Quickie Christmas Card

Design ©Sharon M. Reinhart 2011

Well with less than a month until Christmas I thought another quickie Christmas card would be in order. Can't believe where the time has gone -- sorry I have been absent for a bit.
This card utilizes a rub on transfer for the sentiment a die cut frame, tag and ornament shape, a splash of ribbon and of course a little sparkle with Stickles. Hope it helps for those of you who may be like me, way behind. Oh well, it always comes together, so don't forget to take time and enjoy your preparations.
Creatively Yours,
Sharon

Sparkling Flake Christmas Card

Design ©Sharon M. Reinhart 2011

Well in honor of the snow we received today I thought I would share this sparkling greeting, created with pretty paper and die cut snowflakes. If you find yourself behind on your Christmas card creations, this one is fairly quick. Add a greeting on the front if desired or place the greeting inside. This creation could also double for a winter birthday card.
I would like to invite anybody in the Calgary area to a craft fair that I am participating in on Saturday November 19th from 10 am to 3 pm. The location is the Edgemont Community Center 33 Edgevalley Circle N.W. Calgary, Alberta. I will have some handmade creations for sale along with my books Iris Folding for Christmas and Tea Bag Folding Through The Seasons. I will happily sign any books purchased. Hope to see you, I hear there are some wonderful vendors at this event! Purchases will be on a cash only basis.
Creatively Yours,
Sharon

Snowflake Tea-Bag Fold Card

Design ©Sharon M. Reinhart November 2011

I had a great time participating in the Calgary Critter Crop organized by Sandra L. in support of the Calgary Humane Society yesterday. What a great group of ladies! I donated a make and take to the event and taught a tea-bag folding technique. They all did a great job and I could see that many had caught the tea-bag folding bug, as there were quite a few busy fingers folding circle shapes. This is one of the kits that was available for purchase. This card makes use of a Magenta rubber stamp to create the tea-bag folding papers, Memories midnight blue ink, Spellbinder's Create a Flake one for the snowflake, clear sugar beads to accent the snowflake, Sizzix embossing folder for the card base along with metallic rub-on creme to accent the raised embossing. This fold begins with the basic triangle fold and then continues on by folding the top layer up and under to the center fold at left and right sides. For further ideas and inspiration please check out my most recent book Tea Bag Folding Through The Seasons by clicking the cover at right. I will share the actual make and take project with you in an upcoming post. Enjoy!
Creatively Yours,
Sharon

Lest We Forget

Christmas Iris Fold Card

Design ©Sharon M. Reinhart November 2011

Wanted to share this card with you and let you know that if you are in the Calgary, Alberta area I will be teaching a card class at Scrapbooker's Bliss on November 8th & 16th, please use the link for further information. The class will consist of this card and two others. The second one will also be using the iris folding technique and the third will make use of beautiful metallic threads using die-cut shapes and thread wrapping techniques. Hope you can join us. If you are not in the area and would like more inspiriation on iris folding please take a look at my book Iris Folding for Christmas by clicking on the cover at right. The book is available at Scrapbooker's Bliss, Scrapbooker's Paradise, Annie's Attic and through myself, just leave me a message through the feedback form.
Hope this card inspires you to create!
Creatively Yours,
Sharon

Gift Card Holder

Project Design ©Sharon M. Reinhart 2011

My apologies for being absent for so long. I have been dealing with some family health emergencies that thankfully now seem to be improving somewhat.
As the holidays are quickly approaching and because I have not had an opportunity to do much in the creative arena lately I thought I would share this quick gift card holder that I featured in a CardMaker e-letter about gift card holders. Be sure to check out the article for more ideas and inspiration.
This particular project makes use of an RSVP envelope sealed and cut to size to create the pocket.  Add some decorative papers, stamp a greeting (this one is from Hero Arts), and layer onto a pretty die-cut lacey circle (Spellbinder's). Add some ribbon and an adhesive pearl, finish by layering onto cardstock or a card and of course remember to insert the gift card of your choice.
Hope you like it!
Creatively Yours,
Sharon

Thread Wrapped Card

Card design ©Sharon M. Reinhart 2011

I must say that I truly love beautiful threads, fibres and fabric but I do not sew. So instead I use these beautiful products within my card and papercrating projects. This thread wrap is a Spirelli technique using Wonderfil metallic threads on Spellbinder's pinking circles dies. I love the effect! The metallic bar at the bottom was colored with a copper leafing pen and then lightly sanded to reveal the word joy in silver. If you love thread wrapping, check out my article That's A Wrap at Cardmaker's on line newsletter.  Enjoy!
Creatively Yours,
Sharon

