Out with the OLD---In with the NEW



Hey !!! It's Gloria and the Card Making Cuties

 

Want some new ideas ? How do you take the stale out of your hobbies or out of your life for that matter? What about gathering new information about the various styles in card making in another hobby or in life in general.
 In the corporate world these ideas would be called,  "Sharing New Intel."  At the end of the year it is a good time to check your inventory at the door and see what else might be out there. Right?

Learning something new is always a part of life, isn't it? Some times sharing change and learning new information isn't always the easiest thing to do. We seem to cling on to what we have been doing in the past and make ourselves content with it. Even when the way we were doing things doesn't work any longer.  I know the hardest change to cope with is when people have  some real health issues. We learn to expect some of those issue to arise. We hope you only have to take change in the pleasantest of ways. I never like changed change, but I have learned once we accept it, the change can inspire us, no matter what.

A Valentine For All OUR GALS!
 Some of our wonderful and talented gals are now in the midst of their own life changes. We learned we are not only labeled  Seniors Citizens but as a result of our health (and age) we are embracing  a new category, affectionately, called -- home bound or shut-ins.
  The  gals we love so much and have appreciated so greatly are no longer independent  enough to walk about or to drive to where they wish. They can no longer gather at  our studio, which has caused us a real loss and we miss  them, as well as they do for our friendship.

We miss them and they miss us. As a result, we began to consider a new plan of action where we might continue making  our handmade cards for Operation Write Home (www.operationwritehome.org.) as our parent organization. This change brought us to a brainstorming idea which lead us to  consider developing  a  mobile unit for our card making gals called " Card Makers to GO!"

A  Change for Us
We're currently making new plans at our studio to travel to our shut-ins and our home bound ladies. It's a pick up and go--- operational change.  We've seen it work with our product demonstrators who bring their whole catalogue stores to us (e.g. demonstrators  such as Stampin' Up or Close To My Heart). So why wouldn't this work for us. We asked "why not---become mobile! This is our cry for 2014.  Card Makers to GO!        Varoooooooom!


In with the NEW
Change , at its best, is an inspiration for us. Just as change, at its worse, teaches us to evaluate life in a new perspective. We can embrace change as positive or negative. Think of change as the one thing that will happen --its part of life.

So, how does change work for us in a positive way with our card making. Change up your color palette--but how do we do that? What if you created a color challenge for next month using colors from your sewing box or your fabric or yarn stash?

 Why not take  something familiar to you and creating some new image for your theme. Using colors from our thread box  for Valentine's cards what could your come up with?

Here is a creative way of using some typical

card colors with new interest. The "bird foot" banners or ribbons are very in this year. Make your favorite Valentine a cards of flowers or roses and not just hearts.

Try Something New with the Old Stuff

I know it's easier to stick with what has always worked for us, "I've always done it this way"..or just go with the status quo. 

When we say these things or think this way, we are the ones miss out on the greater variety life can hold for us.

 There may be some tried-and-true methods that work for you when you're working on your cards. However, trying something new gives you a different perspective on the variety that exists. Trying new products like new glues may not always work for you and you might go back to the old product you prefer, at least you did try it.  Who knows you might like the new product better!
        Magazines are great places to start some of those changes. I try to change my subscriptions every two or three years. Pick up a new card magazine and try some new ideas here. See what you can find through this website link  www.splitcoaststampers.com . If you have never been on a search for card making ideas, this  link  on Splitcoast Stampers is like the card makers "mecca." for new designs and ideas. You might also try the www.spottedcanary.com website as well. Both sites can inspire you to get a card made before Valentines Day is here.

Remember too--- Old is not Old--- its VINTAGE!

I've found some wonderful sites that share their designs through free digital printouts if this is for your own personal use. One outstanding site like that is where I found some vintage valentine cards like these:

                                          

I can see this little smoothie Valentine has an idea that is already peculating in my mind. I think I have some stamps with ice cream scoops and I will have to look for a dish. With a saying like: You're an old Smoothie---(inside--"Be my valentine") The hearts and the lacy topknot for whip cream and all will be cute.


