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Cards Of Social Distancing

March 25, 2020

You’ve Been Red-Carded!

In this time of pandemic, it seems like we are surrounded by bad news. And what makes it worse, is the feeling of isolation. We have all been red-carded: social time out! So how does social distancing relate to card making?

Because we care about those we can’t physically connect with, we are searching for ways to reach out and provide physical proof that our love exists. As such, I find the answer to social distancing as simple as card making, and card sending.

I made these quickly, using the Scalloped Note Cards & Envelopes, item #149610. By placing Designer Series Paper on the bottom inside, I created a pop of fun beneath the scalloped front edge. This is easy card making in times of social distancing, and provides instant results to send to friends and family.

Homemade Cards: Cards That Care

Homemade cards come from the heart, they are made with love. Do you remember coming home from grade school with a drawing, and your parents promptly displayed your artwork on the frig? For months, even!

The front of this homemade card says “Welcome to Maine”. Best housewarming gift ever from my granddaughter, and proudly displayed on my frig for, in all honesty, months!

Homemade cards are like precious artwork. There is care and attention in every detail. No two are ever the same, because they are not manufactured.

Card making is for kids and adults alike. A perfect accompaniment to social distancing, card making provides a creative release of your feelings, and card sending provides a way to show you care. And the creating process of card making is just as wonderful as the receiving process of a homemade card.

Thinking Of You Cards

Thinking of You Notecard in Balmy Blue, cardmkaing for social distancing. — The stamp set, Flourishing Phrases, item # 141534, and some (retired) Gingham Gala DSP add beauty to the Balmy Blue note card.

If you’re like me, you love sending Christmas cards, and birthday cards. Maybe you’ve sent sympathy or get well cards, as I have.

Have you thought about sending “thinking of you cards”? If your reaction is, “that seems too ordinary”, you are not alone. But in extraordinary times of social distancing, “thinking of you” card making seems like the perfect choice to let someone know they are on your mind.

From my experience, people love getting cards in the mail. The walk (or sometimes drive) to the mailbox is worth it when there is a delivery of ‘happy mail’.

I believe that cards are like little presents.When I get a card, I am excited to open that envelope and see what is inside, a mini gift just for me!

Inspirational Cards

Inspirational Note Card in Old Olive, cardmaking for social distancing. — A wonderful phrase from the stamp set, Enjoy Life, item # 148190, and some Best Dressed DSP in Daffodil Delight, item # 151319, make this Old Olive note card naturally gorgeous.

Everyone needs inspiration. You have the great ability to provide inspiration to someone else. Your habits of inspiring may include texting or a phone call, or a post on social media.

But when you send a card that inspires, the words and thoughts shared are like a touchstone. The physical presence of your card is a visual reminder that can be held, speaking comfort at any time.

There is great inspiration to draw on when creating your homemade cards. You can look to online sources for similar renderings. Some cardmakers look at catalogs or magazines for ideas.

And there are crafters who just look out the window. Perhaps the greatest inspiration of all is nature. I ask you to be inspired to create, but more importantly, be excited to share!

Thank You Cards

Thank You Note Card in Terracotta Tile, cardmaking for social distancing. — Even though this card doesn’t say “thank you” on the outside, it certainly could on the inside. I stamped this Terracotta Tile note card with Special Celebrations stamp set, item # 143885, and Love What You Do stamp set, item # 148042. The DSP that adds a splash of color comes from Sampler, item # 154050.

I am a firm believer that the world needs more ‘thank you’s’. In troubled times, we tend to be more thankful for what we do have, and taking things for granted typically takes a backseat. There is no better way to say ‘thank you’ then with a card.

Even with social distancing, you may need to thank someone. Maybe you received a flower delivery. Perhaps someone kindly shoveled snow from your driveway, or graciously left a basket of cookies on your front porch.

We still manage kind acts, even at times like these when we keep our distance for health and safety. Thank you cards are also a kind act, in reciprocation.

Cards Sent With Love

Sending Love Note Card in light pink, cardmaking for social distancing. — This lovely note card in light pink clearly states that is is sent with love, per the stamp set, Inspiring Iris, item #149268. Petal Pink DSP from Pleased As Punch, item # 153558 is the perfect compliment in sweetness.

Now this may sound silly, but can you imagine a card sent without love? It would make more sense to not send a card at all if that were the case. So, does that mean that not sending a card equals the opposite of love?

Homemade cards have extra love built right in. When someone takes the time to craft a card, they love the act of providing from the heart. It is my practice to choose colors or a theme especially for the intended recipient.

Love is in the details, love is in the sending, and love is most definitely in the receiving.

Sharing Cards

Cards are meant to be shared. As a cardmaker, I often have lots of cards on hand, because making them is fun, and craft therapy, and somewhat addictive.

But now, more than ever, is the best time to share cards. Did you know that you can share a card that lets the recipient share that same card with someone else?

Instead of signing the inside of your card, I encourage you to attach a short poem inside. Either of these lovely poems can be viewed or printed here, and give the card receiver a message to care and share.

I encourage you to create a card, put a stamp on that envelope, and pop that homemade card in the post! Brighten someone’s day!

Aqua Painter — I couldn’t decide which postage stamps I liked better to dress up my envelopes for mailing, so I bought both. A great way to seal the envelopes without licking them is to put that aqua painter, item # 103954, to use! Just swipe that paintbrush end with a squeeze of the water barrel across the “lick and stick” portion of your envelope.

If you are new to cardmaking, or interested in getting started, contact me for help. My online store, https://juliemakson.stampinup.net, is always open to shop for necessary cardmaking supplies.

There has never been a better time to start getting crafty. Get inspired, show gratitude and send love. Do your part to make the world a nicer place.

Ever Elegant Green Cards

March 17, 2020

The world turns green on St. Patrick’s Day, March 17th. I love green everyday, it is my favorite color. Green is often a supporting color in cardmaking, seen as frogs, summer leaves and pine trees. But today it takes over beautifully in ever so elegant green cards.

Green With Envy

Stampin’ Up! offers 53 different colors in their spectrum of coordinating collections. And they do green very well, as 11 of the 53 colors have green tendencies. That speaks loudly of the importance of green in cardmaking.

Light Green:

Soft Seafoam, Pear Pizzazz, Mint Macaron

Medium Green:

Granny Apple Green, Old Olive, Call Me Clover

Dark Green:

Garden Green, Shaded Spruce, Mossy Meadow

Blue-Green:

Coastal Cabana, Bermuda Bay

Beautifully Braided In Green

Soft Seafoam and Mossy Meadow marry in spectacular fashion for elegant green cards. Instead of the typical colorful flower petals, I chose to make the leafy version of this stamp from the set Beautifully Braided. The Scripty 3D embossing folder in one of my personal favorites, and mimics a print from the 6×6 Designer Series Paper color collection, quickly crafted from a circle punch.

Greening Positive Thoughts

Grays and greens have more in common than the letter “G”. They are earthy tones and transition well with other colors. This elegant green card, featuring the Positive Thoughts stamp set and coordinating product release, Nature’s Thoughts Dies, is supported by Gray Granite and Basic Gray. The fabulous DSP comes from the 12×12 Garden Lane, a green lovers must have!

Spring Green Timeless Tulips

Flower cards are often very elegant, but green usually takes the back seat to lively colorful arrays. White tulips look natural with the abundance of green in this stunning card. Notice that the circle punched from this DSP was used in my card above! And the ribbon used here is from the retired green, Wild Wasabi.

As you can see, it is easy to make elegant green cards. Stop by my online store, https://www.juliemakson.stampinup.net, and add some green papers and inks to your order. Then make the world a greener place in your own crafty way!

Timeless Tulips Colorful Combinations

March 6, 2020

A Rainbow of Colorful Tulips

Tulips symbolize perfect love. Stampin’ Up! has the perfect stamp set and coordinating punch to make beautiful tulips that you will love! I have been busy creating Timeless Tulips colorful combinations, and I will admit, it is hard to stop experimenting.

The Timeless Tulips Stamp Set and Tulip Builder Punch are available individually or as a bundle in the January-June 2020 Mini Catalog. When purchased together, the everyday savings of 10% applies. Even beginner crafters will find it easy to conjure up Timeless Tulips colorful combinations masterpieces.

