But It's "Not" Christmas Blog Hop

Sponsored:  As a designer for Amazing Paper Grace, I receive dies to create projects.   I'm also a designer for Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L and receive product to use for projects.

Don't you just love a die that does double duty?  We thought so!  Today we're are having a blog hop to show you how the dies in The Charming Christmas Collection can be used year round; after all, it's not Christmas.  No worries, Christmas is coming and we'll press A Charming Christmas back into service this year but in the meantime, please join us for some year-round inspiration and a giveaway at the bottom of the post.

It's Not Christmas but About A Charming Christmas

Becca designed A Charming Christmas with lovely romantic frames and shapes and with charms.  Leave the charms in the package and you have a lovely 'everyday' die that is begging to be used all year round.  Hop around with us as we reintroduce you to the non-Christmas side of A Charming Christmas.

My Project for Today

The die I'm showing today is Charming Tag Pocket.

For my project today, I made a graduation card with a tiny inspiration book tucked in a pocket. This card doesn't have fold.  It certainly could be made with a folded card if you like!  The pocket is cut with the pocket die from Charming Tag Pocket die set.  I cut a narrow piece of gold metallic paper with shaped edge of the die and fastened it behind the pocket edge.  A piece of knotted gold floss is fastened across the pocket before fastening it to the card. The pocket is fastened at edges with Premium Double-Sided Tape 1/4 inch.  I shaped the pocket to make a gap rather than laying if flat before fastening the edges to allow more room for the book.

The book is made with pieces cut with the tag from Charming Tag Pocket.  Isn't it cute?  The cover is cut from patterned paper to exact size of tag with loop cut off end.  The pages are cut from text weight paper using the tag die as well.  I was able to cut 2 pieces of paper at once. I recut them by placing the tag in the die again with loop end of paper beyond the smooth end of the die.

When cut, it's a bit shorter than cover so when folded for pages, it won't extend beyond the cover edges. I cut 6 pieces of paper for pages.  When I stamped the verses, the ink showed through the paper so I fastened 2 pages together to make each page in the book.  

I stamped and embellished all the pages before sewing them to the cover with sewing thread.  

The gold piece was cut with the insert rectangle die from Charming Tag Pocket.  Then I cut the edge with scallop edge of pocket die. I cut off both ends of the rectangular piece to get the pieces for this page.

You can see the thread binding on this center fold page.  Since the verse was a little big for a single page, it worked well across this center page.  I fussy cut the flower. 

I added some patterned paper on the next to last page along with verse stamped on patterned.  Verse piece was cut by tracing around the outer edge of the die and hand cutting it.  The verse just didn't fit on die cut piece.  I left the last page blank to write a personal message.  I tied gold floss around the spine at the back cover and knotted it at top of spine.  I fussy cut a flower to place on the cover. 

Across the top of the card is band of contrast paper with gold mat showing along the edges.  The verse was stamped and heat embossed with gold embossing powder.  I fussy cut it out and also cut a gold mat to fit behind it.  It's popped up with Thin 3D Foam Squares. 

What do you think?  Is this a fun way to use Charming Tag Pocket for a "not" Christmas project?

This card could easily be used for birthday, encouragement, get well.....by simply changing the greeting and verses in the book.  

Have fun using your Christmas die sets in different ways!

Happy Creating!

Judy

Supplies

Stamps: Taylored Expressions Wonderful World
Paper:  My Mind's Eye Bliss; Cream Cardstock, Gold Metallic Cardstock, Text Weight Cream
Ink: Imagine Crafts/Tsukineko Versafine Clair Fallen Leaves
Accessories:  Spellbinders A Charming Christmas Collection - Charming Tag Pocket

Adhesives: Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L - Thin 3D Foam Squares White Mix,

E-Z Runner® Ultra Refillable Dispenser,  E-Z Dots® Permanent Refillable Dispenser, Premium Double-Sided Tape 1/4 in

Thank you for having a special look at the versatility of the dies in The Charming Christmas Collection.  As a part of our hop we're giving away an Amazing Paper Grace Die of the Month from a previous month - based on availability. 

Leave a comment on each blog by May 24th at midnight and on May 25th, Becca will randomly pick and publish the winner.  We encourage all of our international friends to participate!  (All giveaways for this hop are managed by and the responsibility of Amazing Paper Grace).

