Merry Christmas!

Hi everyone! I have one last Christmas project to share with you before the holidays are over. One of my favorite things about Karen Burniston's dies is how versatile the sets are. Amazing as pop-ups, yes - but you can also use the individual dies in lots of other ways.

In my last post, I used the large tag die with lightweight chipboard and created a faux wood effect. For this project, I decided to use the same tag die, but as a window for a card that folds flat to mail, but pops out to create a shadow box that can be displayed. Read on to see how I made it!

Start by cutting a piece of cardstock measuring 8" wide by 7" high. This pattern from Tim Holtz is perfect because the front and back coordinate. Score as shown above at 1/2", 3 3/4", 4 1/4", and 7 1/2". Fold on all creases. (Ignore the fact that this also shows the window cut and the snow added - I thought I'd taken a pic of it before this was done, but I guess I didn't!)

 

Next, with the paper flipped to what will be the outside of the card, position the tag die with the cutting edge down on the right side of the paper and secure with tape. Unless you have a wide die cut machine, you'll have to fold the left side over the top, sandwiching the die between, to get it through your machine. This might made a slight impression on the left side of the paper, but it won't be noticeable at all.

Cut three pieces of white cardstock using the wavy die from Karen's Nature Edges set and trim to fit. Cover with glue and sprinkle glitter over. Let dry completely. Adhere the bottom piece to the back of the card, then add the next two layers using thin foam dots. Cut snowflakes from glitter cardstock and adhere with foam dots.

Apply a length of scor-tape to the 1/2" edge and adhere to the other edge, creating a box. Cut trees using the large tree die from Karen's Winter Charms set, cut off the loop at top, and adhere to card. Finally, stamp the deer from Tim Holtz's Styled Woodlands set on white cardstock with grey ink, trim closely, and adhere to card. Add embellishments as shown.

Here is the finished card, all ready for mailing! If you add any dimensional embellishments, you might have to pay more postage. And I always add a piece of scrap cardstock over anything like brads so that they don't poke through the envelope.

You can find the products I used at my favorite stores via the links below.

Happy Holidays to you all and thank you for all of your comments and shares over the past year. Hope you all have a wonderful holiday season!

Merry Christmas Faux Wood Tag

Hi everyone! I hope you are all well and not too overwhelmed by the holidays. For once, I feel like I'm not running behind with a million things left to do - very rare for me!

A couple weeks ago I was browsing through the Christmas decor at JoAnn's and spotted a cute little wood sign and immediately thought, 'I'll be I could make that out of chipboard!' I came home and pulled out some of my favorite dies from Karen Burniston and got to work. I have a quick tutorial below if you'd like to try it yourself.

Begin by cutting two tags from lightweight chipboard using the large tag die from Karen's Tag Book Pop Up set. I had some dividers from a liquor store box I grabbed (I can't resist those boxes when they set them out - weird, I know!) that ended up being the perfect weight. Paint them both white and cut one into slats as shown. Cut sentiment and cardinals from red Kraft Core'dinations paper. Cut leaves from green Kraft Core'dinations.

Adhere the slats on top of the other painted tag, starting with the center slat and leaving just a bit of space in between (the left and right edges will overhang just a bit). Use sandpaper to rough up the edges and give it a worn appearance.

Adhere your sentiment using Karen's fine tip bottle glue. Use a circle die and pencil to lightly trace a circle to use as a guideline for your wreath. Using the same glue, begin adhering your branches as shown, trimming and layering until your wreath is complete.

Color some of Tim Holtz's Beaded Berries with red alcohol ink and tuck into the wreath. Finally, adhere tiny cardinals to wreath and tie with a length of twill ribbon.

I hope you enjoyed this quick holiday project! I love the look of the faux wood slats and will definitely be using this idea on future projects. The supplies I used can be found at my favorite stores via the links below.


Have a great week!

Teacup Christmas Ornament

Hi everyone! Hope your week is going well! I'm finally getting into the Christmas spirit and have a fun little project to share with you.

