Create Custom Pop-Up Cards for Ooohs and Aaahhhs

For those looking for a custom card, or a greeting card that never fails to draw the "oohs and aaahhs" from a recipient, I've specialized in pop-up cards. And while they look difficult to make, they're really quite easy and addictive. Scroll below and I'll enclose here a template that I use to make my cards.

I was hired by a woman named Pam to make this gorgeous card for her niece, Corin. Pam's direction to me was only that the bride's colors were soft beige and grey, and that I could use any accent colors I chose.  

I used Close To My Heart's Whisper (grey) cardstock as the base, and cut doilies from Close To My Heart's Champagne (soft beige) to cover the base of the box.  The rose/blue designer papers are also from Close To My Heart -- a line called "Heartstrings" (now retired).  I used both paper and sticker "Complements". I added to the center strut the silhouette of the dancing couple, cut using a Silhouette Online Store file, using my Silhouette Cameo.  The image is reflected in the Bazill silver metallic cardstock adhered to the back panel of the card. 

To finish off the elegant box card, I added a customized name plate encircled with a beautiful circle rhinestone from The Buckle Boutique. The edge of the box at the fold also has a line of resin rhinestones cut from a sheet of The Buckle Boutique's Dazzling Diamonds clear resin rhinestone sheets. The man wears a boutonniere of a mini-rosebud trimmed down from a flower I had in my stash from Wild Orchid Crafts.

Let's take a look at another, similar card:

This card used the same basic template, but used a more classic black/white motif to celebrate the wedding of Megan and Robert. The paper used was another retired paper from Close To My Heart, called "Forever Yours."  The same silhouette was cut, this time using black and white to represent the groom and bride. The decorations here are simpler: a trellis of free form roses (also by Wild Orchid Crafts) was affixed to the center strut. I used a slightly larger rhinestone ring from The Buckle Boutique to highlight the wedding couple's names. 

Don't hesitate to try your hand at a Pop-Up Box Card. I promise you that they're so easy, you'll be wondering what took you so long to make your first one!  Here is my template:

The Buckle Boutique blings out a Love Notes card box

For Valentine's Day, why say "I love you" with a simple card, when a set of love cards in a gorgeous box can be hers? 

 

 

I made this Card Box for Love Notes, covering one of Close To My Heart's Journaling Cards Box with CTMH's Yuletide Carol paper.  Yuletide?  Yes, right -- I think the roses on the pretty ruby paper is much better suited to Valentine's Day. Lovely, aren't they? 

 

Topping off the hinged opening is a strip of fancy Gold Rectangle Dazzling Diamond self-adhesive sticker sheets from The Buckle Boutique. I simply trimmed the row using standard scissors, peeled off the sticker back, and adhered it to the box. The scissors cut through the resin very easily, for when I needed to trim them on a slant for the box sides. 

 

 

Now, while I intend to write a love note for my sweetie (hubby John) to put inside of the box for Valentine's Day (shhhh, don't tell), I also made a set of four cards that could be used within the box if that's more your style. 

Let's take a look at these romantic cards. All are size A2 (4.25" wide x 5.5" high) to fit perfectly in the Journaling Card Box:

For this card, I used a CTMH Colonial White card base and topped it with a layer of CTMH Ruby cardstock, and then a layer of tan damask print paper from the Yuletide Carol paper pack.  I tied a pretty beige grosgrain ribbon around the height of the card (securing under the Yuletide Carol layer). Before tying the bow, I cut an intricate die cut called "Celtic Heart" from Cheery Lynn Designs; I topped the bow with a romantic mulberry-paper red rose from Wild Orchid Crafts.


Love is definitely in the air with this pretty, detailed Valentine.
Starting with a card base from CTMH White Daisy cardstock, I embossed/cut the beautiful pattern and heart opening using a die from Sizzix.  The word "love" was cut from a piece of CTMH Slate cardstock, using a word pattern available from the Silhouette Online Store, and my Silhouette Cameo. The pretty leaf flourish was also cut using the Cameo and an SOS file, from CTMH Topiary cardstock, and topped with a mulberry-paper red rose from WOC.   


Again, for this card, I started with a CTMH White Daisy cardstock base, and topped the card with a piece of CTMH Ruby cardstock that I embossed using a ProvoCraft Cuttlebug hearts folder, and my Cheery Lynn Designs "Crossover" embossing machine.  For the stamped roses, I used a CTMH floral stamp and the rock-n-roll technique to apply ink to the image before stamping.  The "I Love You Because" stamp is also from CTMH, using CTMH Exclusive Ink in Black.  The leaves were cut using a file from the Silhouette Online Store, and CTMH Topiary cardstock.


