Thursday, March 31, 2022

Krafty Chicks Challenge #605: AnyThing Goes and Throwback Thursday

Can't believe we are at the end of March already. Already into Spring but still feel like winter some days. I'm hoping for April Showers so that we can have beautiful May flowers. This week, it's an AnyThing Goes (ATG) kind of challenge over on the Krafty Chicks Challenge Blog. These are the easiest kind of cards to make since I can play with any theme I want, almost like there's NO rules. Here's my card:

This Throwback Thursday card was made using a stamp set dating back to 2019. Nothing says birthdays like a bunch of balloons... and cake, and candles. Let's just stick with balloons today. I even used really old Designer Series Paper (DSP) called It's My Party. It must have been one of my favourites back then because I barely cut into it. Isn't sad that we love DSP so much we hold onto it for all eternity???

Supplies I used:



In keeping to my usual card set, I finished the inside of the card and the envelope with a few balloons and more DSP. You don't have to complicate it, you want your card the star of the show, so CAS is best.

 I will be entering my card in the Inspire.Create.Challenge this week. I used their wonderful sketch. I've actually used it twice this week. Check out my Tuesday Night Live @7pm from this week on Facebook. 

Head on over to the Krafty Chicks Challenge Blog for more details about the challenge and for more inspiration for Christmas week from the Design Team. There's even a place to upload your project at the end. I hope you play along with us and show us what's happening in your craft space.

Here's a direct link to our wonderful Design Team's personal blogs:

Leanne's Blog

Melanie's Blog

Lori's Blog

Tenia (Guest Designer) 

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Friday, March 25, 2022

Friday Inspiration: Fun Folds 3 Ways

 Welcome back to my blog and thank you for stopping in today. On my Tuesday Night Live @7pm this week, I played with a new to me Fun Fold. As I was scrolling on Facebook one day, I came across Stampin' With Jackie/Klompen Stampers (link is to blog) creating a card using DSP as the base. Say what??? What a genius way to use up some of the current but retiring DSP as well as my hoard of it! She demonstrated 3 different fun folds and I like them all. My favourite fold though is this one:

I've made a few versions and there will be more created I'm sure. Here it is opened up and with envelope complete.

Of course one can embellish as much as one wants. I decided to keep this simple. You can watch the Live replay if you want the step by step (with a little oops I skipped a step) guide. Here are the measurements you need to know for the M Fun Fold (DSP Card Base 1):

For the second Fun Fold, I used this layout for my Krafty Chicks Challenge/Throwback Thursday post. But I created another for today's post using the same DSP for all three folds. This is a quick and easy card to throw together in a pinch. You can do this card two ways: 1) zero waste, create 3 card bases. Just cut your DSP at 4". Card is slightly smaller than standard size.. 2) create 2 card bases and some left over to decorate your envelope. Just cut your DSP at 4 1/4", creates a standard size card.

 
I love how this card came together. Even though it's kind of a Z fold card, by adhering the 1" end down on the right side, one would think it's simply a standard card. Here it is opened:
 

Again keep it simple, nothing fancy. Adding the matte layer and white card stock to write your message on the inside adds stability to your card. It can stand nicely for a long time, where I think just using DSP would make it buckle/warp in no time. Here's the measurements you need to know to recreate the Z Fold card (DSP Card Base 2):

 
 
 Onto the last Fun Fold: Drapery Fold. Most cards made with this fold usually only uses DSP on the front panel not as the base.
 

 There's lots of scoring involved and you are adhering every 1/2" channel front and back but it is worth extra time. Here is a close up to the "drapery":

 
 And now here it is opened:
 

This one does NOT stand well though. Next time I create the Drapery Fold using DSP as the base, I will add a quarter (5 1/2" x 4 1/4") Window sheet to back of the front panel to add stability and the card should be able to stand then. I love seeing the fold and the DSP so by using a Window sheet, I'm not hiding any of it. Here are the measurements you need to know for the Drapery Fold (DSP Card Base 3):
 

I will be back to fill in the Supplies Used portion of this post. Need to get ready for work now. Hope you enjoyed all these cards and that you try them out for yourself. I love seeing your creations, so please share on my Facebook group page: Diane's Craft Space.
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Thursday, March 24, 2022

Krafty Chicks Challenge #604: All Occasions

  Happy Krafty Chicks Thursday to you!

Welcome to another great challenge week from the Krafty Chicks Challenge Blog. All Occasions is the theme, so pretty much anything goes. Here's my card:


 I also created this card as a Throwback Thursday and used some retired but still loved products. As we near the end of the Annual Catalogue season at Stampin' Up!, we look for ways of using up our Designer Series Paper (DSP), unless you're like me and hoard it. I've been a demonstrator for over 13 years, and I can probably tell you that I have DSP that old too. I'd like to change that!

