Hand made backgrounds – crazyforpaper

Better Days to come card

Spring showers new H2O

Hi Crazy4Challenges fans! I hope everyone is staying healthy during this Covid 19 thing! I don’t know about you, but being forced to stay home in my craft room….well, I’ve had worse things happen. But then again, none of my loved ones has been infected. So my prayers go out to those of you who have been more personally affected. It’s interesting that today’s challenge is to put rain or a rainbow on your card this week. We’ve had a good amount of rain in CA this week!

The Steps:

Step 1: I stenciled the rain drops on a piece of white cardstock with blue ink. Next I cut out a square from this stenciled white cardstock using a nested square die set.

Step 2: Using a Pink and Main stamp called “Puddles”, I stamped the little girl out twice Once on white card stock and again on yellow cardstock with a tiny white heart print on it.

Step 3: I colored the stamped image on white cardstock with Copic Markers and added clear lacquer to the puddle area. Then I “fussy cut” out the Umbrella and Hat out from the stamped yellow cardstock and glued it onto the Copic colored image. Then I “fussy cut” out the entire image after the lacquer was dry.

Step 4: I cut out two grass pieces. cloud and the little yellow flowers from an older couple of Karen Burniston die sets called “The All Season Tree” and “The Garden Bench”.

Step 5: I cut a scalloped square mat for the finished scene piece from light blue cardstock from a nested set by Elizabeth Craft Designs.

Step 6: I created the sentiment on my computer and cut it out with a nest fishtail die set.

Step 7: Create a base card by scoring an 8.5″ x11″ pc. of white cardstock and folding over for a tent fold card. Trim down to 5″ x 5″. Now adhere the finished little rain scene to the base card.

That’s It! Thanks so much for stopping by!

Here’s another look:

Spring showers new H2O

Easy All Occasion Card!

Kite Front H2O

This week over at: Crazy4Challenges I am the hostess, and found on the “Calendar of Days” that today is “Kite Flying” day! So for this Saturday Feb. 8th. the challenge is to put a kite on your card. If you don’t have a kite then you can put anything else that flies on your card. Or,….You can make a kite to put on your card like I did.

The Steps:

Step 1: Cut a rectangle that measures 5.5″ x 7″ from white cardstock. Next I used a stencil from Elizabeth Craft Designs called “Clouds and Grass” to stencil this background panel with PanPastels.

Step 2: I made the kite by cutting a rectangle from Coral cardstock that measures 2″ x 3″. Then I folded on the diagonal long side. Then cut the shape of the kite. Then fold across the kite. Below shows the toothpicks I glued on the underside:

Kite under tooth

Step 3: Cut out a 1″ x 6″ grass edge for the bottom of card with Elizabeth Craft Designs: Nature Edges. The clouds are from an older Karen Burniston die set called: The All Season Tree.

Step 4: Make a base card by scoring an 8.5″ x 11″ pc. of cardstock at 5..5″ and then folding for a book fold and trimming to 5″ x 7″. Now adhere the cloud stenciled layer to the front of the base card. Adhere the grass edge to the bottom of the card. Then decide how you want the clouds and Kite. I added a little foam dot under the clouds and top half of the kite. Then I added a pc. of white bakers twine to make the kite tail. Then just cut scraps of colored cardstock in tiny triangles and glued them on either side of the twine.

Step 5: I chose the stamped sentiment from an older one from Karen Burniston “flying by to say” because I could make a few and stash them for almost any occasion by just adding the appropriate sentiment on the inside. Thanks so much for taking a quick look:

Kite Front H2O

That’s It!

Other Products Used:

Michael’s Craft Store: All cardstock

CutterPillarPro

Amazon: PH Neutral PVA Glue

Put A Drink On It!

