The Crafty Thinker: Stephanie Fischer - Independent Stampin' Up Demonstrator

Friday, 6 May 2016

You've Got This Copper Thank You Card

Since it's Friday (I know, where does time go!) my card today is entered into the Project Highlights, which is HUGE today with projects from talented people from all over the planet - well worth a visit if you haven't already!

It's official - I'm completely addicted to copper! It's one of the new products in the 2016-2017 Annual Catalogue (to be launched 1 June). Today I've been copper heat embossing anything that stayed still long enough!

I can tell that I'll be needing more Copper Embossing Powder before long!

SU, sneak peek new catalogue, You've Got This, turning brads to copper colour

The copper looks equally good against dark or lighter shadess!

The base of this card is a 5.5" square of Crumb Cake cardstock with layers of Early Espresso, Crumb Cake and the utterly gorgeous new Specialty DSP called Affectionately Yours. This is one of the sheets that features beautiful copper highlights.

I used the flower from You've Got This and heat embossed in copper (of course!) on Early Espresso cardstock. Then I added some black shading with a Basic Black Stampin' Write Marker and a Blender Pen.

The greeting is from Rose Wonder and is copper embossed onto Basic Black card cut with one of the dies from Project Life Cards and Labels.

I cut some Crumb Cake card with one of the Lots of Labels dies and wrapped some Basic Black Stitched Satin Ribbon around it before I adhered the fussy cut flower. I then added a couple of Mini Brads. But wait .... they're copper! I transformed them into copper brads along with the two Candy Dot Bases and the Antique Brad. It's so easy to do ... and that's where the addiction sets in! Simply give them a coat of Versamark and dip them into the embossing powder. Then melt the embossing powder with a heat tool. It's a good idea to hold the items (especially if they're metal) with some tweezers so that you don't burn your fingers! I added some Crumb Cake Candy Dots to my newly copper Candy Dot Bases.

I finished the piece off with a Basic Black bow.

So to whom am I going to send this card? - Well, she's a very inspirational lady! If you pop back on Sunday, you'll know who I mean!

You might want to take some time to visit the amazing Project Highlights over on Kylie Bertucci's blog and vote for your favourites.

Thanks for visiting and I hope you like my card.

'Til next time
Stephanie

Product List - to purchase in my online store - click on a product image (Australian Residents only)

Wednesday, 4 May 2016

Vintage Leaves Half Swing Card Masculine 70th birthday card

We had the pleasure, today, of attending the 70th birthday party of a dear friend and this is the card I made for him. It's a half swing card which I've decorated with Vintage Leaves.

I have also made a video tutorial for this card.

I've taken photos from a variety of angles in attempt to record the three dimensional nature of the card.

SU, Half Swing card tutorial, Vintage Leaves, Masculine card, 70th Birthday card

The front of the unopened half swing card feating Vintage Leaves

This is the front of the card and how it looks when it's closed.

The card is made from cardstock in one of the new In Colours - Dapper Denim (141434). I'm completely besotted with this colour!

I die cut the centre of card and also made the frame using the new Layering Squares Framelits (141708) that will be released with the new Annual Catalogue on 1 June 2016.

The frame and banner are made from Sahara Sand cardstock and inside the frame is a tag of Tangelo Twist, to which I've adhered the number 70,

The numbers are stamped (using the Number of Years set) in Early Espresso ink onto Sahara Sand cardstock and then I applied a coat of gold Wink of Stella.

I die cut the numbers with the matching Large Numbers Framelits.

I stamped a variety of the leaves from Vintage Leaves in Basic Black ink to the following cardstock: Sahara Sand, Cajun Craze and Early Espresso.

The card looks so different (and just as great!) from every angle

The leaves are randomly sponged with Dapper Denim, Early Espresso, Pumpkin Pie and Cajun Craze ink.

I glued the leaves in place, being careful not to foul the opening mechanism, before adding the number-bearing tag.

The greeting is a sneak peek of one the greetings included with the new stamp set Mixed Borders (141932) that's in the new Annual Catalogue. I stamped it in Basic Black onto Sahara Sand cardstock and then hand cut it into a banner.

I cut a strip of Whisper White cardstock to fit inside the card
(1 7/8" x 5 1/8") and stamped it with a birthday greeting from the Tin of Cards stamp set.

I've included a diagram, dimensions and instructions below and there is also an accompanying video tutorial.

The little attaching tabs are hidden once the card is finished

With a half swing card, the front panel of the card is still visible when the card is open!

The Vintage Leaves are overlapped and adhered to the centre square panel of the card.

Instructions:

This diagram provides dimensions, scoring and glue positions

Cut Piece 1 to 8.5" x 5.5". Score and fold at 4.25"
Use a die to remove a piece from the centre of the front of the card. Keep the die cut.
Cut Piece 2 to 6.5" x 5.25". Score at 2", 4" and 6"
On side with the 1/4" fold - cut from the edge as far as the score line 1/4" from each side of the card and then cut along the score line between these two cuts to remove the centre centre. This will leave two small flaps.
Fan fold Piece 2 on the score lines and place adhesive on the back of part A.
Adhere part A to the edge of Pieced 1, as shown.
Place adhesive on the flaps and close the card to adhere the flaps to the inside of the front of the card.
With the card closed, place adhesive on the bit of Piece 2 that is showing through the aperture.
Place the die cut back into place to adhere it to Piece 2.
Decorate as desired.

Thank you for your visit. Do have a look at the accompanying video tutorial.

