Vellum Paper is Great!

In this post, I just wanted to talk about how much I love vellum paper. It's a way of layering, and creating depth without creating bulk. I always end up really liking the end product. It turns out better than I ever imagined it would. Check out three of my favourites below. Hint: Use a little double sided tape. It's practically invisible. Also, if you are stamping, allow a lot of time for your ink to dry. I let mine dry overnight just to be safe.

Surprise!!

Here's a fun, interactive card to make. It's a shutter card.

I wish I knew how to post videos... Check out my instagram @prettypaperstudios to see it in action.

These are the pieces you'll need:

First step: score and fold the white base piece 2.5" from each end.

 Second step: glue the patterned paper onto the white base as shown below.

Step 3: Punch a circle (approx. 2.25" diameter) into the center of the 5" x 3.5" piece

Step 4: Stamp and color an image of your choice onto the 3.25" x 3.25" white piece. Center and glue onto base card.

Tricky Step 5: These measurements are important! 

Start with a rectangle 4" x 3.25"

We'll need to cut out a triangle. Locate the corner just slightly under 2.5" from the left, and 1 5/8 from the top.

 Then I used the corner of a piece of paper to trace and create a perfect 90 degree angle.

Cut the triangle out. Score and fold 5/8" on the left side.

 Make two pieces like this.

When you interlock the two pieces together, they should measure just a tiny bit under 5 inches. It's important that it measures less than 5" so that the card will close properly. This is the reason why we measure slightly under 2.5" above. You may need to trim into the triangle/point.

Place the interlocked pieces on top on the monkey stamp, or whatever you used. Apply glue onto the tabs, and close the card base to glue perfectly into position.

When you open it again, it should look like this!

Apply glue across the top and bottom...

...glue down the polka dot piece.

You're done!

I made a removable "belt" for my card, but it isn't necessary. You can decorate the front however you want!

P.S. Happy birthday Nicky!

Just Let the Paper Pad Do the Work

As previously posted, I have a difficult time coordinating colors.

So why not let someone else choose your color palette? 

I'm sure you have a themed pad of cardstock in your craft collection. I took two punches and punched out every pattern available in a single pad. Then just mixed and matched.

I added a stitch in the center for texture. Then curled the petals up with a pencil to give the card some dimension.

I really like how this one turned out. It was so simple too!

This was a very rare mid-week post. I can't help but to spread my crafty ideas into the abyss that is the internet.

Thanks. Visit again soon.

What is it with Mason Jars?

Why are mason jars so aesthetically pleasing to me, to a lot of people actually... It's a thinker.

Anyways, here's a card that looks really neat in person. I don't think the camera captured it as well as I wanted.

The jar is stamped and cut out of vellum paper, so it has that transparent quality that a jar is suppose to have.

I used black embossing powder instead of ink because the ink doesn't absorb into the vellum very well.

And here are your ingredients:

This is a pretty simple one, but it has an excellent finish. The colors I chose were picked right out the washi tape. As I'm posting this, I am realizing that behind these two mason jar cards are two actual mason jars. Ha! This really delights me.

OH my God, and don't even get me started on washi tape. I could do a hundred posts on the wonderfulness of washi tape.

Bye for now :)

These Paper Flowers Actually Make Me Feel Guilty For The Amount of Paper I'm Using

Currently, I am off card-making. And I am now obsessing about making large paper flowers. This post doesn't even have a point, except to share what I've made in the last few days. I've used enough paper to make trees weep. That being said, these flowers look amazing as wall decor! They would be really pretty for bridal showers and weddings. Sorry trees.

Lotus flower

Lotus flower

Magnolia

Fictitious flower, dahlia, another fictitious flower

Rose inspired

I will attempt to create a tutorial post in the near future. However, I feel there isn't a lot to teach. I literally Googled pictures of flowers, then sculpted the paper accordingly.

There will be more to come... 

Fringe! Fringe! Fringe!

