Cute Origami Card Fold

Hello friends, today i would like to show you a couple of cards i really quickly whipped out the other day to give to 2 teachers at school.

The cards are made so quickly and are something special you don't see every day and are fun to open.

here is a shot of the two samples i made one uses Happy Easter Tilda and the other uses Tilda with Egg and Chicken.

For both cards i used heavy patterned paper - you know i love Little Darlings new line. I raved about it quite a few times. Its just the patterns of the paper are really nicely scaled and the quality of the paper is wonderful.

Well... i took a few more shots to show you how the cards fold. you don't need to add a ribbon to hold the cards shut. i just added that as a extra decoration. see the little square flap.. that's where the tip  of the envelope gets tucked into.

both cards are decorated in the inside. Lots of possibilities. as you can see. One card i did use a few more accessory stamps and on the red purple card i just added a sentiment and added a I Tunes gift card.

Additional stamps used:
happy Easter Sentiment Magnolia
bumble Bee - Magnolia
grass with butterflies -Magnolia

I did post the tutorial for this quite a while back on my blog with step by step how to fold and score. I have no time right now to find it because i have to pick my boys up at school in 10 minutes but i have a 3 card on my desk sitting and when i post this card i will explain again how its made. 

Sorry for that.

hugs and i hope you enjoyed this posting

Envelope Bag Tutorial–You tube

Envelope bag tutorial by Claudia Rosa

Envelope Bag Tutorial by Claudia Rosa

Here is a sample of my the bag I have made last week.
Better do not ask me how long this first video took to upload

written Dimensions:
cardboard: 4.5 x 5.5 inches
or 11.5 cm x 14. cm

Design Paper: 7 x 6 inches

strap/belt
a little bit wider than 1.5 inches
or 3.5 cm wide

cover inside 4.25 x 5.25 inches
or
11.0 cm x 13.5 cm

to punch slot with Word Window Punch
measure from to (center) 0.5 inches
and from each side 1.25 inches from left and right in to have your center points

additional supplies Word Window Punch
paper crimper (Fiskars)
lightweight design paper
Cardboard
Cardstock
Embellishments to taste

ps. contact me if you like to join my Stampin up book party in October. I am not a Stampin up Demonstrator therefore I can order here in the USA and post it to you all over the world.

Ciao
Claudi

You Tube – Coloring backgrounds 1

Poppy by Krista Smith

Hi ladies,

today I have just a small video for you to share. Debbie asked me a while back how I color my backgrounds in. She purchased a few of my cards but had trouble to recreate the effect.
I hope this one helps a bit.

hubby said I was chatty today

Image is by Krista Smith – her name is Poppy and can be found here.

You got to check it out.. she just uploaded on Friday new images… bummer now I saw many more I want.

Love Slider

Hello ladies.. uh! So here is my gift card slider :-) sorry for the poor picture quality. I had to rush taking the photos early this morning. Top photo shows the card closed and embellished :-)

Belows picture - card opened - if you do not want to include a Gift Card.. it could hold an additional message.

This photo shows how perfect a Gift Card fits inside the holder. Cute hmmm :-) give it a try! It is really not difficult to make. If my instructions are too confusing but i have taken a photo every single step of the way.. you could read though some instructions over on Splitcoast if you have never made a slider card before that might help too?!

Tilda holding heart from the Pink Collection, Sentiment and label from last years Valentines Collection can be found at Cute stamps and Cards!
Papers: i used a mix of companies... Note paper source unknown, Bird paper and red/green is by Pink Paislee, cardstock is by Stampin up.
Embellishments: as Copic markers and refills, charms, cute ribbon slider, gems, Cuttlebug all this you can find over on Cute Stamps and Cards as well.

Top note die is by Sizzix.. and can be purchased though your Stampin up Demonstrator.Iam NOT a demonstrator but i have each month a Stampin up book party. If you want to order though me some Stampin up goodies - feel free to contact me. I will help you finding the cheapest shipping price with a flaterate envelope or box all over the world. Unlike a Stampin up Demonstrator who is not allowed to ship internationally - i can :-). Right now you can ear with every 50 dollars you spent a free stamp set or even a nice free border punch.

Slider

Hi girls.. i have finished to tutorial.. i have to take pictures of my card and i will upload it in a few minutes. My kids got sick and i have had a crazy day yesterday.

I hope you will enjoy making this little fun card. Please be so kind and give credit to my tutorial if you are using it.

