Category Archives: Seasonal Cards

Be Grateful Shaker Easel Card

Simple Stories Autumn Splendor Be Grateful Shaker Card by kathy Clement Photo 01

Be Grateful Shaker Easel Card with Simple Stories Autumn Splendor

Hello, Friends!  After I finished this week’s Throwback Thursday project, I decided to make this Be Grateful Shaker Easel Card.  After all, the papers, leaves, flowers, etc. were already out on my desk. The old mojo was flowing, and it was not quite time to fix dinner.  Plenty of good reasons to make “just one more” card with this lovely fall collection.  Do you ever do that?  I find it so tempting to ignore the load of laundry that needs to be folded in favor of working with a favorite paper collection.  Once the idea popped into my head to make a shaker card, well, let’s just say the laundry got folded later!

 

Putting It Together

Here’s how this cheery fall card came together:

  • First, cut a 5 1/2″ x 11 panel of kraft cardstock.  Score at  2 3/4″ and 5 1/2″ to form an easel card base.
  • Next, cut a 5 1/4″ square  of patterned paper to line the interior of the card base,
  • Then cut a 6 1/2″ x 3″ panel of kraft cardstock.  Score 1/2″ on the sides and bottom, trim out the corners, and fold the flaps to  create a pocket/brake for the easel.
  • Now cut a 5 1/2″ x 6 1/4″ panel of kraft cardstock. This will be the card front.
  • Next cut 5 1/4″ x 6″ and 5″ x 5 3/4″ mats with green and bittersweet cardstock.
  • Now top the layers with a 4 3/4″ x 5 1/2″ panel of the floral print.
Making the Shaker Element

Simple Stories Autumn Splendor Shaker Easel Card by Kathy Clement Photo 01

Oh, how I love a shaker frame on a card!  Especially when it is wrapped with knitted trim and wooden buttons! Here’s how I put this one together.

  • First, trace the outside edge of the frame onto a piece of clear acrylic cardstock.  Then trim along the traced lines.
  • Next, adhere the clear cardstock (acetate) to the back of the chipboard frame.
  • Now, place 3 rows of 1/8″ foam strips around the sides of the frame.  Be sure not to leave any gaps where beads or glitter might escape.
  • Then,  lightly sand the top, bottom and right hand side of the Simple Stories Autumn Glory Frame.  This will help the glue grab the surface of the frame.
  • Next, place 1/4″ Scor-Tape on the frame, and adhere strips of textured trim over it.
  • Now,  lightly fray the edges where the trim meets in the corners.
  • Then top the corners with inked and threaded wooden buttons.
  • Next, adhere the 2×2 image from the paper collection on the card front base.
  • Now place your mix of sequins, buttons, beads and rhinestone leaves on the card base.
  • Finally, remove the liner tape and press the frame in place.
A Peek Inside

Don’t you just love it when a card element can perform double duty?  The stopper for this easel card is also a pocket! Now this pretty card can function as a gift!

Turn a 3×4 image into a mini folio and tuck it inside the pocket.

Add a mini Lindt chocolate a fancy herbal tea bag inside the folio pocket.  And there’s plenty of room to tuck a honey stick inside the larger pocket.

This would make a great fall birthday card, or a thoughtful get well card.  As you can tell, I’m hanging on to my fall papers as long as I can.  They are just so lovely to work with! Keep an eye out for Christmas projects starting this week, though.  (But you never know when I will give in to the temptation to make just one more autumn creation!)

You can find a linked supply list below the post.

Thanks for stopping by!

Cheerio,

kathy

SUPPLY LIST

 

Thanksgiving Treat Tags Tutorial

Thanksgiving Treat Tags Tutorial Simple Stories Autumn Splendor by Kathy Clement PHoto 01

Thanksgiving Treat Tags Tutorial with Simple Stories Autumn Splendor for Throwback Thursday

Hello, Friends!  For this episode of Throwback Thursday, I have a Thanksgiving Treat Tags Tutorial to share with you.  We’re playing with our Simple Stories Autumn Splendor Collection, Graphic 45 Large Kraft Tags, G45 Large Tag Die, Prima Autumn Sunset Flowers and bits and bobs from my stash.

Thanksgiving Treat Tag Tutorial Simple Stories Autumn Splendor by Kathy Clement Photo 02

These little treat pockets are quick and easy to make, which is always nice during a busy holiday season.

