Vintage Leaves Card Set Winner Announced!

I'm just popping in to announce the winner of the Vintage Leaves Card Set!

I must say that I learned a few things from this venture.

It seems that though I might be excited about a particular project I have created does not necessarily mean that others will share my excitement. Though I worked long and hard on this card set, it did not seem to inspire many viewers to comment for a chance to win this set. This is a little disappointing but I won't let it deter me.

Be that as it may, I am grateful to both Donna Ellis and Charlene Erb for their support! In retrospect, I wish that I had two giveaways so that I could give you both a gift for your loyal support. In the end, though, it was Donna that won the card set.

Donna, I will be contacting you to arrange to post this card set to you. I hope you'll enjoy it!

Vintage Leaves Card Set Giveaway

Jennifer McGuire posted a tutorial the other day for a gate fold technique that used border dies. I really liked the result and kept mulling it over in my mind as to how I could make it my own. With Autumn just around the corner, I decided to create a card set using Autumn hues and employ Jennifer's technique.

For my colors, I chose Cherry Cobbler, Cajun Craze, Delightful Dijon, and Garden Green. I cut a piece of each color at 11 x 4.25", modifying Jennifer's size to be more in line with that of a standard size card. Each piece was scored on the long side at 4" from one end and 2" from the other end. After folding on the score lines, the card front overlapped slightly.

I placed the single edge die from the Detailed Floral Thinlits along the edge of the longest flap and ran it through the Big Shot. It easily cut through the top and partially through the next layer. I had to open the card, reposition the die and run it through again to finish cutting the second flap. There was a resulting indent from the die on the inside of the card but that would be hidden by a matte.

I chose a leaf stamp, from the Vintage Leaves stamp set, for each of the four colors and then stamped the front of the card using matching ink except for the Cherry Cobbler card. When using my Cherry Cobbler on the matching card stock, the color appeared "greenish" so I chose to use Real Red as an alternative.

After stamping the card fronts, I cut white mattes for the inside of the cards and stamped a leaf on each of those to match each card. In addition, I used my Envelope Punch Board to create envelopes for each card and stamped leaves on the fronts of those as well before assembling the envelopes, using Post It notes to mask off the non-inked sides of the envelopes.

Next, I stamped sentiments from the Watercolor Wishes Card Set, in Versamark on the four colors of card stock and heat embossed them with Gold Stampin' Emboss Powder. These were then die cut with the matching Leaflets Framelits. Each die cut had its edges inked with the corresponding ink.
It was then that I got the idea to heat emboss the edges of the die cut gate fold edges themselves! To do this, I used a Versamark Pen to ink each edge, repeating the process to really get a nice embossed gold effect.

Another idea struck and I decided to add flecks of ink onto the cards to provide a bit more texture to my design. I used both my Stampin' Write Markers, flicking the marker off the edge of the cap, and my Tim Holtz Distress Splatter Brush with reinkers, which produced larger splatters.

To finish each card, I added a thread nest, using Gold Metallic Thread secured with a glue dot, and adhered a leaf over it using Dimensionals.

After completing the cards and envelopes, I needed a container to put them in so I consulted this tutorial by Catherine Pooler on how to create a box. Once I had figured out what size I needed for my card box and lid, I cut the two pieces from Kraft card stock.

I scored, cut and glued the piece for the box bottom and then used my stamps to create my own paper for the box top. After stamping the leaves, I again used my Tim Holtz Distress Splatter Brush to add flecks of Crumb Cake reinker. After it was dry, I scored, cut and glued the lid together.

A belly band was created for my card box using a strip of Garden Green card stock topped with the now retired Cherry Cobbler Sheer Linen Ribbon. I stamped two oak leaves in Delightful Dijon on the matching card stock and die cut them with the framelits. The edges of the leaves were inked with matching ink and then I used my McGill Paper Blossom Tool Kit to give some dimension to the leaves. I used Glue Dots to adhere them to the top of the belly band to complete the box.

