"Piece out, man"!!

Geddit? Piece, peace??? Ok, it's tenuous but a link all the same to our lovely new challenge which is to use paper piecing in your project. I love to do paper piecing but it can be time-consuming. I have to say though the result is usually worth it and PTI have loads of fabulous sets that lend themselves beautifully to this technique.
For my sample I chose a set that hasn't seen much love in a long time (hides head in shame). I love this cute little set though - it was among the first I bought. I have stamped it onto my favourite PTI paper too - the polka dot one from the Raspberry Fizz collection - yum. The sentiment is also from the Scattered Showers set.

Caryn

Recipe
{Wishing You Sunshine}
Stamps: Scattered Showers, Background Basics: Hearts (Papertrey Ink), Legder Stamp (Hero Arts)
Ink: Tuxedo Black (Memento) Versamark, Enchanted Evening (Papertrey Ink)
Cardstock: Enchanted Evening, Kraft (Papertrey Ink)
Patterned Paper: Raspberry Fizz collection (Papertrey Ink)
Accessories:Raspberry Fizz twill ribbon/, Medium scallop border die (Papertrey Ink)

Over to Aimes:
Believe it or not, I don't actually own that many PTI sets that scream out, "Paper-piece me, girly!" but it is a technique that I seriously love when I've got the patience to do it, and it's a great way to use those diddy scraps you've been hoarding too *wink*

So after rooting through some of my sets, I came across the solid outline stamp of a butterfly from Butterfly Dreams; rooted through my Bitty Dots DP Scrap bag (yes, I am an organised, verging-on-OCD kinda gal when it comes to scraps!) and got busy:

As you can hopefully tell, I wasn't happy with just a pinky, dotty butterfly: I wanted a shiny, super glittery butterfly instead. Cue a good dollop of the Glossy Accents and glitter for a blingin' butterfly so bright it'd blind ya LOL!

Gotta love me some super-shiny-shimmery goodness :)

Card Deets
{Happy Birthday}
Stamps: Butterfly Dreams, Birthday Bash Sentiments (Papertrey Ink)
Ink: Tuxedo Black (Memento) Versamark
Cardstock: Enchanted Evening (Papertrey Ink)
Patterned Paper: Basic White 6x6 Pad (Basic Grey)/Hibiscus Burst Bitty Dot Basics (Papertrey Ink)
Accessories: Simply Chartreuse Felt, Eyelet Border Die, Simply Chartreuse Button (Papertrey Ink)/Cuttlebug/Circle Nestability (Spellbinders)/Glossy Accents (Ranger)/Prisma Glitter/Chompy (Corner Chomper - We R Memory Keepers)

Over to Kate: "The minute I thought about this challenge I reached for my On My Couch set, and paper pieced the sofa with one of the papers from Turning a New Leaf - then added some shading with a copic marker to make it add a bit of dimension. A simple, CAS card for a special friend!"



Recipe:
Stamps - On My Couch/On My Couch Additions
Ink - Memento black
Card - Vintage Cream/Dark Chocolate
Paper - Turning a New Leaf
Dies - Mat Stack 5/Ric-Rak

So what's on offer this time round for all you lovely challengees?? It's this........

Fillable Frames #5 stamp set.

Here are the challenge deets:

* All entries must contain at least one PTI product to qualify (please state what is PTI as sometimes for us it's hard to tell :D)

* To enter, use our inlinkz thingy at the bottom of this post (be aware that we've had a few niggles with it!). Please leave the correct URL for your entry post and not just your generic blog address! If you're having problems then just leave a comment with a link to your post featuring the project on your blog or online gallery.

* Worldwide entries are more than welcome to share the inspiration and can be in with a chance of being a Top 3 PTI Passionista, but unfortunately prizes can only be shipped within Europe!

* Challenge closes on Monday, March 21st 2011 at 9.00am GMT

* As well as a randomly picked winner, we'll select the top three creations we like the most and feature them on the Blog. The top three PTI Passionistas will have chance to display a Top 3 Passionista Blinkie on their own blog.

Caryn, Aimes and Kate
xxxx

A new challenge!

Hello there! Thank you for joining us for another challenge! Before we go any further today we have just a bit of house-keeping for you - we've decided to change the day we start our challenges to a Tuesday. Our deadline will still be 9am on Monday morning (two weeks after the challenge has been set) with the winners being announced later that day. The new challenge will then be set on the following day.

