Chalk Board Card

I love the chalkboard papers and embellishments that are so popular right now. I have purchased several of them, but they have sat on my shelf for a while. Well I was inspired to use some of the My Mind's Eye Chalk Studio paper to cut out one of the boards and placed it front and center of a center step card. I used white pens, ink, and a chalk pencil to decorate it. (the bird and flourish came on the patterned paper) The name is in chalk so I spritzed it with hairspray to fix it and keep it from smearing.

I took a cue from the Prima chalk line and added some pops of color. The banner was cut from some older Echo Park paper, Hello Summer. The flowers were cut from my cut files and inked with Worn Lipstick and Squeezed Lemonade.

I stamped more decorations on the inside.

A Cheerful Hello

As crafters we know how it is when we spend time, money, and our coveted craft supplies to make a handmade card or gift for someone and realize the recipient does not appreciate all the effort that you put into the project. We have all been there. I secretly start thinking about taking it back and keep it myself. LOL

Well, those times are completely eclipsed when we happen to give a handmade treasure to some one who really appreciates it. All the effort is instantly considered worth it to us. For example, my sister in law saves all my cards and displays them. My past Christmas cards are even a part of her decorations every year. My sister frames them. Totally worth all the time and work.

I gave a card to someone last year, and recently talked to several of her family members who told me how she just went on and on about that card. She even told my hubby that she does not remember anyone ever giving her such a special card. ...Well, of course, I melted. Not only did I feel appreciated, I was yearning to make her another card. LOL

So here is the card I made. :)  

I know she will appreciate it.

Black and White with Open Flowers

Another black and white step card with splashes of red. 
This time I used some paper from a black and white K & Co stack and made Open Flowers (instead of Open Roses) This is an easy flower that gives a lot of punch. You can see the video tutorial for this flower here. 

Open Flower Tutorial

I added some Recollections bling and a Diamond Edge border with colored seam binding.

Sympathy Card with Open Rose

As many of you know. my dad passed away last month. His sister is the only sibling from his family that is still living. She had another loss this past week. Her husband passed away. I wanted to make her a special card. 

I used some patterned paper that is flocked. Red mats were added and lots of red bling. I made an Open Rose and added one of my Diamond edged border with dyed seam binding woven through it. 

The step card files and instructions can be found on this page.
The Open Rose and Diamond Edged Decorations can be found on my Etsy shop.

Colorful Step Card

I made another step card as a thank you. I wanted it to be extra special. Taking a cue from my glittery Mariposa patterned paper, I used some cheerful colors for the rose and "pretty" flowers. 

I added lots of pearls and made some butterflies. The butterflies were stamped and colored. They needed something a little extra. They got covered in glue and dry Stickles stardust glitter.

So pretty!

Step Card in Purple and Silver

Yet another step card. (perhaps my favorite from this last group)

I bought these purple and silver pages at a local art supply store. They are 8 1/2 by 11 sheets intended for invitation. I have hoarded them for a while now. They are just so luxurious. It is hard to see in the picture but the silver swirls are very metallic. Of course I covered most of the patterned paper up on the sides but I did leave some exposed on the left side.

The silver paper is actually heavy duty wrapping paper that I bought to use on cards. Works great and embosses beautifully.

The bling is from Michael's and the Regal roses were inked with Dusty Concord and Seedless Preserves on the edges. The cut files for the step card and "thank you" are here. You can get the files for the cross here.

Hope you have a great day!

Step Card in Red

More Thank You cards.This is Mariposa patterned paper that has beautiful gold embossed flowers and flourishes. It even has a cute little bird...

If you look closely at the rose petals you can see that I inked the white cardstock with Aged Mahogany Distress Ink and then darkened the edges by running the matching marker along the edge. It takes a little while but it adds such a realistic touch.

You can download the step card files and Thank You caption from the previous post. 

Step Card Thank Yous

Hello my crafty friends. I have been keeping myself busy by making cards. We needed some special thank you cards to send to some wonderful people who helped out during my dad's time in hospice and the funeral. Since I happen to make cards (LOL) I was happy to create them.

I used some more of my Mariposa paper from the K&Co stack. This one has several colorful butterflies on a glittered cardstock. Look closely and you can see the glittery dots.

I was in a colorful mood so I chose to used Ripe Persimmon and Peacock Feathers Distress inks to color my white cardstock for the card base, mats, and decorations. 

I pulled these colors to go with the Mariposa patterned paper then I ended up covering most of the patterned paper up. LOL

I added WOW Embossing glitter to the butterfly and text. It really popped against all the orange.

To accent the edges of my handmade Regal Roses in Ripe Persimmon, I added some Rusty Hinge ink.