Drinks H2O

Drinks inside H2O (2)

According to our Hostess, Frances Byrne, it’s Beer Drinking Day! The challenge this week is to put some kind of a drink on your card. I made this card for my best friend, Jeanine, who is also my boss at the beauty salon I’ve worked at for the last 16yrs. Our birthdays are 2 days apart! She is 10yrs. younger than me however! I just love her and we often spend our lunch hour picking up fast food and spending the hour chatting and laughing.

The Steps:

Step 1: I made the pop up inside the card first. I used an older die set from Karen Burniston called 780 – Garden Bench. I like to try to use currently available products but this bench worked so well with the Art Impression’s stamp of these two ladies. 4407 – Coffee BFF’s

Step 2: The card is a 6″x6″ square. I cut two 5.75″ x 5.75″ squares from white cardstock. I stamped one with the tree from this stamp set I bought from:Amazon link to stamp set

Tree stamp

I have purchased several sets from this seller on Amazon. They all have not disappointed me. The seller is GIMITSUI. They don’t spend on fancy packaging and the buyer benefits. This set is priced at $6.59 They are a Prime Member store and offer free shipping and free returns! What! I know! You will not want to return them. All of the stamp sets I have purchased from them stamp very well. Here are two more sets that I adore and have already used.

You may remember the elephant set used on another C4C Sketch Challenge:

Aug sketch Elephant H2O (2)

Then I used PanPastels to stencil the clouds and hills behind the bench. The other 6″ square I also used PanPastels and stencils for the grass and path: Snow storm and Clouds & Mountain and Split rail Fence

Drinks inside H2O (2)

Next I trimmed them to fit behind and around the bench. Wait to adhere these two stenciled squares until later.

Step 3: I stamped the Art Impression BFF’s stamp. I colored them with Copic Markers and fussy cut them out. I glued them to the front of the bench just on the back side of their legs which makes them really look like they’re sitting on that bench! I’ve had the AI stamp for awhile and have used them a lot. But I really believe I saw Frances use this stamp exactly like this when the Garden Bench first came out.

Step 4: Cut two 6″ squares from a sky blue cardstock for the front and back of the pop up. Now take a scrap of white cardstock that is about 2″ x 4″ and stencil this strip to continue the hills behind the bench. Do the same thing for under the bench. Adhere the strip that is for behind the bench to the bottom of a blue square. (Make sure it is positioned to fill in where the bench cut out is). Do the same thing for the piece that is attached to the path/grass layer and adhere it to what will be the back of the card.

Step 5: I used 3 die sets for the front of the card: 1434 Calligraphic Elements – 3

1161 – happy birthday and Coffee Charms. I cut the “Elements” from silver mirror cardstock. I cut coffee cup with white cardstock and colored with Copic Markers. I cut the top from Velum. The happy birthday is from dark blue cardstock. Adhere them all to the front of the card as shown:

Drinks H2O

Adhere the other blue square to the back of the card and it’s done! I can’t wait to see what you make this week!

Other Products use:

Beacon’s Kids Choice Glue

CutterPillar Pro

Michael’s Craft Store: All cardstock

Sizzix Big Shot Pro

National Sandcastle Day

Front seaside H2O

Inside seaside H2O

It’s a new month and a new Hostess who is Nicky Foden. Because today is Sandcastle Day, Nicky has challenged us to put a sandcastle, sand or any beach theme. One of my favorite die sets is Karen Burniston’s Adirondack Chair Pop Up. The one I own is one she designed when she was with Elizabeth Craft Designs. She has revisited this set at her new site: https://karenburniston.com/adirondack-chair-pop-up/

The Steps:

Step 1: Karen has an assembly video for this die set. Click on the link above and you will find two videos. One is for the original look of the Adirondack and a second one to make the chair look upholstered! So the first thing I do for a pop up card, is to master the pop mechanism. No worries, this one is easy! I cut the “chair” pop up from white base weight cardstock or 80lb. I use a heavy cardstock because I assume it’s going to be opened a closed a lot!

Step 2: My base card is a 5.75″ square when folded. This is the card that you will cut the chair into the fold. Depending on what you will use for inside mats you may want to cut the two mats with the chair. I chose for the bottom (under the chair” side) I measured where I needed to out sort of a square under the chair. And then to cover that hole when I attached the “sand” mat, I just adhered the same color cardstock under the chair and adhered the larger mat on top. Both the “sky” layer or as I’m calling mats, measure 5.5″ square.

Step 3: Cut two 5.5″ squares from white cardstock. Using Elizabeth Craft Designs: “Earth and Sky” I stenciled clouds with Aqua Marine Blue PanPastel. Adhere this sky background mat to the top inside of the base card. The second one you will use on the front of the card.

Step 4: Using Karen Burniston’s: 1038 – Tropical Scene

Tropical Scene

I cut the “waves” in white and blue for both the bottom inside and the front of the card. I also cut the “Palm tree/sand dunes and “sea shells” and “sun” from this same set above. I cut the little sand mound pc. twice. Once with the light brown cardstock and once with white cardstock. I colored the little palm trees with Copic Markers. Then I cut them off and adhered them to the light brown one right over the light brown trees.

Note: This is a personal endorsement. I do not receive any income from this company in either currency or products. I have always felt that Karen almost always, includes little decorator dies that you can use for so many projects with or without the die set they come with. I’ve used these little sea shells and sun a lot. For this project I used them on the front, inside, and in the bucket on the inside.

Step 5: The two “Palm Trees” and “Pail” on the inside is from a discontinued die set from Karen B. that is called: Palm Tree & Pail”. I love this palm tree.

Palm Tree and Pail

Step 6: Now just adhere all your cut and/or colored as shown on the inside and the front. (I also created a personal sentiment on my computer and printed out on white cardstock. I cut it out with a nested die set set and adhered it to the bottom of the inside of the card centered on the lower inside over the “wave section”. I took the pictures before I added it to the card because it has the “receiver’s name on it.” I don’t have her permission to post it on the internet. Here’s another quick look:

Inside seaside H2O

Side view seaside

Front seaside H2O

Thanks so much for taking a look! I know you’re time is precious. Here’s the link to the challenge blog to see the rest of the design team’s cards for inspiration. We can’t wait to see yours! Crazy 4 Challenges

Other Products Used:

Michael’s Craft Store: All cardstock

Sizzix Big Shot Plus

CutterPillar Pro

Elizabeth Craft Designs: Clear Double Sided Adhesive 10mm

Beacon’s Kid’s Choice Glue

Put A Bird on it!

Pink House H2O (2)

It’s a new month with new challenges! This week’s challenge is put a bird on it. There’s 3 on this card! I recently acquired Art Impression’s Holiday Mansion 4926 and HM Garden Set 5096: 4926 – Holiday Mansion 5096 – HM Garden Set

Ai Holiday House dies stamps

Both of these sets include the stamps and matching dies. Ai also has a “Holiday” themed stamp and die set, as well as a Valentines Day set too, giving you so many different looks.

4927 – HM Accessory Set: 4927 – HM Accessory Set

4977 – HM – Valentine Set: 4977 – Valentine Set

I am nuts for this set because it looks different depending on however you color it or decorate it. Here’s a picture of the same two sets but in a different color scheme:

Blue ai house H2O

Pink House H2O (2)

The blue one I made right away and gave it to my best girlfriend. The pink one I made for this challenge and went a little nuts with the decorating. I do have some tips that will help you get better results with stamping and cutting these adorable stamp and die sets.

The Steps:

Step 1: First stamp the “house” stamp on white cardstock. I knew I wanted to fussy cut the house to be adhered to a hand made background. Also, there is no die in the set that cuts out the outline of the house. This is what the house dies do:

House white template

They cut out the windows and doors. There are two shutter stamps and matching dies. So here’s TIP #1: If you look close at the stamped house on the right above, when I taped the dies to the stamped image and ran it through my cutting machine, I was off just a little bit. In particular, the arch on the door. You’ll see, at the top of the arch, I cut off part of the bottom of the stamped “porch cover”. So the tip is to tape these dies to a strip of white cardstock in order to make a template. This allows you to use this template to see exactly where to tape the dies. It’s hard to see when the die is upside down on your projects because you know longer can see the blade

Tip #2: You can stamp the house on white cardstock as well as the accessory stamps on this same layer and create a scene using only the stamps. Or, a combination of both, like only cutting out the house dies but not the accessory stamps in the scene. In this case you will REALLY want to use a template.

