Quick and Easy Gift Card Holder Card

Happy TuesDIE Cottage Cutz Friends!

Melinda here with you on this terrific Tuesday. Today I am sharing a quick and easy gift card holder - card with a Christmas theme. It features dies from the FABULOUS Cottage Cutz Part2 Christmas release!

How To Make The Holder

Start with a piece of paper measuring 5.5 x 11 inches

You will then score it on the 11" side at 4.25, 5.5 and then turn it and score again at 4.25 on the other side. I believe that would be the 6.75" mark if you go straight across.

You will then fold it in half at the 5.5 mark and then do a valley fold on each of the 4.25 scored lines. Your fold will look like the photo above. Next  you will want to put adhesive along one edge of the 4.25 score line as pictured above. You could also go along just the sides if you want but with a good adhesive, this is not necessary.

With your adhesive applied, you will want to fold the base in half. Essentially, one side onto the other. Here is what it looks like opened after folding.

Here is what the "Inside" will look like once it is folded. You will fold the two flaps back over.

Next you will want to slice off the center fold just a bit. I start 1" from top and slice about an 1/8" or so and then stop 1" from the bottom. You want to slice just enough to cut the fold. This will become the opening that the card sits in.

Here is what a gift card stuck inside the slit looks like. the card sits snuggly in there. This is why you don't put adhesive anywhere else except along the bottom edge when folding the base.

Here is a top view of the inside to show how the card sits in there. I added some patterned paper and then one double stitched rectangle die cut mat to write my greeting.

Here is one more view of the inside. I also added a 1 x 5.25 strip of red cardstock along the holder pocket. There are a limitless amount of ways you can dress it up.

Here is a closer look at the adorable Santa Gnome w/Cookies die cut. He was so much fun to piece together! You could whip out several of these for co-workers, teachers, etc. For a final touch I added a strip of green cardstock with some green and white polka dot ribbon and a bow. I also hand wrote Merry Christmas on the smallest double stitched rectangle die cut in white for my sentiment.

Don't forget to head over to the CottageCutz YouTube channel and check out all of the amazing projects on there. Our video team is doing a wonderful job of filling the channel with all sorts of creative content! You don't want to miss it!

Dies I Used

Santa Gnome with Cookies

Stitched Oval Die Set

Nested Oval Scallop Set

Double Stitched Rectangle Set

Here's a look at the entire release. Be sure to head over and grab them while they last!

Well that about covers it for today! Until the next time, have a wonderfully craft-die day!

Melinda Beltran

 

Easter Pop-Up Card

Hello CottageCutz friends! Thanks for taking the time to stop and visit with us today. It's Mary Marsh here bringing you the Saturday edition of the Blog.

It's release time!!! The Australian Friends release is in the online store.  You can pick up the bundle at 50% off the list price or 30% off each individual die. These cute little animals are so perfect for all your cardmaking styles and occasions. The DT will begin showing samples in the next week. 

For your viewing pleasure today, I am featuring a pop-up card using the Bunny Express Engine die. So, let's get started on some details of how I created my card.  

Design Steps: 

I started my card by cutting the bunny engine. I used the packaging as an assist to help with the colors. I use colored cardstock on my card creations, but you can also cut in white then color with your favorite coloring medium. 

Then I looked through my designer papers for a fun pattern that would work for a whimsical Easter card. I found this dotted paper that I thought was cute and decided to go with it. The coordinating light purple cardstock would work well on the card inside to display the engine when it pops-up. 

Freesia Card Base: 4 1/4" x 5 1/2"

Misty Moonlight Layering Panel: 4 1/8" x 5 3/8"

Designer Paper Layer: 3 7/8" x 5 1/8"

Next, I worked on my pop-up panel mechanism. I started with cardstock that measures 3 1/2" x 4 1/4". I scored it at 3/4", 1 1/2", 2 1/4" and 3". I used my bone folder on the score lines. 

Then I added some red line tape to the end of the score lines- it's the 1/2" part at the end of the cardstock. 

I removed the top layer to expose the tape and then closed the cardstock to form the mechanism for the pop-up. It should look like a cube of sorts. 

