Double Flap Front Cards

 I hope you didn't miss me too much! I have been off making fifteen double front cards. With these cards, I've been able to start to use up card stock as well as the Designer Series Paper. The design for these comes from Heidi Collins at On Y Go Stamping. I have got quite a pile of new cards going!

The card starts with a folded piece of DSP, which is mounted on cardstock with just a small flap (the black on the left in the card above). When it is closed, that small orange square is the sentiment on the front (look for the Halloween card in the top photo). 

Open the card again, and you have the reverse side of the DSP and a place to write a note. These were fun, but I'm still looking at piles and piles of bitty pieces of paper. I may have misjudged where I should put my efforts! I've started a new set of cards which have no name according to the designer, but I'll push on. See you back here real soon!

Collars Complete

Hey followers! I managed to finish those collar cards I started the other night. Funny story about the Christmas cards. I bought something on eBay and the seller sent me some unsolicited paper samples. Yay? I was looking online to confirm the colors used, and as I was looking at the whole series together, I realized that I already have this paper but I've never opened it. [sad trombone] (That explains why I didn't recognize these four patterns.)

People keep asking me if I sell my cards and I always reply, "if I sold them, then it would be work and not fun." But now that I see how many cards I am making from scraps and shock horror the amount of paper I have that I have never used or even opened, maybe I should be. Of course, I don't think anyone wants to pay the amount it would take me to give these up! It does mean I should collect the birthdays and anniversary dates of every person I know so that I can use all the cards I make! (I'm contemplating sending Halloween cards to my nearest and dearest because of all the Halloween paper I have collected. 👀)

I have moved on to another stash buster of a card. These start with a 5 1/2 x 5 1/2 piece of DSP and lots of scrap size cardstock. I think I'm going to need a few days to finish the fifteen double front fun fold cards I am making. But I'll be back soon to share!

Collar Cards

Today, I made collar cards. These have a nice pop of contrast and you get to see both sides of the designer series paper. I think my favorites are the bear peeping out of the paper fold. Most cards of this type have an embellishment that covers up the point of the fold (it's not real pretty). I'm sure I'll find something even though I haven't found it yet. I am also thinking I might add some pink ink to the black and white daisies. Just here and there, nothing crazy but I think that one lacks a bit of color. 

The directions for these are pretty straightforward. Cut two-sided patterned paper 5x3 3/4". About 2 1/2" along the 5" side, cut in about 1 1/2 - 1 3/4". Score diagonally from the center cut to each corner. Fold along that score line, then adhere those triangles down. Adhere to a 5 1/4 x 4" card stock that has been stamped. Then adhere to your card!

 

 

Scrappy Accordions

I decided I should start with the largest scraps and work my way to the tiny bits because there will inevitably be more of the latter as we make cuts to the big stuff. Coincidentally, Connie Stewart posted a video about accordion fold cards on Thursday. I went through the big box of' scraps and retrieved every piece that was at least 5 1/2" x 12". There were eight of these. 

It's easy enough to cut and fold and find matching scraps and get all that together. The thing that slows me down is designing (such as it is) the focal image. Which stamps? Which colors to pull in? How to fill the space so the design looks intentional? I only managed to get three cards done last night.

I had a lot of Well Suited DSP. It's fairly masculine but the stamp sets I have really skew toward the floral. The sheep are new, and I saw Zoe Tant had dressed her sheep with DSP. I followed her directions. It is a great effect, but not gonna lie, takes time. 

This is what the inside looks like.

I had also done a focal image for that pink striped version. But I hated it. 

I spent some time at lunch grabbing some stamps I thought would work. After work, I got to stamping. I was pretty happy with the butterfly cards but kept thinking, "this needs something." I went to the third 13x13 box I have where I store embellishments and found raspberry sequins and some goldish rhinestones. Perfect! (These were a total surprise. I have no idea why I have hot pink and raspberry sequins in that box, but I guess they were waiting for their moment!) I did the Christmas card next. And was well and truly finished when I added wink of Stella (a shimmer medium) to the pine cones. The hearts were hard. The main color of the paper paper is a one I do not have (Lovely Lipstick) and the paper is nearly monochromatic. I looked at the comparisons, and decided that Magenta Mambo would do. I liked how it came out--and more rhinestones!--but thought it looked really busy with the background. In Connie's video, she handles this by extending the message piece on the inside. Eh voila!

