Happy Anniversary to our Favorite Couple

My daughter and son in law celebrated their third anniversary last month...and yup, I made another sliding box card. I was already embarrassingly late with my card before I even started, and this was the quickest "nice" card I could come up with at the time so I just went with it, this time changing the window to a heart shaped one.

On the inside, I used a cute boy and girl paper piecing file called "Kissing Booth" from SVG Cutting Files.

Since the original cutting file on this only included the top half of their bodies, I used one of the Paper Dolls Add-Ons (also from SVG Cutting Files) to weld on the bottom half of their bodies and their legs in MTC (Make the Cut).

I always find it fun to add a few little subtle details to bring back memories of their wedding whenever I make my daughter and son in law's anniversary card. Though they probably didn't recognize it, the pretty patterned paper (retired, from Basic Grey) I used on the outside is one of the papers I had originally used to create one of their wedding invitation samples three years ago. And in keeping with the lovebirds theme they had for their wedding, I added a bird held banner for the Happy Anniversary sentiment. Birds are from the Cricut 3 Birds On Parade cartridge, and banner is a from a internet image search rendered into a cut file with MTC.

I used paper blossoms from All Natural Accents glittered with Stickles together with foliage from a Nellie Snellen punch on the bottom corners of the box, and a corner flourish die from LaLa Land embellished with flatback pearls and jewels on the remaining corners. And finally I added a scalloped heart frame embellished with more pearls for the window.

Views from the top of the box show the glittery Best Creation Inc sakura paper from the Kimono line used on the inside of the box and where the couple is attached to the sliding mechanism.
LOL, I think just about everyone on my cardmaking list has at least one (or maybe even two) of this sliding box style cards already. Guess it's about time to start looking for another style card to have fun with....

For a FAN-tastic Friend

Had another go at my favorite sliding box type card...this time as a birthday card for my sweet and super talented friend Lorna. 

Changed the window for this one to a rounded rectangle shape and put together paper pieced kokeshi Aoki and Panda images from Annelore Parot to peek out from the window.

Cutting files for kokeshi Aoki and Panda were created in MTC (Make the Cut) and I had them hold fans cut from Cricut's Pagoda cartridge. Digitized washi paper was used for Aoki's kimono and printed origami paper for the fans. Patterned paper for the base card comes from My Little Shoebox Cherry Delight collection.

Added my sentiment onto a freebie label svg designed and generously shared by Heather M. on her blog, Images By Heather M. 

Enlarged the same label and put it on the back of the box card for additional sentiments. Font used is Gaze Condensed ttf.

Here's the view from the top...where you can peek in to see kokeshi Aoki and Panda attached to the sliding element inside the box and the pretty patterned fan paper from Best Creation Inc.'s Kimono collection used for the background.

And here's what the card looks like when it's flattened to fit into a envelope. This sliding box card continues to be a favorite for me; still having fun coming up with different ways to decorate and embellish this! If you'd like to give this card a try, I have a mini tutorial for the basic sliding box card posted here. Have fun!

Sweet Ayako Birthday Card

Yup, it's yet another one of those sliding pop-up box cards I enjoy doing so much. This was made for my mom's birthday and  is the same basic box design from Colette's Sliding Pop Up Box card, except that I brought the sides of the box up taller and had my Silhouette Cameo cut an octagonal window on the front panels. I also added "tabs" to the side corners of the box to make it easier to "push" the card open and "pull" it flat to close.

This time I used adorable little Ayako from Sister Stamps to peek out the octagonal window. Colored her up with copics and placed her on a die cut bridge from Lala Land Crafts which I attached to the sliding element inside the box. Printed double sided cardstock for this card comes from Best Creation's Kimono line...really love that lavender wisteria background behind Ayako! Branch accent on the front was cut from a Quickutz die and tiny blossoms were cut with a die from Cheery Lynn Designs.

Here's a view of the box from the top, which gives a better perspective of the shape of the card and shows where the bridge was attached to the sliding element inside the box.

Pulling on the "tabs" on the sides flattens the card so it can be slipped into an envelope.I love the versatility of the sliding box card and as you can tell, I'm still having way too much fun playing with this style of card!

