Wild Thing

Here's a fun and fast little card using Simon Says Stamp Wild Cuddly Critters (#101704).  I LOVE this stamp set!  Wild Critters and a few fun sentiments! How great is that?!

I started with an A2 size card base.  I pretty much matted all the layers with a brown card stock that tones with the pattern paper. The sentiment and the giraffe are from the afore mentioned stamp set.  They are colored with Spectrum Noir Alcohol Markers.  

The circle the giraffe sets on is popped up with fun foam.  

   

The inside sentiment is computer generated.  I wanted something a little sassy!  The rest, I kept it fairly simple on the inside.  Lots of room to write a note.  

I have made several cards with this stamp set.  Each one has had much appeal, and the critters are fun to watch come to life as you color them!  

Hope you enjoyed this fast & fun little card.  

Happy Crafting!

ttfn: Karen

Christmas Humor

I've seen a few cards made with Karen Burniston's Flower Pot Pop-up (#1010), and they were all VERY pretty.  I personally, wanted to do something different with this die set.  I've seen some pretty neat ways to change this set up...

Here's mine...

Rather simple on the outside.  I started with 2 pieces of heavy weight card stock measuring 5" x  5".  I added a  2 1/2" x 4 3/4" piece of decorative paper, then bordered it with the chain outline from the Snowman Twist Circle pop-up ( #1012).

Funny thing...The chain starts out as a circle, but I found that if you cut it to open the chain,  you can stretch it lightly, and it'll straighten out.  That piece I glued to the edge of the pattern paper.  

I like the shape of the leftover piece from the chain, so I cut it out in Red, and used the inside piece as a background for my sentiment.  The white part is the smallest circle from that set.  All the sentiments are from Hero Arts (# DC221).  The sentiment medallion is popped up with fun foam. 

The flowers are from the Flower pot set.  Inked, then doubled layered.

I went for Santa legs instead of flowers!  The papers and the sentiment is done the same as on the front of the card.  I just changed the sentiment.  What can I say...I have a twisted sense of humor!  

I used white glitter paper for the snow on the roof (4 3'4" x 6" scored in the middle),  and cut the pop-up mechanism into that.  I didn't want fold-in-fold issues this card, so I glued this to the 2 panels I cut for the front, then added the pattern paper and more chain. 

The chimney is constructed basically like the flower pot with the exception that I trimmed the flaps so they wouldn't over lap at the sides.

I drew a pair of legs and boots out of red card stock, colored the boots black with alcohol markers, added white gel pen laces and cuffs.  I then glittered the cuffs.  

To place the legs, I had originally just cut a slit into the top of the legs and glued it to the cross members in the chimney, but I could see the slit, and it looked bare.  

I then cut the front two cross members out  of the pot, and added part of a cotton makeup circle....yeah, I know...we crafters will used the weirdest stuff sometimes!  I figured it looked fluffy, and it would fold easily.  It did, and it does.    

The flaps are covered with glitter paper, and the chimney parts are red card stock sent thru an embossing folder, then inked with white to give it a distressed look.  

It's a tiny bit bulky, but with a little extra care, it could still be sent through the mail. 

Happy Crafting!

ttfn: Karen

Thinking of You

After this card was done, it almost seemed like I was on a mission to use as many Karen Burniston Dies as possible!  That was not the case, although I did use four of them.  I will list all of them at the end.  

This card measures 4 1/4" x 5 1/2"

On the front, I made the Terra-cotta pots, leaves and flowers by water coloring distress oxide inks onto paper, then cutting them out.  The flower centers are made with Neon Puffy Paints.  When they were dry,  I inked dots on them with a fine line sharpie.  The Sentiment is from a generic set, white heat embossed, then mounted to fun foam for dimension.  A small stripe of card stock at the bottom.  

Basically, I installed the platform, then turned the card so that the platform was on the back wall instead of the floor. 

   

The background is made with a brick embossing folder from Paper Studio, then inked lightly with Faded Jeans distress oxide ink.  I cut around it to fit around the floating floor.  (In this case, the floating wall!)  On the surface of the floating floor (wall),  I added two pots with the flowers & leaves.  They were mounted on either side of the middle pop-up.  I was quite surprised to find the they fit perfectly!  

