Easter card inspiration!

 Card designed by Sharon M Reinhart February 2020

Sending Easter card inspiration your way! This card is an A2 top fold card. I have tied a ribbon around a green/white printed card stock panel which is slightly smaller than the card base and layered it to the white base card.

Next it’s time to create the main collage! I began with a tag which was die-cut using a Simon Says Stamp die template. Then layered some punched leaves, Martha Stewart Crafts, followed by a punched flower, Stampin’ Up, and an adhesive rhinestone. My next step was to create a little egg collage on each side of the tag. I used Doodlebug Design printed paper and a die from Photoplay. The white eggs were embossed using an older folder from Sizzix. The eggs on each side of center were adhered using foam mounting tape and the other ones with Tombow Mono Multi liquid glue or Scor-tape. I tucked in a leaf spring and adorned one of the eggs on each side with a punched flower and rhinestone. To finish the center tag, the Happy Easter sentiment, Taylored Expressions, was stamped onto a stitched circle shape, Studio Katia, and then layered to shimmer green card stock, which is a 

punched scalloped circle cut in half. The finishing touches here are a flower embellishment and leaf sprig. Hope you are inspired to create! 

Creatively Your,

Sharon

Making a Difference!

Designed by Sharon M. Reinhart January 2020

I am sure you have all come across those people in your life that truly make a difference, well I have a few of those peeps as well and wanted to express that I do notice and appreciate what they do! This card is a side fold A2 card created with red cardstock, with a white cardstock circle panel that was cut using a Studio Katia die template. I adhered the circle panel to the card front using foam mounting tape to give a bit of dimension. Next I punched several white hearts and one gold heart using a Fiskars punch. I wanted a little bit of texture on the hearts but just a subtle touch so I embossed all the hearts with a Stampin Up embossing folder that gives the look of linen. Next the white hearts were adhered into each circle except the bottom right using Tombow liquid glue or Scor-tape. The gold heart has been adhered with foam mounting tape. The sentiment from Impression Obsession was stamped with black ink and die cut using a circle die. For a little definition I sponged black ink on the circle edge. Two smaller circles were die-cut from red cardstock and adhered at the top and bottom of the sentiment circle. The finishing touch was adding the metallic gold gems, smaller ones were adhered to the white hearts and four larger ones to the corners of the card.
This card could easily be transformed into a Valentine, Wedding, Anniversary or Birthday card just by switching up the sentiment! I hope you are inspired to create! Stay tuned for mini Valentine inspiration!
Creatively Yours,
Sharon

Creative Scraps!

Card Project designed by Sharon M. Reinhart

I am still on a mission to make use of my larger scraps rather than banish them to a lonely bin. I like to have some basic card bases cut, scored, folded and ready to go. This card begins with a white A2 side fold base (5-1/2 x 8-1/2 inches scored at 4-1/4 and then folded in half, to create a top fold A2 begin with a 4-1/4 x 11 inch piece then score at 5-1/2 and fold). 

The printed paper used here has been most likely discontinued for some time. That being said I encourage you to use what YOU have and to look through your scraps and grab a piece of printed paper that has a repetitive pattern and use my design somewhat like a card sketch. Layer a 3-3/4 x 5 inch panel to the card front. Now choose a colour from your printed paper and cut a 3 x1 inch piece from a solid colour card stock. Layer horizontally across card front. Next layer a 3-3/4 x 1 inch piece of the printed card stock to a slightly larger piece of card stock that is the same colour as your card front. Stamp and die-cut a sentiment and adhere to the card front on top of the vertical panel. I love the stitched framelits from Stampin' Up for greetings and sentiments. To finish, either die-cut some small flowers or use pre-made flowers. Adhere three flowers to the solid colour panel and one next to the sentiment. Add a few die-cut or punched leaves and adhesive rhinestones and this one is good to go!
Hope you like it and are inspired to create!
Creatively Yours,
Sharon

Bit of Spring!

