Another Double Zig Zag Wedding Card

This was my second try at a Double Zig Zag card, for another wedding that was on the same day as the wedding I created my first Double Zig Zag card for. But this time I decided to create a cutfile using MTC and have my Silhouette Cameo cut it, thinking it would make all the angled cuts for the inset panels on this card easier. I guess it did a little, but the file still needs some tweaking...

On the front, I used a die from Spellbinders Fancy Tag 2 die set and attached it to a strip of cardstock and satin ribbon to create a bellyband to keep my card closed.

Here's what the card looks like on the inside when the belly band is removed.  I used Memory Box Honeysuckle Vine die to embellish the center and side panels. The monogram design on the center panel was created in Printshop using LD Elegance and Beautiful ES fonts, then converted into a cutfile using MTC.

Once the card is open, the center panel folds down to reveal a pop up wedding cake inside. Cuttlebug Juli's Garden embossing folder was used for the backdrop and Cuttlebug Vintage die set for the corner embellishment.

I used Cottage Cutz Celebration Cake die for the wedding cake and Memory Box Resting Birds die for the cake topper. Double hearts cutfile was done in MTC by simply welding two open hearts. For the sentiment I used Spellbinders Nestabilities Labels 4 die.
The inspiration for this Double Zig Zag Card comes from Mariannes Papirverden. Here you'll find exquisitely beautiful cards created and shared by Marianne as well as a tutorial for this card.

Lovebirds' First Anniversary

Time passes so quickly...I can hardly believe a whole year has already gone by since my daughter and son in law's wedding! In celebration of their first anniversary, I wanted to send them a handmade card but since we were in the midst of preparing for our vacation to Singapore/Japan, I decided to wait till after we got back so I could spend the time and love needed to make something special.

I thought it might be kind of fun to use the same lovebirds theme they had used at their wedding, so I started by creating a box to hold the card, adding a seal similar to the one that they originally used on the bellyband of their wedding invitations.

After doing a google search, I came across many beautiful cards made using the Tim Holtz birdcage die and I knew I'd have to try one too. After cutting the birdcage from glittered cardstock, I gently molded it with my hands to give it a rounded popped up shape, added tabs to the sides of the cage and attached it to the background cardstock.

Foilage was cut in several shades of green using C.C. Designs Olive Branch die, Stampin' Up Small Leaves die and Bird punch, and Martha Stewart Branch punch. Flowers are all from All Natural Accents and tree branch was cut using Quickutz Revolution Branches die. Lovebirds are the same birds we had used for the wedding favors; cut from Quickutz Lovebirds die with their wings cut in glittered cardstock using the Stampin' Up Bird punch. Eyes are tiny black gems.

After all the embellishing was done, I tucked my card front into my favorite recessed window type card. Although I increased the depth of my window to 0.5", the birdcage with birds and leaves actually popped out beyond that...but it seemed to look okay...I just had to make sure the box for my card was deep enough so it all wouldn't get smashed... 

Then on the inside, I added a photo of the "lovebirds" during their first dance at their wedding reception. Used Spellbinders Labels One and Labels One Small dies to cut and mat the photo, and Labels Four dies for the sentiment.

Hard to see in the previous photo, but I added a border cut from Memorybox Cherish Border below the photo for the final finishing touch. I'm hoping they'll enjoy their card...even though it was a little late...."Congratulations J & L! We LOVE YOU!!!"

Double Zigzag Wedding Card

Making wedding cards are always a welcome change in pace for me from my usual cutesy cards. They give me a chance to play with all the lacy edge punches, intricate dies and fancy embossing folders I like to collect but rarely use! To add a personal touch, I often try to guess the color scheme or theme of the wedding from the invitations we receive and challenge myself to come up with something similar.

For hubby's cousin's wedding last month, we received the elegant invitation you see on the left in the photo above.

Thought this would be a great chance to try out a Double Zigzag card like the beautiful one I spied shared by Marianne on her blog, Mariannes Papirverden. Click on this link and it will take you to see Marianne's amazing card and her tutorial. It's all in Swedish ( I think) so you'll have to click on the Google Translate gadget on the upper right hand side of her blog to see it in English. If you like the look of Victorian and lace, you will totally fall in love with her creations!

*Sigh* Unfortunately, I have not yet learned how to do Victorian so my card is a rather simplistic version... I used EK Success Layered Arches edge punch to do the top border, and Cuttlebug Juli's Garden embossing folder for the front panels.

For my focal point on the front of my card, I decided to try and create a cutfile of the fancy monogram on the original wedding invitation with the help of MTC. Didn't have any pewter color paper on hand so I cut the monogram from shimmery white gold paper and used a grey Copic pen to color it.

