Snowman Pop-Up Card

To pump up the Christmas spirit, I wanted to make more cards using Sizzix and Karen Burniston's basic pop 'n cut die with different designs.  Again I used a lot of recycled materials, all except for the glue and paint.

The cardstock used for the exterior is off-cuts from a paper distributer, cut to 5" x 11" and edged with a bit of distressed ink.  The snowflakes are cut from cardstock using the Sizzix Snowflakes #3 die and the Tim Holtz Winter Wonderland die.  The snowflakes were first painted with an irridescent silver Modern Masters acrylic paint and then with the Tim Holtz picket fence distress crackle paint.  Difficult to see, but the silver shows through the crackle.  The snowflake on the right was glue directly to the card, the one on the left was added using a foam dot.  The "Let It Snow" letters were cut from scrap cardstock using the Tim Holtz Word Play die.  A light layer of distressed ink was added to the letters.

The inside card was cut from a vinyl wallpaper sample using the Sizzix basic pop 'n cut die and the sides cut with the Tim Holtz Ornate On the Edge die. 

The snowman, branch, bird and snowflake were cut from card (recycled cereal box).  The snowman and snowflake were cut from the Tim Holtz Winter Wonderland die then painted using the same technique as the snowflakes on the front (iridescent silver and crackle paint).  The snowman was given a scarf and then glued to the front of the circle pop up section.  The snowflake was attached with a foam dot.

The branch was cut using the Tim Holtz Bird Branch die.  Only a portion of the branch was used, painted with brown acrylic paint and splashes of white added to look like snow.  The bird was cut twice using the Sizzix Birds on a Wire die, then painted with acrylic paint.  The second wing was added to give some depth.  Both branch and bird were sanded slightly and distress ink added to the edges.  The bird and branch were added to the back of the circle pop up section with foam dots.

I made a similar card with blue theme using the same techniques.

The background for the inside of this card is sample fabric glued to cardstock, then cut with the pop 'n cut die.  Again, I used a Tim Holtz On The Edge die on the sides.  I used a different section of the same Tim Holtz Bird Branch die and another bird from the Sizzix Bird on a Wire die, and attached them slightly differently.

The basic pop 'n cut die offers a lot of flexibility in designing cards.  I'm thoroughly enjoying it.

Snowy Reindeer Pop-up Card

Inspired by Karen Burniston and Shelly Hickox I created the following pop n' cut Christmas card for the Die Cutting Inspiratioin post on the Sizzix blog.  As with most of my art I like to incorporate a lot of recycled materials.  So true to tradition, all materials used for this card are recycled except for the glue and paint.

The cardstock used for the front was an old file folder cut to 5-1/2" x 11".  I swiped the edges both inside and out with distressed ink.  The red "wooden boards" and the "wreath" were cut from a kleenex tissue box, then painted with acrylic paint.  The wreath was cut using the Tim Holtz Regal Crest die and is constructed using a technique Tim Holtz used in one of his 2011 Christmas tags.  Both were sanded and distressed ink added.  The bow was repurposed ribbon from a Christmas past.  The letters were cut from scrap matte board from a framer using the Tim Holtz Word Play die.  Letters were left white to contrast everything else on the front.

The interior card was cut from a page from a sample vinyl wallpaper book using the Sizzix basic pop n' cut die and edge cut with a Tim Holtz On The Edge die. The trees were cut from matte board samples using the Tim Holtz Pine Tree die.  Splashes of white acrylic paint were added for a snow effect and glued to the circle base (one on top of the other).  The deer are cut from an Oreo cookie box using the Tim Holz Reindeer Flight die.  The deer were coated in walnut ink distressed ink and a collar of light white string added to each.  The standing deer is attached to the top tree with foam dots to add dimension.  The leaping deer is attached to the back of the circle base.  The snowflake is cut from waste cardstock using the Sizzix Snowflakes #3 die and glue to the card.

I have yet to perfect Karen Buriston's spinners but want to have the leaping reindeer actually leap.  But that I shall leave to another card.

Wedding Guest Book

With the great response to my previous Wedding Guest Book post here is another guest book created for my nephew and fiancee's upcoming wedding (yes, my sister has two kids getting married within 3 months of each other). I hope you are inspired to make a guest book using whatever paper, cardstock and dies you might have on hand.  Making every page different was so much fun.  Can't wait for another family member to get married so I have an excuse to make another.