Tea Bag Folding Class

Class designed for Scrapbooker's Bliss ©Sharon M. Reinhart 2011

Hi there! For all of you in the Calgary area there is still time to get in on the Christmas Card Class featuring Tea Bag folding techniques. This is a new date Thursday October 13th 6:30 - 8:30 pm.  I did a class last week with a great group of ladies and I think they caught the tea bag folding bug! I will have the original cards from my book Tea Bag Folding Through The Seasons with me to share during class and if you purchase a book and you want it signed we have the technology. For more info call Scrapbooker's Bliss at 403-217-9827. Hope to see you!! If you miss out on Thursday's class be sure to give the store a call as there is another class on the schedule for Saturday October 15th.
Creatively Yours,
Sharon

Quick Change Christmas Card!

Design © Sharon M. Reinhart 2011

As promised, here is the leaves card from my last post transformed into a Christmas Card! A few rhinestone berries, gold foliage puched using a Martha Stewart punch, a bit of red ribbon and a splash of red cardstock and voila!. Quick Change Christmas Card!  This little exercise was done to encourage you to multipurpose your designs, its like a personal challenge and definitely helps kick start the creative process -- hope your like it and give it a try! 

Creatively yours,

Sharon

 

Quick Any Occasion Card



Card Design © Sharon M. Reinhart 2011

This simple card is an example of using what you have on hand. If you do not have co-ordinating brads - make your own. Simply apply a strong double sided liner tape to the brad and trim excess. Place a square of printed card stock onto exposed adhesive (it's good to start with a slightly larger square), trim excess cardstock. To give the designer brad an epoxy or lacquer effect apply Glossy Accents or similar clear dimensional medium and let dry. The die cut leaves (Sizzix die) have a thin coat of the dimensional medium as well. The decorative mat is created using a Spellbinder's die. Now you can co-ordinate your brads to any card! The space at the bottom right corner would be perfect for a small greeting like the words thanks, thankful or grateful. On that note, as this weekend is the Canadian Thanksgiving I would like to extend my best wishes to all of you celebrating Thanksgiving, may you share some warm and wonderful moments with family and friends. I know I will be counting my blessings I hope you will too! Be sure to watch for my next post where this design will be transformed into a Christmas Card! 
Creatively Yours,
Sharon

Congratulations! Greeting Card

Design ©Sharon M. Reinhart 2011

Congratulations! What a wonderful word! One that can be used for a multitude of occasions. Wedding, Engagement, New Baby, New Job, Promotion, and Graduation are just a few of those most wonderful moments we are blessed to be able to celebrate. This card makes use of one of my favorite techniques - making handmade flowers using scallop style dies and beautiful papers. The dies used on this card are from Spellbinder's. The card is one that I shared in a CardMaker online newsletter about wedding and shower cards. This particular card was given to a wonderful person in celebration of the new career she is embarking on. The delicate nature of this design suited the individual perfectly! Hope you like it!
Creatively Yours,
Sharon

Creating Cards with Stencils

Just want to give you a sneak peek at what is coming up in my next CardMaker Magazine online newsletter. Its about creating cards using stencils! If you have not signed up for this free newsletter head on over to CardMaker now, once there, scroll down and you will find the free sign up at the bottom left. My next issue goes live on Monday October 3rd, so that means if you sign up now it will go straight to your in box.  While you are there be sure to check out the archives. Kimber McGray and myself are the editors for this newsletter, hope you enjoy!
Creatively Yours,
Sharon

Christmas Card Class

Please excuse this photo - I grabbed a quick one before the cards were put on display, unfortunately they were already in the protective envelopes and the original cards are on display at Scrapbooker's Bliss. I think it gives you a good idea though on the type of cards we will be creating at my upcoming classes at Scrapbooker's Bliss. There are three dates to choose from Monday evening October 3rd, Wednesday daytime October 5th and Saturday daytime October 15th. Give Bliss a call at 403-217-9827 for further information. We had these cards on display at the Scrapbooker's Bliss booth this past weekend at the Great Canadian Scrapbooking Carnival put on by Canadian Scrapbooker and they were well received. It was great to see so many of you that I have had the pleasure of meeting previously in my classes and at other paper-crafting events and also to meet so many new people that our paths have not previously crossed. Hope you all had a great weekend! If you want to learn how to do tea bag folding or you just want some more ideas for Christmas cards, this is the class for you. By the way, the cards are hanging from a pant hanger, great way to hang scrapbook pages, cards, etc.
Creatively Yours,
Sharon

The Great Canadian Scrapbook Carnival!

