Tri-Fold Shutter Card: Happy Mother's Day

Today, I'll be adding one of my favorite cards to the Tutorial Section of my blog (see sidebar, links). 

It's this simple but stand-out card called a Tri-Fold Shutter card.  The base for the card is cut from a little less than half of a sheet of 12" x 12" cardstock, and then decorated as you wish.  

Here, I've made a Mother's Day card for my beautiful mother, using "Gimme Some Sugar" and the softness of Pixie and Blush pink papers. 

My Mom ... If ever there was a woman for whom Mother's Day was meant, it's my Mom. She is the kindest, most patient, gracious, loving and caring person who was ever. Truly. She is creative, talented and so smart, made even more so because she makes everyone else around her feel smarter just for being in her company. 

Mom met Dad while she was in nursing school and Dad was a fraternity boy at University. They met on a blind date, and the rest, is history. They were married 65-1/2 years when Dad left for Heaven. Mom's love and dedication to my Dad, even when Alzheimer's robbed my Dad of his gentle spirit, was so very tender. 

She loved Dad endlessly, though toward his end, the disease made Dad more difficult to love. His passing in this horrid way robbed Mom of her "happily ever after," and honestly, it hurt in ways none of us could fathom. Rest in peace, Dad; we'll take good care of Mom for all the rest of her days, which we pray will be many. 

This is my favorite picture of Mom, taken at the wedding reception when my daughter, Emily was married in 2008.  Isn't she simply gorgeous??!  The jewelry she wore, she made, and she likely had a hand in modifying the gown she wore, too. That's my Dad photobombing in the background, such a handsome guy. 

I love making cards for my Mom ... she is definitely "cardworthy", as she appreciates each of my creations, much as she always aided and abetted my creativity throughout my life.  

Thank you, Mom, for your love and role modeling.

Here are directions on how to make your own Tri-Fold Shutter Cards:

Cut your background paper to suit your desire, or to match whatever paper you're using to decorate your card. In my sample, above, I have used Daisy White cardstock from Close To My Heart.

The base of the card is 5.5" high x 12" wide, with folds as shown on the red dashed lines. Cut in between the folds. Note which folds are "mountain" versus "valley" folds -- self-explanatory, I hope. 

Then, cut your decorative papers to these dimensions:

Decorate your card as you wish. For the right hand panel, I "fussy-cut" a Be-YOU-tiful Picture My Life (PML) Card from CTMH, which matches the Gimme Some Sugar paper line.  For this card, I stamped a plain white panel in the center, and stamped the sentiment and flowers, to match.

On the front panel, I elongated a Floral Wreath design from the Cricut Design Space, making it go from round to flat oval. I cut it twice, once in Pixie and once in Tangerine, and just trimmed off the extra Tangerine flowers that I wanted to use to highlight the wreath. I backed it with an oval I also cut in Design Space, as the custom size is larger than the Thin Cuts I have for ovals, from CTMH.

For those who use Cricut Design Space, here is a file to make the front floral wreath:  https://design.cricut.com/#/design/91249168

If you'd like to replicate my card, you'll need to HURRY and buy yourself some "Gimme Some Sugar" paper from my Close To My Heart shopping site.  The paper retires on April 30!

You're the Best Dad: Father's Day Card in "Jackson"'s Lovely Colors

This may come as a shock, but for all of the cards that I make and send, I am notoriously bad for being on time with my wishes. 

I usually can't blame it on the fact that my card is undone; it's usually just sitting on my desk, looking for an envelope, getting the postage right, and, and, and -- ohhhh, every excuse in the book.

The lovely Mother's Day card I posted last month?  Yup, I had to send it Express Mail ($19.99 -- you'd think that would teach me!) so Mom would get it on time.  I STILL haven't even made my Dad's birthday (May 28) card and that's inexcusable. BUT I did make AND he has already received* his Father's Day card, so let me show it to you today....

For this extra-special card, I used the tri-fold shutter card style -- ironically, the same style I used to make my Mom's Mother's Day card.  (I didn't think of that until I went to post the picture, incidentally.)

For this card, I used the "Jackson" Paper Pack that is featured in Close To My Heart's Seasonal Expressions 2 catalog. I also used some retired CTMH stash I've been hoarding, including the cork adhesive elements and burlap ribbon. 

I also cut up one of CTMH's mini burlap drawstring bags (pictured at right). I know you're saying "huh?" as you read that. See the burlap patch behind the deer and trees?  That was once a burlap bag. And I used the drawstrings to tie the bows as the right -- waste not, want not, right?  

These adorable mini burlap bags are very versatile even as bags. BUT if you want to get yourself some, you only have until August 31, 2015 to snap some up, as they are on the RETIRING list for CTMH.  Also retiring is the Jackson Picture My Life Scrapbooking Program (a-la carte cards) that I used for the "Dream Big" symbol -- see it at left, in the top row, center? Place your order at cardmonkey.ctmh.com now for the best chance to get the last of what is available, before the new Annual Inspirations catalog is introduced in September 2015!

Lastly, I used my Silhouette Cameo 2 and purchases from their Online Store for the evergreen trees, the deer, the front sentiment, and to cut the words for the closing sentiment.  