As I was scrolling through Facebook one day, I saw Jackie, from Stampin' With Jackie/Klompen Stampers, show three ways of using your DSP as card bases. Say what???  I'm all over that. I did the first fun fold example on my Tuesday Night Live @7pm on March 22 and will have a blog post tomorrow on that. This is the second fold she demonstrates. You can get 3 cards from one full 12x12 sheet of DSP, no waste. Gotta love that!

The thing about scoring DSP though, you have to be gentle and push your scoring blade (if using your trimmer) or stylus (if using the Simply Scored Scoring Tool) to lightly mark the paper. The tear above happened when I pressed a little hard with my Bone Folder to get a nice crisp edge. Don't be doing that! I did fix it with some card stock (see card two, left edge). I got lucky!

Supplies I used:


 
As you all know, I like to keep the inside of the card and the envelope CAS (Clean And Simple), a little more DSP for the flap of the envelope and the inside of the card and some stamped balloons.

Head on over to the Krafty Chicks Challenge Blog for more details about the challenge and for more inspiration for All Occasions week from the Design Team. There's even a place to upload your project at the end. I hope you play along with us and show us what's happening in your craft space.

Here's a direct link to our wonderful Design Team's personal blogs:

Leanne's Blog

Melanie's Blog

Lori's Blog

Tenia (Guest Designer) 


 
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Friday, March 18, 2022

Friday Inspiration: Thank You Customer cards

 Welcome back to my blog and thank you for stopping in today. I made this card on my Tuesday Night Live @7pm on Facebook in my Diane's Craft Space group. If you are not a member yet, please Like and Follow my fun group. I share many card ideas with you, some sales post (after all, I am an Independent Demonstrator with Stampin' Up! and that's how I get my craft toys), some tutorials, and some funny memes.


 This was my second ever Live broadcast. It went a lot better than my first video, I was super nervous (introvert here) and not technically savvy enough to know how to set my phone in landscape mode and not mirror/upside down video. So I'm quite proud, and I'll only get better from here.


Back to my card. I played along with a 3 different challenges:

1) CASEing The Catty is a Facebook  group of Stampin' Up! demonstrators from Australia and New Zealand who love to create and CASE using the Stampin' Up! catalogues as inspiration. This week we are playing with Masks (stencils). I chose the Honeybee Home Bundle card from the January-June Mini catalgue on page 80 to CASE (Copy And Share Everything). #ctc360


 2) Global Design Project #334 is a sketch challenge and you all know how much I love playing with Sketches. It was a coincidence to almost be the same layout for my CASEing The Catty inspiration card. #GDP334


3) CAS Colours & Sketches #461 is a lovely colour combo of blues and yellow. They don't mention it specifically but these are Ukraine's national colours. That was my first thought anyway. Let's hold the Ukranians in our heart and prayers while they try to survive through this war time.

 

Here's a tip for you when stamping lined images that you will be colouring:


Normally when colouring with Stampin' Blends, you want to use Memento ink so that the colours don't "bleed", smear, or blur. But look at my samples using different inks. I think the Memento one to be the worse. I then tried the Crumb Cake, thinking no line stamping, but it just looked faded. Then I remembered reading somewhere that a dark gray isn't so black, yet still somewhat black. The article I read made it make sense, so I tried it. Not there's still some fading but it's a happy medium, in my opinion. Maybe if  I try the Basic Gray Archival ink (retired) next time, maybe that will have the perfect effect.


Supplies I used:


And to finish of the card set, because we never send a naked envelope, I just added more of the masked vines. Clean and Simple, Easy Peasy!


Hope you enjoyed today"s inspiration and squeeze in some crafty time this weekend.

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Thursday, March 17, 2022

Krafty Chicks Challenge #603: CAS and Throwback Thursday

 Happy Krafty Chicks Thursday to you! And Happy St Patrick's Day! I don't usually celebrate this day, unless the grand kids are over and they want to try to catch the Leprechaun. We almost got him last year! Caught him by his back pocket and to save himself, he ripped it off and left the coins behind.

 Are you ready for this week's challenge? I'm the hostess and we are looking for CAS, as in Clean And Simple. Here's my card:


 Like I mentioned earlier, I don't usually celebrate and I definitely don't make cards for this holiday but the next alphabetical stamp set in my retired pile had the sentiment and four leaf clover in it. So how could I ignore that gentle nudge from the universe?

I also created this card following CAS Colours & Sketches. I'm too late to enter their gallery but it's still a great challenge to play along with and deserve a mention.

 

 

One: I have two grand sons. They both require a card, to be fair! Two: This was my original card for today's Krafty Chicks Challenge and Throwback Thursday combo, just without the gold. And I  didn't like it. It wasn't coming along as I envisioned it in my head. So I tossed it aside. Made the other card really CAS with no added layers and then I found my Gold marker. I pulled back the original, coloured in LUCK and the stars, added a little gold bling and now I'm happy again!

Supplies I used:

I like to keep the inside of the card and the envelope just as CAS, just a little ink will do this time.

Want some more inspiration?? Go check out the Krafty Chicks Challenge Blog to see what the Design Team have created. Hope you play along and upload your project so that we can see what's happening in your craft space.

