Card Paper Cutting Basics (Plus)

So, maybe you have a lot of lovely Stampin' Up supplies and you want to make some cards, but you're not really sure how to get started. Well, today is your lucky day, I'm here to help! Today is all about the basics, let's cut some paper.

First you need a paper cutter, our Stampin' Trimmer (#126889) is a great one, it trims and scores! Next, you need some of our awesome Stampin' Up card stock (it really is the best).

All cards begin with a great base. This is pretty easy, just cut your card stock in half, you'll get two card bases.  The 8 1/2 x 11 inch piece of paper, cut in half and folded in half fits perfectly in our beautiful envelopes. Here are the two ways you can do this.

So you're card base is 5 1/2 x 4 1/4, whichever way you cut it.

Next, the super important front or inside piece. This is cut to 5 1/4 x 4.

So, you can get 4 of these from each piece of paper. 

With that, you can get down to card making! 

This card has the card base and the card front, then a bit of stamping and some embellishments.

This is the same size that is often used on the inside of a card.

If you want to step up your card front a bit, add another layer.

The Designer Series Paper was cut to 5 1/4 x 4 , and then the Whisper White layer was cut a quarter of an inch smaller, 5 x 3 3/4 (that's the magic formula, each layer 1/4 inch smaller or bigger).

Or, use the quarter inch idea for a focal point, like in this cute Easter card.

So, if I was going to stay basic, I'd stop here, and you are welcome to do that. Go make a few cards and come on back. If you want to go one more level, you just need to know about the 1/8th inch cutting technique. This is my personal favorite. And in true crafting confession style, the way I say this is whatever the size is, "plus two lines." For example, in this next card, I added a layer in between the card base (5 1/2 x 4 1/4) and the card front (5 1/4 x 4). This layer is 5 3/8 (or, 5 1/4 plus 2 lines) x 4 1/8 (4 plus 2 lines).

Pretty cool, yes? So this plan has each layer an eighth of an inch bigger or smaller. 

These cutting guidelines can be used for the card front backgrounds or for focal points. I went a little crazy with the layers on this card.

As you can see, I left a bigger space around the focal point. That's how you can add interest to your cards, by varying the sizes of the layers, as seen in the next set of cards.

So, I think I'll stop now. Get out you paper and trimmer, and then stamp away!

For regular bits of inspiration, check out my Facebook page:

the crafty yogi on facebook

If you need help with supplies, contact me or go to my website:

Audra's web site

Have fun and stay crafty!

Birthday Book Instructions

Hi again, my crafty friends!

A few blog posts ago, and on my Facebook page, I shared some pictures of this really cool Birthday Book that we made in my Birthday Bash Card Class. It's super cute and very functional. So, just in case you couldn't attend my class (which by the way, if you live anywhere close to Frederick, Maryland, you should totally come and craft with me!) here are some instructions on how to make one.

Supplies needed: 

6 pieces of 12x12 Whisper White Card Stock, cut in half = 12 pieces 6x12

24 pieces Whisper White CS 6x1 1/2 inches, scored at 3/4

2 pieces of light weight cardboard, such as the piece that comes in the Designer Series Paper, cut to 6x6, plus paper and embellishments to decorate as you like

Washi tape, hole punch, Fast Fuse or Tear and Stick Tape, and binder circle rings

12 pieces DSP, 5x5 to decorate the pockets and Whisper White CS 3 1/2x3 1/2

Stamps to put the months on each page, I used the ones from the December Paper Pumpkin, but the ones from the Perpetual Calendar stamp set or a Project Life set would work well also.

And here is the video to show you the basics:

Let me know how it goes, and I'd love to see yours when you make it!

Stay Crafty!

Find me on Facebook here:

https://www.facebook.com/TheCraftyYogicards/?ref=aymt_homepage_panel

Bear Hugs Bundle, Remarkable Blog Hop

Bear with me....I couldn't resist! This month for the Remarkable Blog Hop, I am featuring the Bear Hugs Bundle. When I first saw it in the occasions catalog, I just wasn't sure, but somehow I ended up buying the set and then it sat there. Have you every done that? So, I decided that I was going to get those cute little bears out and put them to work.

So, here they are in all their cute glory, welcoming babies, wishing happy birthday, and just saying hi.

Enjoy!

Stay Crafty!

For more inspiration this month, click on the graphic below.