If your name is selected, simply claim it within 2 weeks of the announcement by sending your address through the form under the Contact Tab on the Amazing Paper Grace Blog.  There won’t be a reply back but if you leave your choice, we’ll get it, I promise.   The dies will be mailed out from Amazing Paper Grace.

Here is our trail of inspiration for our Not for Christmas Blog Hop:

Visit Joanna   – joannakrog.blogspot.com
Visit Kate       -   craft2owls.blogspot.com
Visit Teresa   –  victorianpaperqueen.blogspot.com
Visit Melissa  – keepsakesbymelissa.blogspot.com
Visit Judy       -  judyhayesdesign.blogspot.com
Visit Ewelina -  elinaart.blogspot.com
Visit Becca     – amazingpapergrace.com/blog

I know you will be happy to hear that indeed there are new Christmas Amazing Paper Grace dies coming and coming soon!  Yes, we begin in Summer because Christmas will be here before you know it!  In the meantime, there is much more inspiration in store today and for the weeks to come.  Just pop down the list of Creative Team Members to see more!

Amazing Paper Grace May Die of the Month Blog Hop

Sponsored:  As a designer for Amazing Paper Grace, I receive dies to create projects.   I'm also a designer for Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L and receive product to use for projects.

Today is Amazing Paper Grace May Die of the Month Blog Hop!  It's also Mother's Day!  In honor of mothers and especially my mom, I made a pretty gift box and card with the May Die of the Month. This die is called Nostalgic Serenade Card Frame.  It fits a 5 x 7 inch card.  It includes a beautiful ornate rectangle with three label style insert dies.
 My first project is agift box with a topper that slides up and down on a ribbon handle.  It's like a small purse!  It measures 4.5 inches wide, 2 inches deep and 3.5 inches high.  It can easily hold a small gift.
To make the topper, I cut the ornate rectangle with largest insert from  white cardstock. Next I cut a rectangle of salmon color cardstock to fit behind the inner part of the rectangle and cut out the center with largest insert die.  I cut bigger rectangle of green sized to fit  behind ornate white piece and show through beyond the salmon color.  These are layered onto a patterned paper rectangle.  I added a white label layered with patterned paper label cut with the 2 smaller insert dies.  Because I didn't want the back side of patterned paper to show along edges and inside, I fastened all to a piece of white cardstock.  I added a little tab at front edge. I used the largest insert die to cut the pieces using only about an inch of it to layer behind the flap.  There's also a fold of ribbon and accented with a button with pearl.  Small pearls decorate along the edge of white label.  The topper simply sets on top of the box. The ribbon handle keeps it in place. The ribbon is fastened to the bottom of the box and goes up each side, through a hole on each edge of the topper and is knotted at the top.
The box is formed from 8.5 x 9 inch white cardstock.  I made score lines 2 inches from each 9 inch edge and score lines across the 8.5 inch side are 3.5 inches from each end.

I added dotted paper to the sides before assembling the box with Home and Hobby Premium Double-Sided Tape 1ʺ Permanent.  

The little tag tied to ribbon handles was first cut with smallest insert die from white cardstock. Then I realigned the die to cut off about 1/2 inch on one long edge.  I cut it short  and punched a hole for my tag and added a salmon mat.

Nostalgic Serenade Card Frame Die

Amazing Paper Grace May Die of the Month

If you want to find out more about the Club - prices, how you sign up and what's included, please look --------HERE.
If you missed the introduction and want to know more about what inspired the Die of the Month Club, look -------HERE.

My 2nd project today is a coordinating Mother's Day Card to go with the box.

This card can easily be used for a wedding, birthday or other occasion by simply changing the greeting.
The card is basically  like the box topper. The difference is two ornate pieces above and below the verse.  These I cut using the ornate rectangle die by cutting a small piece of cardstock with the center of the short end of the die.  I trimmed it to fit behind white curvy edge label that layers over patterned paper.  The possibilities are almost endless when you cut up the die cut pieces!  I know some of the other designers have done very awesome things by doing just that.  Be sure to check out their projects!  
The dotted label behind the greeting was first cut with smallest die.  Then I realigned the die along one long edge to cut the label narrower.  It's an easy way to get more options with your dies!  It's popped up across the card. I added pearls to accent the curved edge of white label and at ends of greeting.  This card is 5 x 7 inches. 