The chess card was the very last card I put together. I had pulled a piece of pink paper (there is a pink stripe in the DSP) to back the focal image. But when I decided to give up on the pink, it came together pretty quickly! I'm super happy with all these cards and I am elated to tell you that I did not use one new piece of paper in making these cards--all scraps!

Scraptastic September

Hello, friends. I have been away stitching (gasp!) and reading, but what's brought me back to the blog is an idea I formulated as I was sifting through my paper scraps. I have a giant collection of scraps in two 13x13 boxes--one for printed papers and another for colored card stock. When you take it out and throw it on the dirty floor it looks like this:

Not gonna lie, there's more!

What can I accomplish in a month with these scraps? I'm allowing newly-cut card bases--in colors or neutrals--but no other new cuts. Everything has to come from this pile. I can use any stamps, embellishments, layouts, or fun folds. I can cut the paper down, punch it, or die cut it.

I had hoped to do a couple of cards of each style, to show also how different the same design can look with different papers and stamps, but I have been up and down the cellar stairs tonight to protect myself against predicted tornados which materialized not far from here. So, one completed card and a second start.

The finished card uses strips of Stampin' Up! Designer Series Paper in Mariner (retired) with the octopus from Sea Street. And when you open the card, surprise! Those strips are actually on the inside of the card! Isn't that clever? This design comes from Connie Stewart from Simply Simple Stamping. You can find directions at her YouTube channel at the link; it's the light blue card. I thought that was so neat. I mean, it doesn't look like much until you open it. 

Here's the second card I started. This one uses strips of Share What You Love DSP (ret.) on a kraft base (that I didn't have to cut!).

 Well, that's a start. Hoping the weather cooperates tomorrow so I can make a couple more cards to share!

Switcheroo

I'm tired. Not just end-of-the-week tired but middle-of-blogging-every-day, middle-of-Craft-Month tired. So I'm switching out Scrappy Saturday and Finishing Friday. We'll have Scrappy Friday tonight and tomorrow I'll get on with the task of finishing, and returning to some of the projects from this week that took longer than I thought they would. We've got a three craft pileup going here.

In my continuing efforts to use up my scraps, I found this card that used thin strips to weave a pretty background.

I do thank all of you who have left comments this month. When I start feeling like I might be done with this crazy project, your cheerleading does spur me on. I appreciate it!

Welcome to Scrappy Saturday!

If you make cards or scrapbook, you are probably sitting on a giant pile of paper scraps. You cut a layer from that card stock or punch a shape from a printed paper, and the rest of the sheet is...put into a pile for use at some future date which is probably never.

The only time I really craft with scraps is when I get the idea to craft with scraps! This month, I'll be making cards without cutting into any new paper. If I don't have the absolutely "right" color, I'll make do. (That's the hardest thing for me. Not using the right color.)

I took my inspiration from a Hungarian blogger who was recreating expensive notebooks that she wanted. I started with the multicolored scrap in the center and pulled colors that would work with it. I changed the direction of my stitches and decided to use colored ink. Then I remembered I had a stamp that also had stitch marks, and used that.

I'm not gonna lie...this card was a pita to make. Lots of trimming to get everything the right size. And then the stitch marks! (You could of course do those with a machine if you wanted.) Anyway, only one...and only for a very special person!

Day 15: More Glue

I'm halfway through National Craft Month. I have plenty of projects and supplies, but I have to tell you that my enthusiasm for blogging the projects is waning.

It's not you; it's me. I mean you're visiting and reading and commenting which I appreciate immensely. (And wow! You really visited when Craft Gossip told you about the Irish Potatoes!) I'm just tired. Getting up early three days in a row this week just kicked my ass. And I won't even get a lie-in tomorrow. {Boofrickin'-hoo, right? Most Americans are sleep deprived.} I'm still excited about the crafting, which is good news since I have 15 more projects to go! 

