Planning for Scraps

Hey folks! Again, it's been another long stretch between posts. I promise I'm going to try to get better at this. A warm welcome to my new followers! I hope to visit your blogs soon to see what you have going on. This is a kind of quick post about something so simple, but so vital...scraps! I am a huge fan of scraps and using scraps. Sometimes (lots of times actually) I challenge myself to make entire projects from scraps. My favorite part about scraps? They save you money!!!!

Most of you are veterans in the crafting game, and you know all about this, but I recently got my sister into cardmaking and scrapbooking. It's really great to have conversations with folks who are new to paper crafting (I'm still pretty new myself) because there's a lot you know that you take for granted. I sometimes forget that I had to troll blogs and make mistakes to know what I know, so I thought I would share this quick tip:

When cutting, especially for a mass production project (like the wedding invites I'm doing now, that I will post soon...no I'm not getting married), plan your scraps. Figure out how much of your 12x12 or 8.5x11 paper you will need for your project and make your first cut the cut that will leave you with the largest scrap. The largest scrap is the most versatile scrap because you have more options with how you use it or cut it down. When you're left with lots of little scraps, they can only be used for layers, punches, die cutting, etc. Still not a bad deal, but how awesome is it to have a scrap that can be used as a base for an entirely different project?!

For example, I'm doing 5x7 flat (meaning they don't fold) invites from 12x12. paper. I could cut the paper at 5" two times to create two 5x12 pieces and one 2x12 piece. I could then cut each of the larger pieces at 7" to create two 5x7 pieces, which would leave me with two 5x5 pieces. So, that would give me the two 5x7 pieces I need, plus a 2x12 piece and two 5x5 pieces for my scrap drawer that will eventually get used. Or...

I could figure out that if I'm going to get two 5x7 pieces from a 12x12, I need to create at 7x10 piece that I can cut in half! That means I should cut my 12x12 at 7", leaving me with a 5x12 piece and a 7x12 piece. I would cut 2" off the 7x12 to create the 7x10, and then cut it in half (at 5") to create two 5x7 pieces! But wait...I still have a 5x12 piece. Cut that at 7" to create a third 5x7, leaving you with one 5x5 scrap. It leaves you with fewer scraps, but more invitations. If you don't need the third invite, you can leave the 5x12 piece as is because it is large enough to make a card (possibly a thank you card that coordinates with the invitation) or a layer or border for a scrapbook page.

For my invites, I'm making a belly band to go around the invite so if I leave the 5x12 piece as it is, I can cut it into strips for my belly bands. It's also large enough to run through my printer if I want to print the couple's names on the belly bands before cutting. So many more possibilities there than with a bundle of small scraps.

This is also useful when deciding between 12x12 or 8.5x11 paper. Sometimes 12x12 is more expensive, but you can get more items from it so the cost per piece makes more sense.

I hope someone finds this helpful. It takes a few extra minutes, if you're not good at math like me, but it definitely stretches you materials. Happy scrap planning!

Happy Valentine's Day & Big News!

It's been exactly one month since I last posted! I'm so sorry I haven't been around. Work picked up, and I'm in the middle of selecting our student staff for next year. We're hiring 21 bright & shining faces so there's a lot of time involved, and I'm not even doing the bulk of the work! I'm hoping I can work on some projects and get them up here over this extended weekend.

Here's the exciting news though...
My sister & I started our business! She finally gave me the kick in the butt I needed to make this happen...and by that I mean she set up everything and then said, "ok, go make some cards." We're called "Palmetto Peaches," which represents our South Carolina turned Georgia roots. Our Etsy shop is www.palmettopeaches.etsy.com. We're also on Facebook. Find us at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Palmetto-Peaches/172160169495687 and "like" us! We have pictures of our projects and more info about us. We are selling through Etsy and direct emails/messages. Very exciting times ahead!

Happy Valentine's Day everyone!

