Hello Again!

 

My sincere apologies, this blog has been severely neglected and I am going to do my best to do a much better job of sharing!

New year and started back into exercising, just wait, this is not an exercise post it’s a creative post, exercising my creativity! Thought I would share this little card that would be perfect for a wedding, anniversary, valentines or just because! I used some older products and some newer ones such as the Vicki Boutin flower and butterfly stamp/die and the Jofy mini script stamp #66. Hope you are inspired to create!

Creatively yours,

Sharon

Floral Delight Card!

Card designed by Sharon M. Reinhart June 2020

Stopping by with a delightful card that would be perfect for many occasions. The “happy” sentiment allows you to personalize on the inside by adding Birthday wishes or Anniversary wishes even retirement, as I said it would cover a variety of celebrations! The focal point began with a die  template from Studio Katia, the dotted square STK019. Then I created a flower using a Spellbinders die, the Anemone, using 4 layers, the bottom layer is only the outside ring and the inside gold piece was used on the second layer and then one complete red layer in the middle and first layer. The flower is very quick to come together, just slightly curl petals with a bone folder. To finish the flower I coloured a clear gem with a pink Copic marker. The leaves on this flower were created using a Stampin’ Up die template. The sentiment is a die-cut word placed on a die-cut stitched oval. I love my Stitched shapes from  Stampin’ Up and use them quite often. Many companies have their own version, I also recommend the stitched banner shapes from Tutti designs! This is an older designer paper which may be hard to find however there are so many beautiful papers on the market and probably in your stash, I encourage you to choose a floral print that inspires you! Hope you have been inspired to create! I will share the other two cards inspired by this one in my next post!

Tea-bag folded card

Card designed by Sharon M. Reinhart

I have been trying to sort through supplies and leftover kits from make and takes and classes that I have taught. Each time I find a leftover kit I get drawn away to see what different card I can create using the supplies. This is my take on one, it turned out quite a bit different from the original and I am pleased with it. My point with this post is if you find left over kits and supplies just switch it up a bit, simple changes is all that it takes to breath new life into a card. For this one I changed the tea bag fold and incorporated what I refer to as a square fold, beginning with a basic triangle fold and then adding a progression by tucking the top layer under to create a square. In my book and online/DVD class there are more complete instructions or video tutorial. If you are having difficulty finding any of them please leave a message and I will see if I have it in stock or if I can point you in the right direction to purchase.

The other change was to borrow more squares of the printed paper from an additional kit, originally prepped for the tea bag folding and repurpose them by cutting in half and then creating a border at the top and bottom of the card.

Another simple variation, was to change the orientation, originally a portrait card that I changed to landscape. An addition of a few punched flowers and adhesive gems and this one is good to go! I hope you have been inspired to create!
Creatively Yours,
Sharon

Alpha Hugs!

Cards designed by Sharon M. Reinhart April 2020

I must be wanting to give hugs these days as I seem to be creating with that common theme! I hope you like these ones, they are so easy to make! I used my Adore Alphabet set from Pink Fresh Studio. This die template is so versatile it cuts the letter and the shadow outline all in one pass! Great for words, monograms, names and the list goes on. Hope you are inspired to create!
Creatively Yours,
Sharon

So Grateful Tea Bag Fold Card

Card project designed by Sharon M. Reinhart March 2020

Hi all, stopping by with another project using the same papers as my last post but creating a total different card! This card uses a tea bag folding technique to create the focal point. Tea bag folding is a fun technique which requires only a few supplies. Once you master a basic fold there are many
progressions that may be completed to change the design. This particular fold begins as a basic circle fold whereby you start with a die-cut or punched circle (when first learning begin with a larger circle and then progress to smaller circles.) A text weight/lightweight paper is the best to use.

Fold your circle shape in half and then in half again so that it is folded into quarters, creasing well with a bone folder. Unfold and crease again on both lines creating two mountain folds. Hold the circle shape so that the folds are in an X shape, press in on sides to collapse down into a triangle with the folded point at the top and the curved open end at bottom. You have now completed the basic circle fold and could assemble into a medallion at this point but we are going to add a simple progression. Fold back the first layer onto itself, at the open end. There that’s all there is to it, now complete 7 more folded circle pieces.
To assemble, place sookwang tape (scor-tape, be creative tape) along the folded edge on one side on the back of the shape. Remove the tape liner, sandwich between the top and bottom layer of another folded shape, continue until 8 folded shapes have been secured. You now have a floral shape or medallion. Insert a brad through the Center or simply an adhesive rhinestone.