Thank you for stopping by today!
Judy

Supply List:

Stamps: KaiserCraft Occasions; Penny Black It's Your Day
Paper:  Simple Stories Belle Fleur; Simple Stories Crazy in Love, White, Salmon, Green Cardstock
Ink: Imagine Crafts/Tsukinedo Versafine Onyx Black
Adhesives: 

Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L®:

Home and Hobby Premium Double-Sided Tape 1ʺ Permanent, Thin 3D Foam Squares White Mix, 
E-Z Runner® Ultra Refillable Dispenser, E-Z Dots® Permanent Refillable Dispenser

Accessories:  Ranger Clear Embossing Powder, Pearls, Button, Ribbon, White Cord

For this month's Die of the Month, we cut it up and folded it up!  More inspiration is just a click away.  Stop by with each Creative Team Member to see how they manipulated this die to come up with a unique project for you to try!

Visit Kate         - craft2owls.blogspot.com
Visit Joanna   – joannakrog.blogspot.com
Visit Teresa   –  victorianpaperqueen.blogspot.com
Visit Ewelina -  elinaart.blogspot.co.uk
Visit Melissa  – keepsakesbymelissa.blogspot.com 
Visit Judy       – judyhayesdesign.blogspot.com
Visit Becca     – amazingpapergrace.com/blog

We can’t wait to see what you make with these exclusive dies – be sure to post your creation on the Amazing Paper Grace Die of the Month page -------HERE or on Instagram using the hashtag #AmazingPaperGraceClubKit

Penny Black Flower Card

Today, I'm sharing a card I made for Fond Memories Spring Workshop held last week.  

I really like how this card turned out!  All the stampers that I taught at the workshop enjoyed it, too! 

The stamp is from Penny Black, called "painters vase".  I stamped the vase with Versafine Clair Morning Mist ink on white cardstock.  I masked the top of vase so stems of flowers wouldn't stamp on it. Flowers are stamped with Versafine Clair Medieval Blue.  I really like all the Versafine Clair inks!  They stamp very crisp, especially nice for verses.  I like to use color for verses sometimes rather than black.  These are the inks I use. It's especially important for this card, that the ink didn't react to water brushed over it.  A water base dye ink will not work for this card.

  

Once the stamping was done, I painted a wash of Broken China Distress ink over background.  I  like to use Distress ink as a water color.   Next, I added Distress Seedless Preserves to the flower petals again as a watercolor.  Since the stamped petals have some white space, the color fills in there and adds a shadow of that color over stamped ink.  Distress Spiced Marmalade was used for flower centers.  I used a bit of all the colors on the vase!  These were quite diluted with water. I also added  a wash of Distress Hickory Smoke at base of vase and for shading on the vase. 

The verse from Penny Black "grateful heart" was stamped with Versafine Onyx Black (always a favorite of mine for verses!) It was clear heat embossed to give it a bit of shine and intensify the black. 

The stamped piece is layered onto dark purple and magenta mats and fastened to a white 5 x 7 inch card. 

All the Fond Memories stampers that I taught were impressed that this card was easier than they expected! 

In preparing this card for the workshop, I had stamped several of these when I was making samples and experimenting with colors.  I had a few left of my work table that were colored but not assembled as a card.  I also had an experimental embossed background piece with similar colors.  Ta da!  The colors were good together so I made another card with the two pieces.  

As you can see, I cut around the flowers, vase and verse. I cut off the bud that extended off the edge on the workshop card (as shown above).  The background is fastened to a purple 4 3/8 x 5 5/8 inch top fold card.  I know it's a bit odd sized!  That fit the embossed piece and still left a border of purple.  I popped the flowers and vase up with Thin 3D Foam Squares.

As for how I made the background, it started as glossy white paper.  I rubbed 3 colors of new Distress Archival inks over it - Dusty Concord, Faded Jeans and Mermaid Lagoon. I applied some color direct to paper and also used foam applicator to add color. The paper was a bit splotchy in places with darker purple in one area but that's not as obvious after embossing.  I embossed it with a Spellbinders folder called Grid.  After it was embossed, I took Distress Archival Black Soot ink pad and rubbed over the embossed pattern.  I really like it!  Kind of a stained glass effect.  This technique can be used with other embossing folders that have an open pattern.  

