Pocket Die Cut Card

This is a project I started (gulp) two years ago.  The reason I know its been two years, is that they were supposed to be for one my girls' birthday invitations.....and her birthday is coming up...again.

I bought this fun pocket die cut (in retrospect I would not have purchased it, instead I would just sew up the sides) using the excuse of the invitations.  I make enough invites for baby showers, birthday's, etc, that I do use the dies.

 

This time instead of using them for invites, I'm using them for cards!

I added an eyelet from my collection of embellishments, ribbon from my scrap ribbon container, and a butterfly punch sewn on the inside to tie it into the paper.

"Hi" card

Super easy card.  All you need are scraps and a card blank!  The white was punched with an edge punch, then I layered pink, then the striped paper.  Tied a ribbon on.  I almost left it there, but it needed something else.  I'm not a sticker gal.  I print or stamp.  But....I have lots of sticker (not sure why since I don't use them) and need to us them up.  Then it looked to bare, so I added the jewels.

 This card was started 2 years ago, then dumped in a drawer during a sweep of my office. (Sad, I know!)  Its all finished now and ready to send!

Sports theme thank you card {tutorial & printable}

I made these for the mommy for the baby shower I just helped throw.  It was a vintage sports themed shower (more decorations to come when I get the pics).  I purchased this really cute vintage sports paper to wrap the water bottles and used the scrap on the thank you cards

When I help host a baby shower, I always make the thank you cards for the mom and bring the blank envelopes to the shower.  I pass them around and have everyone self address them.  This way, the mom only needs to write a note and pop it in the envelope.  No need to look up addresses....one less thing the sleep deprived mom needs to worry about! :)

Supplies:

Card blank

Printer

Scrap paper

Glue or sewing machine

How to:

Run a piece of scrap paper through first so you know how your printer is aligned.  Then just stack your card(s) in and hit print. (This printable is set to print on a 5 1/2" x 8" sheet of paper....which is the size of the card before you fold it in half. ;)

I used the standard 4" x 5 1/2" which fits an A2 envelope.  I buy bank note card packages when they are on sale.  They come in white and Kraft paper.  If you get them on sale, they are only $0.09 per card!  Not bad...especially since the rest was done using scraps!

I strategically punched out the pennants so that you could see the baseball stitching, basketball and soccer ball, but these would look cute in any color combos.

Then I stitched them on!  I didn't bother gluing (since I was doing a lot) and didn't need the extra step.  If your not a sewer...go ahead and glue them on where you want them.  You can take a pen and "draw" in the pennant strings either in between each pennant or right over the top.

Garland card {tutorial} with free printable

Warning: little story coming, so if you don't want to read, just skip on down to the supply list.

How this card came about....At one time a couple of years ago I taught crafting classes and one of the classes I did was a card class.  For it, I purchased a box of envelopes on ebay.  I couldn't find the right size (#9) locally so I headed online.  Each of box contained 500 envelopes.  That's right....500, for a class of about 20.  It was cheaper to buy 500 than a box of 50 at the store.  Well, the supplier didn't ship them in time, so when I contacted them, they sent another box for my trouble.   So, I have ONE THOUSAND #9 envelopes..  Since then, I've been using them here and there, but decided that in my recent attempts to reorganize my office, I need to start making cards to fit the envelopes and use them up.  In the past few days I've come up with a few really cute ones (at least I think so! :)

I'm totally into the pennant garlands lately.

Supplies:

White card stock (or whatever color you'd like for your base)

Scrapbook paper scraps

Envelope (need some?  I have plenty! :)

Triangle punch or scissors

Sewing machine or marker

Adhesive

Printer

How to:

I like to format my own cards on the computer so I can use the vast selection of fonts that I have accumulated.  (I'm addicted to fonts!)  For this one, I set my paper size to 8 1/2" W x 7"H (which is twice the height of the card).  You can use word, publisher or pages.  I add a text box where I want the text, select the font and type it in.

Here is the printable version:

(I hope it works.  This is the first time I've added a printable.  Please let me know if you have problems with it.)  Its formatted for the paper size above.

