimmer Sheetz measuring 1.25” x 2” with Espresso alcohol ink; back with ECD Transparent Double Sided Adhesive. Use the 4-point reinforcement to die cut two brown reinforcements; use the open triangle decorative corner die to cut two corners from Gold Shimmer Sheetz. Place one reinforcement on the front of the tag so the points are oriented like the clock face (points at 12, 3, 6, and 9).
Place the other reinforcement on the back, carefully aligning the two so they match and no adhesive is exposed. Place the corners on the bottom front of the tag.

3. Use a glue stick to secure the canceled stamp (torn envelope corner) to the center of the tag.

4. Smudge the tag with Ginger ink. Smudge on a bit of Teal Metallic Gelatos. Immediately wipe the surface of the postage stamp so only minimal color is added to it.

5. Use Pitch Black ink to stamp words, arrows, stars, and other small motifs; color with pencils.

6. Tie jute twine at the top of the tag.

SUPPLIES

Elizabeth Craft Designs –
951 Tags & More 1 – Lace
952 Tags & More 2 – Deco
2581 Season’s Greetings Large Peel-Offs in Gold
Small piece of Gold Metallic Shimmer Sheetz – SS 0212
803 Metal Adaptor Plate

Rubber Stamps* – Evidence (Stampers Anonymous); Courage (Innovative Stamp Creations); Tiny star (Hero Arts); Arrow, small words and motifs (Red Castle, Inc.) *Note: These stamps are retired but may be available via an online auction site. Substitute as directed in project tips.

Other – Tim Holtz alcohol ink in Espresso (Ranger); Colored pencils (Prismacolor); Jet Black and Ginger inks (Ranger); Jute twine, fine gold cord (any manufacturer); Art sponge; Gelatos in Teal ((Faber-Castell); Canceled stamp or other printed ephemera measuring approximately 1.75” x 2.5”

%d bloggers like this: