Desktop Calendar

 

WELCOME TO WORLD CARD MAKING DAY – 2024! 

Desk Top Calendar – this project is mailable and makes a great gift! Make sure to order your calendars early, link below.

Here are the three choices we offered:

 

 

The map of our geographical region - the Upper Peninsula of Michigan - was the most popular.  The U.P. = Yoop or Yoopers. We are very proud of the community spirit and caring, helpful nature of our people.

I've chosen the Splendid Autumn papers for you today. 

You can craft along with Stampin' Up! by clicking on this link, World Card Making Day. 

Our own event for World Card Making Day 2024 is at our local library. Four of the members of my in-person class have joined me again this year to demonstrate projects and craft together. I'm so pleased that our public library has welcomed us to share our love of card making - that's our goal today - to share what we love - paper crafting while in community with others. 

*    In 2021, we were offered a space, free of charge, to host our first WCMD afternoon

*    In 2022, we hosted our event, including lunch, at our newly built senior center

*    In 2023, we invited the community to join us at the new bakery's shared space

*    In 2024, we'll be at our public library, Leverton Community Room. View photos from today's event on my Facebook page - Card Connoisseur Susan Boback.

Desktop Calendar

The measurements are written for 12" cardstock, but you could use an 11 1/2" piece and adjust the 1" difference in your score lines. (I have not included those measurements)

Here is the desk top calendar I received last year as a gift from a fellow team member, Susan L.  

Calendar Base measures: 12 x 5 ½”.  Choose white or a color to coordinate with your theme. Stampin' Up! carries 12x12 in white and colors - here's the link, 12x12 cardstock

Score:  on the 12” side, from the left, and working across to the right side: score at ½”, 2”, 3 ½”, 7 ¾”.   That leaves you with a 4 ¼” section on the far right, which is the main section of the calendar.

Fold:  each scored section. The ½” end piece is the “tab” that attaches the left to the right end to form a triangle with a pleat in the bottom. Glue the ½” section to the opposite end, then fold the 2” section in so that it makes a stand for the calendar. 

Front Layers:

Solid Cardstock:  4” x 5 ¼” Pecan Pie color cardstock is my choice to coordinate with this paper

Background layer: 5” x 3 ¾” This is the Splendid Autumn Designer Series Paper

To add a border layer, as in the daisy example above, cut a piece of contrasting paper at 1” x 5” and layer it on according to your design.

Ribbon: 7” plus a 3” piece to tie around. I've used the Natural Tones Linen Thread, but use any fibers that coordinate with your design.

Assemble by adding the twine to the main layer.  Attach around to the back on each side with Tear & Tape (double sided tape). Pull it tight, but not so tight that the paper bends.  Tie a short piece to the twine and twist the fibers to fray them.

Position your calendar on the layer, leaving some space for the design to be seen.

Attach to the solid color cardstock layer, then attach it to the calendar base.   

Alternative print - you could use a 4x6" landscape view photo in place of the patterned paper, by trimming 3/4" off of one end; or a child's artwork. 

Now you have the date right in front of you in your craft room or anywhere you need a beautiful reminder.   This desk calendar does fold for mailing - check the thickness for additional postage.

Calendar source: Vippies Designs @ vippies.com OR for a slightly larger calendar, TayloredExpressions.

View the latest catalogs and promotions by clicking the link on this page.  Go Get Creative!

Thanks for stopping by! Now hop over to see the next creative design!sb

COLOR COMBO

Today's challenge for our Blog Hop - Stamping with Friends - 

Inspiration from Around the World is a:

Did you ever wonder what the world would look like if our leaves were not just yellow or green or fall reds and oranges?  How about pink leaves or blue leaves or pink & blue leaves. Sometimes my artful creations in paper crafting are realistic, but today my card is bringing all these colors together!

I'm the Card Connoisseurs Susan Boback.  I love ink and adding color.  This is a fairly easy project and while its not new, it has been quite popular in 2024. 

You are inking the background which is EMbossed - raised above - the leaves design. 

I used the Stampin' Write makers to color the leaves by hand in four of these colors.

