Card Techniques - How to make an easel card

If you are a bit of a card maker you may have seen these easel cards doing the rounds of late.

They seem to be the latest fad thats for sure! well I had a shot at making one the other day when i had to make a card for my friends birthday. Here is my effort.....

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I couldnt believe how easy they were to make...so I'm going to share my instructions with you!

Step one: Cut a piece of cardstock 6x6 inches. This is the front of your card and you can decorate it how you please.

Step two: Cut another piece of card that measures 6x12 inches. Score this piece at 3 inches and 6 inches.

Step three: Valley fold both of these scores.

Step Four: Decorate the bigger section of this piece of cardstock. Making sure to place a brad, button or flowers around the centre of the card (see diagram)

Please note this diagram shows measurements for a four inch card but you can make it any size you want.

Step Five: With the longest peice of cardstock folded in half place , (the folded side on top, and the decorated side in the middle), put double-sided tape or glue onto the bottom 3 inch section.

Now with this piece still folded in half take the front of your card piece and place it on top glueing the two pieces together.

Step Six: To display your card place the front of your card behind the brad or button (or whatever) that is on the bottom section so it sits like an easel!

Simple hey but pretty effective.

i hope you enjoyed my little lesson and I hope you have a go at making one and sharing with us in the gallery and place a link in the comments section.

I have used BAsic Grey Papers, Bazzil cardstock, Spellbinder templates and Green tara flowers on my card. All available from the CPC shop.

January's Newsletter

is HERE

Tuesday's Sketch Challenge

Today's sketch is going to be a challenge also...

I would like you to use BLACK & WHITE on your layout - with one other colour of your choice. You must also use chipboard that you have altered. Have fun! Don't forget to share in the gallery!

January Designer Kit Release

Ho Ho Ho

January is here - bringing with it loads of Christmas Cheer all ready for your Christmas photos

Kit Contains:

Webster's Pages - Home for the Holidays Range

* December Journal

* Oh Christmas Tree

* Cardstock Die-cut Stickers

Pink Paislee - Mistletoe & Co

* Naughty or Nice

* North Pole

Jenni Bowlin Red Damask Circle

Bazzill Cardstock

* Kraft

* Ivy

* San Francisco

Journal Card

AdornIT Alpha

Ric Rac

Kaiser Bling

January Add on Kit

Basic Grey Periphery Alphabet

Journal Card

Delish Christmas Clear Stickers

Kaiser Bling & Rhinestone Christmas Shape

Music Paper

Ribbons

Bling Brad

January Sneak Peeks

because we haven't been around for the last few days - I have made a little collage of the kit...

The newsletter will be out sometime in the first week of January - but the kit will be available for order in the shop from the 4th of January.

Merry Christmas

I would like to take this opportunity to wish all the CPC blog readers a very merry Christmas and hope you all have a happy and safe New Year.





From our families to yours, enjoy the festive season and we will see you again in 2010.





But before I go, let me share with you a project I did this afternoon.





Luckily, my order from CPC arrived before I left work at lunchtime. Included with the order was a 7 Gypsies Artist Printers Tray, which was a spur of the moment purchase, but which I managed to alter this afternoon, between wrapping Christmas pressies :)

I have used pp's from the 7 Gypsies Gypsy Market range (which also came in my order) - yummo, and double sided with a plain colour on the back. The Oelander chippie letters have been misted with Suede and then Tattered Rose Glimmermist. The lace, large flower and flower spray have also been given the Tattered Rose Glimmermist treatment, to take away the stark whiteness, and add a smidge of colour. I have added some Kaiser Pearls and White Opal Liquid Pearls as well. All of the above products are available from CPC . The other bits and bobs are from my ever expanding stash.

This Tray I will give to my MIL tomorrow. I hope she likes it.

Thats it from me for 2009. Have a good one, and I will catch you all on the flipside.

Deb xoxox

Cuttlebug/Nestabilities Christmas Card

Thought I would share with you how I put together this Christmas Card using the Cuttlebug, Nestabilities and my Crop-a-dile.




