Tag Archives: Carta Bella

Carta Bella Homemade Chicken Scratch Card Tutorial

Carta Bella-Homemade-Tutorial-Card-Kathy Clement-Kathy by Design-Photo 01

Carta Bella Homemade Chicken Scratch Card Tutorial for Throwback Thursday

Hello, Friends!  Today’s Throwback Thursday project is this adorable Carta Bella Homemade Chicken Scratch Card Tutorial.  I call it Chicken Scratch because the cover is made completely from little bits and bobs of paper left over from previous crafty adventures.  Yes, it’s a “Let’s Use Our Scraps” day here at Kathy by Design.

Carta Bella-Homemade-Chickens-Card Tutorial-Kathy Clement-Kathy by Design

I don’t know what it is about these adorable chickens…but they get me every time!  They are just so cute and clucky and sassy that I could not resist using them as one of the images on this card front.

TIP: If you are using two focal images on a card, be sure that they do not compete with one another.  The image on the top is very clean and smaller than the “busier” image of the hens and chicks on the bottom.

TIP: Find a way to tie the two images together.  The cute chicken button connects the two images together.  But I also repeated the plaid background in both sections of the card.

A Peek Inside

The inside of this card is just as happy as the outside with lots of sweet daisy patterns and a lovely pocket.

Little tags like this one are another great way to use up those scraps!  Notice that I repeated the chicken theme inside the card.  This is a great way to make a design feel cohesive.

I also tucked in a packet of wildflower seeds and a cute little tea wallet and honey stick combo.  Now the card is a gift…and wouldn’t it be so cute for Mother’s Day?

Carta Bella Homemade Chicken Scratch Card Tutorial on YouTube

If you’d like to see how I built the layers for this card front, I hope you’ll enjoy this video tutorial over on my YouTube channel.

Would you like to see more cards made with this sweet paper collection?  You can find Carta Bella Homemade projects HERE.

You can find a linked supply list below this post, but feel free to use YOUR favorite scraps with this card “recipe.”

Thanks for stopping by!

Cheerio,

kathy

SUPPLY LIST
  • Carta Bella Homemade
    • 12×12 collection pack
    • 6×6 paper pad
    • chipboard stickers
  • Everything’s Blooming Small Doily
  • Oval Die Cut
  • Coral Rose Mini Check Ribbon
  • Chicken Button, frying pan charm (this was a gift) and Vintage Buttons from my stash

Introducing Everythings Blooming by Annette Green

Elizabeth Craft Designs-Everythings Blooming-Playful Flowers-Carta Bella-Homemade-Kathy Clement-Kathy by Design-Photo 01

Introducing Everythings Blooming by Annette Green with Elizabeth Craft Designs

Hello, Friends!  Today I have the honor of introducing Everythings Blooming by Annette Green.  Annette and I formed a friendship when we were both special projects designers for Graphic 45.  She’s  such a fun person, and incredibly talented.   I’m so excited to announce that Annette has just released her very first collection of dies and stamps with Elizabeth Craft Designs.  Even better, Annette has invited me to join her design team.  What fun!

This new collection is called Everythings Blooming. It’s loaded with 10 lovely die sets and 3 sets of stamps.  I was immediately drawn to the Playful Flowers and Large Doilies dies.  Since our newlywed daughter and her husband have just moved into their first home, I decided to make them a little housewarming gift featuring these fun dies.

How to Shape 3-D Everythings Blooming Playful Flowers

These layered flowers are really versatile!  You can layer them flat, which is very pretty.  Or, you can take them 3-D as I did here.

  • First, die cut the flowers from white cardstock. I used the 3 petal flowers with the heart shaped petals, the pierced petals and the solid petals.  Cut 3 of each.
  • Next, swipe Spun Sugar, Worn Lipstick and Picked Raspberry Distress Ink on your craft sheet.  Spritz with water until little beads of color form.
  • Now place your flower layers into the inky puddle and tap gently for a second or two. Flip the flower layer so that you can add ink to the back side as well. You can repeat this process until you’ve achieved the color you desire.
  • Next, gently heat dry the flowers with your heat gun, or leave them to dry on their own.
  • Gently shape the backs of the flower layers with a ball stylus to slightly round them.
  • Stack the three shaped layers together with the pierced layer in the back, the solid layer in the center and the heart shaped layer at the front.
  • Use a dab of hot glue between the layers, and before  you add the second layer, place some pretty flower stamens in the hot glue.
  • Once the layers are all stacked, you can kind of pinch the outer edges to pouf out the flowers.
  • Lightly brush or spatter with diluted ivory chalk paint and brush the top and sides with Picked Raspberry distress ink.
The Shaker Frame

The Large Doilies are a perfect choice for shaker frames!  Simply die cut clear cardstock (acetate sheets) with a circle die and adhere to the back of the doily.  Add three layers of 1/8″ foam strips and you’ve got a super cute shaker frame!

