Thank You Gatefold Card with Hero Arts

Hi everyone! The challenge at a2z Scrapbooking this month is Fun Folds so I decided to make a gatefold card.  I've never made one before and I am seeing so many beautiful new dies that are coming out that can be used as the flaps for gatefold cards I thought that perhaps I should try my hand at one!  I hope you enjoy my creation!

What I Used to Make my Card:
Water Color Paper {8 1/2 x 11"}
White Card {4 1/4 x 5 1/2"}
Scrap Light Blue, Dark Blue, & White Card
Oxide Inks in Shades of Blue & Purple
Hero Arts White Detail Embossing Powder, #PW122 
Versamark Watermark Ink Pad, #VC250
Hero Arts Lucky Star stamp set, #CM315
Hero Arts Lucky Star die set, #DI586
Hero Arts Ink in Intense Black, #AF345 
Hero Arts Thanks Stamp & Cut, #DC152
Die-Namics Stitched Fishtail Sentiment Strips Dies

Watercolor Paper {I use this} for stamped images

Zig Clean Color Brush Markers

Adhesive & Watercolor Brush of Your Choice

The first step I took when making this card was making the gate-fold out of watercolor paper.  I cut the card to fit on an A2 base, which was cut out of white card.  I left the folds long, so the dimensions of the gatefold are 4 1/4" high by 11" long.  I just folded the panels around the piece of white card I used for the base {where I eventually attached the watercolor gatefold.}  I used Oxide Inks in shades of blue and purple to make both sides of the watercolor paper look like a night sky.  This took me the longest as I would add the ink to the paper, spritz with the Distress Sprayer and then either use my heat gun to dry, or leave the paper to dry on its own.  Since I hadn't used this watercolor paper before {in fact, I'm not even sure of the brand; it was just mixed in with my loose card stock}, I didn't want to take the chance of the paper pilling or ripping from too much work, so I took about three days to build up the color to match a summer night sky.  The paper also cracked some when I folded it so I filled in the white with a few of the same inks to have it blend in as much as possible.  Like I said, I did both sides of this paper so I think it was important to take my time to get the colors just right.

Inside the Card

While my gatefold paper was drying in between building the colors, I stamped the people and the cat onto watercolor paper and colored them with my markers.  Once they were dry, I figured out where I wanted to place them and stamped the stars and the saying with Versamark Ink, embossed them with white detail embossing powder, then attached the figures so they would appear to be looking up at the sky.  The set comes with an adorable dog as well as the cat but I wasn't happy with how it came out when I colored it.  Next I attached the watercolor panel with all of the people and embossing inside to the single piece of white card.  I really wanted this card to fit in an A2 envelope so I could mail it without it costing too much.  While all the card construction was done and sitting under the tile to dry, I made the band that holds the gatefolds closed.  This band is called a belly band {I have absolutely NO idea why} and I made mine out of a strip of white card that I had lying around.  There are no absolutes for the band and, while a lot of folks use ribbon, I wanted to add a word die as sort of the reason I was sending the card.  I cut the word thanks out of dark blue card, made a fishtail banner out of white card and used a bit of light blue scrap to add some interest {and to separate the white banner from the white of the band}, then attached all of that to my band.  I like that I can always make another band for this card if I decide to send it for another reason and that was the main reason I used the sentiment inside the card that can be used for any reason.  

That's how I made my first gatefold card.  I'm excited to try and make one with the fancy gatefolds now that I've gotten over my fear {I fear every new technique I try; I find if I just don't think about it and dive right in, my fear goes away regardless of how the project comes out.}  I hope you will join us at a2z Scrapbooking this month and show off your favorite Fun Fold card!  Thanks so much for reading all of my ramblings.  

Don't forget to use my discount code CHRISTI15 to get 15% off your purchases of $25 or more before shipping cost.  Also we are the exclusive retailer of Hero Arts digital stamps {and we also carry Sugar Tree Digital Stamps}, so if that is your preferred method of stamping, please go take a look.  Thank you so much and see you soon!  Fondly, Christi

 
I am entering my Thanks Gatefold Card in the following challenges:
Creative Fingers Challenge - #162, Anything Goes
Penny's Paper Crafty Challenge - #426, Anything Goes
Happy Crafter - M, Anything Goes
Little Red Wagon - #493, Look Up, Way Up
Ike's World - #119, Die Cuts
Classic Design Team Challenge - #4, Anything Goes

May All Your Wishes Come True - Hero Arts Kit

I've been lucky enough to be able to subscribe to what I think is hands down the BEST paper kit out there, My Monthly Hero by Hero Arts.  I've tried other kits and, while there is nothing wrong with them, the one thing I like best about My Monthly Hero is that they include dies in their kits.  Not too many kits give you stamps {and a FULL set of stamps, not just two or three individual stamps}, dies, paper - you can count on those each month.  In addition you might get some ink cubes, glitter, embossing powder, glimmer spray or lacquer, stickers, gel pens - basically if you want or need it for paper crafting, it's included.  Can you tell I'm a huge fan?  On top of ALL that, they release companion products; other stamps, dies, stencils and more!

Here is a cute, clean and simple card I made with the December 2018 kit:

What I Used to Make my Card:
White Card Base
Watercolor Paper {I use this}

Ranger Archival Ink in Jet Black

Zig Clean Color Brush Markers

My Monthly Hero Kit, Hero Arts, January 2019
Tutti Designs Scalloped Stitched Nesting Dies, #TUTTI-419
Dimensional Dots
Sakura Gelly Roll Stardust Clear Glitter Pen {I got mine in the MHK December 2018}

This card was a cinch to make!  First, I stamped all of the elements on watercolor paper with the Jet Black ink, colored them, and once they fully dried, cut them out with the matching dies.  I took a plain, white, A2, card blank and cut out the scalloped circle for the front.  I mounted the mouse with dimensional dots and glued the little dandelion parachutes right onto the card.  Lastly, the sentiment was stamped.

That's it!  There isn't much room on the inside to write anything more than a small salutation, but you could always go on to the back of your card if need be.  

I'm following the dandelion craze of late {as my credit card can attest} and I'm gathering quite a few stamp sets but this is one of my absolute favorites.  I love how each piece of the dandelion has it's own die so you can add as many seed bearing, umbrella, feathery bristles as you want either by stamping directly or cutting them out.  I looked up what these little floating, feathery, parachute things are actually called and technically they are called a 'pappus,' which I never knew.  All I knew is my dad used to have a fit when I blew all the fuzzies off the dandelions!  Feel free to look it up yourself and check out all the different ways people describe them.  Now you can say you weren't wasting time online because you actually learned something!  I personally like "seed bearing parachutes" which was what one person called them.  

Well, I hope you enjoyed my card.  I truly appreciate each and every comment, and if you do leave one, please leave your personal blog address so I can stop by and oooh and ahhh over your creations!  Fondly, Christi

I am entering my cute little mouse card in the following challenges:
A Place to Start - M, Inspirational
613 Avenue - M, Anything Goes TWIST: Use an animal
Crazy for Challenges - #472, Show a Pet on your Card {while *I* don't own a mouse, I know people who have - and I had a hamper once, hope it counts!}
Cardz TV - Anything Goes
Creative Fingers - M, #158, Anything Goes
Creative Friday - #224, Use Only 3 Colors {Black, Gray & Pink}
Mod Squad Challenge - Only Name Brand clear/rubber stamps
Die Cuttin' Diva's - #408, Random Acts of Kindness
The Cat's Pajama's - #354, Furry Friends {graphic below}
Sparkles Monthly - M, #113, Include an Animal 

I just have to say it is so weird to enter these animal challenges with a MOUSE instead of a CAT {like I typically do!}  My furbabies forgive me though, I think they do. . .  

Anything New with Die Cut Diva's

Happy New Year! I hope your holiday season was wonderful!  Since it is a new year, Die Cut Diva's has chosen the January 2019 challenge to be Anything New and we are sponsored by the fabulous Bugaboo Digi's.  Bugaboo is offering a

$12 gift certificate to our winner; you can get some great digi's with that much credit!  For my Anything New entry I used these Altenew dies which are brand new and, honestly,  I probably would not have purchased them myself, so I consider them a new design for me as well.  They came in a box of stamps and dies I had bought from a designer; lots of popular designers get so much given to them and they typically design for more than one team, that they can't possibly use it all.  Now, since they can't resell the items {which I didn't know}, a few have put together charity boxes where they stuff as much product as they can into a box, sell the box, and then the proceeds go to their charity of choice.  It's a win for everyone; the designers get to clear out some stash, the buyer gets FANTASTIC deals on stuff, and the charity gets money!  

What I Used to Make My Card:
White Card Base
Grey,  White, Yellow, Red, Orange, Blue, Green & Purple Card
Altenew Shattered Triangles Die Set, #ALT2031
Die-Namics Fishtail Sentiments Strips Die
Altenew Painted Rose Stamps, #ALT1542
Wendy Vecchi Ink in Watering Can
Line Stitched Die {literally a metal line with a pattern on it - manufacturer unknown}
3mm Crystals
Orange Copic Marker

Click to make photo larger

The first step in making this card was cutting out all of the triangles.  I used the smaller set of dies and I first cut out the top of six triangles in white, which are actually the detailed dies in the picture, then cut out the bases, the solid die.  I made a "cheat" sheet of how the dies look so it would be easier for you to understand my references.  Then I cut out the colors using the detailed top again.  I chose muted primary colors - not exactly pastel but I didn't want the colors to be the focus of attention.  I wanted you to notice the intricate detailed "tops." 