Here's a direct link to our wonderful Design Team's personal blogs:

Leanne's Blog

Melanie's Blog

Lori's Blog

Tenia (Guest Designer) 


 

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Saturday, March 12, 2022

Step It Up Saturday

 Welcome back to my page and to another edition of Step It Up Saturday. It seems that I like to wake up REALLY early on these days, 3:12 am this time. I'm definitely squeezing in a nap at some point before work this afternoon. 

On Sunday, I posted a simple Beginner card using the Bokeh Technique. It's pretty much stamp, ink, paper, with a couple of tools. I also created a Tuesday Night Live video where I recreated the card to show how simple it really is make. This was my first Live, so if you watch it, please be kind. It's not all that bad but you can tell I'm new at it. I already learned that I put my phone on the stand in wrong. See the video here on my Facebook group, Diane's Craft Space. Here's my Beginner card:

Supplies used:

 I did a Simple Casual card next for the Krafty Chicks Challenge this week. It's pretty much the same card but I changed the colours and added a couple of focal elements.

Supplies used:

On Friday, I created an Casual card following the Freshly Made Sketches challenge.


To amp it up a tad, I added DSP and some gold heat embossing. I also fussy cut the sentiment.

Supplies used:

So for my last card, I went all Avid and kicked it up one more notch by adding more stamped die cuts and changed the layout a bit. I think I'm going to add some Black Matte Dots.

Supplies used:

I hope you liked this week's Step It Up Saturday cards. They were really fun to make and came together quickly. Let's see them side by side:


And I also decorated the inside and envelope as I usually do.

Have your self a very merry Saturday! Make some time this weekend to get your craft on. I'm off to make some more much needed coffee, and wish me luck for that nap.
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Thursday, March 10, 2022

Krafty Chicks Challenge #602: Christmas

Yeah, it's Thursday! Time for another great challenge from the Krafty Chicks Challenge Blog. Let's put the spotlight on Christmas this week! This is also another Throwback Thursday card. I'm still going in alphabetical order but I have two piles: Christmas Stamps and the rest.

Thought I'd revisit the Bokeh technique. It's been a long time since I played with circles. I was inspired by a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator on the Artisan Design Team. She posted on Facebook her process and her "cheat", which is using the Picture This dies as your template instead of having to punch shapes and then used a Sponge Dauber for the smallest circles in Craft Whisper White ink.

Have you tried the Bokeh technique?? I also did a Facebook Live on Tuesday evening demonstrating the process. If you go watch it be gentle and kind, it is my very first Live. I don't think I did too badly but I am definitely a work in progress.

Supplies I used:

I like to keep the inside of the card and the envelope just as CAS. When I did my front panel, I did it larger than required so that I could trim off a bit off for the inside. Then I kept playing with the circles for the envelope. It truly is fun, you should give it a go.

Head on over to the Krafty Chicks Challenge Blog for more details about the challenge and for more inspiration for Christmas week from the Design Team. There's even a place to upload your project at the end. I hope you play along with us and show us what's happening in your craft space.

Here's a direct link to our wonderful Design Team's personal blogs:

Leanne's Blog

Melanie's Blog

Lori's Blog

Tenia (Guest Designer) 


 

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Thursday, March 3, 2022

Krafty Chicks Challenge #601: Stamp Act

 Happy Krafty Chicks Thursday to you!

Welcome March, it's almost spring! Alberta has been getting warmer than usual weather this winter without a lot of snow. I'm just hoping Mother Nature doesn't throw us a curve ball. I don't mind a bit more snow though, we will need the moisture to saturate the farmer's fields.

Onto my card for this week's Krafty Chicks Challenge : Stamp Act. As long as something is stamped, be it an image or a sentiment, it qualifies for the Stamp Act challenge.

Another Throwback Thursday kind of card. I am going to go alphabetically in my retired stamp set cabinet. Then hopefully I can purge of a few, I have way to many on the keep side and let's not count how many on the sell side. The Animal Outings stamp set also comes with coordinating dies, which I didn't use. I didn't want a white border so I fussy cut my kangaroo and used the black marker around the edges trick to help cover my no so straight cutting. There's also matching DSP, but my retired stash (call me a curator at this point) is so big, I didn't have the time to look for it, I just picked what was on top that would work.

Supplies I used:

To complete the card set, I like to keep the inside of the card and the envelope CAS: add just a little DSP and stamp an image.

Need more inspiration for the Stamp Act challenge, hop on over to the Krafty Chicks Challenge Blog to get the details. And upload your project so that we can see what's happening in your craft space.

Here's a direct link to our wonderful Design Team's personal blogs:

Leanne's Blog

Melanie's Blog

Lori's Blog

Tenia (Guest Designer) 


 

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Krafty Chicks Challenge #747: CAS

Happy Krafty Chicks Thursday to you!  Are you ready for this week's challenge?? On the third week of the month, I'm the hostess and...