One of the blogs I read regularly had a fantastic video tutorial back in August for a card with mechanics. It is called a marquee card. I have been meaning to get around to trying since I first saw it.

Since I was asked to provide some "thank you" cards for an upcoming event, I decided today was the day! I cut all the parts for 9 cards and put them together assembly line style. This is my way of getting around my aversion to doing the same thing over and over. I just do step one on all of them, then step 2 on all of them, and so on until I'm done. It is easier for me than doing one all the way through and then thinking to myself "One down, only 8 more to go". That is so depressing.

And, here is the result of card 1 (yes you are going to get them one-per-day until they are all shown.

The card, when closed, shows a scalloped window with a cutout circle behind it. I decorated the front with scrapbook paper, a peel-off greeting and some stick-on rhinestones.

As the front panels are opened, the pieces behind the cutout circle slide left and right to reveal a greeting in the back.

I also added a ribbon knotted around the inside panel.

Isn't this a clever structure? You can watch the video on construction here: http://stampspaperscissors.typepad.com/stamps_paper_scissors/2009/08/the-marvelous-magical-marqee-card-video-tutorial.html

Ddd

Posted by studio3d@ccgmail.net at 6:00 AM PST

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I started a new category in the topic headings: Scrap Recovery. This I will use for those projects I make by recycling old calendars, junk mail, magazines, paint chips, and other stuff.

Today, I am opening the category with these birds from last year's calendar. I used a Nestability die to cut them out and then found this pleasing arrangement quite by accident. I cut the brown cardstock corner brackets with a Cuttlebug die and colored in the inner elements with a gold marker.

Last step was to place a cardstock sticker inside for the text.

Ddd

Posted by studio3d@ccgmail.net at 6:00 AM PST

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Here are the other two cards I made from the criss cross stock I cut the other day. The same basic supplies were used, just bits and pieces changed. 

Posted by studio3d@ccgmail.net at 6:00 AM PST

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After stitching this panel on a lovely cardstock I used marker to color in the hands and the fabric. I had the Lord's Prayer on clear sticker but it was a block. I cut into strips so I could arrange as a border. 

A marker and ruler formed the border and a clear sticker provides the focal text. The brown panel is mounted on a blue folded cardstock base.

Ddd

Posted by studio3d@ccgmail.net at 6:00 AM PST

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Another year over means I have calendar pictures to play with again! This white tail deer was one of a pair on November's page. I die cut with a Nestability and then layered over a brown and a cream of the same size but stacked with pop-dots for dimension. The cream is completely hidden in the straight-on view. 

I used the Cuttlebug cutting die 'ornamental ironwork' for the bottom border, cut from cram cardstock.

The leaves are stacked gold stickers and I drew in a faint border with marker.

Ddd

Posted by studio3d@ccgmail.net at 6:00 AM PST

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 Another challenge - make a criss-cross card. We were given a loink to instructions and this is how I made mine (not exactly by the instructions - but when do I ever) .

With a single 12 x 12 sheet of cardstock I was able to make three of these. I cut three 12 x 4 strips and scored them into 4 x 4 sections. Each outer section is cut at a 45 degree angle from the fold to the point. Then the center is lined with scrapbook paper.

The right panel is folded in and glued at the fold and at the bottom. On the left front I glued a motif from the inner paper and attached it exactly over it. I attached a matching piece in the inside of the panel as well.

Silver stickers (hearts and borders) were applied and Sharpie marker used to color in the hearts.

I made a matching tag for the inner pocket and decorated it with the same silver stickers. Matching scrapbook paper was used for the tag 'ribbon'.

Ddd

Posted by studio3d@ccgmail.net at 6:00 AM PST

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Several times I've come across this product called the bow-easy. If you find it hard to tie a bow and make it even, straight and laying neatly, then this product might be for you, too.

Here is a tutorial on how to use it. http://jerrikay.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/2009/05/08/woo-hoo-i-did-it/

I recently found another tutorial on how to make your own templates out of chipboard - and if I can ever find it again I will post it, too.

Ddd

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Here's a digital project I created for an event to be held at work. We are having a 'community read' and the book selection had food as it's major theme. I was given the title and this is what I designed for the logo to be used on the posters and the book labels. 

Ddd

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I loved this project the minute I saw it and had to run right down to the studio and try it out. A video tutorial is here: www.amazingpapergrace.com/video-tutorial-twist-top-box/

Hers used more decorative elements on the sides but I liked mine more simple because of the elaborate pattern on the cardstock. I lined mine with a folded clear transparency. 

Here you can see what the twist top looks like. Because it was a little plain, I put the butterfly cutouts on top of a wire and poked it through the top. Once I fill it with candies it will hold it in place solidly.

Isn't this fun?

Ddd

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After all the work stitching this card I dropped the stamp on it after making the greeting. Rats! So I used a waterbrush and wet just the secondary ink to create a shaddow behind the main text. Nice save, huh? 

The centers of these flowers are sticky backed glitter domes and I mounted on folded yellow cardstock.

Ddd

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The last one I showed of this stitching was distressed and organic looking. I decided to go with a 'fresh' look for this onewith bright pink flowers. The centers of these flowers are sticky backed half-pearls. 

I stamped the greeting with Adriondak 'bottle' ink and mounted the panel on folded pink cardstock.

Ddd

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It's been quite a while since I shared some of my favorite recipes. So here are a few for you to try out.

CHESTNUT CHICKEN

Invented by Debbie Dodd

½ onion chopped 1 t. minced garlic 1/8 c. each margarine and olive oil

4 chicken breast, cubed 2 cans water chestnuts, cut match stick style 1 can bamboo shoots 1 can whole cashews

to taste: Mongolian fire oil, ginger, Yoshida’s gourmet sauce, soy sauce, Worcestershire, teriyaki sauce

Sauté onion and garlic in margarine and oil. Add chicken and cook till done. Add water chestnuts, bamboo shoots and cashews. Make sauce over all adjusting as you go. Cook 5 minutes to blend flavors.

CHICKEN & NOODLES ALMONDINE

Invented by Debbie Dodd

4 cups water 2 cubes chicken bouillon ¼ t. curry powder 1 t. garlic powder

2 T. onion flakes 2 t. tarragon 2 t. basil 1 T. sugar

1 t. cinnamon whole chicken breast 2 cups dried noodles 1 cup whole almonds

Make stock of all liquid and spices. Bring to boil. Drop in finely cut pieces of chicken. Cook 2-3 minutes. Drop in noodles and almonds. Simmer till noodles are done. Drain. Toss with ¼ cup olive oil to coat. Serve.

TERIAKI SAUCE

Makes 1 gallon

1 quart vegetable oil ½ gallon soy sauce

3 cups brown sugar 3 Tbsp garlic powder

3 Tbsp ginger powder 2/3 cup fruit juice

            Stir well into 1 gallon container. Keeps months in fridge. Stir before each use.

Enjoy!

Ddd

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Been doing a lot of challenges lately. This is the latest, a 'pull out album'. I made mine into a brag book for a friend who is a new gramma. She'll show off those baby pictures with pride in this little album. It holds up to 14 photos. 

I decorated it with Beatrix Potter stickers.

Ddd

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Theme of the challenge: Trees... Did I do it?

This process was inspired by Michelle Zindorf's blog. I did direct-to-paper smearing of Whispers inkpads to create all the color in the background then used two stamps that each have multiple trees to create the distant and foreground groves. I also used 2nd generation stamping to create the tree reflections in the pond. 

I applied a clear text sticker in the open field and then added gold sticker trim and four orange brads. When mounted on a black panel over a blue folded cardstock base, the card is complete.

Ddd

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I've been hanging on to this 3D cutting sheet for years. It just seemed too complicated to cut. But I finally dug it out and used a fingertip craft knife to cut it and, though it took a long time, it wasn't as hard as I thought it was going to be. 

I used a Cuttlebug folder with dots behind the cutting and made a frame out of two nesting Spellbinders dies. It is mounted with pop-dots for dimension. Two silver dragonfly stickers are mounted on the same blue and cut out then glued with more pop-dots.

A polkadot paper was layered over folded blue cardstock and trimmed out with silver peel-off borders. A sticker was bordered with more of the blue and everything was assembled.

Ddd

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On assignment from one of my groups I created this folded card style for the first time. It is called a 'joy fold' (for reasons I do not know.)

I enlarged mine from the original and decorated with a floral border sticker. The small square (tucked under the ribbon and flower) lifts up and the lower front folds down.

You can see that I carried the front bottom border right around to the inside of the flap.

Ddd

Posted by studio3d@ccgmail.net at 6:00 AM PST

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Another of those 'free pattern' finds that I love! This one stitched up so quickly that I did three of them at the same time... all the blacks, all the silver, all the leaves, all the flowers. Each was done on different background colors and has different colored flowers, though.

For this one I gave the flower centers some glittery dots, cut with a nestabilities die, and hit the edges with some distress ink. Mounted on a brown cardstock base.

I added two cardstock stickers for balance.

Ddd

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I made this card to answer a sketch challenge on one of my groups. The original was turned 90 degrees clockwise but didn't work so well for my hot air balloon so I rotated it.

I used a Cuttlebug border, ribbon, flower brads, a silk flower, blue rhinestones and a thick acrylic sticker. 

I pulled my color palate from the balloon stitching.

Ddd

Posted by studio3d@ccgmail.net at 6:00 AM PST

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I started a new category for postings called fantastic folds. This is how I will note those projects that take unique creases and folds in their creation.

Today it is the diamond fold which I upsized half-again from the original instructions. I used stickers and gold peel-offs to trim this out to create a valentine. 

Love how this stands up for display.

Ddd

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Yep, sometimes it pays to get up in the morning (I hate to admit it, though).

This was my reward for being up early last week. Isn't this just beautiful? It is the view from my dining room. 

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