Each year, my group of friends has an ornament swap. It's always so much fun to see what everyone comes up with - and it's always fun to dream up something new. This year I decided to create a little wintry diorama using Brenda Walton's Teacup die from Sizzix.

I used paper from Tim Holtz, and adhered it to a light blue cardstock - the pattern on the other side of the paper was too bold for the inside of the cup, plus the extra paper made it quite sturdy. After I assembled the cup, I stamped a winter cabin image on a circle of the same blue cardstock and used hot glue to adhere it to the bottom of the cup. This adds a nice backdrop so your little scene really pops. The seam is hidden with lots of snowy glitter.

After that, it was just a matter of adding lots of hot glue and little bits and pieces of Tim's Christmas embellishments. To finish the cup, I added tinsel twine and a bow at the top. I was really surprised at how quickly these came together. Once you get the hang of one, the rest are a snap!

Sizzix is having another huge sale. Sadly, the Teacup isn't included, but you do get free shipping with orders of $25 or more and there are lots of other dies by Brenda, Tim, and Eileen (all my faves!) that are hugely discounted.

The other items I used can be found at Simon Says Stamp and Amazon via the links below.


Thanks so much for stopping by today - have a great weekend!

Karen Burniston Designer Challenge - Trees, Please!

Hi all! It's time again for Karen Burniston's Designer Challenge. This month our theme is Trees, Please! I decided to create a card using Karen's Christmas Tree Pop-Up die, since I haven't had a chance to use it yet. While I was trying to decide exactly what to make, Karen suggested I try a gate fold card with two trees. I immediately thought of this card from a couple years ago and I was off and running!

The base of the card was created by scoring a 6" x 12" piece of kraft cardstock 3" from each edge. I also added a 4" flap at the top that's attached by a tab across the back. The closure was made from one of Tim Holtz's adorable log slices and a length of elastic cord.

Remove the elastic cord and the top panel pops up. Ooooh, a pretty winter cabin! But what's under those side panels?

You open them slowly...is that...are those...trees?!?

Why, yes...they are! And a little bunting that unfurls as the trees are lifted. How amazing is that tree die?!

A few details about the construction: the patterned paper is from a pad I found at Hobby Lobby. I'm obsessed with it and it's what pretty much inspired the whole card. The little cabin was created by cutting down Karen's House die and adding snow and a little wreath. The bunting is from the Tag Book set and the labels are from the Katherine Label Pop-Up set. The greeting was cut into the label using dies from the Holiday Word Set. Finally, the snow was cut with the wavy edge from the Nature Edges set.

Whew! I told myself I wasn't going to go overboard with this challenge, but I couldn't help myself. Even thought I used a lot of products, you could easily replicate this with just the tree die, substituting dies you already have for the other elements.

The supplies I used can be found at KB Riley and Simon Says Stamp via the links below.

Thanks so much for stopping by today! Make sure you check out Karen's blog tomorrow for a gorgeous card tutorial - you're going to love it!

Christmas Gift Card Frame

Hi all! I have a cute project to share with you using Karen Burniston's Gift Card Label die. I thought it would be fun to make a gift card holder that would also double as a holiday decor piece. After the gift card is removed, a photo can be inserted and displayed throughout the holiday season!

I used medium weight chipboard as a base (cut to 5" x 7") so it's super sturdy. I covered it with papers from one of Tim Holtz's older collections. The Gift Card Label was cut from kraft cardstock and adhered it to the top center of the panel, then red flourishes were adhered using the decorative dies included in the set. Along the bottom I added Tim's new log slices (so cute!) with painted letters from one of his older collections.

Here it is with the gift card removed and the photo inserted. I love this so much I think I'm keeping it for myself! :) So that it can be easily displayed, I used Tim's easel die to add an easel to the back. You could also insert it into a dollar store frame with the glass removed.

I love projects like this that can be completed in a couple of hours, yet have such a great impact and will be cherished by the recipient for years to come!

The supplies I used can be purchased at KB Riley and other stores through the links below.