I am really loving the rich hues of this color combo! Feel free to copy this image if you'd like to use it!

I'm very pleased with how this card set turned out! And now the fun part–I'm going to give it away!

If you live in either Canada or the United States, here is what you need to do to be entered into a draw to win this card set:

1. Leave a comment either below or on my Facebook post (or both!).
2. Pin any image from this blog post to Pinterest.
3. Share my Facebook post about this card set.

On Sunday, September 4, at 7:00 pm CDT, I will draw to see who wins the card set! Be sure to check back here for the announcement of the winner. I will need the winner to contact me so that I may get a mailing address for where to send the card set.

The lucky winner could be YOU!

Birthday Bouquet Card Set

Did you know that Stampin' Up stamp cases can be used for more than just stamps? I love all the stamp cases and use them to store a variety of Stampin' Up items.

I use the Clear-Mount Stamp Cases #119105 to store my Stampin' Write Markers in color sets, the Full Wide Stamp Cases #127551 to store my sponges by color set, and I will soon have my reinkers organized into the Half Wide Stamp Cases #127552.

If you visit Kelly Kent's Blog, you can download and print her pretty inserts for your markers and reinkers.

Some people also store a variety of embellishments in the stamp cases. Bev Adams has some useful resources for this type of organization.

In addition to actual storage, the stamp cases can be used for creating lovely cases for treats or card sets. Jan Farring has a tutorial for a lovely case with a handle.

I created a card set with a matching case as a thank you gift for a friend. I chose to use the lovely Birthday Bouquet DSP. I cut a piece measuring 11 1/4 x 7" and slipped it into the front of the case where the stamp label usually goes.

Next, I created the cards for the set. I decided to make eight cards in total—four thank you cards and four sympathy cards. I cut standard card bases and mattes from Pool Party and Blushing Bride card stock  Two mattes of each color were embossed on the top 2/3 with the retiring Decorative Dots Embossing Folder and two with the Elegant Dots Embossing Folder. Matching ink was sponged over each to bring out the embossed texture. The edges were also inked.

Two different papers from the Birthday Bouquet DSP were cut and adhered to the bottom 1/3 of each matte and then a strip of coordinating ribbon, either Pool Party Glitter Ribbon or Blushing Bride Satin Ribbon from the Love Blossoms Embellishment Kit was adhered across the join of the DSP and the matte.

The mattes were then adhered to the matching card bases using Dimensionals. The Bold Butterfly Framelits were used to cut butterflies from both vellum and Dazzling Diamonds Glimmer Paper. These were adhered with either a glue dot or a Dimensional. The vellum butterflies also received a coating of Wink of Stella.

The sentiments, from the Rose Wonderstamp set were stamped on Thick Whisper White using Basic Black Archival and then the ends flagged using the Banner Triple Punch. These were adhered with Dimensionals. Using the retiring Envelope Liner Framelits, liners from matching DSP were die cut and adhered inside envelopes.

Using Fast Fuse Adhesive, two strips of the Blushing Bride Satin Ribbon were adhered inside each side of the stamp case. The finished cards and envelopes were stacked on either side and the ribbons tied in bows to hold them in place.

For the front of the finished card set case, a large butterfly was die cut from Watermelon Wonder card stock with the Butterflies Thinlits Dies. The smaller butterfly was stamped with the Butterfly Basics stamp set using Blushing Bride and die cut using the Butterfly Thinlits Dies and then the edges were inked with Watermelon Wonder.

Both butterflies were inked with Versamark and heat embossed with Clear Stampin' Emboss Powder two times to make them super glossy. Their wings were bent up a bit and they were then adhered to the case using Glue Dots.

Card case without cards and envelopes.

Open card case with cards and envelopes.

 

I'm quite pleased with how this set of cards turned out! Making a set of cards in a decorated stamp case makes a lovely gift!