M - Fold Cat Sympathy

Hi crafters!

Kris here sharing with you a fun fold sympathy card I made for a friend who recently lost her beloved cat after a long battle of health issues.  I've used the Loyal Pets die along with the Love My Dog, Love My Cat die and the hearts are from the Be My Valentine Puppies and the Stitched Heart Set to create this Marvelous Fold card which got its name because it has an "M" shape when displayed.  

*Please pardon my bad lighting and tint of my process photos below.  Using a purple mat is not idea for photos as it changes so much and messes with the colors of my papers etc.  I've used Doodle Bug Designs 6" paper pad called Fairy Garden because I thought the rainbows go with a pet who has "crossed over the rainbow bridge."

CUTTING & SCORING:

White Card Base = 4-1/4" x 10-1/2" scored at 2-1/4", 2-1/2", 5", 5-1/2", 8" and 8-1/4"

Cloud patterned paper = 4" x 2-1/4" (x2)

Rainbow patterned paper = 4"h  x 2"w (x4)

Pink cardstock = 4" x 1/4"

DESIGN STEPS:

1.  Fold and burnish all score lines on card base as follows:

  • the 5" and 5-1/2" score lines are mountain folds and all others are valley folds

2.  Tape or glue the center strip between center score lines.  Adhere the 2-1/4" wide (cloud papers) to the middle panels, and the 2" wide (rainbow papers) to the outside panels. 

3.  Fold the outside panels in (like a gate-fold)  and attach the other 2" wide (rainbow papers) to the front panels

4.  Die cut the decorative elements as shown below and assemble.

5.  Add some foam tape in the center of pink strip and attach the heart.

6.  Top open, bend side panels back until the flaps open and stand up as shown.

A hand written message and/or stamped sentiment can be added to the back of card.

Check out our YouTube channel for more inspiration and giveaways!

Happy Crafting!

~Kristine

Anniversary in the Pines

Happy Friday crafty friends!  

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas ♥ 

We have an after Christmas sale going on right now with savings of up to 80%.  The sale runs through January 2 so stop over and visit to get some dies you may have on your wish list. 

Kris here sharing an anniversary card featuring the Pine Tree, Full and Pine Tree, Slim from our Christmas 2023 Release,  All the dies in this release are 30% off for a limited time.  

I'm also showcasing the beautiful Garden Bride & Groom die and Stitched Hearts set to make this heart window cutout card for my husband for our anniversary.  We got married a few days before Christmas and had white flocked (and lit) trees in the sanctuary, so I left the top layer of my tree dies white to resemble snow.

Below is the inside of my card.  

I followed the Color Challenge CC979 at Splitcoast Stampers 

Sweet Sorbet

Daffodil Delight

Lemon Lime Twist

Petal Pink

Neutrals of your choice

DESIGN STEPS:

I die cut my Garden Bride & Groom from black cardstock.  Then I die cut my trees and cut a piece of 5-3/8" x 4-1/8" from white cardstock.

I used Twisted Citron, Scattered Straw, Abandoned Coral, and Kitsch Flamingo Distress Oxide ink and blended onto the white panel as shown.

I used Mowed Lawn and Vintage Photo D.O. ink and blended onto tree bases and trunks.  I left the top layers white to resemble snow. 

Next, I spattered white paint with a paint brush dipped in water then paint and hit the handle using another paint brush handle as shown below. 

I cut my card base from black cardstock at 5-1/2" x 8-1/2" and scored at 4-1/4" and then with card open, I die cut the largest  Stitched Hearts set  from the center of card front. 

I added a sheet of scrap paper to cover the back 1/2" of my card, then spattered white ink onto the front to resemble snow.  

I mounted my silhouette to the ink blended panel and then I cut a white mat at 5-1/2" x 4-1/4" and taped to inside of card.

Next I stamped and die cut my Happy Anniversary sentiment from a Divinity Designs stamp set and glued to the inside bottom where it won't show thru the front when card is closed. 

For the front, I put a sheet of wax paper inside to cover my silhouette panel, then I added glue to back of trees where it would touch the black card front.  The wax paper prevents any excess glue from ruining your ink blended panel inside.  

My daughter insisted that I needed a snowy bank at the bottom of my card, so I cut a pc of black c.s. at 5-1/2" and die cut the top with the Hills Slimline die.  I then added puffy snow with my Snow Writer.

Thanks so much for taking a peek today!  

~Kristine

Interactive Mini Slimline Box Card

Hey there crafty friends! 