Graphic 45 Large Kraft Tag Treat Pocket by Kathy Clement Photo 01

Each tag is filled with a tea party for one.

Thanksgiving Tutorial by Kathy Clement Photo 01

These make adorable place cards on a Thanksgiving table.

Graphic 45 Large Tag Die Simple Stories Autumn Splendor by kathy Clement Photo 01

If you are hosting a Thanksgiving buffet, the pocket is a great place to put napkin and silverware.  You could tuck in a little Andes Mint treat along with the flatware to make it extra special.

The tutorial below will show you how to transform that large kraft tag into a nifty pocket.

Quick How-To Guide and Measurements

You are going to love how easy this project is to make.

  • First, place a G45 Large Kraft Tag on your scoring tool so that the rounded edge is on the left.
  • Now score the tag at 5 1/2″ and again at 6 1/2″.  Fold and burnish the scored lines. Fold the bottom end of the tag up to form a pocket without sides.
  • Then die cut patterned paper with the G45 Large Tag Die.  Try to use paper that has a non-directional pattern on the back side.
  • Now cut the tag liner at 5 1/4″.  Adhere the top half of the liner to the tag base.  Trim 1/8″ off the bottom piece that has the square corners.  Then place the rounded corners on the left hand side of your scoring tool and score at 2″.  Set this piece aside.
  • Next, cut (2) 2″ squares of heavy kraft cardstock.  Score 1/2″ flaps on both sides.  Fold and burnish the scored lines. These are the sides for your tag pocket.
  • Then adhere the 1/2″ flaps to the back side of the pocket flap and to the tag base.
  • Now line up the rounded corners of your tag liner with the rounded corners of the pocket and adhere.
  • Finally, decorate your tag with ribbon, flowers, ephemera and charms.

You could easily use this same design for  Christmas party, Baby Shower, Birthday or Bridal Shower, too. One of the other things I love about this project is that you can use up scraps of designer paper to dress up the tea party goodies.

So dig into your stash of fall papers, and let’s get started making these clever tags!

Thanksgiving Treat Tags Tutorial on YouTube

 

I hope you enjoy making these tag pockets.  I can think of so many fun ways to use them.  What will you do with yours?  I’d love to hear in the comment section below.

Happy Throwback Thursday!

Cheerio,

kathy

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Pink Autumn Thanksgiving Wreath

Pink Autumn Thanksgiving Wreath Tea Party in a Box with Reneabouquets Beautiful Board

Hello, Friends!  I know I said I was probably done making Autumn cards, but then I hatched the idea to make this Pink Autumn Thanksgiving Wreath Tea Party in a Box…and, how could I say no? This might be my favorite Autumn creation thus far, so I had to share it with you.

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday of the entire year.  I love that we set a whole day aside just to say “thank you” for all the blessings in our lives.  (I have developed the habit of looking for the good and being grateful for it every day.  Because of it, I’m a happier person.)  But It’s good to have a day when we take inventory of all the GOOD thing that surround us, instead of always moaning about the bad things.  Spending time with family is irreplaceable.  Tables groaning under the weight of food that has been lovingly prepared is  a GOOD thing!  So I celebrate Thanksgiving in a big way.   To me, this card captures the beauty and bounty of the holiday I love so much.

The Inspiration

This Thanksgiving wreath in Reneabouquet’s shop caught my eye.  The softer autumn hues are a perfect pairing for Prima’s Pink Autumn collection.  The front cover of this beauty comes together very quickly, but looks as though hours were spent  on it.  That’s the beauty of printed Beautiful Board.  All the heavy lifting has been done for you.  Here’s how the cover came together.

  • First, join two 6″ x 11″ panels of chocolate brown cardstock together.  Score from left to right at 6″ and again at 7″.  Fold.  Score again at 6″ and 7″.  Then score one final time at 9 1/2″.  This small flap will be the box pocket face.  Trim away the excess paper.
  • Next, cut a 5 3/4″ square”  panel of the pastel pumpkin foiled paper.
  • Then cut a 5 3/4″ x 2 1/2″ strip of the brown pumpkin patterned paper from the A4 pad.  This is the belly band.  This darker band of paper helps the soft colors of the wreath pop off the page.
  • Now trim around the edges of the 12×12 “Give Thanks” sentiment.
  • Place foam tabs or strips on the back of the wreath and position over the sentiment.  Then center and adhere.  Place foam on the turkey and adhere on the left hand side of the wreath.
  • Arrange Pink Autumn florals in the corners of the wreath.  Add a Vanilla Shimmer Satin Bow and Metallic String to complete the composition.

