Watercooler Wednesday Challenge #144 - Penny's "All About Birthdays" Challenge

It's time for me to host this week at the Watercooler Wednesday Challenge, and I'm delighted.  I never seem to be able to keep up with all the birthdays that are coming up.  I hope my project will inspire you to create a card or project and enter it in our weekly challenge. 

The WWC144 Linksy is open until 5:00pm on Monday November 14th.  All you have to do is make a birthday card or project and link it to your post through our Linsky.  All the stuff you need to know about playing along is located on the Watercooler Wednesday Challenge Main Page.  So I hope you'll play along.

Here's My Birthday Card:
My card for this challenge is called a Square Easel and I think (IMHO) it's one of the best quick and easy fancy fold cards you can make. This is my stepped up version and my original plain version is below.

Originally my card was very plain, as you can see from these photos but after setting it aside for a day before posting, I added some additional decorations to bring it to life.  Either card would be great, but I must confess, I love the final version the best. What do you think?

Original card without decorations.  Very plain and simple.

This side view shows how the "stopper" holds up the front layer of the card when it's opened.

Standard Dimensions and Assembly Square Easel Card:
1. Choose your base card stock, a contrasting card stock for your layer, and a neutral card stock of DSP for your focal layer.

2. Cut base card stock to 8 1/2" x 4 1/4" and score at 4 1/4" and 6 1/2".

3. Use your bone folder to crease the center fold at 4 1/4" and then crease the next score line to fold as a Mountain fold. Add adhesive to this front fold.

4. Cut a 4 1/4" x 4 1/4" piece of card stock for your card front.  Adhere your card front to the front of the card where you've placed the adhesive.

5.  You need to add a "stopper" to the bottom inside of the easel card that will support the front card piece so that it sits up in an upright position.  For my stopper on this card I used a double strip of card stock. 

For those of you who are visual and need to see how the scoring works on this card, check out Michelle Boyer's great tutorial.  Her picture tutorial takes the guess work out of it and really shows how easy it is to make an easel card. 

Supplies:
Stamps: Tree Rings and Colourful Season,
Ink: Momento Black, Crushed Curry, Lemon Lime Twist, Early Espresso, and Crumb Cake
Card Stock: Lemon Lime Twist, Basic Black and Whisper White Old Olive, Crushed Curry and Old Olive
DSP:  Color Theory DSP, Color Theory Memories and More Pack
Accessories: Big Shot, Trimmer, Tom Bow Glue, Dimensionals, Happy Birthday and Seasonal Layers Thinlet Dies, Glitter Enamel Dots.

 Details For Stepped Up Version:
1.  The card base is Lemon Lime Twist scored and folded as noted above.

2.  For the layers:

• Cut a 4 1/4' x 4 1/4" layer of Basic Black card stock and adhere to the front of the card base as noted above.
• Cut a 4 1/8 " x 4 1/8" piece of Lemon Lime twist for 2nd layer and adhered to first layer.
• Cut a 4" x 4" piece of Whisper White for stamping layer.  Stamp with Tree Rings background stamp with Tuxedo Momento Black ink. Colour this piece with sponge daubers and Crushed Curry, Lemon Lime Twist, Crumb Cake and Early Espresso inks. Adhere to Lemon Lime Twist layer.

3. Cut the "Happy Birthday" sentiment from Lemon Lime Twist and from Basic Black card stock using the "Happy Birthday" Thinlet Die.  Adhere these two die cuts together, offsetting them "just a touch" so you get a shadow effect.  Glue the sentiment to the card center.  

The Basic Black die cut placed just a touch out of step with the Lemon Lime Twist one creates a shadow and depth.  I put some Tom Bow Glue on my silicone mat, just a dollop, and then used a sponge on the back of the lettering to attach the two sets and then repeated this on the back of the back layer before attaching to the card.  The sponge makes it a lot easier to add glue to die cuts that have intricate patterns. 

4. Using the Seasonal Layers Thinlet Die cut out several small leaves in Crushed Curry, Early Espresso and Old Olive.  Sponge the outside edges of the leaves and then adhere them to the front of the card. I also attached some of the small sticker leaves from the Color Theory Memories Pack (top right corner).  Save three leaves for the inside of the card.

The smallest leaves are actually stickers from the Color Theory Memories and More Pack.  The large leaves were cut out with the Seasonal Layers Thinlets.

 5.  For the inside cut a 4 1/8 x 4 1/8" piece of Basic Black card stock and adhere to card base.  Cut a 4" x 4" piece of Whisper White and adhere to Basic Black layer.  Stamp with the sentiment "May all your tomorrows be as happy as today" from the Colourful Season stamp set, in Momento Tuxedo Black ink.  Attach a cluster of three small leaves below sentiment on right hand side. The top leaf is mounted with a Dimensional and the other two are glued flat.