You can download instructions for the side step card here.   Side Step Card

The "thank you" text and shadow layers can be downloaded here. Thank You Caption

The Regal Rose cut files and instructions and the Detailed Butterfly cut files are available in my Etsy shop.

  

Wedding Cake

Hello my crafty friends. Hope you are having a great weekend. Thank you all so much for your wonderful comments. Each one brightens my day. :)

I have another wedding card to share.

It is a combination of the last wedding card I made and a cake card I made a few years ago...

 +




The best of both cards. :)

Special Thank You Card

Well, you may have read that we recently moved. I love the new house and the view outside is great. The only sad thing about this move is that am going to have to change pharmacies. With all of my different medicines, that is not as easy as it sounds. I have been using the same local pharmacy for several years and the staff there is absolutely wonderful. They are so kind and patient and are always extremely helpful. That type of service is getting harder and harder to find these days.

I made the ladies at the pharmacy a special thank you card.

I have trouble photographing red cards. If anyone has any tips I would appreciate them.

It is a side step card where I used my Open Rose and Diamond Deco Design cut files. You can download the free Thank You caption cut files here.

The red bling is from some Bling on a Roll that my DH bought for me at Micheal's that I cut apart.The "Thank You" is cut from red then I spread red Stickles over the words.
(He went to the store when they where having a sale on bling and just grabbed what he thought I would like. When he saw that I used some of it on this card he said, "So, I did good on picking out the bling?" Love him!)

Wildlife Silhouettes for Dad

June is always a busy month for me card-wise. Besides graduations and weddings, my DH's birthday is in June, followed by Father's Day, and then our wedding anniversary. So I make 3 cards to give my DH in the space of 3 weeks! You can imagine how difficult it is to think of 3 different masculine designs.


Here is what I came up with for his birthday...

Yep, you caught me. Now you see the real reason I made all the animal silhouettes that I featured as decorative covers for the pocket watch. 

(I will be showing more on the pocket watches later this week.)

On the front you can see some of the deer.

I cut them in Core-dinations card stock and tore and sanded the edges.

The bear would not fit on the front, bu I just could not leave him out so he is on the back...

  I would love to tell you the "eye" was intentional, but to be honest, it just happened when I sanded the edges. LOL


I have shown side step cards before. I was using measurements that I found online, but it always bothered me that the side areas did not line up better. I decided to play around with the measurements so that the side panels stair stepped up. Here is what I came up with...

Now I made this up so if you see different directions for a side step card using paper that is

8 1/2 by 11, you will know why mine may be different.

Here is the link to download the instructions and the cut files for the decorative panels. 

Revised Side Step Card

If anyone would like PDF templates, just leave a comment.

I will be adding these instructions to the "step card" tab under my blog header.

The animal silhouettes will be available in my Etsy shop.

Tools for Operation Write Home & MTC

Make the Cut is offering an Operation Write Home challenge this week. You can check it out on their forum site or on the MTC FaceBook page.


As you may know, OWH is always in need of cards to send to soldiers who are stationed overseas to use when they write home to their family and friends. So MTC is sponsoring a challenge to make cards to send to our armed forces.


 You can make any type of card. Please keep in mind that OWH prefers that certain guidelines are followed. They prefer A2 sized cards. (4 1/4 by 5 1/2) and NO GLlTTER. 


You can check out more information about OWH guidelines at their site or on this video. 


I am offering  offered these tool cut files and pegboard card files to go along with this challenge. You can use any or all of them to make a masculine card for OWH.

These files are no longer free. I have  fiiles for both sets of cards below in my Etsy Store.

The cut files include everything to make this card:

Of course, you don't have to make this card. You can use the files however you choose.

Here is another card I made using the tools and pegboard.

It is a stair step card. 

I have folding instructions and cut files for the decorative panels.

Download cut files for Decorative Panels for Stair Step Card

I will also add these instructions on the "Step Card" tab under my blog header for future reference.

By the way,

I will be making videos on the step cards and the pocket watch cards as soon as my body feels like cooperating. LOL

I will also add a bike to the decorative covers for the pocket watch as requested. :)

Graduation Cap and Gown Card

Well this post may be too late for some of you. I am just getting around to posting the cards I made for my friends and relatives who are graduating this year. 


I made center step cards with little graduation caps and gowns. I think they turned out really cute.

Red and black for a more formal card

Blue and gold for school colors

And Zebra stripes with pink accents and bling. (Had to make it girly :)


The cut files for the center step card with the graduation cap & gown will be available in my Etsy store.


Here are a few videos I made to show the different parts...


