Karen Burniston Designer Challenge 77: Raise it up!

Happy New Year and welcome to our 77th Designer Challenge with a theme of "Raise it up!" I challenged the team to use our new Raising Platform Pop-up die set for a card of any theme.

For my card and video I am showing how to split the fold of an A2 landscape card to allow for a double installation of the Raising Platform. I also decided to have them move in opposite directions. 

Learn how to make this card by watching the full YouTube tutorial here:

 My card measures 5.5" wide by 4.25" tall when closed. The front of the card combines the "happy" from Small Script- Halloween with "birthday" cut using the Mini Alphabet and Numbers set. The labels and stars are included in the Raising Platform Pop-up set. Patterned papers are older ones from my stash.

As the card opens the side-by-side platforms start to move.

Once open, the left platform raises and the right platform lowers, revealing two pop-up frames with Big Birthday Charms dangling in the openings.

This is a very generic technique that can be decorated for any theme. Check out all of our Charm Sets for more possibilities with this generic card idea. Here are the dies and supplies used in the video:

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We are excited that all eight members of our Design Team have re-upped for 2024! Let's take a look at how they interpreted the challenge and used the Raising Platform Pop-up. In each case you can click the designer's name to go to their blog post where you'll find additional photos, supply lists and, in some cases, videos and/or photo tutorials. 

Frances Byrne created a top-fold card that features two Raising Platforms in the center fold, creating side-to-side movement. She used larger shapes on top of the platforms to allow for larger decorations. What a fun and exciting card!

Fran Sabad used the Raising Platform to show off some adorable stamps featuring animals hugging. I love how she combined dies, stamps, patterned paper and embossing folders with adorable results! Be sure to click over to Fran's blog to see the card front.

Suzanne Smit made a custom celebratory card for a girl who finished her level B swimming diploma. I love how Suzanne used a large letter on the platform and then covered it with mermaids. What a fabulous way to celebrate an accomplishment! 

Lois Bak made a custom card for a friend-of-a-friend turning 80. I love the humor and excitement of this card! Be sure to click over to Lois's blog for the hilarious card front and to read her tip for combining labels from two sets to get the sizes she needed.

Sue Small-Kreider cleverly illustrated a poem excerpt from "The Owl and the Pussy-cat" including creating her own pop-up boat to sit atop the Raising Platform! Click over to Sue's blog post for a video and a photo tutorial for this wonderfully creative card!

Sandy Diller ushered in the New Year with a wonderful slimline card featuring two platforms moving in opposite directions. I love the mixture of metallics, black and cream in this winner of a card. The small circles to make bubbles is another great touch. See this card in action on Sandy's blog post.

Jen Webster also ushered in 2024 with a Raising Platform Happy New Year card. I love how she styled the martini from the Happy Hour Charms and the wonderful mix of metallics and vellum. Gorgeous!

Nicky Foden created a top-fold slimline double Raising Platform birthday card. The colors are so fun and I love how different the platform looks when it's installed in a top fold versus a side fold card. Click over to Nicky's blog for a full photo tutorial, including the 3D balloons attached to the labels. Fabulous!

Well we hope you are inspired to make a Raising Platform Pop-up creation of your own! Join us next month on February 7, 2024 for our next Designer Challenge with a theme of "OH MY HEARTS!" where everyone will be incorporating hearts into their cards.

Happy Crafting!

 

Karen Burniston Designer Challenge 76: Naughty or Nice?

Happy December and welcome to our 76th Designer Challenge with a theme of "Naughty or Nice?" I challenged the team to incorporate a stocking into their card.

For my card and video I'm teaching the stacked double-oven technique from a recent Zoom class. This card combines pieces from the Oven Pop-up and Oven Extras die sets, among others.

Learn how to make this card by watching the full YouTube tutorial here:

My card is a 5x6 top fold card and features the stocking from the Stocking Pop-up on the front of the card, filled with Baking Charms. The gingerbread cookie border comes from Christmas Borders 1. Patterned paper for the card front is from Simple Stories.

Open the card to reveal a stacked double oven and spring-up kitchen island. The island is animated using the Bam Box Pop-up. Because the challenge theme featured stockings I added the small stockings from Fireplace Extras 1 to the cabinets. I also used the greenery, berries and holly from that same set. The patterned papers came from my stash.

The ovens can be opened to reveal a sheet of cookies in the upper oven and a turkey in the lower oven.

My inspiration for this card was a class card from our November Zoom class. Zoom class kits are available only through participating stores. It's possible that one of the stores still has kits for the red oven version of the card. Check our Events page for links to the participating stores.

Ready to give this card a try? Here are the links for the dies and supplies used in my card:

Another class card that made its way into a YouTube video is the Twist Flower Poinsettia Card from our July Zoom class. Learn this card here:

Time to check out the wonderful NAUGHTY OR NICE? inspiration from our team. In each case you can click the designer's name to open their blog post in a new window. On their blog posts you'll find additional photos, supply lists and, in some cases, even videos!

