Monday, January 30, 2023

Thanks a TON

Hi there crafty friends!

Kris here, and as promised in Saturday's post, I'm back with a tutorial for a Vertical Easel Card with a Floating Shaker!  Today's is the same style card, but a different theme.  I realized this weekend that I don't have enough "Thank You" cards, so I used the Festive Elephant from the Christmas 1 Release (which are all 30% off right now!)... I simply left off his Santa hat and tree and added a heart ♥ I also used the Thanks w/Shadow die, and then I spelled out "a ton" on the far right strip that holds the easel in place using the Stitched Alphabet die.  A few other dies are listed in my tutorial (and shown at the end of my post).  


Before I get to the tutorial, I'll share a few more project photos so you get a good idea of what we're making today!  

-Here's the front in closed position-

-Inside-

-View from the top as it is standing in easel position-

Trust me - this is so EASY to make, you don't even need a video!  If you've ever made an easel card, this is basically an easel turned on it's side... except that instead of your focal image on the front being glued to half your card front, there is a li'l mechanism that makes it pop forward when the card is in easel position.  ☺  And I stepped it up by making my focal image a shaker! (If you want to keep your card more flat, you can simply made a flat focal image piece.)

- Here's How I Made It -

BLACK CARDSTOCK:
(Card Base) Cut at 5-1/2" x 8-1/2" 
- score at 2-1/8" and 4-1/4" (along 8-1/2" side)

PINK CARDSTOCK:
(Front Mats)  Cut 2 Panels at 5 1/4" x 1 7/8"
(Inside Mat) Cut 1 Panel 5 1/4" x 2 1/2"
(Inside Mat) Cut 1 Panel 5 1/4" x 1 3/8"
(Focal Mechanism) Cut at 3" x 1-1/2" 
- score at 1/2", 1", 2" & 2-1/2" 

PATTERNED PAPER (Floral):
(Front)  Cut 2 Panels at 5 1/8 x 1 3/4
(Inside) Cut 1 Panel at 5 1/8 x 2 3/8

PATTERNED PAPER (Polka-Dot):
(Inside Edge)  Cut 1 Panel at 5 1/8 x 1 1/4

- DESIGN STEPS -

• Attach your patterned papers to the pink mats.

• Fold your mechanism so that the outside scores are mountain folds & inside scores are valley folds.


Mechanism:   Add strong adhesive to the bottom of your 2 outside flaps and attach them right up to the score line of your card front. See photo below.  It helps to attach one side first, then the other.


•  Attach your front panels over the glued flaps of mechanism but under the top part as shown.


•  Add foam strips (or dimensionals/pop dots) to the back side of your thin polka-dot panel and attach INSIDE your card, near the edge.


• Attach your larger panel (not popped up) to the side of it, leaving equal black border all around.


• Since the base is black, I added a white panel to the INSIDE far left (backside of card front) for writing a message.  That measures 5-1/4" x 1-7/8" - OR you could cut a larger white panel for the way back of your card cut at 5-1/4" x 4"

Our Card Base is DONE!  Easy peasy, right?!  


Now let's make the shaker!

BLACK CARDSTOCK:

• Die cut a frame by nesting the largest from the Nested Stitched Scalloped Circle set and the 3rd largest die from the Pierced Circle set as shown...

*Note:  this photo is not exactly correct, but my instructions are!  The photo shows that I first cut with the 4th largest die, but then I went back and cut it again with the 3rd largest and forgot to take a photo.


WHITE CARDSTOCK:

• Die cut a frame by nesting the 2nd & 4th largest dies from the  Pierced Circle set


• Glue your white frame onto the black scalloped frame, making sure to center it so there's equal border showing.  (Mine is not centered as it's not glued down yet in this photo.)


PATTERNED PAPER & ACETATE:

• Die cut a circle using the 2nd largest from the Pierced Circle set

•  Glue your acetate circle to the BACK of your scalloped frame.  

•  Add foam strips/tape on top of acetate, being careful it doesn't show from the front.

*TIP #1: if you remove the backing from your foam tape first, it makes it much easier to bend around curves like this. 

*TIP #2:  if you rub both sides of your acetate with a used dryer sheet, it will remove the static from it so your sequins don't stick to it!

•  Add your shaker elements to the well as shown below.

*TIP #3:  If you glue a few of your sequins to the patterned paper, when your card is standing up and all the rest of the elements fall to the bottom, it will still look pretty! (at least until they get shaken off! LOL)


•  Turn your patterned paper circle upside down and place centered onto the shaker.


•  Add Scor Tape or other strong adhesive/glue to the tab mechanism on card front and attach your shaker!


•  Die cut and color/assemble your CottageCutz Festive Elephant.  (The heart is left over from die cutting the Whimsical Hearts Slimline Die for another project, so use any CC heart die you have)

• Die cut "a" and "ton" from the Stitched Alphabet die from PINK & BLACK cardstock, then offset them and glue together.  

• Die cut Thanks w/ Shadow die from GREY & PINK cardstock and glue together.


•  Glue "a" and "ton" vertically to the inside popped up panel 


•  Glue "thanks" to the top of your shaker.

•  Pop up the elephant with foam tape to your shaker.  I added 2 layers of foam tape to his head to give it more dimension. ☺


VoilĂ ! and DONE!

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial and found it easy to recreate!

-Here's my version I shared on Saturday-
see more pics of this one here

PRODUCT USED on today's card:







~Kristine

Saturday, January 28, 2023

Vertical Easel Shaker Card

I WOOF U ♥ No bones about it

Hello CottageCutz friends!

Kris here, bringing you the Saturday edition of the blog (filling in for Mary today).  I have a fun-fold card FUR the puppy lover in us all!  This fold is called a vertical easel card (with a pop out shaker!) and I'm going to have the full tutorial for this style card, along with another version of this card right here on the blog this Monday! For now, enjoy this cute eye candy and have a craftastic weekend!

Today's card features the Christmas Puppies die from the Christmas 1 Release (which are all 30% off right now!).  I also used a few other dies as shown at the end of my post.  

-Front when closed / pulled out of envelope-

Aren't these puppies ADORABLE!  

I used the Stitched Alphabet die for the letters.

-Inside- 

The sentiment is printed off computer.  For the paw, I used a heart from the Stitched Hearts and the raindrops from the Stitched Sun, Clouds & Umbrella die.  You can see on the far left, there's a white panel for writing a message.

-View from the top-

The top folds and tucks under the bone panel just like a normal easel card :) 

And before I go... since this post is about the pups... I thought I'd share a pic of my absolute LOVE BUG (and bestie), Ava.  She's a Street Dog Hero rescue from Guadalajara and she brings so much joy and cuddles ♥  


Thanks for visiting today ~ see you back here on Monday for the full tutorial!

~Kristine


PRODUCTS:




Friday, January 27, 2023

New Video Tutorial! Slimline Peek-a-Boo Shaker Card











Hi everyone! Linh here and I have a new video up on the Cottage Cutz YouTube channel. Last time I crafted with this Peek-a-Boo slimline die set, I mentioned it would be fun to use it as a shaker card. In today's video, I show you exactly how I do that! This is a fun birthday card for a pet lover!



 







Thursday, January 26, 2023

Let the Good Times Roll!

 Hello Scrapping Cottage Friends

It is Pam sharing with you on this fine Thursday!

I have another Valentine for you today.  I am loving the color palette for this one.  I have done several of the Classic 50's card in it.  And I just can't seem to get enough of these wonderful colors.  This time I have designed a slimline using the Classic 50's Collection.  I used 3 of the dies to make this cute card they are: Classic RadioSkates and Poodle Skirt.  


Designer Steps:

1.  Use a black slimline card base measuring 3 1/2 x 8 1/2
  • Cut a piece of black and white checked DP 3 1/2 x 8 1/2
  • Using the Whimsical Heart Slimline die cut a piece of white card stock
  • Use the Stitched Heart set cut a black heart out of card stock using the largest heart
  • Glue the checked DP to the card front and then glue down the white Whimsical Heart card stock
  • Glue the black heart to the middle of the card
2.  Using the following dies Skates, Poodle Skirt and Classic Radio cut the pieces out of the following card stock: black, yellow, white, pink, light and dark gray, and turquoise 
3.  Assemble the pieces using a fine tip, fast drying glue
4.  Arrange to skates side by side like pictured and pop them up inside of the black heart
5.  Add the radio to the top of the card and the poodle skirt to the bottom of the card by using dimension dots
6. Type your sentiment and print it on white card stock then layered it onto turquoise card stock. Glue it next to the skates on the left side.  Your card is complete

CottageCutz Products





We have more inspiration on our YouTube Channel check it out HERE

Thanks so much for stopping by!  And I will see you next Thursday.

Blessings and Take Care



Wednesday, January 25, 2023

Sweet Valentine Wishes





Hi, my crafty friends, it's Marla, back with another Valentine's Day card that I am sharing over on the CottageCutz YouTube Channel.  Last week, Pam shared a sweet recipe card using the "Christmas Baking Mice" die.  If you missed it, you can find the post here.

 My card features the same "Christmas Baking Mice" die set paired with the "Whimsical Hearts Slimline" die.  If you are trying to improve your die cut coloring, you will like the portion of my tutorial where I share how I added dimension to my cookie batter.  I hope you'll head over to watch and enter to win one of these dies.

As always, I am adding links below to the CottageCutz products I have used for easy shopping.  Until next time..... Marla






Tuesday, January 24, 2023

Hot Cocoa Box

Hello Cottage Cutz Friends!
Melinda here with you, and today I am sharing a fun Hot cocoa box I made. I decorated it with some of the fun dies from the Christmas release. I love that you can invest in these seasonal dies, but use them well past their intended season. It is great to get a lot of mileage out of them!
Here's a look at my fun box. I used white cardstock for the base of the box. I then used some blue cardstock for the mats. From there I did all the fun stuff of decorating my box. 

here is another view of my box. You can see the front is just a bit shorter so you can pull out the hot cocoa packets.



Both pieces of the box. I have to take the time to measure out the two pieces. I will update this when I do. I made SEVERAL versions before I settle on what I was happy with. I think one of these days, I need to add in some photos of what my desk looks like when I am coming up with these boxes. There is a LOT of trial and error involved before I get it right...lol. Of course that is a part of the fun of crafting, right?! Dreaming up something and having it come together. I do know the large rectangles on the left side piece are 3.5 x 5. That is the right size for the Swiss Miss hot cocoa packs. 



Here is a photo of the box as I am putting the two pieces together.


Here is another picture as I am putting the box together.


Here is a picture of the base of the box as it is first put together.

Here is a picture of the bottom. I added some half beads on the bottom for the "legs". I also added some extra mats at the bottom for some extra stability.

Here is a closer look at the top. I added some of the super cute snowmen friends die to a scalloped rectangle mat. I added some pink paper and some pretty patterned paper too.


For both sides I used the scalloped rectangle and added a pink cardstock mat and some more of that pretty Doodlebug patterned paper. To that I added my hot cocoa mug with the little "steam curl" and the cookies & cocoa verbiage.

I think my little box turned out super cute and will be taking this to my office.

Dies I Used


Cookies & Cocoa

Santa Gnome w/Cookies

Snowmen Friends


Nested Scallop Rectangle Set


Stitched Heart Set


Well that about covers it for today! Until the next time, have a wonderfully craft-die day!
Melinda Beltran