There you have 2 ways to use same image and colors to make 2 different cards.

Thanks to everyone who made the Fond Memories Workshop success! For anyone who doesn't know what Fond Memories is.....it's a store in Walnut Grove, Minnesota.  They sell stamps, scrapbook paper, cardstock, dies, inks and lots of supplies plus gifts and unique toys.  It's one of the few stamping stores still in existence in Minnesota!  They offer a stamping workshop every spring and fall with 10 projects, generally cards.  Each project usually features a new technique plus new products and unique designs.  It's a fun day of crafting!  If you are interested in attending, please call or email Fond Memories - fondmem@redred.com or 507-859-2929.  They are on Instagram as fondmem.  They  have a blog - Fond Memories at the Creamery

 and they are on Facebook as Fond Memories

They will ship stamps and supplies so if you see something on their blog or FB, give them a call. 

Thanks so much for visiting! 

Happy Creating!

Judy

Supplies: for Workshop Card: 

Penny Black 40-672 Painter’s Vase

Penny Black 30-467 Grateful Heart

Versafine Clair Medieval Blue Ink Pad

Versafine Clair Morning Mist Ink Pad

Versafine Onyx Black Ink Pad

Ranger Clear Embossing Powder

Distress Broken China Ink

Distress Seedless Preserves Ink

Distress Spiced Marmalade Ink

Distress Hickory Smoke Ink

White Cardstock (7 x 10ʺ, 4 x 5⅜ʺ)

Dark Magenta Cardstock

Purple Cardstock

Supplies for Embossed Card:

Same supplies as above except Dark Magenta Cardstock

Distress Archival Faded Jeans

Distress Archival Dusty Concord

Distress Archival Mermaid Lagoon

Distress Archival Black Soot

Spellbinders Grid Embossing  Folder

White Glossy cardstock

Purple Cardstock (card)

Thin 3D Foam Squares White

Amazing Paper Grace April Die of the Month Blog Hop

Sponsored:  As a designer for Amazing Paper Grace, I receive dies to create projects.   I'm also a designer for Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L and receive product to use for projects.

Today, I'm showcasing a project made with Amazing Paper Grace April Die of the Month.  This is a fun set of dies!   I really like that there are words, flowers, leaves, a scallop panel and a fun insert mechanism and panels to make a fold out center insert!  Plus there's an intricate rectangle insert and fan element.  I used the intricate insert on my second card shown towards end of my post.  

 Amazing Paper Grace April Die of the Month

My Card Today:

I really like this whole set! I like the word dies with outline die to make a coordinating mat. The word can be used alone or with the mat.  On my card, I've cut "Hello Friend" out of a pretty paper from Simple Stories and layered it onto a black  mat.  I applied Adhesive Sheets to the back of the patterned paper before die cutting it.  That makes it like a sticker.  So easy to assemble!  Just peel liner and fasten word in place on coordinating mat!  

This set also has 4 sizes of flowers and 2 leaf sizes.  I used 3 smaller flower dies to cut flowers for front and inside of my card.  I applied Distress Oxide inks to light tan paper before cutting my flowers and leaves.  The ink color is more dusty over tan paper and matched the paper colors. The black flower centers were punched out with a  3/16 inch hole punch and fastened with an Adhesive Dot.

On the card front, I used the small rectangle die to cut peach check paper. I cut a narrow black mat with my paper cutter.  The tan mat was cut with rectangle die that has flap on it.  I simply cut the flap off.  It's easy to do as there's a score line to follow. Behind that is a pattern paper piece cut with the largest die in this set, scallop edge panel.  It cuts such a sweet edge! I cut just scallop edge on cream strip and layered it under it for shadow/contrast. Card has multiple layers of patterned papers and black over a Kraft top fold card which is 4½ x 6½ ʺ.  Flowers and a small bow frame the "Hello Friend" panel.

The most fun part of this die set is the piece that makes a pop up unfold when the card is opened! 

It can be used on a vertical card or horizontal one.  The folding piece that makes the insert unfold is cut with the die shown inside the scalloped rectangle. (see photo of die set).  Two of those are needed.  They are placed with diamond hole aligned with fold line of card. The fold line matches the fold of card.  This photo shows placement and what it looks like but card is not to size.  Double stick adhesive is applied to areas marked with an "X" to hold folding insert. 