(*P.S. -- The only reason Dad got his Father's Day card EARLY was that I was mailing Mom her June 9 birthday card late -- yup, the one I posted to the blog yesterday. I am notorious, I tell you. How I hope to start thinking ahead!)

Some Bunny Loves You

Today's card leading up to Easter 2014 is the one I made for my darling Granddaughter, Charlotte:

This card is a modified tri-fold shutter card, so that the inside/back of the card has room for a full panel greeting. I cut this from a template I found online, as developed by Sandy Allnock.  I used papers from Jillibean Soup; the cute bunny on an Action Wobble is from the Silhouette Online Store (SOS) and is cut using the Silhouette Cameo.  The sentiments are also cuts from the SOS.

Charlotte's looking forward to a basket of goodies from the Easter Bunny -- much as she loves chocolate, her basket will include her greater love: books. It's amazing to see a 3-year old's inquisitive mind learning to read, sounding out words, and spelling her friends' names.  



CreAtiVeLy Yours,

"Sparkle & Shine" This Holiday Season!

It's hard to believe that Christmas is just 79 days away! Are you ready to Sparkle & Shine this holiday season?

I'm turning to the new releases from Close To My Heart in its brand new "Holidays from the Heart Gift Guide" for my inspiration. 

Let me show you some of the cards and home décor projects I have made using some of the fabulous new papers and stamps now available from my Close To My Heart site:

This is most certainly my favorite card I've made so far this Christmas season.  I used the Sparkle and Shine Paper Pack in the Holidays from the Heart Gift Guide, coupled with CTMH cardstock in "Whisper".  I used CTMH Exclusive Inks in Black, Ruby and Daisy White, and the Santa Claus (D1567) and City Scape (D1563) stamp sets.  This card pattern is called a Tri-fold Shutter Card, which I folded slightly different from norm.

This card also uses CTMH's Sparkle & Shine paper.
The stamped image is one from the October Stamp of the Month
set called "Scandinavian Wishes", and stamped/hand painted
using CTMH pigment inks.
 

But certainly, the most "Sparkle & Shine" is in the banner and home décor Christmas tree I made (shown at the top of this post), incorporating Sparkles Flourish gems on the tree and on the banner. I cut the banner using the Cricut/CTMH Exclusive "Art Philosophy" cartridge. The banner's top layer is the currently available "Frosted" paper, incorporating solid cardstock in Ruby and Twilight.

Here are the stamp sets I used for these projects:

As always, the Stamp of the Month Stamp Set is available for just $5.00 with a qualifying $50.00 purchase. I would be honored to be your Close To My Heart consultant, and would love to SHOW YOU HOW to make these projects! 
Are you local to me in Southeastern Pennsylvania?  I will come to your home gathering or workshop free* to teach you and your friends how to make these cards, the banner and/or the tree. (* Instruction is free; there is a small cost to defray materials expenses, depending on what you and your friends want to make. Ask me!) 

Contact me at cardmonkey@comcast.net to schedule this today!

I can also offer another opportunity how to make these projects: We will be making the banner shown here at my "Holiday Décor and More" class scheduled at Kathy Davis Studios (303 Horsham Road, Suite G, Horsham, PA) on Thursday, November 7 from 6 to 8:30 p.m.  The fee of $35 includes the class and all materials  you'll need to make this and other holiday projects!  Please drop me a line or leave a comment if you'd like to register.

NOW UPDATED!!  If you place ANY order via my CTMH website, please CHECK THE BOX that asks if you'd like to join my CardMonkey's Paper Jungle Followers party.  Then, YOU will be entered into my personal contest to WIN up to $25 in free CTMH products at the end of the month! Go to CARDMONKEY.CTMH.COM.  win! win! win!! 

 

DeFiaNtLy DiFfeReNt & CreAtiVeLy Yours,

Would you like to participate as a Blog Hop Stop on February 26??

Good afternoon, Crafters! 

I hope you all have enjoyed the "Feel the Love" Blog Hop sponsored by Jaime at Glitter Stamps and Paper Oh My.  If you're here to see my post on Cricut Cake, please scroll down one more posting.

Today, I am seeking Blog Stops for an upcoming Hop that I am hosting on February 26.  In this Hop, I'm asking participants to please show or feature a card or layout that has a unique fold or some sort of motion.  I hope you'll join me! 

If you're interested in joining this list of incredible cardmakers, please either leave a comment here or send me an e-mail at cardmonkey@comcast.net. 

Here are some ideas of cards I've made that include a unique fold and/or motion that would "qualify" for this Fold And Motion Challenge Blog Hop:

This is a slider card:

This card features an "M" fold to keep the flowers upright:

This get well card is really a folded box:

This notecard features a wrap fold:

This is a "spinning" card:

This is a pocket card (size is that of a credit card):

This card has a unique fold and pocket:

This is an Explosuion Box!!

This is a pocket blanket:  

Another pop-up card:

I didn't make this card, I found it as an idea on a blog. It uses a trifold shutter method:

Another cute card I found on a blog (Creative Moments with Sandy). It shows the side-step feature:

This is a wedding portfolion/invitation, using a pocket:

"Motion" of butterflies:

If you choose to participate, GREAT!!  Please let me know!  If you'd rather just hop along, please do put February 26 on your calendar.