Step 2: I stamped the “flower pot” accessory stamp a bunch of times on white cardstock. This gives you lots of options for not only how many you’ll actually use, but what colors you like best with the rest of the scene. Any you don’t use you save for another project! I stamped colored and cut all the rest of the accessories once.

Step 3: This step is optional but I think is what makes it so fun, is to have a little surprise behind the two doors that open, and also that you see through the windows. For this I used Ai: 4745 – Talk Much Set

2018-07-01 20.14.32

I stamped this little tea scene and then cut the colored scene in pieces so I could place the table scene through the front door and the Chandelier through the top left window.

Then I put a couple of stamped, colored and cut flower pots in the other two.

Step 4: I used this set from Elizabeth Craft Designs:992 – CountryScapes – The Woods 1

2017-11-08 20.29.00

I only used the left side of the tree. I cut the trunk from brown cardstock and the leaves from green.

The fence was cut with an Elizabeth Craft Designs 1134 – CountryScapes Nantucket Arbor & Picket Fence. As of this day they didn’t show it available now. However, I cut two of the fences out of white cardstock.

Picket Fence die

The last thing is to cut two “grass edges” from this set that is also no longer available but is a set by Karen Burniston 914 – Outdoor Edges – 3 die set

2018-03-19 14.44.39

From green cardstock, I cut one edge with the wavy one and one with the Grass edge.

The last step is to assemble your little scene as shown below:

Pink House H2O (2)

Thanks so much for taking a look. I just think this set is adorable and I will be buying the other two decorator accessory sets because I can’t wait to use this set for Christmas, Halloween, and Valentines Day!

Other Products Used:

Michael’s Craft Store: All cardstock

Beacon’s Kid’s Choice Glue

Sizzix Big Shot Plus

CutterPillar Pro

Fancy Fold Challenge

Fancy folds are fun and all the rage!

Neighberhood front H2O

Neighberhood open H2O

As this month’s hostess Rebecca Ednie said “fancy folds are both fun and all the rage now”. So this week’s challenge is to make a card with at least 2 or 3 folds over at Crazy4Challenges

I got this set from Sizzix years ago, but just never used it and forgot about it. Then while looking for something else I ran into this set. So I decided to use it for this week’s challenge.

Sizzix houses and dies

The Steps:

Step 1: Cut a 8.5″ x 11″ piece of white cardstock down to measure 11″ x 5.5″. Score this cut pc. at 5.5″. Then turn it over and score one end at 2.5″. Now it should look like this:

Folds

Flip this piece back over and stencil clouds on it with PanPastel and Elizabeth Craft Designs stencil called “Clouds and Grass”. Leave 1.5″ on the lower edge white.

Step 2: Using Elizabeth Craft Designs 914 – Outdoor Edges – 3 die set (the plain wavy die in the middle) cut about a little more than a 1.5″ x 11″ strip out of green cardstock twice.

2018-03-19 14.44.39

Step 3: Cut a strip of either the same green cardstock or white that measures 1.5″ x 11″. Now score it the same way you did for step 1.

Step 4: Using a green PanPastel, color the bottom white edge. Now adhere the step 3 strip to the bottom of the card with the longer panel of the strip attached to the shorter panel.

Finished folds

Step 5: Stamp all the images you want to decorate with and color them. Now cut them out with the coordinating dies.

Step 6: Add all your finished elements to create a little neighborhood. I added sea gulls from a set by Frantic Stamper called Flying Gulls.

