Use those diecuts and punches - an Easter pop-up box

This month at Stamping Sensations we are asking you to use those diecuts and punches! As usual, we have a fabulous prize on offer for the winner, and this month's prize has been donated by PDA who sell quality cardstock, pre scored cards and envelopes, essentials such as Spellbinder dies and embossing folders, Imagination Crafts beautiful Sparkle Medium, and some cute charms and crystals from Hobby House.

Since it's April, I thought I'd make an Easter card and I used the pop-up box card construction for plenty of dimension.

 

"Sending You Easter Wishes"

The patterned paper is from a free pad that came with one of my magazines. I chose some matching distress inks and stamped all the flowers using a Sizzix Framelits stamp and diecut set, which makes it easy to diecut all the stamped flowers!

"A Box of Flowers"

Although not the first I've shown you on my blog, this was actually the first card I made with this type of construction and I was pleased how it turned out. I just added a peach-coloured satin ribbon and bow for a finishing touch.

 

"It folds flat!"

Best of all, the whole card folds flat for postage - how good is that?

DCWV Spiced Cider & The Green Stack Paper Pads

This series of cards is made using the DCWV Spiced Cider & The Green Stack 12" x 12" paper pads together with diecuts from matching card, ribbons, wooden embellishments and embellishments made from paperclay using Martha Stewart moulds.

 

"Cards made using  DCWV Spiced Cider & The Green Stack paper pads"

 

"A lil' Gratitude goes a Long Way"

 

 

"Wonderful World"

 

"Home Sweet Home"

 

"Give Thanks"

 

"When in Doubt Make a Pie"

 

"Smiles are Contagious"

 

"Give Thanks"

 

"Apples"

 

"I Pick You"

 

"Wild and Free"

 

"Sharing is Caring"

 

 

 

 

Ribbon Storage

My best friend Lee aka Craftyloops saw me drooling over the Kaisercraft ribbon storage at the Belfast Craft Fair last year and bought me one for Christmas. Thank you so much Lee, it was a lovely surprise! I have finally got around to decorating it. I used the Graphic45 Birdsong papers so it would match my ink pad box because I have a feeling this will be living on my desk :-)

 

"Kaisercraft Ribbon Storage"

 

"Rear View"

 

"It's So Pretty :-)"

While I'm sharing this project, I thought you might like to see some of my other ribbon storage methods.

 

"Boxes of Reels"

Ribbons on similar sized spools or reels are stored in tailor-made cardboard boxes. Some day I'll get around to decorating them!

 

"Boxes of Bags"

Shorter lengths are collected togather in bags of similar colours and stored in boxes. I use a lot of these CD / DVD boxes for storage - they sit neatly on bookshelves.

Happy Mother's Day

...or "Mothering Sunday" - that sounds so odd! I mean, mothers do their mothering all year round, not just on a Sunday... Before my American friends start to panic, don't worry. We have Mother's Day a couple of months before you so there's plenty of time for you to make your cards yet :-) Anyway, we have two Mums between me and Tom, so here are two similar Mother's Day cards.

 

"Happy Mother's Day"

I was so pleased with the layout, that I decided to make my second card very similar. Can you spot the differences?

"Happy Mother's Day"

The first is square, the second tall. They use different patterned papers, different ribbons, different fixings for the birdcage, and the first has more matting and layering (I thought the more complicated pattern on the second card didn't need so many layers), but overall the effect is the same.

It takes most of my time when I'm making cards to come up with the idea and the layout, so it's always a good idea for me to make the most of a card I like and make a few similar ones. Sometimes I'll keep going and make half a dozen, but I never make two cards exactly the same!

Ingredients:

Vintage Style Paperstack from "The Works" (thanks Lee :-)

7 Gypsies Conservatory 8"x8" paper pad

Spellbinders dies

flag bunting (from a blog challenge win, so I don't know who produced them)

ribbon in blue organza, green and brown string

vintage wooden buttons

cardstock: pale teal blue 160gsm, white 300gsm

Craftwork cards sentiments

Entered for the following challenge:
Oldie But a Goodie - Bunting

Quick Cards free Kaisercraft Sweet Pea Paper Collection

This set of cards uses the Kaisercraft Sweet Pea Paper Collection that came free with Quick Cards magazine a couple of months ago. This set features some of my favourite vintage colours at the moment, and I found the pretty patterns worked really well with paperclay flowers which I made to match using the Martha Stewart moulds.

 

"Kaisercraft Sweet Pea Collection"

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"Happy"

"Smile"

 

"Birthday Greetings"

"Happy Birthday"

"Just to Say"

 

"Life is a Journey"

 

"On Your Retirement"

I keep a document wallet with any spare sentiments and when working with patterned papers, pull out all the ones that match the colours on the papers. You can often find a match from an entirely different collection. If not, I'll find a diecut or make one and stamp something suitable. Lots of these sentiments have come from swaps with my friends on Docrafts, so thank you - you know who you are. Maddy x

Simply Cards & Papercraft issue 113 Free Melissa Frances cardmaking kit

I am going to start to blog the cards I make with free gifts from magazines in the hope they give someone some inspiration. I am a sucker for all the mags and buy far too many, like a lot of people do. This batch of A6 cards are made with the Melissa Frances Cardmaking Kit with came free with Simply Cards & Papercraft Magazine 113.

 

"Cards Made with Simply Cards & Papercraft 113 Melissa Frances Kit"

"Love Makes Life Worth Living"

"Happy Birthday"

 

"Just a Little Note to Say..."

 

"Smile"

 

"Picked For You"

 

"I Appreciate You More Than You Know"

 

"Thinking of You"

 

"Just the Way I Roll"

 

"Good Luck"

A Pile of A6 Cards

When I'm short of inspiration for a big project, I pull out some stash and make a pile of A6 cards. Put a variety in a box with some envelopes and they make great presents! Anyway, last month I won a fabulous prize with a card I entered into a competition at Quick Cards magazine. The prize was a box of stuff from Die Cuts With a View (DCWV), and I've been making cards with it ever since. I thought I'd share some of my A6 cards with you and this first batch uses a pad of MAMBI card blanks titled "Dream Big". They have fabulous geometric designs in contemporary colours.

"The Journey Awaits"

I've added bits and pieces from my stash, including items made from paper clay such as the white bird ...

"Happy Birthday"

...and the flower, stem and butterfly.

 

"Unreal"

The backgrounds on these flowers were decorated card discs from a swap on Docrafts. I think they have a sort of "Science Fantasy" feel to them.

 

"Thank You"

I love this little doggy from a pack of card embellishments.

 

"Birthday Wishes Just for You"

Just when you get bored with the black and white, there are some muted violet shades.

 

"Thank You"

Layered diecuts of different cardstocks add interest and texture.

 

"Thinking of You"

I often use these monochrome colour schemes and it's a good way to combine items from different manufacturers and different ranges.

 

"Autumn"

Well, we have a lovely sunny day here in Northern Ireland. I hope you are all enjoying your Sunday wherever you are. Maddy x

Ingredients:

DCWV MAMBI card pad "Dream Big"

DCWV Pumpkin Patch 6" x 6" pad

DCWV Cardstock Quotes

DCWV Gauze Paper Stack

DCWV Basic Frames

Paper Cellar Sentiments

Sizzix Bigz M&S Ornamental and Mini Ornamental

Sizzix Bigz Gadget Gears

Martha Stewart moulds & paperclay

wooden & plastic embellishments from my stash

Distress Ink pads

Entered for the following challenges: