Cards & Tutorials For Holidays & Beyond!
Hello G45ers,
We're having a card party today and you are the guest of honor! Today we are celebrating the fabulous art of card-making! Get ready for some incredible inspiration and fabulous ideas for beautiful and easy cards! Handmade cards are both fun to create and fun to receive! Today we are sharing 4 stunning cards that are just perfect for holidays or any occasion! We will be sharing an easy and charming French Country card and tutorial by Alberto Juarez! We also have Part 4 of Gloria Stengel's magnificent Place in Time card tutorial series! You will learn how to create cards for October, November and December from one simple sketch! Get ready for smiles because today's Graphic 45 blog is off the charts with inspiration!
First up is this amazing French Country card by Alberto Juarez. This is a fun and inexpensive way to create an exquisite card for any occasion! Follow along with Alberto's easy tutorial to create this elegant card for someone you love! It's guaranteed to brighten their day!
Supplies:
Craft paper
French country stamps
French country chipboard 1
French country Tags & Pockets
May Art ribbon
Graphic45 black ink
Next up is Part 4 of Gloria Stengel's amazing Place in Time card tutorial series! You will learn how to create these incredible cards for the months of October, November and December using one simple sketch! Just in case you missed the previous 3 installments of Gloria's card tutorials you can download them from the links provided below! Have fun and enjoy creating your classic cards with Gloria!
Download Gloria Card Series Part 1
Download Gloria Card Series Part 2
Download Gloria-card-series-part-3
Download Gloria Card Series Part 4
Each card will measure 5 x 5 inches and each set of the series will correspond to a card sketch. The cards for October, November, and December correspond to the sketch below. Each set of three cards will have a similar "feel" to them.
Supplies:
Graphic 45 papers:
Place in Time: Cut-Aparts (October, November, December) - you will need TWO (2) sheets for each month
Cardstock: Bazzill Cajun, Java; American Crafts Black; Stampin' Up! Very Vanilla
Ink: Tsukineko Memento Tuxedo Black, Rich Cocoa, Rhubarb Stalk
Stamps: Crafty Secrets (Halloween Fun); Waltzing Mouse (Basket Additions)
Ribbon: Really Reasonable Ribbon
Leaves and floral: Michael's Crafts
Button: All Dressed Up
Pearls: Want2Scrap
Scrabble tiles: unknown
Die Cuts: My Favorite Things Die-namics Mini Tabs Quartet
Tools: Sizzix Big Shot; Fiskars postage edge scissors
Adhesive: Scotch 3M tape; Beacon Fabri-tac; Aleene's Tacky Glue; Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L foam squares; Scor-tape
I used the same sketch for all three cards in Part IV of this series, but each card is unique. I used the papers and images from the monthly cut apart sheets and added a few embellishments and a sentiment to each card. Please notice that I did not use flowers for every card. I interpreted the sketch differently to fit the themes of the cards.
Cut List: I do not provide you with a cut list for the cards because you are working from a sketch. If you wish to figure out the exact measurements of the layers, simply copy the image into a photo editing program or a text editor and print it at 5 x 5 inches. You can then measure each layer. The beauty of working from a sketch is that you can customize the card to meet your own specifications. (My measurements may not match the sketch exactly.)
Measurements: I try to keep to the standard of length x width for my measurements. Length means from the top of the card to the bottom. Width means from the left to the right.
Cardstock Mats: You will notice that all of my cardstock mats are 1/16 inches. To achieve this, cut your printed paper to size, and then increase the size of your cardstock by 1/8 inch. For example, if your printed paper measures 2 x 4 inches, then cut your cardstock mat to 2 1/8 x 4 1/8 inches. This will give you a 1/16 inch mat on all four sides. I work in 1/8, 1/4, and 1/2 inch increments for all of my projects. This makes measuring a snap!Images: I trim my images from Graphic 45 paper, and then I use the Perfect Layers tool to achieve a 1/16 inch mat. You can use a paper trimmer, but I find it easier to use a craft knife and the Layers ruler.
