Tag Archives: Ciao Bella

Ciao Bella Farmhouse Garden Card Kit Sneak Peek

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Ciao Bella Farmhouse Market Card Kit by Kathy Clement for The Button Farm Club

Ciao Bella Farmhouse Garden Card Kit Sneak Peek

Hello, Friends!  There’s no Make & Take Tuesday tutorial today, but I do have  this Ciao Bella Farmhouse Garden Card Kit Sneak Peek to share with you.  As I write this, I am in the middle of editing the video tutorials and photos for this Button Farm Club September card kit.

When I first laid eyes on the Farmhouse Garden papers, I knew they were the perfect collection to help us transition from summer to fall.  The papers are filled with beautiful floral images, sweet pups and kitties, gorgeous patterned papers and so many wonderful images that the hardest thing about designing this  kit was deciding which ones to use!

Fun Fold Card Extravaganza

If you are a cardmaker like me, then you love to learn a new fun fold card technique.  There are 11 cards in this kit, and 10 of them are fun folds! How’s that for a fun fold card extravaganza?

Several of  you have asked me to share tutorials for standard A2 cards (4 1/4″ x 5 1/2″).  So I included several of those in this kit to honor that request.  And, most of these cards fold flat for easy mailing, too.

YouTube Sneak Peek

I’m still working on the editing and tutorial writing, so I don’t have samples to share with you today.  We’ll save that for Thursday when the card kit releases. But for today, I have this short sneak peek tour that will show you all the goodies that come with the kit.

 

Not Subscribed?

If you are subscribed to my Button Farm Club Quarterly Card Kit, it will ship to you automatically; no need to order.

If you are not subscribed, you can sign up here.  Subscribing means you will never miss out on getting a kit, and your orders will be filled first.  Here’s the link to subscribe:

Quarterly Card Kit by Kathy Clement

You can still order the kit, even if you are not subscribed.  Laura at Button Farm Club will happily ship you this kit as a one time order.  And yes…if you want to, you can order multiple kits to give to friends or make in a group.

I’ll be back on Thursday for a full kit reveal.  Until then, go get your craft on!

Cheerio,

kathy

 

Into the Wild Altered Album Part 2

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Ciao Bella-Into the Wild-Reneabouquets-Kathy Clement-Kathy by Design

Ciao Bella Into the Wild Altered Album Part 2: Making the Mini Album

Hello, Friends! Today we’re going to share the tutorial for our Ciao Bella Into the Wild Altered Album Part 2.  If you missed Part 1 of this series where we created the mixed media book box case, you can find it HERE.

Ciao Bella-Into the Wild-Altered Mini Album in a Box-Kathy Clement-Kathy by Design-Photo 01

Creating this two-part project was a lot of work, but boy, was it fun!  First, the papers are so gorgeous that they are a real treat to work with.  Squirrels, fall colors, acorns, falling leaves and plaid patterns make me ridiculously happy!

Ciao Bella Into the Wild-Mini Album Tutorial-Kathy Clement-Kathy by Design

Next, I enjoyed the challenge of creating a layered cover that was not too dimensional to fit inside the box.  This led to a lot of creative fussy cutting, which I also happen to enjoy.

Since I had a little bit of burlap left over from making the box, I decided to add it to the album spine.  Texture makes me happy, too.

A Peek Inside

To keep with my Throwback Thursday goal of using up goodies from my stash, I went on a treasure hunt in the Closet of Inspiration and Delight.  This was also lots of fun, and yielded some great pockets, mini file folders and tabbed dividers that added a lot to the album pages.

The album is made with a really easy to construct stacked spine design.  Each spine in the 3 page sets is scored a little smaller than the previous page.  This gives us the opportunity to add lots of little flips, flaps and pockets.

Here’s a peek at my favorite page.  You will learn how I did this in the YouTube tutorial.

Ciao Bella Into the Wild Altered Album Part 2 on YouTube

If you’re ready to join me for today’s crafty adventure, please enjoy this video tutorial.

Did you enjoy watching this little album come together?  Do you think you’ll give that easy peasy stacked spine design a try?  I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comment section below.

You can find a linked supply list below this post.

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Cheerio,

kathy

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Ciao Bella Into the Wild Altered Mini Album in a Box

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Ciao Bella Into the Wild Altered Mini Album in a Box Tutorial Part 1

Hello, Friends!  Today I’m starting a two-part tutorial for this Ciao Bella Into the Wild Altered Mini Album in  Box project.  We’ll make the altered book box today, then on Thursday we’ll make the mini album to go inside.

A Walk in the Autumn Woods

Growing up in Vermont, our family would often go for a weekend walk in the autumn woods. With a blazing blue sky over our heads, crunchy leaves under our feet and brilliant fall colors all around us, it was like taking a walk in Heaven.  Leaves gently floated down to the ground as light breezes blew, and you could hear the sound of tiny creatures scurrying around under the cover of pine needles and fallen foliage.

When I saw this paper collection, it took me right back to those glorious rambling adventures, and I could not resist adding this collection to the Closet of Inspiration and Delight.

Mixed Media Prep

Speaking of the Closet of Inspiration and Delight, that’s where I found this Papier Mache book box.  I think I picked it up at a yard sale some time ago for a few pennies and tucked it away until inspiration came knocking.  And it did knock, eventually!