The middle pop-up holds Buster the dog!  I found some scraps from when I was playing around with water colors, and decided to make Buster out of that instead of traditional colors.  

The floor of the card is paper from my stash, along with the napkin from the Coffee Cup Pop-up.  I used the stencil feature to add some dimension to the "rug."  I then cut this to fit around all the pop-ups on the floor.  (Remember, this would normally be the back wall of the card.)

I added a bone for Buster, and a white area that holds the sentiment from Stampendous SSC1223, as well as give an space to sign the card.  

So, in this card I used the following Karen Burniston Dies:

1015 House & Fence pop-up (used for the floating floor)

1010 Flower Pot Pop-up (used for the leaves, flowers & pots)

1040 Coffee Cup Pop-up (used the napkin for a rug)

984 Buster the Dog (retired Die) used for the dog & the bone

I made the flowers, leaves and pots quite a while ago, and don't remember which distress oxide colors I used.  

I hope you enjoyed the card.  I like to try and use these pop-ups in a different manner than they were intended.  I feel that this makes them more versatile.  

Happy Crafting!

ttfn: Karen

Not every card is a Pop-up

A while ago I came across a card similar to this on YouTube, and couldn't resist making my own version.  I just LOVE the dog.  The entire stamp set is quite cute!  It's "My Favorite Things # BB13, you make my tail wag" stamp set.  Dies are also available.  

On the front of the card, I cut out a circle, and stamped around it with the paw prints from the stamp set.  I used two different colors for interest.  The sentiment is from another stamp set, Stampendous #SSC1223.  It has various "dog" sayings and is great!

I put clear acetate over the circle cutout on the inside.  The dog was colored, cut out and pasted over the opening. 

The inside has the rest of the dog!  And, yes, that's part of the set!  Cute...huh? I cut out a circle frame, and glued it over the acetate, and added the Dog's face.  The sentiment is from the same set as the "Yappy Birthday" from the front of the card.  

On the right hand side of the card, I masked off a circle, and using distress inks, worked in the sky and the grass, then sprinkled water on it and blotted it off to get some texture.  

I added a few grass patches with alcohol markers, as well as a shadow under the dog house, which was also part of the same stamp set as the dog.  

These are two really fun stamp sets, and I've gotten a lot of use out of them  If you're into puppies, these are the stamps for you!

  

Baby Girl Card

New Baby Girl Pop-up Card

I found out our Granddaughter is scheduled to deliver our first Great-grandchild on Monday! We can't let that event go by without making  a special card! Yeowza!

Lucky for me, my new die set, Karen Burniston #1015 House & Fence Pop-up, came in the mail on the morning that we got the news!  Kismet?! I think so...

I decide to make a welcome card for our new Great-granddaughter Vivian as a twist on the normal...Congrats on your new baby theme.   

I started with a 4 1/2" square base.  Next was a layer of green cardstock.  The white layer was done with a cross stitch background die set.  The label was 2 Katherine labels (Karen Burniston Pop-up die set #1011) inked, stacked, & raised with fun foam.  

The sentiment was an Impression Obsession die # DIE527-J.  I put white dots on the "girl", and used Wink of Stella on the entire sentiment.   The rattle was from the stamp set "Lawn Fawn plus one" as were the baby items on the inside of the card. 

On the inside I inked a background.  Added the Stork, and 2 clouds.  The rest of the clouds I attached to the house. I wanted a 3-D effect.   The cat was another Karen Burniston die, #1024 Cat & Dog.  The house, fence and grass area were all part of the house pop-up set.  

The sentiments on the inside were computer generated.  I added wink of stella to the buggy, the cat's collar, the windows, and the edges of the stork.  

This was a fun pop-up card!  It went together well,  and I think it came out rather cute.  You could use this die set for so many different themes.  I would recommend this die set for anyone!  I hope you give it a try!

