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

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!

Same supplies - different card!

Card project designed by Sharon M. Reinhart

Well I was on a mission to go through my supplies and organize. My mission ended quickly once I found all of the leftover kits from previous card classes and make and takes! I was still on a mission, but more of a creative one rather than a cleaning one! The mission if I accepted was to take these card kits and without adding more supplies switch the card design up! I gladly accepted this mission and thought I would share the results with you.

The original card was basically the card on the left but without the extra aqua card base. The tea bag fold was a basic triangle tea bag fold using squares of Recollections paper and the white base was pressure embossed and then dots of craft paint were added as an accent using the end of a paint brush using a dip-dot method. You can also use a stylus for this as well. Just dip the instrument into the craft paint and then dot onto your cardstock. The craft paint was also used to color the layered square of cardstock underneath the die-cut square simply using a sponge.

The first switch up (on the left) was to trim the panel to fit the aqua card base. This was another find in my inventory, pre-made note cards that had a beautiful silver embossed double frame on the front. The first switch up entailed using only a single silver frame. The second change on this card was to add a bit of Stickles glitter glue to the silver brad and random paint dots.

The second switch up (card on the right) was made into a side-fold portrait card. The fold made use of a progression fold, starting with a basic triangle fold and then folding the top left and right points under to the center to create this beautifully textured square design in the center. If you are interested in tea bag folding and looking for more progressions you may wish to check out my Fabulous Paper Folds online class or DVD, I share the basics and then a multitude of progressions! To change this design a little further I trimmed the white panel a little smaller to make use of the double silver frame on the pre-made card base. The other switch up was to use two more squares of the printed paper that was used for the tea bag fold as a layering element underneath the die-cut square.

So if you have left-over kits or bits and pieces from previous creations, challenge yourself to make something new using the same supplies. Hope you are inspired to create!
Creatively Yours,
Sharon

Celebrating Baby!

Projects design by Sharon M. Reinhart
As seen in the CardMaker Magazine online newsletter

Just wanted to let you know that my latest issue of the CardMaker online newsletter is available today and we are discussing Baby cards! Now, if the baby theme is not the style of card that you need inspiration for just simply take the basic design and switch up the sentiments for the occasion you are celebrating. I hope you will check it out by using this link - newsletter. If you have not signed up for the newsletter I encourage you to do so while you are visiting the site. It is a free resource that once you are signed up it will come directly to your inbox. Don't forget for a larger view of these cards just click on the photo above.
Creatively Yours,
Sharon

Delicate Valentine!

Project Design ©Sharon M. Reinhart may be used for personal use only

Wanted to share this delicate little Valentine card with you. It is quick and easy to make. With the use of designer and friend Ann Butler's 2-inch Stripes, Dots and Hearts rubber stamp set from Unity, I even made my own heart paper. This set is from a line of "faux quilting stamps" that Ann designed but as you can see they can be used with many different techniques. The inner medallion is simply photo copy paper that has been stamped with the ColorBox Crafter's Ink by Ann Butler as well - its a yummy color called Berry. Then die-cut with a Spellbinders circle die and folded with a Tea-Bag folding technique. The medallions on each side were made by stamping the same image onto white cardstock and die-cutting with a Spellbinders Cut, Fold and Tuck template. Add a stamped word, a little bling, embossed banners and some pink and white baker's twine and you are good to go. Good to go to the mailbox that is, to get this Valentine in the mail! I am participating in a blog hop showing the different products that Ann has produced, I encourage you to check out all the other creative inspiration as well using the links below!
Creatively Yours,
Sharon

Amy Bowerman

Ann Butler

Candice Windham

Cindi Bisson

Cheryl Boglioli

Eileen Hull

Jen Goode

Madeline Arendt

Sharon Reinhart (you are here)

Stamped Tea Bag Medallion Card!

Project design ©Sharon M. Reinhart 2013

Hi all! I am participating in a blog hop today and thought I would share this card made with designer and friend Ann Butler's 1-inch Faux Quilting stamps from Unity. The quality of these stamps are great, producing wonderful stamped images! These stamps can be used in a variety of projects and surfaces. Quilting effects on fabric, paper, air dry clay - they all work wonderfully. I have chosen to create a tea-bag folded medallion to adorn a Christmas ornament. The stamps that I used are from two different sets - the 1" Diamond and Plaid and the 1" Doily Picnic sets. The ink used is the Colorbox Fluid Chalk Ink from Clearsnap in Warm Red. I also encourage you to visit EZ-De's stamps designed by Ann as well as her ink line from Clearsnap. The ornament shape is the 2011 Heirloom Ornaments die set from  Spellbinder's TM and the embossing folder is the Snow Burst folder from Stampin' Up. This card is going to be the inspiration for some Christmas gift tags that are on the To Do list! Hope you like it!
Creatively Yours,
Sharon

Thinking of You!