The rectangle die with flap is used to cut pieces to be fastened together to form the folding insert.  Four pieces are needed with flap cut off of one. Photo shows 2 fastened together, 3rd one ready to be fastened and 4th one with flap cut off.  It will be fastened to flap on 3rd piece. 

There's a smaller rectangle die that cuts a slightly smaller rectangle to fit perfectly on each piece on the folding panel.  I cut patterned paper with it and black mats cut with paper cutter to decorate the folding strip. I also cut scallop edge on two strips of cream cardstock, then cut it to fit panel and fastened at ends of folding insert.  Six scallops perfectly fit along that edge! I added another "hello", some words from Simple Stories paper and flowers with leaves.

Inside of card front and back has scallop edge panels layered over black cardstock.  These were fastened in place before adding the folding mechanism pieces.  I used strong adhesive so it wouldn't come loose with movement of pop up strip. The folding mechanism was fastened at fold of card with strong double sided adhesive. 

The last thing I did was fasten the folding insert panel inside the card with card fully open. Strong double side adhesive was used at "X" areas as shown in photo above.  I recommend checking adhesive placement with panel held in place before fastening it.  If adhesive sticks to two center panels, it won't fold right! 

This card is so fun to open!!!  Just imagine all the different occasions to use this for! I think it would be fun for a kid's birthday card, encouragement card, congrats especially graduation, even a wedding card!

If you want to find out more about the Club - prices, how you sign up and what's included, please look --------HERE.

If you missed the introduction and want to know more about what inspired the Die of the Month Club, look -------HERE.

My Second Card Today:

Because I had some pieces that I didn't use when I was finished my first card, I made a "scrap" card.  I call it a scrap card because I used leftover pieces!  

I love how this card turned out!  I used the same "Hello" as my first card.  The pretty patterned paper panel with scallops was a piece that moved in my die cut machine so one edge went off the paper.  Frustrating but it worked perfect for this card!  I cut off one edge so there are 7 scallops instead of eight.  This card is side fold 4 x 6¼ʺ.  There's a scallop edge black mat under the yellow one.  I was able to cut it just a little bigger when I cut off one edge to have 7 scallops.  In the center is a rectangle of patterned paper cut so the bird shows through an intricate panel cut from Kraft paper....before layering it, I cut out a section to frame the bird. I added leftover flowers and leaves along the bottom.  The green at top and bottom is paper that I inked with Distress Oxide ink.  I had a scrap left from cutting leaves to use to make a faux awning at top and inked another strip to add at the bottom.  I added some accent narrow strips of black cardstock.  The paper had Adhesive Sheets applied to the back so once I cut the strips they were like stickers. Simply peel the liner and fasten in place. 

This is such a versatile set of dies!  I sure had fun with it!

Thanks for visiting!

Happy Crafting!

Judy

Supply List:

Paper:  Simple Stories Spring Farmhouse; Cardstock: Kraft, Cream, Black
Ink: Distress Oxide Inks: Tattered Rose, Bundled Sage, Tumbled Glass, Iced Spruce

Adhesives: Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L®: Thin 3D Foam Squares White Mix, E-Z Runner® Ultra Refillable Dispenser , E-Z Dots® Permanent Refillable Dispenser, Adhesive Sheets 4 x 6 inch,  Adhesive Dots Micro, Adhesive Dots Mini, Home and Hobby Premium Double-Sided Tape ¼ʺ Permanent, Home and Hobby Premium Double-Sided Tape ½ʺ Permanent

Accessories: Off White Seam Binding, 3/16ʺ Hole Punch

More inspiration is just a click away.  

Stop by with each Creative Team Member to see more!

Visit Kate         - craft2owls.blogspot.com
Visit Joanna   – joannakrog.blogspot.com
Visit Teresa   –  victorianpaperqueen.blogspot.com
Visit Ewelina -  elinaart.blogspot.co.uk
Visit Melissa  – keepsakesbymelissa.blogspot.com 
Visit Judy       – judyhayesdesign.blogspot.com
Visit Becca     – amazingpapergrace.com/blog

We can’t wait to see what you make with these exclusive dies – be sure to post your creation on the Amazing Paper Grace Die of the Month page ------ HERE 

or on Instagram using the hashtag #AmazingPaperGraceClubKit