October
The October card is a cute Halloween card. I adore vintage images, and this little girl and her kitten is so precious.
Note: To achieve the 4 3/4 x 4 3/4 inch striped panel, I had to combine two pieces of the printed paper. You will notice that the back of each Cut-Aparts sheet has three printed designs. None of them is wide enough to cut a 4 3/4 inch square. You have to get creative!
Cut one piece of the striped paper to 4 1/4 x 4 3/4 inches. Cut a second piece to approximately 2 x 4 3/4 inches by inches. Make sure that your stripes will line up properly before you cut your second piece of paper! Combine the two pieces to form a 4 3/4 inch square. You may use a decorative paper strip or some ribbon to cover the seam.
I attach some of my elements with dimensional tape to give them "lift." When gluing ribbon to the cardstock, or when gluing buttons to ribbon, I always use Beacon Fabri-tac. It "grabs" the fabric qualities of the ribbon and seems to hold up to handling and mailing.
The inside of each card is decorated to match the month. I lined both the top and bottom with cream cardstock and then cut a few elements from the Cut-Aparts sheet to decorate. You could stamp a sentiment inside if you wish.
November
Here in the US, we celebrate Thanksgiving in November. I love this image of the little "Pilgrim" girl making a pie.
Follow the same steps that you used for the striped paper above to "stretch" the dotted paper for this card. The paper strip will cover the seam.
December
This adorable image of Santa and the children is perfect for December!
You will once again, piece the floral paper together to make a 4 3/4 inch square panel. I chose not to cover the seam as it is not very visible.
I hope you enjoyed Part IV of this card series. This is the last set of cards. Part V will be a decorative box to hold all 12 cards in the series.
If you have any questions, email me at [email protected] or visit my blog at www.gloriascraps.blogspot.com.
We hope you all had fun on today's Graphic 45 blog! We are thrilled that you stopped by to see us! Don't forget that today is the last day to leave us a blog or Facebook comment for your chance to win this week's fabulous French Country prize! We will announce our randomly chosen winner on tomorrow's blog along with even more craft inspiration! So stay tuned! We want to thank Alberto Juarez and Gloria Stengel for their incredible work today! Thank you all so much for joining us! Have a delightful day, G45ers!
Happy Card Papercrafting!
Your Friends at Graphic 45
Love all the different cards!
Posted by: MONICA EDWARDS | March 28, 2013 at 05:02 AM
What great cards! You have such a talented design team!
Posted by: Lynn Hardy | March 28, 2013 at 05:18 AM
I am an avid card maker always looking for ideas and inspriation and here I found both;
Posted by: Yvonne Boucher | March 28, 2013 at 05:20 AM
The cards are great..I love to make cards
Posted by: Colleen James | March 28, 2013 at 05:31 AM
Wow!! These are all beautiful!!
Posted by: Julie Tucker-Wolek | March 28, 2013 at 05:32 AM
Wonderful Cards!!!
Posted by: Dorothy | March 28, 2013 at 05:33 AM
Wow! Thanks so much for the inspiration!
Posted by: Jean A Marmo | March 28, 2013 at 05:34 AM
Beautiful projects and great ideas as usual! Thanks!
Posted by: Mary Jane W | March 28, 2013 at 05:38 AM
Lovely Cards! Alberto's card is such a great use of simple and beautiful design.
Posted by: Mjfischercla | March 28, 2013 at 05:54 AM
Great ideas for cards. They are simple but really make a great presentation. Thank You.
Posted by: Sharon Young | March 28, 2013 at 05:58 AM
Love the holiday cards. Would make a nice mini album too.
Posted by: Shanda Harrington | March 28, 2013 at 06:18 AM
i'm not really into cardmaking, but these let me want to try it! thank you for sharing!