OK, onto far more interesting business! For this challenge we're planning parties!! Ok, you don't actually have to plan a party (but if you do will you invite us!) - but we'd like to see what you can come up with when making an invite for a party. In fact in can be an invite to any event - wedding, christening etc - so long as it's an invitation and it features at least one PTI product you can enter the challenge!

For my sample I made a pocket card, using some scrummy Hawai'in Shores card and ribbon, and the Green boutique papers. Here's how it will be received:


And the recipient will pull out the card to reveal the invitation (which I will hand write on the white card).



Card recipe: (All PTI unless otherwise stated)

Stamps - Tags for Spring, Birthday Bash Sentimens
Ink - New Leaf
Card - Stamper's Select White, Hawai'in Shore
Paper - Green Boutique
Ribbon - Hawai'in Shores Saddle Stitch
Dies - Ric-Rac, 1 3/4in circles
Other - Corner Chomper

Over to Aimes
"Hmmmm....invites.....well I'll be the first to admit that I don't really make invites. Contrary to what you may believe, I'm not the 'Hostess with the Mostess' (I leave that trait to both Caryn and Kate LOL!) but I do love being invited to a good shindig *wink*

So I tried something a little different. Still on my tag kick from our last challenge and a vellum kick from the previous PTI Make It Monday challenge, I combined both to come up with this invite:

Yup, it's my party and everyone is invited! (But you'll have to share this one invite, OK?! Ha!)

The addition of a layer of a vellum on the tag tones down the bold background stamping underneath slightly. You could also use your printer to print the party details directly on to your sheet of vellum and then die cut out after. The transparency of the vellum means you can die cut after printing to absolute perfection :)

Invite Deets
{it's my party!}
Stamps: Damask Designs, Birthday Bash Sentiments (Papertrey Ink)/Sentiment from Frame-It (Waltzingmouse Stamps)
Ink: Dark Chocolate, Ocean Tides (Papertrey Ink)/Versamark/Tuxedo Black (Memento)
Cardstock: Dark Chocolate, Ocean Tides, Aqua Mist, Raspberry Fizz, Vellum (Papertrey Ink)
Accessories: Cuttlebug, Cuttlebug Embossing Folder (Provocraft)/Raspberry Fizz Grosgrain Ribbon, Tag Sale #1 Die, Limitless Layers 1 3/4" Collection Dies, Medium Scallop Border Die(Papertrey Ink)

With hindsight I've realised that I could have also put a vellum overlay on the back of the tag as an RSVP too. Well if I ever do host anything I'll remember that tip for next time..."

And now to Caryn..

"Hey there folks and happy Tuesday. It's happy for me as it's half term here and that means no morning routine of getting the children to school -yay! I'm sure Aimes is with me there ;0).
Now, invitations. As much as I LOVE to entertain I too am a bit like Aimes and don't really get round to the invitation sending part. I tend to go for group texts!!! However, I have decided that for my hubby's 40th birthday in July (yes, I'm getting ahead of myself for once) I am going to do ACTUAL invites!! The card I've made here won't be the finished design - it'll be a bit more grown up (!) but this was the mood I was in when I made it so it's a bit more childish! Actually, when I think about it this would suit my other half perfectly!


{Recipe}
Stamps: Everyday Classics (2008 anniversary set), Round and Round (2009 anniversary set), Banner Builder
Card: Simply Chartreuse, Stampers select white.
Paper: Beautiful Blooms
Ink: Pure Poppy, Hawaiian Shores and Simply Chartreuse
Accessories: Mat stack 4 die. Papermania gems.

As our featured stamper for February, here's Imke's fabulous invitation showing that you don't have to think of just parties for an invite. This sweet card is a lovely way to invite a friend for a get-together!

And here is the fabulous prize up for grabs! This super cute mini PTI stamp set will go to a randomly drawn winner -



Here are the challenge deets:

* All entries must contain at least one PTI product to qualify (please state what is PTI as sometimes for us it's hard to tell :D)

* To enter, use our inlinkz thingy at the bottom of this post (be aware that we've had a few niggles with it!). Please leave the correct URL for your entry post and not just your generic blog address! If you're having problems then just leave a comment with a link to your post featuring the project on your blog or online gallery.