Finally, for this simple card, I topped a CTMH White Daisy card base with a piece of Yuletide Carol paper that I had trimmed into a pennant shape.  I then cut the word "Love" using a Silhouette Online Store word pattern; I cut it twice -- once in CTMH Slate, and the other in CTMH White Daisy, for a unique effect.  The adhesive epoxy hearts are also from CTMH. 

For some specific products links, see here:

Here is the link to the Yuletide Carol Paper.

Here is a link to the Journaling Card Box.

The Buckle Boutique:
Here is the link to the Gold Rectangle Dazzling Diamond Sticker Sheet.

The Buckle Boutique’s Website . . . click HERE

The Buckle Boutique Blog . . . . click HERE

Facebook Page . . . click HERE

Twitter Page . . . click HERE

Pinterest Page . . . click HERE

Organizing Tip: Keep Your Bling in An Album

Assuming you're just like me -- a craft hoarder as much as a crafter -- you're always looking for a sweet technique for organizing your papercrafting supplies.  Today, I am going to show you one way that I organize my bling/gems.

I have adhesive bling in every color, shape and size. Some are rhinestone or clear, some are pearlescent.

I have taken one of Close To My Heart's gorgeous new D-Ring Albums and I have dedicated it to storing my bling. This is the new turquoise chevron pattern, which happens to match CTMH's new Rolling Tote and Shoulder Tote.

I filled the album with CTMH's Memory Protectors (Designs 1-5) which have pocket dividers in various sizes.  I insert sheets of the bling into the pockets, and arrange the sheets by color, starting with clear, through ROYBGIV (red, orange, yellow, blue, green, indigo and violet) to brown and black.  

Now, of course, I have plenty of these gems -- so soon this album will bulge. To keep the binder closed and the embellishments in place, I made a ribbon belt. This gray -- matching the Rolling Tote and Shoulder Bag as well -- is the retired Satin Polka Dot ribbon also from CTMH.  I affixed an adorable blinged buckle from The Buckle Boutique. This buckle splits in the middle with a hook and eye clasp.  Perfect! 

For more information, on purchasing the beautiful new turquoise chevron album from Close To My Heart, please visit my CTMH site at www.cardmonkey.ctmh.com, or see the CTMH Chevron Album 

If you'd like to buy some buckle bling for your own album belt, here are links to The Buckle Boutique:

The Buckle Boutique’s Website . . . click HERE

The Buckle Boutique Blog . . . . click HERE

Facebook Page . . . click HERE

Twitter Page . . . click HERE

Pinterest Page . . . click HERE

DeFiaNtLy DiFfeReNt & CreAtiVeLy Yours,
Ellen

The Buckle Boutique sparkles in the New Year!

In December 2014, it was my great honor to be an independent crafter chosen by Kathy Davis Studios to participate in their annual "Joy Market," a craft exhibit/sale held at the KDS Gallery in Horsham, PA.  This year, the Joy Market was extra-special, because it was held in the new Scatter Joy Center for the Arts, in a beautifully restored barn just behind the KDS Gallery.

One of the products I sold at the Joy Market was this sweet Post-It Note holder, that I made using Dazzling Diamonds rhinestone resin adhesive sheets from The Buckle Boutique.  The sheets cut like butter -- using standard scissors (as I used in this case) or even an electronic cutting machine such as a Cricut, Pazzles or Silhouette Cameo.

As a gift to the Scatter Joy Center for the Arts, I made two banners, including this one that hung over the Center's stunning stone fireplace. The banner also features TBB's Dazzling Diamonds -- can you see them?  Subtle, and lovely!

Here's a close-up of the banner. Up top, I cut the sheet of clear Dazzling Diamonds into strips of three rows high, then peeled off the adhesive backing and affixed them to the top of each pennant. I cut the pennants themselves on my Cricut Explore, and the snowflakes from Close To My Heart's Colonial White paper, using my Silhouette Cameo.

Have you had a chance to use some of the terrific products from The Buckle Boutique, whether the adhesive sheets or rhinestone bling like buckles and pins?  Well, WHAT are you waiting for?  Perhaps a brand new and exciting product???

If you're waiting for that, do *I* have a sneak-peek for you...

this weekend at the Craft & Hobby Association (CHA, booth #2535), The Buckle Boutique and "The Modern Surrealist" Marisa Pawelko are unveiling a line of printed rhinestone sticker sheets with incredible new designs: 

Check out this Graffiti print:

Isn't that nifty?!  There are other sweet sheets, with lips, leopard prints, flowers and more. Do swing by The Buckle Boutique, either at CHA or by hopping over to http://thebuckleboutique.com to see what fun is available to you now.