6. Create a ledge for the card front to rest against by cutting a 4 1/8" by 3/4" piece of Basic Black Card Stock and adhering it 1/4" from the bottom of the card. Cut a 1/2" x 4"strip of Lemon Lime Twist and mount it to the black strip with Dimensionals. Add Glitter Enamel Dots along this strip.

And that's all there is to my Happy Birthday card. What do you think? Did you like it? Would you try to make one yourself? I'd sure like to know your thoughts on it as I plan to make more of them showcasing some different decorating techniques. Okay here's one last look:
 

I hope this post inspires you to join in our weekly challenges. You can click here to return to the Watercooler Wednesday Home Page and this challenge and check out the other Watercooler Design Team Artists birthday designs.

Happy Stamping!
Penny Tokens Stampin' Spot

Creative Circle Design Team Blog November Hop - "Thankful"

Welcome to the Creative Circle Design Team's November Blog Hop.  This fun hop, spear headed by Liz Holloway always takes place the first Thursday of every month.  Our theme this month is "Thankful", a word that has special meaning for so many of us this year, following a host of natural and man made disasters.

Although our Canadian Thanksgiving has just passed I will be celebrating with my American friends at the end of this month, so the "Thankful" theme for this month's hop is still relevant for me, in many ways.

Here's My Project:
I created an accordion fold "thankful" display for a mantle top using the Jar of Love Stamp, Painted Harvest and  Color Theory Paper Stack. This accordion style display is contained in a decorative fall themed belly band, that holds it all together until it goes on display.  Let me show you how it unfolds. 

This little bundle is about the size of a deck of cards.  I made a "belly band" to hold the folded card together when not in use. 

Side view of the accordion bundle.

The two green panels are the outside front and back panels of the accordion fold.

The Belly Band's off and this is a view from the top. 

I wish I could make this picture enlarge more, unfortunately that's as big as it gets.  The whole concertina measures 4" x 24".

Supplies:
Stamps: Jar of Love and Painted Harvest
Inks: Old Olive, Soft Suede, Early Espresso, Crushed Curry
Card Stock: Soft Suede, Crumb Cake, Old Olive, Crushed Curry
Designer Series Paper: Color Theory DSP Paper Stack and Color Theory Memories and More Card Pack, Gold Foil, Copper Glimmer Paper,
Accessories: Paper Trimmer, Adhesive, Dimensionals, Sponge Daubers, Stickles, Wink of Stella, Big Shot, Seasonal Layers Thinlet Dies, Everyday Jar Framelit Dies.
 
Let's Take a Closer Look:

1. Cut three 4" x 11" strips of Crumb Cake card stock.

2. Score these strips at 2 1/2", 5', 7 1/2" and 10. Cut off 1" piece at the end. Attach the first two strips with Tom Bow Glue and then attach the last one. Beginning on the left hand side begin folding at score lines starting with a valley fold, then a mountain fold, all the way to the end of the strip. You should have 10 sections in the strip.

3. Cut 12 pieces of Soft Suede measuring 2 1/4" x 3 3/4". Glue these strips to the inside 10 sections and to the two ends on the outside or back of the accordion strip.

4. From the Colour Theory Memories and More Pack choose the two cards with leaves and an Old Olive background. Cut the cards to measure 2 1/8" x 3 1/2" and adhere these pieces to the two end sections on the inside of the accordion strip.

5. Cut eight 2 1/8" x 3 1/2" pieces from the Old Olive and Crushed Curry Color Theory DSP paper. I chose the sheets with the Ombre look. You will need four of each colour. Sponge the edges with the appropriate ink and then glue to the Soft Suede panels.

6. Cut two more 2 1/8" x 3 1/2" pieces from the Color Theory Paper Pack. I chose the Old Olive cracked design paper and sponged the edges with Old Olive ink before gluing to the two panels on the back of the accordion strip.

7. Using the remaining Old Olive and Crushed Curry Ombre pieces of Color Theory DSP stamp the largest jar image in Momento Tuxedo Black ink. You should have 4 Old Olive and 4 Crushed Curry mason jars. Note: Stamp an extra mason jar in Crushed Curry for the Belly Band and set aside.

Cut the jars out with the Everyday Jar Framelits.  Sponge edges with appropriate inks. Beginning with a Crushed Curry and alternating with Old Olive jars, attach the jars with Dimensionals to the accordion panels.

8. Stamp 8 mason jar lids in Smokey Slate ink on Whisper White card stock and cut out with the matching framelit die. Attach with Dimensionals to the top of the Jar.

9. Using an alphabet framelit set (non SU) I cut the letters to spell "THANKFUL" from Soft Suede card stock. I sponged each letter with Soft Suede ink and then glued the letters to the centers of the mason jars. Note: I would have loved to have used Stampin' Ups! Large Letters Framelit Dies for this part of the project, but they are still on my WISH LIST.