 

You can cut your paper before or after you run it through the printer or after.  (I usually cut mine before, just make sure you change the paper feeder to accommodate your paper size.)

After you print, use your scoring board or trimmer and stylus (or just fold it) to score the seam and fold the card in half.

For the pennants, I bought a punch.  I didn't intend to buy one, but I happened through Big Lots one day and this one was on clearance for $3.50 (down from $17).  Yes.  Please. :)  

Punch or cut a handful of pennants out of various paper scraps.  Play around with the placement until you like how they look and then glue them on.  

If you are going to sewn them, you only need to lightly tack them in place because the thread will hold them.  If you draw on your "string" then you need to adhere them to the card.

Either run it through your sewing machine or draw the string and you're done!

I've already formatted a bunch of these with various card sayings so I'm sure I'll be make quite a variety soon!

I was featured on One Thrifty Gurl

Well, my etsy shop was!  :)

I had an old atlas book from when we lived in the Pacific NW and since I wasn't using it anymore and can't stand to throw things away, I made some things out of it.

Like this card set

And this pennant garland

And from those scraps I punched these embellies

 Sometimes it pays (literally) to think outside of the box!

Go check her out at OneThriftyGurl.  I'm hosting a $25 gift certificate give away to my shop!

Another quick and easy card {quick tutorial}

I made a handful of these up for my daughter to use as thank you cards for her birthday.  It took less than 15 minutes and she loved them.

Supplies:

Card  stock

Scrapbook paper scraps

Envelops (or scrapbook paper for envelopes)

Adhesive

Flower, circle punches

Leaf punch (optional, because you can cut by hand)

Corner punch (optional)

How to:

Cut card stock into 4"x6" rectangles.  Round corners (if you want).  Punch flowers, circles and leaves from scrap paper and adhere to corner of card.  I used glitter paper for the center of the flower.  

I die cut envelopes out of coordinating scrapbook paper because I have A TON of it.

See....and this is not all of it! (Yes I'm working on my hoarding issues.)

That's is.  Quick and easy cards.

Simple Card {quick tutorial}

Quick and easy!  

Supplies:

Card blank

Carstock or scrapbook paper 2 patterns, plus green scrap

Kraft paper scraps

Button and string (string optional)

How to:

I use the 4" x 5 1/2" card blanks, so these measurements are for that size.  Cut your background paper to 3 1/2" x 5" and adhere to blank.

Punch a  1 1/2" flower or scalloped circle out of kraft paper.  Punch a 1 1/4"circle out of your second patterned cardstock.  Punch a 3/4" circle out of kraft paper.   

Line your flower pieces up and punch two small holes.  Put your button on top and thread string through.  Tie a knot or bow and cut your ends.

Adhere to card where ever you'd like!  I use dots for this because of the weight of the flower I feel its more secure.

Cut or punch leaves out of green paper and adhere.  

This is an anniversary card, so I stamped "happily ever after" inside the card. 

Here is another variation.  I printed a page of "thank you" on circle labels.  Matted the label with another circle punch and adhered this with a pop dot.  These were the thank you cards that I made for the mom-to-be for shower thank you cards.

Map Cards and Envelopes

The hubs is in a purging mode.  I have to be sneaky about checking boxes before they head to his trunk, which is why I usually volunteer to take the boxes to donate.  Don't get me wrong, I'm purging too, but I have to make sure the things that leave the house and things I want to leave the house.  Know what I mean?

Anyway....an old NW Map book was in the pile and I rescued it and now I'm turning trash into treasure!  

I few years ago I bought some envelope dies for my Accucut.  I  bought them and once they arrived I though....now what?  I normally use card blanks for my cards and those come with envelopes.  

Hmm...I'm using up some of my random pieces of scrapbook paper...when my mom comes to visit she buys and cuts wrapping paper (cute!)...but what else???  

Enter map book.  

Which is now a stationary set!

I'm selling them here in my etsy shop.

