Meet the Snow Family – Mama Snow

This card is part of the Karen Burniston Design Team snowmen challenge for November.

Today, I’m show you how to make Mama Snow.

Mama Snow is comprised of all three balls – the Mini Ball Pop-Up, the Bitty Ball Pop-Up and the Surprise Ball Pop-Up with all her facial features, hat and stick arms from the Snowman Add-Ons. Her cape is made from the Mini Ball and Bitty Ball dies and her hat is cut down from the Snowman Add-ons set.

I find watching the assembly videos for the balls very useful. (Bitty Balls, Mini-Balls and Surprise Balls) Numbering the order of gluing the tabs is useful for the assemble of the balls. I cut all the trapezoid panels from an embossed white cardstock. And the ball halves are cut from a 100 lb. smooth white cardstock.

Assemble the base Surprise Ball in all white with a brad threaded through the bottom hole. The middle and head balls are of graduating size and are decorated with the blue cape and collar pieces before assembling.

The blue cape is made by cutting one half of a Mini Ball in blue and trimming as shown in the photos. I glued it to the bottom of the ball first before assembling the ball. (Note that one panel of blue was cut off and the corners facing the missing panel were curved and not glued down. The missing panel area is where the mouth will be for the face.)

The cape is cut using the same blue cardstock using one half of a Bitty Ball. Cut a thin stripe out of the front of the cape and curve the bottom corners. Glue down stick arms to sides of Bitty Ball. Glue all of the cape to the top of the bitty ball, except for the curved corners.

Glue on facial features of coal eyes and mouth cut from glitter cardstock and an orange carrot nose. Docorate the cape and collar with snowflakes.

To assemble the hat, trim the tall top piece down to about 1/2 inch above the tab. Decorate brim with snowflakes from Snowman Add-Ons, Snowman Twist Circle or Snowman set.  Glue top of hat flap through the slot in brim. Glue hat onto top of head. Cut a piece of ribbon long enough to go over hat brim and under the head plus 2 inches. Glue middle of ribbon to top of hat and them flatten head and glue ends of ribbon to the bottom of head ball. (You will need this slack in the ribbon to allow the ball to fold flat.)

Now you can glue the three balls together to make Mama Snow. I glued the ribbon bow on after I had assembled her to get the correct placement.

You can now added her to the card base using the brad.

Learn more about how each member of the Snow Family was created in these blogs:

Thank you for reading this blog post. Please like and leave comments 😊

Materials Used:

Dies

Papers

  • Spellbinders – 100 lb. cardstock – Waterfall
  • Hot Off the Press – Black Suede
  • Hot off the Press – Black Glitter Cardstock
  • Blue, orange, brown, and white cardstock scraps
  • Staples – 8.5×11 Printable glitter paper

Miscellaneous

Meet The Snow Family – Papa Snow

This card is part of the Karen Burniston Design Team snowmen challenge for November.

Today, I’m show you how to make Papa Snow.

Papa Snow is comprised of all three balls – the Mini Ball Pop-Up, the Bitty Ball Pop-Up and the Surprise Ball Pop-Up with all his facial features, hat and stick arms from the Snowman Add-Ons.

I find watching the assembly videos for the balls very useful. (Bitty Balls, Mini-Balls and Surprise Balls) Numbering the order of gluing the tabs is useful for the assemble of the balls. I cut all the trapezoid panels from white gold shimmer cardstock. And the ball halves are cut from a 100 lb. smooth white cardstock.  Assemble the base Surprise Ball with a brad threaded through the bottom hole.

(I used the rubber bands recommended by Karen Burniston and had noted the number of knots for each size ball I used in the photo.)

Because the different size balls don’t cover the “shoulders” or top of neck of the snowman, I like to cut a full-size hexagon to cover this area by tracing the die and then cutting with scissors.

Once all the balls are assembled and decorated, glue the balls together. Next, you’ll attach the snowman to the card base with the brad.

