I'm back with a quickie tutorial!

yes yes, I am alive and well. Please excuse my absense from the blog world. As usual, life got busy. Been busy with the Valentine Mom and Me classes, as well as kids birthdays, dinner with the girlfreinds and family, and something else that you will have to wait another month before I share. muahhaha, I am leaving you haning on a thread!
heheh, anyhoo, as I mentioned to you I did have a childrens birthday party to go to. Now since Christmas was just a few months ago, I asked mom what he needed, and she mentioned that gift cards would be great since he recieved many toys and clothes already from Christmas. okie dokie, not a problem, I too love gift cards, that way when the new spring line comes in she can get him some new goodies.

One of my 2010 Craft Resolutions is to use more of Stampin' Up!s 2009/2010 In Colour. For the card I used Bermuda Bay, Dusty Durango, and I using my Crushed Curry re-inker and some white paint, I painted in the chipboard letters.



Sorry about the quality of the picture, I had forgotten to take my camera to the studio with me that day. This gift card holder is the standard A2 size card.

Here is the insert that holds the gift card:


This was super easy and quick to make, it took me an hour and 15 minutes to make this INCLUDING the thought process, making a colour choice and clean up! (if you have crafting with me before you know that I waste ALOT of time on those three things!)

Ready to make one? Lets get started, I am just going to go through the construction of the card base, and then near the end I will quickly run through the details of this specific card if you care to C.A.S.E it.

1. I started with a 8.5" x 11" Bermuda Bay cardstock and cut it to 6.5" x 8.5". This is your card base.
2. On the card base, score halfway like you would traditionally at the 4.25" half way part.
3. Along the 6.5" edge, score .5" from the left side, and .5" on the right side.
4. On one half of the 4.25" scored line, cut out the left over retangles that are made from the score lines LEAVING the top portion though. Then cut out little triangles on each corner of the left over flap, so that your card base looks like this:

*optional: I used a 1 1/4" circle punch, centered it to the cardstock and punched half way in so that the knot on my ribbon for my insert would show.
5. Fold in all crease lines using bone folder. With the flaps in apply sticky strip to the little flaps like so:


And thats it! You can decorate the card first and THEN assemble the card OR you can assemble then decorate, to each it's own :)
Also, the insert is the remaining piece of 4.5" x 8.5" bermuda bay cardstock from the first step, and I trimmed it down to 4.5" x 4 1/8".

Now, if you are interested in the details of the card that I made here they are: the cardbase is Bermuda Bay, the Dusty Durango cardstock is 5"x3 3/4". Cookie monster and Elmo were made using various punches. The face is the scallop punch, the whites of eyes were made using 1/2" circe punch, so was Elmo's nose. Pupiles were made using a normal hole punch from the dollar store. And the mouth for both characters were punched out in basic black using the 3/4" circle punch.
I covered the chipboard with two layers of white paint that was I dropped a bunch of Crushed Curry reinker in, and adhered using Stampin' Dimentionals. "Happy Birthday" was stamped with Old Olive from Teeny Tiny Words stamp set. I hand cut the little word bubble myself using my paper snips. They are great at cutting out small shapes and sharp corners. I wanted to add a kid friendly doodle theme to the card so I hand drew some swirly lines around the Bermuda Bay card base and inser with my Signo White Gel pen. I also used the same pen for faux stiched lines on the Dusty Durango layer.

Well thats it for now! I hope you will enjoy making one yourself! :)
If you would like to purchase any of these items or others, dont forget you can shop online anytime.
also, don't forget about SALE-A-BRATION! FREE STAMP, PUNCH OR PAPERPACK WITH EVERY ORDER OOF $65.

ETA: yes yes yes, I did take these pictures on my fridge door! heheh, I just couldnt find a decent place around the house to take these pictures!

Last wedding card for 2009

As you read this post, I am at my cousin Nana's 2nd wedding. Her ceremony and reception was yesterday, and today, we will have her traditional Lao wedding. It is going to be busy and packed with many many many relatives. I will take some pictures, and ask her if I can post to share our traditions with all you :)

Anyhoo, here is a slider money card:


I made this a Clean and Simple card, because, that is just her style! As much as I wanted to go into more detail :/



Ready to make one also? gather these supplies and we are ready to go.
-Cardstock 6 1/2"x6 3/4" scored at 3 1/8", and 6 1/4".
-Cardstock for insert measuring 3" x 6 1/8"
-1 1/4" circle punch (104403)
-Piece of ribbon
-Designer Series Paper to decorate

1. To make the holder, just crease and fold all score lines, and add sticky strip to assemble the holder. I hope you can see where I put the sticky strip in this photo, sorry its so dark. *hint* whenever I make boxes, I always like to cut out a small triangle so when the flaps go together it give a little bit more of a smooth finish.
2. Using your circle punch, inserting half way in, center and punch.
3. Decorate the holder and insert as desired. I used a belly band. You can also use the slit punch, and punch in the center top, and center bottom. It will hold the bills nice and snug.