Making your own party Invitations {tutorial}

First off....the orange is really not that bright!!!  Its more of a burnt orange.  As usual, I'm working on these at night and taking pics with a flash.  I can never get oranges and reds to be true.  Any hints from you photographer types???

I know it would be so easy to just pull up a site that prints invitations, insert your information, type in your credit card information and hit send.....but not for this crafty gal!  I always make my own invitations, baby announcements, and cards.  I even volunteered to make my sisters wedding invitations....all 300+ of them!

These are for a friend of mine who is having her third boy.  She is decorating the room with grey, orange and white, so that's what we're going with for the party theme.

Instead of making every invite the exact same, I usually go with a color theme and vary the card stock.  I use the same "template" but different card stock.  In this instance, I was making about 50 invites.  It was just as cost effective for me to buy an entire pack of patterned card stock (on sale) as it was to buy just the individual sheets I would need...and I have a lot left over!

Supplies:

Card stock, colored and white

Paper cutter

Paper punch or die cut (or scissors)

Adhesive

How to:

Cut your base card stocks (12x12 size) into three 4" strips, then score them at 2 3/4" and 8 1/4."  This is so you can fold the edges in and the top flap hits directly in the middle.

I have a wonderful cutter (Zutter Dreamkuts) that I use all the time!  But a paper cutter works just as well.  I also have a scoring board (Scor-Pal), but if you have a dry embossing stylus, you can use it on your paper trimmer in the little gully where the blade cuts.

I type up my own invites using Publisher....and that's a whole other tutorial.  I use it for the invites, the saying on the front and the directions.  Then print and cut.  If you have a square paper punch it makes the cutting much easier...and exact!

I die cut my antique squares, but you can make a template, trace and hand cut if you need to.

Cut your band strips.  I made mine 9 inches by 1 inch.  Make sure to make them long enough to wrap around the card plus overlap a little so you can adhere it together. 

Here are the supplies for one invite.  Once everything is cut, its a really simple assembly.

Fold up your base on the score lines and adhere you invite info.  I put some adhesive on all four corners of the back side of the invite, plus a little strip in the middle.

Make sure you get the right side up.  You want the bigger flap to fold up first.

Add a line of adhesive to one end of the back of the band.

Set your invite (right side up) on you band (pattern side down) with the adhesive at the top.  I leave about 2 inches of overlap on the top.  Fold up your band, then fold down the top and put to secure.

The reason I put the seam in front is because I'm going to cove over it with the die cut.  It leaves the back clean and looks nicer.

Add your die cut and then your quote to the front.  Instead of a quote you can stamp a picture or layer another die cut.  Options are endless.

That's it!

For under $0.50 per invite (including the envelope!) I'll take that considering just a quick search on the internet was coming back with anywhere between $1.19-$3.85 a piece!!!

Simple Sewn Heart Card {tutorial}

I love to play with paper and I love to sew.  What's even more fun....sewing paper!

Punch your hearts out of scrap paper and card stock, line 'em up, and sew 'em on.  Easy peasy.

I tend to temporarily adhere the punches to the card so they stay straight.  I even use a ruler, cuz I'm a bit obsessive particular about these things. 

You can do this with any shaped paper punch.  I've made them from butterflies, flowers, and stars.  Its a quick, easy, and a great way to use up your scraps!

Button Heart Card {quick tutorial}

A smaller version of the Valentine Button Canvas in a card.

Grab your card blank (I'm a huge fan of Kraft paper lately!)
 Trace/draw a heart (you can draw right on the card because it'll be covered up)
Dry fit your buttons
Put them on with glue dots.

You could make these in any shape for any holiday.  Stars, 4 leaf clovers, balloons, pumpkins, flowers...let your creativity flow!

Greeting Card Class

I taught some craft classes last year and this is one of the classes, a greeting card class.  Cards is really how my love of crafting began (that and yarn), although I do less and less of it lately.

I did enjoy teaching, but really it was an excuse for me to buy more "toys" for my "office." (But don't tell my hubby!!!)  After my 4th baby in 6 years something had to give, and teaching is it...for now.