Orange Timeless Tulips Card

Creating paper tulips (and this card) is simple. Just follow the basic guidelines and the fantastic tips I am sharing. You, too, will soon be on your way to making gorgeous blooms like the ones pictured!

Tulips: Stamp, Punch, Sponge

Start by making a punch template for your stamps. Use any scrap of cardstock on hand, and punch.

Bonus Tip: Use a marker to write “Punch Template” on your cardstock, then tuck it into your stamp set for future use. A bold label will help you avoid tossing the template as ‘accidental garbage’.

Next, line up the coordinating stamps in your punch template. Place the stamps with the image (raised edges) down and the back (flat side) facing up.

Super Important: Match the cardstock punch template to the image of the bottom of the punch. As seen above, the template and the punch bottom show the petal to the left of the large tulip. If you flip your paper over in error, the stamped images will no longer align with the punch.

After your stamps are lined up properly, place a clear block over them to position the stamps on it for proper punch alignment. Here, I used Clear Block D.

To make the orange tulips, I started by stamping the large tulip and petal in Pumpkin Pie Ink onto So Saffron Cardstock.

Helpful Advice: Depending on the amount of ink in your ink pad, you may need to stamp off first to create the desired image tone. Trial and error makes alluring deviations.

The correct positioning of the stamps from the punch template makes it easy to stamp and punch once, without having to line up both images and punch individually. Time saver!

For depth and additional color, I used Poppy Parade Ink and a section of a Stamping Sponge for application. Apply the ink, by sponging, to all outer edges of both the tulip and the petal.

I find sponging helpful in blending the stamped image into the punched outline rim. If your punched image is a little off-center, the sponging hides imperfections. Finally, be sure to sweep the inked sponge from the bottom of the tulip to the center.

Warning: Prepare for inky fingers and have a wipe handy!

Additional Card Assembly Tips

Embossing

I chose the Basket Weave 3D Embossing Folder as a backdrop for my orange tulips. This folder provides extreme texture to the paper, which also makes the paper hard to attach without rippling or buckling.

After some experimenting, I found it helpful to run my bone folder along all outer edges of the embossed cardstock from the back. By pressing out, or flattening, a thin surrounding strip (@ 1/4 -1/2″), I was better able to get this piece glued down securely. No need to worry, it doesn’t ruin the embossed look!

Die Cutting

The look of lace, like the name of this particular stamp set, is timeless. Therefore I chose the Delicate Lace Dies to add to the beauty of this card. When attaching something that has a tiny working surface, I prefer Tombow Glue.

As you can see in the picture, I applied a thin line on the bottom edge of my “lace”, and some small dots of glue where paper allowed in the middle. I lined up the lace to the designer series paper, tucking some lace behind. The glue gives you a moment of wiggle room to slide your paper to perfection.

You will need to trim your lace after adhering it to the designer series paper. The above picture shows an example of one that is trimmed, and one that needs to be.

Designer Secret: The lace trim doesn’t need to be aligned perfectly symmetrical in this instance. The Very Vanilla lace rests on top of a piece of Very Vanilla embossed cardstock, and since the two are the exact same color, imperfections hide well. The contrast of shape and texture work in this regard also.

Lace Ribbon

My “hello” greeting assembly is purposely lined up with the brown edge of the designer series paper. In order to have the ribbon in alignment with the tulip stems, I positioned the assembly on the card and used a pencil to mark the desired location.

After wrapping the ribbon securely to the back, I adhered this piece to the card front, and added a nicely tied bow. The bow helps hide the pencil mark, so no need to erase it.

Show some love to the inside of your cards too! I used the smaller tulip stamps from this set to add a peak of flowers in the bottom corner. There is plenty of room for a sentiment and your warm regards.

Start Your Tulip Garden Today

This spring is a great time to get these products and start your own paper tulip garden. Be sure to stop by my online store, https://juliemakson.stampinup.net, and add the Timeless Tulips Bundle, item #153793, to your order.

And to inspire you further, I have compiled a chart with a baker’s dozen of my favorite Timeless Tulips Colorful Combinations. Print or pin it to assist in your creation of colorful tulip making. Just like real tulips, paper tulips have no scent, but are guaranteed to bring a smile to someone’s face.