Card project designed by Sharon M. Reinhart March 2019

Stopping by with a cute card that offers a feeling of Spring and would be perfect for a variety of occasions from birthday, Mother's Day, new baby, Easter, and thinking of you.

I feel like there is a bit of a trend happening right now which combines stamped words with die-cut script words. I love the look! It is easy to accomplish as well. For this card the effect was created with a stamp set from Stampin' Up. I chose the sentiment "sent with love". Simply place a post it note or painters tape over the area that you do not wish to have stamped. In this case I masked off the word "love". Next ink up the stamp, remove the post it note or painters tape and stamp the sentiment onto white cardstock. Next, die-cut the word "love" from pink cardstock, this particular one is from a Recollections set but there are many die-cut word sets available through a variety of manufacturers. Add the die-cut word below the stamped greeting. It's that simple!

If you don't have a lot of word stamps try using a label maker or perhaps computer generate the words and print them onto cardstock. Further options would be to use sticker words or cut words from old books.

Now onto the actual card. This card is an A2 side fold card. A beautiful scalloped edge window has been created using the Reverse Stitched Scalloped Circle die set from Lawn Fawn. Cut the window in the top portion of a white panel of cardstock and layer to a pink cardstock panel that is slightly larger. Adhere to the card front.

Die-cut a flower using white cardstock and the Elizabeth Craft Designs Victorian Flower Overlay Set 1. Wrap metallic thread around your fingers and sandwich it between the die-cut flower and the pink layer on the card front. Next die-cut the flower center and adhere using foam mounting tape. To dress up this delightful flower apply adhesive glitter dots. I use my piercing tool to lift the adhesive dots from the backing sheet and to place them on my image. Glitter dots are available in a variety of colors and add the perfect amount of bling without the bulk!

To further embellish the card front, die-cut a little bow using the Elizabeth Craft Designs Lollypop, set or alternatively tie a bow with narrow ribbon or twine. Add a glitter dot to the center and adhere to the card front. Punch the sentiment out using an oval punch or die, a Fiskars punch was used here. Punch an additional oval from pink cardstock, cut in half and adhere to the back of the sentiment piece at left and right sides to create a layering effect. Adhere to the card front using foam mounting tape.

I realize that I have used several products from Elizabeth Craft Designs; the flower, lollypop (bow) and the glitter dots. No, I do not work for this company I simply enjoy using their products. Please know I will always give you my honest opinions regardless.

This card is simple to make and offers beautiful results! I hope you have been inspired to create!
Creatively Yours,
Sharon

Valentine Inspiration!

Just a quick post to offer up some Valentine card making inspiration and to say Happy Valentine's Day to all!
This card is mainly comprised of Stampin' Up supplies in particular their designer paper and the Be Mine die set. The love word at the bottom is a Recollections die however I know there are many word die templates out there, I am sure you will have one that works perfectly. I would like to give a shout out to my Stampin' Up demonstrator and friend Jennifer Reynard - a very talented lady herself, thanks for always hooking me up with some wonderful supplies!
Creatively Yours,
Sharon

Countdown to Valentine's Day!

Card project designed by Sharon M. Reinhart February 2019

Stopping by with another sweet Valentine! This is another sweet and simple Valentine card. This card is a white side-fold A2 base. For those of you who may be new to card making, an A2 size card is 4-1/4 x 5 1/2 inches in its folded form. That being said it can be made by beginning with an 8-1/2 x 5-1/2 inch piece of cardstock and scoring and folding in half at 4-1/4, of it can be a gate-fold with an opening in the center scoring at 2-1/8 from each side. An A2 card may also be made beginning with a 4-1/4 x 11 inch piece of cardstock and scoring at 5-1/2 inches and folding in half. They can all be made as a side fold or a top fold although the most effective gate folds in order to still display are side folds.