Something about this card takes me right back to my Great-Grandmother’s house at Thanksgiving.

Tea Party in a Box

Here’s a peek at the Tea Party in a Box.

I used the vellum sheet from Pink Autumn to make a little 4″ x 5″ note card and treat envelope to go along with all the usual suspects.

This little ensemble makes a wonderful hostess gift.  Since I’m the one who usually prepares and hosts the feast, perhaps I shall give this one to myself.  Just kidding…you can actually find it in my Etsy shop.

Thanks for indulging me in my passion for fall this year.  I’ll turn on the Christmas creations soon.  I just hate rushing through my favorite season of the year.  So this year I decided to celebrate fall with all of you.  I hope you don’t mind.

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

Thanks for stopping by!

Cheerio,

kathy

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Dragonfly Season Gatefold Card Folio

Dragonfly Season Gatefold Card Folio with Really Reasonable Ribbon and Reneabouquets

Hello, Friends!  Summertime is Dragonfly Season. These dazzling beauties hover in the sweet summer breeze and fill our hearts with delight.  I tried to capture the feeling of a perfect summer day in this Dragonfly Season Gatefold Card made with Really Reasonable Ribbon’s July Ribbon Assortment and some paper pretties from Reneabouquets. Let’s share a cuppa and take a closer look at the details and elements in this summery creation.

The Basics

Here’s how I created this gatefold card base.

  • First, cut a 12×12 sheet of white cardstock to measure 11 3/4″ x 7 1/4.
  • Now place the long side on your scoring tool and score left to right at 2 3/4″, 3″, 8 1/2″ and 9″.
  • Then fold along the scored lines to form a 5 1/4″ x 7 1/4″ gatefold card.  You will have 1/4″ spines on the left and right hand sides of the card base.
  • Line the card with Ciao Bella Microcosmos papers.  You will need (2) 2 3/4″ x 7 1/4″ panels for the front, (2) 2 5/8″ x 7 1/4″ panels for the inside, and (1) 5″ x 7″ panel for the center.  The 4 spines are 3/8″ x 7 1/4″.
The Shaker Element

True confession:  I love the way this shaker frame turned out.  It makes me think of a dragonfly hovering over a bird bath or fountain.  It takes a minute or two to put together, but the effort is definitely worth it!

  • First, heat emboss a Reneabouquets Simply Beautiful Frame with Versamark Ink and Stampendous Aged Silver Embossing Powder.
  • Next, dry brush a little chalk paint over the frame to soften it.
  • Once the paint is dry, die cut an oval from clear cardstock, (acetate) and adhere to the back of the frame with Dries Clear Adhesive.  Use a damp paper towel to clean up any excess adhesive.
  • Now back the frame with 3 layers of 1/8″ foam strips.
  • Locate the oval dragonfly image from the paper collection.
  • Then place your shaker mix and some glitter glass in the center of the image.
  • Now center the prepared frame over the image and gently press into place.
  • Embellish with a Reneabouquets Dragonfly.
  • Then heat emboss a resin crown with Diamond Dust Embossing Powder and adhere it on the top of the frame.
Finishing Touches

This card was a little “blah” until I added the Turquoise Taffeta bows and flowers .  Then everything popped!  The Silver Metallic String Bows echo the silver in the shaker frame, adding just the right touch of sparkle. I also heat embossed Reneabouquets Tiny Butterfly Flourishes with Diamond Dust Embossing Powder and added them to the corners.  Can you say yummy?

A Peek Inside

Gatefold cards are so dramatic to open!  You can see how I added a Large Sugar Bee Corner from Reneabouquets to the right hand flap.

Ciao Bella Microcosmos Dragonfly Shaker Card by Kathy Clement Photo 01

Add a sentiment panel on the right and create a box pocket in the center of the card.

Turquoise Taffeta Ribbon adorns both the book mark and the mini folio that are tucked into the pocket.