* Worldwide entries are more than welcome to share the inspiration and can be in with a chance of being a Top 3 PTI Passionista, but unfortunately prizes can only be shipped within Europe!

* Challenge closes on Monday, March 7th 2011 at 9.00am GMT

* As well as a randomly picked winner, we'll select the top three creations we like the most and feature them on the Blog. The top three PTI Passionistas will have chance to display a Top 3 Passionista Blinkie on their own blog.



Kate, Aimes, Caryn & Imke
xxxx

Let's Chat....

....about this Sunday! How excited are you if you're joining Kate and I for the Make and Take?! We're both very excited and very busy in the middle of preparing everything; I just know I'll forget something so I'll apologise in advance! Sorry! LOL!


Now don't go thinking that this card reveals any secrets about the make and take, so don't go looking for them! In fact this card is way off the mark from what we'll be making or using.....



....or is it?! Tee Hee!

Can't wait to see you all on Sunday!

Aimes
x

Card Deets
{let's chat}
Stamps: On my Couch, Polka Dot Basics II (Papertrey Ink)
Card: Enchanted Evening, New Leaf, Lemon Tart, Stamper's Select White (Papertrey Ink)
Ink: Versamark/Tuxedo Black (Memento)
Patterned Paper: Beautiful Blooms DP (Papertrey Ink)
Accessories: Cuttlebug/Nestabilities/Promarkers/Medium Scallop Die, Hawaiian Shores Grosgrain Ribbon (Papertrey Ink)/Clear Gems (Zva)

Challenge: Long & Tall

Hey!

Time for a new challenge methinks! So after totally conquering our last challenge, are you ready for something a little different? I hope so!

For this fortnight's challenge we want to see your own takes on Long and Tall cards. I know myself I tend to get stuck in a pattern of making 4.25"x5.5" cards so like to break out every now and again and challenge myself to a different shape.

Here's my example:

OK I know this looks like a pretty uneventful card - I mean that chair is hardly inviting enough to make anyone feel better....hmmm.....I wonder if I could change that chair somehow....Oh c'mon you know me, I like a lil' bit of magic every now and again.....just pull up that terracotta ribbon....
....a bit more....

Ta-dah!!!!

Card Recipe

Stamps: On My Couch/On My Couch Additions/Polka Dot Basics II
Ink: Terracotta Tile/Versamark/Stazon Black
Cardstock: Smokey Shadow/Terracotta Tile/Ripe Avocado
Accessories: Acetate/Ripe Avocado Grosgrain Ribbon/ Fiskars Border Punch/Corner Rounder/Nesties/Fresh Snow Twill/Brads

Oh this card made my guy really smile so know it's gotta be suitable for giving to my Dad to cheer up his recovery after his stressful weeks in hospital.

Over to Kate:
"When I was looking through my PTI stamps for a good set to make a tall card with, I came across my little-used 'Take Three Spring' set and thought the three leaf images would be perfect for a bright and summery birthday card."


Recipe:
Stamps: Take Three - Spring
Card: Stamper's Select White/Raspberry Fizz
Ink: Colorbox chalk/Versamagic/Versafine Black
Other: Corner Chomper/Swiss Dots Cuttlebug Embossing folder

And as our featured stamper for this month, here's Caryn's fabulous take on the challenge:
"I'm normally very square so this was a real challenge for me!! I used rustic cream for the base (half sheet of card folded in half lengthways), then with a mount of Pure Poppy layered with the spotty paper from the Rustic Snowflakes paper collection. I stamped the outline image of the large flower from Peaceful Poinsettias twice onto cream card and coloured them with ProMarkers (Berry Red and Ruby). The centres have been glittered with black fine glitter. The sentiment has been stamped and mounted on Rustic Cream and Pure Poppy and then the card has been finished with True Black twill ribbon."

Have we convinced you to join in our challenge yet? I hope so, but just in case you need some more persuading, if you live within Europe you could be the lucky winner of this:

A sheet of each design of PTI's Dotty Biscotti (6 sheets in total) plus a whole reel of Plum Pudding grosgrain ribbon!