To that vintage card ass this one with a stamp of a girl and place a die-cut pair of scissors with a heart
arrange in side them.

Remember I said, Vintage, not old. Some how old means something that needs to be thrown away. It's useless, it is just refuge, not good for anything and should be discarded.

 I choose to believe rather, the concept of Vintage, not old. It may be old but we can change the way we look at the project, situation or even people for that matter. Vintage has something to offer us, still. It can change our mind about what we believe to be disposable in our lives. It can change our mind about what is worthwhile and valuable still.

Thanks for checking back with me. I hope this gets you started for your New Year. Happy card making.  Gloria 



Styling cards with "The Great Gatsby" in mind!

 

I love this style  card! Dosen't she have"class"! This card was introduced to me as a" steampunk style" however I think with the new fashion, new men's wear and ladies' frocks, ala Daisy, from the movie The Great Gatsby, we card makers have several new challenges for us to try. We can adapt some of the same notions to our graduation card theme and incorporate the dapper look to our "Father's Day cards.

The best site to look for more ideas with vintage theme papers is the Graphic 45 paper site www.graphics45.com . You will love their paper inspiration. The notions are endless!

 There are just a few  websites  but there are many, many themed papers. Some of these elements work in well with the Tim Holtz clear and acrylic stamps. When you add a sentiment stamp with the Graphic 45 papers you really do get a style that  could very well come right out of the Great Gatsby era ( and the late 1920's).
Here is a good example for Father's Day. This one was made for a 4.25" x 5.5" card. Our first mat is olive green reduced by .25" all around less than your card size. The second mat is paper from the Graphic 45 in a harlequin diamond pattern,  reduced another 1/4" ; adhere the second layer on top of the first and adhere this assmblage to the card front. The car stamp is stamped on a cream colored cardstock, layered likewise  with small terre cotta colored rectangle  and the largest being olive green. All graduated in size 1/8" smaller. Just before the car stamp is applied use a lighter shadow stamp for  a writing  and clock motif. The sentiment is cut out, trimmed and applied with the olive green background 1/8" larger than the Father's Day stamped sentiment.
Try your hand at this one. It takes more cutting but the idea is very simple and very neat---dapper!

 

 

Are You Fond of Inchies?

 "Inchies"? An "inchie" is just what you might think it is, a one inch by one inch square design or word, framed in one central color of card stock. The inchies are then placed on your cards in geographic patterns, or in random places on the card face. Look at theses "inchies" from another style of Graphic 45 paper. The inchies in this photo haven't been glues in place yet, but you can see the variety and subjects the artist is going for. The paper blends nicely into words and pictures.

 

Well-Groomed Young Graduate

 This graphic paper tells me the "graduate" is a young man, well-groomed, and on a path of success! What does it say to you? The card map, that is the design pattern one follows is a more difficult level on this card, but never the less, I think our message comes through clearly to the young grad who recievs it. A rare race for success begins with a well-groomed young man. There was something about this era with its wild music, flappers dancing, taboos broken which contrasted with the "time ticking" away. A first impression was measured in a moment.

 

Finally, let's go back to an easier card map again. Using a simple sentiment stamp' cut in a strip the full length of your card (5.5"). We begin to assemble  printed paper which will accent the center focus of the men's shoes from Graphic 45 paper. Start this card with the black background cardstock cut 1/4" smaller than your white card face. Next, add the print stripe then (space), the shoe print paper,( space) another print stripe (space) and finally your sentiment strip. Move the coponent pieces until you have a symetrical arragment.

Father's Day, Graduation, a celebration of a by-gone era for our modern day! What is it about this style ? I just love working with it and creating some special cards  for the people I love. I hope you will try some of these papers and make it a new fad! 