Japanese Milestone Birthday Card

Here's another one of those open front sliding pop up box cards I always have so much fun putting together. This one was created for my dad's milestone 90th birthday, so I went with the typical Japanese symbolic "good luck, long life" theme.
The base of this card is the same as for the sliding pop up box but with the front panel cut down to create the "open" look and the top edge of the back panel cut into a scalloped edge. I also added tabs to the side corners of the box to make it easier to "push" the box into its open position and "pull" it back to its flat closed position. If you're interested, I have the template for the basic sliding pop up box card posted here.

For the front of the card, I used Japanese iconic symbols known as "Sho Chiku Bai" or Pine - Bamboo - Plum. I added the "Sho" or "Matsu" or Pine (symbolizes long life) to the left side,

and "Chiku" or "Take" or Bamboo (symbol for strength and resilience) together with "Bai" or "Ume" or Plum blossoms (symbol for hope in adversity) to the right side. The pine and bamboo icons are images I purchased from GL Stock Images and converted into cutfiles using MTC. Plum blossoms and centers are from mini punches from Punch Bunch, and branches were cut using a Quickutz branch die.

The cut for the kanji "fukuju" (good luck and long life) was created in MTC using a free image file from Kanji Style.com.

And my favorite cut on this card, the crane or "tsuru" (symbol for good fortune and longevity) is also an image file from GL Stock Images renderered into a cutfile with MTC. Swirly cloud cuts are from a Taylored Expressions die.

I glued the crane onto a few of the cloud cuts, then adhered it onto the sliding mechanism in the center of the box.
I must admit it took me quite awhile to gather all the images and create all the different cutfiles for this card, but in the end I was pretty happy with how this turned out. Well worth the effort, for my dad's very special birthday!

Wishing You A PAR-fect Birthday!

While searching the internet for golf themed images recently, I was happy to come across a few of good ol' Snoopy that I thought would work perfectly on a card for hubby's birthday. After using MTC to create a cut file for my golfing Snoopy,  I thought it might be fun to use him on an open front sliding box style card.

A tall panel was added to the back of the box to create a golf course background scene with the green, some trees and clouds. Snoopy and the tee were attached to the sliding element in the center.  I used a 3/8 inch circle punch for the golf ball and adhered it to a strip of clear acetate, which was glued to the inside of the card, hoping to create the look of it taking flight as Snoopy struck it with his club...fun!

Lastly, I added my sentiment to some labels and attached them to the front panels of the box.

Here's a view from the top that shows where each of the elements were attached inside the box.

And here it is folded flat, ready to slip into an envelope. LOL, as it turns out, this card worked out as a perfect match for the set of golf irons I just found out I was buying hubby for his birthday!

 

Kimono Marci Birthday

This is the card I recently sent off to my dear friend, Gene who celebrated her birthday last month. Inspired yet again by a card spotted on the Crafty Card Making site, I decided to try and make a variation of their Open Front Push and Pull card. Though the mechanics of their Push and Pull card is different than mine, I thought the end result looked pretty similar. Yup, it's another one of those sliding pop up box cards that I always have so much fun with.

This time I cut the front of the box down at an angle, placed my greeting at the front corner and added die cut sakura along the sides. Sakura were cut from WikiCaps sakura and sakura outline dies then brushed with Stickles. Centers were punched from text weight pearlized gold paper using a Nellie Snellen stamen punch.

Kimono Marci with Fan is a digital image I purchased from the La-La Land Crafts website. Used Copics to color her up and paperpieced her kimono and fan using digitized washi paper. The bridge is a die cut, also from La-La Land Crafts. Added pearly gold accents of Smooch to the bridge and Marci's kimono.

Here's a shot from the top which shows the bridge attached to the sliding element inside the box, and a shot from the back where I added my sentiment.  Shaped back panel for this card was created in MTC by welding basic oval and rectangle shapes together. On the inside, I used patterned paper from My Little Shoebox...I thought it looked kinda neat with the kokeshi on the bridges in the background behind Marci on the bridge.

And finally, the folded flat shot...all ready for mailing. Had fun experimenting with this open front style sliding box card...will definitely have to try this again soon!

Best Friends Marci Birthday

Here's another sliding box card similar to the one in last week's post...with the taller sides and window cut out. This one was created as a birthday card for my bestest blogging pal Patti, of Creations By Patti. Since I wanted to go with Patti's favorite Asian theme, I decided to try an octagon shaped window this time. Used my Silhouette to cut the octagonal window and frame and added decorative corners cut using a die from the Sizzix Architectural Accents set.