My post today firstly goes out to the people of Calgary and Southern Alberta who have been impacted by the recent unprecedented floods. I have been one of the fortunate ones, yes everyone has been impacted in some way whether it be business, jobs, personal, friends or family that have sustained loss. I say I am fortunate as my home is in an area that if you did not watch the news you wouldn't have known the devastation that was occurring in other areas. I am also fortunate with respect to my family who were also spared. So we do count our blessings today. My thoughts and prayers go out to the thousands who were less fortunate and those families who have also lost loved ones. You have been through a great deal and I know the days to come in the restoration process will be stressful and laborious. On a positive note I would like to extend my appreciation to everyone who has been and will continue to work endlessly for the benefit of the citizens of Calgary and Southern Alberta. Bravo!!

I chose to share this Thinking of You card today as a way of letting the people of Calgary know that "yes, we are thinking of you now and in the days to come as your lives and this city is restored!"

This card has been created using a new line of rubber stamps designed by my friend and fellow designer Ann Butler and manufactured by Unity Stamps. These wonderful gems are collections of one inch and two inch stamps. They are referenced as faux quilting stamps, but as you can see they are great for a variety of techniques, especially tea bag folding. I used a one inch square stamp from the Doily Picnic set along with Chestnut Roan fluid chalk ink for the tea bag fold medallion shown on the left side. Then I used the triangle (half square) for the horizontal decorative strip. Can't wait to get my hands on the two inch stamps as well! Congratulations Ann!
Creatively Yours, Sharon.

Paper Folding Class!

 

I have some exciting news to share with you today! My Fabulous Paper Folds class is now available on DVD. So if you have been waiting to take this class but you were possibly looking for a different delivery method -- here it is! We take you through the different folding techniques and then you also have instructions for 16 projects that can be created using many of the folds learned. Just click on the photo below for more information and a free preview about this exciting class DVD.



I hope you create something wonderful today!
Creatively Yours,
Sharon

Card Class!

Just wanted to invite you to a book launch and mini card class on Saturday March 16th, the class is from 10:30 am to 11:30 am, create two any occasion cards using iris folding and tea bag folding techniques. The card class fee is $10.00 per person, payable by cash or cheque to myself. Participants please bring scissors, paper trimmer, bone folder, double-sided tape & dimensionals/3D foam tape. To ensure you have a spot in the card class, please register directly with me by Friday March 15th,at sharonmreinhart@yahoo.ca , registration at the crop will be subject to availability. Copies of my new book Iris Folding for Life’s Special Moments will be available for purchase between 10:30 am to noon. The price for the book is $12.00 payable by cash or cheque.
Participants may register for either the crop, card class OR both events. Contact Joanne to register for the crop and Sharon for the card class.
Location:
WOODCLIFF UNITED CHURCH
5010 Spruce Drive SW
Crop Fee $40.00
Contact Joanne to register for the crop at
jliddymct@shaw.ca
Hope to see you there!
Sharon 

Challenge Yourself!

Project design ©Sharon M. Reinhart
printed papers from Susan K. Weckesser

Hi All!  Thought I would share this creation with you. My challenge was to work with colors that are not my norm. I was inspired by Susan Weckesser's printed papers. I have always enjoyed creating backgrounds and recently have been using more acrylic paints in my card backgrounds. However, as time goes or the lack of time, sometimes I want to create the look of a mixed media background but either don't have one ready or that block of time to create it is not available. That's how these papers inspired me, they resembled some of the paint or ink layering techniques that I enjoy doing.  I encourage you to visit Susan's website using this link. Besides wonderful papers, she also has rubber stamps and stencils. While you are there check out her blog!
Back to this card, it is quite simple and involves creating a teabag folded medallion using the circle fold and pearl text weight paper. The other papers are all from  Susan K. Weckesser and four of her lines; Live in Color Tags, Color Burst, Live in Color and Live, Love, Create, even the sentiment, which is printed on the edge of the paper and the name of one of the lines. It worked perfectly, trim the words out, edge with some Distress frayed burlap ink, cut or punch a notch and add a rhinestone accent. I used one of her stamps to create the look of a flower stem coming from the teabag folded medallion. The leaves are punched using a Martha Stewart punch. A little pencil smudging around the birdie and some Tombow and Spica markers on the butterfly and voila! I was pleased with the results.  Hope you are too!
Creatively Yours,
Sharon

Happy Valentine's Day!