 



Martha Stewart - Organizing Tip of the Day

Martha Stewart - Organizing Tip of the Day

Managing March Maddness

Does your desk or table look like this one?

 Well, this isn't my desk but I'd be happy if my desk only looked half this good! What was the phrase I read the other day---oh yes, " Soooo many cards to make and sooooo little time!" Oh my! How very true that is.

 

We seem to have a card making crunch in March... who knew?
 In this month we have some holiday deadlines: St. Patrick's Day and Easter. We have our OWH  Operation Write Home www.operationwritehome.org)  deadline for Mother's Day cards due by the end of March. In addition to those I have some personal deadlines for birthdays and so forth...there are other community events, spring school events, gardening events, all to do as well.

 With this said, how can we keep the maddness of March  or for that matter any other month from taking over our lives and feeling overwhelmed?
 

One Giant step toward sanity is going on-line and view various card ideas and  tutorials:

Let me  tell you that the OWH website has many good ideas for us, so let me refer you to their website for some organizational tutorials and how you might keep your supplies organized so they simply don't overwhelming you when you get busy like this. Sandy Allock (OWH and CEO) has more than ten ideas for organizing your supplies but I can share at least ten that helped me. Go to her website for more.
 

These are my top ten organizational cues:

1. Make sure  you go over your equipment and supply list. Some times the best way to begin is just to start fresh. Look into those cabinets and drawers and see what you have. Throw away anything broken, remove what is dried up, or otherwise unusable.
2.  Have a paper place-- one place for 81/2" x 11", as well as 12"x12" card stock. Look on Martha Steward's website organizational tips by Darci Miller. She posted a neat paper idea you can get at the local office supply.

3. I  keep this idea of a color wheel in mind when I organize the plain card stock and my scraps too. Keep -------------------------------------------------->
one of these in front of you for paper storage and design planning at all times, they are very helpful.

4. Collect all your dies in one place, paper punches for edges and shaped punches all in seperate bins.  Think of your design, then you can go the right bin to find the right tool. 

5. Clear flat pencil boxes help me find the right pair of scissors; straight cuts, or decorative edge cutters. I also use clear  boxes for different brands of inking pens.
There is nothing more distrubing than to reach for the exact color you need, only to use it and see the ink ran through the paper onto the inside of the card. To prevent that, store the pens in different marked boxes.
 

 6. I use clear large flat boxes ( at least 12"x12") to store certain holiday stamps and holiday papers such as, Christmas, Easter, Valentines, Spring, Fall, and other.

 Stamps that are more topically, like steampunk, vintage, or subjects I don't use them all the time are stores like this too.
 

7. The one thing I 'm still neglectful in doing, not very good at doing this, is labeling. Usually, that's the first thing most of you do. What can I say---label, label, label.  It really helps save time.   I have a sign saying, " Label, it's for your own good!" I should take my own advice.

8.Use a file folder for general colors of card stock scraps.( I usually toss them all in a little shoe box and then shuffle trying to find the small scrap of pink I need for the center of a flower.) By using this file folder scrap system and a color wheel, you might locate what your looking for sooner.
 

9.Keep projects and supplies together in a  plastic 12"x12" project box. This keeps glue at hand, the right glue for the right project make a difference.Gather your supplies accord ing to your designer information and you'll know where everthing is when your ready to pack up for the next card making party. 
 

10. When you are finished with the box, the bins, the file folder, pens and scissors---clear off your desk. Looking at a clean desk is inspriational if not divine.
 

 

 

"March is maddness"  around here, but with so many beautiful cards to make begin with your favorite website for inspiration. Select a new card plan or design format and then, get some  colors ready for your own interpretations. Go for it.

and as they say " I'm wishin' you good luck for this month of maddness !"  Happy Card Making---Gloria

 

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Card Makin' Cuties: Everday Tools for Making Valentines

Card Makin' Cuties: Everday Tools for Making Valentines:    It is coming...February 14th, that is.  How can I entince you to start making home made cards?  Would you try if I said they can s...