Thanks so much for stopping by today - have a great weekend!

Winter Wishes Tag Book Pop-Up Card

Hi everyone! Hope you all had a wonderful Thanskgiving holiday. Earlier this month, Karen Burniston released a small collection of dies and I'm so excited to share this card using one of my favorites from the collection - the Tag Book Pop-Up. Imagine all the possibilities with this cool die!

Wow! Right?! I love that this card looks so complicated, but it's actually incredibly simple to put together - that means you can spend your time embellishing it to your heart's content.

For this card, I decided to use some of my favorite papers and embellishments from Tim Holtz. The little bunting was made with pennant dies that are included in the set, plus little snowflake charms from the Winter Charms set. The trees were also made with dies from the charms set - I just cut off the top ring.

See that little paper clip? It's a die! Also included in the set. I cut this one from cardstock that was covered with metal foil tape. It needs a bit of glue to hold it in place but it makes such a cute accent. My little 'holly' leaves were cut using the fall leave die from the Tree Pop-Up die set. I scored a line down the middle and added a red pearl and you'd never know it's not a holly die.

I hope you enjoyed this cozy winter tag card. I can't wait to try more variations. The supplies I used can be found at Simon Says Stamp and Amazon via the links below. The paper is from an older TH collection, but many of the same/similar patterns are in the newer set.

Thanks so much for stopping by today!

Christmas Train Case

Hi everyone! I wanted to let you all know there is another great sale going on at Sizzix this weekend, and it includes lots of great dies from Eileen Hull like this Train Case. This is such a cool die and I've hardly used it. I've had the idea for this little winter scene for ages and it seemed like the perfect time to make it!

I cut the pieces for the train case from medium weight chipboard and then assembled the case. I chose to cover it with this pretty paper from My Mind's Eye after I'd assembled it, so I didn't have the score lines showing.  I actually lined the inside, which was not really necessary since you don't see it once it's filled up!

After the case was covered with paper, I attached the lid. To build the bottom up, I added styrofoam. It also makes a great base for anything you want to glue down. I had this sweet deer that I've been saving for ages - you might remember this tutorial from a few years ago for making dies 3D - that was perfect for my scene. Unfortunately, that die is only available by special order now, but any deer that's about 3" tall would work. I also added one of Tim Holtz's Woodland Trees with pearls, some vintage ornaments, and greenery. It's all tied up with a piece of Crinkle Ribbon and a Christmas Key.

Even though this looks big in pictures, it's a tiny little case - measuring approximately 5" wide. I almost thought about making this into an ornament, but it's just a bit too big. It is absolutely perfect for little scenes like this though. I wish the sparkle showed up better in photos - it's so pretty!

You can find Eileen Hull's Train Case die, plus lots of others by clicking the image below. Don't forget that shipping is free when you spend $25+!

I was surprised and excited to see that Eileen's Journal die is included in the sale - it's a great price on such a fabulous die. I used it to make the sweet Christmas shadow box below. I am obsessed with that die!

Thanks so much for stopping by today - have a great weekend!

Karen Burniston Designer Challenge - Gingerbread

Hi all! It's time again for the Karen Burniston Designer Challenge. This month our theme is Gingerbread. Christmas will be here before you know it so it's a great time to start thinking about your Christmas and winter holiday cards!

I was inspired to make this cute gingerbread snow globe card by, of all things, a cookie video from Sweet Ambs. She is absolutely amazing - I dream of someday making amazing cookies like her. For now, I'm happy to use them as inspiration for cards; paper is so much easier than dough!

Read on to see how I altered Karen's Cupcake Pop Up card die and combined it with a few of her other dies to make a sweet little snow globe shaker card.

To make the shaker, I cut a circle from white cardstock with the largest circle from the Snowman Twist Circle set, then inked it with Distress Oxide and sprayed it with Picket Fence Distress Ink spray. I cut white fun foam with the same die, then cut the edge with the wavy die from the Nature Edges die set. This will create the 'dam' for the bottom half of the shaker - I felt very smart for thinking of that! :) To make the dam for the upper part of the shaker, nest the large and next size down circle dies and cut another piece of fun foam.  Trim off the excess and adhere to the cardstock, butting the edges up to the snow part.

