Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Beyond the Basics: Create-a-Card Treat Pocket by Melinda

by Melinda Spinks


As you have seen from the previous Beyond the Basics: Create-a-Card posts, there are numerous possibilities for using the cards aside from their intended purpose. Today I'm going to share a fun transition from card to party favour bag.


I have used the A2 stripe assortment pack of cards and envelopes to create a rainbow of little party bags filled with chocolates for my daughter's birthday party next weekend. She's about to become a teenager but still loved the idea of treat bags for her friends. And everyone has their own colour of the rainbow complete with co-ordinated doodle-pop critter.




To strengthen the handles I cut three equal lengths of Doodle Twine and plaited each one before attaching to the bags.

Products Used: Create-a-Card A2 stripe assortment pack; Petite Prints Patterned Paper; Doodle Twine; Doodle-Pops  cardstock stickers; Mini Pearls; Doodles Cardstock Stickers - for you.

Be sure to check out Melinda's blog to see how she created the party treat bags.


Tuesday, August 14, 2012

Tuesday Tutorial: Scrapbook Trends Scraplift + Giveaway

Hi everyone! It’s Wendy Sue here today with a little tip for finding inspiration for your next layout. When you find yourself stumped for a scrapbook idea check out the cover of a scrapbook magazine! Magazine editors always choose the cream of the crop to feature on their covers – and the covers are always accessible from their websites. I found myself especially inspired by the cover of Scrapbook Trends magazine this month. This bright, fun layout was created by Amy Heller. I loved the beautiful rainbow of colors and I knew it would be the perfect way to use Doodlebug products!

First of all, here’s my inspiration, the August cover of Scrapbook Trends magazine:


Isn’t that cover layout by Amy Heller just so much fun?  It just seems to exude happiness!  At least I thought it did, and that’s why I wanted to create a layout based on Amy’s design.
First of all, I gathered some supplies:

Petite Prints Papers:


I cut strips from each paper – 1 1/4” x 10” – except the blue strip on top – it’s about 3” x 10”.


Next, I gathered all of the coordinating Paper Frills:



I trimmed these to 10” long so they would fit nicely over the patterned paper strips:



Then I adhered everything to a sheet of white cardstock:



As you can see, I didn’t line them up exactly – I liked the “freestyle” look for this page. ;)

After the papers were all attached, I started adding stickers – I used some Headlines stickers:



And I used a couple of different styles of white letter stickers (hopscotch and teensy type):



Here’s an “in progress” photo:



Once I was happy with the letter stickers, I started adding the other embellishments – which included some Doodle-pops:



And some boutique brads:


Almost done…



Now it’s time to add some journaling – right up the side of the layout:



And a finishing touch of adding an expressions rub-on directly to the photo:


Here’s one more peek at the completed layout:


Although my layout is almost an exact copy of the inspiration layout, there are lots of other ways to be inspired by the cover. You could create a monochromatic background by using papers of the same color. You could turn the strips horizontal for a different effect. You could do wider or more narrow paper strips for a new look too. Truly, once you find a layout you love, you can likely find dozens of ways to be inspired by it!

GIVEAWAY
We are excite to partner with Scrapbook Trends/Northridge Publishing to offer today's giveaway. We'll be giving away two sets of the latest publications including the August Scrapbook Trends, Cards and Simply Handmade Sewing issues. One set will be given to a fan of Wendy Sue Anderson. Simply leave a comment on HER blog to be entered to win the first set. The second set we'll be giving away here on our blog. We would love to have you check out the Scrapbook Trends Facebook page to be inspired daily and then leave a comment here letting us know you did. Also feel free to leave some love for Wendy, she did a great job on today's tutorial.



Wednesday, August 8, 2012

Beyond the Basics: Create-a-Card



The create-a-card system is the perfect foundation for a greeting card, after you choose a base from the many shapes, sizes and patterns within the system.  But, the cardstock bases and their envelopes can be used for more than just a card.  

For this project, I used a rainbow of card bases and envelopes to make a perpetual calendar of birthdays, anniversaries and special occasions, all bound together with spiral coils.   I created a pocket for each month and tucked in a list of special dates for that particular month.  

Let's take a look at August's page. 
  • Turn the limeade square grid card base inside out, so the grid is now on the outside.  It is such a simple pattern for the base of our page.
  • Use tape on bottom to create pocket.  Left side did not need any tape since it would be closed by the coil; right side is the fold of the card. 
  • Place rainbow sticker onto the page, tilted just a bit s that the clouds on either side do not line up perfectly.  
  • Punch clouds from paper, die cuts or even Doodlebug packaging.  
  • On one cloud, adhere fringe to the bottom to add some texture and dimension.   Sprinkle hearts below the other cloud punch to mimic raindrops.   
  • Add stitching.
  • On the tab, use letter stickers for month and add flower fancy frills below.  

Notes:
  • The book could be bound with book rings instead of spiral. 
  • Monthly cards/envelopes could be kept in tray, instead of binding.
  • Instead of making pockets, special dates could be written directly on the card or envelope. 
Other ideas, beyond a card itself, using the create-a-card system:
  • mini album 
  • coupon organizer 
  • special monthly notes 
  • hidden journaling on a layout 
  • banner 
So, the next time you see the cards at your local scrapbook store, dream up some ideas for ways to use them beyond cards.   Happy creating!

-----------------
cover supplies:
Create-a-card : paisley card, swimming pool
doodle twine, bubblegum 
cake & ice cream sugar coated cardstock stickers 
cake & ice cream sugar coated fancy frills stickers 
boutique button, bubblegum 
hopscotch alphabet stickers, bubblegum and limeade
sugar coated brads, limeade 

august supplies:
Create-a-card : square grid, limeade 
feeling groovy cardstock sticker 
paper frills [fringe], bubblegum
paper frills [flowers], limeade

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