Here’s another quick look:

Neighberhood open H2O

Thanks for taking a look. I answer all questions, so don’t hesitate to ask.

Other Products Used:

Beacon’s Kid’s Choice Glue

Michael’s Craft Store: all cardstock

Sizzix Big Shot Plus

It’s Hufflepuff Pride Day!

Harry Potter card H2O

According to the Days of the Year Calendar the 20th of March is Hufflepuff Pride Day. So the challenge this Saturday is to create a card inspired by Harry Potter. This could include using stamps of the characters, using colors from any one of the four houses of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft or anything else that inspires you from this famous series. I chose the house of Gryffindor. This house’s colors are red and gold. Here are the steps to make this card.

The Steps:

Step 1: I started by cutting 1″ strips of red and gold card stock. Next I put the strips together alternating the colors. I used 8.5″ x 11″ card stock and cut on the short side to have strips that measure 1″ x 11′. Note: precision cutting is important.

Step 2: Tape the strips together on both 8″ sides. The picture below shows how you will cut the mat for the card. Sorry I forgot to take a pic before I cut the mat. But this sort of shows you why you need to cut all of both colors of card stock. You will need a large rectangle of taped together strips to cut a rectangle die on the diagonal so the mat will have diagonal stripes.

Cuts

Step 3: Make a base card from 8.5″ x11″ white card stock and score at 5.5″ on the long side. Fold over for a tent fold card. Trim to 5.5″ x 6.5″.

Step 4: Now you want to use a rectangle cutting die and tape it on the diagonal across your assembled, taped together strips, as shown above. Note: Once you have the die placed on diagonal, lay down a layer of clear tape on all four outsides of the die. That will at the same time serve to secure the results of the cut and hold the strips together when you run this through your cutting machine. Before you remove the die, carefully turn the die, still attached, over and add Clear Double sided adhesive tape on all four insides of the die. Add a couple more strips of the adhesive through the middle. Now remove the die.

Step 5: For the Owl I used Karen Burniston’s “Poppy the Owl”, a retired set but you might find it on EBay. The same goes of Poppy’s hat and broom which is Karen Burniston’s 1204 – Props 9 – 6 die set.

Step 6: The Happy Birthday sentiment is Elizabeth Craft Designs: 1161 – happy birthday – 2 . I cut once each with black card stock and gold mirror card stock. I also added a gold mirror card stock flourish at the end of Poppy”s broom to make it more magical looking using Elizabeth Craft Designs: 1034 – Flourishes & Branches

Flourishes & Branches

Step 7: To assemble the completed card. Take your taped together, diagonal striped rectangle and on the underside (where you added clear double sided adhesive) add a little dot of glue to one short side of this piece on every stripe. Now turn over, and center the rectangle on the base card. Let the glue set up a bit. Then carefully remove the backing of the double sided adhesive on that same side. Doing this stabilizes the rectangle so you can finish removing the rest of the tape while adhering the rest of this mat.

Step 8: Add the rest of the elements as shown below. (Glue the black and gold Happy Birthday sentiment together, offset slightly). Now add Poppy the owl and his flourished broom. I used Elizabeth Craft Designs Peel Off stickers in gold to add to the edges and that’s it!

Harry Potter card H2O

Thanks so much for having a look! I appreciate your time! Please join the fun challenge this week as this week’s challenge would make a great card for any Harry Potter fan! Use the link below:

Crazy4Challenges – 476

Other Products Used:

Elizabeth Craft Designs: Clear Double sided adhesive 10mm

Michaels Craft Store: Red and Gold Card Stock

Sizzix Big Shot Plus

Beacon’s Kids Choice Glue

CutterPillar Pro paper cutter

C4C – Fall Themed Challenge

An October Birthday Card

My youngest daughter’s birthday is in October. I have never made her a card that represented her month of the year. So this weeks challenge theme gave me an opportunity to do just that.