Before I attach the pop-up mechanism, I worked on the inside of the card. I stamped a sentiment on white cardstock and added a small panel of designer paper to the bottom. 

White cardstock: 4" x 5 1/4"

Designer Paper: 1/2" x 4"

Misty Moonlight layer: 5/8" x 4"

Now I can attach the pop-up mechanism. I added red line tape to the section that I wanted to face down on the card. It's the part where the seam is, and I didn't want that to show. 

I then attached the mechanism to the inside of the card. It should sit just below the score line, so it doesn't interfere with the card when it opens. I added more red line tape to the back of the mechanism that will attached to the card base. 

Removed the tape and closed the card to secure the back of the mechanism to the card base. 

I moved back to the card front to attach the designer paper. I added the Happy Easter sentiment from the Spring Sentiments die. It's cut in the misty moonlight cardstock. I cut an oval from the freesia cardstock and attached to the card front, with dimensional adhesive. 

I finished off the inside of the card by adding my train images to the pop-up mechanism. I decided to add some clouds as the background for the train. I stenciled with distress inks. 

And, that's my sample for this week. See you next Saturday.

Reminder: Our YouTube Channel has a new video from Jen Hartsgrove. There is a giveaway for being a subscriber, liking the video and leaving a comment. Click here.

dies I used to create card:

Howdy Friend!

Happy Friday!  It's Jeanne posting to day with a great thinking of you card featuring the Dog in Cowboy Boot die from the new Country Farm release!  This release features 16 adorable dies with a great variety of farm images.  Everything from tractors to cows to chickens!  Be sure to check them all out in the online store.

Today's card went fast thanks to a sketch from Splitcoaststampers.  To accommodate the boot I rotated the sketch 90 degrees.

 

I knew I had some bandana designer paper and then I found this paisley embossing folder in my stash. It coordinates beautifully!

To start I cut the dog from white cardstock and used Distress Oxide ins to color him.

For my sentiment I cut two ovals using the second largest of the Stitched Scallop Ovals and the third largest of the Stitched Ovals.  After stamping the sentiment I layered these; the blue scallops just peek out from underneath.

The trickiest part of this card was the angle.  I cut a base panel 4 1/4 x 5 1/2 inches from a denim color and then two panels 4 x 5 1/4 inches from white and the DP.  I embossed the white with the paisley folder.

To get my angle I trimmed the bandana panel to 3 x 5 1/4 and marked half way up the long side at 2 3/4 inches.

I used my paper trimmer to cut a line from the lower left corner to the pencil mark giving me the angle.  I assembled my panel pieces.

To finish the card I glued down the oval and used foam dots to pop up the pooch!  Don't forget to check out this adorable release.  It's on sale for a limited time!

Products used:

 

 

Thanks for visiting today!  I hope you have a fun and creative weekend!

The Greatest Birthday on Earth

Happy Friday!  It's Jeanne today and I am LOVING these new Circus dies!  They are so versatile - great for so many occasions and male or female, young or old - they work.  My card today is a birthday card featuring the Balancing Elephant.   Another fun thing about these dies - you can go bright, or as I did here, a bit vintage.

 I started by picking my paper so I could get my colors.  I cut a base from the blue pattern (4 1/4 x 5 1/2 inches) then three panels each slightly larger than the next - 3 1/2 x 5 1/2, 3 5/8 x 5 1/2, 3 3/4 x 5 1/2 inches.

 I cut the elephant from white cardstock and used Distress Oxide inks to color, edging the pieces with Vintage Photo.

 These are the colors I used:

Using the third largest of the Stitched Oval dies I cut an oval from Vanilla cardstock and antiqued the edges with Vintage Photo.  Then I adhered the elephant.

 I stamped my sentiment on the uppermost panel in Versafine Onyx Black ink.  I used this ink because I was stamping on patterned paper and needed a very rich black ink.

 I centered all the panels and added the oval with the elephant.

I hope you've enjoyed my card today.  These dies are marvelous.  They can go many different directions in design and can be used for a variety of occasions! 

Be sure to visit the online store where these dies are on sale for a limited time!

Products used:

 

Thanks for visiting today.  I hope you have a fun and creative weekend!