For more information, here are links to The Buckle Boutique:

The Buckle Boutique’s Website . . . click HERE

The Buckle Boutique Blog . . . . click HERE

Facebook Page . . . click HERE

Twitter Page . . . click HERE

Pinterest Page . . . click HERE

DeFiaNtLy DiFfeReNt & CreAtiVeLy Yours,

The Buckle Boutique's Pretty Rhinestone Butterfly

I just love this butterfly ribbon slide from The Buckle Boutique, and love how you can use it without a ribbon or any way your heart desires. 








Here, I am using it as an embellishment on this pretty card that uses Close To My Heart's new "Brushed" line of paper.  That "flight line" for the butterfly? It's a metallic twine that I glued and curled around a pencil that had been covered with waxed paper.  When the twine was dry, I was able to glue it with clear-drying glue to the card.

I adhered the butterfly to a popped-up flower I cut from the paper, using foam tape that's super sticky.  The best I've found for this is available from Close To My Heart, too.

The Buckle Boutique has a beautiful collection of rhinestone and pearl pins, brooches, buckle slides, and more -- all at very affordable prices.  Here are links to The Buckle Boutique -- check them out!

The Buckle Boutique’s Website . . . click HERE

The Buckle Boutique Blog . . . . click HERE

Facebook Page . . . click HERE

Twitter Page . . . click HERE

Pinterest Page . . . click HERE

DeFiaNtLy DiFfeReNt & CreAtiVeLy Yours,

The Buckle Boutique's "Dazzling Diamonds" Makes Beautiful Shaped Embellishments

"Dazzling Diamonds," the adhesive rhinestone sheet available from The Buckle Boutique," is a perfect medium to cut not only strips or letters from the sparkling resin, but is also ideal to use in your electronic cutting machine or with deep-cut dies (e.g., from Cheery Lynn Designs or Sizzix) for beautiful shaped embellishments.

For this sympathy card, I cut ice blue Dazzling Diamonds using my Cricut Explore.  The best way to cut the sheets is to firmly press the resin side (not the adhesive side) down onto a clean, sticky Cricut mat.  Because this is an inverse application of the material, DO flip your image or letters to cut them. 

I cut the dove shown here using the "poster board" setting on the Explore, turn up so that it double-cuts the image.  My mat was nice and sticky so it did not require additional adhesion, but you may want to tape edges of the Dazzling Diamond to your mat, using painter's tape, for a firm hold.

The image weeded nicely from the sheet, with a very clean cut.  The paper I used here is "Skylark" from Close To My Heart, a newly-retired paper. I love that this paper has sentiments such as "Beautiful Memories" printed on it, making it such a sweet paper without being overly melancholy.  The "With Sympathy" sentiment is from the Cricut library on Design Space, cut from CTMH's Cashmere cardstock. The Skylark paper is mounted on CTMH Lagoon cardstock. 

This card is for a Facebook friend, Chris Vicente, who this week lost her dear husband Adriano to lung cancer.  Chris, please accept my love and prayers for you during this difficult time.

The Buckle Boutique’s Link Listing

The Buckle Boutique’s Website . . . click HERE

The Buckle Boutique Blog . . . . click HERE

Facebook Page . . . click HERE

Twitter Page . . . click HERE

Pinterest Page . . . click HERE

DeFiaNtLy DiFfeReNt & CreAtiVeLy Yours,

Sunshine and Bling-shine: Make Your Summer Fun!

As the temperatures soar in the summer heat, it has been difficult for me to spend a lot of time in my upstairs Paper Jungle crafting. The central air up there doesn't quite cut it; I'm having a portable a/c unit installed one of these days (hopefully before I need supplemental heat, LOL).  In addition, who wants to be inside sweltering when one can just as easily swelter poolside?

While at poolside, I've noticed plenty of plain ol' flip-flops (usually on the men!) and ornate sandals (usually on the women -- but not always!!).  This got me to thinking -- why not bling up a pair of inexpensive flip flops from Old Navy or the dollar store with blingage from The Buckle Boutique??

Some ribbon on the straps, combined with puffy heart pin
and voila!  Beautiful sandals that are more than just for
poolside wear!  

I turned to Pinterest for examples, and here is what I found: 

You can cut strips of Dazzling Diamond rhinestone resin adhesive sheets and attach them to the straps of the flip flop, as shown in the picture at top. And, while the resin sheets will adhere well, you can secure the pieces very securely with 527 Adhesive from Beacon Adhesives.  This adhesive dries clear and quickly, is flexible for strap comfort, and is waterproof!

