Picture Perfect Cards For All Occasions!

Hello G45ers,

Are you looking for the perfect inspiration for a special handmade card? Well you've come to the right place! Today on the Graphic 45 blog we are taking you on a fun journey through three gorgeous cards! All of today's card ideas are great for a wide range of occasions! Of course any time is a great time to send a special handmade card to someone you love. Let today's blog fill you with wonderful ideas for your own unique card expression! First up is a gorgeous Olde Curiosity Shoppe love card by Susan Lui. Then we will share an adorable Little Darlings card by Arlene Cuevas. Then Clare Charvill will take you step-by-step through the creation of a fabulous all-occasions Secret Garden card! Yes, today's Graphic 45 blog is guaranteed to make you smile!

Lets begin with a shout-out to all of our wonderful G45ers on Facebook! This is a gorgeous Secret Garden card that was posted to our Facebook page by Nataliya Serova. Just look at those lavish layers and pretty paper distressing! This card is a breath of fresh air. We encourage all of you to share your Graphic 45 creations on our Facebook page! It's also a perfect place to get the latest Graphic 45 news, updates and contest information. Join the fun with Graphic 45 on Facebook!

Graphic 45 Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/Graphic45

Next we have Susan's fabulous Olde Curiosity Shoppe easel card made with the new Graphic 45 Regular Tag Album Staples. This is the perfect card to send anytime to someone you love! Take it away, Susan!

"Here’s an easel card I created using Graphic 45’s Olde Curiosity Shoppe collection and Graphic 45 Staples. The front of the card is created using a Graphic 45 Staples Tag which I covered with Olde Curiosity Shoppe patterned paper, then embellished using an Olde Curiosity Shoppe chipboard and Staples Metal Key Hole. I also made a title using the Staples Metal Label Holder and Olde Curiosity Shoppe Alphabet Stickers. This tag front cover folds up to form an easel card which can be displayed on a table top." -Susan

Supplies:

Olde Curiosity Shoppe - Optical Oddities, Mercurial Masterpiece, Parlor Wall, Butterfly Specifics

Olde Curiosity Shoppe Stickers

Olde Curiosity Shoppe Alphabet Stickers

Olde Curiosity Shoppe Chipboard

French Country Chipboard

Staples Regular Tag Album

Staples Ornate Metal Label Holder

Staples Ornate Metal Key Holes

 

Next up is this heartwarming Little Darlings card by Arlene. Of course this is the perfect card to celebrate any occasion in a baby's life! Lovely paper layers, fun floral embellishments and Graphic 45 Ornate Metal Keys give this card such a fresh look. This is the perfect card to celebrate the joys and milestones of youngsters! Here is what Arlene had ot say about it.

“I created this sweet little card for my niece Cadence’s baptism. The Little Darlings paper collection, and the coordinating chipboard pieces and stickers, are a perfect set for all your baby creations! I really love how Graphic 45 makes it so easy for you to create with all the coordinating elements.” -Arlene

Supplies:

Little Darlings 8x8 papers

Little Darlings Chipboards 1

Little Darlings 12x12 Sticker Sheet

Little Darlings 12x12 Alphabet Stickers

Staples - Ornate Metal Key

My Favorite Things card stock

I Am Roses flowers

White acrylic paint

White Doilies

White seam binding

Tile stickers

 

And now it's time for a fun and fabulous card tutorial by Clare. She has created this enchanting Secret Garden card that is perfect for this sunny season! This would be the perfect card to send to a loved one "just because." Bring a smile to the face of a dear friend or family member with this bright and cheerful card and tutorial by Clare!

 

 

Instruction:

I seem to be going through a purple phase at the moment and adore the new patterns and solids that came out with this collection and the violets on the 12 x 12 Beautiful Blooms paper, so decided to combine them both into this pretty little card for all occasions. 

To make: 

Start with a 6 x 6 black card blank.  

To start gather together the following pieces:Pic 1 

6 x 6 Patterns and Solids - plain lavender paper.  Trim 1/8" off all edges 

lavender check paper trim to 5 5\8"  square 

Black card - 5 3/4" square 

Two black strips of card 3/4" wide and about 4" long 

Two strips of lavender check paper 1/2" wide and about 4" long

Two violet sprays fussy cut from 12 x 12 Beautiful Blooms paper

A small green square and larger lavender square Chipboard pieces from Chipboard 2

Sentiment cut apart from Springtime 12 x 12 paper 

Supplies:

12 x 12 Secret Garden Beautiful Blooms 

12 x 12 Springtime paper 

6 x 6 Secret Garden Patterns and solids

12 x 12 Beautiful Blooms

Chipboard pieces from Secret Garden Chipboard 2 

Other Supplies

Black 6 x 6 card blank  

Black card 

Foam Tape 

Purple/Lavender Glitter

Glossy Accents 

Tacky Glue 

Vintage photo Distress Ink

 

 

Ink the edges of your plain lavender paper and stick down to your card leaving 1/8" black border around all edges 

Take your lavender check paper, ink the edges and make a mark 2 1/2" along both edges from one corner.  With the checked side facing you fold the corner towards the middle of your paper up to your marks and crease.  Fold back, add some double sided tape as shown, remove the backing papers and stick the folded corner in place.

Next take your black and checked strips of card & paper.  Ink the edges of the paper strips and stick to the black ones with an equal black border showing along both edges.  Stick one vertically and one horizontally so that the edges tuck under the folded corner.  Trim the outer edges to fit your card.

 

Now add your chipboard pieces.  I used a small green one on the vertical border strip and the larger lavender one on the horizontal strip. 