This mixed media adventure began by painting the edges of the box (inside and out) with Gathered Twigs Distress Paint.  Each step in this process takes a few minutes longer than usual, because you have to let each color of paint dry before you move to the next one. Here’s the  process:

  • First, paint all the edges and corners inside and out with Gathered Twigs Distress Paint.
  • Next, paint a smaller section of the edges and corners with Antique Bronze Distress Paint. Brush the section of the box that would be the gilt “page ends” with a more generous coat.
  • Now, randomly dry brush the edges with Ancient Brass Distress Paint.  Use an old, stiff paint brush on the page ends to create the illusion of page ends.
  • Let everything dry thoroughly, then apply Ground Espresso Distress Ink to the cover, spine and back cover.
  • Apply Prima Clear Gesso to the covers, spine and page ends (the sides).
  • Let everything dry thoroughly.
Cover Art Prep

Stitch a 4 3/4″ x 7″ panel of the green plaid paper to a 5 1/8″ x 7 3/8″ panel of the orange ledger pattern. Distress the edges and ink with Ground Espresso.

Fussy cut the images and small leaves, etc. to cluster around the squirrel and the window.

You can watch this process in this YouTube video;

 

I’ll be back on Thursday with a tutorial for an easy to make mini album to tuck inside the box.

Do you like this paper collection as much as I do?  Working with it is making me very happy!

You can find a linked supply list below this post.

Thanks for stopping by, friends!

Cheerio,

kathy

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Mixed Media Foxes, Hedgehogs, Acorns and Leaves

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Ciao Bella Sound of Autumn-Mixed Media Card-Really Reasonable Ribbon-Reneabouquets-Kathy Clement-Kathy by Design

Mixed Media Foxes, Hedgehogs, Acorns and Leaves Easel Card with RRR and Reneabouquets

Hello, Friends!  The promise of fall has inspired me to create this Mixed Media Foxes, Hedgehogs, Acorns and Leaves Easel Card with Really Reasonable Ribbon and goodies from Reneabouquets.  Everything about this card reminds me of strolling in an autumn wood with leaves crunching under my feet and sweet woodland critters scurrying around my feet.

This was a very fun (and messy) crafty adventure with dies, texture pastes, paints, stains, RRR mulberry flowers and chippies. I tied it all together with gorgeous Copper and Cream Plaid Ribbon and Pumpkin Baker’s Twine.

TIP: Add fall texture to your die cut wreath by applying Crackle Texture paste through a stencil.  If you color your branches with Gathered Twigs Distress Stain, the color will seep through and create a really cool fungi-like effect.

Autumn Roses

TIP: Did you know you can alter mulberry flowers and leaves with stains and paint?  It’s quick and easy!  Here’s how:

  • First, select a few 35mm Mixed Earth Tone Trellis Roses from your stash (linked below).
  • Next, select autumn hued Distress Stains like Carved Pumpkin, Tea Dye, Fossilized Amber and Candied Apple.
  • Now lightly dab the applicator tip of the stain over the the petals of the roses in a random way.  Let the ink run down the sides and inside the petals, too.
  • Don’t forget to gently heat dry between colors so you don’t end up with mud-colored roses.
  • Use this same technique to quickly alter Reneabouquets fall chippies (linked below).
  • Alter green mulberry leaves by dabbing Distress Paint over the surface until you achieve the desired autumn hues.
An Easel Card Pocket?

Create a pocket inside your easel card, and it does double-duty as the brake for the easel mechanism.  This allows you to tuck some sweet surprises inside the card.

Create a mini folio and tag with your scraps.  Then add a honey stick to sweeten the deal.

Fall weather calls for a Pumpkin Spice tea break, so I tucked a pumpkin spice teabag into the pocket of this little folio.  Now my card doubles as a gift and home decor, too!

I hope I’ve shared some tips and ideas that you can use in your fall crafty adventures.  What’s your favorite element of this sweet card?  I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comment section below.

If you’d like to see previous fall projects made with Ciao Bella Sound of Autumn, please click HERE.

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

Thanks for stopping by, friends!

Cheerio,

kathy

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Ciao Bella Summer Breeze Lighthouse

Ciao Bella-Summer Breeze-Mixed Media Lighthouse-Kathy Clement-Kathy by Design

Ciao Bella Summer Breeze Lighthouse Card with Really Reasonable Ribbon Trims

Hello, Friends!  The beach vibes are strong in this Ciao Bella Summer Breeze Lighthouse card.  It is almost as good as a trip to the shore.  I’ve combined beachy blue papers with beautiful beachy trims from Really Reasonable Ribbon and tossed in a few beach treasures to boot.  Are you up for a trip to the shore with me today?

For the Love of Lighthouses

Living in North Carolina has given me a great love and appreciation for lighthouses.  They are not just functional, but they are beautiful to behold.  Our shoreline, once known as the Graveyard of the Atlantic, is dotted with them, and each one is special in its own right.

Ribbons and trims from Really Reasonable Ribbon add to the texture and design of this mixed media card.  Those are real shells, my friend, gathered during one of my beloved shoreline rambles.  Oooh, I can almost feel the wind whipping my hair and the sun beating on my shoulders as I remember that last walk through the surf.

TIP: Don’t forget to add ribbons and trims.   Brown Sugar Baker’s Twine to the Paradise Aqua Seam binding ribbon doesn’t just add color: it adds texture and dimension to the composition of this card.

A Peek Inside

Beachy blues are my favorites, so I used a lot of them on the inside of the card.  And if one pocket is good, two are even better, don’t you agree?

Book reading by the sea is the best, so I had to tuck a little bookmark along with this mini notecard into the pockets.

TIP: Add a tab to the cutaway edge of this little note card to create a fun design feature.

Plenty of room to write a note inside the cutaway  note card design.

I haven’t been to the beach yet this summer. But as soon as this heat wave breaks, I think I might just have to run away for a day or two of beach therapy!

You can find a linked supply list below this post.

Thanks for stopping by!

Cheerio,

kathy

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