Don't forget to come by and see us at Scrapbooker's Bliss at MacEwan Hall University of Calgary!  Parking lots may be accessed easily from the 32nd Avenue entrance.

Halloween Card

Design ©Sharon M. Reinhart 2011

Wow! Two posts in one day! As my last post did not include a card to possibly inspire you I thought I would share this Halloween invitation. I typically do not work on a great deal of Halloween designs but this paper inspired me to create. This is an invitation but could easily be changed into a greeting card just by changing the sentiment. The polka dot paper I believe is an older one from K and Company but it just spoke Halloween to me. Or, it would be a great paper for a Birthday card. The stamp is from the bins at Michaels.  Stamps very well, by the way. To bring more texture to the design, once the spider webb was stamped I stitched on seed beads and attached a black brad to become the spiders body, then layered it onto coaster board. A die cut label shape from Spellbinder's was sponged with orange ink and layered under the spider webb square. Add a bit of ribbon, a few rhinestones and a sentiment and you are done. A quick card or invitation, to make it even quicker you could opt to glue the beads on.
Hope you like it!
Creatively Yours,
Sharon

Lot's of Inspiration & Shopping!

Just want to invite you to participate in the Great Canadian Scrapbook Carnival organized by Canadian Scrapbooker Magazine. This event is a wonderful opportunity to crop, take classes, gain inspiration, have fun and of course shop! This years event is being held at MacEwan Conference & Events Centre on the U of C Campus, 402 Collegiate Boulevard N.W. on Friday, September 23rd from noon to 9 pm and Saturday September 24th from 9 am to 5 pm. 
I will be doing a booksigning and demonstration of some of the techniques in my most recent book Tea Bag Folding Through The Seasons as well as demonstrations of a variety of other products and techniques. So please come by and see me at the Scrapbooker's Bliss booth on Saturday between 10:30 to 12:30 and 1:30 to 3:30.  Hope to see you!
Creatively Yours,
Sharon

Christmas Tea Bag Fold Card

Design ©Sharon M. Reinhart 2011

Design © Sharon M. Reinhart 2011

As promised, here is the Christmas card based on the design shown in yesterday's post. So if you need a little creative nudge just look to previous designs that you have made and make simple changes by choosing different papers, greetings and embellishments. It's a wonderful way to get more mileage in your card making adventures. It's also a great way to be able to make further use of those designs we really love. Just switch it up a bit! This design utilizes printed papers for the tea bag fold but you could always stamp your own. It's like using your previous designs as sketches, as you can see here, same design two different cards for different occasions. Enjoy!
Creatively Yours,
Sharon

Tea Bag Folded Card

Design ©Sharon M. Reinhart 2011

A quick post tonight to share a tea bag folded card that was showcased in my May 30, 2011 Vol. 5 No. 8 issue of CardMaker's online newsletter. The article was on wedding and shower cards but to show you how you can use a design for different occasions I am sharing this photo and then in my next post I will share the same basic design but created for a different occasion - possibly Christmas.  So stay tuned!
This tea bag fold is a non traditional design as it uses circle shapes rather than the traditional square shapes. It is an easy one to create and can be used for many applications.  Hope you like it!
Creatively Yours,
Sharon

More Card Inspiration & Techniques!

Hi All!  Just wanted to share some info on a new special interest publication from CardMaker Magazine that is set to hit the newstands and Annie's Attic soon. This 114 page publication is packed with a variety of cardmaking techniques by various designers. I am thrilled to see one of my own projects on the cover - "Thanks" Spotlight Technique bottom left. Can't wait to get my copy!
Creatively Yours,
Sharon

Artist Trading Cards

Design ©Sharon M. Reinhart 2011

In case you have not been introduced to Artist Trading Cards, in brief form, they are 2 1/2" x 3 1/2" miniature pieces of art work that can be created using almost any medium and are traded and never sold. I thought I would let you know that my most recent newsletter, the August 22, 2011 issue, is all about Artist Trading Cards so for further information and inspiration head on over to CardMaker Magazine's online newsletter by clicking on the link. Here is a sneak peak! Enjoy!
Creatively yours,
Sharon