Author Archives: kathycNC

About kathycNC

Married to the love of my life for 43+ years, mom of 5...Nan to 3 gorgeous grandgirls. I have a passion for paper and a heart to educate and inspire through one of a kind, handmade paper art for all occasions. If you'd like to add my artwork to your home, please visit my Kathy by Design Etsy shop.

My Cup of Tea Friendship Valentine

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y Cup of Tea Friendship Valentine Photoplay Our Friendship RRR January Ribbon Club by Kathy Clement Photo 01

My Cup of Tea Friendship Valentine with Really Reasonable Ribbon & Photoplay Paper

Hello, Friends!  Today’s Friendship Valentine is precisely My Cup of Tea! Valentine’s Day is a great time to celebrate the friends who are like family.  And any time is a great time to make a card with cute teacups, classy ribbon and pretty papers!

See what I mean?  This 5″ x 7″ top fold card features ribbons from the January Sweetheart Ribbon Assortment.  I was delighted to see how well they pair with Photoplay’s Our Friendship Through the Years collection. Would you like to find out how this card came together?  Then read on, my friend!

Layers and Layers of Love

  • First, create a 51/4″ x 7 1/4″ card base with a 1/4″ spine.
  • Next cut layers of burlap paper to serve as mats  for the designer paper.  You might have some of this lurking in your Closet of Inspiration and Delight.  I cut the  mats 1/4″ wider than the patterned paper layers.
  • Now, cut and mat  a 5″ x 7″ layer of the plaid pattern to serve as the backdrop.  This is a large plaid print, but when you use it as a backdrop, it does not overwhelm the card design.
  • Then cut and mat a 4 1/2″ x 6 1/2″ panel of the red floral pattern.  Center and adhere over the plaid.
  • Next, trim the 4″ x 6″ geometric journal card to 3 3/4″ x 5 3/4″.  Mat and adhere.
  • Now fussy cut the teacups from the 3×4 card, back with foam tape and adhere over the circular element from the ephemera pack.
Adding Ribbon

Now it’s time to dress up your Valentine with pretty ribbons from the January Ribbon Club Assortment.

  • First, create a belly band by layering Poppy Red Taffeta and Geometric Print Satin Ribbons.
  • Next, Tie a poufy corner bow with Checkerboard White Satin Ribbon.
  • Then tie a triple-loop bow with the geometric satin ribbon and adhere in the lower corner of the card.  I was delighted to see how well this ribbon matched the geometric design in the paper collection!

  • Now top that bow off with some burlap string and a little teacup charm.
  • Add the finishing touch with an array of deep red posies.
A Peek Inside

Fill an inside pocket with all sorts of Valentine treats.

It’s a quick and easy task to create a tag for the pocket.  Simply mat the tag from the ephemera pack on a scrap of burlap paper.  Then top it with more of the geometric ribbon.  Now you have a lovely bookmark to add to the tea, chocolate and honey stick.

Let’s Start a Trend

I think 2022 would be a great year to make Friendship Valentines a trend.  Remember the excitement we all felt when we wrote out Valentines for all our school mates?  I don’t know if kids take the time to do that any more, but I would love to see that come back.  A simple act of kindness and an expression of gratitude go a long way in this crazy world we live in.  Let’s be trendsetters this year, and send out surprise Valentines to let people know they are loved and appreciated!  Who’s with me?

You’ll find a linked supply list below this post.

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Cheerio,

kathy

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How To Fix a Project That Has Gone Off the Rails

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Prima Tales of You & Me Folio Reneabouquets Beautiful Board by Kathy Clement Photo 01

How to Fix a Project That Has Gone Off the Rails with Prima Tales of You & Me

Hello, Friends!  Today’s Throwback Thursday will focus in on how to fix a project that has gone off the rails.  You know how that goes.  You begin a project with great optimism and enthusiasm.  Things start off well enough.  But then you make a design error.  Then that error leads to another…and another.  Finally you are so frustrated and exasperated that the project goes into “time out.”  Has that ever happened to you?  Please tell me I am not alone!

A couple of years ago, my sweet husband bought me a box of crafty goodies for Valentine’s Day.  This pad of Prima’s Tales of You & Me was part of the gift.  I knew immediately that I wanted to make a romantic little folio with it.  Maybe I was tired.  Perhaps I’d made one too many folios.  Or maybe I’d lost my mojo.  Who  knows?  But for whatever reason, I just kept making one mistake after another.  Everything I had pictured in my mind fell off the rails and I had a papercrafting train wreck on my hands.

The best thing to do when this happens seems counter-intuitive.  Just walk away.  Clean up your desk.  Put the problem child in time out, and work on something else.  Or go take a nap!  It took me two years to finish this particular project.  But I now love it again.  Phew!