Next, I cut my gingerbread man from cork using the large gingerbread boy from the Winter Charms set and added a hat from the Winter Animals set. The tree is also from the Winter Charms set. The snowflakes are part of the Snowman Circle Twist set. After gluing down the elements and filling it with glitter and snow (not shown in this pic) I adhered a circle of actetate to the foam, then added a frame of glitter paper.

The base of the snow globe was created by cutting the cupcake liner from glitter paper, trimming it slightly, then adhering it with foam dots as shown. I cut a little strip from the glitter paper and added it to the top to keep the little strips of the cupcake wrapper together. The cupcake pop-up was trimmed down on the sides so that it wouldn't peek out from behind the snow globe.

Seriously, how sweet is this little guy?! To finish the snow globe, I added a little die cut bow to the front, and a die cut snowflake to the 'glass' front. I added more snowflakes randomly around the card to give it even more sparkle. The paper is all from My Mind's Eye, and I think the glittery red washi tape is from The Dollar Tree.

On the front of the card I used the circle die cut again, along with a sentiment from the Holiday Word Set die. The top is tied with Tim Holtz's Christmas Jute String and a snowflake charm from the Winter Charms die set.

What's extra fun about a snowy pop-up shaker card is that it 'snows' as the card is being opened. So cool! I hope you enjoyed my take on the Gingerbread challenge. The supplies I used can be purchased at Amazon and Simon Says Stamp via the links below.


Thanks so much for stopping by today. Be sure and check out Karen's post tomorrow to see an amazing video tutorial plus lots of great gingerbread inspiration from the whole team!

Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween, everyone! Once a month, my friends and I get together for lunch and some creative play time. We also recently started a fun swap, making pages that we store in books we made with Eileen Hull's Journal die.

This month the theme was Halloween, of course! I am still obsessed with Ranger's Distress Oxide inks and decided to use them to create a background for my panel. I used dies from Karen Burniston to create a graveyard scene for my witch to pose in. To make the fence taller, I folded a piece of black cardstock and placed the die on top with the bottom edge just over the fold. When it's cut, the bottom stays intact so that when it's unfolded, you have a double-high fence! I thought the sentiment fit the expression on my witch's face perfectly.

It was my turn to host lunch and I thought it would be fun to have a gothic-themed Halloween party. I blame it on my obsession with Penny Dreadful. I just discovered that show and am in love with it!

One thing that was fun about creating this tablescape is that I had almost everything on hand - it was just a matter of pulling it all together. The flowers are a combination of grocery store bouquets and ferns and weeds from my yard. Note the little framed picture of the witches. I joked that it was the four of us and I was the one on the far right - that's who I used for my card! :)

A little black spray paint gives this terra cotta thrift store find a somber look. The little tealight holder is from Pottery Barn.

I have a bit of an obsession with old, tarnished silver, and I think I used about every piece I owned! For the place settings, I used silver trays as chargers, then layered on plates from the dollar store and Home Goods. I found the little glass and metal cups at Salvation Army and fell in love with them! The milk glass tumblers came from Tuesday Morning, and the napkins are from Michaels.

For some reason, I thought a red velvet cake with red rosette icing was a good idea. What was I thinking?! I have never tried to make a deep red colored icing and may never attempt it again. That's a lot of food coloring! I wanted it to have black edges - kind of a singed look - so I first tried spraying on black coloring mist, which didn't really work at all. I ended up spraying it in a bowl and brushing it on. Kinda worked?

More silver serving pieces piles with treats. I love the weirdness of the Moon Drop grapes - they're perfect for a witchy party!

You can find the supplies I used at Amazon and Simon Says Stamp via the links below. Click the icon for the store you prefer to shop at.





Thanks so much for stopping by today - have a hauntingly happy Halloween and a great week!