April Crate Paper Card Menu w/Christine Middlecamp

Can you believe that it's already been a month since I last visited you here with a Crate Paper Card Menu feature? Where does time go these days? I can't keep pace with it anymore, but I sure have fun trying, how about you? I've two brand new cards to introduce to you today and they're infinitely unique in their own special way. One's a pinch of Spring with hints of golden yellow and pale pink while the other is strikingly rich and carnival-like. How the two cards took on differing tones, I'm not really sure, but they still blend in seamlessly amongst the other cards. By the time the project is finished, no one will even notice their drastic differences because the project will be viewed as a whole rather than via it's individual components. That's what so great about large size projects like this..you can pretty much do whatever you want without worrying about each cards impact on the final outcome. 

 

The Menu: Emma's "Pretty" Accent Cut, Emma's Sew Brads, Emma's Books Mini Patterned Paper, Emma's Playhouse Patterned Paper, Portrait's Phrase Stickers, Portrait's Pearls Patterned Paper, Portrait's June Patterned Paper, Neighborhood's Border Stickers, Neighborhood's Garden Patterned Paper. Also, a Small Butterfly {Black/White}, Misc. Pink Epoxy Brad, Turquoise Button, Pink Rhinestone and Twine. 

 

Start by developing the card's background. Prepare the bottom section of the card by completing the following: apply Neighhood's banner sticker to Portrait's June patterned paper as shown. Trim upper section of paper from banner's top edge.

 

Select an ideal banner location for situating it on top the card and adhere it into position. Turn card over (backside) and trim excess paper/banner from it's left and bottom edge. 

 

Trim Portrait's B/W journaling sticker in half and apply it along the left edge of card as shown. Trim Flowers from Neighborhood's Garden Patterned Paper and layer them accordingly. The top most flower should be adhered into position with a foam core pop dot. Insert the brad before doing so though because attempting to push prongs through foam is a near impossible feat. 

 

The second flower is slightly tricky as it requires a leaf that's to be taken from another stemmed flower. Once again, trim a small flower from Neighborhood's Garden Patterned Paper {with stem} and with it, trim a small leaf from one of the other stems and add it to your trimmed flower so that it looks similar to it's partnering large flower. Go ahead and adhere it into position and then attach the final brad {Pink Epoxy}.

 

Time to spruce the card up just a little bit more - trim "Flowers for Mama" from Emma's mini patterned paper pad and staple it to the bottom edge of the card {Ranger Mini Stapler - love the thing!! The staples are half the size of normal staples!}. Further accent it with a smidgen size strip of woodgrain patterned paper trimmed with the help of Pinking scissors.

 

Either die-cut your own butterfly or use a pre-existing butterfly to adorn the top right corner of the card. Layer on top of it a small turquoise button and pink rhinestone. 

Working with twine is it's own challenge. It's easily manipulated, but to keep it in position you'll have to adhere parts of it down with wet adhesive. Trim a small section of twine as I've done and decide the path you want it to take with it. A loop or two is preferred. Apply a small amount of adhesive beneath various portions of the positioned twine. Think in terms of where the twine requires extra support (such as at the base of the loop) and apply the adhesive in those locations. Do this until you feel the twine is readily secure. 

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The Menu: Emma's Shoppe Rose Accent Card, Emma's Shop "Books" Patterned Paper, Emma's Shop Layered Chipboard, Emma's Shop Phrase Stickers, Neighborhood's Phrase Stickers, Portrait's Chipboard Accents, Portrait's Eclectic Buttons. Also, Black Cardstock, Gold Gel Pen, Ruler, Quick Drying Adhesive {Glue Gun} and Wire Cutter.

 

Honestly, the most challenging aspect of this card is this insatiably cute accordion flower. If you can manage it from start to finish, then you'll have no problem putting together the rest of the card. 

