Lighting The Way

                                                                              Version 1

                                                                                 Version 2

I don't have a name for this card design.

I got the idea when I thought of this lantern lighting up the camp site on the many camping trips I've been on.  I knew the Supple Shimmer paper (not in the current catalog - 2023) could appear as sparkly as the stars on a clear summer night.   

Have you ever gazed into a warm summer sky at night and saw the magnitude of God's creation?  The stars and moon can be so enchanting.

Its the beginning of camping season here, May 31, the beginning of the summer fun season.  Since we have such long winters, and this past winter was a doozy, camping and doing anything outdoors even in our own back yard, is like being on a vacation.............at least for me, here in the Upper Great Lakes.

Version 1 has a belt/belly band attached on top  of the lantern that keeps the card folded until you slide it off. The "light" of the lantern is added with alcohol markers on a piece of  Window Sheet that makes the belt/belly band.

Version #2 has Designer Papers added, and the lantern sits farther down so it keeps the card shut until you lift it up, and the "light" of the lantern is yellow cardstock. 

I'll show you both versions, and as always, you can make it your own design.  

Here's the supplies, which are Stampin' Up! products, found Here with the latest cataogs and so much more.  

1 - 4 1/4 x 8 1/2" piece of Basic Black cardstock

1 - 4 1/4 x 3 1/2" piece of sparkly cardstock, for under the lantern

2 - 4 1/4 x 1" strips of white for inside

1 - 12 x 1" piece of Window Sheet for Version 1

2 - 4 x 1 1/2" pieces of coordinating DSP (Designer Series Paper) for front of Version 2

Lantern and firefly dies - Lighting Your Way set

Pieces of black or silver, and yellow for lantern, lantern "light" and firefly

Daffodil Yellow Stampin' Blend (alcohol marker)

Sentiments: Thanks for Brightening my Day  from Special Moments stamp set

Wishing you the Brightest Birthday from Cheerful Daisies stamp set, OR the sentiments that go with the Stamps/Lantern set - Lighting Your Way

Version 1:  

                                            

With a 4 1/4" x 8 1/2" piece of Basic Black cardstock, score @ 1 1/2" on each end. 

Starting with the inside, attach the sparkly paper to the inside, centering between the top and bottom score lines.  Next, take the two white pieces, and stamp your sentiment either for the top piece or the bottom piece before you glue them on.   Then glue one on top of the inside, above the sparkly paper and one below the sparkly paper.   

Die cut your lantern out of black or silver; and the firefly out of black and yellow.  Attach lantern to the outside, top about 1/2" from edge so that it just meets the bottom edge.   (Refer to the photo above for placement.)

With the 12" Window Sheet, score it firmly at 2 1/2" and 5 1/2" and wrap it around the card, so that the score lines match up with the top fold and bottom fold.   Use a piece of clear Scotch tape to fasten the ends to each other, but do not tape it to the card.  

Focus on the area that is directly over the "light" of the lantern, then take your alcohol marker (water based ink markers will rub off) and color in the "light" only.  This clear belt piece will hold the card closed until you slide it off.  (Belt/Belly band shown above to the left of the card. Refer to the finished card, Version 1 above, for the placement of the yellow "light" with marker.)

You may decide to add a 4 x 5 1/4" piece of light cardstock to the back, (under the belt) to write your message or sign your name.

                                        

Version 2:

With a 4 1/4" x 8 1/2" piece of Basic Black cardstock, score @ 1 3/4" on each end. This is one of  the differences between Version 1 and Version 2.   

Attach the pieces of sparkly paper and white layers with sentiments, as in Version 1.   

To add Designer or themed papers to the front of the card, cut 2 that are 4 x 1 1/2" and attach, as shown above. 

Die cut the lantern out of basic black or silver cardstock; one out of yellow; and one piece of Window Sheet that is about the size of the lantern without the stand. You'll need this piece of window sheet to attach the yellow cut outs that represent the "light".

Its hard to explain. But the purpose of the Window Sheet here is to have something solid to attach the yellow "light" sections to, since you're not gluing the lantern to the card base.  