I hope that you are all enjoying your weekend! I am hoping for nice weather, and to still have energy and head over to Maplefest this weekend.

If you would like to order and Stampin Up products, please shop online or place an order through me by calling or emailing me.
Velariem@hotmail.com
Velarie 647-500-4444

Fift Avenue Floral Money Holder

Here is yet another money holder :) I warned you that you will be seeing a few more a couple of posts ago. This one was made for my cousin Nitsa and her hubby Huey. The wedding was fabulous! I had so much fun dressing up, its been a looong time since Michael and I went out anywhere formal.
Anyhoo, I am very bad. I used retired colours (blushing as I am typing) I know I know, I really shouldnt! But I just looooovvve them with the Fifth Avenue Floral set. Anyways heres the card and instructions:



Stamp Set: Fifth Avenue Floral 113734
Ink: Craft Stampin Pad in Whisper White 101731, Classic Stampin Pad in Baja Breeze*retired*, Basic Gray
Accessories: Scallop Edge punch 112091, Corner Rounder Punch 109047, Uni-ball Signo Gel Pen 105020, Sticky Stip 104294, Stampin' Dimmensionals 104430, Blender Pen, Paper snips 103579
Cardstock: Card Base 8.5" x 11", scraps of Kiwi Kiss and Kraft for accents.

1. Your card base is going to be a sheet of 8.5" x 11" cardstock. Scoring along the 11" side, you are going to score at 3 1/4" on one side, and on the opposite side, score at 4".
2. On the 4" flap, using your paper trimmer, trim off 2 1/4". This will be used later as the belly band. You are now left with a 1 3/4" flap. Round the corners and apply sticky strip to the ends to create your pocket. I added a little strip of DSP also.
3. Stamp your card base as desired. I used the main floral image and random stamped it across the front and the back. Round the corners when you are done stamping.
4. I stamped the senitment in Whisper White Craft Ink and heat embossed it so that it would stay put.
5. Remember that 2 1/4" strip that we cut off the Baja Breeze card base? Well that is now your belly band. I wanted to add some more colour and detail so I added a strip of Kiwi Kiss to the middle of the band. Then, using my scallop edge punch, I added a border in Kraft c.s. to my band. I felt that there was still something missing, so using my gel pen. I added in the white dots to the scalloped edge.
6. For the focal point, I wanted to have a purdy flower on the band. So I stamped the floral image three times in Basic Gray on whisper white cardstock. Using my blender pen, I picked up ink from my Baha Breeze stamp pad and coloured in different areas of the flower.

7. Using your paper snips, cut out the your base flower. Which will be the flower with just the outside petals coloured. Next, cut out just the center petals from your second stamped and colour flower, and lastly, cut out the inside petals from your last stamped and coloured flower.
8. Layer your flower pieces using stampin dimensionals and you are done!

If you have any further questions or would like to place an order using any of the products above, you can shop online
Or to save on shipping, have your order come to my studio by calling or emailing me.
Velarie 647-500-0444
Velariem@hotmail.com

Fresh Cuts Wedding Card/Money Holder

Asides from seeing lots of Thomas the Tank Engine scrappages, you will also be seeing just a few more wedding cards :) I have one to attend this weekend, and another on August 14th.
The card that I am sharing with you today was so easy to make, it took me no time at all. As I was in my studio yesterday preparing for the Baby Card Class that is coming up, my landlord walked in and asked me to make him a card to give to his nephew. I said, "sure, when do you need it done by?" he looked at me and smiled "today"
TODAY??? How could you forget about your nephews wedding crazy man!! So I said, no problem, I can whip up something really quickly. Following Amy Celona's Crazy for Cupcakes birthday card, I came up with this simple money holder card.