Tons of Triangles

Once all the triangles were pieced together and glued, I set them aside.  I cut a panel from gray card and covered the white card base.  Then I used the fishtail die to cut a small banner.  The sentiment was stamped onto a scrap piece of white card.  I wanted some stitching on the sentiment panel but I don't have a die the right size; this is where the line dies come in handy.  I used the stitched one and put stitching on the top and bottom of the sentiment, tucked the gray banner under it, and attached those to the card.  While I was pleased with the triangles, I felt they need a little something more so I put matching gems on each one.  I didn't have an orange gem to match so I colored a clear one with an orange Copic marker.

Finally, after trying out many configurations, I decided to just glue the triangles

Another Peek

randomly onto the card.  I did keep the colors in rainbow order but I didn't place the triangles in any special manner.  I love this card and I'm already thinking of ways to use these triangles; I could cut them out in red and green for the holidays, metallics for special occasions, and tones of red for Valentine's Day!  Making this card has opened up so many possibilities for the geometric dies I have.  I'm thinking of how I could use all the shapes I have in different ways, other than just to mat images or sentiments.  

I hope your imagination has gotten a bit of a spark from this creation and you look at your geometric shape dies in a different way!  I especially hope to see your Anything New entry in this month's challenge.  It's the perfect time to try a new technique, new stamp set, and of course, new dies!  Thank you so much for stopping by!  I'd love to visit you back so be sure to leave your blog, Instagram and/or Pinterest link in your comment.  See you again soon!   Fondly, Christi

Since I posted this late, I am now entering my Card in the following challenges:
Fab 'n Funky - #422, New Beginnings {well, new product?}
City Crafter - #444, Give Piece a Chance
Cuttlebug Mania - New {new product}
Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Use Something New
Make my Monday - #87, Use Words or a Sentiment
Challenge Up Your Life - #103, New {new product}
Papercraft Business Challenge - Anything Goes, option of New Beginnings 
Take It, Make It - M, Anything Goes
Cardz TV - #80, Anything Goes
Happy Little Stampers - Anything Goes w/ Dies

Stinkin' Inkers Wishy Washi Challenge

** Yes, this posted early.  Yes, it is my mistake.  Yes, I'm sorry.  Please do join the challenge, due to begin Tuesday, March 7.  Meanwhile, Love is in the Air is still going until March 6!

Hello everyone! Let me just say I am not a washi tape person.  I didn't go crazy {unbelievable, but true!} and buy tons of tape when it first came out.  In fact, for the longest time all I had was the first batch made by Tim Holtz.  But, the more I saw the creative ways people used washi tape, the more that helped me slowly collect more.  I still don't have very many {not compared to some of you!} but I did score these beautiful glitter washi tapes at my Dollar Tree.  And then I saw the sequins that matched and had to buy those, too!  Out of those two supplies was born my "Wishy Washi" card for the March Challenge at Stinkin' Inkers. 

What I Used to Make my Card:
White Card Base
Scrap Paper
Washi Tape, Glitter Purple & Pink
Spellbinders Nestabilities, Curved Rectangles, #S5-006
Distress Ink in Wilted Violet
Sentiment by Riley & Co., Funny Bones, Supermodel, #RWD-399
Sequins
6mm White Craft Foam {Michael's}
Acetate
MISTI
Copic Markers that Match the Frame

Before I get into the card, I need to share this ENABLER alert! The dies I used to make this card are on sale at Spellbinders for $6.99! Regular price is $19.99, so that is a SUPER deal, even if it is getting discontinued!

First, I used a piece of scrap cardstock to layer the washi tape, alternating
the two colors.  The only issue with Dollar Tree glitter washi tape is that the

glitter isn't that great at staying on the tape.  I got glitter everywhere; and I am still finding glitter in places it has no business being.  However, the loss of glitter didn't effect the tape at all, so I guess that makes up for it. I looked on the Dollar Tree website and couldn't find any glitter washi but it's readily available elsewhere or you may be lucky and find some at your local Dollar Tree store.