Center Step Card Tutorial (6 minutes)
You can see written instructions and diagrams on this post. Center Step Card
(You will have to scroll down to the "center step card" section of that post.)

How to make a tassel
(You just never know when you might need one of these...LOL)

How to assemble the graduation cap and gown in 2 videos about 9 minutes each


Video 1

Video 2

Enjoy and have a wonderful Memorial Day!

Mother's Day Card

I hope you all had a great Mother's Day!
With family birthday card, more wedding invitations, and Mother's Day all at once, I am just now getting a chance to show one of the cards I made for my MIL's.

It is very similar to the one I made for my mom last year.
You can see that post and get the sentiment cut files here. I just changed the colors and used my own butterfly and rose cut files this time. 
(Yes, I have used this color on my last several cards, but I just bought the Aged Mahogany distress ink so I am having fun playing with it. LOL)


You can find the cut files and instructions for the step card on one of the tabs under my blog header.


Enjoy and THANKS so much for all of your lovely comments! I really appreciate them. :)

Scrumptious Sweet Blog Hop

Well welcome to my blog. Aren't you just loving the
Scrumptious Sweet Blog Hop?

If you are just starting, you will want to go to Angie's at Scrappin' Memories  & start from the beginning.

Here is the Hop list in case you get turned around.

Angie - http://angie-scrappinmemories.blogspot.com/

Amy M. - http://aimitup.blogspot.com/

Amy V. - www.lovetocrop.com

Celeste - http://touchedbyabutterfly.blogspot.com

Desiree - http://p1x3lf3t1sh.blogspot.com/

Gaby - www.gabycreates.com

Jani -  http://papercompulsions.blogspot.com/ +++You are here+++

Melin - http://cookingwithcricket.com

Norma - http://pinkblingcrafter.blogspot.com/

Tammy - http://tammyjennings.blogspot.com/

Tori - http://itstoristime.blogspot.com/

Yolie - www.justyolie.com

First of all...
I want to wish my blog friend Tammy a very happy birthday!
(Be sure and leave her a b-day comment when you go by her blog in a few minutes :)

In honor of Tammy's birthday, I have this fun group of birthday captions you can download.

Happy Birthday SVGs

Have you ever made a project and it just did not come out the way you planned?
That is what happened with my first project. I thought ,"how cute would a 3D gumball machine be."
Sounds cute. The files took a while to figure out and when I thought I had it together, it was a little disappointing.

It just needed something else.
(It does not work like a gumball machine. It is just a round box.)

I tired to add a stand.

Still not quite right.
I tried to add ribbons and bows.Still not quite right.

So I made something else.
(I was very happy with this one)

It is a step card that I converted to a SWEET shop.

(See the tab marked "step cards" for more info and a cut file for a generic side step card.

Go ahead and take a closer look.

Those cupcakes at the bottom of the display window are actually a ribbon that I got from Celeste. (she was your 4th stop on the hop over at Touched by a Butterfly) Thanks Celeste!
On the shelf above is a cake and some snow cones. What looks like sugary goodness is actually cotton balls sprayed with alcohol inks. ( I mix rubbing alcohol with several drops or re-inker in a medicine bottle)

If you  get on your tip toes and really press your nose to the glass ( or crafting plastic in this case), you'll see even more goodies.

The best thing is that these sweet treats are "FAT FREE" :)

Here is an other shot of the little canisters in back.

And of course, I just HAD to put some paper flowers on my project.

I should mention that the beautiful label on the door is not one of my files.

I got that from Paulo over at MTC SCAL E-files

Well I hope you like it as much as I do.


If you would like the SVG cut files and /or PDF templates & instructions for the Gumball Machine and the Sweet Shop:

1) Be or become a follow my blog.
2) Leave a comment or email me at papercompulsions@gmail.com
and request them.

Thanks for coming by! I hope you enjoyed your visit.
Your next stop is Melin over at Cooking With Cricket.

Shutter card/step card measurements

Here are the measurements for a shutter card. (also called a step card)

You start with a piece of paper that is 12 inches long and 5 1/2 inches wide. Make a 5 1/2 score line (from top to bottom) at 2, 4, 8, & 10 inches from the left side of the card. Between the 2 inch and 10 inch score lines, make an 8 inch cut line 1 1/2 inches from the top of the card. Repeat this cut line 1 1/2 inches from the bottom of the card.

Refer to pictures to see how to fold.

You are welcome to the cut files, but NOTE:

The finished card is 12 inches long. You will need to resize the image so it will fit on the page. These are just the cut lines. You will need to score the card by hand.

Cut files:

Without score lines:   SVG   SCAL2   EPS   DXF

Measurements and info: PDF