From my happy place to yours!
Debbie

Extra 20% off at Michael's

Click below for an extra 20% off of your entire purchase. Did you know you can usually use these in combination with the 40% & 50% off coupons? Some of the clerks will do it, no problem, but with some you have to be a bit more persistent. The computer does accept it. Just ask! Unfortunately, I don't have a link to a 40% or 50%, but there are some blogs that post them. Happy shopping!
20% off Michael's Coupon

From my happy place to yours,
Debbie

twine wrapped card tutorial

First of all, a big huge welcome to my new followers! Am I a dork for being super pumped about having more than 10 followers? Oh well, call me a dork. Won't be the first time. Please leave comments. I especially love suggestions and feedback...especially if you have cool tips and tricks to save time or take my work to the next level! I'll be sure to check out your blogs as well.

This is my first real tutorial! I don't have a tripod (and I don't know how to edit video yet) so this is just pics & instructions for now. I'll get on the video thing sooner than later, hopefully.

These cards are small cards made from scraps (I love scraps!) that I'm delivering with no envelopes. Some of my RAs (Resident Assistants) did really well last quarter academically and I wanted to recognize their hard work with a special card and little treat. On to the tutorial!

Materials I used:
Card base - Friendly Forest patterned paper cut 6x4
Layers - Friendly Forest 1x4 coordinating scraps (2 each)
Border punch - EK Success (not sure of the name, but it's a "notebook sheet" punch)
Circle punch - Fiskars 1" punch
1/8 hole punch - Martha Stewart (I only used this because I don't have an SU! slit punch)
"Hello" stamp - Studio G
Large brad from Staples (as with all the other items, any brad will do)
Twine from my stash from the Dollar Tree - about 9.5" or what ever size will go around your card 2 times plus an extra couple of inches
Adhesive - Scotch ATG (anything you normally use to adhere paper will do), Glue Dots (you absolutely need some form of a glue dot. I wouldn't use dimensionals for this because your twine might get caught in it and pull it off.)

Stamp your sentiment on scrap paper and punch it out with the circle punch. Set it aside. Score and fold card base at 3"to make a 3x4 card. Punch one of the layers with a border punch, and glue the two layered pieces together. Make sure the punched sheet is on the left and under the unpunched layer. Use a hole or slit punch about halfway down the top layer near the edge. I used a 1/8 inch punch and just punched a few holes side by side to create a slit.

At this point, or sometime before, you should write your message in your card. You won't want to try to do it after you attach the top layer. Add adhesive to the back of your attached layers and insert brad. Before bending down the prongs, tie the twine around the base. I did it twice because I'm paranoid about my cards falling apart. :)

Bend down the prongs and press them as flat as possible.

Attach to the front of the card. The edge where the brad is will not lay flat against the card. If this is going to bother you, I suggest using dimensional adhesive to attach the layer to the card. Attach a glue dot to the head of the brad.

Attach your sentiment. This is why you need the glue dot (or some other adhesive that attaches paper and metal). Wrap your twine around the card and around the brad. You may have to push up at bit on the brad from behind to get the twine around it.

Try it out and have fun. Use your scraps, and don't worry about sizes and materials. Challenge yourself to just use what you have without cutting any new paper for the entire card and do your own thing!

From my happy place to yours!

Debbie

Cricut Addiction?

Just in case you were wondering...this is what happens when cartridges are ridiculously cheap and you have five Michael's stores near you. The sad part? I only went to four of them. :-/ My wallet & I are safely at home now so, no worries. :)

Quick card. Quick post.

It's already been a long week! First week back at work means longer hours, and I feel a little bit like a zombie when I get home. I'm really glad I get to work with such great students though!

This card is a quick card that only required cutting & punching. Pretty sure the black & white paper is s.e.i. (I'll double check tomorrow). It's cut at 6 x 7 and folded in half on the 7" side so it ends up being around 3.5 x 6. It's from a really cute 8x8 pack that I hoard. Patterned/textured paper is my secret weapon. It's like a great dress. It looks like you put in a lot of effort when you really didn't. :)

The pink is from Stampin Up!, and I think it's an old In Color so I don't know the name. That's cut at approx. 2.5x3.5. Black & white strip cut at approx. 1x3.5. Silver rick rack is by Celebrate It (from the holidays) from Michaels. I punched the butterflies with a Marvy punch out of the strips left over from cutting down the original 8x8 sheet. Love using scraps!