OK so here are the deets:
* All entries must contain at least one PTI product to qualify

* To enter, use our inlinkz thingy at the bottom of this post. If you're having problems then just leave a comment with a link to your post featuring the project on your blog or online gallery.

* Worldwide entries are more than welcome to share the inspiration and can be in with a chance of being a Top 3 PTI Passionista, but unfortunately prizes can only be shipped within Europe!

* Challenge closes on Monday, August 23rd 2010 at 9.00am GMT

* A winner will be chosen at random to receive some PTI goodies! In addition to this, we'll select the top three creations we like the most and feature them on the Blog. The top three PTI Passionistas will have chance to display a Top 3 Passionista Blinkie on their own blog.

Have fun with this challenge - we can't wait to see what long and tall creations you come up with!

Aimes, Kate and Caryn
xxx

Finally - A Bow Tutorial!

Happy Friday!!!! Typical that these weeks start to zoom by so fast when I'm on my summer holidays from work *sigh*!

Just poppin' a quick post today to let you know that I've finally done something I thought I'd never get around to doing; I've created a little video tutorial to show you how I create individual bows for my projects. Some of you had requested if I could show you how I do some of my bows so here it is! HUGE credit goes to my very own mum for suggesting this technique btw!
(FYI if I'm tying my ribbon around a project I always refer to the tutorial produced by Dawn McVey, here)

Now before you laugh, this was filmed at night whilst Chris was out (I just couldn't do this in front of him without cracking up!) and with my bog-standard digital camera, nothing fancy! But I hope you like it anyways and you too don't feel fear rising when wanting to make a bow for a future project!

Enjoy!



If you can't see the video, trying clicking here

Now I had to put that bow to good use didn't I?Oh and now I can line them all up *happy sigh* I hope I'm allowed to like my own cards because these make my heart skip a beat ;D

Have a super weekend! If you're not busy, you know there's plenty of time to enter our current challenge to win a mini-stamp set. Don't do what I do and leave it all to the last minute LOL!

Aimes
x

Challenge - Forever Friends

So it's time to set another challenge here on A Passion for Papertrey - it comes round quickly doesn't it?!

Before we get to the challenge I wanted to share a photo with you. It's not often that Aimes and I get to meet up in person, but this past weekend was one such occasion! We met up with our blogging buddies (and fellow PTI fans!) Steph and Caryn for a girlie weekend - shopping, cocktails, and Eclipse.... such a fun weekend!

So here we are, the two Passion for Papertrey gals, in matching outfits no less!! (We were trying the same top on!)



With our weekend in mind, we thought we'd ask you to think about your special friends and make a card for one of them. There is something so special about receiving a card from a friend for no other reason than they are thinking of you! So our challenge is to create a friendship card, using at least one Papertrey Ink product.
For mine I used the super adorable Enjoy the Ride set, and matching die. I paper pieced part of the cars (very flower power don't you think!) with the gorgeous Beautiful Blooms papers, and coloured the rest with Copics. I'm in love with these cars!!


Recipe:

Stamps: Enjoy the Ride, Friends til the End
Ink: Memento black
Card: Stamper's Select White/Hawaiin Shores/Pure PoppyPapers: Beautiful Blooms
Other: Enjoy the Ride die/Rik Rack die/Copic Sketch markers


Over to Aimes:
"Seemed kinda fitting to have a friendship theme for our challenge this fortnight seeing as Kate and I had spent a fabulous girlie weekend together along with our other fabulous crafty friends, Caryn and Steph! For my sample, I decided to get comfy with my On My Couch set and On My Couch Additions. I just luuuuuurve those sets to play with; in fact I had so much fun that I made not one card, but two!Before you think I have some XL size stamps, these cards are a sweet lil' 2.5 x 4.25 inches big! I went for a subtle chair this time, stamped with Versamark which allowed me to stamp my sentiment over the top. The sentiment was orginally a long line of text but I just inked up each word at a time to create the lines of text.

I love these little cards - you use way less supplies on 'em with the added bonus that if you chop a PTI envie in half and stitch/glue the open sides together you'll create an envie for each card outta just the one envie! Just gotta love that!"

Once again our randomly drawn winner will receive this fabulous stamp set, Fly Away:




Are you ready to play along?! Here's the deets:

* All entries must contain at least one PTI product to qualify

* To enter, use our inlinkz thingy at the bottom of this post. If you're having problems then just leave a comment with a link to your post featuring the project on your blog or online gallery.

