iluvcats and scraps

Thursday, November 23, 2017

Grateful for you ~ Two Special People & Two Prima Zella Teal cards

I've really been enjoying making cards

with the new Prima Zella Teal collection!

I made two very similar cards recently - this first one is for my BFF, Carmel.

This one is for my daughter, Brianne.

I made the cards 5" x 7" size using light taupe colored cardstock.

Floral Stories backside was cut into a 3" x 6-1/2" strip; distressed & inked on the edges;
then adhered to the left side of the card.

I created a custom die cut using Spellbinders Labels Twenty Two.

My step by step photo tutorial shows exactly how I made this custom shaker die cut.

To the center of my custom die cut,

I used the 2nd smallest die in the Labels Twenty Two die set to cut out where the shaker will be.

For my BFF's card, I cut out the square piece 'grateful for you' from the Live Loudly page.

This became the background for the shaker part.

Silver microbeads were used as the filler.

For Brianne's card, I punched out the same words 'grateful for you' with a 1-1/2" circle punch.

To her card, I acrylic painted letters to spell "SO" and placed them above the circle cut.

Silver microbeads were also used as the filler.

Once everything was assembled and adhered, I decorated each card with a few Zella Teal flowers.
This one is Carmel's -

For Brianne's flowers, I sprayed the large gray one with Lindy's Stamp Gang Glitz Spritz Scintillating Silver & the small ones above it with Starburst Teeth Chattering Teal (now a retired color).
Both of these sprays added lots of shimmer!

I went a step further and made a magnetized flap closure envelope for Brianne's card.
I'm putting together a tutorial for this type of envelope and will post it soon.
UPDATE: Here is the tutorial!

First, here is the envelope for Brianne's card.
I used the exact Prima Zella Teal papers as I did on the card.

One more look at Brianne's card & envelope.

Thanks so much for your visit and I hope you can drop by again some time!

Hope you had a very Happy Thanksgiving!

Lisa : )

Products used:

Prima Zella Teal collection -

Floral Stories
(backside for left side strip)

Zella Teal (for custom die cut)

Live Loudly
(for words in the shaker)

Teal Love

Wanderer

Grands Adventure

Wild Orchid Crafts -

White Long Stem Stamens

Martha Stewart punch -

Monarch Butterfly

Spellbinders Dies -

Labels Twenty Two

Hobby Lobby - Paper Studio punch -

1-1/2" Circle

Sizzix Die Cutting Tools -

Big Shot Machine

Magnetic Platforrm

The Dusty Attic chipboard -

ABC Lowercase

ColorBox Chalk & Pigment Inks -

Nightfall set - (Creamy Brown)

Wild Hare

Gary Burlin's Acetate Sheets -

Michael's - light taupe cardstock; Silver microbeads; Warm White acrylic paint
Lindy's Stamp Gang sprays - Starburst Teeth Chattering Teal (retired color) & Glitz Spritz Scintillating Silver

Adhesives -

Beacon 3-in-1
(for flowers)

Scor-Tape
(for papers & die cuts)

Foam Tape
(for shaker boundaries)

Tutorial - Custom Die Cut & Shaker

Let me explain exactly what I mean when I say a "custom die cut".

I recommend picking out a symmetrical die with a straight, non-intricate design.
In this example, I used the Spellbinders Die Set Labels Twenty Two.

See the symmetry in them?

In my example, I needed a rectangle but I didn't want it to be 'ordinary'.
I wanted it to have shapely ends - something with interest.
Since the Labels Twenty Two dies are square,
let me show you how I achieved this look!

1. Cut the paper to the desired size.
(in this example, I cut my paper 3-1/2" wide x 6" long).
Using the 2nd largest die in the set, I placed the paper & die on my Sizzix magnetic platform
and rolled through the Big Shot ONLY HALF WAY (meaning half the size of the die).
Then I turned the paper around, placed the die & ran it through ONLY HALF WAY
so that the other end of the paper would be die cut.