If you're new to the markers of Stampin' Up!, the Stampin' Write are water-based and can also be spritzed with water, used for watercolor techniques, and will wash off tools and skin and most clothing if washed in cold water right away.  The Stampin' Blends are alcohol based and more permanent. If you want to spritz them, it'll have to be with rubbing alcohol, and they do not wash off of clothing, or skin or tools unless you use an alcohol wipe or other cleaner. 

As shown above, color the leaves in any of these colors:  Shy Shamrock green, Flirty Flamingo pink, Fresh Freesia lavendar, Blueberry Bushel blue, and then I added Crushed Curry yellow.  Since I don't use these colors together, I found this quite a challenge. But when I saw this as art -   and it didn't have to be realistic - it became fun to meet this challenge!

Choose an Embossing Folder with a deep imprint AND a lot of background space - I used Changing Leaves Hybrid Embossing Folder   (Please note that if a product says "Currently unavailable" on our Stampin' Up! website, it is back ordered - check back again) 

Emboss on White cardstock - Basic White

Turn over the cardstock so you are using the DEbossed side: that's where the leaf images are lower than the background.

Add any non-traditional color to the images, staying in the lines. Do this quickly - this is not a color by number picture that should be exactly perfect but more abstract art.  

Open a full-size ink pad - which I found works the best, as opposed to the small "spot" square pads -  and hold it in your hand face down. I used Shade Spruce green.

Press lightly at first and drag the ink pad across the print, applying slightly more pressure to the background areas. 

Try not to stop in the middle of the print - you don't want to get the lines from the end of the ink pad. 

Turn the print sideways and drag the ink pad across the print again.

Now you've added ink to the background which makes the leaves colors pop out.

Trim your print and mount it on a bright background. I used Blueberry Bushel, one of the five colors and also one of my favorite blues.   

Add a sentiment like "Wishing you the brightest birthday" from Cheerful Daisies stamps, or leave without and use for just about any occasion.   Make a double bow of silver trim to attach under the tag.

To discover more about these colors and products, shop our Fall Mini Catalog, link at the top of the page. You can join my team and get a 20% discount each time you order, visit here www.cardconnoisseursb.stampinup.net  Thanks for stopping by! sb

Now hop over to the next blog and see more creativity using these five colors! 

 

The Plaid Road

 

The theme for today's project is using products from the NEW Mini Catalog, which debuted September 4, 2024.

My project is called "The Plaid Road" is to celebrate "Plaidurday" which we celebrate here in Northern Michigan - wear your plaid, celebrate plaid on the first Friday in October, a few weeks away.

I was inspired by a design in the NEW Mini Catalog, page 14, which is made with Ephemera on Note Cards.   I love trees and texture. Here's my version.

For this landscape design use Winter Meadows Designer Series Paper (DSP) and cut it at 5 1/4" x 4". Choose one that looks like a winter sky.

Emboss with the Painted Trees 3D Embossing Folder to add the 3 deep embossed trees.

Use the coordinating dies to cut the white pine layer to glue to two of the trees. To better adhere them, use the Adhesive Sheets on that back of Basic White cardstock first. 

Cut a piece of the new Black & Very Vanilla Large Checked Ribbon to 6 1/4", so that there is 1/2" of ribbon to wrap around each side of the Winter Meadows paper.  Attach on the reverse side with a one-inch piece of Tear & Tape along each edge about 1" up from the bottom. 

Attach the center of the ribbon on the front with Tear & Tape or a slight dot of glue. I prefer not using glue dots because I find it leaves a noticeable bump. 

Stamp the truck red from the Trucking Along stamp set, (only available in French as of Sept 2024) and the tires in black. If you only have the punch, use it and color in the tires in black and body of the truck in red.  Stamp the wooden rails in brown. Stamp 2 of the Christmas trees in Old Olive and Shaded Spruce greens; or make 2 small triangular trees without the stamp.

Attach the truck with mini dimensionals in the middle of the design, making sure to attach it so the wheels are on the "Plaid Road". Attach the wooden rails in the back of the truck. Use dimensionals and stagger the Christmas tree when attaching it to give it some depth.  