* Worldwide entries are more than welcome to share the inspiration and can be in with a chance of being a Top 3 PTI Passionista, but unfortunately prizes can only be shipped within Europe!

* Challenge closes on Monday, August 9th 2010 at 9.00am GMT

* A winner will be chosen at random to receive some PTI goodies! In addition to this, we'll select the top three creations we like the most and feature them on the Blog. The top three PTI Passionistas will have chance to display a Top 3 Passionista Blinkie on their own blog.

Have fun!!

Kate & Aimes xx

Chaos, Cosy Chairs and Cats!

Hey!

Hope your week's going well so far...it's not too early to start counting down to the weekend yet is it?!

It's been a crazy first week back at work so far and today's antics included the plasterboard ceiling caving in on me and a group of students! Don't worry, no-one was injured and most importantly I saved my cup of tea (JOKE! Well kinda; the students were my priority but I'll confess the tea came a close second LOL!)

So in between ceilings falling down on me, washing plasterboard dust outta my hair and being in the middle of the exam season, I'm not having much time to find to get inky at the moment. It's a good job I'm still playing catch up from half term's creative time :D


Would you believe as much as I love my On My Couch set, this is the first time I've inked up that sweet little kitty?! Oh it looks so comfy on that chair - it definitely won't be the last time he gets stamped though I feel he'll always be a black cat because he reminds me so much of my old cat Jo-Jo who I grew up with *happy sigh*

Card Recipe
PTI Supplies
Stamps: On My Couch/On My Couch Additions/PTI Anniversary Set - Round & Round
Ink: Spring Moss/Memento Black
Card: Kraft/Stamper's Select White/Spring Moss
Papers: Pure Poppy Bitty Dot Basics
Accessories: Promarkers/PTI Medium Scalloped Die/Cotton Thread/Pure Poppy Vintage Buttons/Fresh Snow Twill Ribbon

Here's hoping the next few days are slightly less dramatic than today! Wish me luck!

Aimes
x

P.S Don't forget, if you find a spare bit of time you can still enter our current challenge this week - it ends next Monday *wink*!

Chair-ishing my stamps!

Hey!

Happy Monday! Sorry I've been a little MIA from the Papertrey Blog recently, I won't bore you with the excuses but I only wish there were more hours in the day to get inky :(

With what time I have found, I've been busy and whipped up a card that isn't my usual style but is still full of PTI goodies :D

Kinda bold, kinda quirky...I kinda like it!

I was staring at a noticeboard the other day and thought, "Hey, I bet I could re-create that on a card!" Yes, 'tis true that my hobby is an obsession that is constantly on my mind!

The bit I love the most is that the tag on my card is removable! So y'never know you may just receive it back from the friend you gave the card to!

And just one more little tip, the pattern on the chair was created from the stem stamp in my Remember set. I love trying to squeeze out every last penny from my supplies!

Wishing you all a wonderful week! If you've got any time on your hands, there's still time to enter our Friends Challenge! Thanks so much for your entries so far, they're fabulous as always!

Aimes
x

Card Recipe
(PTI Supplies)
Stamps: On My Couch/Remember
Ink: Lemon Tart/Hawaiian Shores/Raspberry Fizz/Fresh Snow
Cardstock: Hawaiian Shores/Soft Stone/Lemon Tart/Raspberry Fizz
Accessories: Raspberry Fizz Ribbon/Brads (Tim Holtz)/Gems (Hero Arts)

Emboss It!!!

Hey!

OK ready for a new challenge?! I hope so!

For this challenge we want you to emboss it! Don't panic - you don't have to have a heat gun for this challenge! Now you can have fun with y'heat gun if you want, but here's some other tips for embossing:

• Running an embossing folder through your die-cutting machine
• Using a Nestability die
• Using a good old fashioned light box, stencil and ball tool!

So don't think you've gotta get covered in embossing powder and burn yourself; though that's exactly what I did for my example LOL:

Couldn't resist giving my On My Couch set a little more inky love while it was out on my desk!

The Polka Dots are embossed with white detail powder on Pure Poppy cardstock, as is the sentiment too! I love the way the white 'pops'!