A Peek Inside

I added a little pocket inside the card, then tucked in a cute magnet made with one of the 4×6 cards from the paper collection.

Such a sweet sentiment to hang on the fridge, don’t you agree?

More Playful Flowers

Because I was having so much fun with these dies, I decided to make another card. These dimensional flowers are made with the same process I used for the first card.  Aren’t they cheery?  I layered in some of the Stemmed Flowers to fill out my bow cluster.

Do you like the shaker frame?  It’s made with the Everythings Blooming Postage Stamps Dies. They are perfect for shaker frames!  I also made a cute bee tag with the Honeybee and Happy Stamp sets.  The “hello” greeting is die cut from the Everyday Words dies.  Each word has a solid shadow layer, which makes it very easy to add the sentiment to the project.

Let’s talk about that sweet layered border, shall we?  This is made by die cutting two layers with the Lace Borders Dies.  The bottom layer is solid color cardstock and the top is patterned paper.  Stagger the layers when you glue them together to achieve this fun look.

What’s Inside?

You  knew there had to be a pocket, didn’t you?

I tucked in a sweet little tea wallet, tea bag, honey stick, bookmark and a blank circular sentiment panel.

I will be back on Saturday with more fun Everythings Blooming samples.  The dies are shipping out to stores now, and should be available in April.  I’ll provide links in the supply list at the bottom of this post.

Thanks for stopping by, friends!

Cheerio,

kathy

SUPPLY LIST

Flirty Feminine Floral Card with Treat Pocket

Carta Bella Homemade-Really Reasonable Ribbon-Kathy Clement-Kathy by Design-handmade card-01

Flirty Feminine Floral Card with Treat Pocket: Carta Bella Homemade & RRR

Hello, Friends!  Don’t you just love a truly flirty, feminine floral card?  I know I do, especially if it involves pink gingham ribbon and patterned papers!  Today I’m showcasing another card made with Coral Rose Mini Check  my favorite Really Reasonable Ribbon and the Carta Bella Homemade collection.

Recipe for Success.

Carta Bella-Homemade-Treat Card-Really Reasonable Ribbon-Kathy Clement-Kathy by Design-01

This 5×7 top fold card was truly a joy to create!  Here’s the simple recipe for making it:

  • First, create a 5×7 top fold card from cream cardstock
  • Next, machine stitch a 4 7/8″ x 6 7/8″ panel of pink gingham check to a 5×7 blush cardstock panel.
  • Then, stitch a 4″ x 6″ panel of the cheery floral pattern to a slightly larger panel of blush cardstock.  Center and adhere over the gingham panel.
  • Now, use an oval die to cut out the sentiment from a 4×6 journal card.  Mat on a larger blush die cut oval, back with adhesive and adhere in the center of the card.
  • Add the chipboard banner as an accent in the corner.
  • Finally, die cut foliage, dry brush with ivory paint, top with pretty Prima flowers, add a Coral Rose Ribbon and a button.

A Peek Inside

Really Reasonable Ribbon-Carta Bella-Homemade Collection-Kathy Clement-Kathy by Design

Isn’t it fun to see how the same paper collection offers so many different color combinations?  I focused in on the pink/green hues instead of the yellow/orange hues I used in my Country Fresh Eggs & Sunshine card.

Create a cute envelope to hold the treats you might tuck into the card pocket.

Don’t faint!  I actually stamped and colored the images on the little tag.  One of my goals for 2023 is to develop/improve my stamping and coloring skills.  I hope you’ll bear with me!

I can hardly wait to pull this collection out for another play date. It’s just so full of happy!

Tomorrow, I’ll be back with the reveal of my Button Farm Club Kit for February.  I’m actually on the road today, coming home from our daughter’s wedding.  This  post was written and scheduled in advance of the big event.  I’ll fill y’all in on the details once I’ve caught my breath.

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

Thanks for stopping by!

Cheerio,

kathy

Flirty, Floral, Feminine Card SUPPLY LIST

Country Fresh Eggs and Sunshine

Country Fresh Eggs & Sunshine Easel Card with Carta Bella Homemade

Hello, Friends!  Mid-Winter is the perfect time to indulge in some Country Fresh Eggs & Sunshine, don’ t you agree?  Today I have a sweet farmhouse style easel card made with Carta Bella’s Homemade paper collection and adorned with ribbons and trims from Really Reasonable Ribbon.

How do you feel about yellow?  It’s one of those colors that people tend to either really enjoy or thoroughly dislike.  I fall on the really enjoy side of that equation.  So I’m very fond of this saffron- hued 5 1/2″ square easel card!

Ribbon to the Rescue!