On the inside peeking out are Kimono Marci and Marci with Lantern images from La-La Land...

I used Marci digital stamps purchased online, colored them with copics, and tried something new... I paper pieced their outfits using digitized washi prints. I'm always amazed when I see stamped projects with paper pieced elements and have always wanted to give it a try. LOL, and now that I've tried it, I don't think I'll be doing this too often...takes a sharp pair of scissors, steady hands, good eyesight...and a lot of time and patience to fussy cut all those teeny tiny pieces and glue them back exactly in place! I definitely have a new respect and admiration for all of you who use this technique!

Here's a couple views from the top. The first photo more clearly shows a  branch of cherry blossoms I attached to the inside. Branch was cut using Sizzix Birds and Branches Decorative strip die and blossoms were created from punches.

Finished Patti's card off by adding my sentiment to the back panel. Yes it's true, I've been having too much fun playing with this sliding box! Still have a few more ideas I'd like to try using this neat sliding element, so I'm sure I'll come back to it again real soon.

Another Variation on the Sliding Pop Up Box Card

Okay, hope you'll "bear" with me, because I have yet another version of Colette's Sliding Pop Up Box card  to share. The original inspiration for this card actually comes from a "Push n Pull Card" I spied several months ago over at a very cool UK based digital cardmaking site, Crafty Card Making. If you're ever in need of some quick inspiration, this is the place to visit...they have the neatest pop up, sliceform, easel and display cards for sale there, sure to rev up your mojo by at least a couple notches! I was so intrigued by their "Push n Pull cards", and quite determined to try and figure out how they were put together. But it wasn't until recently when I learned how to put together the Sliding Pop Up Box card, that I came to realize this could actually be made into something very similar to the Push n Pull cards I liked so much.

I used the same box base as Colette's Sliding Pop Up Box card but brought the sides of the box up higher, added tabs and had the Silhouette cut a window in the front corner. Pushing in on the tabs pops the box into shape and pulling on them flattens it. Kinda neat, huh.

The little teddy on the inside and the posies on the tabs were pieced together using a cutfile I created awhile ago using digital images from an old Darcie Hunter clipart CD and MTC.

And here's the card flattened, ready to slip into the envelope for giving. Still have one more of these cards to share next week...

Shibi in a Box

I have yet another "dog in a box" card to share with you today...hmmm...seems I've been doing a lot of doggie cards lately, huh. And yes, a lot of sliding box cards too. This one was created for my dear sister in law for her recent birthday.

I decided I wanted to have another go at the Shiba Inu cutfile I created earlier this year for my niece's card. But this time instead of paper piecing the Shiba Inu, I cut her out of plain white cardstock and colored her with Copics. I think I like the outcome better; "Shibi" (the dog's name) came out looking furrier and more realistic.

The bone, bone tag, oval, and scalloped oval tags for this were all created in MTC.

Okay, okay...I promise no more doggie cards, at least for awhile. However, I'm having just too much fun playing with this sliding box card so I'll be posting some variations on this card in weeks to follow.

Sliding Box Graduation Card

Here's yet another Sliding Pop Up Box card, this time for my cousin's daughter's graduation. Once again, totally inspired by the amazingly talented Colette and her card here. This time around I left the box flaps off and the box bottom becomes more of a display stand.

Sweet Tara is such a Hello Kitty fan, that there was no question that her card had to have the Hello Kitty Graduate cut from the Cricut Hello Kitty Greetings cartridge on it. I dressed her in Tara's high school colors and added a little diploma for her to hold. Then to make it look like her little cap and tassel were flying off, I attached it to a strip of clear acetate, secured to the back. Kind of fun because the hat actually bobs up and down when the box is moved. Glued Hello Kitty to a tag cut from Spellbinders Fancy Tags 2 die with the greeting and attached the whole thing onto the slider inside.

To personalize, I added her school name and class onto nested labels cut with Spellbinders Labels 4 dies and adhered them onto the side panels on the base.  On the back panel, I added a little pocket and a mini envie to insert her gift.

And here's what the card looks like flattened...

I am having so much fun playing with this Sliding Box card, you can be certain I'll be making a few more of these...my new favorite card to make!