Celebrate! It's National Craft Month at Graphic 45!
Happy Monday, G45ers!
It's a very special Monday because it's the first Monday of National Craft Month! Today, Clare shares a wonderful Good ol' Sport card tutorial. It's the best tutorial in 9 simple steps!
This March, here on the blog and on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and Twitter are going to be overflowing with great ideas, giveaways, tips, and celebration! We will even have some surprise guest stars this month. There are many reasons to join us daily!
Download this calendar filled with great tips from Cre8time for this fun month!
First, we have an extra special blog contest! Wow oh wow! There is some EXCELLENT goodies in this prize pack! Not only some really excellent Graphic 45 product including Typography and French Country, but product from Clearsnap, Core'dinations, Petaloo, Spellbinders, and Tombow! Wowzers, we know you all want to win this. Just comment here on our blog or on our Facebook page to be entered to win! Deadline is Thursday, March 6 11:59 PM PST. Have fun!
Clare is amazing at using rich colors, so Good ol' Sport is such a great collection for her to show off. She has a great card idea below that we're sure you will want to try! She uses such great cut-aparts from this collection to really make a great card!
"This paper collection is just perfect for making those oh-so-hard-to-think-of cards for the men in your life.
The instructions below use 12 x 12 papers and make an 8” x 6” card. This can be scaled down to 6” x 4” if you use the 8 x 8 papers." ~Clare
1. Start off with a black card blank 8” x 6”. Cut a mat 3 1’2” x 5 ¾” and stick down on the left of your card blank.
2. Then cut a mat 4” x 5 ¾” from Big Score paper and stick down on the right hand side of the card, lining up top and bottom edges.
3. Next cut out the following elements for your card:
Newsworthy - the advert with the golf clubs on from
Touchdown - the postcard with the lady in the long blue skirt and the postcard with the tennis ball, man and rackets .
4. Ink the edges of these pieces and mat them on black card with 1/8” border around all. Layer and stick onto your card as follows: Postcard with lady - position 1” from the left side and 5/8” from top
Advert with golf clubs on ¼” down from top edge and ½” in from right edge.
5. Now cut a border strip 4” long from Victory. I used the one between the two green stripes at the top of the paper. Cut in two and ink the edges. Position and stick these strips over the join between the two main mats on your card, lining up the top strip with the vertical line on the postcard and top edges of the main mats on your card. . Follow the left edge f this strip down and stick your second border strip in place at the bottom of your card, lining up all paper edges.
6. Now layer the cut apart with the tennis ball, man and rackets over everything you have added so far lining the top of this element up with the line on the advert under ‘Two stores to serve you’ quote and the right hand edge ¼” in from right hand edge of your card.
7. Take your second sheet of Touchdown and cut carefully cut out the lady and gent with the racquet and clubs. (cut right down between them to the top of the racquet) Ink the edges of the piece and from the front carefully crease along the tennis racquet to raise the lady up and give some depth to the piece. Turn over, put foam dots behind the lady and tacky glue on the back of the gent. Stick into place to the bottom left of your card.
8. Cut out the word ‘Champion’ from All Star paper, mount on black card and foam dots and stick in place on your card over the words ‘Tennis Balls’.
9. To finish off the inside of your card cut a cream mat using the sheet at the back of the 12 x 12 pad, cut out the No 1 Fan border from Number 1 Fan, trim to 5 ¾”, mat on black card and stick in place over your cream mat 1” from the bottom edge of your card. Last but not least cut out the Ralph Waldo Emerson quote from All star paper, mat on black card and stick down at a slight angle over No 1 Fan border.
Here's your finished product!
