Peachy Keen Guest Designer - Day 4

Good morning! Welcome to my fourth day as guest designer for Peachy Keen Stamps. Today I'd like to share some of my favorite things about card making. My first card is my most favorite to make. It is made from a small lunch bag and folded. The flap is tied with ribbon. I think I got the original idea from a SCS gathering that I attended many years ago. So this is not my original idea.

Open up the card to write a greeting on the inside panel.

Supplies

5" X 10 3/4" Bag

Gingham Ribbon

Cottage Cutz Potted Flowers
Front Panel

4" X 4 7/8" Brown Mat
3 3/4" X 4 3/8" Pink Print
2" X 3 3/4" Small Brown Mat
1 3/4" X 3 1/2" Solid Pink
Scraps for Flower

Inside Panel

4 3/8" X 4 7/8"

4 1/8" X 4 5/8"

Scraps for rick rack and corner flower

Card Instructions

Attach double sided tape to the lower edge of the bag.

Notice the flap. It will be pulled over onto itself and secured.

Fold the flap back onto itself and secure with the tape.

Cut the lower edge of the bag at an angle to the first fold. I usually cut 1" from the edge to the first fold. I have marked dots on the bag for cutting guides.

Cut from dot to dot forming an angle on the flap.

Fold the opposite end of the bag to the flap fold.

Fold flap over the top to create the card base.

Turn the card base clockwise and attach the decorated panels.

I used the Cottage Cutz Potted Flowers for cutting the flower, stem and pot. The die includes three Peachy Keen faces. This card is very easy to make and goes together very quickly. I cut all my pieces with the Cuttlebug. The face was colored with Distress Inks. I airbrushed the shadows of the flower pot and leaves with Copic Markers. For the inside I used the Cottage Cutz Rick Rack die and the flower elements.

I used the Potted Flowers die cut to make two more fall themed cards using the same layout. One is vertical and one is horizontal. I wanted to show you the difference that the direction can make to your layout. I photoshopped "Thinking of You" onto the card so that I could photograph both layouts without making two cards. I usually don't put my text on a card until I am ready to use it.

I'm really having a hard time deciding which card I like the best. I like them both.

The next card is a variation of the flower die cut that I am using today. This time the flower has been layered onto a black, scallop circle. The flower is wearing the pieced pot on his head. Paper rick rack was added to the bottom. I chose some retro colors for this card which measures 2 3/4" X 4".

My final card for today is another version of the Potted Flowers die cut. Using Pink and black cardstock I cut and punched 3 flowers. I used the sewing machine to stitch around the edge of the card. For the face I used one of the faces from the In Stitches Face Assortment and Copic markers.

Now you know what I like to use for cardmaking. Here's a list of my favorite things:

1. I like to use black for my background, be it a card or a scrapbook layout.

2. I love die cuts and punches. These are my favorite go to tools.

3. I love to work with paper bags. My all time favorite card is the first one in this post using a paper bag.

4. Very seldom do I put a message or greeting on my card until I am ready to send it.

5. I love embossing folders. They rate right up there with die cuts.

6. I love to use polka dots.

Again I would like to thank Peachy Keen Stamps for donating the In Stitches Face Assortment. I'll be drawing a random name on Saturday. So make sure to get entered if you want a chance to win this fun assortment of faces.

 

To enter all you have to do is leave a comment at the end of this post. Tell me what your favorite go to tool is. You know, that one thing you couldn't live without. Then hop on over to Peachy Keen Stamps and leave a message there too.

Today's post was all about my favorite card making things. I'm so excited about tomorrows post. I have been working on it from the very beginning. It's the grand finale. I hope you'll join me again for Halloween ideas.

Have a fantastic day! Jane - the Polka Dot Gypsy.

Peachy Keen Guest Designer - Day 3

Good Morning! This week is certainly flying by. Thanks to everyone at Peachy Keen Stamps for giving me this opportunity. And to all of you who have left such wonderful comments, thank you so much. I am enjoying every second of my fifteen minutes of fame. Speaking of fame and stardom. Please give a wonderful welcome to the one and only, Miss Patty Cake!!! Today is all about her.

My first project is a visit to the "Great Pumpkin" exhibit at the fair with Patty. She's all dressed up in a yellow and green polka dot dress with an orange bow in her hair. I used colors in my layout to coordinate with her dress on a black 12" X 12" page. The black cardstock makes those colors really pop. I feel that the matting of photos is really important. Without a mat a photo can get lost on the page. So, if you're ever struggling with a layout, try a mat. It just may change the whole feel of the page. The color of the mat is usually a color pulled from the photo, a complimentary color or one with the same temperature. My main photo is one I took at the Canfield fair. I enlarged it and cropped it in a way that forms a page banner with room for my title. I always use my computer for journaling. I have really nice handwritting and have a background in caligraphy. But I prefer computer generated journaling. I used punches and die cuts to add a bit of interest to my layout. My style of scrapbooking is clean and simple.

The rosette is made using the Tim Holtz mini paper rosette die. The image on the front is a photograph of the sign over the pumpkin exhibit at the fair. I resized my photo and cut out the image with a circle punch. Then attached it to the rosette. I think this is a real prize winner!

And now, I'd like to introduce you to the bewitching Patty. She's all dressed up for Halloween. Her witches hat was made using the witch hat die from Sizzix. Miss Patty's beautiful dress is a "Copic" creation.

Patty's life is not always glamorous. Alas she has fallen upon some rough times. Please welcome Patty, the bag lady. I wanted to try a little stamping on fabric. I've been doing a lot of paper piecing, but now it's time for some fabric applique using the Patty Cake Jr stamp. For the applique pieces I stamped the Patty image onto three pieces of fabric. I used a fusible web to attach the fabric to the front of the bag. The scallop circle was cut with the Nestabilities scallop circle die. I ironed on the fusible web to the back of the fabric before cutting. I colored parts of Patty's body with Prismacolor pencils and added some ribbon and embellishments.

I used a circle template cut from cardstock to make the faux stitching around the inside of the scallop circle.

And here's a close up of Miss Patty in fabric.

Oh yes, tough times. I was quickly reminded of the importance of testing fabrics before applying heat for applique. Need I say more?

Most of the cards that I create have a lot of detail and take some time to complete. So, for my final project today I have created a a couple of small cards measuring 2 3/4" X 4". They are very simple and go together very quickly. For the card on the left I simply sponged on Vintage Photo Distress ink and dressed Miss Patty in polka dots. This was a very quick way to color this adorable ginger. For the card on the right I stamped Miss Patty onto printed cardstock, cut the image out and attached her to the card. Both cards use the same layout with ribbon along the bottom and both images were attached with pop dots. These cards are super quick and simple to make.

I'd like to take this opportunity to share with you some of the many faces of Patty. I've shared them before, but never together.

The name of the stamp that I have been using is Patty Cake Jr available at Peachy Keen Stamps. She is my all time favorite go to stamp. If I am struggling with a card she can usually break the creative block. You've just got to love her. She's so darn cute!

As I end my third day as Guest Designer, I want to remind you that Peachy Keen Stamps has generously donated the In Stitches Face Assortment to be given away on Saturday to one lucky winner.

 

To enter all you have to do is leave a comment here at the end of this post. Tell me about your favoirte go to stamp. I know you have one! I can't wait to find out what it is! Then, hop on over to Peachy Keen Stamps and leave a comment there too.

Wishing you all a very special day! Jane - the Polka Dot Gypsy