I know it’s been awhile since I posted a new blog entry.  I am sure you can all understand through the busy holidays and company and whatnot…  All excuses really, but nonetheless, my blog just did not rank high on my list.

And, to be honest, some of it was because I really just want to sit and stamp all day and play with all the ideas I have running through my head.  But, there really wasn’t time for that.  I don’t know about you, but if I can’t do what I want to do the way I want to do it… I just don’t do it at all. I know – what a terrible thing.  But my craft room was cold and messy and I would only have an hour or so… I just want to play and play and play all day with my stamps and paper.  I really am just a big kid.  Luckily I have a great husband that lets me be me!

I am also a “one project at a time” kinda gal.  There is so much multi-tasking going on in my life, that my craft room can’t also be that way.  So, after I finished a project for a church friend, I had to complete some swaps for my monthly upline meeting.

This card was actually suggested by my direct upline, Carol Payne.  She had asked if I would demonstrate the Halloween card I made for my son.  She thought maybe I could change it for Christmas.  At OnStage in November, we decided it would be better to use something out of the new Occasions catalog.  So, the Hen House was born…

What do you think?

Here is a peak at the Halloween card.

I guess it’s a triple peek-a-boo card.  I combined a couple different techniques and inspirations to create it.  It really takes an “eye” for how things work – spatial reasoning if you want to get technical.  I will try as basic as possible to break down what I did.  I do have a few pictures so you can see what I mean. And, I apologize in advance for the long rambling post!

First, let’s start with the supplies and measurements.  I am one that usually gathers everything I need then cuts everything out.  Then I can stamp and assemble while sitting in my chair binge watching something on Netflix!

Supplies:

• Stamp Sets: Hey, Chick (143328/143331 SAB), Love & Affection (141545), Butterfly Basics (138813/138816/137154), Hardwood (133032/133035)

• Paper: Smoky Slate Cardstock (131202), Whisper White Cardstock (100730), Basic Gray Cardstock (121044), Real Red Cardstock (102482)

• Inks: Smoky Slate Classic Stampin’ Pad (131179), Basic Black Archival Stampin’ Pad (140931), Garden Green Classic Stampin’ Pad (126973), Delightful Dijon Classic Stampin’ Pad (138327), Real Red Classic Stampin’ Pad (126949), Cajun Craze Classic Stampin’ Pad (126965), Crushed Curry Classic Stampin’ Pad (131173), Soft Suede Classic Stampin’ Pad (126978)

• Embellishments: Linen Thread (104199), Wink of Stella Glitter Brush (141897)

• Adhesives: Dimensionals (104430), SNAIL Adhesive (104332), Glue Dots (103683), Fine-Tip Glue Pen (138309), 2-Way Glue Pen (100425), Tear & Tape (138995)

• Tools: Blender Pens (102845), Layering Squares Framelits (141708), Big Shot Die-Cutting Machine (143263), Magnetic Platform (130658), Paper Snips (103579), 1/8” Handheld Circle Punch (134365), ¾” Circle Punch (119873), 1” Circle Punch (119868)

Measurements:  

• Smoky Slate:  6-1/8” x 5-1/2” — scored on 6-1/8” side at 4-1/4”; 5-1/2” x 11” – scored on 11” side at 3-1/2” and 7”

• Whisper White:  2 x 5-1/2”; 2-1/4” x 5-1/2”; 2-1/2” x 5-1/2”

• Basic Gray:  1-3/4” x 10” or 3-1/2” x 5”

So, here is how I put it all together and hopefully this will make some sense!!!

Cut and score per measurements above.  Fold along score lines so pieces fit together as shown in diagram below.  This is how your two pieces of Smoky Slate will fit together.  Slide it together and imagine how the card will work.  On the diagram, the red line at the top actually the back of the card.  The bottom red line and black line will line up together to create the front of the card.  You can see it better in pictures to come…

Top Layer:  At Big Shot… position 1-1/4” square framelit up against the flap of the 6-1/8” top piece of Smoky Slate (this is the smaller one!) as shown in picture – at least ¼” from edge.  Cut.  Re-position framelit at the bottom, at least ¼ from edge.  Cut.  Now, for the middle window, position framelit midway between the other two windows up again the flap and cut.Cuts don’t have to be perfectly spaced up and down, but need to be lined up against that flap.