Card Recipe
Stamps: Polka Dot Basics II/On My Couch/On My Couch Additions/Vintage Labels
Ink: Versamark/Pure Poppy/Dark Chocolate/Ripe Avocado/Fresh Snow
Card: Enchanted Evening/Pure Poppy/Stamper's Select White
Accessories: Cuttlebug/Nestabilities/White Detail EP/Ripe Avocado Grosgrain Ribbon/White Gel Pen

Now Kate's still sunning herself in L.A (gosh, what a shock she'll have when she gets back to this weather LOL!) but never fear, Dawn is here as our featured stamper! She goes to prove that you don't have to limit yourself to a card with her stunning example:


Check out that clear embossed Giga Guidelines background!


Dawn's gonna be famous for her amazing notepads - I'm lucky to have one in my possession that I carry nearly everywhere but daren't use for fear of spoiling it!


I just love that little hand pointing - it's such a cute finishing touch!

Stamps: Giga Guidelines, Take Note
Cardstock: Dark Chocolate, Berry Sorbet
DSP: Bitty Dots, Everyday Blessings
Mediums: Staz-on, Chocolate Chip (SU), Embossing Stamp pad
Embellishments: Aqua Mist button, Berry Sorbet ½”luxe satin ribbon
Tools - Paper cutter and scorer, Snail adhesive, Heat gun, clear embossing power.

So there ya have it! I hope we've inspired you a tiny bit to think about embossing and to enter our challenge. Remember, there's some PTI goodies to be won!

Here are the deets:

• All entries must contain at least one PTI product to qualify
  
• To enter, leave a comment with a link to your post featuring the project on your blog or online gallery.
  
• Worldwide entries are more than welcome to share the inspiration, but unfortunately prizes can only be shipped within Europe!
• Challenge closes on Monday 25th January 2010 at 9.00am GMT
• A winner will be chosen at random to receive a collection of PTI goodies!

We can't wait to see what you come up with!

Aimes , Dawn (& Kate from sunny L.A!)
xx

1. Laurel (Joining us again from the USA! Whoop!)
2. Karin (Another PTI fan from the USA sharing the inspiration!)
3. Nadine (entering from Hawaii with a her shiny new blog!)
4. Hanneke
5. Ingrid
6. Chris
7. Beverley
8. Jan
9. Vannessa
10. Aga
11. Mandy
12. Dana
13. Valerie
14. Katie
15. Margaret
16 Margaret (with a second fabulous entry!)
17. Hanne
18. Taheerah
19. Amy

Inky Couch Love!

Hey!

Happy Friday! So how's your week been? I've not actually made it to work at all this week due to the ice and snow! At first it was fun, but now I'm getting kinda sick of the sight of snow and just spend my days doing housework...

...though I've found some spare minutes to get inky too :D!

So I decided to play along with Dawn McVey's Raspberry Suite Colour Challenge #. Here are those all important colours:


Mmmm scrummy combo of Aqua Mist and Dark Chocolate though I wasn't too sure about that Lemon Tart!

So still on my CAS kick of cards, I was determined to use some more scraps seeing as I spent most of this week organising them into colours (yup, that's how bored I've been!) and I promised myself that I would use that cute diddy cushion stamp and give some inky love to On My Couch:


The pic is a little deceiving as this card is tiny! It's only 2.5" x 4.25" and again was made from scraps. This idea originated from Betsy Veldman's take on the Scraptastic challenge; she went even further and created the cutest envies for them too by simply cutting an A2 envie in half and stitching up the sides.

I couldn't resist...
I have to say that I ♥ these sweet cards! So cute for secretly popping into a loved one's lunchbox, or glovebox or any other box LOL! Speaking of ♥, I'm totally loving the new PTI ink formulation too - check out the coverage on the Aqua Mist couch *sigh*!

Card Recipe
Stamps: On My Couch/On My Couch Additions
Ink: Aqua Mist/Dark Chocolate
Card: Vintage Cream/Lemon Tart
Others: Envelope and Sewing Machine!

Oh and have you checked out the sneak peeks for PTI's upcoming release!? Today's sneak peek has me the most excited - defintely raised my heartbeat a little (pun intended!)