Last night, I decoupaged a frame. I found inspiration here but let's face it; it's just more gluing. I chose four coordinating scrapbooking papers and found some ribbon and glitz for added dimension. I used one of those flat wooden frames from the box craft stores. I think it matches the room of someone who has a birthday coming up. 

Today, I stopped into my local bead shop, The Bead Garden. I haven't been in in an age. I got a few bits and bobs for some upcoming projects. I need to go to that store more often. Remind me.

Scrappy Orange

Thanks for your support concerning Sissy's wedding sampler. I am also happy to report that I found all the missing craft items I was looking for last weekend. The stitched piece got sandwiched in between two pieces of mat board. The messenger bag strips were in the sewing box just as I thought they were. Everything was hiding on me. You know, if inanimate objects had will. 

Last month was dedicated to creating with orange scraps. When I saw this wreath, I knew what I was making. I love this wreath! I may make a springtime version now that I have moved on to green scraps.  {Tatertots and Jello via One Pretty Thing.} However, I will follow her lead and use wooden beads to achieve the 3D effect. Cutting pieces of dowel with a back saw doesn't work as well as you might imagine. I might also consider inducing the dude to buy a more appropriate saw since dowels are much cheaper than wooden beads. As it stands, some of those popped dots are jumping off the wreath at a rakish angle.

I also made some cards.

I still have some orange scraps; I ran out of September before I could use them all.

I'm Late I'm Late I'm Late

The dog woke us up this morning...at 8:35. The dude forgot to set his alarm; add in an unexpected drive to the city, and whoosh! the next thing you know I was hours behind on my day.

I didn't do much stitching this weekend either. The dude wanted to watch Branded to Kill, an old Japanese film--which was really freaking weird--and I had to pay attention to the subtitles. Even watching the subtitles, it was hard to figure out what is going on.

I did spend time working in the craft room. I have sorted through some supplies that I will never use and corralled a few "to be filed" piles into one container. It's amazing how much more space that leaves! I also started attending to some of my "Something from (Almost) Nothing" class prompts. Prompt 1 asked us to use up our metals. I had to focus on brads because I can't find my {paper} eyelet setter, and the fabric one is too potent for papers.

My "answer" to the first prompt is a layout of my oldest nephew (now 9) somewhere in Scotland visiting his great grandmother. (Sorry about the flash; the weather isn't cooperating.)

I also made one for Stella's scrapbook. I don't love this one, so I'm trying to figure out what's wrong with it.

I also made this card. I like the brads in the scallops. I might use that again.

It's kind of difficult to work on using up my supplies and clean and organize the craft room at the same time. But I can't focus on one at the expense of the other; organizing is bo-ring!

But I Flew Home First Class

I seem to have had some amount of difficulty recovering from my vacation. Crazy things keep popping up and I haven't finished the unpacking. First, Stella got an eye infection. Following our trip to the vet, I have goo to put in her eye twice a day. She has some sort of sixth sense when I pick up the medication. As a result, the dude has to chase her all over the house and hold her down. But then she comes and licks my hand and shows there's no hard feelings.

Today, the heating guys are here because our thermostat stopped working again (5th time in 5 years). This time, it's not the thermostat but the fan. Sounds a lot more expensive, doesn't it?

I had quilting class on Wednesday and I screwed up cutting two blocks I was strip piecing. Since I only had one block leeway, I've set myself back a bit. Then instead of doing a 1/4" seam, I managed to stitch a 1/8" seam. Which is not an easy mistake to make. One woman has finished piecing and ironed on her applique pieces. It looks lovely but just makes me feel more behind.

Kind of like the online scrapbooking class I am taking with Shimelle Laine. It started when I was on vacation, and I have not picked up a single supply or photo. The good news is that when I do, the whole point is to use up supplies that have been sitting around for years. Which will be good news in the craft room clean up...when I get back to that. Of course, Flylady would like me to sort my shoes, and that would go a long way to the craft room clean up too, since the largest number of things in there that are not craft supplies turn out to be shoes.

I haven't been stitching much because a week of working on Merry and Bright seems to be the limit. But tonight is stitch night, so I'll switch to the marquoir, and there had better be no touching! Maybe on Monday I should start stitching something new?

Maybe my brain is still on vacation.