Victorian Style

Since the collection has a real Victorian vibe, I created a shaker frame with some Reneabouquets Printed Beautiful Board.  See that sweet angel?  It’s also Reneabouquets.

Fussy cut some images to tuck in with your paper layers.  Then add some hot pink roses and a flirty butterfly carry out the Victorian theme.

Add a dangle charm and a book plate to the spine to dress it up.

A Peek Inside

The album measures 7 1/2″ x 5 1/2″.  This is a nice size for photos.  It also gives you lots of room to add interactive elements.  You’ll see how these work in the video tutorial below.

TIP: Create a tuck spot for a tag behind the pull out accordion folio.  Just add gussets to the sides and bottom of the folio and you can slide the tag right into the space.  Neat, huh?

TIP: Remember to use your tools!  I pulled out my Envelope Maker to create this pretty envelope folio.

The center of the album is a great spot for a double waterfall folio.

TIP: Fill that awkward space behind the waterfall pages with a stylish pocket and journal card.

Don’t forget to add a flap page and a hidden pocket.  Some of these elements were added to cover up design mistakes.  You can learn all about that in the video below.

How to Fix a Project That Has Gone Off the Rails YouTube Video

Are you ready to see the before and after version of this project?  Just click play and see how I rescued this pretty folio from the time out basket.

I hope you enjoyed this papercrafting rescue project.  It feels great to have this folio finished at long last.  I really like the way it turned out!

You can find a linked supply list below this post.

Thanks for stopping by!

Cheerio,

kathy

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Simple Stories Weathered Garden Party in a Box Tutorial

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Simple Stories Weathered Garden Party in a Box Card Tutorial for Make & Take Tuesday Kathy Clement Photo 01

Simple Stories Weathered Garden Party in a Box Tutorial for Make & Take Tuesday

Hello, Friends!  For this episode of Make & Take Tuesday, I’m sharing a lovely Simple Stories Weathered Garden Party in a Box Tutorial.  If you love soft botanicals, butterflies, tea and chocolate, I predict you are going to be very happy today!

This 5 1/4″ x 7 1/4″ top fold Party in a Box also features the lovely Eyelet Lace Frame Die from Spellbinders.  It’s stunning die cut from cream paper and spattered with chalk paint!

Don’t let this photo of the finished card intimidate you!  This is such a simple card to make.  The dies (and the tutorial!) do most of the heavy lifting.  All you need to do is add flowers, ribbon and a few paint spatters for a stunning finish.

This is my first time playing with layered stickers from Simple Stories, and I like them!  Add dimension to the focal image with a layered butterfly sticker.  Then create a touch of whimsy in the floral cluster with that darling little clipboard sticker.  How could I resist?

A Peek Inside

How much do we love this paper collection?  Oh, so much!  I had fun creating this flap page on the top of the card…and you will, too!

What’s behind door #1?  This sweet little pull out folio and side car pocket, that’s what!  You’ll learn how to make it in the video tutorial below.

Learn some of my favorite sneaky tricks as we make the card together.  I mentioned last week that Make & Take Tuesdays are similar to a live cooking show.  Anything can happen!

This collection is just filled to the brim with lovely images.  I think you will like seeing how I added my own personal touches to them in the video.

Then, of course, you can’t have a Party in a Box without some lovely little treats!  Use your scraps to create a darling note card.  Then wrap the treats in other small scraps.  The end result is a gorgeous gift that will make everyone remark on how clever you are!

Make & Take Tuesday Weathered Garden Party in a Box Tutorial on YouTube

If you’d like to see how this project comes together, please grab a cuppa and enjoy this video tutorial.  I’m still struggling a bit with my voice, but I managed to get this one over the finish line in spite of it!

Did you enjoy this week’s Make and Take Tuesday?  If so, I’d love to hear your thoughts in teh comment section below.

You can find a linked supply list below the post.

Thanks for stopping by!

Cheerio,

kathy 

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Amazing Paper Grace Filigree Marquis Die

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Carta Bella Flora 4 Friendship PARTY in a Box Folio Spellbinders Filigree Marquis Die by Kathy Clement Photo 01

Amazing Paper Grace Filigree Marquis Die with Carta Bella Flora Friendship Folio

Hello, Friends!  I think you’re going to fall in love with this Amazing Paper Grace Filigree Marquis Die.  It’s one of the new dies in Spellbinder’s “Classically Becca” release.  Elegant, versatile, and inspiring are words that come to mind.  I spent a delightful afternoon creating a Friendship Party in a Box Folio with Carta Bella’s Flora 4 collection.  And this die set the tone for the design.