Or perhaps you'd like the more subtle look on your flip flops. Just attach a small rhinestone pin to the center of the straps (middle picture).

Or go all out, and do both, with a larger rhinestone embellishment combined with some rhinestone straps.

Here is the Beacon Adhesive (left) that I recommend for adding permanence to  your flip-flop bling-out projects.  It is available at most major craft stores (e.g., Michaels).

Whatever is your pleasure, The Buckle Boutique has reasonably priced bling for all your needs. Here are just two of the very pretty pins that I recently bought to adorn my sun hat's ribbon:

So before summer completely passes you by, why not add a little bling to your sarong?  Contact The Buckle Boutique here:  

The Buckle Boutique’s Link Listing

The Buckle Boutique’s Website . . . click HERE

The Buckle Boutique Blog . . . . click HERE

Facebook Page . . . click HERE

Twitter Page . . . click HERE

Pinterest Page . . . click HERE

DeFiaNtLy DiFfeReNt & CreAtiVeLy Yours,

Dazzling New Grandson -- along with special TBB sale to celebrate!

 

The world's a lot brighter now, with the birth of a new star:  My grandson, Evan Joshua Cohick, was born yesterday, June 26, 2014 at 12:08 p.m.  

He's all of 8 lbs., 13 oz, and 22" long.  Mother Emily and Baby are doing well, as are Evan's Dad, Josh, and Evan's big sister, Charlotte.

Gii and Pot are over the moon!

No doubt to celebrate (and this IS my day to post about this product), The Buckle Boutique is offering a very special sale on its baby blue twinkles ... Rhinestone resin sticker sheets in ice blue and blue bonnet, shown below.  Click HERE to learn more about them, and the sale price of these beautiful gems.

Disney Pixar Blog Hop, Redux - June 21

Welcome to the
Disney Pixar Blog Hop!

If you love Disney Pixar and crafting, you've come to the right place!  We have an entire month of fun planned for you, with a new group of crafting bloggers every Saturday in June.

If you came here from Cathie's's blog, then you are in the right place.  If you just happened upon this Blog Hop, make sure to head over to Shawn's blog so that you see the full hop from the very beginning.  If you missed the first two weekends, you can still go back and see all of those projects too.  Just click HERE to see the projects from the first weekend, and click HERE to see the projects from the second weekend.

Here is my project for this weekend's hop: 

I created one of the very popular, current "box cards".  This gem folds flat for mailing, and opens up to show a Disney birthday party!

I used a 6" x 11.5" template to make the card base. The cute plaid paper was from a very large box of Disney stash papers I've accumulated over the years, as is the black matte paper with silver stars shown on the edge.  The characters shown (Minnie and Donald) along with the stars are chipboard elements I purchased at Michael's.  The "eat cake" element is from Jillibean Soup. And I cut the silver "Happy Birthday" using my Silhouette Cameo with a Silhouette file.

The very special elements I used here came from two of our sponsors: The Buckle Boutique and Rowlux Illusion film. From TBB, I used clear Dazzling Diamonds resin rhinestone cut in strips two rows high and adhered to the flip panels. I used the Illusion film (clear bubble) to cut the balloons and I colored them with Copic markers.  YES, coloring/tinting works great!!!

So now, let me move you back on through the fantastic Disney Hop.  But, before you go, make sure to sign up to win some AMAZING PRIZES from our sponsors!  Our sponsors for this hop include:

DCWV

The Buckle Boutique

Rowlux Illusion Film

Scrap n'Easel

Westcott

To play along and be eligible to win these prizes, go here:

a Rafflecopter giveaway
(Winners must live in the Continental United States, due to shipping restrictions.)

Make sure to mark your calendar for MORE projects next Saturday!  You can join the Facebook Event page by clicking HERE.  This week, I am the last stop on this fantastic hop.

Be sure to come back to visit the Disney Pixar Blog Hop EVERY Saturday in June. Each day's starts with Shawn Mosch; she will post a list of each week's participants on each Saturday. 

Here is the full line up in case you get lost along the way:

Shawn

Kathy

Stephanie

Tami (Sorry Disney fans . . . post is not up . . . please skip for now)

Katherine

Cathie (Sorry Disney fans . . . post is not up . . . please skip for now)

Ellen

Have yourself a fantastimagical day!

DeFiaNtLy DiFfeReNt & CreAtiVeLy Yours,