The May Crate Card Menu

Good Morning (or afternoon, evening, etc.) Crate Paper visitors! Christine Middlecamp here with the third installment of Crate's very own Card Menu. Let me tell you, it was a serious hustle and bustle to get this post ready for you today. While undergoing preparations for the upcoming finals I've to take next week, I squeezed in two full days of scrapbooking and photography time. Let me tell you, it was pure bliss to hide away and partake in my favorite, self-rewarding hobby and if I hadn't of known any better, I might of thought I was already experiencing the luxury of Summer break! Too bad there's still a week-in-a-half to go because it felt tremendously good to be doing something other than homework. If it were ever an option, I'd scrapbook from morning 'til night and hang out with Crate each and every single day:) 

There are three freshly crafted cards to add to the ongoing Crate Card Menu Project. If you're interested in finding out what they entail, travel on down! 

I'm going to forgo the card menu because I really think at this point your more than likely able to recognize the kinds of supplies I'm choosing to use on the cards. If for some reason though you're stumped by one or two items, please email me - I'll do my best to note those items not of the new collections as I go about explaining the construction process in this post. 

I love this card. Maybe it has something to do with the fact that I enjoy the heavenly taste of sugar still, even as an adult. More likely to blame though is Crate's *uber* cute gumball machine. It reminds me of my childhood and the numerous trips to the store where there would be a masquerade of candy machines lined up along the walls near the store's exit. I begged my parents for a quarter so that I could feast on one or two of the machines before leaving. Now that I'm a mom, it's Ethan asking me for change, though it seems candy isn't as prevalent as it used to be (for good reason). It's still fun though to stop by the machines with Ethan as it brings back a host of joyful memories! Remember the days when you could buy a piece of gum for a single penny?!! 

 

This card actually comes together fairly quickly, but there are a few tedious task you'll have do {so, hang on!} in order to finish it. First, Slice a four lace square's from Emma's Shoppe 6" x 6" patterned paper pad. Trim an matching size section from Toy Box's Playdate patterned paper. In creating a polaroid style frame, sketch a rectangle on the top-half of the Playdate paper as I've done above. 

 

Trim the drawn rectangle area from the paper using a small pair of scissors and then piece the frame and quilt paper together. Layer it with black cardstock.

 

Position the poloroid creation to the lower left corner of Emma's Shoppe "Turquoise" Accent Cut at a slight angle. Follow it up with a small banner {Neighborhood Border Stickers} and Emma's "Playhouse" patterned paper.

 

It's time to dress up the inside of the frame - Trim a small section from Emma's Shoppe "Yellow" Accent Cut. Layer the top edge of it with a thin strip of black cardstock. Adhere it within the lower portion of the frame. *You'll want to pre-measure before trimming the accent cut to size so that it fits inside the frame just so. Add Emma's Shoppe small woodgrain page tab as shown.

 

I was really stumped as to what to do with the open area beneath the tab, but Restoration rescued me with it's Playing Cards patterned paper. Trim a large size heart from one of the cards and adhere it into position. Implement a speckle stamp on top the heart using gray/brown dye-based ink. Apply the Cottage Collection's "Thanks" rub-on (or any kind of phrase rub-on).

 

On top the heart, combine and layer: 1" gold/yellow circle {punch from remaining "Yellow" accent cut}, .75" pinking Vanilla circle {trimmed with Fiskars Pinking scissors} and Emma's Shoppe "15" chipboard piece. The "15" cent chipboard piece and Vanilla circle are adhered to the yellow circle with a pop dot. 

Apply the word "eat" {Making Memories} or any word for that matter, inside the tab. Compliment it with a Crate Paper brad {Paper Doll}.

 

And then to finish the card {do this step last!}, apply a thin layer of Dimensional Adhesive over the should-be-glass section of the gumball machine. It'll take about hour or two to dry, so set the card aside where it won't be disturbed! First card finished! Now onto the second.... 

 

I'm crazy about houses - the kind of funky houses that illustrators are known to create in children books and wrapping paper, and fortunately for me, Crate released their very own set of illustrated houses via the Neighborhood Collection. I've been taking full advantage of them since Neighborhood's debut because I can't seem to get enough of the neighborly look they so willingly provide my projects. They're quite a bit of fun to hang out with...

 

Another quick card, but again, it'll ask of you to piecemeal paper and other small items. Trim three small, thin scallop strips from Portrait's "Honeymoon" patterned paper and Emma's "Inventory" patterned paper using Fiskars mini scallop scissors. Layer them up in a playful fashion on the bottom portion of Neighborhood's "Pink Journaling" Accent Cut. 

Over the top portion of the accent cut, trim and layer both Toybox's "Explore" patterned paper and vanilla cardstock. Round off the top two corners.