Learn more about How each member of the Snow Family was created in these blogs:

Thank you for reading this blog post. Please like and leave comments 😊

Materials Used:

Dies

Papers

  • Spellbinders – 100 lb cardstock – Waterfall
  • Hot Off the Press – Black Suede
  • Hot off the Press – Black Glitter Cardstock
  • Blue, orange, brown, and white cardstock scraps
  • Recollections – 8.5×11 White gold shimmer cardstock
  • Staples – 8.5×11 Printable glitter paper

Miscellaneous

Meet The Snow Family

This card is part of the Karen Burniston Design Team snowmen challenge for November.

Today, I’ll introduce you to the Snow Family and then each of the next three days, I’ll explain how I made each member of the family.

In her August release, Karen Burniston has come out with some additional die sets that make putting together snowpeople so easy. An add-on character set includes the top hat and band, carrot nose, large and small circles for eyes, mouth and buttons, as well as stick arms and a large snowflake. The Double-Ups for the all the pop-up balls have the side trapezoids linked together to cut 6 pieces all at once, so with the original individual trapezoid dies, you can cut all 12 side panels in one pass.

I started with a pale blue card base of made up of two 6x 6 1/2 inch pieces. I scored the extra 1/2 inch at 1/2  and 1/4 inch to make tabs with a gusset to glue each piece to a central 6 x 6 inch square.

The decorative papers are 5 ¾ x 5 ¾ inches. (Flap assembly video) I cut the the flap from pale blue cardstock and two decorative panels from scraps of the decorative papers.  Off the back of the center section is where the flap is glued.

The flap dies set cuts six washers of which three are glued together for each of the circle brad cover. Glue the front decorative panel onto the flap. Using a sharp piercing tool, punch a hole in the center of the flap.

Glue the washers over the hole. I used a needle and thread to pull the twine through the hole leaving knot on underside of flap. Pull brad legs through hole and bend the legs onto the back of the flap and glue the twine in place on back of flap.

Glue the back decorative panel over the twine knot.  Cover back of card and flap tab with decorative paper.

Glue the front decorative papers to the card front. Mark the center of the front of the card base and pierce, glue the next two washers. Thread another brad through the hole Then thread the brad legs into the hole in the bottom of the bottom all of a snow person. (It is easier to add just the bottom ball and then build the snowperson onto this ball once it is attached to the card base.)

Once all the snowpeople base balls are attached to the card base and decorative papers cover the brad legs or wires, decorations can be added to the outside of the card panels.

The card is too thick to be mailed in any standard envelope to mail.

Learn more about How each member of the Snow Family was created in these blogs:

Thank you for reading this blog post. Please like and leave comments 😊

Materials Used:

Dies

Papers

  • Spellbinders – 100 lb cardstock – Waterfall
  • Hot Off the Press – Black Suede
  • Hot off the Press – Black Glitter Cardstock
  • Blue, orange, brown, and white cardstock scraps
  • Recollections – 8.5×11 White gold shimmer cardstock
  • Staples – 8.5×11 Printable glitter paper

Miscellaneous

Being Cool is My Costume

Halloween means so many different things to different people, but my favorite person to make Halloween cards for is a cat lover, likes to see children in their Halloween costumes, but hates to dress-up for the day. So, this vintage pumpkin card is perfect for them.

The pumpkin easel card is a die set by Anna Griffin. It is super easy to make with decorative papers.

I used two different stamp sets that were on my worktable to stamp the card and envelope.

The card fits into a 6”x9” envelope which has been stamped with designs by Miss Ink Stamps and colored with fine-tipped makers.