Project Design ©Sharon M. Reinhart 2013

Time for one more quick Valentine post! This card makes use of a circle teabag folding technique layered onto a card stock flower created with the Spellbinder's Anemone die (one of my favorites). A real paper doily becomes the back drop along with printed paper and card stock. Red rhinestones are used as accents and to finish this card I needed just two simple words. Could not find these two words on their own within my stamp inventory but I did have a Quietfire Design image that included an outline heart with these two wonderful words along the lower right side of the heart. Voila, a tag punch and some ink along the edges and it was exactly what I was looking for. So long story short, don't be afraid to use only portions of an image, it definitely multiplies what we can accomplish with one beautiful stamp! If you are looking for more inspiration on teabag folding be sure to visit my online class Fabulous Folds or check out my book Tea Bag Folding Through the Seasons! Hope your day is filled with love and kindness!
Creatively Yours,
Sharon

Fabulous Paper Folds!

Project design and image ©Annie's

I thought I would share a couple more cards from my Fabulous Paper Folds online class with Annie's. This class covers tea bag folding, iris folding, and some fun folds like accordion rosettes, origami butterflies, a dahlia fold and a couple pocket fold variations. For a free preview use this link Fabulous Paper Folds.  While you are there scroll through the slide show to see what other card creations you have access to in this class. Hope you like them!
Creatively Yours,
Sharon

Join us for some creative fun!

Just wanted to pass this on for anyone in the Calgary area. You may register for the crop, the classes or everything! Join Sharon M. Reinhart (Author & Designer) for a variety of mini classes in Calgary at a Scrapbooking Crop hosted by Joanne Liddy-McTavish. Saturday January 26, 2013 10 am to 10 pm, Woodcliff United Church 5010 Spruce Drive SW. Contact Joanne to register for the crop at jliddymct@shaw.ca Mini Classes being offered by Sharon at the crop:

Share a Little Love: 10:30 am to 11:30 am, create two cards perfect for the love’s in your life using thread wrapping, pressure embossing and tea bag folding techniques. Perfect for Valentine’s, Anniversary or simply just because!

Mixed Media Cards: 11:45 am to 12:45 pm, create two A2 cards, one card makes use of pressure embossing and acrylic paint and the 2nd card has you creating a background using a variety of readily available objects and acrylic paint, accented with rubber stamping and pressure embossing.

Joy Canvas: 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm, create some joy with this 5-inch mini canvas project and learn how to make beautiful recycled flowers from something we all have access to. Card classes are $10.00 per class & the mini canvas class is $18.00, payable by cash or cheque to Sharon. Participants please bring scissors, paper trimmer, double-sided tape & dimensionals/3D foam tape. To ensure you have a spot register with Sharon before Saturday, directly at sharonmreinhart@yahoo.ca, registration at the crop will be subject to availability.

Christmas Card Inspiration!

Project design ©Sharon M. Reinhart

As promised, here is my card inspired by the Festive Decor Piece shown on the left and posted on November 1st. Instead of re-inventing the wheel I chose elements from the original canvas piece for use on my card. The die-cut letters on the card were inspired by the wooden JOY element (covered with printed cardstock) on the canvas. I used the tea bag fold medallion to represent the O in the word Joy and layered it onto a die-cut shape. The corner motif was accented further with the same glitter glue used on the brads in the center of the tea-bag folded medallions. The final element is the stamped word. So if you find yourself scrambling for design ideas for cards, take a look at some of the other pieces you have made and use elements of it on your cards. My next CardMaker newsletter which goes live on November 26th is all about Christmas Cards and Decor and encouraging you to get more mileage from you designs by using elements of one design to create something else.  I hope you will head to CardMaker magazine and sign up for the free newsletter. The current issue is by Kimber McGray and its all about adding texture to your cards. Check back soon for more holiday creations!
Creatively Yours,
Sharon

Festive Decor!

