Gift card set

When a friend or family member has commented on how much they enjoy my cards I have often made a gift card set for them for their next birthday or special occasion.

Generally I make sets of five cards with matching envelopes. Usually the insides are completed with sentiments that match the greeting on the front, but sometimes I have left them blank so the recipient can choose the occasion for which they wish to use the card.

Today I am sharing a set I made recently. As the recipient's favourite colour is a spring green, that was the colour theme I decided on.

Here is a look at the complete set of cards with the matching envelopes:

 

I like to use clear gift boxes for the packaging. I made the birthday tag using some of the left over scraps from the card set so that it matches the card you can see through the clear box.

 

Note that the "patterned paper" is actually another up-cycled Kleenex box. The silver paper is aluminium foil tape over basic white cardstock which I then embossed with different designs.

 

Supplies for the gift tag:

Cardstock: Bazzill (the green is very old, it is a smooth cardstock that has been discontinued. I think it was called celery)

Embossing folder: Vine Street - SU, Devine Swirls - Cuttlebug

Punch: Label Love - SU

Die: Accut Cut tag die (SU's new tag topper punch would also work really well)

Misc.: white paper flower (Dollar store find), 1/4" rhinestone, foam squares to mount the greeting, 5/8" white organza ribbon

 

And here are close-ups of each card with supply list:

 

Supplies for "Hello" card:

Cardstock: Bazzill

Embossing Folder: Square Lattice - SU,

Stamp: Tiny Tags - SU

Ink: Old Olive - SU

Punch: Jewelry Tag - SU

Misc.: 5/8" white organza ribbon, silver ribbon clip, foam squares to mount the patterned paper

 

 

Supplies for "Celebrate" card:

Cardstock: Bazzill

Embossing Folder: Square Lattice - SU, Honeycomb - SU

Stamp: Wonderful Words - SU

Ink: Old Olive - SU

Misc.: 4 - 1/4" rhinestones, 2 white flowers, foam squares to mount the greeting

 

Supplies for "Make a Wish" card:

Cardstock: Bazzill

Embossing Folder: Vine Street - SU, Regal Flourishes - Sizzix - Tim Holtz

Stamp: Perfect Pennants - SU, French Filigree background - SU

Ink: Old Olive - SU

Die: Banners Framelits Dies - SU

Misc.: 3 - 1/4" rhinestones, foam squares to mount the greeting banner 

 

Supplies for "Hello Sweet Friend" card:

Cardstock: Bazzill

Embossing Folder: Honeycomb - SU,, Everyday Greetings -  Cuttlebug

Stamp: Six-Sided Sampler - SU

Ink: Old Olive - SU

Punches: Small hexagon - SU, large Hexagon - Emagination

Misc.: 4 - 1/4" rhinestones, foam squares to mount some of the hexagons

 

Supplies for "Thank You" card:

Cardstock: Bazzill

Embossing Folder: Basket Weave - Darice, Devine Swirls - Cuttlebug

Punches: Scallop Square - SU, 1 3/8" square - SU, 7/8" scallop circle - SU, Petite Curly Lable - SU, Lace Ribbon border - SU

Ink: Old Olive - SU

Stamp: Pretty Petites - SU

Misc.: 3 - 1/4" rhinestones, foam squares to mount greeting

New SU Catty

Alright, I have no choice, I need to share this.
I received the new SU catty last week (thank you to my wonderful demo!). At first glance there were only a few items that spoke to me. After going through the catalogue a second time I decided to mark the pages with my trusty sticky tabs.

The results are rather scary.

I haven't had this many wants in a long time. I think I'm in big trouble (or at least my bank account is). Even if I narrow down my wants to my "must haves" the list is still soo long. I sure hope some of these items stick around for longer than the year so I have time to save the money needed.
On top of this there's of course also the worry that once the Holiday catty comes out I'll be in even more trouble.