Oh man, is this card fancy or what? It's pretty glamorous in person. A real statement card.

Here are the pieces that you will need:

(sorry about the white on white:)

Helpful reminder: attach the white pieces/ribbon separate from the blue fringes/card base as shown above. Also, I'm terrible at tying ribbon, so I tied the bow separate and just glued it on.

Easy peasy, right? 

Thanks! Come back again soon.

Colour Coordination... It's difficult for me

I find that one of the most time consuming thing about card-making is picking out colours. 

When you're stuck, I find it best to just use shades of the same colour. 

I love a monochromatic card.

Brown on brown on brown


Here are the pieces that you will need to build this card:

The techniques and tools utilized include: 

flower punch/die cut

distressing the edges with a blending tool 

using an embossing folder 

rubber stamping 

a little "sewing"

Sooo there you have it. My idea of colour coordination. Until next time :)

Ideas for Creating Your Own Embellishments

I was at the local giant craft retailer, as I always am, and saw that they were selling embellishments for quite a bit of $$$.

Here are some ideas for making your own from your scraps and other things you may have on hand. I basically hot glued a bunch of things onto paperclips.

12 o'clock: two felt leaves with sewn detail

1 o'clock: four felt flowers sewn together with pearl center

2 & 3 o'clock: simple, just ribbon

4,5 & 6: two flowers stacked, copper brad in the center

7 & 8: (do these things have a name?) They are created by folding a strip of paper into a tiny accordion.

9 & 10: two flowers with a button center and a bow

11 o'clock: four felt flowers sewn together

I just thought of one more, but didn't have time to include it in my picture.

Pin Wheels!

I'm Starting to Think That My Hobby is More About Shopping for Craft Supplies Than Actually Crafting Itself... Anybody Else? Just Me?

It's the weekend. I have spare time, which means trouble...

Last weeks' raid included trimmings, blending tool, ink, embossing folder, cardstock,
stamps, string, buttons, gems and pearls.

This weeks' foraging of craft goods include crop-a-dile, grommets, punches, ribbons, stamps
and patterned paper.

Card in a Box Tutorial

Don't be intimidated by this card. It's actually pretty simple.

High wow factor for small amount of time spent.

- cutter - scorer - 8.5" x 11" - patterned paper - glue - paper flowers - 

- sticky pearls - brads - ribbon - punches (optional)

The 8.5" x 11" is your base. 2.5 inches is the magic number. 

Measuring along the long side of the paper, score at every 2.5".

Then measure 2.5" along the width of the paper and score once.

The result is 5 lines just like in the photo above.

Cut 3" off the side of the rectangles ie: don't mess with the squares.

Save that scrap piece! It's very useful.

Fold along the scores, and you can almost see the box form!

Snip along the squares to form the flaps of the box.

Save a little tab for glue (seen at the top of the photo).

First patterned paper: Four pieces of 2.25" x 2.25"

Second patterned paper: Three pieces of  2.25" x 2.75"

One piece of 2.25" x 5.25"

It doesn't HAVE to be hot glue I guess...

(I burnt myself.)

Flip it over, and glue some more.

Glue that tab down to form the box.

Take that scrap piece with the already-there score lines, and cut out 3 symmetrical pieces as shown.

Attach the 3 pieces. The already-there score lines should ensure that these pieces fit perfectly.

I used sticky pearls for the flower centers, but you could use brads, or buttons, 

or whatever to have laying around.

Cut a few strips from the scrap paper to use as stems/extensions.

With the box laying on its back, glue a flower in the upper corner of the backing.

Glue a couple of flowers on the first base strip, a little lower than the flower behind it.

Keep going.

One more.

Be creative!

Cut some green fringe. Punch out some tags. Add butterflies. Tie bows. More flowers on the flaps.

After you do it once, the card above could probably be completed in 10 minutes.

But if you have time, you can stamp, punch, trim, color, etc, and create something like this...

Yeeeaaaahhhhh! My first tutorial. I hope that was helpful.