Posted by: alex | March 28, 2013 at 06:23 AM
Can't wait to try these!!! Beautiful!
Posted by: Mj | March 28, 2013 at 06:28 AM
What great cards. Now I know what I'm doing this weekend. Thanks for sharing.
Posted by: Karen Wedding | March 28, 2013 at 06:39 AM
Wow Graphic45! You always have the best ideas. I want to try them all! Hope I win I cannt wait to get some Franchise Country!
Posted by: France's Bowen | March 28, 2013 at 06:42 AM
Yall have me thinking about Christmas again!
Posted by: {vicki} | March 28, 2013 at 06:42 AM
All wonderful cards! TFS :)
Posted by: Sleigh | March 28, 2013 at 07:20 AM
Wonderful cards! I will look at the previous ones Gloria did in the series. She gave some very helpful suggestions on how to make measurements.
Posted by: dorothy | March 28, 2013 at 07:48 AM
All terrific cards. :)
Posted by: JOYCE | March 28, 2013 at 07:59 AM
I really appreciate the card making inspiration today!! Wonderful ideas! Also, thank you for the chance to win such spectacular prizes. G45 is the best!!!
Posted by: Wendy Wakefield | March 28, 2013 at 08:08 AM
Wonderful card inspiration!! Great ideas!
Posted by: Mary | March 28, 2013 at 08:23 AM
Oh my goodness! Blown away by all the lovely projects as usual! Thanks for the tutorials! I am loving making these cards :)
Posted by: Becky D | March 28, 2013 at 08:29 AM
I love the cards! I am looking forward to the storage box.
Posted by: Jackie QH | March 28, 2013 at 08:30 AM
Love all the cards! Great inspiration.
Posted by: Phyllis Howard | March 28, 2013 at 08:30 AM
Gloria's card series has been great - can't wait for the final box tutorial!
Posted by: karen foy | March 28, 2013 at 08:53 AM
Thank you for the party just what I needed today!
Posted by: Michelle Salazar | March 28, 2013 at 09:12 AM
I just love to make homemade cards! Great ideas, thanks for sharing!!
Posted by: Christine B. | March 28, 2013 at 09:42 AM
The cards have been great! Judy D.
Posted by: Judy D. | March 28, 2013 at 09:45 AM
Beautiful cards!
Posted by: Buffy Esser | March 28, 2013 at 10:14 AM
Really love the cards! I am trying the layouts this weekend! Woo-who!
Happy Easter, G-45 and fans of!
Posted by: Kathy Jo | March 28, 2013 at 10:19 AM
Fabulous cards!!
Posted by: Patricia Molnar | March 28, 2013 at 10:19 AM
The cards are fab - thank you for sharing the ideas and inspiration.
Posted by: AnnieS. | March 28, 2013 at 10:23 AM
Todays care are wonderful. Can't wait to get started on some card making!!!
Posted by: Brenda Stiltner | March 28, 2013 at 10:33 AM
Beautiful cards. So many great ideas. Thanks to your wonderful designers.
Posted by: Elaine W. | March 28, 2013 at 10:58 AM
You always do such fabulous cards - I love these!
Posted by: Romy | March 28, 2013 at 11:52 AM
Once again, Place In Time can be used in so many creative ways! I think this is your most versatile collection. Thanks for the ideas.
Posted by: Martie Rollin | March 28, 2013 at 12:11 PM
Love all of these cards!
Posted by: Tona | March 28, 2013 at 12:18 PM
Love all of these cards, thank you for your wonderful inspiration using these fabulous papers.
Posted by: Anne Campbell | March 28, 2013 at 12:22 PM
Glad to see tutorials for cards. I don't scrapbook much but I do use all of your papers for my cards and decorating gift bags.
Posted by: MaryLouH | March 28, 2013 at 12:54 PM
Thanks for all this lovely inspiration.
Posted by: Kirby | March 28, 2013 at 01:11 PM