The rest of this card is pretty simple, begin with an A2 white card base, layer a solid colour panel which is 1/4-inch smaller followed by a printed panel -Lawn Fawn, which is again 1/4-inch smaller than previous. Die-cut a fancy circle, Spellbinders, or doily shape or simply use an actual doily. Adhere this to the upper portion of the card. Next adhere the folded tea-bag medallion to the Center of this. Adhere a strip of solid colour card-stock along the lower portion of card, add a sentiment, simple strips by Taylored Expressions has been used here, and voila you are done.

I chose the sentiment “So Grateful For You” as I was thinking about the many people that are out in the front lines battling this virus for all of us, from health care workers to truckers and grocery
workers and everybody in between. I am so very grateful! I encourage each of you to make a card with the sentiments of thanks, appreciation and gratefulness and although we can’t get it into the hands of every person on the frontlines, we could post through social media or display on our windows at home and start a different trend - a grateful trend!
Creatively Yours,
Sharon

Hello!

Card project designed by Sharon M Reinhart March 2020

Stopping by to share this project and instructions, I thought possibly it could provide some creative therapy. ❤️
First create the card base with a 5-1/2 x 8-1/2 piece of white card stock. Score at 4-1/4 inches and fold in half. Next layer a 4 x 5-1/4 inch piece of solid colour card stock followed by a 3-3/4 x 5 inch piece of printed card stock, this particular one is a speckled double-sided card stock from Lawn Fawn. Now don’t worry if you don’t have it. You can create by splattering paint with a toothbrush or by tapping the paintbrush. There are also many stencils that would work and stamps. Worse case scenario just pick a pretty piece of paper from what you have.
The next step is to layer a scallop strip to the card front using a die template or edgers. Then cut a strip from glitter card stock and adhere on top of the straight edge of scallop. Some options here if you don’t have glitter card stock is to apply tape to a piece of cardstock and then apply glitter and burnish into the tape, or paint a piece of card stock with shimmer or glitter paste, or check your gift wrapping supplies for a glitter bag that you can cut apart. Next, using punches or die templates create a collage of flowers and leaves, this collage was created with die templates from Elizabeth Craft Designs. Add a touch of sparkle to the flower Centers with adhesive rhinestones. The final touch is to add a sentiment, this particular one is a die template from Avery Elle. Keep in mind that you could use stamps, stickers or other word Die templates or even computer generate a sentiment.
I hope that I have given you some ideas on what you can use to create this project while we are all doing our part to flatten the curve of this virus by social distancing and self isolation. Be sure to check your local craft stores as many are providing delivery or curb side pick ups!
Creatively Yours,
Sharon

Card resources

Hi there, I am straying away from Easter and St. Patricks Cards today. I was looking for some smaller envelopes and came across these ThankYou notes at a dollar store. The envelopes are 4 x 5 1/2, and the cards are 3-3/4 x5, the price was great, I just wanted the envelopes and for the $2.00 price for 24 it really didn’t matter what I used the card for. They actually are a Hallmark brand as well. I did have to try to see how I could incorporate this card into a handmade card. I think it turned out quite well. I cut the front off the note card and trimmed slightly and layered to a 4 x 5-1/2, navy card base. I trimmed navy card stock to cover the ThankYou sentiment, then I grabbed some printed paper, this
one is pretty old by the way. I fussy cut the flowers and adhered to the navy Center. Next I applied antique linen distress ink to a simple strips stamped and die-cut greeting that had been stamped onto white card stock. Tip here, I pre-Stamp my simple strips on white card stock and then if they need to be coloured I customize to that particular card. I used the other half of the note card for the card
inside. I love the gold foil lines and I didn’t have to pull out my foiling machine. So remember sometimes you can cheat a bit and still end up with a handmade card. It’s really not cheating as instead of a printed paper layer I used a notecard front. Simple and easy!
Creatively Yours,
Sharon

Quick Easter card!