You will need:
Four 2.75 x 4.25 pieces of card stock
One 5 x 3.5 piece of card stock
One 5.25 x 2 piece of card stock
Two 2.5 x 4 pieces of Designer paper (bird paper)

One piece of Designer paper (notes)

Tools: Big Shot, Stampin up Top Note Die, Stampin up Word Window punch, small circle punch i used 3/4 Stampin up

Mat the 2 designer papers onto two of the 4 brown pieces of card stock. I am also layering the top note Design paper, to add a bit more bulk to the piece and make it sturdier, this is just my preference.

Mark the center of your piece of 5.25 x 2 and punch out straight slots with Word Window punch . Add to 2 of the circle punch outs pop-up dots.


slide the pop up dots into the slots and take the paper backing off so the sticky side is revealed

Now add the other 2 cirlces on top. add all around onto the paper more pop up dots

this picture is more for your visual help. i have marked on this sheet the center with some white gel pen as well. Now i flip the paper over and lign the markings with those on the first paper. You want to make sure that you have it as centered as possible.

This is how it looks like from the other side you can see the lines how they helped me to center the pieces.

All lined up and straight

Add some super strong tape to your circles. I love my Scorpal tape for that!

this is optional! If you like to have some patterned paper showing if you open the card add now to your 5 x 3.5 piece paper some Designer Paper

adhere it over your base you have created (the side with the circles and sticky tape)

add some more pop up dots around your panels

Open the "wings" making sure they are nice and straight, peel off backing of pop up dots and adhere your 2 panels with the Design Paper over the dimensionals.

Cut your Design Paper piece cut with Top Note die in half and adhere the panels as flush as possible to the edges where the card slides open and shut.

Adhere the entire card onto a pieces of contrasting Card stock (pieces cut in half to mat the brown CS. This is just how i like it. The card works fine with out those.

Now you are ready to embellish. If you like you can decorate the inside of the card as well. I have added to mine an other sentiment and on top of that is a Gift Card.

So if the recipient takes the Gift Card out there is still an other little surprise :-)

Pretty Pressings Photo Editing Tutorial

Hello and a wonderful Sunday. Today i have no card to show you but i have had in the past some questions about my photos. I have always replied to that in emails but i thought today would be a good day to fill up share this with you. So if you like to read :-) please go ahead. For tomorrow i have a card to show.
Please know.. I have never taken a photo class or am i good with the use of computer programms (so i pretty sure things more complicated than neccessary) nor do i have a great equipment! I have as editing programm photoshop elements 5.0, the newest version on the market is already 7.0. However i hope that i can help some of you out who also just need a little step by step help here and there to fix small things on the photos. Afterall this is a hobby .... and so far the way i did it worked quite good for my blog, to apply to DT or for magazines.
Taking picturesI have a Canon Rebel XT camera. To take pictures of my cards i set the camera ALWAYS to the tulip setting. I do not want the flash to go off. Than i turn the Zoom eighter to the very very left or to the very right. By moving my body to the card or out of the card i shoot my picture. I do not zoom in with my lense because i have found that i am getting sometimes very blurry pictures that way. (this tip was given to me by my husband)
Now you have noticed that i have started to use that tiny mirrow at the bottom of my cards. Iam taking my pictures in a sunporch and i have lots of bushes and plants growing in my backyard. That takes lots of light away in that level iam taking the pictures (i have the tent on a coffee table) in order to pick up some extra natural light and reflect to my card i have the mirrow on the bottom. Try it .. it really does help AND on top of all that :-) it does look quite cute.

I find it very important to have daylight! I do have a tiny photo tent that came with 2 daylight lamps and i am very disappointed with the results. I never use them - i would rather post no card that day than using them lol. In the room i take pictures off - i like the light best between 11 am and 2 pm. I will play with some CS colors at the bottom or the back of my card so the card is better to see. I love a sheet of Stampin UP " Very Vanilla" CS the best in the back. Because if my card base is white (most of my cards have a white card base) it will show best and does not overpower the picture.
1) click file and open your photo. crop your photo to a nice size with the crop tool. it is the 10th icon from the top to the bottom counted down. square with a line through. Do not cut too close just so you will have a nice frame. You do not want your photo to look crowded
2) click file and open your Signature file (if you have one)
3) click Enhance
3.1) pull the arrow to the left or right so you have a result you are pleased with
4) click Enhance
4.1) Auto Smart Fix
4.2) Adjust Lightning - Shadows/Highlights
move the levels so you get a result you like
4.3) Auto Smart Fix
4.3) Adjust Lighning - Brightness/Contrast
move the levels so you get a result you like (be careful with the Contrast!! it can easily make all your colors disapear!)
you can also click "Enhance," then "Adjust Lighting," then "Levels." You will see in the pop up window some mountains and valleys.. play with the levels to get your result. I personally do like that feature. So i use the more time consuming editing (above)

