Gift Card Holder Tutorial

It has happened again - the holidays have snuck up and are upon us!! If you are like me, you end up buying last-minute gift cards for all those folks you forgot to buy for. I came up with this gift card holder as a way to personalize those little credit-card sized cards so many merchants sell these days. If you would like to make one (or six), heres how:

Cut one piece of cardstock-weight paper at 7.25" by 4"

Cut one piece of cardstock-weight paper at 8" x 2.25"

Cut one piece of ribbon or cord at 10"

For decoration, cut a piece of paper (or ribbon) at 1.25" x 2.5". Stamp a sentiment, punch it out with a circle punch, and create a frame using a scallop circle punch and a coordinating paper. Create a small tag.

1. Score the 7.25x4 paper at 2.5 and 5 inches. Fold on score lines; if desired, use a circle punch to notch the center panel.

2. Adhere a thin line of adhesive at the bottom of the smaller panel and fold over to adhere to center panel. Fold over larger panel and here this over the smaller panel. This becomes the envelope.

3. Score the 8x2.25 paper at 4". Fold on score line. Punch a hole through the open end and thread the ribbon/cord through along with the tag. Tie closed. The gift card fits in this sleeve.

4. Decorate the envelope. Insert gift card sleeve into envelope.

Have a great day!

Deb

Simple embossed card

I am really trying to use my tools ore, and to that end, I tried making some clean and simple cards using some of my embossing folders. I used the balloon stamp and sentiment from the Stampin' Up 'Up Up & Away' set and embossed the balloon for a little dimension. It was easy to whip out a set of these in a few different balloon colors, and I am pleased with how they came out!

Have a great day!

Deb

Winner!!!

Thanks to everyone who played along on the My Sketch World blog hop! Stay tuned next weekend for another great hop by our fabulous card designers. It will start Saturday, December 10th at 12:00am sharp on the MSW Blog! There's another AWDML Gift Certificate up for grabs and LOTS more inspiration to come!

And now, the winner of my blog hop prize pack...

Mrs Walrath!!!

Please let me know how to contact you in the comment section so I can get your mailing address!!

Have a great day,

Deb

Welcome to the My Sketch World blog hop! Hopefully you started at the beginning and have hopped over here from Cindy Noesen's fabulous blog. If not, be sure to backtrack so you can leave entries at all the hop sites!

This was a sketch challenge for me - my DT sis Ginni chose this fab sketch by Lucy Chesna for me to work with. And to make it more interesting, she told me I had to use something metalic and some circles ('cause Lucy LOVES circles, and well, so do I!).

So here is what I came up with:

Leave a comment to be entered for a chance to win a prize from My Sketch World, and I am also offering a prize of scrappy goodness to be chosen at random form all comments left on my blog. And if you become a follower of my blog and leave me a comment on this post telling me you did (or that you already were!) I'll give you an extra entry into my prize drawing! Now, hop on over to Ginni's blog and see what I challenged her to work with!

My Sketch World

Ann Jobes

Bev Code

Christa Uttley

Cindy Noesen

Deb Long (You are here)

Ginni Gass

Joan Borgelt

Malin Rimby

The details:

1. Visit each blog and leave a comment. Read carefully, there may be individual requirements as some designers are offering little prizes of their own!

2. After you have visited each Designer's blog come back to My Sketch World blog and let us know what you thought. Part One of the hop ends Monday, December 5th, 11:59 EST.

3. Everyone who posts a comment on each blog will be entered to win! Winners will be randomly chosen.

4. To receive an additional entry, scraplift a layout and link it back to the My Sketch World blog (in your comment) and tell us what inspired you!

6. Have fun! Be inspired! Part Two of this hop begins December 10,2011.

K is for KISS

As in keep it simple. Another challenge from the My Sketch World ABC Crop. A layout using only one piece of patterned paper, one piece of cardstock, one journaling spot, one font in the title, and 3 simple embellishments.

Have a great day!

Deb

J is for....

Ok, I really am not a big fan of misspelling, but I can understand that you need to stretch things a bit when you are trying to come up with a challenge for every letter of the alphabet. This challenge from the My Sketch World ABC Crop was "J is for Jems," making a card with bling. Here's mine:

Have a great day!

Deb

I is for Ink

For this challenge at the My Sketch World ABC Crop, we were asked to create a layout using ink on it. I chose to stamp images on kraft cardstock and cut them out as embellishments - the crown, frame, sentiment, and airplane.

Have a great day!

Deb

H is for Hearts

A card challenge from the ABC Crop at My Sketch World - we were asked to use at least two hearts on a card, any color but red. I used Stampin' Up heart punches and Basic Gray papers.

Have a great day!

Deb

G is for Gratitude. Today is for remembrance.

Another layout challenge from the ABC Crop at My Sketch World. It was a hard layout for me; my sister Liz passed away 6 months ago this week, and that combined with the 10th anniversary of 9/11 has made this an emotionally difficult week. I am really grateful for the opportunity to revisit these memories of Liz through photos and to spend some time thinking about her.

Today is a day to stop and remember all of those you love, both those still here and those gone. To value your relationships and tell those around you what their presence in your life means to you.

Deb

E is for Extended Family

Yes, I know it's out of order,but I couldn't get a good shot while it was raining.

Have a great day!

Deb

F is for Four - ABC Crop at My Sketch World

For this challenge at My Sketch World, we had to use 4 elements on a card: flower, font, fringe, and fall colors. Here is my take:

D is for Die Cut

The day 4 challenge at the My Sketch World ABC crop was "D is for Die Cut." I used a Spellbinders pendant die set to create my card:

Have a great day!

Deb

C is for Color

The day 3 challenge at the My Sketch World ABC crop was a layout color combo challenge:

I used one of Lucy Chesna's sketches and the Basic Gray Lime Rickey collection to scrap this photo of mother's day:

Have a great day!

Deb

B is for Butterfly

I'm running a little behind at the My Sketch World ABC crop, but I'm catching up. The Day 2 prompt was "B is for Butterfly," and the challenge was to use 2 butterflies on a card. I used mists on a butterfly stamp to create the background and a sticker for the green butterfly.

Have a great day!

Deb

My Sketch World ABC Crop!

My Sketch World is hosting an awesome ABC crop. All month long there are challenges posted with alphabet cues. The first challenge was A is for Arrows - the challenge was to create a layout using at least 2 arrows. I actually made a minibook to take with me when I travel; I used a Maya Road arrow sheers keychain as the base for the book:

Have a great day!

Deb

Post-Hurricane

Or technically, post-tropical storm, I guess. Irene had lost quite a bit of her punch by the time she arrived on Cape Cod - we actually got very little rain here, and some gusting winds. A few tree limbs down, and a lots of debris across lawns and roads. We lost power for about 6 hours, but it went back on at dusk, so we have nothing to complain about. We are awaiting a status report on our home.

Here is a photo of yesterday morning's sky - I wish I could have recorded video to show how fast the clouds were moving.



Deb

Hurricane Irene

Everyone stay safe - we'll be tucked in at the Cape with a couple of stir-crazy kids and a dog (who by the way, is clearly freaked out by the change in atmospheric pressure, or something).

My Sketch World Sketch Challenge

I discovered My Sketch World recently and, being a big fan of sketches, have promptly become a fan! Lucy Chesna designed this sketch for the August challenge:

And here is my take on it:

I finally broke into some of my Cosmo Cricket paper and alpha stash, and that's one of a dozen ribbon flowers I made with a package of Glubers, to which I am now officially addicted.

Have a great day!

Deb

Practical Scrappers Recipe challenge

I have been having a blast this week playing along with the Practical Scrappers recipe contest. Every day this week, 2 items were added to the LO recipe. Here is my final product:

And here's the recipe:

Day One: CARDSTOCK & PATTERNED PAPER: Bazzill CS and Lily Bee PP

Day Two: FLOWER (OR FLOWERS) & RIBBON: Flowers (made from Lily Bee PP) and SU polka dotted red ribbon
Day Three: BUTTON (OR BUTTONS) & BLING: button centers on bottom flowers and Fancy Pants glitter tranparency (cut into page corners)

Day Four: STICKER (OR STICKERS) & INK (ANY TYPE - MARKER, PAD, DISTRESSING, ETC): sticker sentiments in flowers and inked photo edges and marker page border
Day Five: FLOSS OR TWINE & SOMETHING RED: twine used to tie buttons and red PP, ribbon

Day Six: CHIPBOARD & BRADS: Cosmo Cricket chipboard alphas and SEI fabric brads

Have a great day!

Deb

More Practical Scrappers challenge cards:

Here is one using flowers, dies cuts, and patterned papers (the first vertical row from this challenge):

and here is one using stamps, colors, and brads (the last vertical row):

Have a great day!

Deb

Why you should check your garden daily....

Yep, that's a zucchini. Or possibly our third child.

Have a great day!

Deb

Your Scrapbook Stash - Scraplift Challenge

Your Scrapbook Stash is my favorite online scrapbook store, and they always have the best DT. So how excited was I to see Shellye McDaniel on their new DT roster? Shellye used to own a wonderful kit club and message board and was the very first person to give me the confidence to start sharing my work (and she also gave me my first DT spot!). Needless to say, when I saw their scraplift challenge, I knew I would turn to one of Shellye's pieces for inspiration. She did a wonderful layout titled "Beach Dude" which served as my inspiration for this piece.

Supplies:

PP - Scenic Route, Cosmo Cricket

Stickers: Cosmo Cricket

Corrugated flowers - Jillibean Soup

Alphas - October Afternoon

felt title - Creative Imagination

Other - ribbon, buttons, bakers twine, paint, mica flakes

Thanks for the inspiration, Shellye!

Have a great day,

Deb

Challenge card

Practical Scrappers has a great Bingo card challenge this week to celebrate their 2nd anniversary. I chose a diagonal row - patterned paper, ribbon, and stamps to create this card.

Have a great day!

Deb

Happy kids!

My kids love summer! They are completely unfazed by the heat (like last week's 104 degree days!) and love being outside. This past weekend we visited with my parents and the kids even took their craft projects, lovely gifts from their Aunt Susan (thank you, Aunt Susan!) out on the porch.

Enjoy summer and have a great day!

Deb

Scrapbook Circle Challenge

I love challenges, and I really love great ones! Scrapbook Circle had a great challenge this week, based on the colors in their yummy July kit:

I wish I had this gorgeous kit, but I don't, so I combed my stash and came up with this layout:

Have a great day!

Deb

One layer cards

Practical Scrappers had a great challenge up yesterday - one layer cards. I perused last year's Stampin Up catalog and found a card that inspired me to make these:

Have a great day!

Deb

Excited....

I am heading over to Right at Home Scrapbooking this afternoon to take their Home Study Cards Book Club class. Doesn't that sound like fun? I'll report back on how it goes!

This class looks neat:

Pernickety Prints is giving away a spot in Tiffany Tillman's Scraphic Design Core Class!

{There is no class meeting time, so you're free to view the videos at your own pace. Class discussion takes place via a private forum with a gallery for sharing your work with the instructor and other students. The class forum is moderated by the instructor. Support is provided via weekly live Q&A video chats, email and the forum.}

THIS CLASS INCLUDES:

• 22 in-depth video lessons in the areas of color theory, pattern mixing, element clustering according to style type, text works, and realistic depth + more.
• Class workbook with video lesson steps outs + additional challenges and case studies not featured in the video lessons
• TIffany's secrets for building wow pages!
• This exclusive digital kit by One Little Bird
• Free 12×12 page prints of your projects courtesy of yours truly- Persnickety Prints!
• and a final, personalized PDF critique of your completed projects with suggestions for strengths, areas of improvement and goal sheet by Tiffany.

