CARD# HPJ-2015-17: Kryss

Hi there! How are you? I hope you're doing fine. What I am going to share this time is another recessed frame card. I actually haven't posted the photos of this particular card in my other SNS accounts (except for a little sneak peek on IG) since I would be giving this as a gift for a friend and former colleague on the 24th. It is too early for her to see it. Let's not spoil the element of surprise. Heh. It is safe here. I know for certain that she does not read blogs that much.

I've done two cards with this technique so far (and this is the third). I haven't given her any birthday cards since the first year I met her (almost four years ago) and I thought this time I should give her something really extra special. She asked for a turquoise card, but I told her it would be a bit hard for me for I only have limited supplies with this color. It is close to nothing. Anyway, I just decided to go with a blue and green color palette.

I remember one of the designs in the Graphic 45 Couture Collection that has peacock feathers all over the page so I went ahead and checked to see if I still have some left. There's still one whole page! Yay! With the thought that this card should be super special, I wanted to make an interactive card or a fancy fold card. At first I thought of making an easel card which she can display on her desk in the office (She will likely do so. If not in the office then somewhere in their house.) Anyway, while I was prepping the supplies needed last night, I kind of changed my mind. Instead of an easel card, why not a square recessed frame card? It would be doubly fun and will sit perfectly on a desk. So a frame card it is! 

If you haven't seen my two previous projects using this technique, here are some snippets. Just click on the links in the captions to go to the original post.

This was a commissioned Christmas card. The details can be found here.

This second project has a recessed frame front and the inside is a popup book. Hop on over to my old blog for more photos.

Alright. Now that you've seen the other projects, let's move on to the newest one. As I have said, the color palette is blue and green so the elements I used are of these colors.

The card measures  5 1/4" x 1/2" x 5 1/4".

For the front of the card, I used some cutouts from the paper collection and adhered them onto the frame with foam tape. I added several types of flowers and then some beads and buttons. It still felt something was lacking after adding all those embellishments. I looked at the upper part and saw this much space which could be filled with the recipient's name. Well, I wanted to use 'ANDREA', but apparently I only have one A in my stash. So, I just used her other name 'KRYSS'. But then again it still felt incomplete even after adding the name. I thought perhaps some bling would add more interest and it did. Awesome! Now the frame was complete!

As for the inside of the card, I only placed a distressed piece of designer paper, the same one I used for the die cuts. I'll just write a short message in there and then give it to her when I have the chance.

I am loving this technique. I think I can use this again for an anniversary card. Hmn. I can suggest this to a friend who is looking for something to give her parents for their wedding anniversary. We can just put a picture of them together. Nice. I will keep you posted.

That was another great project and I'm pretty sure Ate Andrea would love it. Watch out for the next post--another boxed trishutter card! Thank you for looking!

MATERIALS AND TOOLS USED: Rives Board Paper Tradition Black, Graphic 45 8x8 paper pad Couture and Typography Collections, paper flowers, wooden flower, brad, buttons, beads, self-adhesive crystals, metal charms, Stanley Glue Gun, ColorBox Cat's Eye Queue Pigment Ink Turquoise, Cheery Lynn Designs Fanciful Flourish, Cuttlebug Machine V2

COMMISSION #3: Once Upon A Time

Hi! The commission I received this time was a guestbook/ wish book for a first birthday. I was excited about this project because it was the first time that I received a custom order for a guestbook and I rather love the idea of making something for a sweet girl’s first birthday.

On the onset, I thought the guestbook should be in line with the Little Red Riding Hood theme of the party so I started with a cover that has a subtle background, lace trimmings for the spine, felt doll and embellishments, etc., but after talking again to the client, I found out that she wanted it to be more of a storybook and she’d like earth colors. These got me to thinking why not make it vintage and a little mixed media to boot. The second time around, here is what I came up with:

I forgot to mention that I also thought of making it some sort of mini album as well so they can tuck several photos, doodle stuff, write messages. It would be a perfect keepsake for the occasion. Thus, the pockets, sleeves, tags and whatnots.