Thanks for stopping by! Please follow and/or leave comments. :)

MPS Design Team

Long post alert!!!! Feel free to skip my banter and start reading just below the picture of the card. :)

Happy New Year! I'm am so excited! Robyn over at My Pink Stamper (MPS) is doing a call for her 2011 design team through a challenge. To be considered for the team, you must do a project using your favorite Cricut cartridge and the colors: pink, green, and brown. Those are her favorite colors. I grew up with tons of pink & green (because of my mom's sorority and the only colors we were allowed to decorate the house with), and my favorite neutral to craft with is brown. That's got to be a sign, right?

I'm a novice Cricut user. I got my Cricut Create over two years ago, but didn't use it much until I moved to San Diego because I didn't have the space to keep it out. Trust me, you use it far less when it has to live in the box! I just got my purple Cricut Expression on Black Friday! Love it!  This is a pretty simple card, but there is one slightly complicated part that I'm very proud I've figured out. Those of you with more Cricut experience may think this is easy, but I'm still pinning a feather in my cap!

I made a baby shower invitation with the Wild Card cartridge. I've yet to make a card from the cart, but I'm constantly using the images on it! Totally worth purchasing!!!

Materials list:

• Wild Card Cricut cartridge (You can find similar images on the "In a Child's Year" cartridge).
• Duck image: <SaftyPin> icon
• Umbrella image: <Shower> icon
• Card stock: Stampin' Up! Crumb Cake (card base), Recollections (Michael's) card stock in pink & green (I don't know exact colors because they aren't listed on the package, but they come in the same pack). 
• Sizzix Dots embossing folder (can also use Cuttlebug Swiss Dots or any other desired pattern).
• Cuttlebug, Big Shot, or other die-cutting/embossing machine or dry embossing technique
• 1/8 in. brown satin brown ribbon 
• ATG Adhesive
• Foam dots or dimensional adhesive
• Punches: Stampin Up! Word Window and Modern Label

Making the Card

• The card base is cut at a standard A2 size (4.25 x 5.5).
• The green layer on top is cut at 1/2 inch smaller on each side (3.75 x 5).
• The duck is cut at 1.5 in. (real dial size turned off) and attached with the dimensional foam adhesive.
• The umbrella is cut at 6 in. (real dial size turned off) using the center point feature (instructions below).
• The ribbon is attached using the MPS Cheater Method.
• The sentiment is printed in brown ink and then cut using the SU! word window punch.

Center Point

Most of the tutorials I've seen use center point to cut a picture or printed journaling into a shape. I'm going to tell you how to position an image using the center point feature so you can strategically position an image and use the negative space of the image (the hole left in the paper after you cut the image) like I did for the umbrella. Using the negative space from the cut out is one of my favorite things to do! I think it's a different and interesting way to use the Cricut.

Please note: You will need a Cricut Expression or a Cricut Create to do this. If you have a gypsy, there are lots of great tutorials on-line about setting up templates, which would let you create this card  very easily without the center point feature, using any Cricut!

For this card, I decided I wanted the umbrella cut in the bottom 3 in. corner of the card, therefore the center of my cutting area was 1.5 in. from the bottom and 1.5 in. from the right side of the card. Here's how I did it:

1. Place 3.75 x 5 in. card stock in the top right corner of your cutting mat. The 5.5 edge should go along the side of the mat that will be fed into the machine.
2. Position your blade so it's 1.5 in. from the bottom of your card stock and 1.5 in. from the right. (When I say "bottom & right," this is in reference to how the layer will be placed on the card. If it's helpful for you to use the way it's placed on the mat as the reference for orientation, it would be 1.5 in. from the left and bottom.) This is my center point.
1. The left/right coordinates on your screen will be 3.5 & 2.25 respectively.
3. Turn on your center point feature.
4. Select the image (<shower> icon) and cut! Below is what you get. :)

Trial & Error FYI - You can't use the center point function if the Real Deal Size feature is selected. I'm not sure why, but when I tried it didn't work. That meant I had to do a few test cuts of the umbrella to find the size I wanted it because on the Wild Card cartridge, all elements are cut in proportion to the size of the card. For instance, I instructed you to cut the umbrella at 6 in. Clearly, this is not a 6 in. umbrella. This is the size the umbrella should be to fit a 6 in. card. Hope that makes sense.

Go use your scraps to play around with the center point feature and try using negative space from your cuts. It's great for words...especially if you want to do smaller letters! Leave comments & questions. I promise to respond. :)