Materials :

• Scraps of pp - I used some Basic Grey Fruitcake that I had left after doing a Kaisercraft Christmas Wreath. (pics in the gallery)
• White card - scored and folded (I used a basic 6 x 4 card)
• Piece of cardstock 51/2" x 3 3/4"
• 4 chipboard squares
• Small piece of card to stamp greeting on
• Eyelets and ribbon
• Double sided tape and 3d foam

Tools:

• Cuttlebug with Swiss Dot Embossing Folder
• Spellbinder Nestabilities - Inverted Scalloped Squares and Birds
• Craft knife and Scissors
• Crop-a-dile for setting eyelets
• White gel pen
• White and pinecone ink pads
• Sand paper
• Greetings Stamp and Black Stazon Ink.

Ok first I cut the inverted scalloped square from the top section of the cardstock. Just come down from the top no more that 1". Using your white gel pen doodle around the edges and lightly ink edges with your white ink pad.

Cover the 4 chipboard squares with paper, if you have never covered chipboard the easiest way to do this is to cover the chipboard with glue (I used a glue stick) then stick onto the back of your paper. When dry trim with your craft knife. Sand all the edges to take off any overhanging bits.

Take your Crop-a-dile and punch your holes for the eyelets (tip - if you set your quide they will both be in exactly the same place) then set your eyelets.

Place your cardstock piece over your card to see where the chipboard will go, then stick your squares down with double sided tape.

Thread your ribbon throught the eyelets and tie at the front.

Put your 3d tape on the back of the cardstock and adhere it to the card.

Now using the Cuttlebug again cut out one of the Nestabilities Birds with another scrap of matching paper. Emboss it then with the Swiss Dots Embossing Folder. Ink the edges with a pinecone ink (no girl should be without at least 4 pinecones on the go at any one time..lol.).

Put some 3d foam behind the bird and stick it in the middle of the chipboard square. Give him an eye with a small rhinestone.

Stamp a greeting onto some white cardstock, trim close, ink with pinecone then matt with another scrap from your PP. Stick the greeting to bottom corner of the chip squares.

This card design could be used for any occasion, using up some of your papers left from your projects. If you make one please share with us in the gallery.

Thanks for looking and Merry Christmas to you all.

Marg.

Tuesday's Sketch

It's my turn to create this week's Designer Sketch for the Blog.

In my typical style this sketch shows simple lines, lots of distressing and a single photo!

Hope you enjoy and don't forget to share your sketch layouts in the gallery...

Have a good Christmas!

Have you...

Been Keeping up with the Challenges in the Forum for the 12 Challenges of Christmas???

We are up to day 9 now - and the gallery is looking awesome with everyone's challenges.

So why not join in - it's not too late!

Challenge 6 of the 12 Christmas Challenges.

Challenge 6 - Oh Christmas Tree

has been posted in the forum



My challenge to you is to create 6 Christmas cards, each card must have a Christmas tree on it...but not the same tree..
have fun.

Challenge 5 of the 12 Christmas Challenges...

has been posted in the forum

Christmas cocktails

I want you to mix it up..you know like Christmas cocktails!

Use three different papers from three different manufacturers but they must all have a different pattern on them!

(for example...stripes, flowers, spots)

Challenge 4

Of our 12 Challenges of Christmas Challenges is posted in the Forum...

Make sure you check it out!

Designer Kit Release

This month's kit is being stirred up a little, featuring Basic Grey's Nook and Pantry papers.

Check out the full details of the kit at the shop - under Designer Kits!

A little more.....

A Christmas Card/Stamping Tutorial.

Hi there, Lynlee here again this morning. I just wanted to share a Christmas card that I made yesterday using Pink Persimmon 'Little Red Wagon' stamps and Collage Press 'Joy Ride' papers, all available at CPC. I have done some paper piecing with the stamps, so I thought I would give you a quick tutorial on how I've done it.