See the reverse side of the lantern in the photo above. I glued  the Window Sheet piece to the yellow lantern, then with the cut out pieces of the yellow, I glued them to the Window sheet as I fit them into place on the top side of the lantern.  I hope that is clearer than mud.  You'll have to play around with it till you get it.  Its not hard, just fine pieces of layers.

Attach the Lantern on the top flap, about 1/2" from the edge, so that the bottom of the lantern overlaps the bottom flap of the front of the card.   This is the other difference from Version 1.  It should overlap the bottom flap about 1/2 inch. 

Die cut the firefly (optional) to attach as in Version I.  If you don't plan to add the firefly, you could center the lantern in the middle instead of off to the left. 

Add a light colored cardstock on the back for signature, 4 x 5 1/4. 

And that's it!   Make it a thank you or a happy birthday or any other sentiment you feel goes with "Lighting the Way" with lantern light. 

Please leave a comment or feel free to share your version of these cards.   I hope you'll go over to my Face Book group page Card Connoisseurs - Card Making with Susan Boback, and join, then post your version of this project. 

Visit my website to see the latest projects, current catalog, and your opportunity to save 20% on orders placed with me as your Independent Stampin' Up! Demonstrator, www.cardconnoisseursb.stampinup.net

I love paper crafting - being creative and sharing a "handmade hug" with others.   Thanks for stopping by!  Be Blessed!sb

SUN PRINTS ONE SHEET WONDER

 Hello everyone!  I'm Susan Boback, Independent Stampin' Up Demonstrator.  I am the Card Connoisseur - I love paper crafting which I've done most of my life.  I remember falling in love with paper at about 12 y.o. when my uncle worked for Kodak in NY and would bring home various cardstock pieces. 

You can find my projects - not all of them are cards - over at my Stampin' Up! website.  

Go to www.susanboback.stampinup.net and look at Projects, and while you're there, discover more about why I love Stampin' Up! products and how you can love them too. 

I designed this very basic card for my Spring 2022 Open House to kick off the NEW Annual Catalog, and to show card makers just how simple it is to take one 12x12 piece of double sided paper (here we're using the beautiful Sun Prints with the colors of Navy or Starry Night and Smoky Slate) and use it for several cards.  While I hope you'll use our Designer Series Papers, my ideas are always adaptable to whatever supplies you have to use.

I have tried to make my own sun prints, with placing sprigs of plants and leaves on black paper and let them sit in the sun, but I've never been too successful with that effort.  Now I won't have to try any longer as Stampin' Up! has designed the SUN PRINTS papers, and I can't wait to show you how beautiful they are! 

Here is the SUN PRINTS ONE SHEET WONDER FOR 12X12 DSP

SUN PRINTS #158790 page 134 2022-2023 Annual Catalog

METALLIC MESH RIBBON #153550 page 145 Annual Catalog

SUNFLOWERS DIES # 152704 page 175 Annual Catalog

The DSP (Designer Series Paper) comes in 12x12 sheets, 2 pieces each of 6 designs.  The paper is double sided and coordinated by color and design with many of the Stampin' Up! products in the annual catalog.  

Cut ONE 12x12 into:

·         SIX 5 x 3 ¾” pieces AND

·         TWO 5 x ¾” pieces AND

·         ONE 2x12” pieces

A “ONE SHEET WONDER” can be used for many card designs.  Cut ONE piece of 12x12 DSP by the above measurements, and get the following:

SIX (6) card fronts to be used on Basic White (159276), Smoky Slate (131202) or Night of Navy(100867) card base.  This card base is an A2 – it measures 8 ½” x 11”, cut in two at 5 ½”   and is scored in half at 4 1/4” OR cut in two at 4 ¼” and scored in half at 5 ½”.  (Featured card at the top of the page)

Attach this 5 x 3 ¾” piece to the front.  Add a sentiment, die cut and ribbon.

ONE (1) card front made from the 2- 3/4 x 5" strips. Cut them each in half or smaller pieces and lay them in a design.  Attach to an A2 card in Basic White, Smoky Slate or Night of Navy. Embellish with sentiment, ribbon, or bling.