To embellish the center tree, use a white Gel Pen to outline the texture, and then add Shaded Spruce green on the edges with a Stampin' Write marker or by using a Blender Pen with the ink. Add Wink of Stella over the top of the whole tree.  Add Shaded Spruce Green here and there between the white branch sections of the die cut trees. 

Use clear or white adhesive gems to highlight the sky.

Here's another version, using Basic White card stock, embossed, and adding Satin & Sheer Shaded Spruce ribbon with a Christmas greeting. 

You can find the products at my Stampin' Up! website at www.cardconnoisseursb.stampinup.net in the NEW fall and winter holiday catalog (Sept - Dec). Check out the Online Exclusive products and the new Scrapbooking flyer with more holiday papers and coordinating products.

Thanks for stopping by - Be Blessed! sb   Follow the next link to the next blog for more inspiration from our new Mini Catalog!

F.R.O.G. is 3-D

Stamping With Friends - Blog Hop - Inspiration from Around the World!

Hello there!   This week's challenge is to make a project from a kit the way it is designed, and then my favorite way to create - make an alternative project with the same supplies!

My kit is the FROG & FRIENDS KIT. The one thing that attracted me to this kit - is of course, its made of paper, but the FROG & FRIENDS are an activity, an action time for young and old.   When I first saw it - the kit that makes two each of a frog, a shark, or a fish, I knew that my youngest grandchildren (8 y.o) or my ladies in card class (mothers, grandmothers and great-grandmothers) would have fun with it!

Its that game where you try to swing or toss the ball at the end of the string into the cup.  In this kit, the frog has a plastic bug, the shark as a plastic fish, and the fish has a plastic worm.  Each includes all that's necessary to create a cup-like structure (frog, fish or shark) with a string that's attached to its bait.

The photo above shows the fish.

Two of the frogs were created and taken home by my granddaughter Natalie.

The Shark is going to be made into a baby card - Baby Shark, doo doo, doo doo to doo, Baby Shark!

My project today is the FROG is 3D.   This is exactly what I saw when I first laid eyes on this kit

FROG stands for Forever. Rely. On. God.

 In June a boy that attended our Art Day Camp at church told everyone how he loves frogs - he has frog shirts, and knows all about frogs.   Then he told us what FROG meant - I thought it meant Friends Rely on God.  This boy recently got hurt with a fall forward on his bike, so this 3D card is for him.   

The base of the card: is 8 1/2" by 5 1/2".   

Score the card in 4 even sections: on the 8 1/2" side score at 2 1/8" so that you have 4 even sections across.  Fold it like an "M" so that the center goes away and the 2 sides go forward.

I used Lily Pond Lane (2024 annual catalog) paper.  

Layers:  2" x 5 1/2" to fill the space. 

Inside of Frog - Cover the reverse side of the frog first because the reverse side is red.   The reason for this is that the red catches your attention when you look at the card.  

Legs: Attach the legs LAST

Attach the two outside layers of paper to the base First. 

Attach the frog body: with the frog flat - in other words DO NOT assemble the frog as instructions for the game - center it at the inside of the card base folds, then use tear & tape to attach it so it sticks out as the example shows.   

THEN add the layer of paper over the frog so you don't see how its attached.  Does that make sense?

Once I got the frog attached to the card base, I folded the frog flat so it could if possible go in an envelope. 

Legs: attach the legs just at the fold, so that they over lap onto the card base.  

Use Ala Mode Dies for the letters F R O G and Courage & Faith stamps.  

(I'm not sure I want to give F.R.O.G. away now that he's finished). 

Another option for any of these creatures would be to make it as its designed without the game piece attached.   Then attach it to the outside of a gift bag with a little candy bar.  Then use the string and the plastic bait as part of the ribbons that you tie around the handle.  

(P.S.  I must admit that I've never gotten the bait in the mouth of any of these!   I better go back to using the ball and the cup game!) I love paper and inky things.   For more information on paper crafting and getting a product discount, click on the links above.  

Until we meet again, Be Blessed! sb

Thanks for stopping by!   

Make sure to click on the next link to discover more creativity from Stamping With Friends Blog Hop where you'll find Inspiration from Around the World.