Gift Card Holder - times three

A couple of days ago, I posted a few photos of a gift card holder I made using the Cricut Artiste cartridge.  There are several gift card holders on this cartridge - the one I chose is on page 55 (letter G, card function, on the overlay).

I cut three of the holders at 5 inches, using the Gypsy so I could eliminate the tick marks for the scorelines.  The cardholder is designed so both sides of the paper will be seen.  I chose some pretty floral paper with a pink swirl on the reverse side from K & Company.

After the holders were cut, I simply scored and folded them in the middle and then scored along the base of the card and folded the sides up.

This is how the holder looks after scoring and folding.  I always eliminate the tick marks to make my folded edges neater.

 

The smaller inner section is sized to hold a plastic gift card with a little notch to make it easier to grasp the card.

To assemble the card holder, you just need to add strong adhesive to the sides and base of the center section.  I used Scor-Tape as you can see in the photo above.

I made three identical card holders for three gift cards.  To present the cards, I decided to make a "large" card.  I took a sheet of 12 x 12 dark green Bazzill textured cardstock and folded it in half for a 6 x 12 inch card.

I attached each of the card holders to the card base, using Scor-Tape again.  I like this adhesive because it is strong and does not leave a mess.  You do have to be careful to place your item correctly the first time because it is a very aggressive adhesive and it is difficult or impossible to move a piece that you have stuck done crooked or in the wrong spot.

The cards were a birthday gift so I wanted to add a birthday sentiment.  I used the banner cut from page 35 (number 5 on the keypad, accent 1 function).  This shape has a coordinating stamp that comes with the  Artiste bundle .  I cut the banners from the same paper with the pink side up and stamped the "
Happy Birthday" with Fired Brick Distress Ink.

I did not adhere the banners to chipboard but I did pop them up a bit with some foam dots.

Here is the inside of the card with three sets of birthdays wishes.  I signed on the left side of the card with  white ink.

The cards are placed in the holders with the bottom sides showing since they are fixed in a vertical position.  This hides the value of the card so there is a moment of anticipation as it is pulled out.

I wanted the front of the card to look like a package so I simply used another piece of the floral cardstock cut at 5 1/2 x 11 1/2 inches for the layer.  I wrapped some ruffled pink ribbon around the daisy paper and taped it on the back.  Then I added a layer of burgundy satin ribbon in the center of the pink ribbon.

Once the ribbons were centered and fixed in place, I added a piece of burgundy ribbon for a bow.

This is the top of the "package" or the front of the card.  This was a quick and simple to make the gift card presentation a little more special.

If you are thinking about purchasing the Artiste cartridge, it is available only through Close to my Heart consultants.  My friend Melanie Brown is a consultant and she would be happy to help you.  Melanie's site is HERE.   The Cricut Artiste Cartridge bundle is HERE on her site - it includes three coordinating stamp sets and three sheets of chipboard shapes. 

When you purchase the bundle, you will qualify to purchase  the September Stamp of the Month, Fall Favorites for just $5.   Until September 30th, you can also get the special National Stamping Month set for only $5 - it is a double set you can see HERE and you add it to your cart HERE.

I hope you are having a great weekend - we'll be enjoying another family birthday party today as the triplets are turning 9!  I have to finish up their cards this morning and I also hope to move a few more things around in my craftroom - if I can manage without help from my husband who shouldn't be using his injured hand.

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Tri Shutter Card - always a favorite!

There are so many different interesting styles of cards.  I think people really enjoy receiving a card that pops up or moves in an unusual way.  I have recently had a couple of requests for directions on making the "tri-shutter card" and I thought I would do a quick post with links to my tutorials and some examples of this style of card.  I have been writing this blog for over three years and there is a lot of information that you can find by reading older posts.

You can find my directions for making these cards at THIS POST.  You can make these very quickly and easily without using anything but a trimmer and a scoring board.  It is possible to cut the pieces with a die cutting machine but I prefer to cut my pieces manually.  The measurements are quite simple and you have more control over the placement of the design on your patterned papers when you cut them the "old fashioned way."  You also need the full width of the 12 x 12 cardstock and it can be tricky to get the mats loaded accurately in the machine to produce perfectly aligned cuts.

You'll find more photos and directions at THIS POST.  There are many variations for cutting the extra layers.  If you are in a real hurry you can use an interesting patterned glitter cardstock for the base (this is from the DCWV Animal Crackers stack) and eliminate most of the layers.

Click the photo to see more about this card

Click the photo to see more about this card

There are so many ways to personalize these cards - if you have never tried making one, I hope you might be inspired to start.  The directions are simple and once you have folded up one card it is very easy to remember how to do them.  Once you master the basics you can focus on having fun with the decoration!


Right now we don't know whether to prepare for a hurricane or the wedding - so we are doing both!  I hope you have a safe weekend and that the storm stays away from you.