Project design ©Sharon M. Reinhart 2012

Where does time go! Sorry for my absence. Life was a bit topsy turvy for awhile. Hopefully we are back on track. Onwards and upwards! Also, to all, whose lives have been affected by the horrific storm - Sandy, my thoughts and prayers are with you!
To bring some cheer to the day I thought I would share this festive canvas decor. Initially the wooden JOY piece was going to be an ornament or piece that could be hung on the wall and then I decided to incorporate a small canvas into the picture. These canvases are perfect for this type of decor, it is one of those Can Do Art childrens canvas that has a pre-printed picture on it. Once its painted or paper has been adhered you don't even know. The wooden word has been covered with an Echo Park paper (I don't believe it is still available.) There are however a variety of music score papers out right now that would work wonderfully, some are on cream backgrounds but you could easily change that with the use of sprays or light washes of watercolor or thinned acrylic paint. Yes, that is a tea bag folded medallion in the center created using the basic circle technique. If you would like to learn more about paper folding check out the free previews for my Fabulous Paper Folds online class! Add a stamped word, a bit of ribbon and some pretty corner die-cut pieces placed together (Heartfelt Creations/Spellbinders) and you are done. If you are looking for card inspiration I challenge you to use this piece somewhat like a card sketch or inspiration piece and create a card.  I will work on this challenge as well, be sure to check out my next post to see what I have come up with. Enjoy!
Creatively yours,
Sharon

Cards - Back to School style



Project designs ©Sharon M. Reinhart 2012

I wanted to share with you the topic of my last Cardmaker newsletter - using school supplies to create cards! Can you guess what the circular pattern on the wish card was created with?  How were the blooms created? Head on over to the Cardmaker's September 3rd, 2012 issue to find out and learn more about these fun cards. This newsletter is a free resource, so sign up while you are there in order to have this wonderful resource go straight to your inbox. The next newsletter coming out is by Kimber McGray on September 24th. There is a new issue every three weeks - Kimber and myself are the editors of the newsletter and alternate the writing. There is also an archive of past newsletters packed full of useful and inspiring samples, free projects and information. The stamps used in these cards above are from Quietfire Design, Dyan Reavely, Invoke Arts and Unity Stamp Company.
Creatively Yours,
Sharon

 

Online Class Inspiration!

Project and image ©Annie's

As September 1st is the scheduled launch of Annie's online classes I will be providing a few sneak peeks of some of the projects that can be created using the techniques taught in my Fabulous Paper Folds class (yes, that is now the official title) This creation also involves a tea bag folding technique that can be used on cards, scrapbook pages, canvases, gift packaging and tags.  You could even use the tea bag folded tree as ornaments on a full size tree.  The possibilities are endless!  For more info on the Fabulous Paper Folds class head on over to Annie's online classes.
Creatively Yours,
Sharon

Cheery Card with Special Folds!

I love these dies from Spellbinder's TM (Shapeabilities® Cut, Fold & Tuck) - it definitely saves time and labor. Not so long ago I was cutting each area by hand using a metal template and craft knife. If you have not tried these dies you are going to love them! Thought I would share this cheery card with you, it includes two great card making techniques, the cut, fold & tuck technique using these great dies, and tea bag folding. I think they work wonderfully together! This looks like a time consuming card, but it's not. The printed paper from Echo Park is beautiful paired with the Stardreams lagoon text weight paper and the pearl brad from American Crafts is the perfect finishing accent. I hope you like it!
Creatively Yours,
Sharon

Tea Bag Folded - Thankyou Card

I would like to invite you to take a look at my most recent CardMaker newsletter - it's about Tea-Bag Folding! These three cards were created using tea-bag folding techniques.  The top left card makes use of punched or die cut circles, the top right card is created by using a rubber stamp to create the papers and the bottom left card makes use of printed squares of paper folded and then layered onto a border punched square.  If you are interested in further designs please check out my book Tea Bag Folding Through the Seasons.

Here is a little design tip for varying sentiment images.  Simply pierce through the word to give a stitching effect.  I use a foam mouse pad for my piercing pad and I really like the Tonic retractable piercing tool.
Creatively Yours,
Sharon

Merry Christmas!

©Sharon M. Reinhart 2011

Merry Christmas! I thought this would be the perfect time to share this canvas wall or tabletop decor with you. It makes use of some beautiful printed paper along with snowflake die cuts using Spellbinder's dies, Technique Tuesday Believe stamp, Christmas foliage, Magnetic Poetry stamps, EK Success snowflake punch, Martha Stewart glitter, Starform glitter dots and Tea Bag Folding techniques. For more info on tea bag folding techniques check out my book Tea Bag Folding Through The Seasons by clicking on the cover at the right.
May each of you experience the joy of this season and be wrapped in warm moments spent with family and friends!
Sharon