2. Snip off the decorative die cut ends so they are out of the way.

3. Now make a straight cut to form your rectangle.
You have made a custom die cut!

I chose to make a shaker with this custom die cut piece.
Many of you already know how to make shakers,
but here are my personal how-to instructions for those that may not.

Shaker Step #1 -
Using the 2nd smallest die in the Labels Twenty Two set,
I die cut where I wanted the shaker part to be, which is in the center.

Once the die cut piece is finished, now you are ready for Step #2.

Shaker Step #2 -
Adhere a piece of acetate over the die cut area on the backside of the paper
so that you have a window to see the goodies inside.
(I bought acetate sheets, however, you can also save up acetate pieces that are used in
some crafting packaging or even plastic covers from desserts, etc.)

Note: I like to use Scor-Tape instead of liquid glue to adhere the acetate.

Shaker Step #3 -

In this example I used foam tape to line the cut out area of the shaker.
When using foam tape, you have to make sure to closely & very tightly place the pieces together
so that no gaps exist that would allow the goodies to fall out.
This is placed on top of the acetate.

You can also use foam sheets (usually found in the children's craft section).
Although foam sheets seem easy to use, you must make sure that it glues tightly to the edges
of the die cut area, otherwise the goodies will become lodged just under it.
I personally find that foam tape is better, less messy & no worries.

Depending on how large the shaker goodies are will determine if you need to
double or triple layer your foam sheets or foam tape; one on top of the other.
(NOTE: Foam tape is about double the thickness of foam sheet)

In my example, I didn't need to double my foam tape.

Shaker Step #4 -

Shaker Background that does NOT Require Centering:

If your shaker background doesn't requiring 'centering' of any sort, you can actually pour in the goodies at this point, while the paper is laying flat with the foam tape facing up.
I always add a little glue to the foam tape for added hold before adhering to the backing.

Shaker Background that REQUIRES Centering:

If your shaker background needs to be centered, as in my example, don't add the goodies yet!
Add the glue to the foam tape (NOT to the top piece! See Step #5).
Turn your piece over where you can see through the acetate window to center & adhere your background.

HOWEVER, leave the top foam tape UN-ADHERED until Step #5 is completed.

Shaker Step #5 -

After centering your background piece and adhering it, it's time to add the shaker goodies!

Using your finger or thumb, gently 'open up' a space that you can pour your goodies through.
Once the goodies are added to your liking, securely seal the top closed.

You've created a shaker!!

Now add glue or Scor-Tape to the backside and adhere your piece to your card.

Thanks for viewing my tutorial!
I hope it helped give you some ideas of your own to try!
Have a great day!
Lisa : )

Sunday, November 12, 2017

Pocket Card Holder

What a lazy Sunday afternoon it's been!

Hubby got settled in to watch the NASCAR race and after I got a few (and I mean just a very few)
house duties accomplished, I wanted to spend time relaxing and not 'think'.

I'm sure some of you have felt this way before.

You want to be creative but not have to think a lot about design, colors, techniques,etc.

I spent my lazy Sunday afternoon making a pocket (or box) envelope so I could put the
handmade keepsake cards that I've received from dear friends in a safe place.

I've had this gorgeous Prima Garden Fable paper for forever it seems
and never quite knew what I would do with it until now!

To create this card holder, I used the same technique described in my tutorial "Tutorial ~ Pocket Envelope".

I hot glued pretty green trim all around the box and tied it off to make a handle.

Since I love the print in the paper, I only added a few flowers & a small stencil design to the left side.

For the stencil, I colored modeling paste with Lindy's Stamp Gang Starburst color "Frosted Forget Me Nots"
which is a very pretty blue & unfortunately yet another retired color.
Once the stenciling was almost dry, I used a small paint brush and dabbed it on the Distress Ink pad color "Dusty Concord" and then dipped it in a bit of water.
I lightly brushed some of the trailing vines in the stencil to add a bit of purple pop!
You all know how much of a purple-holic I am!

A small flower arrangement with some berry sprays finished my piece!