Thursday Card of the Day, Corner Pop Up Cards

It's Technique Thursday at Enjoy Michael Strong Stamps groups.io.
 I am featuring  Michael Strong's Cloisonne Flowers, large and mini
on two versions of Corner Pop Up cards.

Here you see a Corner Pop Up card where
the bottom part folds up diagonally and into the card when it closes.
I really liked Lisa Cursio's Corner Pop Up video tutorial.

Basically you cut your paper into an 8 x 8 inch square
score in half, then turn 1/4 and score in half again to get 4 quadrants.
Then some diagonal scoring and some cutting depending on the style of card you choose.
It's so much easier to see a video of the process.
So I would recommend you watch the videos and work along.

I need to sit in front of the computer and watch Lisa's video each time I make one of these.
If you start with an 8 inch square, the finished size of your card is 4 inches square.
You can start out with a 12 x 12 inch square which results in a 6 x 6 inch card.
You will be adding panels and embellishments to the squares
before finally put the card together.

I think these cards are so much fun!
I encourage you to give it a try, if you are like me and enjoy fancy fold cards!

My paper is from a 12 x 12 DCWV pad called Posh & Pink.
I'm on a mission to use up that paper! Have made 4 cards and a name frame with it.
There is still a ton of paper left!

I used a punch for scalloped circles and flowers,
a spellbinders die for the message portion,
gemstones, dimensional foam,
and Scrapbook Adhesives Crafty Power Tape
(double sided adhesive tape that comes in a roll and is easy to tear)

This Corner Pop Up card featuring Michael Strong's Mini Cloisonné Flower
 has has a pocket for a gift card, money or note.
I used Lisa's Corner Pop Up Gift Card Holder tutorial which I really liked!
You can find many Corner Pop Up card tutorials online.

 Used Versafine black onyx ink to stamp the flowers
which were then fussy cut and adhered with dimensional foam.
Cut my own leaves and punched some flowers and added some gemstones.

The right panel has to flip down for the card to close properly.
I've tried to show that in this photo.

I wrote my own sentiment on lined printed papers from the pad.

I chose to make this style because I wanted to add a gift of money.
You can see it would be great for a gift card and/or a note.

Thanks so much for visiting!

File Folder Card Tutorial

Here is my file folder card tutorial
for my friends at the Enjoy Michael Strong Stamps Yahoo Group.
I shared a file folder card for today's Technique Thursday HERE
Just wanted to share this method in case you don't have the envelope punch board.
Either way, it's very easy and fun to make these cards.


Start with a piece of cardstock measuring 4.25 x 5.5 inches.
Fold as usual for making a card.
For the tab, cut away a 1/2 wide strip (12-13 mm) on the narrow end
using your paper trimmer, making the tab any size you wish.

This shows the cut line.

 Here you see where to trim off that 1/2 inch wide piece by cutting with a scissors.

Now you see the tab before the corner punch is used...

...and after using the corner punch.

 To make the insert, cut a piece of cardstock 4.25 x 5.25 inches.
The tab is made in the same way as the folder.
After checking the fit I trim a little off the bottom.

Here's the finished look.

Hope you have fun making these File Folder Cards.
I would love to hear from you and see your creation!
You can check google for other variations!
Enjoy!!
Thanks for visiting!

Wrinkle Free Distress Tutorial

 A friend of mine asked me how I make my distress ink backgrounds
so I decided to do a blog post on it.

I learned from Tim Holtz' "wrinkle free distress" technique
described here and here.

I used distress inkpads festive berries, mowed lawn, scattered straw.

Later I substituted fossilized amber for the scattered straw.
Choose colors you like!

 

Place inkpad directly craft sheet.

Smudge and squish it a little to get the color transferred to the craft sheet.

You can see green and red but it's hard to see the yellow.

Spritz with water.

I used an old hairspray bottle with a fine mist

so I had to spritz several times.

Place paper on the wet ink.
I use Georgia Pacific 110 lb. index cardstock.
I turn the paper a  bit to "collect" the colors.
This is the fun part. You can experiment however you wish.

 I wanted to add more color, so I went back to the craft sheet 

and dipped the edges into the color.

 After finishing that first piece of  paper,

I added fossilized amber distress ink to craft sheet

and spritzed with water.

My second piece of paper had more dilute green and red.

The amber is bright because it's first generation here.

 

Adding more festive berries and fossilized amber ink to the craft sheet

and spritzing with water.

Results of placing paper onto craft sheet.

Results after dipping the paper into colors a second time.
If you don't like results clean the craft sheet and start again.

Here are my 3 backgrounds waiting to dry.

You are supposed to dry between the applications of ink color

to prevent colors from getting muddy.

I'm always in a hurry and I just dab the paper back into the wet ink

when I want to add color to the white spaces.

I tend to make several 4 x 5.25 inch pieces of paper.

They are very nice to keep on hand for a quick card.

After paper is dry, I sometimes iron it to flatten it.

Before adding to a card, I sometimes sponge distress ink on the edges

and/or even on white areas in the middle.

Made this card by sponging mowed lawn then tea dye distress inks on the edges of the background.

Used a Dina Wakley Scribbly Bird with Versafine black onyx ink

to make a belated birthday card.

Thanks for visiting!

Michael Strong Group Spring 2015 Blog Hop

To celebrate Spring 2015 the Michael Strong Group is having a BLOG HOP

I hope you take a break to stop by all the blogs!

If you are following the hop, you have come from

Heidi Wegman's blog

BTW, there is a list of all the blog stops at the end of this post.

Below are the pages inside my little booklet, plus a tutorial.

I used Mike's alphabet, mini cloisonne butterfly and dragonfly stamps on the front.

The background was made with Distress stains, dabbed onto my craft sheet and spritzed with water.

Used fibers from my stash to join the pages.

I added a little bit of stamping on the inside pages

leaving plenty of room to write some heartfelt wishes or  journal entries.

Used some bird/nesting stamps and sentiment from PrintWorks.

Michael Strong's mini cloisonne dragonfly and butterfly.

 Stamped Mike's mini flower, and drew the stem and leaves with a marker.

Mike's mini cloisonne shapes.

 Mike's mini heart.

For the "button and string closure...
cut a piece of 8.5 x 11 inch cardstock in half lengthwise.
This gives a 4.25 x 11 inch strip of  paper.
Fold that in half for a 4.25 x 5.5 inch tag booklet.
To get the tag shape, trim the ends as shown.
For the closure punch two 5/8 inch circles (for front and back)
from cardstock or sturdy printed paper.

In the center of the circles, punch a 1/8 inch hole in each circle.

Place the circle on the back part of the tag booklet.
Mark where the hole should be and punch it in the tag.
Layer the string as shown.

Turn booklet over.
The above picture shows inside view of the back part of tag booklet.

Set your eyelet, and voilà!...string is attached.

Here is the outside back view.
The front side does not have the string, just the circle attached with an eyelet.

For the inside pages cut 2 pieces of paper
4 x 8 inches each and score each page in half.

Punch two 1/8 inch holes along the center fold as shown.
Punch 1/8 inch holes in your mini booklet to match
using a pencil to mark the spot.
Thread fibers or twine to join the pages into a booklet.
Thanks for visiting!

Your next Blog Hop stop is

Joanna Mackintosh's Blog

Here are links to all the stops on the hop!

Michael Strong

Hetty Sanders

Heidi Wegman
You are here: Laura Holm

Joanna Mackintosh

Peg Klitch