Onwards with this particular card. The printed paper layer base is a Recollection paper that has been trimmed slightly leaving just a small border of plain white. The sizes I typically use for this type of layering is either 5-1/4 x 4 or 5 x 3-3/4 inches. Next is a layer of coral cardstock followed by a narrow strip of the word "love". This narrow strip is cut from a Canvas Corp paper. I love to create notched ribbon ends and find the quickest and most efficient method is to use either my hexagon or square punches, utilizing a corner area within the punch. Okay, folks, pull out your retro card making supplies that have been banished to the back of the cupboard! In order to create the black decorative edge strip I have used my mini scalloped edge scissors from Fiskars! I still love them! I begin with a larger width than required which results in two useable decorative strips once the cut is completed.

Die-cut or punch a couple of heart shapes. This particular heart is an older one from Stampin' Up that cuts and creates the Swiss dot effect at the same time.  A plain heart works equally as well, it can always be embossed with an embossing folder. Or if you do not have the tools in order to emboss, try stamping a texture on the hearts, or adding score lines to create an embossed design. Where there is a will there is a way! Wrap thread (this beautiful thread is from Wonderfil) a few times around fingers and secure with tape and then sandwich in between the two hearts. One heart has been adhered with double-sided tape and the other with foam mounting tape.

Die cut, punch or stamp "LOVE" and "YOU" and adhere to the heart shapes. These particular words are from a Sizzix set by Stephanie Barnard, #560025. This sweet Valentine is good to go! Hope you have been inspired to create!
Creatively Yours,
Sharon

Love Letters!

Project designed by Sharon M. Reinhart January 2019

Back with more Valentine inspiration! This valentine makes use of stamps, die templates and an embossing folder to create some wonderful layers. The embossing folder is a Recollections product, the swirl border is from Dee's Distinctively border #3 and the balance of the layers -- hearts, mini envelope and insert is from Stampin Up's Love Notes Framelits set #142752. The stamp unfortunately is an older stamp from My Sentiments Exactly, so it could be difficult to find, but there is always a way to recreate the effect, look for some tips below!       

Start with an 8-1/2 x 11 inch piece of white cardstock, score at 4-1/4 and fold in half creating a portrait style side fold card. Next emboss the card front using the embossing folder and a die-cutting/embossing system.

Now onto creating the layers, layer a 2 x 5-1/2 piece of red cardstock to card front at right side. I did add some black distressing or edging to the panel prior to adhering to the card front. Next stamp the image and die-cut each letter out using a circle template, (Spellbinder's circles small Nestabilities) edge each circle with black ink. Layer the letters onto the red panel overlapping slightly. On the left side I actually began this by creating the envelope with love letters embellishment, instead of layering the one little heart onto the red heart I wove it through the slats and secured at the back. The first piece adhered on this side of the card was the little envelope embellishment made up of various elements from the die set and layered together collage style. Again, add some distressing/edging to the mini envelope. This is a wonderful way to make your own embellishments for cards, tags, gift bags, favors, etc. Gather all of the elements you wish to use and start layering together, don't forget to vary the adhesive used. For this embellishment I used foam mounting tape to add dimension with the white heart on the envelope and to adhere the woven heart on top of the envelope flap. Next die-cut a swirl border, adhere to card front right next to the mini envelope embellishment, trim excess and repeat at opposite end. The final touch is to add a few little black rhinestones to the white heart on the mini envelope.

I know that we don't always have the same supplies and some unfortunately may not be available to you. So look at your supplies and see what you can use to replicate. For example the stamp, just stamp some script onto white cardstock followed by an alphabet letter or use book print paper and stamp letters onto that or for further dimension layer chipboard letters on top instead of stamped letters. For the swirl border, try some delicate leaves or branches at each end. This is just a start to what you could use to re-create this design. Make it your own with your own supplies and have fun doing it!

I hope you have been inspired to create! Until next time ...
Creatively Yours,
Sharon

Time to Celebrate 2019!

Designed by Sharon M. Reinhart December 2018

Happy New Year to each of you! I hope that 2019 will be a great year for all and that we will be able to feed our creative souls throughout the year! Just a quick little post today, its about using what you have when you do not have a theme specific design. I wanted to create a card for the New Year and didn't have stamps that were specific to New Years. Can you believe it? I know I can't either, although maybe its more about my organization or lack of organization right now. Anyway I pulled out some background stamps from the Stampin' Up Gorgeous Grunge set and a clock and sentiment stamp from a Technique Tuesday set.