Supplies used
Big Score
Good Ol Sport
Newsworthy
Touchdown x 2
All Star
Number 1 Fan
Black Cardstock
Tacky Glue
Foam dots
Clare also recently taught some incredible Graphic 45 workshops at the My Creative Spirit Weekend Retreat in the UK in Leamington! We have included a few of the fun pictures below. See more on Clare's blog:
"I hold my retreats - (I am My Creative Spirit) three times a year with a max number of 30 places. Andy my partner (The Crafty Elf) helps with everything else bar the teaching. These pictures are from our first one of 2014. The other two this year are scheduled for June and December with just a few places left on each. When I'm not running my own workshops and retreats I travel around the UK teaching at Craft shops and retreats organised by others. Its a fun lifestyle after 26 yrs in corporate management :-)" ~Clare
We also have an extra special share from Canadian Scrapbooker Magazine's blog today! Go over and visit to see a great tutorial of how to build a layout with frugal embellishments. Also, aren't the photos below just adorable?That's a great way to kick off National Craft Month! So go on over and see more about this great Typography layout by Connie from Canadian Scrapbooker Magazine.
Canadian Scrapbook Magazine Blog
Many thanks to Clare for her great tutorial today. It's going to be a great National Craft Month! Join us for prizes, fun, and great tutorials every day! We will have a monthful of ideas to get you to your craft table in a hurry.
What does crafting mean to you, G45ers? Comment below and tell us how it shapes your life! We can't wait to read.
Happy Craft Month,
Your Friends at Graphic 45
Crafting with G45 paper allows me to make stunning projects. The way the papers coordinate make the process so easy. The current prize pack contains many items I have never had the opportunity to use - looking forward to a great crafting month, on line and at home!
Posted by: Mary Karas | March 03, 2014 at 05:04 AM
I love a contest, especially a Graphic 45 one!
Posted by: Shelly Holt | March 03, 2014 at 05:04 AM
Crafting IS my life!
Posted by: katie | March 03, 2014 at 05:06 AM
Looks like a lot of fun!
Posted by: Deanna Green | March 03, 2014 at 05:12 AM
Another Graphic 45 contest, another wish to win, another dream to be reality. YAY Graphic 45.
Posted by: Kathleen Scott | March 03, 2014 at 05:12 AM
Fun post! Loved the cards and the retreat photos too. Crafting is what always takes me to a happy state of mind. Pretty paper, ink and bobbles of all sorts does it for me.
Posted by: Dee in NH | March 03, 2014 at 05:15 AM
Yay National Craft Month such a awesome prize
Posted by: Aggie Stiefer | March 03, 2014 at 05:15 AM
I played with Secret garden papers yesterday to make my Mom a Birthday card...I LOVE crafting when using Graphic 45 it is just the best and most FUN!!!!!I'd love to WIN!!!!
Posted by: Sam Crawford | March 03, 2014 at 05:16 AM
Graphic 45 has something for everyone! Love Clare's beautiful card.
Posted by: Jennifer Wolf | March 03, 2014 at 05:17 AM
Love, Love Graphic 45! Would be awesome to win!
Posted by: Sally Gilman | March 03, 2014 at 05:20 AM
A super offering to begin Craft Month!!
Posted by: Anita Foster Mauldin | March 03, 2014 at 05:26 AM
There are always such beautiful projects on this blog!
Posted by: Kristi Hall | March 03, 2014 at 05:26 AM
That card is amazing! I always fret about covering any of my Graphic 45 paper, but it absolutely works.
Posted by: Laurinda | March 03, 2014 at 05:29 AM
Crafting is my way to express my creative side. Graphic 45 inspires me to try new ideas and I like it.
Posted by: Mary Reppe | March 03, 2014 at 05:30 AM
is an amazing card! thanks for sharing this fantastic tutorial. I adore March, because is a great month
Posted by: Amante del Papel | March 03, 2014 at 05:32 AM
Would love to win the set. Nothing better than graphic 45 papers! They are the best!
Posted by: Robin Roccanti | March 03, 2014 at 05:36 AM
Thank you for the Tutorial! Great card!!
Posted by: Kathy K | March 03, 2014 at 05:39 AM
What a great gift to start Craft Month. The clarity and detail of the paperwork cannot fail to make your cards fantastic.
Posted by: Elaine Jude | March 03, 2014 at 05:41 AM
Beautiful card!!
Love the papers!!
