Fabulous!

This card was inspired by a design I saw in a magazine.  If you are thinking of dabbling in card making, this is an easy beginner project.  The only supplies required are a fine marker, flowers, brads and paper.   By simply changing the sentiment, this style would also make a great congrats or birthday card.  The design of the card could also be modified by using different colors, sizes and styles of flowers and brads. 

How to make this card:

Cut paper from card stock (5 x 10 in.) and fold in half
Draw 2x2 in. square with fine marker, leaving room for sentiment
Add sentiment
Randomly arrange flowers and attach with brads
Done!

Supplies: White card stock, extra fine Sharpie marker, 1/8 in. brads, and paper flowers.  Finished card size is 5x5 in. 

The Eyes Have It

The idea for this card was conceived one night when I couldn't sleep.  Other than that, I have no idea where I came up with this idea.  It all started with the fringed eyelashes.  Then I thought glitter paper for the eyelid would be a fun touch.  I stared into the eyes of my children for additional details such as the black around the iris and the white spot of light that is reflected in the pupil.  I made a draft of the eye before I came up with the final version and it was fun to see the kids put them on their face.  Dang, I wish I had pictures of that, too! 

How to make the eye:

Free-hand cut basic eye shape out of white card stock.
Fringe a strip of black card stock and adhere to eye.  Trim eyelashes to desired length.
Cut eyelid out of glitter paper and adhere over black eyelashes.
Curl eyelashes around a round pencil.
Punch 1/2 in. circle for iris and ink around edge with black ink.
Punch 1/4 in. circle out of black card stock for pupil.
Punch 1/16 in. circle out of white card stock.  Adhere all eye pieces together.
Adhere entire assembled iris just under eyelashes.
Done!

Supplies: Various card stock and printed paper for card, glitter card stock for the eyelid, metallic card stock and rhinestones for heart, chip board letter u.  MS fringe scissors were used for the eyelashes.  

Welcome, Parker, to the Popper and Mimi Design Team!

After reviewing his portfolio, Popper and Mimi Paper Crafts is pleased to welcome another guest designer to their blog.  Parker's design style is centered around clean lines and sharp angles.  He is particularly fond of using piece-work to complete his cards.  His favorite tool to work with is scissors as he prefers free-form shapes as opposed to standard, premade shapes.

Parker recently turned seven and his favorite pastimes include video games (especially anything Mario Brothers) and reading The 39 Clues book series.  His favorite food is cookies and cream ice cream and he likes riding his bike.  Welcome Parker! 

Below is Parker's most recent creation: 

This card was specifically designed for a First Place Chicken Noodle Soup Winner.   While abstract, not an ingredient was left out of this hearty dish. 

Please Help Welcome My First Guest Designer: Marin

Popper and Mimi Paper Crafts would like to welcome Marin to their design team!  Marin is known for using a wide variety of card making techniques and mediums.  She likes to experiment with unexpected color combinations and textures.  Her cards often vary in size and no two are alike!  Her favorite component is flowers and she loves anything with glitter.

In addition to crafting, Marin's favorite past times include watching Sponge Bob and playing with her friend, Emily.  She also loves make-up and kittens.  She has a love/hate relationship with her older brother and is very excited for her fifth birthday this August.  Welcome Marin!

Below are a couple of samples of Marin's most recent work:

Combining a variety of elements, such as flowers and ribbon, can add visual interest to a card. 

Painted wooden flowers add a touch of whimsy to this card.   A hand written sentiment makes for a more personal touch. 

It's a Girl!: Part Deux

As I mentioned yesterday, two of my cousins had baby girls this past week.  This little ditty was also inspired by baby girls.  Green rick-rack ribbon never fails when used as flower stems.  Congratulations Karri and Rex on the arrival of your newest little one!

How to make this card:

Make card from pink card stock.
Cut brown and printed card stock to size.
Adhere card stock layers to one another.
Cut and adhere rick-rack ribbon.
Adhere flower stickers. (MS Crafts)
Add rub-on sentiment.
Done!

Finished size is 4 1/4 x 5 1/2 in.

It's a Girl!

My latest cards were inspired by two of my cousins, both of which had baby girls this past week.  This card, while relatively simple in its composition, took a while to make because I had to figure out how to get my die cut machine to cut through the plastic-coated glitter paper.  The solution: place the paper face down and invert the image on the machine.  The bird and sentiment were cut out using my Cricut Expression die cutting machine. Congrats Melissa and Taran on the arrival of your darling little one!  I may even give this card to you in person!  (Not to be left out, tomorrow's post will be for my other cousin.)

Can You Tell Me How to Get to...

....Sesame Street?  If you grew up in the 70s and 80s, you probably can.  This set of cards was inspired by Paper Crafts magazine.  What really makes the cards "work" are the foam mounting stickers behind some of the facial features.  Foam stickers are usually 1/16 in., 1/8, in and 1/4 in. thick.  I used 1/8 in. thick foam circles for these cards.  I used a die cut machine and punches to make the eyes.  The rest of the components were traced and cut by hand. Finished card size for all cards (not including Ernie's hair) is 4 1/4 x 5 1/2 in.

Ernie looking a bit pale.  This was the darkest orange card stock I had at the time.  Add a heavy unibrow and you would have Bert. 

My then 5 year old son put this card together.

K.I.S.S.

Keep It Simple Stupid.  When designing or creating a card or craft I try to keep this motto in mind.  A well made card does not need to have several different components.  A simple sentiment and a flower make for a delightfully sweet card.  I got the idea below from Cricut magazine.  Changing the sentiment and color scheme will make for many different cards for many different occasions.

Supplies: card stock, paper crimper, die cut machine, stamps and ink..  Finished card size is 5x5 in. 

Using Ribbon

One of my favorite paper crafting components is ribbon.  A simple, classy card can be created with a piece of patterned paper and a coordinating ribbon.  The cards below are finished with a flower sticker, but a ribbon tied into a bow also makes a nice, finished card.  I also tie ribbon all the way around a card rather than trimming and gluing the ends to the back.  It makes for a much more sophisticated product.  Glue dots work great for securing the ribbon to the card.  Try experimenting with different types and widths of ribbon for a variety of effects.

 

Finished card size is 4 1/4 x 5 1/2

Find Your Inspiration

I tend to buy my craft supplies randomly.  Rarely do I go to the store with a specific design in mind.  I usually go to kill time when the kids are at preschool, swimming, etc., and I can't justify a trip all the way home.  Okay, that's not entirely true because in my town you are never more than 2 miles away from anything.   I often come home with things that look pretty/cool/stylish but have no immediate purpose.  This card is a result of one of those trips.  I saw these adorable bicycle stickers and just had to have them.  I used other supplies I had on hand and ended up with this...

Supplies: Brown grosgrain ribbon, textured green card stock, white card, printed card stock, Martha Stewart (MS) stickers and MS fringe scissors.  Finished size is 4 1/4 x 5 1/2 inches. 

The Card That Started it All

I love paper!  I like note pads, hard cover journals, card stock, Post-Its, spiral notebooks, etc., etc.  A couple of years ago I stumbled upon card making.  I had finally found a way get some use out of the stacks of paper that I had stashed around the house.  I started with a single Thank You stamp and a couple sheets of paper.  I have been making handmade paper cards ever since.  Paper crafting has become my favorite hobby so I wanted to start a blog sharing some of my paper crafting designs and ideas.  Some are original designs and others are inspired by other designs.  Either way, all of them are handmade by me.

My goal for the next year is to post a picture of a card I have made every day.  Below is the first card I remember making.  I cut the paper by hand and didn't put enough ink on the stamp.  I didn't have any fancy cutting tools or even a bone folder to make a nice crease.  Just scissors, a glue stick and a stamp that I bought on eBay. 

Finished card size is 4 1/4 x 5 1/2 in.