The Steps:

First cut a rectangle from white cardstock that measures 5.25″ x 6.75″ then using the stencil from Elizabeth Craft Designs called: S016 – Earth and Sky stencil clouds on the upper third of this rectangle. The picture shows me using this stencil on a different project. I forgot to take a picture of this one.

Earth & Sky - Stencil - ElizabethCraftDesigns.com

2018-05-23 13.26.28 Next, using Elizabeth Craft Designs: 1366 – CountryScapes – Land & Sea

2018-03-19 12.18.29 and the edge die that has the barn and trees, tape it to the top of a 2nd piece of white cardstock that measures 6.75′ x 5.25″. Color the barn and trees and the top edges with Copic Markers. Then I used PanPastels to color the rest of this layer. Adhere this layer to the stenciled clouds layer, matching up the two bottom corners.

Next, die cut all the elements from these die sets:

Cut all the pcs. that make up the scarecrow, and the bale of hay pc. I didn’t use the pumpkins from this set.

Instead, I used the pumpkins from this set that I just discovered may be no longer available.

Corn stock Flora 4 I cut the stalks out twice, the pumpkins several times to have enough and 3 times for the sunflower pcs. I also cut the vine pc. twice. All these pcs. were cut with white cardstock and colored with Copic Markers.

The last die set was also from Elizabeth Craft Designs: 1084 – CountryScapes – New England Stone Wall & Gate

Cut the little fence piece twice. The last element is the “happy birthday” sign. I stamped the sentiment on another pc. of wood grain cardstock and glued it to a leftover pc. that looked like a stake to me.

Now adhere all the cute little elements to make your “October” fall scene and adhere to a side fold base that measures 5.5 ” x 7″ Here’s another look:

That’s it!

Thanks again for spending some precious time over here! I hope you’ll take this week’s challenge and I’ll see you in October when I will host the blog and have a special guest designer planned.

Other Products Used:

Elizabeth Craft Designs: Soft Finish Cardstock Dove Gray 12′ x 12″ (base card), Clear Double Sided Adhesive 10mm

Beacon’s Kids Choice Glue

Sizzix Big Shot Plus

C4C – A Birthday card with Numbers

I love interactive cards!

C4C numbers open

Everyone who knows me, knows I love interactive cards. For this card I chose Karen Burniston’s 1042 – 1042 – Spinner Square Pop Up

This die set is so versatile. It can be used for almost any theme you want. I always recommend that you watch Karen’s: Spinner Square Pop Up assembly video It will really help you make the “spinner mechanism” work properly the very first time.

The Steps:

Step 1: I chose a digital designer paper from a shop on Etsy called “The Digi Rainbow” that’s called 100 Number Digital Papers. Yes, there are 100 different colors of this same paper that’s included in the Sale price of $1.40 for all of the colors! What? I used this blue one for the front, the inside left, and the back of the card.

Step 2: I stenciled some clouds on the right inside as well as some die cut clouds from a set that has been discontinued.

Step 3: I stamped and colored with Copic Markers this stamp from Art Impressions:

Art Impressions

Once colored, I fussy cut the “couple flying in the plane” to spin up on the square when the card is opened.

Step 4: On my computer I created the two sentiments that is a quote from Abraham Lincoln! (“It’s not the years in your life, it’s the life in your years”)

Step 5: The “Happy Birthday” sentiment on the front is: 783 – Happy Birthday

That’s it!

Other Products Used:

Elizabeth Craft Designs: Clear Double Sided Adhesive 10 mm

Michael’s: Light Blue Cardstock

Beacon’s Kids Choice Glue

Sizzix Big Shot Plus

Category: Hand made backgrounds

Better Days to come card

Like this:

Easy All Occasion Card!

Like this:

Put A Drink On It!

Like this:

National Sandcastle Day

Like this:

Put A Bird on it!

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Fancy Fold Challenge

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It’s Hufflepuff Pride Day!

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C4C – Fall Themed Challenge

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C4C – A Birthday card with Numbers

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