Thursday, January 26, 2012

Quick, Clean, Simple Card (QCS)



Quick, Clean and Simple. Not normally my style. But after a few weeks of home renovations, picking out paint colors, trim style, flooring, tile, cabinets ... my brain is full to the brim. I just didn't have the energy to pick one more set of coordinating colors to create a more complex card.
I made the hearts cutout by sending the white card base and Hearts Trio die through the Big Shot die cutting machine. Hearts Trio is the same die I used on the Tin Can Gift Cardholder last week. I cut a small piece of Grapefruit cardstock and taped it to back side of the cutout so the color shows through. Using Grapefruit ink and sentiments from the Essential Sentiments stamp set, I completed the cards. I made an "I love you" card and a "Thinking of You" card. I intend to use both cards as Valentines. This QCS (Quick Clean Simple) card can easily be mass produced and mailed without extra postage. 
All products used in this card are from A Muse Studio and available directly from me and/or my webpage. Please contact me if you have any questions.
Supply list:
  • Heart Trio die (TAD0015)
  • Grapefruit inkpad (IAPF208)
  • Essential Sentiments stamp set (SASU009)
  • Plain white (Sugar) cardstock (PAPS001)
  • Grapefruit cardstock (PAPS208)

Sunday, January 15, 2012

Can with Gift Card Inside

Turning a pull top can into a unique and fun gift card container is easier than you think. By using a smooth edge can opener, such as those sold by Pampered Chef, you can open the can from the bottom and leave the pull top unopened. Decorate and fill with goodies. Glue the bottom back on and there you have it, you've got a work of art. OK, maybe not a work of art, but a really cool gift card container. And best of all, watching the confusion on the face of the recipient really makes it worth the effort. Be prepared to explain how you got the goodies inside. Hopefully, the recipient will as appreciate your creativity and the gift card.
All products are from A Muse | Studio and can be purchased directly through me or from my A Muse Studio website. The sentiment and can of hairspray rubber stamps are from the Glamour Girl set (SISP009). The heart cutout was created using the Trio of Hearts die (TAD0015).  I used Cherry (PAPS204), cherry gingham (PAGH204) cardstock and cherry satin ribbon ((RASA204). And of course the labels are nesties Labels 4 also available from A Muse | Studio (TNS4190). Here is a high level overview of the steps involved. If you have questions about specific steps, I would love to hear from you. Please email me. 
  1. Find a soup or vegetable can with a pull top lid. Rounded bottom cans will not work.
  2. Using a smooth edge can opener, open the can from the bottom and pour out the contents. Wash can and remove label.


3. Measure and cut paper. Adhere paper to the can.



 

  
4. Cut a short piece of ribbon and slide through the pull tab. Double the ribbon and tie the middle with a piece of twine. (This makes it easier for the recipient to pull and open the can.) To add a little extra can coverage, I altered a circle and slid it under the tab and added hearts.



5. I stamped the can of hairspray on white card stock, colored with copics and trimmed before adhering to the bottom of the can. The sentiment is also from the Glamour Girl stamp set.

If you  would like to actual step-by-step instructions, I'm willing to create them, just post a comment saying so or email me. I keep thinking I'd like to make a video, but I have a somewhat nasal voice along with a country accent. I can speak without the accent, but the nasal thing is a bigger obstacle. Yes, I laugh at myself, but I can't stand to hear my voice. Thanks as always for taking the time to read my blog. Comments are welcome.

 

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

Valentine's Day Mower Card

Valentine's Day is just around the corner and I'm thinking about a card for my husband. I avoided the typical Valentine colors, for this one. Here are the general instructions. If I've not made something clear, please email or leave a comment and I'll get back to you with details.

  1. Using the A Muse Studio Grass die, cut two strips of green grass. 
  2. Using the A Muse Studio Clouds die, cut out one large cloud and two small ones.
  3. Stamp, color and cut out the lawn mower.
  4. Stamp each cloud with the sentiments. Stamp the "Love ya' ..." either as a strip on coordinating paper or on a small rectangle.
  5. Assemble as shown. (I adhered the first strip of grass, placed the lawn mower and adhered the second strip of grass.)
All products used in these projects are from A Muse Studio. The lawn mower and "Love ya' mower & mower" stamps are from the Hey, Man stamp set (SNSP058). The custom dies used are Clouds (TAD0003) and Grass (TAD0005). The "happy valentine's day" sentiment is from Essential Sentiments (SASU009).  The A Muse Studio dies can be used in most die cutting machines such as the Big Shot, Cuttlebug and Epic 6 and several others.
What colors would you use? What extra touch would you add? As always, your comments are welcome. As many of you know, I use repositionable glue as my adhesive. If you suggest it, I can change it. Maybe I'll make the changes and repost! Actually, you can count on it. I'm suddenly not liking the color of the cardstock I used as the base.