Again, I printed all the papers using digital scrapbooking files onto a slightly textured sketching paper which I trimmed down to 8 1/2 x 11 so I could run them through my laser printer.  The papers were then trimmed to 8 x 8.  The cover papers were printed onto sticky-backed label paper which I adhered to recycled card from a ceral box and also sized to 8 x 8.  All the matte board used was saved from a framer's garbage bin; the coloured cardstock were offcuts from a paper distributer's garbage bin.

For the bride and groom's names on the cover, I printed brown lettering on a beige background onto cardstock.   The font for the names is Scriptina, a free font from the internet.  The frame was cut using a rusty ochre matte board.  I used the Tim Holtz Ornamental die for the outside and the Tim Holtz Mini Ticket Set die for the inside.  I then embossed the frame with a Cuttlebug embossing folder and added some distress ink to the edges.

For the first inside page, I printed brown text on a pink background onto cardstock.  The frame was cut from maroon matte board using the Sizzix Frame die.  I embossed the frame with the same Cuttlebug embossing folder as used on the cover. The flower was made using the Tim Holze Mini Tattered Floral Set and the Tim Holtz Tattered Flower Garland.  The bottom and top petal layers were cut from paper, while the middle layer was cut from the same maroon matte board as the frame.  I attached the flower using foam dots to add some dimension.

For some of the pages I added photos of the couple (which were happily supplied by my sister) printed onto cardstock behind small frames.  For the top photo frame I cut maroon matte board using the Tim HoltzTag and Bookplate die.  For the bottom photo frame I cut white matte board with a added top layer of maroon tissue paper using the Sizzix Heart and Wing Set. The wings were cut from off-white paper using the Sizzix Heart and Wing Set.  The wings were glued to the page while the heart was attached with foam dots to add some dimension.

For this page, I added a "card".  The outer side of the card was cut from beige cardstock using the Sizzix basic Pop 'n Cut die without the insert.  I used a Tim Holtz On The Edge die on the bottom edge.  When I folded the card I offset from the middle to allow the inner card edge to show a little.  I added distress ink to the edges to give an antique feel.  The leaf that keeps the "card" closed is cut from matte board using the Sizzix Leaves die.  I then added distressed ink to its edges.  I used a brass brad to attach it to the paper with a cardboard "washer" in between to allow the leaf to turn.

For the inside of the "card", I cut some brown cardstock using the Sizzix basic Pop 'n Cut die centering the heart from the Sizzix Heart and Wing Set die inside the magnetic opening.  I then cut the center portion again from some contrasting paper and sandwiched a photo of the couple in between.  (This is the only paper that I didn't print; it was left over from another project where I used a sheet of Sara Fera designer series scrapbookking paper from K & Company.)  I used a Tim Holtz On The Edge die on the top edge of the card.  The top heart is cut from the Sizzix Heart and Wing Set die using the same paper but for the an inner piece I used a solid pink.  This was attached with foam dots.  The bottom hearts were also cut from the Sizzix Heart and Wing Set die.  The outer heart frame was glued to the card while the smaller heart was attached with foam dots.  Note that because I offset the front piece of the card that some of the beige shows at the bottom. I guess I could add text here later.

For this page, the photo frame is cut from maroon matte board using one of the Tim Holtz Styled Labels and then cut again with the Sizzix Flower Layers #3.  Then I embossed with a Craft Concepts embossing folder.

The photo frame for this page is cut from yellow matte board using the Tim Holtz Tag and Bookplates die.  I added distress ink to match the colour of the flourishes.

There are about 10 pages that do not contain photoframes.  These I left for guests to sign and write their wishes. Because some of the pages are quite dimensional, I added smaller embellishments to these pages to even out the whole guest book.  The top page includes a gold matte board leaf cut using the Tim Holtz Tattered Leaves die as well as smaller leaves cut from scrap paper using the Tim Holtz Autumn Gatherings die.  The flower on the lower page contains flower layers cut from paper using the Sizzix Flower Layers #3 die and the Tim Holtz Tattered Flower Garland.  This flower was attached with foam dots. Note that the location of this flower hides the brass brad from the leaf closure for the "card" on the reverse page.

