I've a very special post ahead for you guys as Crate is bringing forth a bunch of great additions to this place the next couple of weeks. As a part of the additions, they've asked me {Christine Middlecamp} to join you here with two fresh, inspiring posts - the first is Crate's official monthly intro and the next being all about those things that I refer to as "Sparks of Creativity" - in the literal sense, we're talking eye candy here and the plethora of pretty photos and objects we can't help but bump into while living our everyday, ordinary lives.  This means I'm going to pop in every once in a while and show you around! I'm also to begin a lively, brilliantly colorful tutorial series that will show in conjunction with Crate's monthly intro - it's titled "Crate's Menu Card"...essentially, I'm going to illustrate varied approaches to experimenting with Crate's collections - more about this in a minute. So, expect some surprises in the coming weeks at the Crate Paper blog and leave a comment or two in response. I honestly can't wait to see how it plays out..I think you're really going to love what they've come up with!

 

Speaking of love, I'm all about color - whether it's hot pink, gray, red, or turquoise, I'm right there with'em! I make frequent use of these hues on a regular basis on almost everything I create, including this new tutorial series that you'll find from me here on the first of every month - "Crate's Card Menu". I'm going to introduce you to varying applications using Crate's latest product release, "Accent Cuts". Instead of implementing them in the usual fashion or through everyday journalistic means, we're going to dress them up and create an astonishingly beautiful home decor piece for hanging on the wall. I also intend to illustrate the ease and convenience in blending Crate's numerous collections. Even though each of the collections are entirely unique and of differing themes, they're perfectly seamless together and gorgeous to look at!

 

The accent cards themselves are pretty on their own, but with a little extra embellishing, their potential increases tremendously! Because they're essentially "half-done" in the design sense, they're the ideal, neutral backdrop for additional smaller items likes bits of paper, ribbon, punched shapes, etc. Following this direction, we're going to focus our efforts on creating the above wall hanging. To get started, select your cards and arrange them over the frame's opening (around 14" x 10" in size) until you've run out of space. Feel free to do some overlapping when setting up your cards. 

 

Note that some of the notes will probably require trimming to fit within the confines of the frame - this is expected and as such, you should be prepared for it - watch the placement of the cards so as to avoid losing your favorite designs. 

After you've a general idea of the card arrangement, find a large, uninterrupted area in which you can safely store your frame set-up. Consider photographing it before placing it aside just incase the cards are moved at some point. 

And now the first "Crate Card"... 

The Menu: Emma's Green Woodgrain Accent Cut, Emma's Mini Books patterned paper, Emma's Dresses patterned paper, Emma's Chipboard, Emma's Border Stickers, Portrait's Pearls patterned paper, Portrait's Chipboard, Toybox's Border Stickers & Alpha Stickers, Toy Box's Brads. Also, Mini Yellow Pearls, Vanilla Flowers, Martha Stewart Starburst Punch, Antique Book Paper and Vanilla/Gold cardstock. 

 

Trim the opening from this Emma's Shoppe accent card. We're going to use it as a frame. Back it with Books mini patterned paper.

Trim a section of the calendar border sticker {Emma's Shoppe} to fit along the bottom of the card. Layer the top edge of the sticker with a sliver of black cardstock and a section of the blue Emma's Shoppe border sticker just as I've done above. Finally, adhere the trio to the card, though before doing this, sneak the darning and mending sticker beneath it's top left edge. I love hiding things this way!

Layer the blue square, clock chipboard piece {Emma's Shoppe} with black cardstock and then embellish it with a petite vanilla flower, a punched "old book page" starburst and Toy Box brad. Finalize the piece with yellow pearls and adhere in place. Add the sewing machine with pop-dots.

  

Trim a snippet of Portrait's Pearls patterned paper and layer beneath it's bottom edge a scallop cut length of gold cardstock. Tuck the paper section behind the sewing machine and adhere.

Leftover chipboard pieces should never go to waste! This misc. piece {Portrait} was salvaged immediately as it's way to useful to be disposed! Layer just behind the right edge of the frame two tiny sections of Emma's Dresses patterned paper.

Quickly add a journal line next to the sewing machine and personalize it accordingly. 

Adhere the frame into position using glue dots - it should overlap the journaling just slightly. 