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Materials Used:

Dies

Stamps

Inks & Pigments

  • Memento Fade-resistant Dye Ink – Tuxedo Black
  • Craft Smart – White Ink Cube
  • Sharpie Permanent Marker – Fine Point – Black
  • American Crafts – Metallic Marker – Silver
  • Nuvo – Aqua Shimmer – Glitter Gloss
  • Fine-tipped makers

Papers

  • American Crafts – Peebles – Spooky – 12 x12 Double-sided – Candy Toss – 736981
  • Heavy Black Cardstock
  • Brown and Green Cardstock Scraps
  • Shiny Holographic Sparkle Cardstock – Orange (maker unknown)
  • 6” x 9” Envelope – White

Miscellaneous

All Wrapped Up In You

My spouse and I joke that neither of us can remember our wedding anniversary. We know it is in late October but we always have to look it up. This year I decided to just make a sweet Halloween card for my spouse for our anniversary.

I used the Spellbinders’ Dancin Mummy dies as well as the stamp set from the Boo Dance Party collection to make the card. The card base is a mini-slimline card made from double-sided cardstock from a 2013 Martha Stewart 12 x 12 paper pad called Gothic Manor. The legs swing on circle foam dot.

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Pop-Up Ghost Card

Pop-up ball cards always remind me of the jack-in-the-box toy when you open them and something pops up to make you smile. This pop-up ghost card was designed for a three-year-old boy for Halloween.

The card front and easel base are my design. (You can download the full-size scan I made of the ghost card front for free.)

I traced the ghost onto a 12 x 12 inch sheet of cardstock twice. Next, I cut the cardstock between the ghosts and fold the card stock at the top of the ghost’s head and cut out two layers of the ghost leaving the top of the ghost’s head attached as a fold.

This will be the card base and easel prop.  The second ghost I cut all the way around and used the largest oval die from the Karen Burniston Bitty Ball die set to cut out the eyes for the card front ghost.

I traced the easel piece as well as the whole ghost back onto black cardstock and cut both pieces out. The easel back piece needs to be glued so that when the white ghost card front is glued onto easel flap the eyes show through as black.

(Don’t glue the whole black ghost shape onto the back of the card until after the pop-up balls have been attached to the card base. This piece hides the brad legs.)

For the pop-up ghost inside I covered two mini pop-up balls (made using dies by Karen Burniston) with four layers of cheesecloth cut into a 6-inch circle and glued to the top pop-up ball. (Follow the assembly video for the pop-up balls.) Cut all pieces from white cardstock. Cut two black eyes using the same oval die used for card front ghost.

I made a band to hold the card closed from a leftover piece of white cardstock. The “BOO!” on the ghost as well as the band sentiment are by Karen Burniston from the two Halloween die sets listed below.

The card fits into a 6 x 9 inch envelope. I stamped the front and back of the envelope with ghost stamps by Julie Ebersole.

I often add a CRX slip that helps the card recipient know how to open the interactive card. (You can download the sheet with four slips on it. for free.)

Thank you for reading this blog post. Please like and leave comments

Materials Used:

Dies

Stamps

Inks

  • Memento Fade-resistant Dye Ink – Tuxedo Black

Papers

  • Brazzill –12 x12 Inch Cardstock – Coconut Swirl
  • Heavy Black Cardstock
  • 6” x 9” Envelope – White

Miscellaneous

  • Cosmic Shimmer – Specialist Acrylic Glue – 125ml
  • Sizzix – Big Shot PLUS die cutting Machine
  • Fineline 20 Gauge Applicator & Bottle
  • LDRS Creative – Stampendable Stamping Tool
  • Stamp Cleaning Cloth
  • Poking Tool
  • Cheese Cloth – 6 inch Circle
  • Brad with Long Legs

Pop-Up Pumpkin Card

Pop-up ball cards always remind me of the jack-in-the-box toy when you open them and something pops up to make you smile. This pop-up pumpkin card was designed for a baby’s first Halloween.

The card front pumpkin and easel base are a die set by Anna Griffin and the pop-up pumpkin inside is made using dies by Karen Burniston.

Follow the assembly video to make the mini pop-up ball

I made a band to hold the card closed from leftover pieces of decorative cardstock. The sentiment is by Karen Burniston.