Ok, so the first thing to do is cut your cardstock to size, I cut mine to 15 x 21cm, then scored and folded in half. Next I tore some vintage music paper to size and stuck that on the front. I then stuck one of the journal circles from the Joy Ride sheets to the front, then added a couple of matching strips down the side, one of them I punched with my Martha Stewart Doily lace border punch. Lastly I added a small sentiment to the top right corner and the main body of the card is done.

Now for the really fun stuff :) The next step is to choose the papers you wish to use for the clothes and wagon. You are best to go for prints that aren't too big, it keeps them in scale with the stamps. You can then stamp the images on each of the papers including the stamping the main image onto some more white cardstock.

You are now ready to start cutting out. Now you can choose to use your cutting knife, or scissors, it is completely up to you which you prefer, you just need to make sure you can be quite accurate, otherwise the image can look distorted once you have it all together. I chose to use my knife and you can see below I have followed the line very right up against the stamped image.

Once I had cut all of my pieces out, this is what I am left with. It is now time to start building the picture.

I have used some liquid glue on most of the pieces, but I added a small piece of foam tape to the middle of the dress, so that when it is stuck in place it actually gives the skirt some dimension, you don't have to do this, but it does look cute. So you just keep sticking your little pieces to the main image until you are all done, and this is what it should look like.So the last this to do is stick your paper pieced image to the front of the card and add some glitter or bling if you like, just to finish it off. And that's it, quite simple to do, a little time consuming, but I love the results in the end. I actually did this card for a sketch challenge over at the Pink Persimmon blog, using a really cool simple sketch they provided as inspiration.

You can apply this paper piecing technique to lots of your stamps, and it is a fun way to get a completely different look to your stamps. I hope you give it a try, and if you do, please upload your work in the gallery we love to see your work. Enjoy the rest of your Sunday, and don't forget to check back in tomorrow for the last sneak of the December kit.

Still more....

Twelve Challenges of Christmas 2

Has been posted in the forum...

It is to create an OTP that you can give as a gift...

Make sure you check out the details in the forum...

Oh and I am loving the kit sneak peeks...

And yet more....

Here's a little more....

of the December kit, enjoy :)

Are you ready????

For a little sneak at the December kit??? It's a little bit funky, a little bit pretty, a little bit bright, and whole lot delicious :) Keep an eye out over the next few days for some more peaks. Have a great day.

The Twelve Challenges of Christmas

On the first day of Christmas
The Design Team gave to me
A layout to create about a tree

On the second day of Christmas
The Design Team gave to me
a challenge every second day
and a Layout to create about a tree

On the third day of Christmas
The Design Team gave to me
A month to complete all challenges
a challenge every second day
and a layout to create about a tree

On the fourth day of Christmas
The Design Team gave to me
a 2% discount for every challenge completed
A month to complete all challenges
a challenge every second day
and a layout to create about a tree

On the fifth day of Christmas
The Design Team gave to me
A maximum of 25% off storewide for 12 completed challenges
a 2% discount for every challenge completed
A month to complete all challenges
a challenge every second day
and a layout to create about a tree

On the sixth day of Christmas
The Design Team gave to me
A month to spend the discount
A maximum of 25% off storewide for 12 completed challenges
a 2% discount for every challenge completed
A month to complete all challenges
a challenge every second day
and a layout to create about a tree

Well...

So what do you think?

Every second day we will announce a new challenge - starting now until Christmas
You will have until the 31st December to get your challenges into the gallery
You will get 2% discount for every challenge completed - ie complete 2 challenges get 4%, complete 10 challenges get 20%
If you complete all challenges you will get 25% discount off your store purchase. You have until 31st January 2010 to spend your discount.

So are you ready to start????

The First challenge is HERE

Are you ready for Christmas?

Over at the CPC forum the Designers are helping us to get organised with a new challenge comp

Check it out HERE

Basically every second day you will be given a challenge prompt - then you have until 24th Dec to upload your challenge into the gallery...

Prizes are up for offer - Details announced shortly!

Pop on over and register today!

Tuesday Sketch

Its that time of the week again!

Time for another sketch from our Designers.

This week's sketch is from Mish

Look forward to seeing what you create with it!