Here's the card as you open it up...

Cuts using Memory Box Honeysuckle Vine and Cuttlebug Vintage dies were used to embellish the inside panels. "Always and Forever" cut was created with MTC and CAC Shishoni Brush font. On Marianne's card, her center panel "opens up" to reveal her sentiment, but I decided to change mine by having mine "open down" instead...

...so I could incorporate a surprise pop-up cake inside with my sentiment.

Wedding cake was cut using Cottage Cutz Celebration Cake die. Double heart cake topper was created in MTC, and the shimmery green background panel was made by spritzing plain cardstock with Iridescent Pearl Maya Mist then running it through Cuttlebug Juli's Garden embossing folder.

 

Finally, while making the envelope for my card I decided to try something new. Before attaching it to the envelope, I ran the flap for the envelope through my Big Shot cutter with the Memory Box Honeysuckle Vine die. I glued a plain piece of cardstock onto the backside of the flap to cover the "hole" from the back, then carefully glued a leftover die cut piece that had been cut from a shimmery, textured cardstock into the "hole" in the front of the flap. I thought this gave it kind of a very cool "inlaid" look.

Enjoyed putting this together, though it did take quite a bit of time and a whole lot of measuring (which I always struggle with) to get all the colored inset pieces to fit onto the base card. After making this first Double Zigzag card, I used MTC to create a cutfile to make a card for another wedding, but still struggled to get all the pieces to fit correctly. Will share more about this later...

Center Step Fan Card

Whew! I'm afraid I'm still trying to catch up on posting my projects from 2012...I think this is finally the last one, a birthday card made for my mom who celebrated her birthday in December. Had to try and keep it simple since I was already falling behind on my holiday projects at that time. It's hard since so many of my family have birthdays during the last three months of the year. I always tell myself I need to get started earlier, but heck, that never happens!

Since it was December, I was in the midst of frantically trying to finish 50 center step Christmas cards around this time. I didn't have the time or energy to think of something new and creative so I decided mom was getting a center step card for her birthday as well. LOL, just had to change it up enough so she wouldn't notice. I like that I'm able to change the size of the center step panel on this type of card to accommodate whatever embellishment I decide on using, in this case, a fan cut from Cricut Pagoda cartridge. I also added Sister Stamps' adorable little Mariko to the front thinking she'd be perfect for a birthday card. Used Stampin' Up Modern Label punch to create a label for my sentiment, "Celebrating You".

 

On the inside, I created a base using Spellbinders Nestabilities Labels 9 dies and an embossing folder from Provocraft Asian Bundle for my favorite Sister Stamps' BFF stamp and adhered it between the two inside step panels. Thankfully this came together pretty quickly and mom seemed pretty happy with her card...I don't think she even noticed it was almost the same as the Christmas card I had sent her!

 

Springtime RAKs!

I didn't get much crafting done in March because we just got back from two weeks of vacationing fun in Singapore and Japan. Didn't get a chance to fill a single Easter basket this year but on my return to work, my favorite Easter Bunny Lorna was there to greet me with a bag full of spring surprises!

Sweet Lorna always spoils us with the cutest surprises for every holiday, even St. Patricks Day. I love this pot of gold treat holder she created and filled with gold foil wrapped Rolos candies...yum! Little Irish lassie is a digital clipart from Leigh's Wishing Well.

 

 Aren't these Easter egg shaped treat boxes the CUTEST ever? Filled inside with lots of Easter candies, Lorna decorated these using the Easter costume cut from the Cricut Teddy Bear Parade cartridge, swapping out the bear face in the costume...clever idea, eh? Then she added a fussy cut flowery little basket and bow, and even decorated the backside of her box!

OMGoodness....isn't this the most adorable little brown bunny? Love how he's peeking out from inside his little grass box! He's actually made from burlap, sewn into a little bunny bag, and filled with more Easter treats. Just love his little pink heart shaped nose and twine whiskers!

One thing's for certain, sweet Lorna never fails to wow me with all her clever holiday treats. This little lady is simply amazing, and I'm so lucky to have her as a friend. Thank you, Lorna!



Sister Stamps Release #12 Day!

Sister Stamps Release #12 stamps are available for purchase from today! These adorable new Boys Day and Chinese Zodiac stamps are sure to sell out quickly so run to your favorite local retailers or online stores to grab them soon. Check out the sidebar over at the Sister Stamps blog for the list of places you can get these cuties from.
Thank you again for joining us during this new release. We'll be back again at the end of May for Sister Stamps next new release with more sneak peek projects featuring the next two Chinese Zodiac animals, the Year of the Pig and Year of the Rat. Hope to see you then!