I was inspired by the works of Michelle Mooney. She is such a talented and awesome person to have created so many beautiful art journals, mini albums and all sorts of other things. You can check out her videos on YouTube under The Paper Addiction. I got the idea for assembling the pages from Brenda Bliss.  I so love how generous they are for sharing their talents and their tricks on making these wonderful projects.

Going back to the commission, I made the cover to resemble more of my style—layers, texture, dimensions and a lot of details. I covered the chip board base with patterned papers and added lace trimmings at the spine to cover up where the papers meet. I stenciled on the bottom right corner of the cover with molding paste and dabbed metallic ink onto the dried surface. I then added the embellishments- an assortment of beads, buttons, crystals, pearls, paper flowers, etc. I printed the title onto a patterned paper that complements the background and cut out the label outline. I attached a jump ring on the lace trimming before adhering it onto the spine of the cover so I could later on latch a set of charms there. I love the charms which I made from a couple of jump rings, chains, beads and metal embellishments. I wanted to put an eyelet on the spine, but I didn't have an eyelet setter tool. I couldn't find my screwdriver bits so I just made use of a jump ring.

Before adhering the pages onto the spine, I placed a length of twill ribbon for the bookmark. I decorated one end with beads and a charm.

There is nothing going on at the back of the book so let us go take a look inside. I made a video of all the components of the project. Here it is.

I covered the back of the front cover with another patterned paper. I added a pocket for tags or photos (whichever the client would like to put in there). I left the pages blank except for occasional sleeves and pockets. They would have plenty of space to write and put pictures. The back of the back cover I made pockets as well.

As for the embellishments-random flowers, butterflies and paper clips—I thought it best to not put them inside myself. It would be up to the client to decorate the pages to her preference.

What else is there? Hmn. There are big and small tags which I stamped with a couple of images. I tied a ribbon in some of them. Ooh. And I decorated a pen to go with the book.

That was an awesome project. I’m starting to get new addiction-making mini albums! Remember the gift I made for Miss K’s wedding? I am thinking of changing the photo folio into a mini album. I don’t quite like how the folio turned out. Gad. It was the second folio that I made, but it still looked off. Gah. I’ve wasted a pad of Graphic 45 patterned papers. Tsk. I will post the final boxed mini album as soon as I get it done. I still have some decorating to do on the pages.

Thank you for stopping by today! Have a great weekend!

MATERIALS AND TOOLS USED: (FOR THE COVER:  Chipboard #50, Tim Holtz Paper Stash 12x12 paper pad French Industrial Revolution, paper flowers, beads, pearls, self-adhesive crystals, rhinestones, buttons, metal charms, Eno Greeting Wooden Embellishments, brad, lace trimmings, jump rings, printed image, HP All-In-One Deskjet Printer, ink pad, double sided adhesive sheets) (FOR THE PAGES: Elit Board Paper Pale Cream, All About Scrapbooking 12x12 Timeless, Daisy D 12x12, , Tim Holtz Paper Stash 12x12 paper pad French Industrial Revolution, Papemelroti stationery pad, lace trimmings, ColorBox Cat’s Eye Queue Pigment Ink Brown, ribbons, Kaisercraft Clear Stamps Madame Boutique, Botanical Odyssey, Windsor, Bo Bunny Clear Stamps Flourishes and Such) (FOR LOOSE EMBELLISHMENTS: book pages, paper scraps, buttons, brads, craft scissors, black ink pad, Kaisercraft Clear Stamps Botanical Odyssey, Imaginisce Clear Stamps Bird House, Inkadinkado Clear Stamps Lift, Ranger Archival Ink Jet Black, Ranger Distress Crackle Paint Rock Candy, paper clips, pearls, Stanley Glue Gun, black felt