Commissioned box of cards...

It is such a nice compliment to your craftwork when someone asks that you make for them a box of cards (to purchase) from seeing a birthday gift you gave someone else. That is what has happened to me recently, I gave a box of cards as a gift to my mother and as a result of seeing this one of her friends asked if I would make her two boxes of cards for her to give as gifts at Christmas. She did not want a box of Christmas cards but a mixture of cards for all occasions. To help make this a nice coordinated gift box, yet with different greetings, I utilised yet again the technique of a 'One Sheet Wonder', this also helps me with making bulk cards in a short timeframe. I utilised the recent A4 OSW template that I posted earlier on my blog (sorry for those waiting for me to "polish" this template up with a better image and both metric/imperial measurements, I have yet to complete this) but with a few minor adjustments that the design of that template allows.

I used the sections for 'B', 'C' and 'D' cards and the alternate 'A' section as a feature piece for my box top (see box image below). With section 'B' I made cards B6, B7, B8 and B10 but I swapped B9 for the full piece used in section 'A' as card A5 (B9 and A5 are the exact same measurements). I made cards C11 (although due to the stripes on my designer series paper you can not see the splits!), C12 and swapped card C13 for the design of card D16. From section 'D' I made cards D15 and D16 but swapped card D14 design for another using card C12 design (D14 measures exactly as the two pieces for C12 together). Therefore, in total adjusting this template instead of making 16 cards I made 11 cards and a matching element on my box. Although I only boxed up eight of these cards for one of the boxed sets (as the box I made was not deep enough to hold more than eight with their envelopes and the embelishments I used).



As you can see the symmetrical design/measurements I used for this template makes it a very versatile one where you can take your favourite card layouts and mix and match them to create your own template. To see all the 11 cards that I made based on this particular A4 OSW template click here or view it through my 'Galleries' link above and select the 'A4 One Sheet Wonder No.4' gallery link, the cards are labelled 'DSP2 - relevant card no.'.

For anyone who has used this template of mine to make some cards let me know how you found the template by commenting below and if you have pictures of them accessible on a blog or website I would love to see them. I promise to eventually get this template and measurements "polished" and republished here to my blog, but not sure of a timeframe.

Christmas Stamp-a-Stack (more details) ...

My Christmas Stamp-a-Stack workshops are scheduled for:

Day: Saturday, 21 November
Time: 2 pm - 5 pm and 7 pm - 10 pm
Location: my home (contact me for details)
Cost: $20 (you make 12 cards of 4 designs with matching envelopes, afternoon tea/supper supplied, lucky door prizes included)
Limited numbers for each workshop so contact me via email today (maecollins3@iprimus.com.au) if you wish to book your spot, $10 deposit to secure you spot and pre-prepared kit.

Sneak peak below:

My Christmas Stamp-a-Stack designs were inspired by several stampers on the web and Splitcoast Stampers (which is a great resource when you are stuck for ideas or need to get your mojo going again). To acknowledge their influence they were LaLatty for the hanging baubles (although she used the Christmas Tree stamp from which she punched out the baubles), tjdstampsalot (Splitcoast Stamper) for the large bauble design utilising the inverted spotlight technique and sponging and Allison Aylward for the snowflake card (although I am not sure what colour combo she used).

Techniques range from simple stamping, adding dimension, to embossing for added effect.

Christmas Stamp-a-Stack ...

Just finished designing my 4 cards for my Christmas Stamp-a-Stack that I am going to hold at my place in the next couple of weeks. Just need to finalise the last few details before advertising it and to take a 'sneak peak' snapshot of them to post here - will do that tomorrow! Hopefully I have ordered enough supplies for those that will attend.

Now it is off to bed and I think I will even leave cleaning up my craft desk until the morning! Good night!

Commissioned card

I was asked by my mother-in-law Margaret, who is now living with us, to make a birthday card for her dear friend Mauveen who is celebrating her 80th birthday at the end of November. As it was a special occasion I wanted it to be a special card and so I decided to follow the tutorial on Splitcoast Stampers for a Tri Fold Shutter Card, which I had never yet made but always wanted to give it a try. There is a great video on the bottom of the tutorial page to also follow.

Here is my completed card, with a closed and open view:

Cardstock/Paper: Bella Rose designer series paper, Wild Wasabi (In Color '08) textured 12x12 cardstock, Old Olive cardstock (forgot that the matching color for this dsp is really Kiwi Kiss, but Old Olive worked just as well)
Ink: Old Olive (for front greeting and to ink edges of Whisper White cardstock used to write a personal greeting), Versamark
Stamp set: Oval All (for greeting), Both Way Blossoms (inked with Stampin' Write Markers to stamp the rosebud), Baroque Motifs (flourish stamped with Versamark on the plain Old Olive pieces of cardstock
Accessories: Large Oval Punch and Scallop Oval Punch, Eyelet Border Punch, Corner Rounder Punch, Paper Piercer (I pierced some of the edges which may not be easily to see in the photos), Creative Memories gold rub-on numbers.

I really enjoyed making this card and will definately make some more in this style.

Decorated Journal

My dear friend Jodyann, who is a regular crafting partner of mine, celebrated her birthday a few days after mine and so I thought it would be nice to decorate a Stampin' Up! On Board Art Journal to give her in which she can keep creative designs she comes up with, templates, greetings she likes to use or anything else that she cares to jot in her personalised journal. Here is my finished gift:

Supplies used: Stampin' Up! On Board Art Journal, Fall Flowers Designer Series Paper, On Board Simon Lower letter J and bracket, Bright Delights rub-ons and Making Memories rub-ons for the title.

I think she liked it and I definately enjoyed making it for her!

Free Square Scallop Punch with every $85 order from the Christmas Gift Giving Guide

That's right! Stampin' Up! is giving every customer who orders $85 from the Christmas Gift Giving Guide a FREE Square Scallop Punch (value $30.95!).

See the Christmas Gift Giving Guide by downloading it in full for yourself.

This promotion runs from 1 November to 14 December 2009.

You can email me with your order to start your Christmas shopping (if you are like me and have not started!) or to finish your Christmas shopping (if you are smart and organised).

Card Storage Tote

My other craft 'fix' for this week was to have a go at making a Card Storage Tote with the instructions I bought from Lynda Moss on her blog, thanks Lynda! My friend Sarah came over (hi Sarah!) to use some of my stamps for her Christmas cards and while she was busy stamping I started making the tote. I found Lynda's instructions and pictures clear, although I am not sure I made the concertina section very accurately. I also found I was a bit challenged making the front pocket from just the template and description, I was spoilt by her earlier step by step instructions and additonal photos of the steps taken. With my front pocket I also found it difficult to get a good closure using a magnet and then trying velcro which was a bit too strong. I might try and recreate this and use a couple of buttons to create a different type of enclosure on the front pocket. I enjoyed making the bead toggles and will try these again sometime!

Anyway here is my first attempt and if you want to see some other variations check out Lynda's mother's blog at Crafty Squirrel (UK).