Grrrr

I'm having issues. My computer does random-ass things like erase whole words at a time instead of just letters, open the web browsing history, or close windows you are working in--and you don't even have to touch a button. So it just closed the post I was writing, and blogger hadn't saved it. I will be saving like a maniac as I write this post.

The other issue I'm having is that my printer refuses to scan. I've been online troubleshooting, and the fix is either some 29 minute download or I need to do this weird shamanistic dance that has ten steps ending "press # and 6 at the same time and do not release until you are told to." So I went with the download. If you see the things I have been making for Thing-a-day then we will have had success. If you don't, you'll get some photos tomorrow.

Because according to the weatherpeople I will be trapped inside my house, maybe forever. And here I didn't run to the grocery store and buy everything they had. I think it was the 14 years in Los Angeles: you had to be ready for earthquakes there. No one comes on the teevee to announce their arrival. You just had to be ready, which is why I have eggs and bread and milk and even all the fixings to make chili. The dude was very worried that we'd miss the Superbowl party where we will were to may eat chili. But please, am I an amateur? Do I not have beans in the pantry and meat in the freezer? If my preparedness isn't the result of living in earthquake country, maybe it was all those years in New Hampshire where, even when you were ass deep in snow, you could find things to eat in your house. You know, that would tide you over for the two, possibly three, days that you couldn't get to the store. Maybe I'm not cut out to live in the south* Mid-Atlantic.

Anyway, enough with the bellyaching, take a look at Thing Three:

Since I had the supplies out, I made another and called it Thing One:

I think this may need something. Glitter maybe?

Thing Four:

This is a little cover for a notebook I bought maybe two for a dollar. Anyway I think this may need something, but not glitter.

Now that I've wasted all this time here, I've got to go make Thing Five.
*Do you know how close I am to the Mason-Dixon line?

Don't Piss God Off

I think it pisses God off it you walk by the color purple in a field somewhere and don't notice it.

Alice Walker, The Color Purple

April was the month to use my purple scraps. I did that this month. I don't know what I was doing in April, but it wasn't much crafting. I have been most successful in using these--the file for purple scraps is empty!

Thanks for your comments about my door and wreath. The color is Behr Grape Leaves in semigloss, at least that's what it says on the can. (Looking on the website, my door doesn't look anything like grape leaves.) I chose semigloss because I really like how they paint their doors with glossy paint in England (or at least on my MIL's street). I wasn't ready for full glossy yet.

The wreath is a product of my overactive imagination. If you're interested I can post some directions, which won't be like writing a tutorial. Because I am crap at getting things like that onto the internets.

Yellow, Yellow, Kiss a Fellow

March was “Use Up Your Yellow Scraps” month chez van Schurman, and as I promised, here are the snapshots.

We have the quilt series (minus two that I have already used). I've deliberately left these blank because I can use them for thank you notes, birthday cards, or get well wishes.

The flower series. I still have more flowers, but I put them into a little container. I saw this in this month's Creative Keepsakes. (I'm so bummed that Simple Scrapbooks is no more.) Anyway, rather than storing small scraps, you punch them and store small punches for when you need them in your scrap book. That piece with the birthday paper on it is actually an 8x8 scrapbook page. Someday I'll need it.

The polka dot series. The plan was for more of these, but they're kinda boring to make.

And the rest:

You may remember that there were a number of half-finished cards from pink month. Well they were in my way, so I took care of (some of) them. I love this one.

You can see it half-finished here in the upper right hand corner. How will I ever send it to someone?

Coming soon: Purple

Scrappy

Last week I spent some time trying to use up pink scraps of paper. I've decided to dedicate each month to using up scraps of one color in card making (and maybe scrapbooking too). I lost steam after three days, and I only got halfway through the pink scraps.

Here's what I did:

You might notice some red scraps in there. They were filed in the pink folder. Still, not all of the cards are complete. I plan on adding some stamping to them. Now I have to sort through and see what stamps might be appropriate for the cards.

I'm putting my plan here in case you have envelopes and file folders full of scraps too and you'd like to join me.

March: Yellow
April: Purple
May: White
June: Red
July: Blue
August: Orange
September: Black
October: Brown
November: Green
December: work on the files that still have scraps