Posted by: Dorothy McCarthy | March 03, 2014 at 05:42 AM
A wonderful card. Thank you for sharing. March is going to be a fun month starting it off with this contest and so generous prize.
Posted by: Rebecca Gosnell | March 03, 2014 at 05:43 AM
Love this giveaway! G45 is hard to get here where I live! G45 papers and embellishments are so beautiful and then there's the great thing about your products is the your not limited to scrapbooking or card making, it's crafting! Thanks for this chance!
Posted by: Denise Key | March 03, 2014 at 05:46 AM
Would love the G45 pack. You have the best blog, and the best papers!
Posted by: Pamela Heinowski | March 03, 2014 at 05:50 AM
This is really a fantastic prize! I LOVE G45 so much. Just got my hands on Botanical Tea and it is soooooooooo beautiful! Maybe I'll be lucky......!!!!
Mary
Posted by: mary puskar | March 03, 2014 at 06:02 AM
Lovely projects! Would love to win this as my French Country is mostly gone and I still have projects. Claire's card is great.
Posted by: Pat Peele | March 03, 2014 at 06:06 AM
Would love a chance to win. So many lovely things.
Posted by: Nancy l | March 03, 2014 at 06:14 AM
What a great masculine card, it has so much depth! The colors are fabulous. Thank you for sharing with us today!
Posted by: Lyn Kaufmann | March 03, 2014 at 06:14 AM
I've been crafting for more than 40 years, starting in high school by making humorous collages for my friends.
Not once in all those years have I ever stopped working with my hands. Crafting has been my creative and social outlet, allowing me to make everything from scrapbooks to home décor, and blessing me with many wonderful friends.
How I wish I could take a G45 workshop! I'm so jealous of all those UK ladies!
Posted by: Lu L. | March 03, 2014 at 06:15 AM
Graphic 45 is beyond awesome! Anytime I need inspiration I know just where to look! Thank you!!!!
Posted by: Sheryll | March 03, 2014 at 06:21 AM
Great projects ladies...Love this Good ole sport collection, going to make a card for my Brother-in-law!
Posted by: Linda Bell | March 03, 2014 at 06:22 AM
Lovely card today! I have to pick up some of that Good Old Sport paper and get busy!
Posted by: Myra Skidmore | March 03, 2014 at 06:29 AM
Brilliant layering on the card, and those photos on the layout are so precious!
Posted by: Erica H | March 03, 2014 at 06:30 AM
Crafting gives me time to be creative to make beautiful things just because - sometimes useful things sometimes ornamental.
Posted by: Marcia | March 03, 2014 at 06:31 AM
Great masculine card. Love the Good ol' Sport paper collection. What a fantastic prize, thanks for the chance to win!
Posted by: sharon d | March 03, 2014 at 06:31 AM
I really enjoy Nat'l Craft Month...so much talent on display! Nice give away too!
Posted by: Jan Elmore | March 03, 2014 at 06:32 AM
I've been into a lot of crafts all my life,
but papercrafting, by far, is my favorite! There is a project on the work table in my craftroom most of the time.
G-45 is my favorite tool to use. Thanks so much for the many ideas to stir the creativity!
Posted by: Lillis Martin | March 03, 2014 at 06:37 AM
Crafting means everything to me. Crafting gives me space to be me and gives me great joy. Crafting makes me able to change a bad day into a good day.... And if it's with wonderfull paper as one always gets from G45, it just doesn't get any better@):-
Posted by: Anne Marie Fromm | March 03, 2014 at 06:37 AM
Love the prize package!! Thanks for the chance to win!
Posted by: Angie T | March 03, 2014 at 06:40 AM
Graphic 45 papers and contest -- the only ones for me! Love to craft with these papers. Thanks for the opportunity to win!! Hugs!
Posted by: Ruth Ann Hager | March 03, 2014 at 06:42 AM
Have recently started card making and discovered Graphi 45. Awesome!
Posted by: Ginny | March 03, 2014 at 06:53 AM
The card is wonderful! So many great prizes to win!
Posted by: Sharon | March 03, 2014 at 06:59 AM