Hi Everyone,
The final edition of Papers and Pixels went out today.  I hope you give it a look by going to our website - www.papersandpixels.com.  It's been a journey of love, excitement, learning and a whole lot of work.  Although Chris and I have stopped publishing the magazine, you never know what we'll be up to next.  Please check in when you can, leave a comment and remind me to keep posting tutorials up here.  Have a great day!  Hugs, Laura

Tent Topper Card

Tent Topper Card

 

Looking for an easy twist on card making? Give this fun and easy tent topper card a try. With the image rising up above the card a little, your card takes on a whole new look. The variations are endless and you can change the look and the size easily.

To create a vintage look, the embossed cardstock was sponged lightly with dye ink. Sponging around the image adds to the overall vintage look. Add a little lace and satin ribbon and you have a very beautiful card for your special friends and loved ones.

This card has so many creative possibilities. I hope you will give it a try!

The main card is a piece of cardstock folded in half. The image is attached to the card with a little of the image sticking up above the card. It still folds flat and fits in an envelope. Just be sure when you attach the "tent topper" part that you measure to be sure your card will fit in an envelope.

Directions for this card are given to create a 5.75" x 5.75" card.
Supplies Needed:   Cardstock
Main Card Base and Mat for Image – Soft Suede
Vanilla Cardstock for Embossing
Cryogen White Cardstock for printing/coloring image (Paper Temptress)
Scrap Soft Suede and Vanilla Cardstock for Sentiment
Stamped or Digital Image – Floppy Latte Designs
Copics
Satin Ribbon (Really Reasonable Ribbon)
Antique Lace
Embossing Folder
Soft Suede Dye Ink
Small Pearls
Label Shaped Dies (Stampin’ Up! Labels Collection)
Sentiment
Label Punches (Stampin’ Up! Modern Label & Word Window)
　


Step 1: Cut the main piece of cardstock to 5.75" x 8.5", fold in half. Cut vanilla cardstock 5.50" x 4", emboss with folder of your choice. Sponge the dye ink over the raised part of the embossed image. Sponge a little ink around the edges of the embossed cardstock.

 Step 2: Print or stamp the image on light cardstock or cryogen white. Color as you like. Die cut the image to the shape you have chosen.

Step 3: Die cut a bit larger shape to use as a mat for the main image out of the chocolate cardstock. (Note: I cut the next size larger shape of the matching die, but was not happy with the width of the mat. I placed the stamped image on the cut mat and drew a pencil line around the stamped image piece. With scissors, I trimmed the mat to about ¼".)

Step 4: Mount the stamped image on the die cut piece of chocolate cardstock.

Step 5: Cut a length of satin ribbon that will go around the embossed piece. Cut a matching length of lace. Wrap them around the embossed piece and attach them to the back with adhesive.

Step 6: Create a bow using the satin and the lace ribbon together. To make a perfect bow, I use a Bow Maker, which can be ordered at the Papers and Pixels Shop.

Step 7:Assemble the card by attaching the embossed piece with the ribbons wrapped around it to the main cardstock.
 Step 8:  Attach the "topper" image mounted on the dark matting to the front of the card with about 1" of the "topper" hanging out over the top of the card. For the envelope, measure the dimensions carefully.

 Step 9: Attach the bow with glue dots in the center of the card at the bottom of the image. 
 
Step 10: Stamp your sentiment with chocolate dye ink, punch with shape of your choice.

Step 11: Punch a label shape out of the chocolate cardstock to mat the sentiment. Add the sentiment to the matting and attach to the card.

Step 12: Place small adhesive backed pearls to the sentiment and anywhere on the image you would like.






 

Paper Flowers and a Card

I have a new design for you to try today. This beautiful card is easy to put together.

Paper Flowers are still one of the best embellishments you can create for your cards, scrapbook pages, projects and gifts. And I am glad they are, too, because flowers are so much fun to make. Although you can purchase dies to make very fancy flowers, a simple scallop punch creates a perfect carnation or chrysanthemum type card. Are you ready to give it a try?

 

 

Supplies to make Flowers:

Scallop Punch

Cardstock

Hole Punch

Brad

Crimper (optional)

 

Step 1:  Punch 3 flower shapes.

Step 2:  Run them through the crimper at least 6 or 7 times to break down the fibers of the cardstock.  If you do not have a crimper, simply wad the scallop shapes into little balls and work the fibers until they loosen.



Step 3:  Wad them up into a little ball and roll them around in your hands to help loosen the fibers more. Once the fibers are loose, try separating the cardstock into two layers.  Pick at the edges until you find a section that is ready to peel. Gentle peel the cardstock in half creating two scallop shapes.  One side will be the smoother side of the cardstock, the other or inside, will look like suede.