 Create the self-made landscape as shown using supplies from Neighborhood {border stickers/layered chipboard}. Decorate the scallop strips with circular numbers from Portrait's sticker set. 

 

Moving right along, layer Mr.Bird {Neighborhood} with Portrait's "#2" chipboard piece. Place him along the path of the grass. And just beneath him, squeeze in this Emma's Shoppe "Turquoise/Yellow" flower chipboard piece {mine is paper because it's from a collection kit} with the help of a pop dot. 

 

To complete the triangle formation of elements, apply Neighborhood's "Small, Soft Blue" floral chipboard piece and Button, just beneath the large size flower. Dress it up with a hot pink rhinestone {Doodlebug}.

Also, to the center of the large flower, add a large size black/gold button {Vintage} and Crate Paper fabric brad. 

And lastly, create the word "home" from tiny square letters and have them sit right next to Mr.Bird. :)

 

For this next card, it's time to start thinking in terms of how you're going to arrange your cards within the frame that all of them will be sharing as you go about displaying them. Because only the left side of this particular card will be within view, I opted to decorate the area vs. the whole card. You'll probably want to do the same. Always keep this in mind now that we're starting to work on cards like this...

 

Trim the center from Portrait's "Black Frame" accent cut and than back it with a section of Portrait's "Bridesmaids" patterned paper {trace and cut}. **Before adhering the bridesmaids paper to the back of the frame though, trim and apply the shown half-circle {Portrait} to it's top edge. 

 

The best part about working within the confines of a smaller space is that it doesn't really require a ton of work! We're actually almost done here...add the "Darning and Mending" {Emma's Shoppe} sticker as shown. On top the sticker, adhere a glitter adorned chipboard piece {Emma's Shoppe} using pop dots. The chipboard piece is layered with a scallop trimmed rectangle {Fiskars/Portrait "Bridemaids"} before application. 

I'm a huge fan of "clear" glitter vs. the colored stuff. I'm particularly fond of it's non-invasive properties since it doesn't cover up the surface in which it's being applied to. It's uses are numerous as well and it lasts forever! I favor Martha's coarse crystal glitter.

 

 And finally, add the same tidbits I've included above: word sticker {ES}/flower {ES}/brad {My Minds Eye}/date label - the "Date" chipboard piece of from one of Crate's older collections that I still adore, "Cottage". I filled it in with a black rub-on from Seven Gypsies.

 

 We're halfway finished..would you like to see how the overall project is coming along? I'll openly confess that this isn't the best picture I've ever taken, but it should give you a general idea of exactly where we're at within the creation process of the wall hanging. Have at it...

Now imagine how it'll look when all the cards are dressed up to the "T"? It'll be a beautiful display of enticing techniques that you'll most certainly want to try out on other projects - I regularly refer to the Doily Wall Hanging I made last Summer for design ideas!! It's still hanging above my bed! This one will find a home right next to it!

Thank-you for hanging out with me today!! I very much appreciate you're stopping by the Crate blog! I suppose I'll bump into you again in a few short weeks - This has been a lot of fun! ~CM

Comments

[stephanie]

These are so cute! I love the gumball machine & the house.

[Rebecca]

Truly fun and STUNNING!!! I love them!! Thank you SO MUCH!!

[slammie]

Beautiful creations!

[Heather I.]

Siiiiiigh. They are so cute I want to stay on this page forevah!! Very very lovely. Thanks for the how to's! I love all the tips - especially the glaze on the gumball machine - hello!!!

[Cynthia B.]

Adorable projects!! LOVE the gumball machine card, especially, and love all the dimension with the Crate chipboard and other goodies. So much sweetness in this post - TFS!!

[JaniceB]

love all the details and especially the diamond glazed gumball machine! its really worth the break from all the exam stuff lol! Good luck for your exams! and thanks for Sharing always!

[Libby]

Hello! These are precious - love them. Fresh, whimsical and you always have the best 'surprises'. Visual feast. The darning and mending motif really hits home this Mother 's Day. Reminds me of my childhood and teen years - me sewing by hand and machine and also of the beautiful dresses my Mother made for us girls!

[Clare Dempsey]

Beautiful detail! Good Luck on your finals! Thanks for finding time to inspire us! And I am happy you have time to create for yourself with Crate Paper! It makes me so happy, and I think it must make you happy too!

[Jonnelle]

How adorable are those?!!
LOVE the gumball machine, that's the cutest thing.
Love your step by step directions, thanks for taking the time to set it all up!

[Julie Tucker-Wolek]

These are just BEAUTIFUL!! WOW WOW WOW!:):):):):):):):):):):):):):)

[Beth W]

Perfect timing-I got my order with my Portrait and Emma chipboard today.I'll be playing all weekend long-thank you!