Tuesday, May 28, 2024

Tent Card

 

Top fold card with artpiece on cardfront. Make a small w shaped strip to allow the card to stand without opening.  This tent card was made easel style, but they are just as good if simple fold-overs

Wednesday, May 22, 2024

Expanding and Collapsing Box Card

 Using Girly Gnomes, and following a tutorial for the Expanding and Collapsing Box Card by  Lisa Curcio, this adorable birthday card was finished with DP (Most Adored) and lavender cardstock from SU; enamel dots by Alta New;  and Tonic Clear Crystal Glaze.  The closed cardbox is held closed with a bellyband with artpiece and fits flat in an A2 envelope. 

The bottom of the box has a Happy Birthday script sentiment stamped and a coordinating paper band/pocket with a punched shape that forms the pocket. Recipient's name will be handwritten on the tag-pocket. The bottom picture shows the box fully open. The box easily pops open and if you adjust the belly band properly, the box can contain several thicknesses of paper or ephemera. Tip:  Do NOT burnish the folding and expanding mechanism --finger fold it because it will break down with overuse. Be VERY precise with measurements and scoring accuracy.





Saturday, May 18, 2024

Girly Gnomes

 These are not your  traditional gnomes at all --more like elves with gnome type caps and braids. They make the most beautiful cards, and I am delighted to be creating them on embossed vellum, with custom designed backgrounds, on spritzed or embossed cardstock and using the Couture Designs sentiment strips from The Ton. Their gentle expressions and beautiful design elements make them "one of a kind" talent shared.


From the SVG Vector Store at Etsy called Girl Gnome Clip Art


Patriotic Gnomes

 

Just the first of  SEVERAL projects using Paper Clips
These are called Watercolor 4th of July Whimsical Gnome Clip Art
from the Whimsical Art Graphics Studio at Etsy


Two SlimLine Window Cards and clips



Wednesday, May 15, 2024

Graduation

 


I am SO pleased with this---my first attempt at image generation in Photoshop's (Beta) Artificial Intelligence photo generation processes. I started with blank white "paper." I had about 7 iterations of very detailed prompts (specificity matters) to create this owl, including (but not limited to,) great horned owl mortarboard with gold tassel on left, bow tie scarlet and gray, glasses, and others. I didn't specify any particular background and left as AI generated it. ..same with feathers and feather detail. I had built on my idea six or seven times working with favorite results until I could get the cap tucked into the head feathers.  Now just how cool is that.  This card is for a friend's son who earned his Master's in Business Administration recently at UNLV.

Monday, May 13, 2024

Chick Bow Chicks

 Chicken Chicks, Owl Chicks, Bow Chicks, Baby Bird Chicks, these cuties came from Chick Clip Art in Messy Bun's Etsy store.  I have made a couple dozen small  paper clip clips that will have either eyelash ribbon or jute, or color coordinated to match project where they are found. I already gave the first one away before I got it  photographed. I don't know where I got the ticket blanks I used to make the designer paper clips--been in the stash for at least 10 years! I love to make paper clips and I sometimes work from ticket templates. 






Sunday, May 5, 2024

Some easy Workshop Cards

 In a workshop led by Diane Minor.   





Inside intentionally left blank because this is going to a 98 year old lady who I want to have it to resend as I thank HER for my birthday gift. 




Thursday, May 2, 2024

3 Peak Arrow Fold Card

    This three peak card is a little tricky---CAREFUL scoring and dry-fitting are the secrets of it.  I used it for the April, 2024 Papers N Pixels workshop, and as I taught this, I found I'd been pretty vague on instructions that were important.
    The Three Peak Arrow was inspired by Sam Calcott who made it look SO easy!  Without viewing her tutorial,  the crafter is totally LOST on this one.  Suggest making a template with all the measurements on it before you begin to cut that first 10" x 7"piece. then watch--you work this card upside down! When the card is folded, it fits into an A6 envelope.  You can mat the arrows, make pockets in them or work with embossed designs and ephemera. I used star dies and punches, and half dozen different Poppy Stamps Faerie die cuts  Pay attention to directionality of your designer paper, and you'll create a winner.






Wednesday, May 1, 2024

Graduation Money Lei


Virgin Valley High School, Mesquite, NV
Graduated the Class of 2024 on May 11,2024
This money lei was a "special" order for a special graduate

~Julio~


The sentiment reads:  As you graduate, pack up all your memories, 
and everything you've learned, and stack them high as they can go!
Then climb up to the top and look how far you've come
Be proud, be ambitious, 
Set your goals and
GO FOR IT
Everyone is proud of you, Julio
Congratulations!