Hang In There...Don't Go Bananas!

This was my first attempt at a double staircase card, and a shameful copy of a super cute card origninally created by a super creative blogging pal, Jenny of Crazy for Paper Crafting. When I first laid eyes on Jenny's "Let's Hang Out" card, I knew it would be just the perfect card to send to dd during exam time to cheer her up. Cute little monkey is from the Create A Critter cart. I changed the sentiment on the card to "Hang In There" to fit the occasion of dd's stressful week of studying for finals, using MTC and true type fonts LD Charming Bold and Arial for this.

I didn't have any of that cute Doodlebug nature walk paper Jenny used for her card, or for that matter, any forest themed papers at all. My card looked pretty much "bleh", and really needed something, so I added a couple of trees from the ZooBallo cartridge. Unfortunately, in order to be able to hang the vine in the trees, they had to be cut quite large, and as a result their leaves and branches hide the sentiment from full view. *Sigh*

Here's the "inside" sentiment I added to the back of my card. Smiling banana is also a Create A Critter cut.

One of the "big issues" I always have with these staircase type cards is how they tend to want to open up and flatten when I add a lot of die cuts and embellishments to them...

So I decided to add on strips of cardstock to the bottom on both sides of the card to prevent the card from opening more than I wanted. This seems to have done the trick!

Sent this together with her requested care package of Tomoe sakura arare ("gotta be Tomoe, mom!") to dd as she faces her scariest and final finals before she starts her year of rotations. "You can do it, babee!"

Panda Friends Birthday

This card was created for one of my oldest and dearest friends who celebrates her birthday this month. I finally decided to give the easel card a try and was pleased to find that it's really a fun and easy card to do.

For the front of the card I used pandas (again!), this time from the Pagoda cartridge. In fact, all the cuts I used for the front of the card (pandas, blossom branch, kanji for friend) come from the Pagoda cartidge. Pandas were cut 3 times and layered with foam dots. Their eyes are tiny black flat back pearls from Kaisercraft. The blossoms were cut twice, and top layer was shaped using a shaping tool from the Punch Bunch tool kit. Centers of flowers were cut using a 1/16" round hole Fiskars hand punch.

Here's the inside. Bottom panel was embossed with the sakura folder from the Cuttlebug Asian Bundle, and letters for the word "friends" are from the Don Juan cartridge, welded in Design Studio. Nesting sakura punches are from Carl. I used a few strands of gold mizuhiki cording tied into a knot and adhered to the top of the panel as the "stop" to keep my easel card standing. Dragonfly charms are from my stash, purchased a long time ago from Creations Unlimited.

Here's a view of the completed card, folded open and standing. There are many tutorials on the internet for the easel card, but my favorite is from the Magnolia-licious Highlites Challenge Blog. This link should take you directly to the October '09 entry where you will find a video tutorial as well as a link to the template and instructions. Here, you'll even find a mini "how to " insert that you can print up and include with your card so your recipient will know how to fold and display their easel card. And while you are there, definitely scroll down a bit and take a look at all the beautiful easel cards that were created by the Magnolia-licious DT...so inspiring!

Forever In Love

This card was sent off to dh's cousin's daughter who got married this weekend in LA. I'm guessing from the beautiful handmade announcement she sent that her colors were purple and brown...so I tried to stay close to her colors for the card.

The inspiration for my card comes from two of my favorite bloggers. First, the inspiration for the design for the front comes from ultra creative Donna Mundinger, whose beautiful wedding card I fell in love with and knew I had to try. Donna is a DT member over at Custom Crops, and she generously shares the Design Studio cutfile for her card there. What amazes me most about her cards is all the layering she always does, making her creations like works of art!

I changed my card up a little, using the swan cut from the Wedding Solutions cart instead of the diamond engagement ring on Donna's card. The filigree heart (also from Wedding Solutions) embellished with flatback pearls and the "Forever" cut layered several times (Home Decor cart) comes straight from her card.


Then for the inside, I was inspired by another wedding card created by a fellow blogging friend, another super creative lady, Michele (My Simple Crafts). Check out this beautiful wedding card she created and shares on her blog. You'll also find a link on her post to a video tutorial by Michelle Wedemeyer for this pop up gift card holder. I added an extra piece of card stock to hold the gift card and attached it to the bottom of the card to stabilize it a bit more and assure that the gift card would sit up straight when the card is opened.

Used the font tracing feature in Make the Cut for the first time to create this monogram cut on the pop up. Quill font was used to create the initials, which were welded and cut using MTC. This was amazingly quick and easy to do! Filigree corners and double hearts cuts are from Cuttlebug dies.

Sweet Birthday Surprise

Finally got a chance to use my sizzix sizzlit icecream treat set to make a birthday card for my sil. Those of you who know me well know that I am an "ice cream monsta" and must have my fix of Hagen Daz everyday...so when I saw this sizzlit set, I knew I had to own it!

I used vellum to cut the glassware and edged it with a bit of stickles to get that frosty glass look, and Bazzill Bling cardstock so my ice cream would glisten. The slice of chocolate cake is a cut from the From My Kitchen cartridge. Edging on the front is another Martha Stewart edge punch.

As the card is opened, a surprise gift card pulls out from the cake! The gift card actually sits in a pocket behind the cake, and is attached to a tab with the other end hidden under the sentiment. (Same mechanism as was used for the graduation card posted last week)

Birthday cake and candles are from the Stretch Your Imagination cart. All patterned papers are digital, designed by Nancy Kubo and purchased at Little Dreamer Designs. Font is LD Charming Light from Lettering Delights.
After several weeks of working on graduation cards and Fathers Day cards, it was so nice to do something girly and frou frou for a change!