Card Base: First, place 6-1/8” piece over 11” card base as shown in diagram above.  Align edges.  Use the 6-1/8” piece as a template (the one you just cut out!) and cut the windows in the first section of the base.  Position framelit in the window and carefully cut out each window.  Remove 6-1/8” piece and fold cut flap of base to use as a template and carefully cut squares in the middle section of base. (There will be a total of 9 windows – 6 on the card base and 3 on the layer)

Use the 1-1/2” scalloped square framelit together with the 1-1/4” square framelit to cut six window frames from basic gray piece.

 

Use Smoky Slate ink to stamp Hardwood texture onto front of 6-1/8” piece and the inside of card. (The inside of the card will be the part of the card that you cut the windows in…when closed, the front of base is the outside of the first section and is not stamped on because it is covered by the 6-1/8” piece.) Randomly stamp small foliage from Love & Affection Stamp Set to add interest to bottom of card.  Colors used were Delightful Dijon, Soft Suede, and Garden Green.

Use Smoky Slate ink to stamp chicken wire all over the 2-1/4” x 5” white cardstock. This will later be adhered to back section of card base.

Using Stamping Off technique, randomly stamp chicken wire texture on top and bottom of 2” x 5” white cardstock in Smoky Slate.

• Stamping Off Technique:  Ink stamp as normal.  Stamp off onto scrap paper then stamp onto cardstock.  This technique provides a lighter image of the stamp.

In Real Red, stamp “You’re a good egg” sentiment near top and stamp the “Have a good day” sentiment toward the bottom.  In the middle, stamp the egg in Smoky Slate.  Color the shell with Wink of Stella and the legs with Crushed Curry (using Blender Pen).

• Tip:  Use the widows as a template to position stamps.  This piece will be later adhered to the flap of the top piece.

Use black ink to stamp chickens onto 2-1/2” x 5-1/2” white cardstock.   Use Blender Pens to add color to chickens.  Colors used were Smoky Slate, Crushed Curry, Cajun Craze, Soft Suede, and Real Red.  Fussy cut chickens out… you do not need their legs.

In Real Red, stamp “Hey Chick” sentiment onto white scrap in two lines.  Use washi tape to mask off one part of stamp… ink… remove washi… stamp… clean really well.  Use washi to mask of other part of sentiment and repeat process.  Use ¾” Circle punch to cut out circle.  Use 1” Circle punch to punch out background from Real Red scrap.  Align circles and use 1/8” Handheld Circle punch to create hole for thread.  Wind a length of Linen Thread a few times around card as shown.  Slip sentiment and background onto thread and tie off.

Use Fine-tip Glue pen to attach window frames to windows of top piece and middle section of card base as shown in pictures.  Attach chickens to back of windows on top piece as shown using glue pen.

Attach inside sentiment (with egg) to inside of flap of top piece using SNAIL.  Attach chicken wire background to inside of the back of the card using SNAIL.  Be sure to line this up with the windows of the card, but not too close to the fold.

Use SNAIL to adhere the top piece to the front of the card base.  Be sure that windows align.  Place a piece of Tear & Tape next to the chicken wire background on back of card.  Fold flap in.  Peel plastic from tape and fold card closed.  Smoosh down (sorry to get so technical!).

Open the card… the eggy sentiment should slide over the chicken wire background 🙂

There you go…  a simple card in 15 steps!  Actually it may take a few tries to get it right… it does me!  But, here is the whole tutorial in a pdf file for easy printing!

proj-sheet-peek-a-boo-chicks

I did teach a form of this card at the Yes Mams’ meeting in December.  Here is what it looked like…

 

oh… and a bonus tutorial for it…

proj-sheet-peek-a-boo-chicks-2

Oh yeah… that project that my friend asked me to do.  Every year since her first son was born, they have done the Christmas Photo Cards…  She asked me to make an album for each boy identical.  So, here is the finished project!  It uses mostly Stampin’ Up products, but a few papers I have collected over the years from Hobby Lobby.

Each year, I will do a page for the new card for each album…  Until the point I can no longer stamp – which, of course, will be many, many years in the future…

Until next time…  Keep it simple, stampers!  (Yes, I know.. I did not do that this time!)

Joanne 🙂