Happy crafting!

ttfn: Karen

Any card can be a Pop-up!

Ugh!  It's been a while since I've been able to make any cards, let alone post anything!  I've missed it!  

Life threw me one of its little curve balls,  and knocked me out of the saddle!  I am back on the horse (so to speak), trying to get back into the groove.  

I actually sat at my desk for several  days with my version of "writer's block."  That was fun!  NO IT WASN'T!!!

I tell you all this so maybe you can understand why my card is a little more simple than usual.  

Having the fun little case of writer's block, and not winning against it, I decided to take a card that I had made a year ago, and adapt it to become a pop-up card.  Thereby proving that ANY card can have the ability to be a pop up.

Usually, most of the wow factor is on the inside of a pop-up.  This time, I just let the pop-up hold the message, and left areas to actually write something on the inside of the card.  The main focal point is the front of the card this time. 

The front of the card is mostly layering cardstock, and popping things up. The cardstock behind the flamingos is done with distress inks & water (sprayed, then blotted off).  The flamingos are colored with Spectrum Noir markers.  The sentiments and Flamingos are all stamped with black ink, then heat embossed with clear embossing powder.  The heart is watercolored with distress ink.

 I used fun foam to pop up the large square, and the flamingo.  I especially like using it because it works wonderfully.  You get a solid surface behind whatever you're popping up.  You can use glue or tape runner.  It's relatively inexpensive and it goes thru the mail with less damage to the card when used behind larger images.  Best of all....you can die cut it!

The inside is done by using the Katherine Label (Karen Burniston Pop-up die) and minimal decorations also from that die set.  I kinda like the simplicity for a change.  

Products used:

Katherine Label Pop-up (Karen Burniston #1011)
Stitched squares (don't know which set)
Scalloped Squares (Sizzix #657566A)
Wild Cuddly Critters Stamp set (Simon Says Stamp #101704)
Flamingo stamp  (Sizzix #24380)
Distress oxide ink (Tim Holtz) Worn Lipstick & Candied Apple
Fun Foam

Happy Crafting Guys!

ttfn:Karen

My "On Your Road to Recovery" Card

I had a friend who needed a card for her son who was recovering from an accident.  She wanted specific sayings on the card.  This is what I came up with.  

What's better than a road on a "Road to Recovery" card?!  So that was my jumping off point.  I used the Upsy Daisy Pop-up Die  (Karen Burniston) and the frames that are also part of the set.  I inked in some clouds & Grass, and freehand drew some birds.  The road die was "Lawn Fawn-Road Border."  The sentiment is computer generated.

(On the next two pictures, I've blanked out their faces for their privacy).  

Under the pink square is a picture of her and her son, and the other two squares contain part of the message with some hearts, one, in each of the frames, is popped up with dimensionals.   The sentiments in the frames are computer generated.  The one on the grassy area is from "Stampabilities."

The white area is where she can sign the card.  I felt that the road needed to be on the bottom of the card, so I decided to be different and place the signature place on the top.   I needed a little height above the frames, so I added hearts suspended on wires.  High enough to bring interest, low enough that he'll be able to read what she writes.  

She loved it!  Yay

I hope you enjoyed today's card.  

ttfn: Karen

Happy crafting

Sometimes you just want something a little simple....

I am on a mission to use each of the Pop-up die sets that I currently own.  This is my challenge to myself.  Now, granted that isn't all of them,  quite frankly, it's not even close.  But the ones I chose to get were basically ones that were pretty generic. 

Now, don't confuse generic with plain.  These dies pack a punch!  There are many different looks that can be achieved with a generic pop-up die set.  

This time I went for simple.  I  used primarily Karen Burniston dies.  Two current ones (Katherine Label Pop-up & Spinner Square Pop-up ), and one that was  retired (Whiskers the Cat).  The only other die I used was an oval. 

   

I started with a 4 1/2" x 4 1/2" card base.  The paper was a black and white print that I added some color to using colored pencils, and I inked a border around it using a black marker.  The speech bubble was from the Spinner Square Pop-up set, and then there's Whiskers the Cat!  She's so cute!  