Jen Webster used the Parcel Pop-up to lift up a Mini Gift Bag filled with fun presents, including a little stocking. This is such a wonderful mix of dies and, as usual, features Jen's signature coloring. Click over to her blog to see the card front. Exquisite!

Sandy Diller has some Tiny Gnomes up to all sorts of mischief on her Fireplace Pop-up card. Some are even posing as a tree! Click over to Sandy's blog for a video walk-through of this hilarious card! 

Nicky Foden uses our brand new Raising Platform Pop-up (available on our website starting next week) to raise up the upper portion of her tree. I love all the fun elements to this clever card. Click over to her blog for a full photo tutorial. Amazing!

Sue Small-Kreider used a clever modification of the Twist Flower mechanism to twist and pop-up two circles featuring naughty or nice stockings. Be sure to click over to Sue's blog for a wealth of information about this card, including photos and video. I love it!

Suzanne Smit made a Rockin' Rectangle pop-up card that features cute Christmas Animals reindeer peeking out of the stockings. I love how she also incorporated the matching stocking border. Ho ho ho - you'll definitely want to click over to see more more more!

Lois Bak created a lovely Fireplace easel card featuring greenery and cute stockings. I love how she used Merry Christmas as the easel stop. Click over to Lois's blog post to see this card closed. Wonderful!

Lois also posted a bonus DC card featuring the new Raising Platform Pop-up (available next week from our website).

Fran Sabad created this fabulous Stocking Pop-up card featuring curious mice from the Christmas Animals decking the halls and swiping the candy. I love all the beautiful layers and detailing to this card. Click over to Fran's blog to see the equally-impressive card front.

Frances Byrne combined pop-ups for this slimline card featuring the new Raising Platform and Stocking Pop-up, plus a flat version of the Fireplace on the card front. The festive colors and styling to this card are a feast for the eyes! Click over to Frances's blog to see more.

Well we hope we've inspired you to be nice (not naughty) so Santa will fill your stocking with dies! Tune in next year (tee tee) on January 3, 2024 for our next Designer Challenge with a theme of RAISE IT UP! We will all be using the Raising Platform Pop-up in our projects. 

Happy Crafting!

Karen Burniston Designer Challenge 75: What's Cooking?

Welcome to our 75th monthly Designer Challenge with a theme of WHAT'S COOKING? I challenged the team to use our Oven Pop-up die set in a card for any theme. As usual, they've made spectacular creations!

For my card and video I wanted to show how to extend the base cabinets and counters to fill a 5x7 card. My card has a Christmas cookies theme but this technique would work well year-round.

Learn how I made this card by watching the full video here:

My card measures 7" wide by 5" tall when closed and can be mailed in an A7 envelope. The front of the card features shapes cut with the Rectangles and Labels - Crosshatch die set and then filled it with elements from the Oven Pop-up (cookies and oven mitt), Oven Extras (mixer) and Fireplace Extras 1 (swag, holly leaves and berries).

Open the card to reveal the expanded kitchen, with extra cabinets and counter space to the right of the oven. The pop-up and counter decorations all came from the Oven Pop-up and Oven Extras die sets. The back wall decoration features elements from Oven Extras, Fireplace Extras 1 and Fireplace Extras 2. For a custom greeting I combined words from four sets: Word Set 2, Word Set 3, Word Set 17 and You're Sweet.

Open the oven to reveal a double oven rack with a sheet of cookies baking on the upper rack. The Santa face that is framed on the shelf is from a piece of patterned paper.

Here's the assembly video for the Oven and Oven Extras sets when you want to assemble without extending:

The patterned papers are from my stash. All of the specialty mirror and glitter papers are from The Paper Cut. Here are the other supplies used on my card:

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Time to check out the wonderful WHAT'S COOKING? inspiration from our team. In each case you can click the designer's name to open their blog post in a new window. On their blog posts you'll find additional photos, supply lists and, in some cases, even videos!

Fran Sabad is back this month with a wonderful Christmas kitchen card with a shiny red oven and hood. Be sure to click over to Fran's blog to see the delightful card front, featuring the Baking Charms. Love this!

Frances Byrne has a gnome chef cooking a feast on this beautiful Christmas card. I love how she animated the gnome using the smaller Bam Box and has the turkey in the oven. (I can almost smell it!) What a wonderful mix of dies and papers.

Lois Bak incorporated a pull-out pocket on her card for a gingerbread recipe! How clever! I love how she styled her cozy kitchen with festive lights on the wall and a sideways upper cabinet over the hood. Click over to Lois's blog to see the gorgeous wreath she created on the front of this card.

Sandy Diller incorporated the perfect greeting into her oven card - "If you want breakfast in bed, sleep in the kitchen!" Sandy cleverly repurposed a lid from the Coffee Charms into a cloche for breakfast. I love the mod colors on this card!

