The Double gate fold card Tutorial

The double gate fold card is a fairly new fold circulating around card-making sites.

Here is what you need:

A double sided patterned paper measuring 5 6/8" x 12" (14.6 x 30.5cm)

White cardstock (1/2 A4 sheet)

Simply Scored tool with scoring stylus.

Bone folder.

Stampin' Trimmer or Tabletop cutter.

Anywhere Glue stick

Big shot and Apothecary accents dies

Butterfly punch

Stampsets: Friendly Phrases and Papillon Potpouri

Ink and sponges.

Step 1. Score your patterned paper at 2", 4", 8" and 10".

Tip: Using the Simply Scored Tool set the place markers at the measurements on the ruler along the top.  

Simply pull your scoring Stylus down towards you along the grooved lines. 

Step 2. Turn your paper and make a small mark at the 2 7/8" point

(or just pinch the piece in half at the top).

Step 3. Trim off the two corners.

Using your paper trimmer, just line up the pinch fold mark with the 4" fold diagonally.

 It will look something like this:

 Step 4. Fold the 4" score line over to the 8" score line. Repeat on the other side.

 Step 5. Then fold the flaps, at the 2" score, back to the outer edge to make the double gate.

 Looking a bit like this:

Step 6. Now, Take the triangle that you cut off the right hand side and glue it down onto the left hand panel.

Step 7.   Fold creases flat with your bone folder.

Now you are ready to embellish your double gate fold card.

 Step 8. Stamp one of the die cut shapes from the Apothecary Accents framelits

 with a sentiment for your card and sponge the edges in a coordinating ink colour.

I have used Raspberry Ripple to match my in-colour Foral District papers.

 Step 9.  For the insert you could cut a piece of whisper white cardstock to fit the inside panel.

(approx 5 1/2" x 3 3/4")

 OR

You can die cut the largest framelit shape from the Apothecary Accent Dies in your Big shot machine.

Step 10.  Adhere the sponged panels to your card.

Note: the front sentiment is only adhered by one dimensional on the left hand side.

I have stamped my inner panel with butterflies from Papillon Potpouri (in summer starfruit ink).

And sponged  the edges with midnight muse ink.

Step 11. You can punch or cut a butterfly shape and stick it on the right hand side panel to help with holding the card closed. The larger the butterfly the better the closure.

Enjoy!

Card in a box day!

Cards by Nerida C, Linda H, Felicity H.

It seems like ages ago, so much happens in a week,

 we had a Team stamping day at Niagara Park Guide hall.

The Inksomniacs team got together to make cards in a box.

Here are some of the cards we made on the day.

 This one is both a sneak peek of a stampset and new white ribbon coming out in the Anunual catalogue in September, which I received at Convention (I love butterflies and just can't wait to order the matching butterfly punch). It also shows the gorgeous lace ribbon border punch, which I have just found out is retiring very soon...  (how can that be?) The scallop ribbon border punch (under the butterfly) is continuing through.

The next card in a box was made by Felicity Hawkins, I just love the white texture on white, loving those butterflies, and the patterned paper stack (purple is still my favourite colour).

 In the afternoon we kept ourselves busy with our own projects and so I stamped away with my Crumb cake and Soft suede inks on Very Vanilla cardstock. Using my Blossom punch and Mixed bunch stampset.

Another retiring stampset used here ... the Medallion is on sale (while stocks last) for $25.46

Linda showed us how it makes a lovely Christmas wreath in Always Artichoke ink and Cherry cobbler.

Or a Thinking of you card on any occasion.

Scrapbooking the days of Summer

During the holidays we managed to get out into the bush a couple of times for walks, even though it threatened rain with overcast skies. One of the days we visited Girrakool National Park. We walked as far as the caves, crossing stepping stones over rain-filled creeks and had some good conversations along the way.

I really like this stampset: "Kindness matters" because it has butterflies designed to go with vintage style pages. It seems to match a lot of my stampsets at the moment. 

 For a small 6 x 6" page there is a lot going on starting with some

 "flower garden" embossing on the Elegant Eggplant cardstock.