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Vintage Elegance with Creative Charms December Kit of the Month

Today is my day to share a few things that I made with the Creative Charms  December Kit of the Month "Nouveaux Vintage" on the Creative Charms blog.   Please be sure to stop over to the blog to see what all of the Design Team members have been creating this month.

For this card I created a pleated paper rosette and added an Ivory Vintage Velvet Poppy to the center.  The poppy is the highlight of the card with the elegant ivory green and gold color scheme.  

To make the rosette, I started with a 2 x 12 inch strip of textured gold paper from the Making Memories Autumn Splendor collection.  I scored it at 1/4 inch intervals.  I did this by scoring every 1/2 inch on one side and then flipping the paper and scoring in the other direction at the same 1/2 interval but placing the paper starting at the 1/4 inch mark.  Then I folded it accordion style and creased the pleats firmly.

I cut a rectangle 2 x 3 inches from light green metallic cardstock (DCWV) and put 1/8 inch Scor-Tape on the two flat ends of the pleated paper.  If your folds work out differently you may need to trim one small section from the strip.

I attached the folded strip at the side of the rectangle of cardstock and then connected the other end of the strip to the top of the cardstock rectangle.

Once both ends are connected the paper strip has a tendency to curve up. 

If you hold the rectangle flat to the table the rosette flattens.  When the rectangle is adhered to the card the rosette can be flattened and adhered to the card as well.

I used more Scor-Tape to be sure the rectangle would stay firmly on the card.  This adhesive is very strong.

When the rectangle is adhered, the pleats have a tendency to pop up at the least provocation.

I added some more strips of Scor-Tape to the card front and then gently pushed the pleated strip on to the adhesive.

 I used a large dimensional glue dot to attach the velvet poppy to the center of the rosette.

The sentiment was cut from the Wild Card cartridge using DCWV glitter gold cardstock and multi cut 2 times.  

This screen shot shows the location of the sentiment.  I adjusted the size and shape by entering new values in the Shape Properies box so I could be sure it would fit neatly in the rectangle on the card.

I replaced the pearl brad in the center with one of the round Light Green Vintage Jewels.

The second card I made has a  Grey Vintage Velvet Poppy centered on a medallion.  Does the medallion look a bit familiar?  If you read my blog regularly it should...

It is the "leftover" cut from this card.

I experimented with blue, silver and pearl alcohol inks to see what sort of effects I could create.  (HERE is a link to the original post).

I used the Antique White Gradient Pearl Stickers in all three sizes around the edges of the medallion.  The "Best Wishes" sentiment is a "peel off" sticker.

Here is a closer view of the poppy with the pearl center.

For a different look, you could take out the center pearl brad and use a Gradient Gem Brad in Blue (not part of the December kit).  I  chose to keep the pearl center so all of the embellishments would match. 

Finally, I made a tag for a special gift with plenty of "bling."  For this tag I used another Ivory Vintage Velvet Poppy and five of the Light Green Vintage Jewels.

 

I used two of the teardrop shaped jewels as "leaves" for the poppy and lined up two rectangles and a circle jewel across the bottom of the tag. 

The teardrop gems are more of the same ones that I used for this version of the "stained glass" card.

I tried a little experiment with my ProMarkers and used the poppy marker to change the color of the pearl brad.  I put the brad through a scrap piece of paper and colored all around the pearl and the metal holder.   Then I used my heat gun on it for a few seconds to be sure it was dry and to "cure" the color.

Here you can see the comparison of the plain white and the colored brad.  This was a quick way to get a splash of color in the center of my velvet poppy and was easy to do.

Here is a closer view showing the altered brad.

There are so many items in the December Kit of the Month.  I can make many more cards and tags before I come close to running out!  The new velvet colors are lovely and can be used for many non-holiday projects so it would be great to add these new colors to your collection while the kit is available at a special price this month.

In just another day or two I'll be picking up our younger son from college.   The older one will arrive next week and we are looking forward to having everyone home for a few days.  I hope that you all will be able to have your families together for the holidays.

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Creative Charms Deal of the Month Projects

Today is my day to share a few projects on the Creative Charms blog. If you haven't stopped over to see what my fellow Design Team members have been creating I know you will enjoy a quick visit - just click HERE and scroll down.  The November Deal Of the Month is called "Falling for Fall" but I must have Christmas on my mind since I was drawn to the red items in the deal.

Here is the November Deal.

 

• Orange Ruffled Flower - 3 Pieces
• Red Ruffled Flower - 3 Pieces
• Orange Gem Brads - 12 Pieces
• Red Gem Garden - 12 Pieces
• Red Sunflowers - 4 Pieces
• Assorted Loop d'Loop Brads - 9 Pieces
• Red Gem Stickers - 76 Pieces
• Orange Groovy Petals - 8 Pieces
• 18" Red Fancy Polka Dot Ribbon

You get all of this for only $6.99 (Regular Price $ 18.93).