'Til next time
Stephanie

Product List - click on an image below to make a purchase from my online store (Australian residents only)

Monday, 2 May 2016

Sneak Peek - Baby Bear Anniversary Card

SU, Baby Bear, Anniversary Card, Sneak Peek, Annual Catalogue

The Baby Bear couple are sitting on a Boho Chic Embossed background

Just how much manipulation can a bear bear?!!!

The inspiration for this card came from On Stage. Sara Douglass demonstrated the Baby Bear set, tilting the bear's head by chopping it off and re-setting it! We all gasped as she beheaded the bear but the end result was impressive. She credited her concept artist with the idea. So thank you, Sara Douglass' concept artist!

So I too did major surgery on the poor, unsuspecting bear! When I reconstructed him, I used the bow to fill in some space so that I could stretch his neck and make him look bigger than his wife.

New products used in this project: Baby Bear 141859
This is a beautiful three-step stamp kit. It's easy to change the colour/look of the bear by changing one or all of the inks used in the stamping process. There are also some great sentiments in the set too - as well as baby greetings there is also: Love You and Thank You - making it suitable for a variety of occasions.

A great sentiment for weddings and anniversaries

Thank you beary much for your visit!

'Til next time
Stephanie

Product List - click on an image below to shop in my online store

Sunday, 1 May 2016

Peak A Boo garden with Peak A Boo Peach - Sneak Peek 2016-2017 Annual Catalogue

After my previous Peak A Boo appeared in one of my posts, several people asked me for a tutorial - so I'm happy to say that today's card is the end result of a video tutorial! Click here to see the video.

I changed the layout and sizes a little but it's the same basic methodology.

SU, Sneak Peek, Peakaboo card tutorial, Fun Fold,Sitting here, Timeless Textures

The main image combines the stamp sets: Timeless Textures and the brand new set Sitting Here

Thank you again to Norma Lee at Splitcoaststampers from whom I learned about Peak A Boo cards!

As the card is opened, the dog becomes a cat!

I chose the colour of the cardstock for the card based entirely on name - what better for a Peak A Boo card than Peakaboo Peach?!! Then I ran into trouble trying to quickly (I was on a mission!) find decorative paper to go with it! Under normal circumstances, I'm sure I would have chosen a different colour scheme but, hopefully, the video will successfully show how I make a Peak A Boo card with the window in the corner and all will be forgiven!

I cut the windows and frames with the new Layering Squares Framelits that will be released on 1st June with the launch of the new Annual Catalogue. I love the fact that this set allows for many combinations: straight edges, scalloped edges and many sizes. There are 19 (I know - a nightmare for a pedantic person like me!) framelits in the set which can be mixed and matched.

I'm not in love with the colour comibination - I was trying to make the video quickly!

The windows I cut are 2 1/8" and I combined that framelit with the 2 1/2" scalloped framelit for the frame. The layers for the "For You" greeting are: 2 1/8" scalloped square and 1 7/8" straight sided square.

Inside the card I used an offcut of Whisper White cardstock that I trimmed to 4" x 2 5/8" and decorated with the flourish from the Timeless Textures stamp set (in Peak A Boo Peach, stamped off). This will be my panel to write my message to the recipient of this card.

This angle gives a better idea of how the card fits together

Another view to give an idea of the mechanism and how to attach the pieces.

I have added some diagrams below for those who prefer the written to the video. It looks more complicated than it is!

Instructions:

I cut three pieces of Peak A Boo Peach cardstock:
Piece 1: 9.5" x 4.75";
Piece 2: 9" x 6" and
Piece 3: 6.25" x 6"
Score Piece 1 in half at 4.75" and fold
Score Piece 2 at 3" (along the long side) and fold back on the left side
Score Piece 3 at 6" and fold back the 1/4" tab
I adhered the patterned card to these pieces in positions A, B and D in the diagrams above.
Turning Piece 2 to the back, I positioned the square die with the blade up against the edge of the folded over card in the lower right quadrant.
Then I placed the folded Piece 1 under Piece 2, with the cut edges lined up, and drew around the edges of the window I had cut. Removing Piece 2, I used the pencil lines to position the square die (with the piece still folded) and cut a window in the first layer. Opening up Piece 2, I then positioned the square die in the groove left from the first pass through the Big Shot and cut the last window.
I refolded Piece 1 and put adhesive over the front. Lining up the windows and the cut edges, I then adhered this to the back of Piece 2.
I made three frames from Peak A Boo cardstock and glued them into position.
I cut a Peak A Boo mat for the front of the card using a 2 1/8" scalloped square die.
I cut a piece of Whisper White cardstock with a 1 7/8" square die, stamped it and adhered it to the scalloped square.
I added adhesive to the tab on Piece 3 and adhered the tab to the cut edge on the back of the folded Piece 1.
I cut a piece of Whisper White cardstock to 5 1/2" x 2 1/2" and glued this to this inside of the flap on Piece 2 (position C). I then folded the card so that this panel showed through the window and stamped my images (for a larger image, I would lightly draw pencil marks to define the frame area, arrange the card so that the panel was unobstructed and then stamp my image).
I cut a piece of Whisper White cardstock to 5 1/2" square and adhered it to the inside of the back flap (Piece 3). I then folded the card so that this panel showed and stamped my image.

The finished card is 6" square.

Thank you for your visit - Click here if you'd like to see the video tutorial for the peak A Boo card.

'Til next time
Stephanie

Product List - click an image to shop in my online store

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