Last week, we concluded another great year of monthly card classes at Scatter Joy Center for the Arts (www.scatterjoy.org) in Horsham, PA, with a four-card session featuring "Thinking of You" cards. In case you missed it, here are the four cards we made, with some details on creating these yourself. All of the cards shown above are A2-sized (4.25" x 5.5").
1. "With Sympathy" (left): On a raised white horizontal panel, crafters placed a 2" high strip of "Charlotte" Close To My Heart (CTMH) paper (now retired), and a pretty stripe of black with gold ribbon below. Each student stamped "Springtime Wishes" flowers and cut them out using coordinating "Thin Cuts" also from CTMH. The flowers were tinted using a sponge dauber dipped in CTMH Exclusive Inks stamp pads, using Sunset, Desert Sand, and Whisper inks. The flowers were adhered using a glue pen, although the top flower was pop-dotted. All of the flowers were embellished with gold glitter gems. One-inch banner-notched pieces in Charlotte (peach) and Daisy White (stamped "With Sympathy") were added to complete the card.
2. "Wishing you a speedy recovery" (2nd left): Oh so cute!! The A2 base card in Daisy White was layered with a denim print from a retired CTMH paper called "Claire". Once a Daisy White was stamped in black ink from the CTMH stamp set called "Kiss It Better", students embossed a small piece of CTMH Champagne paper, using a Cuttlebug Swiss Dot folder. That piece of paper was ripped, exposing CTMH's white core, and adhered to the white panel using CTMH foam tape. The white panel was wrapped in a sweet ribbon (this one from Really Reasonable Ribbon), and embellished with "band-aids" that had been cut using a Cricut, and stamped with "Kiss It Better"'s complimenting stamp, embellished with CTMH Enameled Hearts.
3. Apron card (2nd right): All of the pieces for this card were cut on my Silhouette Cameo, using a file from the Silhouette Online Store. The base was cut from CTMH Kraft cardstock; the floral print paper is from Jillibean Soup; other solids are by CTMH. The inside (not shown) is a solid Canary cardstock by CTMH, stamped with a new CTMH alphabet found on the stamp set called "Noted." It reads: "What's cooking?"
4. "Keep Your Chin Up" (right): This card features a square flip-fold base, trimmed in CTMH Pear cardstock and highlighted with a retired favorite CTMH paper called "Chantilly." The flowers and the bird were cut from the print pattern on the Chantilly paper. On the inside flip (not shown), the sentiment (also from the retired "Keep Your Chin Up" CTMH stamp set) says "It'll Be Okay." The Tree of Life is also from the same stamp set; it is tipped in pink ShinHan Touch Twin marker (available from CTMH) and glitter gems.
We'll resume our class schedule at SJCA on Saturday, July 23, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. with a very special "Christmas in July" class/crop/gathering. This will feature our annual "Holiday Smorgasbord" of kitted cards, specials and individual time to make your own holiday projects, whether cards or scrapbook layouts. Come prepared for Christmas music! If you can't come all day, plan to stay for the class, from 10-12 a.m.
In the "new year" of CardMonkey card classes, we're looking into establishing a "Third Thirsty Thursday" of BYOB (wine) cardmaking and socialization time in the evening, at SJCA. More info on this to follow!
In two weeks, I will kick off the Holiday Season with the first of several cardmaking classes. Here are the cards and "Box in a Bag" we'll be making on Saturday, July 25 from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. at the Scatter Joy Center for the Arts:
The featured paper that we will be using is called "Yuletide Carol" from Close To My Heart. Participants will first make this "Box in a Bag" to hold all of the cards we'll be making. It has a Colonial White base/box, a neutral beige from Yuletide Carol for the wrap, and Ruby for the handles and top portion. All necessary cuts and instructions will be provided; all you'll have to do is glue/tape!
Then participants will choose five of the nine designed, pre-cut cards that they'd like to make in subsequent class time. Some are a bit more complex, and some are easy-peasy. All come with instructions and necessary cuts. I'll be providing the stamp sets and inks where stamping is required.
Let's look at each of the cards:
I've pre-cut the word "Believe" from CTMH's gold glitter stock using the Cricut/CTMH cartridge called "Artbooking.". It is glued to a Colonial White panel, under which you'll adhere five strips of Yuletide Carol paper. Top with a bow of red satin ribbon and a red pearl, all provided in your kit. The panel is then adhered to a vertical folded A-2 card to finish.
This card looks more complex than it is. Actually, it's cut from a corner of the Yuletide Carol paper. The sentiment is stamped with Versamark and gold embossed -- techniques you'll learn in class. Add some provided red seed pearls, mat on green, and on a card and voila, you're done!
For this cute card, the background is cut from some Yuletide Carol paper, and then the borders are inked with Cocoa ink and a sponge dauber. The center is three layered papers, topped with a wreath that you'll stamp and "fussy cut." Color the beads on the wreath with marker, and affix the birdie. The sentiment is stamped and fussy cut as a banner, under which you'll layer a piece of CTMH gold shimmer trim.
This is one of the more complicated designs, but because the paper is all cut for you, I've taken the guess work out of the project. You'll need to stamp your sentiment in Versamark, heat set your gold embossing powder, and adhere. The gold panels are metallic papers that you'll be running through an embossing machine that I'll provide.
For this card, I'll provide the ornaments to be stamped; they have been cut from a Cricut/CTMH cartridge. Then, top the ornament with a bit of Topiary Chevron ribbon. Ink the edges of the provided paper and add the ornament. Easy!
This "Merry Christmas" card has a large stamped sentiment tied on a tag that has been layered on Yuletide Carol paper. The paper has been inked on all sides with Topiary ink. A bit of twine and glitter trim offer a seasonal juxtaposition that makes the card merry and fun!
This card will take a bit of patience to glue in place, but once you're done, you'll see just how elegant the holly die cut makes this card. I'll provide the pre-cut holly topper that you'll glue in place atop a musical note paper. The sentiment is stamped in Whisper Ink and topped with a bow cut using the Cricut/CTMH Artiste cartridge.
This pretty card is stamped with the angel using Desert Sand ink, and topped with the sentiment stamped in black. Add a few (provided) sequins and you're done!
And last but not least is this easiest of cards. The design with the stockings is cut from a corner of the Yuletide Carol paper, and topped with a cut-out from the versatile Zip-strip at the top of all CTMH paper. Inked edges give this project some definition.
Sign-ups for this class are being handled by the Scatter Joy Center for the Arts. There is a $30 fee, which includes a donation to the nonprofit Scatter Joy Center and all materials. To enroll, please click on this link, but hurry, because space is limited to 10 crafters: http://www.scatterjoyarts.org/event/christmas-in-july-greeting-card-workshop/