The rainbow accordion flower is made from Emma's Books Patterned Paper. To create the strong array of colors shown above, you'll want to trim across the length of the patterned paper so that it hosts a small section of color from each book. The strip itself is a little over 1" x 12". Accordion fold the entire strip of paper in 1/4" increments. Carefully wrap it into the shape of a circle and adhere the circle at it's center with a glue gun. Also, adhere the overlapping edges that combine to create the circle {Seam} - do so with a regular wet adhesive {less messy}. Finally, secure the button into position with a large glue dot {multiple glue dots!!}. 

Set-up the background of the card using Emma's Rose Accent Card and a Black cardstock layered Restoration Playing Card.

 

Adhere the accordion flower on top the playing card using again, the helpful handy glue gun. Tuck just beneath it Emma's #1 Toy Block layered chipboard piece. 

 

It's quite often that I trim the prongs from my brads so that I'm able to utilize them in ways not normally friendly to prongs, such as on buttons and other solid items not accustomed to hole production. I keep an old wire trimmer at my desk for the removal of prongs since prongs are usually thin and flimsy and easy to cut! 

Trim the prongs from Portrait's B/W Ornate Circle Pattern brad. You might want to stretch the prongs out first**. Adhere the brad on top of Portrait's Wood Floral button using a small foam core pop dot.

 

Layer Emma's square journal spot sticker with black cardstock and position in place with adhesive. Apply on top of it Neighborhood's Kindness sticker and two small B/W chipboard pieces from the Portrait collection. 

 

And lastly, color a thin gold border around your playing card with the help of a gold gel pen. I used to frequently make use of this pen in the past, though lately, I've not been doing so and I'm not sure why either because it's a quick and easy means of sprucing up a project. Maybe it's because I've been distressing my paper's and embelishments less the last couple of months...could be. Use a ruler if you think it'll help you create an even, clean border. I did because I've not a steady hand to count on! I also drew a black outline border around the card with a .05 Black Archival Safe Pen. 

 

We've to say good-bye again, though behold, you'll hear from me shortly in the very near future :) If you've any questions about the ongoing Card Menu tutorial, please feel free to email Crate Paper at [email protected] You're question'(s) will find their way to me and once they do, I'll do my best to answer them in a timely fashion. I'd love to hear what you think of the tutorial so far..maybe there's something you'd like see done with a card or two? Whatever it happens to be, you're input is important to me..thank you for making this visit a part of your day! Do enjoy these last few images I've to share from today's menu cards...

Comments

[Anna Sigga]

WOW - love these cards, so freakin creative! :D

[Cristina]

These are gorgeous, Christine! The accent cuts are so versatile!

[Annette Allen]

awesome cards. Love your technique. Love all the bright colors...

[Danielle Flanders]

you are amazing, Christine, just love your layering ability!

[MichelleGB]

Stunning little cards! Love them! Thank you for the tutorial!

[Rebecca]

Oh, wow! Sooo pretty!! Thanks for sharing!!

[JaniceB]

Always enjoy seeing how you create anything it just facinates me how it all comes together. Thanks for always being so kind to share it with all of us.

[heather i]

Wow, Christine, you blow me away! This is absolutely lovely!! The colors, textures, patterns...breathtaking, really. Wonderful pictures too!! I just want to touch all of these textures!

[Amy Baldwin]

Such beautiful cards Christine! Thanks for the tutorials, very informative!

[NancyD]

Gorgeous, Christine! I've always loved your intricate style, so it's nice to see the process of you putting these cards together. And I love all the photos of the little details!

[Julie Tucker-Wolek]

Just GORGEOUS!! Thanks soooooooo much for the step by step! :):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):)

[Nathalie]

Christine, Please please please more of these, I work all day and doing these step by step small creations is perfect for an evening crafter - and you don't end up with a room full of 12x12's - PERFECT!

[taj white]

very pretty card, great tutorial!!

[Jing-Jing]

This is so detailed, how delightful!! Thanks for the awesome tutorial!!!

[Libby]

Beautiful palette. The project is so Spring-y, fresh and light. Thanks for the tutorial.