Although the die is sized to fit the front of an A2 (4 1/4″ x 5 1/2″) card base, it makes the perfect focal frame on this 6×6 folio.  The die also has a gorgeous filigree oval in the center.  Here’s where the versatility comes in.  Cut the die in half and layer it beneath the focal to add another layer of elegance to your creation.

Cinch and Go Flowers

This release also features a brand new Cinch and Go Flower set.  Becca is famous for dies that create gorgeous flowers with minimal effort.  Here’s how I made the flowers for this folio.

  • First, die cut flower layers from a sheet of 8 1/2″ x 11″ whip cream cardstock.
  • TIP: Always die cut more flower layers than you need for the project you are working on.  This way, you have a stash of prepared flower layers that are ready to go!
  • Next, cup the flowers by running a ball stylus from the outer edge of the petal to the center.  Apply gentle pressure, and the petals will magically turn up and shape themselves!
  • Now apply the ball stylus around the center of each petal layer to finish the shaping process.
  • Then layer the petals together, staggering the petals.  Use hot glue or liquid adhesive to hold the petals in place.
  • Next, shape the stamen die cuts in the same way and adhere in the center of each flower.  You can fill the centers with beaded stamens, micro beads, Czech beads, or Prills, as I did.
  • Finally, lightly brush the edges with ink to bring out the details.  I used Gathered Twigs because it worked well with my paper selections.

I’ll show you all the flower layers in the short video tour below.  But look how adorable this itty bitty posy is!

The Spine

Decorate the folio spine with a cluster of dangle charms.  I used an antique bronze clock, rhinestone gem, enamel bee and resin leaves.  Attach the charms to a lobster claps with jump rings.

A Peek Inside

Add a box pocket inside the folio.  Then fill it with everything you might need to create a tea party for one!

Use scraps of designer paper to gift wrap little treats.

This side pocket is the perfect spot to tuck in a note card and a trio of darling tags.

A hidden pocket in the center panel provides room for a pull out folio.  Place adhesive just along the bottom edge of an ephemera tag to create a tuck spot for a 3×4 card.

Meet the Amazing Paper Grace Filigree Marquis Die & Flower in a YouTube tour

To help you get a feel for the flow of this folio, and to introduce you to this wonderful die and flower, I’ve created a very short YouTube video tour.

You’ll find a linked supply list below this post.  To see the entire “Classically Becca” release at Spellbinders, please click HERE.

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Cheerio,

kathy

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Time to Flourish February Desk Calendar

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Graphic 45 Time to Flourish Desk Calendar by Kathy Clement For Really Reasonable Ribbon PHoto 01

Graphic 45 Time to Flourish February Desk Calendar for the RRR January 2022 Blog Hop

Hello, Friends!  This Graphic 45 Time to Flourish February Desk Calendar is my inspiration piece for the Really Reasonable Ribbon January 2022 Blog Hop!  You should be coming here full of inspiration after visiting my dear and talented friend, Ginny on her blog.  This month we are getting ready for Valentine’s Day with the Sweetheart Ribbon Club Assortment.

I received the Time to Flourish Collection as a Christmas gift to myself.  The February papers are the perfect playmate for this romantic ribbon club assortment.

I chose the Red Houndstooth, White Diamond Satin and Random Hearts on Poppy Satin to adorn this easel style desk calendar.  Can you spot the 6 areas where I used it?

The Random Red Hearts Satin really draws the eye to this pretty chipboard heart and key embellishment.

A Peek Inside

There are lots of gun surprises inside this 6″ x 6″ card base.  The pocket is a handy spot to tuck in photos and journal cards.

Then there’s a hidden pocket with a lovely little pull out folio beneath it.

I had just enough paper from the 12×12 and 8×8 pads to complete the project.

Here’s a sweet spot inside the folio for even more photos.  This is such a fun way to dress up your desk!

On With the Hop!

Now hop on over and see what paper pretties the lovely Cheryl has prepared for you.  Be sure to finish up over on the Really Reasonable Ribbon Blog.  If you answer Bonnie’s Question of the Month, you’ll be entered into a drawing to win your very own Sweetheart Ribbon Assortment.

If you’re not a member of the Ribbon Club yet, now is a great time to join.  Bonnie sends out a beautiful  themed ribbon assortment each month.  If you are trying to build up your stash of ribbons, or if you’re trying to get out of a ribbon rut, the Club always has something new and fresh to play with.  You can sign up for the Club HERE.

You’ll find a linked supply list below this post.

Thanks so much for stopping by!  Enjoy the hop!

Cheerio,

kathy

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