I thought I'd show you how I make sure the frame of my shaker card matches up with the acetate.  Now, you don't have to be exact; I could have cut out a plain rectangle for the shaker window but I think it adds to the construction of the card if everything is as close to the same shape as can be.  What I did was use removable tape to hold the dies together so when I cut the frame and then the foam the dies stayed in the same place for both.  You can't really see the removable tape but I use it SO much I have a dispenser on the same table as my Big Shot.  It's cheap and I typically don't have an issue with it sticking when it isn't wanted.  I used the dies three times {the frame, the foam, and the acetate} and the removable tape worked wonderfully.  I know some crafters use washi tape to hold their dies in place; I tried that but promptly lost misplaced the roll I'd designated for that purpose in the mess on my die cutting table. Like I said, I have a dispenser - one of the old, heavy ones that teachers used to use in the classroom, and that's fairly hard to lose.

Once all my pieces were cut, I stamped the sentiment on the white card base, using my MISTI and the dies to ensure I placed it correctly.  I adore the whole Funny Bones line of Riley & Co.; they are just as snarky as I am!  Besides, who doesn't love a good giggle?  Before I assembled the card, I colored the edges of the craft foam cut out so the edges wouldn't stick out like a sore thumb.  I used Copic markers, but any alcohol ink marker will work {note: if you decide to do this step, make sure you are wearing latex gloves.  The alcohol ink takes a bit to dry on the foam and you don't want to end up with pastel finger tips like I did.} 

Another Look

As you can tell if you are a follower of mine, I love making shaker cards, and this one was a blast to make.  I hope you enjoyed my little tutorial and you should be breaking out your washi tape RIGHT NOW so you can join us at Stinkin' Inkers! Fondly, Christi

I am entering my Shaker Card in the following challenges:
Frilly & Funkie - Get in on the Action
Scrapy Land - Anything Goes
Craftaholics R Us - #9, Sequins
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes (#2)
My Favorite Stamps - #374, Sketch Challenge
Die Cut Divas - M,  Monochrome
Stamps & Fun - Glitter
Time Out Challenges - Be Bold!
4 Crafty Chicks - #392, Anything Goes TWIST: Add a Sentiment

Feed Me!

I love cats.  I am currently owned by four felines {The Fabulous Feline Four}

and I am obsessed with them.  I can talk about my cats like other people talk about their children. I've been looking forward to this fantastically fun blog hop ALL year! Janis, at Her Peaceful Garden, started this hop a while  ago and it has been wildly successful - I mean who doesn't have any cat stamps?!?! I have a huge amount of cats stamps and every time I see one I like, I might not buy it right away, but it's gonna get bought! Stop by for the next five days and hopefully get a chuckle out of my cats cards; better yet, make your own and enter the hop!

What I Used to Make my Card:
Square White Card Base {5 1/4" x 5 1/4"}
Cheap Alphabet Sets or Letter Stamps
Judikins Purring, Purring Cat, #3395E
Judikins Black Cat, #2725E
My Favorite Things I Knead You Stamps, #BB14
Meow Stamp {manufacturer out of business}
Computer Generated Sentiment
Ranger Archival Ink in Jet Black
Hero Arts Ink in Cup 'o Joe
MISTI 

This was a super easy card to make.  I started by stamping the two cats on the square card using the jet black ink; I have removed the 2 cat stamps from the wood blocks because it was very difficult to get a good, solid image and now I can stamp them over and over with the MISTI until they are nice and black.  Then I set to work making my own stamps.  It isn't difficult and if you have no alphabet sets you can sometimes pick them up for a dollar at the major chain stores.  I have quite a few old alphabet sets, and they are all wood mounted.  I was a die hard "mount your

stamp on wood" stamper; until I saw how much more economical it was to buy them unmounted, and now it's  cheaper to buy the clear stamps. Anyway, if you have designated a few alphabet stamp sets you don't mind using {you're going to have to ruin them, if you consider un-mounting them ruining them}, just peel the letters off the adhesive; and off the wood if they are mounted.  Then you are free to make your own words.  All I did was adhere my chosen letters to a piece of cardstock, then I used the MISTI, attaching the stamp with a bit of non-permanent adhesive roll tape {the kind that comes out of the dispenser}.  So easy and I am happy I thought of a way to recycle those teeny tiny letter stamps. You can just reuse them by taking them off the card stock. The red letters I used in this project actually came with something or other to attach them to so you could make your own words and sentences.  It didn't work, so I threw out the thingamajig, took the adhesive off the back and viola! I have custom words!  