Everday Tools for Making Valentines

 

 It is coming...February 14th, that is.  How can I entince you to start making home made cards?  Would you try if I said they can save you some money in the long run?  Don't laugh, over 25 years ago when I began making my cards I didn't have any stamps, dies, or equipment. Just some glue, paper, pencils and scissors---elementary school supplies.  It's developed into a wonderful journey for me sooooo- can I help you begin by saving you a little and  by offering some ideas with everyday tools and start making some fabulous cards.

START OFF VALENTINES WITH HEARTS!

The card above was made with a few scraps of colored paper.

Get to know a card maker who will always have scraps for you. Each piece  of paper was large enough to fold in half and make these tiny little 1". By remembering what you learned in elementary school,  start the point of the heart at the fold of the paper.

Cut away from the fold by making a curved cut  and round the top back to the fold line. Open it and see where the second one might be adjusted.  

It's a heart!  The hearts up and a sentiment saying

"Thank you so much!" was added. This can be typed on the computer and printed, then cut and applied seperately if you aren't savvy on printing it directly on the card stock.

 

 LIKE TO ADD A BOW

 

 You want to add a bow to your card? And what's that... you don't have a bow maker? 

Do you remember this little tutorial we saw on-line about a year ago---well, here it is again! No need to purchase a bow maker or a bow template, in this little on screen tutorial all you need are the tines of a fork and you're in business. Tiny bows---needed---voile!

 

This is always a good way to start the February, with a review of what we've learned in class. Try this highly efficient way of making a small bow with you utensils. (Better than eating with them--- after the holidays--- I'm just sayin'). I've forgotten the primary source of the tutorial, but I did fine the picture and printed instructions an older post. Let's get three or four of these ready in red ribbon!

 

 

 DO A FLOWER AND A BUD WITHOUT A PUNCH...

It's always a great idea to place paper within reach to make little flowers for your spring pictures. A simple  picture like this inspires all sorts of ideas for spring cards, Valentines, and Happy Birthday cards.  

 

Make a stem on the card front with a dark colored pencil ( dark brown or black). Just use this as a line without too much fussing.

 No punches at your disposal for a flower---then, use a  coin/ a penny and trace around it. Make 5 .

 Adhere them slightly over-lapping one another in a circle to the stem you drew. Next, place three or four dots with a dark colored pencil in the center of the flower. A bud can be formed with punching a hole with a paper hole punch, using a small scap of paper from the same colored paper. Punch it out, add the dot of paper to your branch and draw a "V" on the bottom with a colored pencil used on the stem.

Leaves are easy. By  using a penny or coin, this time draw only one half of the coin on a scap of green paper.  Slide the coin over the drawn line, then, draw the second side of the coin which will form the other side  of the leaf. Cut it out. Make 3 or so.  If you have  the inspiration, making the card becomes a little easier.

 

MAKE CIRCLES (and squares!)

 

It's never impossible to make a card, even if you don't have punches... or    you never have the correct size you need. Look for different household items to use as circle templates. Start with a range of plastic tub lids, butter lids, or tops of jars, or small coins..this can get you started. With a little look around you can find several tools that will help you form a circle.

AND SQUARES

Squares are easily measured--- remember they are the same on all sides. Rectangles are the figures with the two short sides and two long sides. One size I keep on file all the time are the 2.5"x3.5" rectangles in various colors. They are so great for stamp features and focal points.



 

 

 

 What about an image? PUBLIC DOMAIN IMAGES 

We are so lucky to have so many public displayed images that are free for us to download. You can use many of the images for use on your personal cards. Although, you need to check with the "vintage server" to see if their images are freebies, many are just as long as you use them for a personal card and not to sell. They are available for you to download and make yourself a card with the image.

