Anthony's Paper Craft February 2019 New Release Blog Hop - Floral Background 2

Hello everyone and welcome to the first Anthony's Paper Craft Blog Hop of 2019!!  

I am once again teaming up with some of the other design team members -

Debra (Meticulosity),

Mary Kay (MKW Cards) and

Mike (Dezines By EM)

to show you guys some of the new sets being released by Anthony's Paper Craft on February 2, 2019.  This is an amazing release filled with several beautiful floral images, a new coffee set, a set of owls, some new tiles....and more.    

For this hop I used Floral Background 2, the link of which will be added on Feb. 1, and which is also one of my favorites. 

I started by stamping Floral Background 2 with Memento Tuxedo Black ink on white cardstock.  I then used my stitched rectangle die to cut the image out.

I then colored in - very lightly and quickly - the stems and leaves of the flowers using my Key Lime Ultra Fine BIC Marker.

Next, I colored in the flowers with my Pink Flamingo BIC Marker.

Before I dealt with the centers of the flowers, I made my card base by adhering a piece of decorative paper to my card front.  I went with a light pink so the focus was on the flowers.

Then I cut a piece of pink fun foam, adhered this behind my Floral Background 2 image and then adhered it to the card front.

I could have used the "Thanks A Bunch" sentiment that comes with the set but I wanted to make this card more for an everyday card.  So I pulled out a "hello" die that I had in my stash from Top Dog Dies and I cut each piece.

Next, I adhered the two pieces to the upper right of the card front.  I am not really a fan of sentiments in this space but it really works for this card.

And, lastly, I adhered some yellow seed beads.  I place the card in a box top, applied some glue to the center of the flowers and placed the beads on top.  Once they dry I will remove the excess and put them back in the bag.  

Here is a close-up of the inside of the flowers once the beads were dry.  

And here is the final card again.  

I hope you enjoyed this post and card.  I think you guys are going to love all the new releases on February 1st. 

Remember to check out my fellow Design Team Members by clicking on their names below to see what new set they used and what they did with it.  

Debra (Meticulosity),

Mary Kay (MKW Cards) and

Mike (Dezines By EM)

And make sure you check back soon.....I will have more cards with the new release as well as a giveaway contest!  Until next time - 

Hugs from Brasil - 

Michael

Crafts U Print Birthday Card / Cardmaking Facebook Group / Freebie

Hello everyone!!  Today's project is a bit different for me.  I made a card using a "printable template" from Crafts U Print.  I'll explain.  LOL.  I am in a group on Facebook called Cardmaking Tutorials, Support and Inspiration.  The group was started in February of 2018 and, in less than 1 year, has grown to 20,848 members (as of this morning).  That is crazy!!!  But it's a great group of people from all over the globe that love to make cards and help each other.  

For their soon to be 1st birthday, the group is having a group challenge and their sponsor, CraftsUPrint,  is offering a £20 (about $25 US) voucher as the prize! As an incentive to join in the group challenge, CraftsUPrint is also offering each member of the group, a free download - this Roses Handbag Shaped Card kit!  The "printable template" I used for today's card.

To enter the group’s challenge for this amazing prize or to download this freebie, you only have to be a member of the Cardmaking Tutorials, Support and Inspiration group, which is on Facebook and which you can join by clicking {HERE}.  

Now for today's card.  I used the free Roses Handbag Shaped Card Kit from Crafts U Print.  I have to admit that I have never used a printable card kit like this before.  I normally use rubbers stamps, papers, inks, and I have to think a lot about what I am going to make.  But, with this pre-made kit, I actually found it kind of liberating.  All you have to do is print, cut, glue and the card is done!  The kit does come with instructions but I went rogue and had to change things up a bit.  

The first thing I did was to print out the 4 pages I would be using....the outside of the card, the inside page, and two of what I am calling, the accessory page.  

I then fussy cut the outside piece, one half of the inside, and various pieces from the accessory page (two handles, a butterfly, and another "wing" piece?) and I distressed all of them with Vintage Photo distress ink (Ranger).

Next, I adhered the inside piece to the inside of the card.  I also decided to distress the inside with the Vintage Photo distress ink.

I adhered foam tape (pop dots) to the back of the handles and the 4 "wings", for lack of a better word, and adhered them to each side of the handbag.

Then I adhered some half pearls (plastic, not real ones - LOL) to each side, and one of the butterflies with some crystals, to the center of one side. 

The last thing I did was to die cut the Vintage Happy Birthday die (Poppy Stamps) out of pink cardstock and adhere it to the inside.      

And that was it.  Really, other than the time it took me to fussy cut the pieces, which took less than 7 minutes, this is an easy project to make.  

If you are new to cardmaking or are thinking of getting started, this is a great project to start with.  If you would like to get the freebie or become a member of the group just click {HERE} and join.  The group is full of inspiration, tutorials, card ideas, techniques....you name it.  And, if you do join...please make sure to say hello to me in the group!!  

I'd love to know what you think of today's card and if you use printables from Crafts U Print.  Leave a comment below....and, until next time - 

Hugs from Brasil - 

Michael

Valentine Two Hearts Shaker Card

Hello everyone and welcome to 2019!!!  I hope everyone had a great holiday and New Year's Eve!!  Here it was super hot but the fireworks over the city on New Year's Eve was really nice (but not for the dogs).  My mojo also took a bit of a holiday for the last 2 months but it's back and I have more projects in the works than the time to make them.

My first project for this year is a design team project for Anthony's Paper Craft - a square Valentine shaker card using the Valentine's Day 2.  For the next 3 weeks, each Friday, the design team will have a project for you showcasing this set.  If you place an order online and add this SOTM set to your cart, your whole order will ship for free (USA only).  

To make this card, let's start with a list of the supplies you will need - 

Valentine's Day 2 from Anthony's Paper Craft
Stitched Square Dies  - Gina Marie Designs
Foam tape
Various sequins, seed beads, and/or glitter
White cardstock for the base and the back of the shaker
Decorative cardstock or paper for the card front
A piece of acetate, 4" x 4"

You will also need the usual stuff - a paper cutter, scoreboard, bone folder, glue or tape of your choice, black ink

Now for the step by step:  

First, I made my card base.  I took a piece of white cardstock, 4.25" by 8.5", scored on the long side at 4.25", folded in half and burnished.  I then adhered a piece of decorative paper to the card front.  

Next, I stamped the hearts/flourishes and a sentiment from Valentine's Day 2 on to white cardstock.  I cut the hearts/flourishes out with the largest of the stitched square dies (4" square) and the sentiment, using a banner die (from Spellbinders SDS-006). 

Using an x-acto knife, I made two slits in each heart (to make it easier to cut) and then I took fine tipped scissors (Martha Stewart) and cut out the hearts. Make sure you cut on the inside of the heart, to leave the black border, not on the outside of the border.

Cut a piece of acetate just shy of 4" x 4" and adhere it to the BACK of the hearts image.  Then, using foam tape strips or foam pieces, adhere the foam around the hearts and around the edge.

Now...if you have an anti static pad (used with embossing powders) rub it inside the hearts and around the edges of the tape to remove any static.  This helps the sequins and beads to not stick.

Then, fill each of the hearts with what you want to shake around.  I used red/gold small sequins, some pink seed beads, and some clear seed beads.  I also cut another piece of decorative paper, just shy of 4" x 4", to adhere to the back.  (Remember that the design will show inside the heart - so if you are using double-sided paper, note which side you want to show).

The front will now show your pattern inside the hearts with the sequins, beads, etc.  

The back will show whatever the back of your paper was.  For me, it was white because I used single-sided paper.

Apply your favorite adhesive to the back and adhere to your card front.  

That's it!  Super simple to make.  I think the most time consuming part of this card is the foam tape on the back.  LOL.  I hope you give this idea a try and I would love to know what you think of the card. 

Thanks for stopping by the blog today and, until next time -

Hugs from Brasil - 

Michael