On the inside, more generic black & white paper.  I used various labels from the Katherine Label Pop-up as well as the mechanism.  The flowers & leaves I fussy cut from leftover paper from the front of the card.  The Mouse was from Whiskers the Cat die set.  The texts were computer generated, except for the happy birthday.  That was from an Art Impressions stamp set called "Chocolate therapy."    

Over-all I am pleased with this card.  It was simple to make, but the color pallet gives it some punch!

Just goes to show you.....simple can still be nice!

ttfn: Karen

  

Halloween Wonderland

In my last Blog, I talked about mock-ups, and their importance in designing cards.  I  posted a picture of the mock-up design for this Halloween card.  Now you'll get to see the final results.  

This was one time I was really glad to have a mock-up to follow.  This was a complex card, in that there were multiple pop-up elements.  I had a SquareSpinner Pop-up (Karen Burniston Die), a floating floor, and a small pop-up from another one of Karen Burniston's sets.  Oh, and I turned the entire card on it's side.   

Card Front

The card front is made from a combination of die cut images, and inked images.

Inside

Left Side Detail
Here you can see most of the pop-up elements on the left side of the card

Right Side Detail
Here you can view the pop-ups from the Right hand side.

Inside Detail
Here is a close up of the detail on the top of the card.

 If you want some of the details on how this was made, you might want to grab the beverage of your choice at this time.  This might get a little long winded, but I want to be fairly detailed, that way if you're adventurous, you might be inspired to try something like this.

I did a 5 1/2" x 5 1/2" card base.

First off was the spinner card.  There are GREAT instructions from Karen Burniston on both her web page, http://karen burniston.com and also on YouTube, so I don't need to get into that here.  She explains it WAY better than I could, and you can follow along with the videos.

I inked my background paper, and glued it to a card base.  I then added a grassy hill (die cut edges, then inked with Distress Oxides). I then needed to attach the spinner mechanism.

So I created the spinner mechanism for the card, attached it about 1 1/4" from the right edge of the card.  I wanted to add another grassy hill, but needed a support on the left side, so I cut out another spinner card mechanism, and used the box portion only, and glued it to the left side of the card.  

To these platforms, I added the hill with tombstones (die cut, then inked using distress oxides and masking technique).   Pretty straight forward so far. Now comes the floating floor.  

I cut a 4 1/4" x 5 1/2"  piece of grey card stock.  On the 4 1/4" side, I scored @ 3/4", 1 1/2", &  3 1/2".  I cut a slot on the left side of the platform (for the large tombstone),  and did a diagonal pop up on the right side (behind the cat and the pumpkin). 

I attached the floating floor, then decorated it as follows:

 I inked "gravel", and "dirt" onto grey cardstock, then glued that onto the platform, lined the grave with "rocks" made from small waste pieces of a die  (I did stencil ink on the die before removing the individual pieces).  I attached the large tombstone, the cat & the pumpkin. I edged the front of the platform with grass and a ghost.  

The sentiment at the bottom was computer generated.  

Let me know what you think of this card.  It was a lot of fun to design, and assemble.  

Something a little different for you.....Mock-ups

So, I thought I'd try something a little different.  I am learning that with pop-up cards it's sometimes best to plan ahead a bit. I've learned that "mock-ups" can be a big help.  

Mock-ups allow you to see the overall design of the card.  This helps with color placement, and object placement, not to mention mechanism placement (if applicable).

In this card, I wanted to use the Square Spinner Pop-up in a different orientation.  (It's at the back of the card).  I also wanted to put in a floating floor.  (It's under the grave, and behind the grass).  I also wanted to use a panel the full width of the card instead of the square.  

By doing the mock-up, I learned I needed an extra support for the panel, so I modified the spinner element by cutting the spinner element off, leaving the box.  I used this for my support on the left side of the card.  

Nothing is worse than destroying your card by removing  something that didn't fit right.  With a mock-up you can figure this out beforehand.  With some pop-ups, placement of the mechanism is key.  