Card designed by Sharon M. Reinhart March 2020

Hello there, just stopping by with a quick little Easter card. This one began its life as a tag, I was creating little tags for favours and I thought this could be a great starting point for a card! The tag base has been created using a Simon Says Stamp die template that has two tags in the set. From there I added some printed paper, a little scalloped edge using a Lawn Fawn die and a stamped sentiment from Photoplay onto a die-cut tag from Impression Obsession which has three different tags in the set. To frame this delicate tag I die cut a wreath shape using the Jovial wreath die template from Memory Box. A few little punched leaves from Martha Stewart Crafts and punched flowers from Stampin’ Up with some adhesive rhinestones finished this card off nicely. The base card is an A2 side fold using pink card stock with a layer of printed card stock from Bo-Bunny. I hope you are inspired to create!

Creatively Yours,

Sharon

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

Luck of the Irish!

Card designed by Sharon M. Reinhart February 2020

Don’t put those heart themed tools away quite yet! Hearts are the perfect shape to create shamrocks for St. Patrick’s Day! This side fold A2 card is a collage of foliage and flowers. The first step is to layer printed paper to the base card leaving a slight margin, often for this I use 4 x 5-1/4 or 3-3/4 x 5. Next, I die cut a beautiful wreath shape from the shimmer green card-stock using the Memory Box Jovial Wreath. The next step was to create the shamrocks by punching hearts using a Fiskars hand punch, slightly curl the petals using a bone folder or pen. Layer the heart shapes to the card front using foam mounting tape and aligning the points. Now is the time to start adding foliage and flowers. The white branch foliage has been creating with the Small Forest Tree die template from Simon Says Stamp. Tuck pieces in here and there adjusting the length as needed. Add a few gold punched leaves using a Martha Stewart punch. Create a few flowers from white card-stock using the Elizabeth Craft Designs bunch of flowers 2 die template and hand punches. I then coloured a few adhesive rhinestones using my Copic cobalt green marker and attached them to the center of the flowers and where the points align on the shamrocks. Finish with a stamped sentiment from Taylored Expressions Many Minis - holidays and tuck a little sprig of gold leaves under it. Hope you have been inspired to create!

Creatively Yours,

Sharon

Tea bag fold Valentine!

Card designed by Sharon M Reinhart February 2020

Hi there, we are in the final countdown to Valentine’s Day and I had to include this special folded one. This card is a side fold card with a couple layers added to the front followed by a black card-stock strip with a flag tail end, then punched hearts using a Fiskars punch, a computer generated sentiment and the focal point is a tea bag folded medallion. This fold is one that I refer to as a basic square fold with a couple fold back progressions. The medallions may be created with any size of square and light weight paper, the weight of photo copy paper or what is referred as text weight paper. Even paper from recycled books works beautifully. You will need eight squares of paper, this medallion makes use of two inch squares of black linen text weight paper. Fold square of paper in half horizontally, unfold, then fold in half vertically, unfold and then complete one diagonal fold and unfold. Collapse the paper into a smaller square by pressing in on the diagonal fold. The progression is completed by folding the top layer back on itself to the folded point edge and then one more fold back to the horizontal fold at center. Apply scor-tape to back of each piece on one folded edge and adhere 8 together to create the medallion. Insert a brad at center followed by a punched heart and then layer to your card! If you would like more tea bag folding inspiration check out my books and online class or DVD, I do have a few copies available for purchase, just leave me a message. Hope you are inspired to create! Happy Valentine’s!

LOVE

Card designed by Sharon M. Reinhart February 2020

There is still time to create some wonderful Valentines! This particular one would be perfect for a guy or a girl. This alphabet template - “Pink Fresh Adore” alphabet is such a great set, it will cut the letter as well as a skinny outline all in one pass! You can mix and match the letters by switching up the outline colour as I did on this card with the red letter and the gold outline. I found it easy to adhere the letter with Scor-tape by Sookwang and then just dotted liquid glue such as Tombow Mono Multi onto the back of the outline piece, worked beautifully! The banner is another one of my go to die templates by TUTTI, love the stitched edges! The gold heart has been created using a Fiskars hand punch and gold mirror card stock. The finishing touches are a few adhesive gold pearls and a sentiment. This sentiment is actually computer generated and then flag ends were created with a hexagon or square hand punch. This card comes together quickly and I encourage you to give it a try! Hope you are inspired to create!
Creatively Yours,
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

Birthday Inspiration!