Ooh and just one more thing before I love ya and leave ya for the weekend, has everyone received their Christmas ATCs?! If not pop us an email at apassionforpapertrey@yahoo.com because I really, really, really wanna share the pics of them all but don't want to spoil it if you've not got 'em yet!

Have a fabulous weekend people! Stay safe in the snow and ice (if you've got it!)

Aimes
x

Couch Surprise Card Tutorial

Hey!

Well the PC has been set up at our new home (thanks to Chris!) so I can now post a couple of things that I created and photographed before we boxed up and moved out!

Firstly, remember the card I created for Challenge 13: Cherished Colour?
I said I'd explain the chaos in the background later didn't I? I know this is much later but I still thought I'd tell ya! This card is a copy of my winning PTI August GSS entry; I was creating a tutorial to show how I made my 'couch surprise' card so was taking pics every step of the way creating this! Now I've managed to edit some of the pics, I figured I'd share with you all how I made it. It's easy peasy if I can make it and suits just about any occasion and recipient!

So without further ado, how to make a 'couch surprise card'...

Step 1
Stamp out your couch and colour (I used a circle nestie to stamp inside and promarkers to colour with directly onto Kraft card - I love colouring onto Kraft! I also added some detail with a white gel pen)
Then using a craft knife, cut across the top of the cushions you'd sit on (this is where the money slides out!)
Step 2
Now to make the pocket that will hold the money. I decided to use vellum as it's thinner than PTI cardstock so will slide easily in and out of the slit in the couch.
I figured it's easier to show you the template I created with the measurements written by the side (in centimetres). It's easy if you start with a piece 14cm x 4.25cm and alter to recreate the following pic. After cutting this out, score down the 1cm flaps and across where the narrow strip meets the wide part.

Step 3
Fold the side tabs inwards first, then stick them to the narrow strip. I do it this way so the back of my pocket remains a smooth piece of vellum without any risk of glue or folded tabs making it get stuck!
As you can see on the pic, the tabs are glued inside the pocket rather than wrapped around the outer sides so the back is tab free (gosh I hope that makes sense!) Step 4
I then stamped my cushion onto cardstock and cut a thin piece of card slightly narrower than the cushion. Apply some thin sticky tape to the top of the pillow and attach the card. The reason I apply it to the top of the pillow is so the pillow sits nicely on the sofa and overhangs on the slit in the sofa.
The strip of card is then stuck to my vellum pocket (the card adds more stability for when the pocket is pulled and pushed - vellum will tend to crumple!)After creating the pocket, test it in the sofa to make sure it moves freely and nothing catches!Step 5
Next, prepare the card blank BUT DON'T STICK IT TOGETHER YET (go on, ask me how I know LOL!) You need a card blank and another layer on top - I've picked kraft as a base and New Leaf as the layer here (scrummy!) but you can choose whatever the occasion suits! Plan where you want the sofa to be, and using a pencil, draw around the circle (or whatever shape your sofa is on!) remember you need enough room for the pocket to hide so portrait is the best orientation for this kinda card!Step 6
Using a craft knife, cut a large gap to ensure your pocket will fit nicely behind this layer. Leave enough of a border to stick down your sofa though. I love that I don't have to be too accurate with this and as no-one sees it, it doesn't matter if it's a little messy!
Step 7
Stick the sofa onto the card, threading the pocket through the gap you've just cut out.
Step 8
Decorate the rest of the front panel (I've wrapped coordinating vellum around the bottom half; drawn around the sofa circle with a white gel pen using the nestie it was cut with; cut another circle with the a sentiment on and added some yummy enchanted evening ribbon) Then add plenty of 3-D foam around the edges of the card, though not in the middle as this will prevent your pocket from working!

Step 9
Put your treat into the pocket (I went with a £10 note but it depends on just how generous you're feeling ;D) and place the pocket back into the sofa.
Then attach the layer to your base card

Step 10
Ta Dah! Couch surprise card complete!

Card with sliding tab down...
...pillow picked up to find a nice treat down the back of the sofa!
So there ya go - a couch surprise card in 10 easy steps! This card totally justifies the purchase of the On My Couch stamp set for me, I did wonder if I'd ever use it but I ADORE it!

I hope somebody found my tutorial kinda interesting or useful....obviously you can alter some of the dimensions for your own requirements! If you do have a go I'd love to see the results!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Catch ya later!
Aimes
x