Here's the whole line up:

Nancy Amato - http://stampinallnight.blogspot.com/2016/03/remarkable-stampers-blog-tour-dont-miss.html

Melissa Bolinger - http://creativeblessingsbymissy.blogspot.com/2016/03/remarkable-blog-tour-festive-flowers.html

Tamra Davis - http://wp.me/p2QFfC-y8

Arden Dougan - http://stampinarden.blogspot.com/2016/02/remarkable-blog-tour-march-roses.html

Tracie Langley - http://www.stampinup.net/esuite/home/traciesallaboutstamping/blog?directBlogUrl=/blog/86481/entry/march_on_over_for_the

Anne Matasci - http://wp.me/pCcBw-256

Heather Mathieson - https://inkyladybug.wordpress.com/2016/03/05/remarkables-march-blog-tour

Ann Monhollen - http://annscreativenook.blogspot.com/2016/03/sending-good-thoughts-for-sab-2016.html

Audra Monk - http://thecraftyyogi.blogspot.com/2016/03/bear-hugs-bundle-remarkable-blog-hop.html

Maria Pane - http://stampinandscrappinwithriri.blogspot.com/2016/03/remarkable-stampers-blog-tour-last.html

Michele Reynolds -  http://inspirationink.typepad.com/inspiration-ink/2016/03/march-occasions-bundle-blog-tour.html

Pam Staples  -  http://wp.me/p3p2VA-1hv

Janet Wakeland - http://wp.me/pHIQD-aeq

Cake or Hat Box How To

Hi Crafty Friends!

Last week I went to a demonstrator team meeting. It's a bunch of fun. You get business tips, some creative tips and you get to chat and swap with other Stampin' Up demos. One of the demos, Pesci, did a really nice demo (haha, she's a demo who demoed) on a cute little cake box that she found on Pinterest. She learned the basics from a website called oh happy day. Here's the photo I posted on Facebook:

If you like my crafty page on Facebook, you would already have seen this!
You can click here to see my Facebook page.

Anyhow, lots of people were saying "how did you make it?"and that's why we're here.
We'll start with the short version:

And since I didn't want to type out all the directions, I made this video!

So, I hope this answers all you questions, if not, just ask!

And if you're buying some of our awesome Stampin' Up! products to make this box, I can help. Really, Stampin' Up! has the best card stock ever! And if you're buying things, we have a sale-a-bration special going on right now, until March 31, 2016. For every $50 you spend, you get a free item from the special brochure. I got this glitter washi tape for free!

click here to take a look 

And look at this cute card I made with it.

Stay Crafty!

A Few Of My Favorite Things

Today I'm sharing a few of my favorite things. Some old and some new.

We'll start with all things birthday. I've always loved celebrating birthdays. You get cards in the mail, presents, and cake! Did I say cake? I love homemade cake with the traditional crisco or buttercream icing. I love it so much, I can only make it occasionally (or I'd eat way too much and it's really not part of the healthy food groups). So in my house it shows up on birthdays.

I'm hosting a birthday card making class soon, and I came up with a really cool idea on how to store and sort all our lovely handmade cards. I'll share some photos today and I'm hoping to make a tutorial next week, so check back then. I call it the Birthday Card Book. It's a 6x6 book made up of 12 pockets, one for each month so that you can file away the cards you make AND then you'll know where they are so you can do the important part of getting them in the mail.

Here's the front, which you can decorate any way you like. I covered the light weight cardboard that comes in our DSP packs. I used binder circles ( I don't really know what they're called) to hold it together.

The inside is minimally decorated as I want to have plenty of space to write down the birthdays on each month.

There are 12 pockets, and each can hold 3-4 cards. I think on the next go round, I'll add a ribbon so that you can tie it closed.

Here is the link to the blogpost with the instructions. There's a video to help you out too!

http://thecraftyyogi.blogspot.com/2016/03/birthday-book-instructions.html

Next up are a few cute birthday cards to fill up your book.

If you're looking for a super cute mini box to put a gift in, check out this box, I learned how to make it from my demonstrator friend Pesci. She adapted it from one she saw on Pinterest. I absolutely love it and see many small cake and hat boxes in my future.

Leaving birthday's behind, I want to share a card intended for Valentine's day, but really it could be used for almost any occasion, depending on what you put inside.

And finally, I'll share a peek into my Project Life by Stampin' Up! scrapbooking. I had two weddings this past Fall and I'm having fun getting the pages done quick and cute with the Love Story bundle.

I like to scrapbook in the living room when we watch TV. Which besides a little mess is a good thing. But my sweet little dog is not always such a fan.

This is her giving me a sad face as she thinks her spot should be next to me and there is too much stuff in the way.

This is her squeezing into the small space I made next to me.

Thanks for visiting my blog today and seeing a few of my favorite things.

Stay Crafty!