10. Cut a variety of maple leaves from card stock, foil and glimmer papers using the thee sizes of leaf dies in the Seasonal Layers Thinlet Set. Use a sponge dauber and ink to sponge all the edges. Use these leaves to decorate the panels and the belly band.

11.  Stamp the acorn from the Painted Harvest stamp set in Soft Suede and Early Espresso inks on Whisper White card stock and fussy cut the finished acorns.    I stamped and coloured at least 20 acorns so they could be clustered together.I sponged the edges with Crushed Curry to give them a more realistic look.  I loved how they turned out..... such fun!

12. For the Belly Band cut a strip of Soft Suede card stock to measure 2" x 10 1/2". Score at 2 1/2", 4", 6 1/2", and 8". Crease on fold lines and adhere on backside. Decorate the front of the Belly Band with a the Crushed Curry Mason Jar. Attach leaves, gemstones, acorns and leaves. Stamp the sentiment from Painted Harvest, "gather together & give thanks" on a 3/4" x 3" strip of Whisper White card stock. Stamp it in Smokey Slate ink. Cut the ends into banner points. Sponge the edges of the strip with Old Olive ink. 

Here's a look at the individual panels. When I was finishing them I added some extra touches like diamond Stickles on the jar lids and acorns. I also added a few green gems to the belly band and the first and last panel. I added some Wink of Stella around the letters to make them sparkle a little and some ink splatters in Old Olive and Early Espresso inks.

 

Well that's it for my project. I hope you've enjoyed it. I'll be giving mine to the hostess of our Thanksgiving Day dinner at the end of this month and I'm pretty sure she'll enjoy adding it to her decorations for the occasion.

  

Happy Stamping!
Penny Tokens Stampin' Spot

Watercooler Wednesday Challenge #143 - Gail's Feminine "Anything Goes"

Gail Allen is hosting our Watercooler Wednesday challenge this week and is challenging us to make a Feminine card.  It can be for any occasion or event and it can even be a 3-D, so long as it captures a feminine element.   The challenge is open until 5:00pm MST on Monday November 6th , so if you're interested why not join us and link up your creation.  

Here's My Card:
I haven't had much of an opportunity to use the new Powder Pink Incolour since it came out in June, so I thought this week's Feminine challenge would be the perfect time to try it out.   I also needed a few "Thank You" cards for female friends so the timing was perfect.

This was a super easy card to make, it just required stamping and paper trimming.  What could be easier.

Supplies:
Stamps:  Painted Harvest #144783
Ink:  Smokey Slate and Powder Pink
Card Stock:  Basic Gray and Powder Pink
Accessories: Paper Trimmer, Acrylic Blocks, and Tom Bow Glue

Details:
I am so pleased with this two-step Photopolymer stamp set because it stamps beautifully every time and is very versatile. The Powder Pink and Smokey Slate combo created a very dreamy, feminine looking floral image. I absolutely love it!

 I started with an 8 1/2" x 5 1/2" Basic Gray card base, scored and folded at 4 1/4".  I added a 4" x 5 1/4"  layer of Powder Pink, followed by a 3 3/4" x 5" layer of Whisper White.  I cut a 4" x 5 1/4" piece of Whisper White for the inside panel.  


I began stamping three of the large floral images in Powder Pink on the left hand side of the Whisper White Panel. The flowers do not overlap and I didn't require a mask.

Next I inked up the smaller floral image with Smokey Slate ink and stamped over top of the first three images.  To add just a bit more definition and colour to the flowers I re-inked then re-stamped the image shifting the placement just a tad clockwise.  Perfect! 

The center of the flower is stamped in Powder Pink and the small dotted image is in Smokey Slate.  The sentiments are stamped in Smokey Slate.  I stamped two flowers on the inside panel and added the sentiment. 

I stamped envelopes with the floral image too, but forgot to take a photo. My friends loved these cards.

Another Card:
I also want to share another Thank You card and envelope made with the same stamp set but in fall colours.  

These were stamped with Crushed Curry, Old Olive and Tangerine Tango inks and layered on matching card stock.  I used my rectangle stitched dies (non SU) to cut out the layers, which adds much more sophistication to the card. Using a sponge dauber and Crushed Curry ink, I also stenciled the back ground after the floral images were stamped using the diamond patterned stencil from the Pattern Party Decorative Masks set.  

I loved the colour combination and the addition of leaves and stenciling design in this card and making these cards almost became addictive.  Here are some more images of this card and envelope.

 

Love the way this stamped on the envelope and picked up  the fibers from the paper.  Beautiful!