The background was created with the horizontal lines stamped in red ink, splatter in black ink and once dry I also heat embossed a second set of splatter with silver embossing powder. An additional clock was created and also heat embossed with silver and then die-cut using a Spellbinder's circle die template. The hands of the clock have been stamped with red ink and a mini silver brad attached to the center.  The sentiment, perfect for New Year's or any celebration was stamped with red ink and then layered onto red cardstock followed by the beautiful glitter paper. A little secret here, I didn't have any silver glitter paper but I did have this beautiful gift bag and cut it apart to create my glitter layer -- another way to recycle! I truly hope you are inspired to create! Until next time, All the Best to You and Yours!
Creatively Yours,
Sharon

Mother's Day Inspiration

Cards designed by Sharon M. Reinhart

Hello, my sincere apologies for being absent for so long -- unfortunately I have been dealing with some parent health issues which sadly are still ongoing. I did manage though to take a creative break the other day. Its amazing how when one is not creating regularly how it becomes a difficult process when you get back to it. I am so glad though that I did get back to it and hope to find my muse once again. For those of you who find themselves in the same position I encourage you to just pull out some supplies and tools and get cracking. Its kind of like falling off the horse and getting back on again. Don't forget through the process to be kind to yourself as well and not to be overly critical. I also recommend just taking some classes just for fun, seek out some of your local talents and see what they have to offer. Allowing yourself some time to be creative is great food for the soul!

Anyways, I wanted to share with you a couple of cards that I did manage to finish. A shout out to Island Paperie in Maui! I had the pleasure of visiting this shop a few years ago, I did of course buy some papers but the owner also provided product support of some for an article that was published. Many thanks again! The printed papers used on both of these cards are from Island Paperie. I encourage you to visit their site www.islandpaperie.com.

These cards are 4 1/2 inches square with the card base being a cream pearl cardstock with a turquoise cardstock layer followed by the printed paper from Island Paperie called Hibiscus Blues Scatter G15. Both cards make use of the Flourish Thinlets dies #141478 from Stampin' Up. The scallop element shown on the floral trio is the Stitched Scalloped Borders die template from Lawn Fawn #LF612 which has three lovely scallop border designs in the set. The centers of the floral trio are created with a floral hand punch by Fiskars -- those old school tools still come in handy! Don't forget to pull out your hand punches and your fancy edge scissors! For the word MOM simply use stickers or die-cut alphabet letters or even alphabet beads or stamped letters. Don't be afraid to experiment with what you have, it does not have to be exactly the same as the sample you are recreating.
I hope you have been inspired to create!
Creatively Yours,
Sharon

Happy Valentine's Day!

Project design by Sharon M. Reinhart may be used for personal use.

Another card coming your way on this Valentine's Day! This one makes use of an A2 size white card base that has been embossed using a wonderful embossing folder by Spellbinders -- the Quilt It SES 013. That being said, there are many wonderful embossing folders that would also work nicely with this card design. Embossed hearts or swirls would look lovely and whichever you use remember to emboss the black cardstock hearts to add a little visual interest. A piece of printed cardstock in the center creates a wonderful base for layering die-cut hearts and other elements such as the stamped and punched greeting from Stampin' Up or the die-cut word. If you do not have any suitable printed cardstock (this particular one I believe was from Canvas Corp) try stamping with a word stamp and repeating the design until the panel is full or even a page from a book or romantic novel would work great. Hope you have been inspired to create something wonderful today!
Creatively Yours,
Sharon

Lovely in Pink Valentine!