 

Two more guest signing pages.  The top has a left over inner heart cut from matte board using the Sizzix Heart and Wings Set die.  To add something different I cut two strips of pink card with scallops using a Tim Holtz On the Edge die and added them to the right bottom corner.  The lower page has an embellishment from gold matte board cut with the Tim Holtz Mini Florish die.

Once all the pages were assembled, I bound the 8 x 8 book with my Rubicoil binder with a white spiral binding.

Ashwin Accordian Album

Little Ashwin hit 1 month and learnt how to smile.  I wanted to mark this momentus occasion. I watched a video by Karen Burniston using a Sizzix die to make a 3-D accordian flip album.  I was not sure whether I wanted to buy this die so I made one without the die.  

As with all their dies, when you are viewing information about this die on the Sizzix website you can see a sample photograph of something made with the die and usually a line drawing of the die blades.  I followed the line drawing to make this card.  Still not sure if I want to buy this die, but it should be noted that what took me at least 5 hours to make could have been made in under half an hour if I used the die.

My accordian album is 5"x5". The pages use coordinating digital scrapbookking papers printed onto cardstock (if I had to do it again I would print the cardstock on both sides).  This is the front.  The letters were cut using the Tim Holtz Word Play die using scrap matte board which I then coloured using some Tim Holtz distress ink.  I added a felt/wood embellishment of a star with a rocking horse as Ashwin translates to "star" in Sanskrit (trust these young folk to give their kids exotic names).

The accordian album is rather nifty as it folds down flat enough to slip into an envelope, yet opens to quite an impressive size. You can make your album any number of pages; I chose 4.



On the internal pages I added photos of little Ashwin's smiling face which I printed onto cardstock.  The frames were cut using 2 different sizes of Sizzix Bracket Window dies using a blue cardstock.

Red Flower Pop-up Card

Using the Sizzix basic Pop n Cut die I cut both the inner card and the outer card using cardstock from a recycled report cover (the government report was about rare and endangered wildlife species).  I embossed  half of the outside card  using a Cuttlebug embossing folder.

  

For the inner decorative elements, I cut flowers with the Tim Holz Tattered Florals die and the Sizzix Flower Layers #5 using some scrap papers I had left over from other projects.  I attached the flower layers to the pop-up base using a brad.  The leaves were cut with the Tim Holtz Tattered Pinecone die from a postcard advertising a garden lawn service.

This card isn't intended for anyone in particular.  I like to keep spare cards on hand for last minute situations.  Thus, the inside is a bit bare, but I'll add specific things once I have an intended recipient.

Chest of Drawers

I recently purchased the Sizzix Candy Drawer Box die. I've seen a few posts on the web where people have combined a few of them to create a set of drawers and thought they looked great.  My sister's birthday is coming up.   She makes jewellery and always has lots of little bits and bobs that need organizing.

I had a bunch of matte board sitting around from the cut-out portions of an art series I  framed.  I cut 6 sets of drawers and constructed them.  For the drawers to line up I found it best to stick to the same material for all drawers.  Also important is to place the double overlapping sides of the cases along the same edges.

I covered the fronts with decorative paper (printed digital scrapbookking papers onto textured sketching paper).

Using the same matte board I cut pieces to form the outer top, bottom, sides and back.  I sanded and distressed the edges with distress ink. To construct the boxes I used double-sided tape, but for the outer pieces I used wet glue to give me a longer set time.  This required the use of clothes pegs for clamps and weights.

For the drawer pulls, I raided by button bucket.  I punched two small holes in each drawer front and tied the buttons to the drawers with thin leather cord.

Because the drawers are all the same size, they can be rearranged to suite your design and colour fashion whim.  Happy Birthday Della!

Wedding Card

It's wedding day for my neice Morgan and I've made a card/gift folder for the occasion. It's a standard 4x6 card with an opening flap on the right.  For the card base I cut, scored and folded an old file folder.  I then covered the various panels with pieces from a 12x12 sheet of double-sided scrapbook paper from the Susan Winget K&Company Specialty Paper.  I selected this sheet as red and gold are auspicious colours to the Chinese. 

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After gluing all the pieces onto the blank card I used a corner round punch on the short panel edges.  Then I sanded all the folds and edges and added some gold distress ink.

In keeping with the bird theme on the paper I added a gold bird cut from scrap matte board using the Tim Holtz Bird Branch die.  This I added using foam dots to raise it a bit (and to allow for the cord).

