#Simply G45 Time to Flourish Gift Card Set

Hello G45’ers!  You all know that I love to create elaborate layered cards.  But what you might NOT know is that I also create loads of very simple, quick to make cards.  These get tucked into my Etsy shop orders as a way to thank my customers for their business.  I also like to create card sets as birthday/Christmas gifts for friends and family. One of my friends had a birthday last week.  It just so happens that the monthly challenge at Graphic 45 is  #SimplyG45 .  So the

project I have to share with you today is a #SimplyG45 Time to Flourish Gift Card Set.

This is a set of four 4.25″ x 5.5″ all occasion cards made with ONE sheet of Graphic 45’s gorgeous Time to Flourish Collection. (retired)   I tied them together with seam binding ribbon for a pretty (and simple) presentation.

What is #SimplyG45?

A #SimplyG45  project is supposed to cost less than $10 for all supplies.  It’s supposed to be easy to make, and be made in an hour or less.  And yes, I did manage to make a set of 4 lovely cards for under $10.  The final tally for all my supplies was a meager $9.41.  I did manage to make all 4 cards in an hour…but let me tell you…that second hand had me sweating!  LOL  Let’s take a look at how this sweet and simply #SimplyG45 Time to Flourish Gift Card Set.

#SimplyG45 Time To Flourish Gift Card Set: The Supplies

To make this card set you will need:

• 1 sheet of Time to Flourish August Cut Apart Paper
• Time to Flourish Cardstock Flower Sheet
• 4 sheets of Time to Flourish 6×6 Patterns and solids
• 2 sheets of 8.5″ x 11″ ivory cardstock
• 1/2 sheet each of yellow and soft blue 8.5″ x 11 Cardstock
• some buttons
• 2 yards of seam binding ribbon
• Water Soluble ink to dye your ribbon (Optional…and I did not include this in the price of the project as ink is a staple that we all have on hand.  I also did not figure in the cost of my adhesive.)

#SimplyG45 Time To Flourish Gift Card Set

TIP:  To make quick work of cardmaking, use an assembly line approach.  Keep most of your measurements consistent for all 4 cards.  Keep the embellishments simple and similar to one another for ease of assembly.  Here are the simple steps I followed to create these cards.

• First, create cut two sheets of 8.5″ x 11″ cardstock in half.  I chose to cut my cardstock to measure 4.25″ x 11.  Then I scored it in half at 5.5″.  This gave me two top fold vertical cards and two side fold horizontal cards.  Lay each folded card base on your work surface.
• Next, cut a sheet of yellow and a sheet of light blue cardstock in half.  Save the other halves for another day.  Trim cardstock to measure 4″ x 5.25″.  Lay one piece on top of each card base.
• Now, select 4 sheets from the 6″ x 6″ Time to Flourish Patterns and Solids pad.  Cut each piece to measure 3 7/8″ x 5 1/8″.  Lay each piece on one of your card piles. Save the extra pieces to use as layering elements.
• Then, cut the August Time to Flourish page apart.  Choose focal images and lay on each pile.

#SimplyG45 Time To Flourish Gift Card Set: Quick and Easy Flower Making

I love to make my own flowers…but it can take a LOT of time.  Using the Graphic 45 cardstock flowers is a very affordable way to add a lovely, custom embellishment to a project.  Here’s how I made these flowers.

• Punch out 3 blue flower layers and about 7 yellow flowers from the cardstock sheet.  (For the yellow flowers, I opted to use the back side of the cardstock flowers.)
• Lightly brush the edges of the petals with ink.  I used G45 Dark Cashmere Decades ColorBox Ink, but any water soluble ink will do.
• Next, you need to shape your flowers.

TIP: Keep it simple!  I rolled my petal edges around the barrel of a pencil.  Then I used my worked my thumbs around the center of each flower layer to cup it.  This takes less than a minute for each flower.

• When all the flower layers are shaped, stack them together using hot glue or wet glue to adhere.  Add a simple button to the center of each flower.

#SimplyG45 Time To Flourish Gift Card Set: Custom Dyed Ribbon

In Kathy World, no card is complete without ribbon.  To keep the cost down, I custom dyed white seam binding ribbon with my inks.  Then I tied all four bows at the same time.  To add more texture, I also tied 4 burlap string bows.

#SimplyG45 Time To Flourish Gift Card Set: Card #1

#SimplyG45 Time To Flourish Gift Card Set: Card #2

This card used one of the blue mats and a green micro dot paper from the 6×6 pad.

#SimplyG45 Time To Flourish Gift Card Set: Card #3

For this card, I turned my card base on its side to create a side fold horizontal card.

#SimplyG45 Time To Flourish Gift Card Set: Card #4

This is another horizontal side fold card.

#SimplyG45 Time To Flourish Gift Card Set: What’s inside?

Use the scraps and leftover cut aparts to simply decorate the inside of each card.  Make a quick and easy pocket and tuck in a tea bag or other small treat.  To make the pocket, punch a half moon shape with a circle punch.  Then adhere 3 sides of a leftover piece of the Patterns and solids paper.  This is a gift that anyone would love to receive!

I hope I’ve shared some tips and tricks that you can use in your own crafty adventures.  And be sure to link up your own #SimplyG45 project on the Graphic 45 Facebook page.  Use the #SimplyG45 to tag your project.  One lucky project will be randomly selected to win a great prize package.

Thanks for stopping by!

Cheerio,

kathy