A New Card, Die Set Storage Idea, & Google's New "I'm Not A Robot"

IO QUILT VASE, CAC DOTTED ARGYLE, & GREETINGS DIE SET

I need to schedule time to do what I love best since Spring is here.  For this card I chose another Tara Caldwell image.  She has only been with IO a short time.  I have fallen in love with her designs.  Here is how I used her Quilt Vase design:

DETAILS:

1. Stamped the image with Timber Brown ink 1 time, and then the flowers 3 times on white cardstock and painted with Twinkling H2Os.  Cut around the main image and embossed from the back with a stylus.
2. Used largest Spellbinders Labels 40 die twice with white cardstock to get the front and back side of the card, mounted on red cardstock.  (Mounted using ATG tape in the middle of the die cut and then used needle nose bottle with Glossy Accents (GA) to tack down the lace area in places.
3. Stamped Argyle background with Blazing Red.  Used the center of the die as a template to get the portion I wanted for a tablecloth look, traced with a pencil, and cut out.
4. Mounted tablecloth with 1/4" ATG tape, mounted the vase with ATG along the bottom of the vase and 3D pop-dots from middle to top.
5. Cut out flowers and leaves from second image, embossed from the back and used GA lines on matched flower/leaf, let dry just a little and mounted flower or leaf with a tad of glue dot at one end.  Highlighted areas with Vivas, Wink of Stellas, and Stickles.  Mounted gold sequins and heart stick pin with gold bow.
6. Die cut the "Hello" using the red and gold mirror cardstock.
7. Trimmed the other 2 flower images and mounted as shown with tape and GA.
8. Below is the back of the card with one of the flower images at the bottom.
9. The third image was mounted on the envelope as shown above.  (The cardstock has been peeled to make the image thinner in case I mail it.  If mailed I will also place a clear piece of packing tape over the corner area with at least .25" overlap to the back side.  That way it slides right through the mail postage reader.)

DIE SET STORAGE SUGGESTION

I store my die sets in plastic ziploc bags.  I hate all the dies collecting on the bottom as it's to sort them to find the one I want.  It's hard enough reading them 'backwards'.  ;-) Another bad habit I have is saving anything that looks like I can use it for my cards, etc.  I save the magnetic strips that have come on the telephone directories, etc.  Below is what I did:

1. Taped two of the magnetic squares together using duct tape.
2. It was too big for the back of the IO cover, so I added ATG to the back of the magnetic strip(s) and mounted from the top and center on the IO cover back.
3. Trimmed the bottom of the magnetic strip to match up with the IO cover bottom.Mounted the dies.  Love it!!!

 GOOGLE UPDATED
"PROVE YOU'RE NOT A ROBOT"

Many of you probably already know about this, because that's how I found out.  Some of us chose to use the 'Prove You're Not A Robot" feature and many of us hated it as commenters because of the time taken to figure out what the image said, like the one below which is easy compared to most.

OUT WITH THE OLD

One of the first things I noticed when blog hopping again was the NEW "I'm not a robot", shown below. Most of the time I didn't have to read a caption anymore (unless the Show Word Verification is checked in your Settings-Posts and Comments area).  Even then it was just three or four letters that were easy to read.  ***Below is the best part.

IN WITH THE NEW

With the NEW as Blog Moderator:

1. "I'm not a robot" is automatic.
2. They have also given us a choice of continuing to use the Word Verification or not.  It too has been improved with simple to read short letters.  I have mine turned off because I tested having it on or off and I still didn't get those pesky ads anymore, even on old posts. (If any of you have questions, just email me).

Well that's it for this post and I can guarantee you the next one will be shorter!!!  Thanks for stopping by to look and share.  Thanks for all of your welcome backs too!!!  Big hugs.

 Shirley

 SUPPLIES:

Hinged Filigree Card Type 2

If you didn't catch my last post, it is for a young soldier who is in the hospital and his only wish for Christmas is to get a Christmas card from 'anyone'.  I am going to send one.  How about you?

Back to the next hinged card(s) that caught my eye.  You'll see why when you visit Geri's Cards post and go down to the second card.  Below is how I did mine using a different die set, Majestic Labels Twenty-Five (because I loved the die she used in the first card)!!  And........that ribbon does match IRL.

DIE CUTS:

1. Important to notice to get a good margin around the die cut you need to either use the two dies you see or a Magic Matter around the outside of the center die before you remove it.  I chose the two and will use the outer for another card.  :-)  Because I didn't emboss I decided both sides were great to see and I didn't need to line like in Hinged 1.  

AFTER ATTACHING

ATTACHING FRONT TO BACK:

1. I lined up the top of the die cut on my Scor-Pal and scored as shown with the black line.
2. Used Gold ATG tape along the center.
3. Used Glossy Accents applied with my needle nose bottle along the rest of the edges and set aside to dry.
4. Opened along the crease and rolled the extra tape showing off with my fingers.  Don't forget that dried GA erases with Pentel pencil erasers.

IMAGES, ETC.:

1.  Stamped Poinsettia and Pine image twice and and cranberry with pine image 3 times on white cardstock with Memento Northern Pine twice.  Painted with twinks, trimmed around, embossed from the back, layered areas with 3D pop-dots on all but envelope image.  Used Glossy Accents and Stickles Buttercup to accent the cranberries and Poinsettia center.  The 6mm heart bead is no longer available.
2. Stamped sentiment from Sentimental Christmas on third from largest Majestic Labels Twenty-Five die with StazOn Black Cherry.  (I would stamp sentiment before attaching to card).

Thanks so much for stopping by to look and share.  See you again sooner this time I hope!!

 Shirley

SUPPLIES:

Steps For Hinged Filigree Card Type 1

Cardfront and Envelope

Inside Card

For some reason I can't always get the steps for techniques from a video without taking notes, etc.  I saw the excellent video for this card by Becca Feekan.  Becca's shows how to hide the seam if you don't want it showing.  I  'googled' for one showing the steps and found John's blog.  Thank you John for giving me an an idea of what I needed to do.  I also found there are several ways to use the filigree dies with a fold.

I took Becca's one step further to give a finished look to inside and outside of the card, front and back. Below is my tutorial for me!  That's right!!  I may need to look back at this.  Since there are several ways to do a "hinged" card I call this tutorial 'Type 1'.  I'll be back!!

(*PLUS ONE MORE DIE CUT - WILL EXPLAIN BELOW)

1. (1)I found I needed *4 die cuts instead of the 3 shown to make all sides look finished.  (2) I used one off white so it would show in the photo better (middle one).  (3)Measure the die at the widest points and cut a piece of cardstock 1.25-1.5" longer on the side where you want it to hinge (length or width-wise).  Hinge is on the longest side.
2. Fold it at 1" inch on that side and crease it or score it on a score board.

1. After folding the cardstock, taped in place with removable tape on cutting pad.  Placed the fold (crease) just below the edge of where the hinge will be (so the die doesn't cut it).  I also taped the bottom in place and put it though the machine.

*Ready to assemble card and I noticed one side would still show the backside of the die cut unless I had one more die cut to cover it. for a more finished look.  I added tape to the 3. side and attached the rest of the filigree sides with Glossy Accents.  Gotta love it .  GA can also be erased if it gets anywhere it shouldn't.

1. Below is the front and back outside of the card.  I added the embossed background to the front.  I had to trim the top edges on the back so when it opens they wouldn't run into the front.

OUTSIDE CARD FRONT AND BACK

1. On the inside of the card it was necessary to trim the tops of both sides so it would close. I don't think it distracts from the design at all.

I should mention that the ATG Gold taped in the supplies below can be used with the ATG 714 gun or without.  When I first started using the tape I wanted to see if I liked it before spending for the gun.  I use it with the gun now.  If you use without to try it, you need to roll the tape back and forth a little at the end point to release it from the cardstock.

The Kai scissors I use are wonderful.  I bought the ones shown for fine cutting after having the larger 6" scissors for 10 years.  I have used them for cutting rubber stamps with and without the foam cushion, thick plastic, etc. and never had to sharpen them.

Off to do the other two types of hinged cards I found when researching this one.  If you have questions, please email me.  My address is near the top of the left hand column!!  Thanks for stopping by to look and share.

 Shirley

SUPPLIES:

Spellbinders Timeless Rectangles Memory Box Merry Christmas Die Neenah Classic Crest Solar White Twinkling H2O's - Luminarte Ranger Glossy Accents Scotch ATG Gold Tape 5mm White Heart Pearl Stickers Mark Richards Crystal Stickers 3mm White Pearls Kai 5100: 4-inch Needle Craft Scissors N5100

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