Distressed edges on the patterned paper

Punched flowers from the Boho Blossom punch with added PEARLS

Embossed vellum butterflies (Beautiful wings embosslit)

 and of course the photo that has been cut out with the Beautiful butterflies die.
And the corner has been sprayed with shimmer paint mist for added sparkle.

Its appropriate that I have used the kindness matters stampset from Shelli Gardner's collection as the layout was inspired by one of her gorgeous vintage cards.

Works like a charm - Wearable art

We all love charm bracelets.  I always envied those girls at school who were allowed to wear theirs to school with little animals and ballet shoes, birds and hearts dangling from them.
And you know how I love my stamping...

 I showed you this miniature artwork in an earlier post but I was so disappointed with the photo quality I had to take them again. I think these photos show you a little more of the detail in these key charms and the bevelled glass of the locket charm.

 Now I will be able to change my art and my jewellery every week if I want to.

When I go to the school for reading the girls often comment on my necklaces and this changing artwork has certainly gathered some compliments.

 A red piece of cardstock, some beautiful butterflies die cut with the embosslit die, layered with velum and pearls. What's not to like?

 I must update the photo even now, Jessica looks so different since this photo was taken in 2010.

The clasp on the chain has a Stampin' Up logo and leaf design on either side.

And it closes with a bar and ring attachment,

no fiddly clips ...

Now I can wear my art and change it with my changing moods and the seasons.

Featured items:

Simply adorned chain (61cm) $19.95

p.7 Summer mini catalogue.

Bevelled glass (front and back) charm 2.5cm square $29.95

Trinket keys (4 keys) $11.95  p.141 IB&C

The Stainless steel chains and charms come packaged in separate gift boxes.

Mocha Morning Butterflies

A Mocha in the morning with butterflies?

Well actually its a cup of Tea for me.

As soon as I touched these Specialty papers I just fell in love with the flocking and texture and colours.

I copied this idea from a picture frame we saw at Stampin' Up's Training day in Sydney.

What an amazing way to display the different patterns!

 Two of the papers are flocked with black and two papers are metallic textures. You just have to have a close up look and feel of these papers to appreciate them.
Sophie Zadeh (Stampin' Up) says she got the idea from the way butterflies are displayed in shadow boxes.
I have attached my beautiful butterfly dies with dimensionals to a piece of texured Soft Suede cardstock.

My Create frame is an embossed frame (new) and has been sponged with soft suede ink around the edges to get an antique look.

 Supplies:

Stampset: Creative Elements

 Soft Suede Ink and textured Cardstock

Specialty Paper: Mocha Morning

Big shot machine. Beautiful Butterflies die.

Designer Frames embossing folder.

Stampin' write markers, sponge and Linen thread. 

Fabric and ribbon bookmark

Every month I receive a free magezine from Stampin' Up called "Impressions" there is always something in it to give me a new creative idea. Its a bit like an extension to the idea book and catalogue except it has instructions and a list of materials that makes it easy to whip up one of your own.

Mine never quite come out like the sample in the magazine but that is the great thing: you get the idea, you use the supplies you have and change it to suit your own style. 

 It is made with a piece of wide striped grosgrain (mine is Basic Black) and I have cut out three of the beautiful butterflies dies in Fabric using the Big shot.

 (The fabric is the Cherry Cobbler piece fromTimeless Portrait).

I've Stuck it on with a brad and pieces of cardstock front and back.

 The front piece is covered with multipurpose glue and champagne glass glitter.

You wont lose this bookmark on a dark night... and I have pinched the front piece of ribbon with a thin ribbon (Basic black tafetta) to make the antenae.

I used sticky strip and dimensionals to attach cardstock circles to a piece of hat elastic.

The elastic is stretchy enough to wrap around my Stampin' up catalogue or a regular novel.

One of the best book marks I've made.

What do you think?
Now if you are wanting to receive the Impressions magazine and discounts on all your new products give me a call 0468 877 125.
Nerida

Top note gift folder

This is the hostess gift I have been making at my workshops recently.
Comprised of 2 top note die cuts decorated with a textured embossing folder (this one with Manhattan flower).

 It is really quick to make with the Big shot machine, even decorating the outside is done with three beautiful butterflies, wheeled over with the Very vintage wheel in Concord Crush ink.

Open the inside and there are 4 pockets made with a 6"x6" folded piece of Designer Series paper.