Did you think I forgot to add tea?  You know me better than that!  Here is the tea wallet and vintage silver plate demitasse spoon.  Now we’ve got a gift on our hands!

Of course there is room to add a gift card in with the tea bag if you should decide to do so.  But I think this gift is complete as it is.

You’ll find a linked supply list below this post.  And if you would like to purchase this card, you can find it in my Etsy Shop.

I hope I’ve inspired you to break out your ribbons and embellishments today and make something beautiful.

Thanks for stopping by!

Cheerio,

kathy

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Button Farm Club Patriotic Celebration Kit Reveal

Carta Bella God Bless America Patriotic Celebration Kit by Kathy Clement Photo 01

Button Farm Club Patriotic Celebration Kit Reveal with Carta Bella God Bless America

Hello, Friends!  Memorial Day seems like the perfect date to share this Button Farm Club Patriotic Celebration Kit Reveal.  Happy Memorial Day, my friends!  How thankful I am for all the selfless men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom.  We owe them a debt of gratitude that can never be repaid.  Today we pause to remember them all, and then we enjoy the liberty they fought for as we gather with our friends, neighbors and families to celebrate the Red, White and Blue!

God Bless America!

I’ve been planning this kit since the end of December 2020!  The minute I saw Carta Bella’s God Bless America collection, I  knew I wanted to use it to help usher in Memorial Day, Flag Day and the 4th of July.  If you love the Red, White and Blue…as I do…and you are a fan of Vintage Americana, then I think you are going to love this kit.  It’s one of the best I’ve created thus far for Button Farm Club.  It’s got a little bit of everything in it: Mini Album, Home Decor, Memory Keeping and even a couple of cards and tags.

The anchor of this kit is this vibrant 6″ x 9″ mini album.  It’s not just a great place to keep all those wonderful family photos from summer fun; it doubles as home décor!  The dimensional cover features this fabulous vintage fire engine, handmade rosettes and handmade mini pinwheels.  And of course, the tutorial shows you how easy it is to make those handmade embellishments.

But just like a great fireworks display, this album has some unexpected delights.

Red, White and Blue Banner

I thought to myself…”How fun would it be to build a box pocket mini album with a red, white and blue banner tucked inside?”  So I did it!  And I ‘m so glad I did!

The mini album also has loads of room for photos and journaling thanks to a flip page/pocket/waterfall feature.

The Exploding Box

Every great 4th of July celebration includes fireworks.  So I build an exploding box mini album into this kit.

Thanks to all the flips and flaps inside this clever little box, you’ll find even more room to add photos of your family celebrations.

Patriotic Cards

Even after creating all these wonderful kit elements, I found enough paper to create a couple of beautiful patriotic cards.  So I added a special bonus tutorial showing you how to make them along with a set of sweet little red, white and blue tags.

When you put this whole ensemble on display together , it makes a real visual impact.  I have it on display in my studio right now, and I just love it!

What Comes in the Kit

Everything you need to make the items seen here comes in your kit.  Just add basic crafting supplies like adhesives and tools like scissors, paper trimmers, and scoreboard.  (If you decide to make the bonus cards, you will need to add 2 sheets of 8 ½” x 11” cream cardstock to the kit supplies. )

Kit supplies:

  • Carta Bella God Bless America 12×12 Collection Kit (comes with stickers) 12 sheets of double-sided textured cardstock
  • 2 additional sheets of God Bless America cardstock
  • God Bless America Solids: 6 sheets of color-matched textured cardstock
  • Frames and Tags Ephemera Pack
  • God Bless America Ephemera Pack
  • Enameled Patriotic Charms (2 per kit)
  • 2 yards Red Lipstick Ribbon
  • 1 yard each red, white and blue burlap string
  • 12×12 chipboard sheet for making the album base
  • Little Birdie Flowers
  • Basic Written Guide
  • Private Links to Video Tutorials that you can watch over and over again
How to Order

The price for the kit is only $49.49!  I can’t even believe that!  You can order your kit today at The Button Farm Club.

If you’d like to see this kit in action, please enjoy this 10 minute video tour.

Ok, my friends!  That’s it for me!  I hope you all have a wonderful Memorial Day, and take a moment to give thanks for the fact that we live in the Home of the Free because of the Brave!

God Bless America!

Cheerio,

kathy