So, I had my card with the two black kitties on it, I computer generated my sentiment {which reads "When you have been gone for a while and your cat greets you like this:" the meows are stamped, then the second half reads: "They are really saying this:" then feed me is stamped}, colored the cardstock with the Hero Arts Ink, very lightly.  I then stamped the fish around the bottom part of the card using the same Hero Arts ink.  The meow stamp was stamped at an angle.  I then used adhesive dimensional dots to put the sentiment onto the card.  The whole process was very easy and so much fun.  I love it when my cats are sarcastic and snarky {they learn from the best!}.

Before I close, let me invite you to enter a little giveaway I'm having:

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

I’m having a small drawing on my blog.  All you need to do is click onto this post, chose the costume you like best & when I get 75 costume comments (or on Nov. 1, whichever comes first), I’ll draw a random winner.  Open Internationally! Please feel free to share!

EXPIRES Nov. 1, 2017

Thanks SO much for stopping by! Hope to see you at the Cat Lovers' Blog Hop 2017and don't forget to share my little giveaway! Hugs, Christi

I am entering my card in the following challenges, besides the Blog Hop:
SUYP - #23, M, Anything Goes of Meow-lew-ween 
Southern Girls Challenge - Crazy for Critters

Truly, Madly, Deeply

Hi Dies R Us friends, it's Christi here today to show you a lovely card.  I think you should shower your friends and loved ones with gifts, cards and fun all year round and while this card is perfect for Valentine's, it's also perfect to give as a little reminder about how much you care.

What I Used to Make my Card:
Pearlized Blue Cardstock
White Card Base
Distress Oxide Ink background (pre-made on watercolor paper)
Distress Oxide Ink in Faded Jeans
Ken Oliver Liquid Metals in Pewter
Memory Box Small Fairytale Oval #99172
Hero Arts, You Are My Happy, # CL923 (available everywhere)
Sizzix/Tim Holtz Labels, #660060
Corner Punch
Clear Embossing Powder
Pop Dots
Metal Adapter Plate (I use this with every die cut I make)

When I originally made this card I had made 2 versions.  I had made 2 Oxide Ink backgrounds and wasn't thrilled with either of them.  I had attempted to scratch on this background using a toothpick and Ken Oliver Liquid Metals, but it came out horrid.  Unfortunately, the other card didn't make it to the finals, but I'm really happy with the one that did make it.

So I have this background that I strongly dislike.  But, is it sparkly due to using the Liquid Metals.  I had just gotten the Fairytale Oval and I thought that the delicate shape of that die would, perhaps, bring out the beauty of the background paper.

I cut the Small Fairytale Oval out of the background paper, and I really did like the way the sweet flowers and leaves softened the harshness of the paper.  So I built the rest of the card around that.  I chose a pearlized blue paper I have had in my stash forever, and stamped my sentiment on a piece using Oxide

ink in Faded Jeans, embossing it with clear embossing powder.  Now, it took me a while to find a sentiment that fit inside the oval.  I knew the look I wanted, I could see it in my mind, and all I had to do was make it a reality.  I found the perfect fitting sentiment from Hero Arts.  I cut out the sentiment using the Labels set, layered the Fairytale Oval over the die cut sentiment and then I pop dotted that onto my panel of the same pearlized blue card.  I punched the corners of the panel and set it aside.  I took my white card base and lightly ran the Oxide Ink Faded Jeans ink pad around the outside of the white card, coloring it blue.  I attached the panel onto the card base and I was done!  I adore this card, blue

being one of my very favorite colors, the font that was used in the sentiment, the way the oval compliments the card; just adore the entire card!  I hope you like it as much as I do!  Now, it's your turn to break out your dies, create something you love and enter it in the fortnightly challenge! You can get all the info about Dies R Us from the easy links below.  Thanks!! Christi

Don't forget to play along at the Dies R Us Challenge Blog for your chance to win a gift voucher to the Dies R Us Store.  A new challenge begins on the first and fifteenth of every month.  

Be sure to Follow Us on FACEBOOK too. 

click below for:

STORE

CHALLENGE BLOG
FACEBOOK
INSPIRATION BLOG

FRIENDS OF DIES R US PINTEREST PAGE

I am entering my Truly, Madly, Deeply card in the following challenges:

Daisy Chain Challenge - M, #10, Floral

Happy Little Stampers Dies Challenge - M, Anything Goes

kreativeinkauf Challenge - M, Use Dies or Punches

heARTFUL Stamping Challenge - M, Anything Goes w/ a Stamp

Stamping Sensations - M, Anything Goes w/ Flowers

A Blog Named Hero - M, Florals

a2Z Scrapbooking - M, Anything Goes

The Floral Challenge - #10, Embossing Heat/Dry

DL Art - M, July Linky Challenge

Scrapy Land - M, Anything Goes

Stamp, Ink, Paper - #108, Fabulous Flowers