 

 

Step 4: Stack the layers on top of each other, six in all.

Step 5:  Punch a hole through all the layers and insert a brad. It doesn’t matter what type of brad you use as you will not see it once the flower is finished.

Step 6:  Gentle scrunch the top layer up to center.  Continue with all the layers, scrunching them up toward the center.  Gentle massage the petals into a shape you are happy with.  That’s it, you’re finished.  Make as many in as many colors as you like.  You will be able to vary the sizes if you have different scallop size punches or dies.  Try inking the edges to get a unique and beautiful look.

 

Because the flowers are about an inch in height, they don’t always work well on a card that you want to send through the mail.  If you are hand delivering or creating a little box for the card, the flowers make great embellishments.  The flowers also look great as a decoration for the front of a mini book or to decorate the top of a gift box or bag.

 

To create the card shown in this tutorial, take these steps.

 

Supplies:

Sizzix Magnificent Squares Dies

Cardstock

Sizzix Foliage Dies (for leaves – or handcut)

Decorative Border and/or Corner Punch

 

The base cardstock is 5 ½” by 11”.  Fold in half.

Punch the corners of the cardstock or use a border punch down the side.

Glue a piece of coordinating cardstock on the center right side of the card to show behind the cut out edge.





Die cut various shapes, layer and place on the card.  If you prefer, cut squares of different sizes, layer them and use that for the center card decoration.  Print or stamp a sentiment.

 

Cut or punch leaves.

Glue the flowers to your card, add leaves and you have a beautiful card ready to send!

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial!

FUN FOLD CARD

I love different types of folds for cards.  This one is unique, easy to mail and simple to make. Let’s get started. Finished card size is 5 1/2 x 4 and will fit into a standard invitation envelope.

Supplies:

Base Cardstock 5 ½” x 11” (vanilla cardstock)

Mustard Cardstock – 3 pieces 1 ½” x 5 ¼”, Oval piece, scrap for sentiment, 5 ¼” Circle

Designer Cardstock – 3 pieces 1 ¼” x 5”, 2 Oval pieces

Vanilla Cardstock – 2 scalloped oval pieces, 1 oval for main image, scrap vanilla for sentiment

Punches:  Modern Label (Stampin Up), Word Window (Stampin Up)

Dies: Nestabilities Ovals, Scalloped Ovals and Foliage

Liquid Pearls

Sentiment Stamp

Main Image Stamp or Digi Stamp

 

Step 1: Score Base Cardstock at 2 7/8”, 4 5/8”; turn paper over and score again at 2 7/8” and 4 5/8”.

 

Step 2: Using a plate, a large nestability circle or compass, draw a half circle on each of the outside edges of the main cardstock and cut with scissors.  Note:  You can use any shape you like, doesn’t have to be a circle. Fold on the score lines.

 From left to right, you will have a valley fold, a mountain fold, another mountain fold and a valley fold.

 

 

Step 3: Draw or die cut another circle that is 5 ¼” diameter out of the mustard cardstock.  Cut the piece in half.

 Step 4:  Collect the mustard and designer paper pieces.  You will cut one of the vanilla scalloped ovals in half, save the other scalloped oval for the main image.  Take the designer cardstock oval and cut it in half. 

Step 5:  For the main image, you will have a large scalloped circle, a smaller mustard oval, a smaller designer paper oval and a smaller vanilla oval for the main image.

Step 6: Stamp your sentiment on vanilla cardstock, punch with Word Window punch.  Punch a modern label from the mustard cardstock.

 

Step 7:  You are ready to assemble the card. 

 

Step 8:  Layer and adhere the pieces as shown in the finished card.

 

Step 9:  Add liquid pearls and allow time to dry. Attach any other embellishments you’d like.  You will not be able to use “chunky” embellishments on the side wings as you won’t be able to fold the card.  If you prefer NOT to fold the card, then embellish to your heart’s content!

 

 

Step 10:  Fold the card to fit in the envelope.  This is a little tricky, this image should help.  Enjoy your beautiful card!

 

 

Here are a couple of examples of the same card using different papers and colors. 

 

The papers and images used for this card are from Teri Hanson –Digizines.  Her new Card Maker kit line is just perfect for printing and using for cards.  She includes wonderful small patterned papers along with a few elements.  You can combine digital and paper to create stunning cards. This is the Bee my Honey kit. You’ll enjoy all the wonderful kits included in the new Card Maker Line.

 

 

This card is created using white cardstock for the base, basic grey papers for the designer papers, nestibilities floral ovals and a digital image from Floppe Latte colored with Copics.