Okay, that's it for today.  I hope you liked my thank you cards using the Painted Harvest Stamp set.  I'd love to hear your thoughts on these cards.  If you haven't seen the wonderful selection of cards from our Design team yet don't forget to check them out.  Click here to return to the Watercooler Wednesday Home page.  

Happy Stamping!
Penny Tokens Stampin' Spot 

Watercooler Wednesday Challenge #142 - Charlotte's All About Christmas Challenge

If you haven't started getting your Christmas cards together, this week at the Watercooler should be very inspiring for you.  After all it's now just two months today until Christmas.  I know, i know!  Kick me for reminding you of that! 

Our challenge this week is being hosted by Charlotte out newest Design Team Artist, and it's "All About Christmas". You may know Charlotte by her blog name, "Lady Joyful".  She leads us off with a beautiful snowflake card.

Our Design Team simply loves seeing the creativeness of our participants and having new stampers join in our weekly challenges.  If you're planning on sharing your Christmas Themed card or project on this week's challenge, you'll want to do so before 5:00pm on Monday October 30th, 2017 when our Linsky closes.  

Our challenge rules are simple and are listed on our Watercooler Wednesday home page.  Please take time to review them so you're not disqualified from our winner and runner up draws. It's super disappointing for us when a beautiful card has to be passed over because it was entered in too many challenges.

Here's My Card:
One of my favourite products from the Stampin' Up! Holiday Catalogue this year was the Merry Music Specialty Designer Series Paper, and so my card is all about showcasing how wonderfully these papers mix and match.

 

Supplies:
Stamp Set:  Musical Season
Ink:  Momento Tuxedo Black
Card Stock:  Whisper White and Basic Black 
Specialty Paper:  Merry Music Special DSP, Silver Foil
Accessories:  Big Shot, Paper Trimmer, Pinpoint Rectangle Layers Dies, 1 1/4" Circle Punch, Hot Glue Gun,Tom Bow Adhesive, Simply Scored, Sponge Dauber.

Details:

1.  Cut an 8 1/2" x 5 1/2" Basic Black card base and score at 4 1/4".

2.  Cut a 5 1/4 x 4" layer of Whisper White and adhere to base.

3.  Cut a 3 7/8" x 5 3/8" piece of Black & White Writing DSP and adhere to the 1st layer.

4.  Cut a  3 1/4" x 4 1/4" piece of Silver Foil.  For my card I die cut this piece using my Pinpoint Rectangle Layers Dies (non SU).  Center and adhere to the DSP layer.

In this view you can see the beautiful  mixture of papers with the silver foil.  These papers are ultra light compared to regular DSP packs, so it doesn't add much more additional weight to the card having a series of layers.

5.  Cut a 3 1/8" x 4 1/8" piece of Black and White Snowflake design DSP and adhere to the center of the foil.  

6.  For the Lolly, cut a 12" x 1 3/4" strip of the Merry Music DSP  and score at 1/4" intervals from end to end.  Use a sponge dauber and Tuxedo Black ink to sponge the edges.  Fold alternately on the 1/4" score lines.  Punch out a 11/4"  circle from Basic Black card stock to use as a base.  Join the ends of the strip together and then form a lolly by gathering the edges together and pushing down gently onto the black circle.  Put a dollop of hot glue in the center of the and press down so the circle holds the lolly's shape.   Punch out another 1 1/4" circle from Black and White DSP and cover the front center of the lolly. 

Note:  If you've never made a lolly before here's a link to Shelley Godby's blog where she shares instructions and a video on how she makes hers (a bit different from mine, but same concept).  These are great for all kinds of projects like banners, rosettes etc.

7.  To finish off the lolly, stamp the sentiment Peace, Joy, and Love from the Musical Season stamp set on to a 3 1/4" x 1/2" strip of  Whisper White card stock and adhere to the center of the lolly.  Use a generous amount of Tom Bow glue to adhere the lolly to the center of the card front.

8.  For the inside of the card cut a 4" x 5 1/4" piece of Whisper White card stock and adhere to the card base.  Stamp the sentiment "May the spirit....." from the Musical Seasons stamp set in Momento Tuxedo Black ink.  

9.  To finish the inside panel adhere a 3/4" x 3 3/4" strip of the handwriting DSP to the bottom of the panel.  Die cut a  trumpet from Silver Foil with the Musical Instruments Thinlet dies.  Adhere, and as Frenchie would say, "Voila you're finished". 

Well, that's it for today's challenge.  Hope you enjoyed this black and white Musical Season themed Christmas card.  I know I had fun making it and plan to make a few more of these before the card exchange is upon us.  For this type of card I will definitely make a box style envelope so the lolly isn't compressed in the mail.  Enjoy!  

If you started at my blog and haven't see the rest of this week's creations by the Watercooler Design team make sure you go back and check them out.  What an awesome array of seasonal cards.  Love them.

Happy Stamping!
Penny Token's Stampin' Spot