Paper Cuts

I just can’t seem to resist cute little Halloween images.  (It’s a weakness.)  This one is called Monster Squad, a new release by My Favorite Things.  Had to have it!!!

I started out with the intention of making this another regular card, but just before I adhered the focal image, I thought, “Hmmm…. I think I’ll hide a little treat back here.” 

So here’s what I did…I cut a piece of 2 3/4″ x 2 1/8″ patterned paper to cover a stick of gum,  folded the paper around the gum just to get the fold lines, then unfolded the paper.  I cut a piece of chocolate ribbon, folded it in half and stapled it to one end of one side of the paper, like this:

I wrapped and adhered the paper around the stick of gum then tied some string around the ribbon.  Mine was white but I colored it with a green Copic. 

Next, I laid the wrapped gum on the back side of the focal image, aligning the edge of the gum with the edge of the matted piece.  (Be SURE the ribbon is sticking out on the right side.  Don’t ask me why I’m warning you to double check.  )  Leaving a tiny bit of space on each side of the gum, apply foam tape across the bottom, top and side of the gum and then across the bottom edge.  I used the border strip from my foam squares.  (Sorry for the bad picture. I took that one at night.)

Adhere that piece to your card front and slide in the gum.  (Don’t pay attention to that skinny brown ribbon.  I decided it was too small and added the wider ribbon instead.)

Thanks so much for stopping by!!  Have a great day!   

Cardstock:  Prism White (base), Suede Brown Dark, Sunflowers Dark, Super Smooth White   Patterned Paper:  Memory Box “Spooky” Collection 6×6   Stamps:  My Favorite Things “Monster Squad” and “Fright Night” (boo sentiment)   Ink:  Tsukineko Memento Tuxedo Black   Accessories:  Copic markers, brads (American Crafts), black marker, white string, chocolate grosgrain, foam tape.  Card size 5 ½” x 4 ¼”.

It’s time for another Dirty Dozen/Dirty Dozen Alumni challenge.  This time the focus is to use stamps designed by fellow Dirty Girls or as an alternate choice we could semi-case something by a fellow Dirty Girl .   The required element is to use a Spring color combination with a restriction of no diecut/embossing machines (i.e. Cuttlebug).  So I decided to use one of Lisa Strahl’s backgrounders from Cornish Heritage Farms and semi-case myself.

If you’re a member of the Splitcoast Fan Club, you may remember this card that I made in November 2005.  (You can only see it if you’re a Fan Club member.  If you’re not a Fan Club member, you can get details on joining here.)  So in this first card, my girl is wearing her little denim skirt, showing off her hip belly button bling.  Well, some time went by and she met this great dude, got married and sported this little number…which has, in turn, lead to this:

Yes, she’s in the “family way.”  She’s still hip, but she’s had to put away the belly button bling…for a while, anyway. 

I followed the same premise as the lingerie card but added a lot more curves.

I thought it would be nice to have a matching gift bag to go along with the card so I made my own (nice and round… like her belly).  Here’s how I did it:

Cut two 6 1/2″ circles from the dark plum cardstock and two 6 1/4″ circles from the light plum cardstock.  I stamped the Large Polka Dot backgrounder using vanilla craft ink on the light plum circles.  (Since the circles were wider than the stamp, I used my stamp-a-ma-jig to line up the dots for the remaining part of the circle.)   Remove 1/2″ from the bottom of each circle and adhere the lighter pieces to the darker ones.

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For the sides, cut two 8″ x 2″ strips of dark plum cardstock. Score in 1/4″ along each long side.  Score in 3″ from one short side on each piece.  From this 3″ score line, snip along the length of the strip, only going in as far as the 1/4″ score line.  (Don’t snip past the 3″ score line.)

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Adhere the first side piece, aligning the 3″ score line with the bottom corner of the bag.  Continue adhering up the side of the bag, bending the side piece to fit along the curve.

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Begin adhering the second side, aligning the 3″ score line of the second strip with the other bottom corner of the bag,  overlapping the 3″ lengths of the strips on the bottom.

Apply glue (or your adhesive of choice–I use Tombow Mono Multi) to the exposed tabs and bottom edge and adhere the second side of the bag, aligning the edges with the curve of the side.  I poked my scissors down inside the bag to help with alignment.

For the handles, cut two 9 1/2″ x 3/4″ strips of dark plum cardstock.  Adhere each end to bag using big brads.

I can’t wait to see what the other DDG’s have created!  Click here to see.  Thanks so much for looking!!!  Have a great day!

Cardstock:  SU Creamy Caramel, Perfect Plum, Pale Plum   Ink:  SU Creamy Caramel and Vanilla craft   Stamp:  Large Polka Dot backgrounder by Cornish Heritage Farms   Rub-ons:  Deja Views ‘Congrats,’ One Heart One Mind ‘A Mother is…’ and Lil Davis Designs ‘Black Alphabet’   Accessories:  Karen Foster Biggie Brads, ribbon, Creative Memories Circle Cutter, 1 ¼” and 1 3/8” circle punches, pop dots, sponge.  Card size 4 ¼” x 5 ½”.

I had fun making this little candy bar card using C.C. Designs’ new Halloween set (available from All That Scraps)!   Where’s the candy bar?  It’s in a little pocket on the back side of the card.  I have some black twill tied around the bar with a little tag attached with white string.  You pull the twill and out comes the bar (and it’s FULL size! ).  Here’s how I did it:

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I cut the black cardstock to 6 1/2″ x 11″.  Score at 3 1/4″, 6 1/2″, 6 3/4″ and 10″; fold as shown.  Your cardstock will look like this …………………………………………………>

(mountain fold, valley fold, valley fold, valley fold)

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Fold the back flap (”C”) to the left toward the back (fold line) of the card front (”A”). 

Apply liquid glue or tacky tape to adhere the flap.  I used Tombow Mono Multi…………………………………………………………..>

You now have your pocket for the candy bar.  If you’d like, you can punch a hole (through both layers of the “pocket”) along the right edge and thread ribbon through as described here.

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<………………..Your card should look like this. 

Now you can decorate your card any way you’d like. 

I chose this cool, shiny eyeball paper, adding some glossy black dots in each “eye” using a 3-d gel pen.  I stamped the bat and sentiment, trimming so that the bat’s wings come “out of the box.” 

The sentiment panel is raised on dimensionals, but before adhering it to the patterned paper, I tucked in the little ghost.  It just worked out that he can slide up and down as his tail is “hooked in” by the pop dot in the lower right corner.

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Tie twill and tag onto the candy bar and slide it in!…………………………………………………..>

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Lastly, I made this little 2-4-6-8 box for some more “spooky delights.”  I covered each side with small panels of eyeball paper, adding the black dots and a few stitches, then punched two holes through all layers, inserting and knotting the twill to close the box. 

Thanks for stopping by!  Have a great day!

Cardstock:  SU Black, Papertrey Ink white     Patterned Paper:  Reminisce “101 Eyeballs”     Stamps:  C.C. Designs Halloween set     Ink:  Brilliance Graphite Black     Accessories:  Copic markers, SU black marker, mat pack/needle, Sakura 3-d gel pen, black twill (source unknown), BoBunny Fright Night Bodacious brads, liquid glue, pop dots.  Finished card size  6 ½” x 3 ¼”.