 

I found this one  provided  on Flickr. I plan on making my special beau a Valentine using this image and adding a red ribbon bow and the sentiment words "I Love You" in a larger size script font with red ink! By adding a large rectangle behind the print and adhereing it to the card front, the idea is simple, but effective.

OPERATION WRITE HOME

OWH has already posted their ideas for Valentine's Day inspiration; go to www.operationwritehome.org and click on their posts for inspiration. While you're on the site find out more about making cards for this organization. They are ready for Mother's Day cards now, yes in February, they must be mailed out to deployed military posts all over the world. The service is to provide the military with access to cards free of charge, all hand made and donated by people who love to make cards. They are now working on their second million cards. Two Peas in a Bucket is one of their designers, and they contribute to OWH often with special designs.

 

 

 

SAYING "I LOVE YOU" IS A BLESSING FOR ME...

Whether the cards are fancy like this one , www.twopeasinabucket ,  using stamps, dies, and paper trims; or  the card is simple using things we can find around us. I wanted you all to know the meaning of the card is the same.

"... this card was made by hand, by a person who took the time to tell you how much you mean to them. They turned off the outside world for a few minutes  just to think of you, and made this card for you because this person loves you." 

 

Have fun making some cards, take a look around and see where you might begin your journey too. And by all means,  Happy Valentines Day to all of you

 who have stumbles upon us

 or are now watching for our posts regularly.

 Thank you all! Gloria

 



 

 

 

 





New Year, New Resolutions, New Ideas!

 

I hope everyone has had a positive, healthy and happy start to this New Year.
We've started our 2013 classes with new ideas and new members to the Card Makin' Cuties group.
A little reminder, our "Open Class" starts on January 12 at 1:00. It is a two and half hour class with ideas on how we make our cards,that is, the system we use to put our cards together and new ideas for cards we make for Operation Write Home. We'll have some new card designs ready. ( I like to call the card designs-- our little road maps---because at times we never end up exactly where we wanted to be, but we had fun getting there just the same.)

This is a good example of the cards we made last week---our first OWH card making of the year. It's a card made by one of our members. She used the Martha Steward punch www.marthastewart.com/crafts to design as her sentiment.The entire card was a cut paper or a punch paper design with lots of color and interest for children. You can't tell from this photo but she set her card off with a little bling, In the star following the word happy is a gem stone. FUN!  We made cone shaped hats and added a punched design of candles. So very cute. The design could easily become a New Year's card, as well as a birthday card shown here.

 

NEWS ON THE HOMEFRONT BLOG. FROM OPERATION WRITE HOME

 

Operation Write Home has already started their New Year with their first deadline which was  Dec. 29th for Valentines cards. Our studio was  a little snowed under at the time, however we managed to mail a small amount of cards to our station ( about 50 cards); thanks to our the folks who make cards at home and give them to us. Thank you so much for your help in meeting this deadline. It was above and beyond for the start of OWH's season and our card makers. You are so appreciated!

 

PLANS IN THE PROCESS FOR 2013

We expect to go to the Heritage Rubber Stamp Show  in Indianapolis during March, We went last year and had a wonderful time. Last year there were classes during the session, plus many of the east and west coast stamp companies which many of our stores in the mid-west do not carry.  It was a chance to expand your art as well as your craft stash! It was great, we are looking forward to this little day out for our group.

 

CARD DESIGN FROM OWH

 

This is one of the design maps we'll be using in January and February to complete our St. Patrick's day cards and begin make spring and Easter cards. Operation Write Home has provided us with the measurements for the paper pieces. Look at the measurements in this design sample and cut to their specification. You can use any sentiment or stamped design you want, then arrange your paper pieces just like our sample.  Colors and subject matter are what ever you like, one example is this simple Spring card. 

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Plans and procedures are in place, come join us soon at the studio. We'd love for you to stop by and see what we're doing. Until later stay warm and dry---healthy and well ---and keep making your wonderful cards. Gloria