The card was to serve as a gift holder, so I cut a shape using half of the Tim Holtz Ornamental die and added it using foam dots to allow for the thickness of the intended cheque.

I cut  from scrap white card using the Sizzix Leaves die, wrote "Welcome to Married Life" and our names and attached it to the inside of the card with a heart-shaped paper clip.

I stamped with gold ink a red envelope with the happy couple's names and added another bird to tie it all together.

To keep the card closed I used a length of gold stretch cord saved from a Christmas past.

Once the cheque is removed and the leaves unclipped, the card can be regifted.

Wedding Guest Book

Inspired by Sizzix and Jonathan Fong, I made a wedding guest book for my niece's upcoming wedding. I printed all the papers using digital scrapbooking files, onto a slightly textured light sketching paper which I trimmed down to 8-1/2x11 and ran through a laser printer.  The papers were then trimmed to 8x8.  The cover papers were printed on sticky-backed label paper which I adhered to a recycled cereal box also sized to 8x8.  All the matte board used was saved from a framer's garbage bin.

For the bride and groom's names on he cover, I matched the colours of the cover and printed brown lettering onto a light blue background.  The font for the names is Scriptina, a free font from the internet.  The frame was cut using a maroon matte board .  I first used the Tim Holtz Ornamental die, then cut out the inside using the Mini Tickets Set.  I then embossed the frame with a Cuttlebug flourish folder.

For the front inside page I printed black text onto a tourquise background onto card stock.  The frame was cut using the Sizzix Frame die.  I embossed the frame with the same Cuttlebug embossing folder and added some distress ink to the raised areas.  I added a die cut of the Tim Holtz Bird Branch behind the frame which I coloured with various colours of distress ink.

For some of the pages I wanted to have photos of the happy couple. 
For this page I started by printing a photo of the happy couple onto card and on the reverse printed a mustard colour similar to one of the colours on the background paper.  I carefully cut the photo using the Sizzix Bag with Scallop die, but instread of folding on the creases to make a bag I folded in half.  I trimmed the bottom edge using a corner round punch.  I then embossed the front and added a light bit of distress ink to the raised areas.  The little leaf that keeps the "card" closed is cut from brown card using the Tim Holtz Autumn Gatherings Sizzlet die.  I used a brad to attach it to the paper with a cardboard "washer" in between to allow the leaf to turn.  The flowers are cut from the Tim Holtz Tattered Flowers die.  The maroon larger flower was cut from card that I printed to match the leaves on the background paper.  The top white flower was embossed with a Sizzix dot embossing folder.  The flowers were attached using foam dots to add some dimension.

Some of the fancier pages. 

For this page I used the Sizzix Flourish die and the Tim Holtz Mini Hearts Set to cut matte board and tried to echo the feel of the background paper.   The hearts were again embossed.  The frame for the photograph was cut using the Tim Holtz Tag and Bookplate die and coloured with distress ink.

The background paper for this page had green birds and branches, so I die cut birds using the Tim Holtz Caged Bird die and embossed.  The birds were cut from card that I printed to match the green in the background paper.  The frame for the photograph was cut using the Tim Holtz Alterations Tag and Bookplate die and coloured with distress ink.

The frame for this photo started with the remaining cut out piece from the cover (Tim Holtz Mini Ticket Set) with an added cut out using the Tim Holtz Mini Hearts Set.  The flowers were cut from card left over from pervious pages and uses the Tim Holtz Tattered Flowers die. The top flower was embossed using a Sizzix dot folder.  The flower was attached using foam dots to add some dimension.

I created about 10 signing pages which were not as embellished as much as the other pages. 

The flowers on the this page were cut using the Tim Holtz Tattered Flowers.  Again I used card that I had printed for previous pages.  The flower was attached using foam dots to add some dimension.

The flowers on this page were cut using the Tim Holtz Tattered Floral Garland Sizzlet die.  The little white flowers were embossed with a Sizzix dot folder. The little green backing for the flowers was the remaining cut out piece from one of the previous photo frames.

Once all the pages were assembled, I bound the 8x8 book with my Rubicoil binder with a white spiral binding.

October 29 update: This post has been so popular, I made another guest book for a nephew.  You can view it in a later post.