THREE (3) card fronts can be made out of the 2x12” piece.  Cut it into 3 sections of 4x2, or smaller.  Add  to the front of a card, add a large sentiment or die cut to complete.

The smaller strips are also good for using extra pieces (scraps) from your variety of Designer papers, often called Strip Cards.

To make a pattern for a 12x12 One Sheet Wonder, use the 12x12 white heavy cardstock packaging that comes with most of our Designer Series Papers. Draw and score the sizes and pattern, then keep it with your 12x12 papers. If cutting your DSP down to 6x6 pieces is one of your plans, try saving at least 2 in the full size to cut like this or to use in a project that requires a 12x12.

I'd love to see what you choose to put together for your version of this card. Post yours at Card Connoisseur on Face Book or send me an email.   Note that this blog address spells CardConnoissuer a little differently that the word is spelled on the Face Book Page.

 Do you think you'd like to hold an in-person gathering? or would you like to have an online workshop with your friends or family from a greater area? - there's many ways to get free products and discounts as a customer.  If you are interested in saving 20% and more, on every order you place, join my team - click here, and share in this fun community of demonstrators. Some of us are hobbyists. Some take the business forward. In the month of May 2022, you will also get each of the In-Colors in the ink cartridges and papers - that's an amazing deal! I'd love to share this with you!

Thanks for stopping by.  Keep sharing what you love with others, as we "cheer up the world, one card at a time"!  Be blessed!  Sb

LOADED ENVELOPE

With Easter on its way, I thought it would be fun to make a Loaded Envelope, to load with treats and small gifts.  I saw this a few weeks back, by Melva Peters, another Independent Stampin' Up! Demonstrator, who lives in British Columbia, Canada.

This project uses double sided paper that is 12" x 12".  Make sure to choose a double sided paper that is not thin, but has some strength to it, as it will be stuffed with treats or used as a mini gift bag. 

With a 12" x 12" - I used the Waves of the Ocean and metallic papers.

Score at 3 1/4", then turn to the opposite side and score at 3 1/4". 

(For the example, a Garden Green print Designer paper is used)

Turn the paper so that the 3 1/4" score lines are on the top and on the bottom, score from the left, in at 3 3/4".

 That's all there is to it! Now its just a matter of folding on the score lines and adding adhesive to assemble the Loaded Envelope.

Fold in to the center, the left and right sides on the 3 1/4" score lines.

Decide which end will be the top pocket opening.  Fold each side back making a triangle fold, about 3". You can place a glue dot under each triangle flap to hold them down if you wish.

To make this into a pocket:

    Add some Tear & Tape to the outside of one edge from the triangle fold to the other end. Add Tear & Tape to the underside of the opposite edge. Remove the paper from the strip of Tear & Tape and attach the edges by overlapping to seal the front of the pocket, making it a long tube.  

To make the smaller pocket

    Add some Tear & Tape on what will become the inside edges of the pocket. Fasten this 3 3/4" section to the "long tube" by folding it up.

Loaded Envelopes can be left as is; or add bling, die cuts or flowers to the front to decorate it.  You may add a belt made of 1" x 12" of contrasting metallic paper; or a piece of ribbon.

Add tissue paper, folded as the Loaded Envelope. (Doesn't it resemble a man's shirt?)

The Loaded Envelope could hold cookies and treats; or fill it with cards or any small surprises.  

This is a good project to use surplus 12x12 papers, AND to have available as a gift bag or large envelopes to fill with little surprises for anyone at any special occasion.

I'm planning to make several of these and then they'll be here when I want to gift some cookies or surprise a friend with a little gift.

Come to my card making class in person, and watch the project videos on the class page, Card Connoisseurs on Face Book.

Request a current catalog or check out the sales of perfectly color coordinated products at www.susanboback.stampinup.net.  Look for other class projects there too.

Search this blog for weekly projects and paper crafting ideas. I love what I do: making cards, showing others to make tge!, and sending cards to "cheer up the world one card at a time."

Thanks for stopping by.  Be Blessed!  sb