The card fits into a 6 x 9 inch envelope. I stamped the front and back of the envelope with stamps by Tim Holtz.

I often add a CRX slip that helps the card recipient know how to open the interactive card. (You can download the sheet with four slips on it. for free.)

Thank you for reading this blog post. Please like and leave comments

Materials Used:

Dies

Stamps

  • Stampers Anonymous – Tim Holtz Halloween Collection – THMM127

Inks

  • Memento Fade-resistant Dye Ink – Tuxedo Black
  • Sharpie Permanent Marker – Fine Point – Black
  • Ranger – Tim Holts Distress Ink – Walnut Stain and Mowed Lawn

Papers

  • American Crafts – Peebles – Spooky – 12 x12 Double-sided – Candy Toss – 736981
  • Heavy Black and Orange Cardstock
  • Brown and Green Cardstock Scraps
  • 6” x 9” Envelope – White

Miscellaneous

  • Cosmic Shimmer – Specialist Acrylic Glue – 125ml
  • Sizzix – Big Shot PLUS die cutting Machine
  • Fineline 20 Gauge Applicator & Bottle
  • LDRS Creative – Stampendable Stamping Tool
  • Stamp Cleaning Cloth
  • Poking Tool
  • Sponge Finger Daubers
  • Brad with Long Legs

Interactive Money Holder Halloween Cards

These two cards are for a 12-year-old girl and her 14-year-old brother. The card sender requested that they be money holders as well as interactive Halloween cards.

Both cards are variations of previous Halloween cards I’ve done this year, but with money holders. They also show how adding a second Karen Burniston pop-up mechanism and reversing the direction of it can really make a card jump for joy or reveal hidden treasure.

The original card called Witchy Shoes and this card are made with dies and papers from Queen & Co. Halloween collections – Fright Fest (shoes, pumpkin & papers) and Witch Hat die.

The money holder is an orange jack-o-lantern Trick or Treat pail intended as a shaker, but I taped the pumpkin frame to the center cutout and used the matching foam frame behind the jack-o-lantern, cutting off the top bar, so rolled paper money could be placed in it.

I added two pop-up mechanisms by Karen Burniston from her Spinner Square Pop-ups die set to make the legs move.(Assembly video). I reversed the direction of one of the mechanisms to make them move away from each other.

Envelope back

The envelope uses image stamps by Tim Holtz and sentiment stamps From Queen & Co.

Card front and front of envelope

For the Open If You Dare card I based it off the card Do What Brings You Joy using two of the pop-up mechanisms from the Katherine Label Pop-Up die set by Karen Burniston (assembly video). I reversed the direction of one of the mechanisms to make them move away from each other.

The ghosts and spiderwebs are from the Queen & Co Halloween Foundation Dies and the Paper Studio checkerboard brown craft paper has been in my stash for a while.

The Trick or Treat bag is a rectangle that was accordion folded at the sides and the bottom edge folded up into a tab. The edge of the bag was cut with pinking shears and then the bag was stamped in black using a stamp by Tim Holtz.

Card back

All other stamps used on the card are from the Queen & Co Fright Fest collection.

Envelope back

The envelope uses image stamps by Tim Holtz and sentiment stamps From Queen & Co. and Peebles.

If you enjoyed these cards, check out other creative cards on the Facebook page Karen Burniston Pop-Up Peeps.

Witchy Shoes

Sometimes there are crafting elements that just take you under their spell and make you play with them.

Queen & Co. Halloween shaker kits have me under their spell This card is made up of elements from two kits – Fright Fest (shoes and papers) and Witch Hat. These kits have the dies, foam shaker frames and acetate windows. Some come with the shaker elements (I added to them from my stash) and/or matching paper (Fright Fest for this card.)

I added two pop-up mechanisms by Karen Burniston from her Spinner Square Pop-ups die set to make the legs move.

The card took less than 2 hours to make.

Thank you for reading this blog post. Please like and leave comments 😊