But even as much as I enjoy shades of yellow, I find they have to be toned down with some solid neutral shades.  And that’s where ribbon comes to the rescue!  Here’s how I used ribbon to tone down the sunshine brightness on this card:

  • First, I created a belly band by layering Chipmunk Delicate Stitched Satin with 3/8″ Brown Plaid Ribbon.  The brown hues help to tone down the vibrant yellow patterns in the paper collection.
  • Use Scor-Tape between the ribbon layers, and wrap the ends around the back side of the card panel for a neat, clean finish.
  • Next, tie a poufy plaid bow with that brown plaid ribbon and tuck it into a cluster of roses and gardenias.
  • Now tie a loopy burlap bow and tuck it into the ribbon cluster to add extra texture.
  • Then create a cute banner with stickers from the paper collection.  Use your Bow-it-All Tool to tie itty bitty 1/2″ burlap ribbons and add to the corners.
  • Finally, Cocoa Ric-Rac adds an interesting country style border to the base of the card.  I don’t know why I don’t use ric-rac more often!
A Peek Inside

 

 

The country fresh vibes continue inside the card.  Don’t you just love these chickens?  Of course, you have to add gingham to a farmhouse style card, and bees come in handy, too.  So I just added all of the above. Do you spy the wee pocket?

Here’s a closer look.  Trim, score and fold a 3×4 card to make a side opening pocket that fits the narrow panel.  Then die cut the sentiment from another 3×4 card.  Thread with ribbon, tie on a sweet sunflower charm with burlap string, and now you’ve got a sweet surprise tucking inside this Country Fresh Eggs and Sunshine card.

I find I tend to turn to my bolder, brighter paper collections when the winter days are dark and gloomy.  We’ve had loads of rain and grey skies in North Carolina this month.  But I don’t mind; I just make my own sunshine on paper!  And, the sun is rising a little earlier and setting a little later each day  now, so spring can’t be too far off, can it?

I hope I shared some tips and tricks you can use in  your  next crafty adventure.  You’ll find a linked supply list below this post.

Thanks for stopping by!

Cheerio,

kathy

Country Fresh Eggs and Sunshine Supply List

Spellbinders Home Sweet Quilt Cards

Spellbinders -Home Sweet-Home-8 point star quilt-Carta Bella-Welcome Winter-Kathy Clement-Kathy by Design Photo 01

Spellbinders Home Sweet Quilt Cards

Hello, Friends!   It’s been a chilly week here in North Carolina, and that has inspired me to make these Spellbinders Home Sweet Quilt Cards.  Growing up in Vermont, we always had at least one quilt over piles of blankets or afghans on our beds during the winter.  The weight of the bedclothes, and my mom saying “Snug as a bug in a rug” as she tucked me in at night are sweet memories.  Maybe that’s why I sleep under a weighted blanket now, who knows?

I’ve never been a quilter, but a while ago, I started saving diagrams for various quilt squares in a Pinterest file.  My intent was to replicate the patterns with paper.  Spellbinders must have been reading my mind, because this die set allows you to do just that, without all the geometry and measuring it would have taken for me to do it on my own.

Home Sweet Quilt Filigree 8 Point Star Square

Spellbinders-Home Sweet Quilt-8 Point Star-Carta Bella Welcome Winter-Kathy Clement-Kathy by Design-Photo 02

This 5 1/2″ square card uses the Filigree 8 Point Star pattern.  There are a lot of little parts that come with this die set, and at first it can seem a bit overwhelming to figure out how they all go together.  So first, maybe try die cutting from inexpensive cardstock to get the feel for how the pieces fit together.  I, of course, did not do this.  For fools rush in where angels fear to tread.  But even with my harum-scarum approach to creating, I managed to produce a very pretty design.  Bottom line: it’s not hard to do, but it gets easier with practice.   And the end result is so pleasing that I think I probably will take this die for another spin.

Here’s a peek at the inside.  Winter plaids make me think of pajamas…and that is a cozy thought, indeed.  You could put on your flannel pj’s and enjoy a hot cuppa of Winter Spice tea while watching Dr. Zhivago for the ultimate cozy winter experience.  (The winter scenes are epic!)

Quilted Stained Glass Window

Spellbinders-Quilted Stained Glass Window Dies-Becca Feeken-Amazing Paper Grace-Kathy Clement-Kathy by Design-Carta Bella-Gather Again-Photo 02

Next I created an inlaid mosaic design with the Quilted Stained Glass Window dies.  I will not lie to you: this was a lot of work because of all the little pieces.  But it was very rewarding to see the design come together.  If I did t his one again, I would probably just die cut the outline from white cardstock and lay it over a sort of calico patterned paper.  That would be a quick and easy way to create the same effect.

Spellbinders-Quilted Stained Glass Window Dies-Becca Feeken-Amazing Paper Grace-Kathy Clement-Kathy by Design-Carta Bella-Gather Again-Photo 01

Adding machine stitching to the Carta Bella Gather Again patterned papers really amped up the homespun vibe of this project.

Here’s a peek at the inside.  The cozy farmhouse vibe is perfect for winter cardmaking.

There are 6 different quilt square dies in this release along with an embossing folder and sentiment stamps.  You can take a look at all of them along with some pretty samples HERE.

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

I hope you’re staying warm and cozy this winter!

Cheerio,

kathy

SUPPLY  LIST
Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...