This 'Sweet' layout by Beth really caught my eye. I'm not sure if it's because of the scalloped heart die, or because it uses one of my *favorite* new dies. {The 3-D flower!}
I guess I'll have to let you decide! ;)
Instructions:
Create a scrapbook page out of patterned paper. Die-cut Scallop Heart out of patterned paper and adhere to scrapbook page. Trim photo to size, mat on cardstock and adhere to the page. Use a label maker to print a page title and adhere to the page. Die-cut word “Sweet” out of glitter paper and adhere to the page. Die-cut a Primitive Heart out of patterned paper and adhere to the page. Die-cut 3-D Flowers out of cardstock and patterned paper. Assemble flowers, embellish centers with jewels and adhere to the page. Die-cut Vine out of cardstock and adhere to the page. Finish by embellishing with a ribbon bow.
On my card, I die cut the bird from red cardstock and then embossed it with a Texture Fade folder. Then I used Poppy Red and Heavenly Luminarte paints on it. The "congrats" word came from the Banners4All stamp set from The Stamps of Life. That same stamp set has the "best wishes" greeting and then I also used the Swirls2Build stamp set for the top tier.
The closure was born from necessity - my first idea didn't work! I thought I could just shove the tip of the Ornate edge through the slot, (LOVE my EK Success slot punch!) but I underestimated the pop-up power of the cake, so it just popped right back out again. (grrr!) Never one to admit defeat, I came up with Plan B - use my slot punch to add cut-outs on the sides of the Ornate point and then use elastic around it. Adding the bead was (pardon while I pat myself on the back) a stroke of genius, right? Because it's easy to grab, that's why!
Final photo is the cake. You can see me assemble the cake in the video, but in case you don't want to watch it (why not?) I will tell you what's going on here. The cake pops down. That requires folds in those tiers and thus you will always have a slight amount of "footballing" when the cake pops up. Still, it's a 3-tier cake that POPS UP and you sent it through the MAIL, so if your recipient is unimpressed because of a slight almond shape when viewed from above, well . . . one word . . . Hallmark. Heh.
But . . . you can do a lot to minimize the footballing. Here are my best tips, all of which I've used on the above cake:
Use chipboard or matboard or a few layers of cardstock for the card itself. Heavy cards will hold themselves open much better than light ones. The card has to be open fully flat for the cake to pop up all the way.
Reinforce the center piece. You need a strong center piece to support the cake. Download the Reinforced Cake Instructions PDF (also in this blog's sidebar) for a photo of a crumbling center piece - it ain't pretty! Also reinforce the outer fold connections on the tiers with a staple or mini-brad. Constructing your cake on a "cake plate" first can really help you reinforce those connections.
Choose materials for your tiers that resist folds. Transparencies are awesome for the cake tiers. Paint the back if you don't want a see-through cake. (Or don't - this card just runs with it! So does this card.) Grunge paper also works great. If you're going to use paper, then run it through a crimper so the folds appear to be part of the design OR back it with transparency OR add an embellishment just forward of the folds to disguise them.
Add a spine, or "river" to your card. I use three parallel folds in the middle of my pop-up cards - normally 1/8" between each fold, making a 1/4" river in the card. This allows the cake tiers to remain slightly rounded when the card is folded. Helps a lot!
One last piece of advice . . . BUY THIS DIE! It was released two years ago, so I'm sure the clock is ticking on its longevity. Check your local store, or contact your Stampin' Up! demonstrator to buy the SU! version of this die, which assembles the same way. I will say that this die, despite its material and construction requirements, remains my very favorite pop-up die and the one that I have made the most cards with.
Karen! Wow! Thanks so much for sharing this tutorial with us!!!
Speaking of the eclips....I was at the office the other day, and customer service told us a cute story about a customer's eclips machine. Apparently, her dog ate the cord! Yup! It was hanging off the kitchen counter, and the dog chewed the cord! ;) (Puppy is fine!) She then told our rep that her husband said she must really love her eclips machine, because it's on the kitchen counter more than food is! ;)
Now that's a story we love to hear! Leave a comment about your favorite Sizzix product. I'll randomly pick a winner later this week to win a little goodie. ;)
I'll admit it. I'm banner happy! ;) Here's an adorable one created by Debi.
Instructions:
Cover mat board with coordinating cardstock and patterned paper. Die-cut Butterfly Album out of the covered mat board three times. If desired, embellish with stitching. Layer die-cut Butterflies to form a banner. Attach Butterflies using ribbon. Cut a strip of patterned paper, accordion fold, gather center and wrap with pipe cleaner. Pull the edges of the patterned paper above the pipe cleaner apart to reveal the ridges and creases of the accordion fold (these will create the petals of your flower). Adhere edges together to form a rosette. If desired, cut the ends of the petals with scissors to round them. Finish by embellishing with buttons. Cover the joints where the banner pieces meet with rosettes. Crop photos, mat on cardstock and adhere to the banner. Die-cut phrases, Fresh and Sweet out of glitter paper and adhere to the banner. Die-cut flourish, heart and small flower (also from Butterfly Album die) out of patterned paper, embellish heart with stitching, embellish small flower with a button and string. Adhere to the banner.
Other Supplies: Cardstock, Metal Ring, Patterned Paper, Ribbon
How about a Purse Shaped Mini Album all about your purse collection?!? ;)
Special Note: We are looking for eclips teachers! Do you want to be a teacher of the eclips electronic machine? You can Teach & Earn Sizzix products by teaching the eclips. Contact Sizzix today! ckimball@ellison.com.
A few weeks ago, I did a mini card class for Oh My Crafts. I taught how to use the Gate On The Edge Die to create a 'pocket'. Here's the card I created:
Here's a close up of the 'pocket'
The white patterned paper is sitting in the 'pocket'. Our next mini class will be on April 1st. (No joke!) ;) Click Here for more info! And yes, the class is free! We'll also have a question and answer session afterwards. :)
Today, Beth shares with us a fun way to personalize a candle, while bringing nature indoors! It's a perfect gift for all occasions.
Instructions:
Place store-bought leaves and vines inside of a bowl. Place candle on top of foliage to secure placement. Cover a piece of cardstock with burlap. Die-cut Fleur die Lis out of the covered cardstock and embellish edges with ink and glitter. Add a jewels and a sea shell to the Fleur de Lis and adhere to the candle. Note: Remove embellishment before lighting candle.
Table decorations are the best way to add something special to the mix. This decoration by Debi is sure to do just that! :)
Instructions:
Cover wooden spool with lace trim. Take apart a silk flower and mist with shimmering paints. Reassemble flower, inserting stiff netting between layers. Adhere to spool. Insert small dowel through holes in flower petals and into spool. Secure in place with hot glue. Tie bow with ribbon and adhere to flower. Add rhinestone button, small flowers, waxed cording bow and stamp sticker for embellishment. Die-cut Bird from paper-covered chipboard. Spray glue onto Bird. Using gloves, cover Bird in glass glitter. Attach Bird to dowel using hot glue.
This adorable mini album by Debi is sure to delight everyone in your whole family. :)
Instructions:
Cover mat board with patterned paper. Die-cut Heart Album cover and pages out of covered mat board. Die-cut lower part of Heart Album out of patterned paper, trim with decorative scissors and attach to album cover. If desired, embellish with stitching. Die-cut smaller heart (also from Heart Album die) out of patterned paper, embellish with stitching and adhere to cover. Die-cut flower and vine (also from Heart Album die) out of cardstock. Fold flowers to give dimension and embellish with a decorative button. Adhere flower and vine to cover. Embellish cover with buttons and string. Embellish album pages as desired. Attach cover and pages using a metal ring.
I love this card. Sometimes, you just need to send someone a little 'hope'. This card by Debi is sure to do the trick!
Instructions:
Create a card base out of cardstock, patterned papers and decorative trim. Tie a ribbon around the card and embellish with string and buttons. Cut Decorative Accent out of patterned paper using the eclips machine and All Occasions cartridge. Adhere Decorative Accent to card front. Die-cut Circle and Scallop Circle out of cardstock and patterned paper. Layer and adhere to card front. Cut letters out of cardstock using the eclips machine and Greek & Sassy Serif Alphabet cartridge. Embellish letters with a paint pen and adhere to layered circles. Cut Heart Border out of cardstock using the eclips machine and Holidays cartridge. Embellish cutouts with glitter and adhere to card front.
Cover mat board with coordinating cardstock and patterned paper. Die-cut Butterfly Album out of the covered mat board three times. If desired, embellish with stitching. Layer die-cut Butterflies to form a banner. Attach Butterflies using ribbon. Cut a strip of patterned paper, accordion fold, gather center and wrap with pipe cleaner. Pull the edges of the patterned paper above the pipe cleaner apart to reveal the ridges and creases of the accordion fold (these will create the petals of your flower). Adhere edges together to form a rosette. If desired, cut the ends of the petals with scissors to round them. Finish by embellishing with buttons. Cover the joints where the banner pieces meet with rosettes. Crop photos, mat on cardstock and adhere to the banner. Die-cut phrases, Fresh and Sweet out of glitter paper and adhere to the banner. Die-cut flourish, heart and small flower (also from Butterfly Album die) out of patterned paper, embellish heart with stitching, embellish small flower with a button and string. Adhere to the banner.