Card project designed by Sharon M. Reinhart

Stopping by with this quick and simple but cute card! It can't get much easier! The panel is from a sheet of cardstock that has these panels printed multiple times, it is from Scrapbook Customs, Her Birthday Words/plaid #38793A.The flowers and foliage on the panel inspired me to add some die cut flowers using the Elizabeth Crafts Design Bunch of Flowers 2 #729 set, along with Cheery Lynn Designs Mini Fanciful Flourish B117S. The base card is a 5-inch white cardstock side fold followed by a layer of Bazzill pink tutu pink cardstock and the printed panel was layered to a slightly larger piece of black cardstock. I also cut an additional piece of the birthday wishes sentiment and adhered on top of the panel using foam mounting tape for added dimension. Add a couple of adhesive rhinestones to the flowers and this one is good to go!
Hope you like it and are inspired to create!
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

Journey back to Creativity!

Designed by Sharon M. Reinhart September 2018

I am happy to say that I am back! I also apologize for the long hiatus, been devoting the majority of my time to my Dad who has some major heath issues. I realize though that I also need to allow my self the opportunity to do some of the things that are important to me -- and creating, sharing, teaching, writing, designing are some of the things besides family that are important to me.

So it is my goal to regularly post and hopefully inspire some of you!

Lets get to it! Thanks to Carole Crawford from Paper Pastimes in Calgary who recommended this die set from Elizabeth Craft Designs to me. I was looking for some creative inspiration and I believe I found it. The Christmas season is truly one of my favorites and one of my favorites to create for, whether it be cards, favors, décor, etc.

I have chosen cards simple in design that a beginner could create quite easily and one that I think an advanced crafter could also appreciate. These snowflakes are quite possibly the most beautiful I have seen. They have been created with a die-template and not only are they simply beautiful but they have dimensional aspects built right into the die-cut. By simply lifting elements of the design up it is easy to create dimension without even layering multiple die-cuts. They die-cut beautifully! This set is #1409 Ornate Snowflakes. Please know that I do not receive compensation from Elizabeth Craft Designs however that being said you will always get my honest opinion!

Now I must say that I am also in the mode of using up some of my beautiful papers that are discontinued and that I was not able to use for publication or when I was writing for publications such as CardMaker Magazine. (miss that magazine and the wonderful people I had the pleasure of working with over many years) So you know what they say, seize the opportunity! This is mine and your opportunity to pull out some of those beautiful papers and give them life once again!

The NOEL die template is a Spellbinders die set called Ho Ho Ho Holiday 2017 #S2-266, that I was demonstrating with last year at the Scrapbook Carnival at Spruce Meadows which is still showing available on their website.

Add some glitter with adhesive rhinestones and stickles glitter glue, a stamped or die-cut greeting and these cards are good to go!

As you can see an A2 card can change its appearance just by changing the orientation from portrait (tis the season card) to landscape as shown in the NOEL card.

I truly hope that you have been inspired to create!
Creatively Yours,
Sharon

More Valentines!

Hi there, this post has a bit of a challenge involved. It involves taking a pre-made card and turning it into a different card. The red and white card was some cards that a friend was getting rid of and of course I thought I would have a purpose for them being an avid paper-crafter. The black, white and gold cards were purchased at a dollar store as they were inexpensive and I was looking for that size of envelope and they worked perfectly.

The black, white and gold card original size is 4 3/4 x 3 3/8-inches, a perfect size for Valentine's cards or Thank-you notes, the back of the card is stamped as an Anna Griffin Design. I thought not only could I use the envelopes but the cardstock print was rather quite pretty as well. So, I went about on my challenge to create a simple card that was attractive. I believe I accomplished this -- I hope you will agree! My finished card is an A2 size card 4 1/4 x 5 1/2-inches. I began by trimming the card front from the decorative print note card and layered it to black cardstock and then onto a white card base. The pretty gold sections in the printed card was the inspiration to die-cut a design from shiny gold cardstock and I chose to use a D-Lites die from Spellbinders called the Frills Etched Die #S1-017. Next I layered that piece onto a strip of black cardstock with a banner notch cut at one end. One of my favorite methods for cutting banner notches is to use my hexagon punch. A square punch or even a heart punch works wonderfully as well.