Another key to the design is the element coming off of the pop-up.  In this case it's the house and full moon, they pivot.  I needed to make sure they weren't  too flimsy, or in the wrong place.  As it is, I had to remove the ghost from my original placement.  He stuck out of the card.   

So I thought I'd show you a picture of what the mock-up design for the card I am currently working on, looks like.  

Most of the color is very neutral.  I make a card base in the size I think I want to use, then pick out scraps of paper for the colors that I know I want to use in that area.  For example...the moon, and the grass, & the house.  This is pretty much what the colors for these item will be, give or take.  This will help me choose some of the other colors for the card.   

I like to try and pick out any pattern paper, (if I am going to use it) before I start.  It's frustrating to me to get so far along in the card, and then not be able to find co-ordinating papers.  I don't get paper from just one company, so they rarely match.  Picking it out a head of time can save you a headache later.

I hope some of this information helps.  I don't by any means know everything, but maybe I have some tips you hadn't thought of.

Come back in a day or two to see the finished card.  

ttfn: Karen

Is it a Little "Chilly" out there?

Last night while I was trying to unwind and fall asleep, I was thinking about which Pop-up to make a card with next.  The last thing I saw on my desk while cleaning up for the night was a "Chilly the Penguin" character that I had left over from another card, so he was kinda fresh in my mind, and I thought maybe I could use him.

So, I climb into bed,  laying there thinking....  I managed to figure out which Pop-up I wanted to use, then thought "cool, now I can go to sleep!"  WRONG!!! My brain fired up, and  ideas just started  popping into my head!  So, I thought, "Go write them down so that then you can get some sleep."   WRONG AGAIN!!!  I got up, thinking I'd just get some of the ideas down on paper so I didn't forget them come morning.

I sketched a rough draft of the igloo, played around with Chilly a bit, then an idea for a fishing pole with fish on the end of it popped into my head.  Next thing I know is it's 2 hrs later, my eyes are bleeding cause I'm so tired, and I had built at least 1/2 of the card!

I think what I'm trying to say is...Don't expect a new blog enrty everyday,   but when the ideas are flowing I need to run with it.  Trust me, there will be dry spells!

5 1/2 by 5 1/2 card

Most of this was pretty straight forward using primarily #1042 Spinner Square Pop-up by Karen Burniston, and #1408 Reindeer by Elizabeth Craft Design for the snow flakes, trees, and hills.  Of course, there's Chilly the penguin ( a retired die by Karen Burniston).  

The stamp set was Simon Says Stamp & die set #101624 Father's Day Finds,  I used it for the fishing pole, lure, and fish.  I doubled these up for strength. They were colored in using Spectrum Noir markers, accented with a white gel pen.  

The backgrounds were inked with Faded Jeans Distress Oxide inks and spotted with water.  The igloo was totally free hand, and meant to be just a mock up, but I kind of liked the whimsy of it and kept it.

  The flag was made with a toothpick colored with a silver sharpie, and a banner made out of a stamped image that I have no idea where it came from, and I cut some some tag ends on it.  A little red pompom, and Voila', a flag! 

The ear muffs!  Ah.....easily one of my favorite inspirations for this card...wire, wrapped around the afore mentioned toothpick, then stretched out slightly.  The "muff" parts were part from a retired Santa hat die (1040 props 5).  I sandwiched the wire between 2 muffs, then glues the muffs to Chilly's head.   The Sentiments were computer generated.

So the only "weird/different" thing about this card was that I had to put the mechanism pretty much at the bottom of the card so that the fishing pole wasn't sticking out the top of the card.  I used the igloo instead of the square to cover the mechanism, and built out a scene for the pond and glued the pole & the fish to it.  This made the card want to "over-open" a little, (Chilly was slanted downhill a bit) so behind the igloo (on the lower right) I glued a hook from a hook and eye set to work as a "stop".  I must say, It works pretty darned good!  

A little Wink of Stella here and there, and we have another card!

This card was a Blast to make!  I like having to improvise and make up stuff.  It seems to personalize the card more, and challenges me. 

 I hope this inspires you to try different things!

ttfn:

Karen