We are getting closer to Valentine's Day and I have a couple more creations to share with you. Today I have chosen this Lovely in Pink card which is a 5-inch square side fold card. Mini envelopes are a wonderful way to add interest, create little pockets and tuck love notes into. These particular mini envelopes are die-cut using the Love Notes Framelits set from Stampin' Up. There are many methods of generating a mini envelope, from die-cutting to stamping or using an envelope punch board. The hearts and words are all die-cut using a Sizzix die template set #560025 designed by Stephanie Barnard. The paper is a Recollections paper that works perfectly to create this delicate Valentine. The cardstock strip along the bottom provides an area to add a touch of white satin ribbon and to provide a resting place for the arrow which is also created using the Love Notes set. I have chosen to adhere the cardstock strip with foam mounting squares in order to add a bit of dimension. Hope it provides you with some inspiration!
Creatively Yours,
Sharon

Valentine Inspiration!

Project design by Sharon M. Reinhart - may be used by readers for personal use

This time of year I am typically organizing and cleaning up from the creative mess that remained after creating for Christmas. I was going through my old papers determining what to keep and what to give away when I noticed lots of beautiful papers that are discontinued. Why am I not using these? No, I cannot use them for published works but I can for personal and for kits for others to have fun with. Before my Mom passed away I used to make little card kits for her and I to enjoy some time together and recently I even had my Dad working on some Christmas cards with me. Whether discontinued or not pretty paper can always be used. There are many seniors at centers who would love to receive a special kit, or even children, or a girlfriend that would like to get creative over a a cup of coffee with you. Keep it simple, include all of the pieces needed in the kit. It is best if there isn't a big list of other supplies required in order to complete the kit, maybe just some glue or tape and scissors.

Now, onto the inspiration for this post. It is a cute little Valentine created with some old double sided paper that actually was a Christmas print with deer on one side and this delightful pattern on the other. I thought the colors and pattern was perfect for Valentines! This is a simple collage of die-cut hearts and words using a Stampin' Up set called Love Notes Framelits, a Sizzix set by Stephanie Barnard - Framelits Step-Ups /560025 and a heart die from Spellbinders.

Just pull out your heart themed supplies and use what you have. Punches, stickers, dies, stamps they all would easily translate into this card. Before you pack away all of your Christmas themed supplies, take another look, I am sure you will find many that would also work wonderfully for Valentine creations! I hope you are inspired to create!
Creatively Yours,
Sharon

Mini Valentine's!

Project design ©Sharon M. Reinhart 2014

I love making mini Valentine's! They are the perfect little greeting to tuck into pockets, suitcases, lunch or gift bags, briefcases and many other items. These ones are just 2.5 inches square. To create these little darlings just grab some of your double-sided paper scraps. The little hearts were created with that beautiful plastic backed velveteen ribbon that was out at Christmas and then I purchased it when it was 80 percent off (thinking ahead). It die-cuts quite nicely and used in the Stampin' Up embosslits heart die it even came out embossed! The flower is a handmade embellishment using air dry clay and the scallop border shown on the card at the left is simply the top rounded portion cut off some of the straight edge die-cut hearts. The die templates for the larger straight and scallop edge hearts are from Spellbinders. This paper is from Bo Bunny's Double Dots collection - very versatile! Now if mini is not what you had in mind, simply re-create these designs in a larger A2 card scale. As you can see love is in the air around here. Remember for a larger view just click on the photo. Hope your are inspired to create!

Creatively Yours,

Sharon

 





Quick Delicate Valentine!

Project Design ©Sharon M. Reinhart 2014

Thought I would share this quick little Valentine with you. This project makes use of a Spellbinders border die, the A2 Scalloped Borders One to create a unique center element. Simply cut two border pieces from cardstock, adhere straight sides together on card front and then add a narrow strip of paper to hide the seam. Another way in which you can get more mileage out of your dies. This card can be put together in 10 minutes or less. The other accents are gold peel-off stickers in the corners, the sentiment and little gold hearts accenting each side of the main heart. The main heart is die-cut using a heart die from a Stampin' Up banner set and then accented with a beautiful vintage style button. This card could very easily be a wedding or anniversary card as well.  I love the simplicity! Hope you do too!
Creatively Yours,
Sharon