This die-cut frill was begging to frame a beautiful flower or medallion. I chose to create a tea-bag folded medallion using pearl text weight paper. The basic circle method with a top layer fold back progression was used. If you would like to learn more about tea-bag folding I do have a class called Fabulous Folds available in DVD or online format through Annie's or I also have some copies of the DVD in stock as well as my Tea Bag Folding Through the Seasons book, just leave me a message.
Back to this card, the finishing touch on this card was to create a sentiment panel. I die-cut a small label square and cut it in half and attached a die-cut sentiment to it and then layered it to the bottom right on the card front.

The second card with an original size of 5 1/4 x 3 3/4-inches also includes a tea-bag folded medallion that makes use of a square fold with a progression folding the top left and right layers to the center. To add a bit more visual interest I applied some decorative tape to a cardstock panel and trimmed to 1-inch wide. The words "LOVE" and "YOU" (Sizzix die template #560025) were also cut from the tape/cardstock panel.

Hope you enjoyed seeing these "from this to that" cards and you are inspired to create! Keep watching for more Valentine's Inspiration!
Creatively Yours,
Sharon

Baby Shower Inspiration!

Projects designed by Sharon M. Reinhart
as shown in CardMaker Magazine May 22, 2017 Update

My most recent CardMaker Update went live today! If you are looking for inspiration on shower invitations, announcements, thank-you notes and even décor head on over to CardMaker Magazine and check out the May 22, 2017 Update! Maybe its wedding inspiration that you are looking for? If, so keep in mind most designs can be translated into different occasions with just a few modifications!While you are at the CardMaker Magazine web site, if you haven't done so already, sign up for this free resource that comes to your inbox every three weeks. You will receive inspiration and information from the two CardMaker Update Editors, yours truly and the talented Kimber McGray. I hope you will take a look and be inspired to create something wonderful!

Pearls for Mom!

Designed by Sharon M. Reinhart

With Mothers Day quickly approaching I thought I would share this "Pearls for Mom" card, which has been created using a tea-bag folding technique! My Mom loved her pearl necklace and she was my biggest supporter and fan when it came to my creative pursuits! Even when she became more house bound she truly enjoyed our card making moments, I would put simple kits together and take them over and walk her through the steps. She loved that she had made something that she could use to brighten someone else's day and it also afforded her some distraction from her sickness. Although she is not with us on this earth any longer it was she that inspired this card! XO Miss you Mom! I encourage each of you to share your talents with someone and help to brighten their day! The gift of time is something that you cannot put a price tag on -- it truly is priceless!

Tea-bag folding requires the use of a lightweight paper - text weight or photo copy weight. This fold begins with 8 circle shapes that are folded into quarters. Unfold all, and re-crease the fold lines so that they are all mountain folds. Next holding the circle shape with the mountain folds in an X orientation, press on the sides and collapse into a pie shape. The last fold for this one is to fold back the top curved layer. With the folded shape on your work surface and the pointed end at the top, place double-sided adhesive such as Scor-tape along the right folded edge of each folded shape.

To assemble, remove the tape liner and sandwich the layers of one folded piece in between the layers of another. Continue until complete. Remember to remove the tape from the last folded shape and join the medallion together.
This is one of my most favorite folds! For more information and inspiration  about tea-bag folding please check out my books or my online class/DVD Fabulous Paper Folds! I do have a small inventory so if you are wanting to purchase an item please contact me through this blog.
Creatively Yours,
Sharon

Back to Basics!

Projects designed by Sharon M. Reinhart as seen in the CardMaker
January 16, 2017 Update

I would like to invite you to take a look at my most recent CardMaker Update, in this issue we go back to the basics for all of our new card makers, but there is also creative inspiration for our seasoned card makers. Head on over by clicking this link CardMaker. If you have not yet signed up for this free resource, I encourage you to do so while you are there. We have two editors, myself, and the fabulous Kimber McGray. Kimber and I alternate the writing of the update so that you get some great information and inspiration directly to your inbox every three weeks! I hope you will take a look and be inspired to create.
Creatively Yours,
Sharon