It's a bit late...

but I've finally got another sketch for you. Hope you have a play with it, and don't forget to share in the gallery if you do, we love to see your work :)

Another Recipe Challenge

Here is our final entry from Ruth

Tuesday's Sketch

Here is this weeks sketch - lots of distressing! Hope you have fun playing with it!


BACK IN STOCK - FIRST SHIPMENT INTO AUSTRALIA

CUTTLE BUG LACE TREE EMBOSSING FOLDER!

This folder was discontinued - but to due popular demand is being re-released for a short time only

Tuesday Sketch

This gorgeous sketch is another fabbo creation by the talented Deb!

I hope that you have fun with it! And don't forget to share your creation with us in the gallery!

November Kits...

November Kit contains:

LYB - Traveller - Sml Flower Burst, Road Sign, Travel Lace, Fresh Verse Stickers and a Clear Cut Frame.

Junlitz - Earth Hoops Paper

3 Cardstock

Dee's Design - Paper, Die Cuts and Distressed Alpha Rubons.

MM Travel Brads

November Add on Contains

Anita's Paint - Assorted Colours,

Lil' Davis Foam Stamps - Travel

Velvet Ric Rac

MM Travel Brads

SEI Alpha Stickers

LYB Fresh Verse Stickers

Bumble Bee Tickets

Prima Daisies

Heidi Grace Filmstrip Frames

Check out the gallery to see what the Designers have done with their kits

Final Sneak Peek -

Before the newsletter is out tomorrow!

Another Designer Blog Challenge Entry

We have an entry from Bramblebabe - absolutely gorgeous.

Don't forget to head to the gallery and leave some love for the layouts!

Another peek...

Looks a bit like an adventure to me!

Another Recipe Challenge

This time it's from Rach...

Stunning layout Rach - and gorgeous Family photos!

Thanks for taking part in the Designer Blog Challenge

More peeks of November's Kit

November is creeping up on us...

So here are a couple of sneak peeks of the next up and coming kit!

Sketch time yet again.

Happy Tuesday morning to you, Lynlee here with another sketch for you to get your creative juices flowing. Don't forget to post your lovely creations in the Gallery if you give the sketch a go, we just love to see how you use our sketches. Have a great day, and enjoy!!!

Our First Designer Challenge Entrant!

Thanks heaps Barbie! What a gorgeous layout!

Tuesday's Sketch

Well here it is...

This week's sketch is a creation by me... Nice and simple - Hope you enjoy - and don't forget to share your creations in the gallery!

Designer Challenges...

In our recent monthly Newsletter we made mention of the new Designer Challenges - in which you have a chance to win a Voucher at CPC.

So I am first up with our first Designer Blog Challenge...

And along the lines of the Recipe Challenge that the Designer's used in the Mid Monthly Newsletter - I set for you this challenge:


Mish's Mulligatawny Soup Recipe

Take a couple of sheets of cardstock - a minimum of three
add to that 4 pieces of Patterned paper - of which you must have at least two different manufacturers
Combine with a minimum of 12 chipboard (can be alphabets or shapes)
Add 3 photos - of which one must be a circle
Garnish with some ribbon, brads, and blossoms
Serve up on a double page layout

email your layouts to countrypapercraft@gmail.com to be in the chance for the prize.

Please make sure your email layouts are under 100kb

Layouts must be recieved by 12 November to be in with a chance for the prize!

Ok, here it comes...

Another Tuesday sketch that is...lol. Hope your day is off to a great start, I've just sent my DD off to school again this morning after a fab 2 weeks holiday, so it's a bit quieter around here :) Anyway, on with the sketch. It's quite a clean, simple one this time, not like my scrapping style at all.....lol....but there is lots of room for you to add your own spin. So I hope you enjoy, and please don't forget to upload in the CPC gallery if you do have a go, you know we love to see ;) Hope you have a great day, Lynlee x

Tuesday again, my turn to draw you up a sketch.

Anyone that knows me knows that I hardly ever do things on an angle, so a good challenge for me as well. I will do an example and put on later today.



Please have a go with this one and share in the gallery.
Have fun, Marg.