Kris here.... I'm switching gears a li'l bit today and taking a break from showcasing our fabulous Spring/Easter Release to share a fun interactive mini slimline card that I made as "extra" inspiration using some older dies that are brand new to me... the Arctic Whale & Narwhal and the Waves Slimline dies.  You can see a clip of how it moves by scrolling down a li'l bit.  ☺

 and here it is in action ☺ 

 (sorry for blurriness, got a bit out of focus)

Kids love interactive cards and I really enjoy making them. I should say though, that when I started this card, I was just making it a mini slimline box card.  It wasn't until after I had the box card put together (except for the whales) that I decided it would be so easy to make the whale "jump" out of the water!  So keep in mind, it would be easiest to add the swinging mechanism BEFORE you add the shelves and I will note that below when the time comes. ☺

CUTTING & SCORING:

• From white cardstock, I cut:

-- back panel at 3-1/4" x 4-7/8", then sponged clouds with Distress Oxide Ink and a stencil

-- (1) strip at 1/2" x 4-5/8" to stamp sentiment on front

•  From darker blue (Pacific Point) cardstock, I cut:

-- (2) pieces for the sides of my box at 1-1/2" x 1-3/4" and scored at 1/2" along the short edge

-- (1) strip for the front at 3/4" x 5-5/8" and scored at 3/8" from each end

-- (1) piece 4-7/8" wide x 2-1/2" tall, then die cut the top with the Waves Slimline

•  From Lighter Blue (Tahitian Tide) cardstock, I cut:

-- (2) pieces at 4-7/8" wide and differing heights, then die cut with Waves Slimline

-- (2) pieces at 5-5/8" wide x 3/4" tall and scored at 3/8" from each end 

*not pictured in 1st photo, but shown in the 4th one down. 

 For the side pieces, I placed a mark at 3/4" from the opposite edge of the score line.  

--You'll want to measure one of the pieces 3/4" from the right edge, and the other 3/4" from the left edge.  

 Then I CUT diagonally from that mark up to the top of the score line. 

--You can do this with a trimmer or with your scissors.

 After I cut those diagonals on the side pieces, I erased my pencil marks and folded them so they are descending toward the middle as shown below.  

I stamped a sentiment onto my white strip and adhered it to my blue front piece.

Next, I glued my 2 side pieces to the sides of my cloud layer so that the score line is on the edge of the cloud layer and the bottom edge is even with the bottom of cloud layer as shown below.  

I then glued my darker blue waves panel so that the lowest dips of the waves are covering the flaps of my side panels as shown.

***NOTE:  if you want to make it interactive, NOW would be a great time to add your mechanism!  I added it after my box card was glued together, so you can scroll down to see how I made that and you can insert those steps here to make it easier if you'd like.  

Scroll until you see the 3 ***s 

------

Next, I added glue to the left flap of my front blue panel and attached it to the inside of my left side piece as shown below.  

Next, I added glue to only the left flap of my 2 lighter blue shelves and attached the first one so that the edge of my flap bumps up against the left edge of my blue wave and lower than my side piece.  The front blue shelf, I bumped up against the fold of the previous shelf, and lower than the side piece as shown below. 

I folded all 3 to the right and added glue to the right flaps at the same time.

Then I folded the right side piece over onto them.  

It should line up perfectly with the front panel.

Next, I decided to add some white pigment ink to the tops of my lighter blue waves with a blending brush.

Then I added glue to my 2 lighter blue shelves and attached my waves.

Next, I die cut my Arctic Whale & Narwhal, and a red heart from the Stitched Heart Set.  I colored the narwhal with Copics.

***This is the part where I added a swinging mechanism to my Orca whale.  You can do this BEFORE you add your shelves to make it easier, but if you've already done that part like I did, this is still pretty easy to do. 

I cut a piece of heavy acetate into a strip about 3/4" wide and punched a hole towards the bottom using a hole punch.  You might need to use a small circle die.  *It doesn't show in this picture, but I ended up trimming the bottom a li'l closer to the circle cutout and rounded the corners so they don't show when it is swinging.

I then glued a spinner disc (a small circle plastic disc) as shown.  If you don't have these, you can use any small circular thing with dimension like a tiny button!  Make sure you wipe away any glue that leaked after you press the disc to adhere.  

Next, I laid my acetate strip with the hole over the disc (or button) then I cut a li'l bit larger circle disc (the smallest from the Pierced Circle Set) to glue on top of the button.  This circle prevents the acetate strip from popping off our disc/button!  

Next, I brought the acetate strip up --- it should be between our back darker blue wave and the lighter blue wave just in front of it, and I added 2 pieces of Scor Tape where I wanted my whale to be.  Then I trimmed my acetate strip just above the tape and attached my whale to the strip.

One last piece.... to prevent the whale from diving down past the bottom of the card, I inserted a foam strip to the left of the acetate strip at the point I wanted it to stop.  See photo below. 

and done!  ☺ 

It's a lot of photos, but it comes together super quick!  

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial and you'll give it a try.

Happy Crafting!

~Kristine

PRODUCTS I USED: