SURPRISE AND HAPPY BIRTHDAY SUSANNA!

Today, October 22nd, we are celebrating Susanna's Boyd's birthday with a week-long challenge event that every member on Paper Craft Planet can participate in!
The Paper Craft Planet Super Novas got together and each made a special birthday gift for Susanna's birthday.  In honor of this momentous occasion, we invite everyone to post a birthday project or card for a chance to win some fabulous prizes! Yes, there are several chances to win some awesome paper crafting goodies just by posting a birthday theme project!
Further details can be found by clicking on Paper Craft Planet The Planet Blog.  Check out where the party is and join us for a week of celebrations and prizes!
My project is a brand new template from Creations by AR called Bottle of Cheer!  It is a 3d template that accommodates all sorts of sweet gifty things inside.  I used a favorite paper line by Graphic 45 Curtain Call.  Here's an aerial view of this project:

There are optional openings that come with the template.  I hand cut a rectangle to allow for a larger opening to insert a gift.  The project goes together very quickly and makes an awesome gift for anyone on your list who is a lover of wine!  Include a gift card to a wine store and the recipient will appreciate your clever ingenuity!  Can't you just imagine this project at receptions or special event dinners?!?

Challenges by AR Challenge 6 - Christmas!

It's time for another challenge over on Challenges by AR and the theme is Christmas!  I chose the Let's Vase It template for my project.  It is so stylish and easy to put together too!  I used paper from the Prima Printery collection, which is a nice sturdy double sided pattern paper.  A length of tulle was added to the bottom for decoration.  Craft store trims were stuffed inside the vase and that's it!  A quick project that would make a delightful gift for someone special on your holiday list.
Hope you like my creation!  Take a moment to stop by Challenges by AR and see what the rest of the talented design team have created for this challenge.  I'd love to see you play along too!  There's always a prize to win!!!

CAS Countdown to the Holidays!

As card makers and paper crafters, we enjoy creating cards and gifts for the holidays.  More often than not, we fall short of our lofty goals because we run out of time.  Here at home, I tell my paper arts club members every year that we need to begin our holiday preparations in October in order to be on top of our game!  Wouldn’t it be wonderful to make this year the year we actually enjoy the weeks ahead of the holidays and get everything done that we planned on getting done? 

Starting today, I will be presenting an 8-week series to help get you ready for the holidays on time and under budget!  We will be keeping CAS styles in mind along with re-cycling, re-purposing and green gifting!  As with CAS Card Group, this series is designed to teach you lots of tips and tricks.  I welcome your interaction and dialogue in the comment section as we begin each week with a new project to tackle. Click HERE to go to Week 1 on Paper Craft Planet!

Here is the lineup of events:

October 13^th -    CAS Christmas Cards

October 20^th -     More CAS Christmas Cards

October 27^th -     Tags – Diecut, Cardstock, Made From Scraps

November 3^rd -   Gifties

November 10^th - Ornaments

November 17 -   Packaging

November 24^th - Holiday Décor

December 1^st -    Gift Card Holders

I hope you can join me in this year’s Countdown to the Holidays!  I’m looking forward to sharing all of our holiday stories as we begin our 8-weeks of preparations!  When we have completed Week 8, all you’ll have to do is bake and wrap!

CAS Lesson 47 - Masculine AND 1 Layout 4 Ways!

Join me this week for a CAS lesson in creating a quick masculine card PLUS a lesson in 1 Card 4 Ways!!!!  

Basic Grey Oxford papers were used as they already remind me of a) masculine; and b) autumn. The layout of this card is plain paper on the top and pattern paper on the bottom dissected with a ribbon and (in this case) a decorative sticker strip.  The nice thing with guy cards is we don't have to fuss with embellishments! 
Once the papers are chosen, then what?  All we need is a focal image stamped onto a lighter panel. I chose a Catslife Press stamp that reminds me of 'me' and/or my husband who was the recipient of this anniversary card.  To create depth, the panel is edge distressed with Ranger Antique Linen ink and faux stitching was added with a Zig pen.
Ready for 3 other ways to create this card????  (I covered the stamped image for purposes of showing the layout.)
Turn it clockwise a quarter turn and you'll have a portrait orientation with the pattern strip along the left side!

Next, turn so the layout is upside down and the pattern strip is along the top!

Finally, turn it yet again, and the pattern strip is along the right side.  Here's where I would create something like a 'gatefold' where the pattern paper strip would unfold.  I actually cut additional double sided paper to create this card and layered it to create the card front.

  

Okay, one card 4 ways!!!!  Have fun!!!!  Let's see what you can create!  Feel free to post your card in the comment section just by clicking CAS Card Group or post them to your page photos.  Be sure to tag your card CAS47 (exactly as typed).

Graphic 45 ABC Primer & Christmas Emporium Card Class!

Join me this Saturday., October 8th at 10:00 a.m. for another Graphic 45 card party!  We'll create 2 cards with ABC Primer and 2 cards with Christmas Emporium.  We'll finish the inside of each card and decorate the envelopes as well.  Of course I'll have some new design tricks to show you!  Plan on two hours of vintage nostalgic fun!  Call ahead to register for class at 315-633-5325.  

Fee:  $24  Basic kit required.