Apply a light coat of Diamond Glaze or clear drying glue over the top of the yellow/pink rose section of the frame. While it dries, trim a small section of Toy Box alpha border sticker and tuck it so that it peeks through the frame's opening and is immediately right of the flower. 

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This next card goes together quickly..and yes, I'll be posting two to three cards at a time since the series is expected to finish in July. Some will be quick while others might be more involved..it's an unpredictable process, always.

The Menu: Emma's Green Silk Accent Cut, Emma's Fabric patterned paper, Emma's Ribbon, Portrait Chipboard, Neighborhood's Picnic patterned paper, Neighborhood's Layered Chipboard. Also, Antique Book Paper & Spellbinder's Large Pinking Circles {Dies}.

 

Layer on top the left half of the Silk card a trimmed-to-fit section of antique book paper.

Adhere beneath it's right edge a small strip of Emma's ribbon and to the left of the ribbon, add a border edge {Neighborhood} that's been taken from Neighborhood's Picnic patterned paper. This is a great patterned paper for coordinating the cutest of border designs! 

Directly over the top of that cute patterned border, apply a bright pink Neighborhood felt chipboard border sticker. You're going to have to cut this border a lil' short before applying though. **You also might want to wait to apply it until after this next step. 

With the assistance of a die-cut machine, punch a pinking circle from Emma's Fabric patterned paper or if you're without a die-cut machine, simply trace and trim a circle from the paper instead. Cut out the circular opening from the paper and position it into place as shown. This is why I suggest waiting to apply the pink border - it overlaps the circle a small amount. I had to do some tearing some here..wasn't pleasant. 

To finish it, adhere Portrait's turquoise roses with pop-dots and the page tabs as shown. Never be afraid to layer chipboard just because it's bulky - if two pieces of chipboard are too much to pair, then try layering the chipboard shapes with their matching paper die-cuts instead (available with each collection kit!).

 

This concludes what'll eventually turn out to be an amazing display of crate card menus and timely month-to-month introductions. Follow along again on April 1st..it'll be another day of meddling and creating with me..already looking forward to it! 

Comments

[Lulu]

Such beautiful work!! I am so excited to see everything thats to come!! :)

[Nenne]

wonderful work!!! what a great idea! Can't wait to see the finished result!

[Irma]

I love, love, love the idea and can not wait to see more of it. It is sooo inspiring!
Thank you - Irma

[Janice]

This is amazing! Love the idea! Can't wait to see more :)

[Julie Tucker-Wolek]

Wowwwwwwwww! Amazing work!!! LOVE it all!:):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):)

[Keshet Shenkar]

Love what I see so far!

[Amanda Johnson]

Gorgeous!!!!! Can;t wait to see more!!!!

[Cristina]

So cute!! I love this series!

[Amy H]

Gorgeous. Simply gorgeous.

[Celeste B.]

I love these cards. What a fun way to use lots of embellishments and leftovers.

[Shazi]

I love it! I love the layering , I love the colors. I'm trying to use more color in my projects. Thanks for the inspiration!! I can't wait to see more!

[Ohkat]

How exciting is this!!! My favorite paper and favorite designer in one on a regular basis. Thanks and can't wait to follow along ;)

[Cheri Wenger]

Gorgeous, gorgeous! I can't stop playing with the Restorations collection and I love what I am seeing here with this one!

[sharon gullikson]

Gorgeous card! Love the colors and all of your choices...

[Raechelle Bellus]

such a fun idea! What a great series... I am excited to see what is next! Very beautiful and inspiring.

[Cathy]

Really cute! I'm totally inspired to get my butt out of bed right this instant and go make something!!

[Kelly Sas]

Absolutely amazing creative idea! Kind of like the block of the month that quilters do. I love this idea! Can't wait to see what each month brings.

[Erica Hettwer]

Yay!!! Love these tutorials of Christine's!!! Looking forward to next month!

[Jessica G]

I was waiting to see this post, as Christine announced it on her blog-this was the 1st thing I did this morning! So look forward to this project-cannot get enough of her work! I am going to do this project for my little baby boy's room-just bought frames in that size that I was planning on scrapping somehow-just cannot wait to start this exciting project!

[marcy]

These are amazing Christine!