Here is my version:



Stamp Set: Fresh Cuts 111634
Papers: Not quite Navy, Bordering Blue, Bella Blue DSP
Ink: Sahara Sand, not quite Navy, bordering blue
Accessories: Stampin' Write Markers-mellow moss, ballet blue, brocade blue, Punches: Eyelet border 113692, Mordern Label 116630, Word Window 105090, Horizontal Slot 105089, 1 1/4 Circle 109046, sponge daubers 102892, kraft taffeta ribbon 109068, blender pen

1. Stamp the main image of from the Fresh Cuts stamp set in Not Quite Navy on a piece of 3 1/8" x 3 3/4" whisper white cardstock.
2. Start colouring in the floral image using the Ballet Blue marker first, and then a little big of Brocade Blue. Using the thick tip of Mellow Moss, colour in the leaves and the thicker stems, and then use the reverse end of the marker to colour in the thinner areas.
4. To colour in the florish in Sahara Sand, I used a blender pen since I dont own the Stampin Write marker in that colour. To pick up this colour, what you do is with your inkpad closed, press down in the middle so that some ink will transfer to the inside top of your stamp pad. Open up your stamp pad and use your blender pen to pick up the colour.
5. After you are finished colouring your image as desired, I matted it on a piece of Not Quite Navy cardstock 3 1/4" x 3 7/8".
6. On a scrap piece of whisper white c.s stamp your sentiment in Not Quite Navy. Punch out your sentiment with the Modern Label punch. Using a sponge dauber, add Sahara Sand to the edges. Punch out a horizontal slit on both sides. Slip a piece of Kraft Taffeta Ribbon and adhere to the card. Set this finished piece aside for now.
7. Mat a piece of DSP measured 3 1/2" x 3 3/4" on Not quite Navy 4" x 3 3/4". Adhere your finished floral image to the center of this piece.
8. The card base is a piece of Bordering Blue 4" x 11" cardstock scored at 3 3/4" & 8 3/4". Add your stamped image to the front of the card. (The larger flap of the two)
9. Using a piece of Not Quite Navy cardstock 1" x 4" punch out the Eyelet border and adhere to card from the INSIDE of the card.
10. Now it is time to make the "holder" part. Using two pieces of Sticky Strip, adhere one on each edge on the inside of the smaller flap. DO NOT remove the red film quite yet.
11. Using your word window punch, only putting it in half way through to the edge of the cardstock, punch a "long word window" by doing this step twice. Then use your 1 1/4" circle punch halfway into the cardstock, and now you have a fancy edge.
12. Now you can remove the red film, and fold it up and TA DA, you are done!



If you would like to purchase any of these items that I used, feel free to shop online
Or you can contact me directly to place an order:
Velarie 647-500-0444
Velariem@hotmail.com

Bella Balloon Envelope Gift Card

Well, here is one of my latest Bella purchases. I am lucky enough to live near the Bella Shop so I was able to attend their boxing day sale and YES I walked away happy! I am a fan of giving out gift cards and here is one of my favortie templates. This is also the same cards that I made for Aidens Teachers as Christmas gifts a few posts back. Very simple to make!


The very first thing you need to do is take your envelope and fold in half using your bone folder for a nice sharp edge with the flap of the envelope facing inside.



On the envelope flap, cut the fold line and close up ONE half of the envelope. Now you have two seperate sides. One will be for your gift card and the other side I would adhere with some cardstock or pattern paper. This is the side where you can stamp or write any sentiments. The side where the gift card will go in, you can add some random stamping to it.


Now using your tape runner, run tape along the middle of the outside for your envelope and apply ribbon. Now embellish the front and back as desired. Ta-da!



Super quick and easy! I love it. Also, I have put up a few pictures for Febuary's 18 cards class. go have a look!

Last day of school

Well, it is the last day of school for my little guy! I wanted to enroll him into some kind of winter program to keep him busy and active, but sad to say I did not find anything that I caught my eye. There is a local Ontario Early Years program that I might bring him to, and I guess I'll bring him to some indoor playgrounds. So if anyone wants to make a play date, give me a shout! I made 3 different gift card holder and 16 Candy Cane Mice last night. Thanks to my lil cousin Holly for coming over. Its so nice to get a helping hand. She help me cut up the little mice, set up dinner and get the kiddies all showered up.
I got the Candy Cane mouse template from Dawn Griffin. Her blog is wonderful and I love the fact that she gives a daily tutorial!
Here is a copy of her template:
http://dawnsstampingthoughts.typepad.com/MOUSE.pdf