Been a while....

It's been a rough spring - losing my sister hit all of us really hard, and I don't think I understood just how hard it hit me until I realized how much of my life I had put aside. I made a scrapbook about Liz for my parents shortly after she died, and had the pages copied so I could make replicas for other family members. I finally put those books together last weekend, and it was like unlocking a door - I cried again, and suddenly felt ready to venture into my creative side. So hopefully, I'll have some stuff to post soon - I started Noah's birthday book yesterday.

NSD- YourScrapbookStash.com sketches

I love YSS for my online scrappy shopping trips, and they are hosting sketch challenges all week for National Scrapbook Day. Thanks to my wonderful husband, I have had some time this weekend to play, and here are my takes on two of their sketches (check them all out here on the YSS blog):

Both are made with SEI papers from my classes at CKC Manchester last week, plus the Bubble Bath layout has yummy Melissa Frances crepe paper and mica flakes, both new products and techniques I learned in her class there!

Happy Mother's Day!

To my wonderful mom, mother of 3 children and grandmother to two; patient, loving, giving beyond measure. Thank you for everything you do and you are. Have a day filled with peace.

Miss Art's is open!!

I am a huge fan of online crafting classes, since I have very little free time to actually go to live classes. The same people who brought us one of my fave sites, Stash to Treasure, have opened a new site, Miss Art's, and the grand opening is today! Check it out!

Elisabeth Sarah Ebert April 4, 1969-March 15, 2011

Beloved daughter, sister, aunt. We miss you so much.

Really - a lot of snow.

Not to repeat myself, but we have gotten so much snow this year. And no melting since New Years. And it's not yet February. I'm not crazy about snow to begin with, and this is not helping me feel better about it. Ok, maybe a picture will help you understand what I mean when I say "so much snow."

You see? That is a lot of snow. We have had 5.5 snow days (5 full ones and one early release), which means the kids know pretty much every Disney movie by heart. And as I mentioned, it isn't even February yet.

Eek.

Snow, snow, and more snow.

So it's cold, days are short, and we now have a snow base of at least 2 feet. So let's make it official by decorating with a snow theme! I used the Coordinates Collection Sleigh Ride kit, which is full of papers and embellies from Echo park and Fancy Pants (plus bunches of other stuff!); the alphas are Tim Holtz grungeboard that have been in my stash for years, and the label shapes were cut with Spellbinders dies.

Have a great day!

Deb

Doodling....

I really want to learn to doodle (I mean, in an aesthetically pleasing manner), so when Stash to treasure came up with a doodling challenge I figured I had better give it a try. Not sure I'm thrilled with the results, but it provided me with some fresh motivation to keep doodling!

Have a great day!

Deb

I am having fun trying new techniques and playing with my supplies (one of my resolutions!), and I made a bunch of these flowers over the weekend. They are just different sized circles, each dampened and rolled along the perimeter and then nested. I used various buttons and gems from my stash as centers. The punched strip is made with a Kreaxions border punch - my first one, and I really like it!

Have a great day!

Deb

Baby cards

Seems like almost everyone I know is expecting in the next few months, so I'm making baby cards! This one took some fussy cutting, but luckily I got a great tip about cutting up foam adhesive to use on small areas on Stash to Treasure this week, so all those little arms, legs, tails, and trunks should stay put!

Have a great day!

Deb

The Mosy Scrapper January creations

This month we worked with the fantastic December kit from Birds of a Feather. The kit has patterned papers from Echo Park and Little Yellow Bicycle, embellies from Making Memories, Little Yellow Bicycle, Jenni Bowlin, and Websters Pages, and textured and embossed cardstock from Bazzill. Although it is a Christmas-themed kit, the paper choices were so versatile that I made layouts and cards with no holiday theme at all, as well as Christmas projects. The kit is also HUGE - I still have several pieces of patterned paper and cardstock I haven't even cut into yet! I really can't say enough about these kits - definitely a new fave!

Have a great day!

Deb