 Great for stationery items like a Stampin' Up pen, bold bright buttons, some post it notes and a magnetic bookmark.

Other enclosures could include: 4 small chocolate blocks in the pockets, tea bags, gift tags and coffee sachets as a hostess gift or gift to a friend.

Let me know if you'd like a demonstration tutorial on how to make this easy project.

Tie with some gorgeous Concord crush polystitched ribbon and voila a pretty gift!

Melbourne and Stampin' Up 2011 Convention...

Its only 11 more sleeps till I am off to Stampin' Up's 2011 Convention in Melbourne !!!

If you have been on this journey with me for vrey long, you will know what an exciting 5 days I will be spending, with atleast 5 (or is it 500) of my closest SU friends.

I have a to do list that keeps growing and one of them is to make a Name tag.

This year the Crafters Anonymous group have a challenge to make a name tag that identifies you as part of their group.

Well, I am still working on this project... it is definitely a work in progress:

 I started with the pre-requisite Concord crush patterned paper, mounted on Perfect Plum Cardstock.

For my name I used the Big Shot Time less Type Alphabet die to spell it out.

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While the Big shot was on the table I tried my brand new Embosslit buttons (in whisper white) AND the Beautiful wings die, plus the other Beautiful Butterflies die.

Can't have enough flutterbies on this project.

Before attaching the accessories, I have used a new technique where you emboss the whole project .

 Not enough?

It needed more ... to truly describe my paper and crafting passion.

Artistic Etchings on velum stamped with Black stazon.

Now, the butterfly needed a little Crystal effects for that shiny lacquered look, and so do the buttons ...

Got Rhinestones? ...Check!

I think it needs more rhinestones... and something that says Crafters anonymous.

Lap of luxury Bliss and embossed butterflies

Bliss is ...
a card adorned with embossed Butterflies and Lap of luxury Designer Series Paper from Stampin' up.

At  Pals Paper Arts - PPA86 they have an embossing challenge this week so this is what I came up with.
There are so many interesting products on this simple card that I love ...

 I started with the Rich Razzleberry paper and stamped it all over with the Bliss swirly pattern stamp for my background pattern. Then cut a rectangle of Lap of luxury designer series paper.
You can see why I love these Lap of Luxury colours: Concord Crush, Pretty in Pink, Basic grey and vanilla.

*     *     *

The butterflies are Concord Crush cardstock embossed with the Big shot machine then "wiped" with white cotton stazon ink to accentuate the Vintage wall paper embossing pattern.

The body of my butterflies are made with Stampin'up
 Basic Pearl jewels.

Now you're looking at those butterflies and saying: in real life they would look amazing!

You would be right - because they have also been sponged with champagne mist Shimmer paint.
They sparkle and shimmer in the sunlight on my table.

The Bliss stampset is FREE until the 31st of March with any purchase of $100 worth of Stampin up products (exclusive during Sale-a-bration 2011) and it fits perfectly into the scallop oval punch with just a tiny bit of Concord Crush sponging.
Enjoy!

Ribbon and Butterfly birthday

Apart from the butterflies, my favourite item on this card has to be the big bow in Early Espresso striped grosgrain. You can't go past a big bow! And this ribbon makes tying so easy...

 *     *     *

   I take photos of nearly all the cards I make and then, I have to find the time to load them on to the computer and schedule them to go up on my blog. So if its 6 am on a Thursday, I am probably not loading this photo live.... I might have done it on a Wednesday at 2pm...

The card was made in the middle of February, not photographed until early March.

And posted to my friend Felicity only very recently.

So the card:

 I've only used two stampsets: happy birthday from "Teeny tiny sentiments" and the scallop oval frame from "Perfect punches".
Early espresso Ink for stamping and white cotton ink, and melon mambo ink for sponging.

Have I said it before?
.... How did I make cards with out my Big shot machine?
The Melon Mambo cardstock is run through the Top note die, then the elegant lines embossing folder.
The butterflies are a die cut and they have also been through for a dose of the elegant lines embossing too.

*     *     *

If you have any questions or if you wish to place an order please send an email to: nerida_carter@hotmail.com.
Remember - there are only 12 days left
to get your FREE stamps during Sale-a-bration!!!!