Directions for the Hidden Message Card

My family has such drama (understatement of the year - lol) that it's not always possible to get together for special occasions. I don't want any of the children to feel left out or forgotten so I try to create extra special cards and notes to celebrate their birthdays and other important days in their lives. This is the card that I made for my nephew, Timmy, who will be turning 12 tomorrow. He's had such a hard life that I want him to know how amazing my husband and I think he is and that we love him so much. This is such a fun card that I just had to share the directions that I came up with. I'm sure there are other ways (and possibly easier ways) to make it but after trial and error, here's what I do. Cardstock and Sizes: (A) Basic Black - 8½" x 11" (B1) Pumpkin Pie - 4" x 5¼" (B2) Halloween Nights DP - 3 7/8" x 5 1/8" (C) Pumpkin Pie - 2¾" x 4" (D) Old Olive - 4" x 3¼" (E) Basic Black - 2 5/8" x 3 1/8" (F) Whisper White - 2½" x 3" (G) Old Olive - 4½" x 2 7/8"

Decorate (F) and attach it to (E). Then stamp two sayings on (C), one at the top and one at the bottom, making sure that you have at least 3½" between the sayings for the sliding layer. Center (C) onto (B). You don't have to have 2 layers for B. I wanted to use the designer paper and it wasn't sturdy enough so I cut it down slightly (1/8") and layered it on Pumpkin Pie. NOTE : Also at this step (I forgot), using a circle punch, punch a semi circle in the center of the bottom of (B). See finished picture. Using either your cutter or a ruler and an exacto knife, cut a slot on each side of (C) that is about (doesn't need to be exact) 1/16" from the edge and extends about 1/8" past the bottom and top edge (see close up). Slide (D) in the two slots so that the ends are towards the back of the cardfront. Using the bone folder (or the cutter with a scoring blade), score (D) using the slots in (B) as your guide. Do one side and then fold it over towards the center and then score the other side. This will ensure that (D) is not folded too tightly over (B) and will allow it to slide up and down easily. Fold each edge towards the center of (B). Place (G) in the center between the two folded edges of (D) and line up the bottom edge of (G) with the bottom edge of (B). Glue the two folded edges to the back of (G) as shown. I used Tombow Mono Multi Liquid glue and it holds awesomely but some people don't like it. If that is the case then to ensure that it holds I would use Sticky tape for this step. Apply ¼" foam tape to both sides and to the top edge on the back of (B). As you can see I used the leftover edges from my dimensionals. You can also just use dimensionals, placing them about 1" apart. On the front of (B), center your image, (E) & (F), onto (D). If you haven't done it already (I forgot) punch a semi circle in the bottom edge of (B) so you can access (G). Create a ribbon pull on the bottom edge of (G) that is centered in the semi circle. Attach to (A) your main card and enjoy. I hope that these directions are easy to follow but if you have any questions let me know.

Happy Halloween "Peek-a-Boo" Card Tutorial

Supplies for this card

Cardstock : Gable Green : 5½"” x 11"”, scored at 3½"” and 7"” Gable Green : 6 1/8"” x 5½"”, scored at 4¼"” Basic Black : (2) 2½"” x 2½"” Lovely Lilac : (2) 2¼"” x 2¼" Ink : Green Galore, Black StazOn Stamps : Cheesecloth, Booglie Eyes, Halloween Backgrounds, All Year Cheer II Accessories : Basic Black Marker, Watercolor Crayons, Deckle Scissors, Aquapainter, Black Organdy Ribbon, Bone Folder, Stamp-a-ma-jig, 1 3/8" Square Punch, Mono Multi liquid glue

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1.) First you need to score each of your Gable Green pieces. The 5½" x 11" needs to be scored at 3½" and 11". The 6 1/8" x 5½" needs to be scored at 4¼" (this will create your 5½" x 4¼" card front).

2.) Fold each piece so they look like this (the long piece should look like a backwards Z with the larger fold towards the back).

3.) Punch a square hole through the smaller two layers of the long piece. Fold them together and push the punch down from the top as far as you can and then center it between the the folds.

4.) Next line up the RIGHT edges of the front fold and the B fold. Punch a square hole through the front lining it up with the square hole in the B fold. Your two pieces should look like the ones above.

5.) Decorate the front layer and the C layer keeping any saying at least ¾" from the bottom of the square punches.

6.) Using the Stamp-a-ma-jig, stamp the image that you want to see when the card is closed through the square hole while the larger piece of Gable Green in folded up. The image will be stamped on the Back fold of the card.

7.) Glue the B fold to the back of the front piece (apply glue or mono to the B fold only).

8.) At this point your card should look like the card above. NOTE : When your card is closed you may see the edge of the A fold through the front window. If this happens, trim enough of the A fold so you don't see it. I use the square punch to trim this piece (you can see the image for step 13).

9.) Open the card and and the A fold will now be showing through the square punch. Using the Stamp-a-ma-jig, stamp a saying on the A fold.

10.) Tack the Lovely Lilac and the Basic Black squares together using a small bit of mono in the center. You can line them up centered or at an angle as I have. Next, (I saw this tip on a blog and can't for the life of me find it now ~ thank you whoever you are!!) using a pen or pencil, draw lines on the back of the squares from corner to corner creating an X. Use this X to center the piece in the square punch and viola!! You have a perfectly centered hole. Too cool huh?

11.) I used deckle scissors to trim the edges of the frames and then glued them together. Then adhere one set to the front of the card and the other set to the C layer of the card.

12.) Using your Watercolor Crayons, color the images. 13.) The last step is to apply a line of adhesive or mono right next to the fold on the back layer. This will keep your card together and not allow the back layer to open up. ************************************* I hope that these directions are clear. If you have any questions just ask!

Creating my Snowmen Pop-Up Card

I've had quite a few people ask how to create the Snowmen Pop-Up card that I posted so I made a picture tutorial, I hope the directions are clear. It is really a simple card once you've seen it done. Let me know how you like it.

Here are the items I used to create it and the basic recipe :

• Bashful Blue cardstock 8½" x 5½"
• Whisper White cardstock 8¼" x 5¼"
• Whisper White cardstock 2½" x 2½" (for stamping the snowmen image)
• Bashful Blue 2 5/8" x 5/8" (for layering the title)
• Whisper White 2½" x ½" (for title)
• Basic Black ink
• Bashful Blue ink
• markers
• Post-It Notes (for masking the trees)
• Scissors (for creating the pop out tab and for cutting out the snowmen
• Adhesive (I use Tombow Mono Multi Liquid glue)

Fold both of the large sheets of cardstock in half (I corner rounded both). Then stamped the trees on the top half of the whisper white. Stamp the snowmen image on the square piece of Whisper White and colored all of the images with the markers. Create a mask of the trees using a Post-It Note and use it to stamp snowflakes on the background. Cut out the snowmen image. You don't have to cut too closely, as you can see I leave about an 1/8" white border around them. Fold the Whisper White cardstock and cut two slits, about ¾" long and ¾" apart, on the folded edge of it. Push the tab back into the card and press to create sharp creases. Apply glue to only the bottom half of the tab. Attach the snowmen slightly above the crease of the tab.

Glue the Whisper White to the inside of the Bashful Blue and add the finishing touches. I stamped snowflakes on the outside of the card with Bashful Blue, Created a title and attached it to the card with dimensionals and then stamped a sentiment in front of the snowmen.