 

I used the Country Life Cricut cartridge to create these trees.  I adapted three pennants with scalloped backgrounds to fit the card front.  The flowers from the Red Gem Garden make perfect stars at the top of the snowy trees.  (I have a secret confession -these were actually "oops!" cuts from another project where I had been previewing in color and forgot to weld again before cutting - that is why I usually make separate pages in my files for previewing and cutting).

I used medium glue dots to attach the" flower stars" and they hold very well.  Just press the flower on to the dot and then lift it from the roll and place it on the tree.

The best way I know to add ribbon neatly is to use Scor-Tape.  It is strong and easy to work with and will not show through the ribbon.

The "Seasons Greetings" sentiment is a peel off from my friend Agnes in Scotland.  I think these peel offs are such fun to use and there are becoming more readily available in the States.  I use my CM Multi Purpose Tool to help with placing these on the card.

 

A Gem Garden butterfly highlights the sentiment.  I used the Red Fancy Polka Dot Ribbon along the top of the sentiment strip  The snowy scallops and the sentiment strip are Core'dinations gemstone cardstock and the trees are from the DCWV Christmas Medley stack.

The snowflakes above the tree are punched from the same Core'dinations cardstock with the Martha Stewart edge punch from the Snowflake Punch Around the Page set.

The Red Sunflowers seemed a bit "Summery" to me with their gingham centers.  However, I found that they worked very nicely with a bold graphic Christmas paper from American Crafts.

One sunflower and some more Fancy Polka Dot Ribbon and random sticker letters make a cheery "Ho Ho Ho" card.

 

I used the other three sunflowers on this page to hang on my magnetic Everyday Display Board from Creative Memories.  The patterned paper is American Crafts Christmas and I used a Martha Stewart Snowflake Punch Around The Page set for the right side.  The white cardstock is cut at 5 x 10 1/4 inches and then punched to get the perfect matching at the corners.

I have a few of these boards and they are great for displaying cards and current photos, keeping track of concert tickets or showing off a special page before you put it in an album and they also make great gifts.

The Christmas Twinkle Sticker (not part of the November deal) says "Time to be Jolly" but it is also time to get busy - just 42 days until Christmas!  I can add post it reminders or even attach a memo pad on the right side to help with holiday preparations and schedules.

 

I couldn't miss making at least one "Fall " project with this kit.  I used the red and orange sheer flowers and one of the orange loop d'loop flowers from the Groovy Petal Medley.  I replaced the flower brad at the center of the loop d'loop flower with an orange Gem Brad to make it a bit more formal.

 

This squash book or card is simple to make.  You can add photos, sayings and personal messages in all of the spaces.  The shimmery leaf paper is from a pack called Autumn Splendor by Making Memories and the base of the card is a heavy textured Bazzill cardstock. 

 

You start with a heavy weight piece of 12 x 12 cardstock.  Using a scoring board (Scor-Pal, Martha Stewart) will give you the best results.  Score the paper at the 4 and 8 inch marks.  Then turn the paper 90 degrees and score again at the 4 and 8 inch marks so you end up with 9 squares.  Then cut away the corner squares on two opposite corners.  Finally, make a diagonal score line from corner to corner of the two eight inch square sections as you see in the photo above.  You will need to use the bone folder to sharpen the creases neatly and then fold on each score line back and forth several times to make it easy to fold and collapse into the square shape.

 

The decorative paper inside on on the covers is cut into squares and triangles slightly smaller than the cardstock to allow easy folding.  Cut eight squares at 3 3/4 inches and then turn four squares on the diagonal and cut them to make triangles.  You can use all the same paper as I did here or a variety of papers.

Fold up the book and tie a ribbon around it.  You can add a bit of adhesive under the ribbon on the back to keep it in position.

Then add the fourth square to the back adhering well around all of the edges.

 

The ribbon closure is made much more elegant with the addition of these flowers.

I punches a scalloped circle as a base for the flowers.  I wanted to add some stability and to have something to anchor the gem brad in the loop d'loop string flower.

I used the thick 1/2 inch pop up glue dots which are super sticky and strong to hold the flowers.

I also used the pop up glue dots to adhere the scalloped circle to the ribbon.  It all seems to be holding together nicely.

The Deal of the Month packages are always a great value and you can use one set for many projects.  The deals only last a month so be sure to get your November set before it is too late!

NOTE ADDED FOR EMAIL SUBSCRIBERS
If you are an email subscriber and receive this post on Tuesday morning, please click over to my blog later today to see the information about the Creative Memories Cricut Cruise contest.  I will have the details and link posted about the voting as soon as it is available.   I would appreciate your support - apparently you can vote once a day for each day of the contest.  Thanks!

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