5. Enhance
5.1. click auto sharpen or adjust even more if you need to at (Enanche-adjust sharpness something between 5% and 20%)
adding your watermark!
i know you can resize your pictures already with Photoshop. i personally just don't really know how to do it. Here is what i do:
i click onto my watermark (in the bottom opened) and pull and drag it over my picture. It will ALWAYS be set right into the middle of your picture very very small. click on the watermark and you will have on each corner a dot pull the watermark big on one corner. Than click into the center and you can move it from there to the spot you like it to sit.
You have now created a layer with your watermark.
Now i click Layer - Flaten image
If you do now have a watermark - simply type your name in with the "T" text tool. on the left you click on the "T" (pick your color, style and size) and click with the cursor in your picture where you want the text to appear. Than start writing. Let's say 75 points are still still too small for your font, simply type in the numbers you think could work sometimes a font needs like 150 points to look nice (remember.. i do not downsize my pictures with photo shop!) You automatically create a layer. once you are done writing click to the right where the tiny pictures are and
click "Opacity" and choose the percentage you like the text to be.
This is how i have edited all my photos until this week.

Adding some special features to your photos.
Iam not good in with all the fancy things you can actually do with the programs but here is something i figured out this week and i would love to share it with you:
on the right click on Artwork and Effectsclick "Apply special effects, Filters and Layer styles" (the icon is next to the text symbol)
choose "Layer styles" and "inner glows"
I usually pick the "simple" square which is the first choice
hit "apply" and in the pop-up window click "ok" click in the next window "ok"
nothing visible changed
click "layer"
"Layer Style"
"Style Settings"
and pull your "inner Style" arrow to the right until you like the result
I have the "opacity" set on 75% i like that the bestNow click "Layer" and "Flatten Image" and you can save your picture to your hard drive.
You can also try this:after you are pleased with the lighting of your picture
click Layer
duplicate layer (you will get a Background copy - you can see that on the right)
click Filter
Blur - Gaussian blur (choose a radius you like - not too much)
on the right side where you see the tiny pictures of your card - go to layers (right now your setting should say "normal" click "soft light" and pull the opacity light down to the left until you like the result
click "Layer"
"Flatten Layers"
and save your photo to your hard drive. I now resize my picture down to use for the blog at http://www.shrinkpictures.com/
I hope my english isnt too crazy :-) and hopefully you can work with the instructions when you have printed that out and have it in front of you while working on your pictures.
here is an additional tip from my friend Kristine regarding the down sizing of the picture right with Photoshop!

When you finish edit your photo, go to
File
Save for Web
(sometimes a box comes up saying your file exceeds the size limit, just click OK here)
Down to the right you see the image size boxes. I ususally go for 600 pixels on one of the sides. So if you type 600 on the width(for example) than the whole picture gets smaller.
Further up to the right you see a preset menu.
Here you go for JPEG high.
On the menu below this make sure it is set for JPEG and not GIF.
If you now see below your photo, you can see how large your image will be when it is saved. For example 85,6K. This is a little bit too small, so if you go up to the right again and see the Qualite menu. I usually want my photos to be around 120kb(then they are easy to upload to forums etc. So I push the quality arrow until I see the size of the image is around 120kb. Then it's finished and I press OK and save it.

Thank you xxxx

Fruity Gift Card

 Hi and a wonderful Thursday! Iam sooo excited because i know that i will meet tomorrow so many friends at the CHA in Orlando! jeepeeeee :-)
My pocket card with gift card holder was made for the Cute Card Thursday Challenge (Fruity) is already on the way to Sweden. All the cute stamps i have used on my projects should be available for ordering now - not sure tho.. typing this posting on 8. July :-)

 Some of you know that my wonderful friend Inge and myself challenge us here and there... so for this challenge we choosed to make a holder for a Gift Card. First i have created the pocket card.. but than i felt like it was way too big :-( i the card was done and i just was not happy with it. So i thought about making a matching tiny holder, which can actually be layed into the big card with a handwritten note or so. Voila and i hope it just looks like i had planned this all along :-)

If you want to re-create the little GCH here are the measurements:

Cut a strip of CS to 3 x 8 3/4

Fold it at 3 3/4 and 6 1/4 use corner rounder and adhere patterned paper pieces. Affix stamped images, and tie with ribbon or a elastic band close. insert your gift card

Stamps:

Loves Me Tilda sitting

"Loves Me" Sentiment

Stawberries

and circular "You Are So Sweet" post sentiment

Love and hugs

Claudia

Teacher Gift Idea

 Hello, today i would love to an other cute fast gift idea this time for a teacher. The pencils are not matchy matchy lol.. just picked a few to show how nicely they fit in that pouch. Card and pencil box are made for this weeks challenge over on Cute Card Thursday.