Wedding Card

My nephew is getting married end of the month. Unfortunately he lives overseas and my husband and I are unable to attend. I therefore thought to make a personalized card for the occasion.

This led to digging through various stamp sets until I finally settled on an oldie but goodie SU set.
 
Here's the card: 

 

I personalized the envelope with the couples initials (an old Club Scrap alphabet set) and stamped it with the SU border stamp to match the card.

 

Here is a close up of the card:

 

Supplies used:

Cardstock: white Bazzill

Stamps: Love Always - SU, Swirly Heart Wheel (matching border) - SU

Ink: Crumb Cake - SU, Versamark

Dies: Floral Ovals - Nestabilities - Spellbinders, Lacy Oval - Spellbinder

Embossing Folder: Pretty Print - SU

Misc.: 5/8" burgundy organza ribbon, 2 each, 1/4" and 1/8" pearls, foam squares, fine white embossing powder 

 

I started with a standard A2 (5.5 x 4.25 ins) card base. My first layer is 1/4" smaller all around. This I embossed with the pretty print embossing folder. I then applied some Crumb Cake ink with a sponge dauber over the embossing. Next layer is the largest Floral Oval die followed by a Lacy Oval one size smaller than the Floral oval. I stamped the Swirly Heart border across the long side of the Lacy Oval in Crumb Cake. All edges were inked with the same colour.

I then stamped the lovely heart design with Versamark and embossed with white embossing powder.

Then using my sponge dauber I inked the design with Crumb Cake and wiped the embossed finish with a baby wipe to remove the excess ink. The heart was hand cut and then mounted using foam squares for a little added dimension.

I added a hand tied ribbon bow (approx. 2.5 ins) to the bottom of the heart and some pearls to 2 opposite corners for a touch of flair.

 

Here is a peek inside the card:

Additional supplies for inside of card:
Stamp: Versatile Verses - SU
Punch: Deco Label - SU
Die: Adorning Accents Edgelits - SU

I stamped the Lacy Oval border onto a 5.5 ins long piece of cardstock. I then trimmed the it width wise right along the edge of the stamped image and inked the edges. This is layered onto a approx. 2.5" wide piece of cardstock that was die cut both at the top and bottom with the scallop die from Adorning Accents. Again the edges were inked with Crumb Cake. I then adhered it to the inside of the card just slightly higher than center.
The sentiment was punched out with the deco label punch and mounted at the top of the border.
This leaves enough room for a personally message below the border.

Pretty Flowers

I loved how my cherry blossom card turned out (and it was a big hit with my daughter as well). The little flowers were so simple to make with beautiful results. So I decided to make a few more cards using the same blossom design, but changing the colours.

The first card was inspired by this anemone:

And here is the card I made:

I love the contrast between the yellow/orange and black.
Supplies used:
Cardstock: Bazzill
Dies: Oval Framelits - SU - Sizzix
Punches: Pansy - SU, Petite Petals - SU, Blossom Builder - SU
Stamps: Stacks of Wishes - SU, Petite Peal - SU, Flower Shop - SU,
Ink: Pumpkin Pie - SU,  Old Olive - SU, for the leaves, for the sentiment I used my SU markers in Basic Black and Olive Green.
Misc.: 1/4" black rhinestones, flower making tools.

The blossoms were made the same way as my large cherry blossoms.
I  used one petal of the pansy to create each leaf.

Once I had this card completed I decide on making a more spring inspired Card. This was the result:

and here a view with the gate-fold held closed with a clip to see the card front better:

Supplies used:
Cardstock: Bazzill
Dies: Circle Framelits - SU - Sizzix
Punches: 2 3/8" scallop circle - SU, Pansy - SU, Petite Petals - SU, Blossom Builder - SU
Stamps: Whimsical Words - SU, Petite Peal - SU, Flower Shop - SU,
Ink: Crushed Curry - SU,  Old Olive - SU, for the leaves, Basic Black - SU
Misc.: 1/4" pearls, 5/8" orange organza ribbon, flower making tools.