Take your cut apart with the violets on. Attach some double sided tape on the reverse side of the top right hand corner and a little tacky glue on the back of the bottom left hand corner.  Stick at an angle on your card as shown above.

Now take your two fussy cut sprays of violets.  Attach some 3d Foam pads to the back of the ends of the sprays and a little tacky glue to the underside of the bottom of the sprays.  Attach to your card over the folded edge of the checked paper and edge of the sentiment.

Add a little glossy accents to some of the flowers and sprinkle lavender glitter over the top. Tap off and leave to dry.

To finish off the inside make a border of black card and checked paper and mount on a piece of cream card cut at 5 3/4" square. 

I hope you enjoy following along and making this pretty little card. Happy paper crafting.

We have one more treat in store for you G45ers today! Here is a link to a wonderful SVG Cuts interview with Graphic 45 CEO and designer Diane Schultz! In this interview Diane talks about life before Graphic 45, going back to school and what inspires her. Learn how Graphic 45 got its name and much more!

 

http://svgcuts.com/blog/2013/05/20/cut-the-craft-interview-with-diane-schultz-of-graphic-45/

 

We hope you all had fun on today's Graphic 45 card celebration! We encourage you all to send a pretty handmade treasure in the mail to someone you love. One simple card can really make someone's day! We want to thank Susan, Arlene and Clare for their superb creations today. There is more inspiration on the way on tomorrow's Graphic 45 blog. Come on back and see us for more fabulous ideas! We wish you all a very happy day!

Your Pals in Paper,

Team Graphic 45

 

Comments

[Julie Tucker-Wolek]

Absolutely GORGEOUS!!! LOVING all the inspo today!!!

[kathy/NorthCarolina]

Such pretty cards! I always love Sue's innovative designs, and Clare's clever use of papers. Nataliya's card is so sweet and pretty...and Arlene's is the perfect card for baby. Thanks for my daily dose of inspiration!

[Kerry]

What a lovely card!! I love the colour combos in the secret garden papers!

[Carol b]

Such clever ideas for creativity. The tag book is lovely and the matchbox album conversion is simply genius.
Carol b

[Dorothy]

what wonderful inspiration! I can't wait to get home to play!!

[Yvonne Boucher]

great projects

[Sharon Young]

Beautiful inspiration!

[Shanda Harrington]

I've never folded the edges over on my cards. Thanks for the new idea.

[Anne Campbell]

Fabulous projects using the fantastic G45 papers, thank you.

[LindaB]

Love Claire's card! Such inspiration

[Brenda Stiltner]

Beautiful cards, so much inspiration!!

[Kathleen Rimer]

Wonderful projects today! I listened to Diane's interview yesterday - it was not only interesting but inspiring. Congratulations on all you have accomplished and your life's journey. Thanks so much for sharing.

[Jennifer Scull]

I so love the easel card being shared today. all of the projects are so lovely.
:)

[Donna W]

Such beautiful inspiring cards. Love them all but the purple (my favorite color) stands out.

[Michelle Salazar]

Stunning card today. . . and I will mail a card off!

[Karen Wedding]

All the cards are great. I especially love the baby card. The tag easel card was cute too.

[Heather DG]

Awesome interview enjoyed learning more about the roots of G45. Kudos for taking the not so positive of losing a job and turning it around to find a new direction for your creative passion!

[Dreamer]

Such wonderful cards today, as usual. I really liked the easel card. I listened to the interview yesterday.....great!

[Linda from Lockbourne]

I love, love, LOVE your tutorials. They are the best around!!!

[linda ann murphy]

Love the cards- Please keep them coming.

[Patricia Molnar]

Stunning cards!! I love G45 and am inspired everyday when I look at this site and the Ning site!! There is sooo much talent and beauty! Thank you all for sharing!!

[MaryLouH]

thanks for the tutorial. The baby card is to soft and pretty.

[Wendy Wakefield]

What a great day in G45 Land!!! Such wonderful inspiration and the chance to win a great prize! Who could ask for anything more??? Thank you!

[JackieQH]

Love the cards!!

[Judy D.]

Wonderful cards, and very interesting interview, thanks! Judy D.

[Regina M. Hamilton]

Love all the projects. I'm such a huge fan of the Secret Garden collections. Thanks for all the inspiration.

[Jeanann Cavalier]

Beautiful creations today (as always!) Diane I loved your interview you are an inspiration to all and we are so happy you chose this path because your papers are truly the BEST. Thank you!!

[Christine B.]

Gorgeous cards. Love the easel card. Thanks for the inspiration.

[Pam]

Beautiful cards! Love the inspiration.

[Diane J]

Very pretty cards today. Just love the colors of the papers.

[Romy]

Gosh, these definitely are simply perfect! Such amazing cards!

[Holly Mira]

Beautiful, Loving all the projects today.

[Elizabeth Eheridge]

Lovely projects, especially the violets themed card.

[Ami M.]

Oh, I so love the purple!

[Yolanda]

Beautiful cards..I love the one with violets.

[Sue K.]

The cards are all beautiful. G45 papers are awesome!

[Martie Rollin]

Using a tag as a card front is such a clever idea. It'll be fur to try this for my next card. Loved Clare's tutorial this week...her sophisticated style always grabs my eye. G45 papers inspire us all to new heights!

[Maxine Hodges]

The cards are spectacular!!! So many inspiring ideas!

[Paula]

Such beautiful cards. I'm always inspired by your great team :)

[Mary]

Such inspiring projects today and as always here at Graphic 45. Love the tag card.