Card Making 101/ BoBunny Designer Challenge

Hi all. Happy Tuesday and thanks for stopping by for the Paper Crafts Go-to Gal Card Making 101 Blog Hop! If you are here for Pleating with Paper 111 then you have reached the right blog:)

Today's post is a modified version of our monthly designer challenge... modified because this month we are coming to you on the last Tuesday of the month (instead of Wednesday) and in addition to featuring a favorite manufacturer we are also sharing a technique as a part of Courtney's Card Making 101 Class.

My technique for today's class is making a paper box pleat which can be used as an embellishment on a card. Pleats are basically folds formed by doubling a material (traditionally fabric) back on itself and tacking it into place.

Here's an idea for how you can use paper pleats on a card...

To make paper pleats:

1) Start with a strip of paper that measures 12" x the desired width of your pleat. Mark 1/4" or 1/2" increments on the back side of the paper. Note: the pleated paper on the card above was made by marking 1/2" increments. The pleated paper on the second sample card below was made with a 1/4" pleat.

2) Fold paper over at the first mark.

3) Then on the third mark fold the paper back toward the first fold. And on the fourth mark fold the paper in the opposite direction of the third fold. This is called a box pleat. 

4) Continue folding alternating pleats in this manner across the entire paper, using your marks as a guide or fold lines. 

5) Here you can see the paper folded. The green side is the backside (you can see the marks or guide lines) and the brown is the front.

6) Lastly, tack the pleat to itself with adhesive and then adhere it to a card.

Here's another example. Both cards use BoBunny's Welcome Home Collection/embellishments paired with kraft cardstock. I think that collection is just gorgeous!  The colors perfectly suit a vintagy elegant style and the metal embellies are simply stunning.

I hope you enjoyed your time here in Pleating with Paper 111. Don't forget to stop by Betsy, Jennifer, Julie & Kim's classrooms today. I'm certain they have some great things to share as well. Thanks for visiting today!

Products: All products used are by BoBunny with the exception of kraft cardstock by Papertrey Ink, ribbon by Michaels and sentiments stamps by Stampin' Up (top) and Technique Tuesday (bottom).

Tessa's Birthday Blog Hop

Hello & happy Monday! Today I'm happy to be participating in a Birthday Blog Hop for my sweet friend, Tessa Buys. Tessa is one of my favorite scrapbookers and also runs a super cool Etsy shop, Precocious Paper. She is celebrating her 30th birthday by sponsoring a blog hop and along the way she is giving away over $100 in product from her shop!


There are 20 very talented designers sharing projects in her honor along this hop so you don’t want to miss it!

Interested? Start at Tessa’s blog HERE. If you’ve been hopping along and just came from Sara Zenger’s blog, you are in the right place.

Here’s what I have to share today featuring goodies from Precocious Paper.

It is so easy to add Tessa's handmade flowers to any type of paper crafted project. Here I covered an ugly old pencil holder with some stamped and inked kraft cardstock and simply embellished it with a satin ribbon and one of Tessa's fabric and felt flowers (check out her shop... she has so many fun options for these types of flowers).

And since I'm constantly sketching card layouts, I grabbed a Post It grid pad at the store, added a cardstock cover and embellished it with a fabric and felt flower, a lolipop flower and a cupcake poppy from Precocious Paper.

Lastly I added a tag to serve both as a label and a closure.

Would you like some Precocious Paper goodies to work with? If you complete the entire hop, leaving a comment on every designer’s post, you will be entered to win the grand prize – the September, October, November and December Samplers! That’s a $54.00 value and dozens upon dozens of hand-crafted scrapbooking embellishments.

Want to win more?

• Follow Tessa’s blog to be entered to win a $20.00 credit to the shop.
• Follow Precocious Paper on Facebook and you could win another $20.00 credit.
• Tessa is also giving away surprise credits to blog hop participants, so be sure to leave as many comments as you can.

Your next stop is the talented Lisa Andrews.

Don't forget to check out Precocious Paper Etsy Shop. I'm certain that you'll find some goodies & if you use this code during check out WRBBHFREE you will receive FREE SHIPPING and a free thank you gift.

Thanks so much for stopping by today!  I'll be back tomorrow with the Paper Craft's Go-to Gal Designer Challenge... we're hosting it a day early this month, but we'll be featuring a technique along with some fun BoBunny products.  See you then!

Sweet Summer Smiles

Hello! Wow! Is it really near the end of August?  Where did this month go?  I guess it went where every other summer month has gone...lol.

Well, I've been busy running with the kids and squeezing in every last bit of summer, how about you? We've been so lucky to enjoy a lot of family time. Truly enjoying that. I love the fact that my kids are young and that they still want to spend every bit of their time with me and Brian. I LOVE that!  It makes me smile. Hopefully it won't change soon.

We've taken one last trip to Kings Island... spent as many afternoons at grandma's pool as we could... and even took the girls on their very first airplane ride to Washington DC. Its amazing that the airplane, taxi, subway and hotel stay can be so exciting to a child. And it is so fun to relive things with your children that you take for granted... what a blessing!

Anyway, I know I've neglected this blog, but now that school's started, I'm back and excited to share a couple of projects that I created for Spellbinders.  Here is a layout made for a photo that I snapped of Campbell last August.

You can find a complete list of supplies and instructions HERE. And here's a card that was inspired by the layout...

You can find all instructions and a supply list for this one HERE.  There are such lush colors in Anna Griffin's Carmen Collection.  So lovely!

Well, I'm off to bed... just watched Sweet Home Alabama for the 20th time (I love that darling movie), and I'm worn out... the 1st day of 1st grade has exhausted me.

I hope you all have a super nice weekend! I'll be back on Monday because I'm participating in a very special blog hop to celebrate a sweet friend. See you then friends!

Card Ideas for Paper Crafters

Card Ideas for Paper Crafters is being highlighted all week long over at Paper Crafts Connection blog, so if you want a chance to check it out this is the week! Today you'll find a few non card projects that a couple of us made that are inspired by the cover sketch. Plus Jennifer is giving away this awesome prize... 

Yes, if you haven't picked up a copy yet.... today could be your day to win one:) Have a great Tuesday!

GCD Studios August Color Inspiration

Hi everyone! It's Windy Robinson here to share a few card ideas based on this sunny and bright color inspiration photo...

...I was immediately drawn to its vibrant hues of orange and yellow. I love the contrast they have to the stark white and kraft colors that accompany it. To me, this combination screams... AUGUST!

The festive and celebratory feel of the photo first made me think of making a wedding card and the Soul Food collection provided the perfect palette for my card. I can't wait to send it to a young couple, full of hope and beginning life together. 

And this one is a reminder to myself... if I get down, frustrated... or just plain stressed. Its just not worth it to sweat the little stuff because I choose happy. I hope you do too!

Happy day all!

All paper products from GCD Studios, ribbon by Michaels Stores Inc.

Ahh... I missed

...Sister's Day yesterday, but I made this card to share for the holiday so here it is... a little late but still just as fun:)

.

Variation: This would be an easy design to use with any of these cute tags from We R Memory Keepers. I'm sure you've seen them in your local scrapbook stores... they are all over the stores we have here. Just add satin & bling to dress it up, or leave it all off to make a clean and simple card.

Here's a card I made last year using a Halloween tag and a similar sketch. Just another idea...

Have a nice Monday!

Products: Patterned Paper (American Crafts, SEI and We R Memory Keepers); tag (We R Memory Keepers), blink (Zva Creative).

Inspired by...

...these guys in my garden.

Just a quick post today. We are busy living out the last few days of summer:) I had fun playing with this beautiful paper by Authentique, this fab stamp by Hero Arts, this elegant flower by Bazzill Basics, and this darling paper by Papertrey Ink.

I hope you all are doing well... I will be back soon with some more crafty posts! Happy end of summer:)