Cherry Blossom Card

My dear daughter is turning twenty four this week.  As she absolutely loves Sakura blossoms I decided to make here a birthday card in that theme.

After playing with my punches for a bit I opted for creating the North American non-fruit bearing cherry blossom style instead of the Japanese Sakura blossoms.

This was my inspiration:

And this is my creation:

and here is a peak at the inside of the card:

I usually make 5.5 x 4.25 ins cards but for this one I decided on the larger 5.5 x 8.5 ins size.

Supplies used:
Cardstock: Bazzill
Dies: Branch Tree - Tim Holtz - Sizzix
Punches: Pansy - SU, Petite Petals - SU, Blossom Builder - SU
Stamps: Feeling Sentimental (greeting) - SU, In my Thoughts (card inside) - SU, Petite Petals - SU, Flower Shop - SU, Build-A-Blossom - SU
Ink: Pretty in Pink - SU for stamping the blossoms, Rose Red - SU to sponge the edges of the punched blossoms, Chocolate Chip - SU  for the sentiments and sponging the edges of the branches, Old Olive - SU, for the leaves
Misc.: 1" wide dark brown satin ribbon, 3/8" pearl accents, flower making tools.

Each of the large blossoms was made using 2 pansy shapes and 2 petite petal shapes. The outer/bottom pansy was shaped very lightly so the petals only curl a little. The remaining pansy and both petite petal shapes were shaped liberally so that the petals curl for added dimension. I off set the petals when I assembled the blossom.
You can see in my image that the large blossom on the upper right is lighter in colour then the others. I only sponged the outer edges of the pansy shapes on this one. Whereas on the others blossoms I sponged all edged quite liberally.

Note the branch tree die was trimmed in the same way as for my cherry tree punch art.
The leaves were made using the 2nd largest petal shape and matching stamp from the Build-A-Blossom stamp set.

For the inside of the card I made a "flatter" version by only using the pansy punch.

Cherry Tree Punch Art

I have one more quick and easy fruity punch art project to share.
It only requires one punch and a die (or you can hand cut the tree trunk).
It's very bright and cheery.

The basic tree could easily be turned into an apple, or pear tree as well.

 

Supplies used:

Cardstock: Bazzill

Ink: Old Olive - SU, Cherry Cobbler - SU, Chocolate Chip -SU

Stamps: A Word for You ("a cherry") - SU, Banner Greetings - SU

Embossing Folder - Framed Tulips - SU

Misc.: white gel pen, foam squares, 

Full (really simple) punch art instructions below.

Apple of my Eye

Keeping with my fruity theme, here is another card featuring the SU Pansy punch and a cute little fruit basket.
This time around I made some ripe red apples.

Supplies used:
Cardstock: Bazzill
Pattern paper: old misc. scraps
Ink: Real Red - SU, various Colorbox
Punches: Chevron border - SU, Decorative Label - SU (double punched)
Die: large tag # 1 by AccuCut
Misc.: foam squares, 1/8" antique brass brad, 5/8" red organza ribbon, black Zig marker

Full punch art instructions below.

Up next, one more fruity creation.

Pearfect Mom Card

Today I am sharing a cute Mother's Day punch art card I made this week.
It come complete with the pearfect sentiment.

 

Supplies used:

Cardstock: Bazzill

Patterned Paper: Old Autumn Leaves

Embossing Folder:  Branches - Sizzix (Burlap - Sizzix - Tim Holtz on basket)

Sentiment: PC generated. Fonts are STAMP ACT and DESRYL

Die Cut: Accut large tag #1

Punches:  1 3/4" scallop circle - SU, 1 3/8" circle - SU, Word window - SU

Ink: Old Olive - SU, various misc. Colorbox inks

Misc.: black Zig marker, small red ribbon bow, foam squares, 1/8" white brad

Full punch art instructions listed below.

Up next, more fruity punch art.