Stamps: Hanglar Stanglar, Sentiment: Amuse stamps

Papers: Stampin up and imaginice

Embellishments: Stampin up Ribbons

Tools: Nestabilities (oval and Label), Stampin up scallop border punch, corner punch

to make the pouch i highly recommend the narrow Scor-Pal tape! Nothing sticks better :-)

Original template for the pouch was found here.. however the measurements did not work for me. Below is mine based on the one i have found online.

Mounting stamps

Hello thank you for clicking by today. Most of you who come and vistit my blog are alrady familiar with all the opitions on how to use unmounted rubberstamps. However.. Tab from 7 Kids College Fund got several emails regarding storage of stamps or general mounting questions. Now that the new Magnolia summer kit (which is always UNMOUNTED) is almost beeing shipped i thougth it would help one or the other person who is starting just out with unmounted rubberstamps.
A little later today i am going to have a little altered project to show you.
Below is a list of products used in this tutorial to show different stamp mounting options:
Memento Ink , Neenah CS , Acrylic block or Cuttlebug B Plate as mount for very large stamps, rubber scissor, Hot knife, Ultra clean, Magnolia Sign with Bird, Love heart Love Collection 2009

Sunday International Thick EZ mount
Sunday International Thin EZ mount
Tsukineko Tack ‘n peel



First… lets start with Tack n Peel product. You can use this product with any unmounted rubber stamp. Simply attach the clear sheet to your acrylic block, peel the foil off and you are ready to go. You can attach your roughly trimmed rubber stamp right onto the acrylic block. I would say this product is a nice inexpensive alternative for EZ mount. I use all 3 methods when i stamp - however i use my block prepared with Tack n Peel only when iam out of EZ mount.



For best results, stamp on a stamping mat - or use at the bottom your mouse pad than your CS and stamp on it.

The stamped image will be crisp and ready to work with it. Once you are finished stamping, clean your stamp and simply take the stamp off the acrylic block. When you are completely finished stamping, add the clear foil to the cling site of the Tack 'n peel to keep it from losing stickiness as a result of dust or fibers.

The next mounting option is EZ MOUNT by Sunday International. These sheets are great for big or regular-sized stamps. With this product you are adding a permanent cushion to your rubber stamp

Peel back the side with words from the EZ MOUNT just to the point where you have exposed enough for the stamp you are mounting. Place the rubber stamp on the grey side of the EZ mount.

Use your rubber scissors to trim the excess rubber and mounting foam from around the image. I recommend using straight cuts. It is also important to have the right tools for mounting. By using a special rubber scissor or a hot knife, you will avoid undercutting the foam. It is important the entire stamp have cushion underneath, otherwise your image might not stamp properly.

Here you are getting a good look how nice a rubber scissors cuts the rubber and the foam. To make your stamp ready for stamping just peel away the white paper from the EZ mount (this is the side with NO text on it). You can discard this paper. EZ mount does not loose tackiness

You can now add your stamp to any acryl block or to any other hard plastic surface. Tip: for big stamps like the Magnolia house, Magnolia trees or Spring Background stamp, I use my Cuttlebug B Plate instead of purchasing a large acrylic block.
For those of you wondering: what is THIN EZ MOUNT FOR? Here's the answer: THIN EZ MOUNT is absolutely wonderful for small unmounted rubber stamps like sentiments or small accessory images from the Magnolia collections. When a stamp is fairly small, the cushion of the regular EZ MOUNT is going to make the stamp too “wiggly” to get a nice impression.

The other option you have with THIN EZ MOUNT is that you can unmount all your wood mounted stamps and just add the layer of THIN EZ MOUNT. These stamps can now be stored in CD or DVD jewl cases

or on tabbed dividers that are also made by Sunday International and save you tons of space!

In the photo above, you see a Stampin' Up! sets that has been taken off the wood blocks and THIN EZ MOUNT has been added. It now uses only a fraction of the space than before. (The grey layer of foam is the original foam the stamp came on.)
To unmount a wood mounted stamp, simply place 1 stamp at a time into your microwave and heat it on high for 10-15 seconds

When you take your wood stamp out of the microwave, grab it with a towel because the wood is going to be hot. The glue is now soft and you can take the rubber easily off the wood block. Now, apply stamp right onto the black side of your THIN EZ MOUNT. Don't be scared - you are not going to destroy your rubber stamp.