Suzanne Smit made an adorable pink kitchen but then let the cat in - whoops! I love all of the elements of this funny and sweet card, including the culprit animated with a Bam Box and all of the splatters and mess. This is also a great example of how the Oven makes a great birthday card for anyone, even those who don't cook!

Nicky Foden created a wonderful expanded country kitchen. She has a full photo tutorial for this card, including her method for extending the cabinetry. I love all the details, including the highlighting of the greenery and the broken eggs on the counter. Perfection!

Jen Webster created a feast for the eyes with her vintage kitchen birthday card. The details are incredible! She used internet clip art for the Felix clock and researched macrame knots to make the wall hanging. I love how she created vintage stoneware and used bar handles on the lower cabinets. The details on this card are incredible!

Sue Small-Kreider made a farmhouse kitchen card to celebrate Pi Day (March 14th) and the details are incredible! She has a photo tutorial for some of the elements, including her clever Bam Box island and the rolling pin made from repurposed dies. Absolutely wonderful!

Well we hope you're inspired to do some paper cooking of your own. Join us next month on Wednesday, December 6th when the team and I will tackle a challenge called NAUGHTY OR NICE featuring a stocking. 

After waning interest we have suspended Mission Poppable challenges and are working up a new way to celebrate your creations for 2024.

Happy Crafting!

Karen Burniston Designer Challenge 74: Jack-o-Lantern

Welcome to our 74th monthly Designer Challenge with a theme of JACK-O-LANTERN. I challenged the team to incorporate one or more jack-o-lanterns into their challenge card.

For my card and video I combined the mechanism from our new Stocking Pop-up with the Iron Fence Pop-up for a fun and very interactive Halloween pop-up card.

Learn how I made this card by watching the full video here:

My card measures 7" wide by 5" tall and will mail in an A7 envelope. The front of the card features repeated jack-o-lantern overlay Halloween Borders over rectangles from the Rectangles and Labels - Crosshatch set. The greeting is from our new Small Script- Halloween set. All of the papers came from my scrap bin (my favorite place to shop!)

Open the card and three fences pop-up and a giant jack-o-lantern rises from behind the center fence. (It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown!) The fences are from our Iron Fence Pop-up die set with the center one animated using the mechanism from the Stocking Pop-up. The large jack-o-lantern is created using a circle from our Circles - Crosshatch set and face/stem from Character Add-ons 1. 

I used Halloween Borders for the small jack-o-lanterns on the fence and the bats in the moon. I also added characters from our Skeleton and Bat die set. The trick or treat greeting came from the Small Script - Halloween set.

As I mentioned in the video, the triple-fence-with-slider combination is perfect for adapting to other themes. The fence can be styled for garden, Christmas, Easter, fall, 4th of July, etc. The idea with these monthly videos is to simply spark an idea and I love to see alternate interpretations. To make this card exactly like mine, here are the dies and supplies I used:

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Time to check out the wonderful JACK-O-LANTERN inspiration from our team. In each case you can click the designer's name to open their blog post in a new window. On their blog posts you'll find additional photos, supply lists and, in some cases, even videos!

Nicky Foden went all out with an amazing haunted Castle card. The sliding pumpkin closure on this card is especially clever and Nicky has a full photo tutorial on her blog post for the steps to make this spooky masterpiece. Love it!

Jen Webster dressed up a jack-o-lantern character as a scarecrow for a Thanksgiving themed card. What a great way to expand the use of jack-o-lanterns beyond Halloween! Her coloring is, as usual, absolutely exquisite!

Jen also posted this card on her blog that matches the theme so I'm including it as well. What an amazing creation combining the Barn Pop-up with the House and Fence Pop-up plus several animals decked out in their costumes for a night of trick-or-treating. Fun, fun, fun!

Frances Byrne created a jack pumpkinhead character with a sparkly purple cloak and I love it! This is the perfect example of how our new dies blend in seamlessly with the dies that came before so that each year you're building on the collection for new looks. Fabulous!

Lois Bak also shows a great mix of dies in this Little Labels Pop-up slimline card. I love how the new skulls border fits the lower level of the Little Labels perfectly. Plus she's made her skeleton quite dapper with a top hat from Tiny Accessories 1. Cute!

Sue Small-Kreider knocked it out of the park with her amazing interactive pumpkin cart project. You really must click over to her blog to see all the features of this card, including a slide-out drawer with pop-up creepy hands and a light-up feature! Sue is particularly talented at repurposing dies to get new shapes/looks. So creative!

Sandy Diller made a light-up jack-o-lantern card using the Surprise Ball for the pumpkin. Be sure to click to her blog to watch the video. I love how Sandy has mixed in newer dies with favorites. The witch holding the Halloween balloons and the cute spider on Jack's nose take this card over the top! Love it!

Suzanne Smit converted the Fancy Label Accordion into a pumpkin-shaped accordion with the same concept as the Landscape Rectangle Accordion modified for Add-ons. I love how she added the new jack-o-lantern border along the bottom of the accordion. So sweet!

Fran Sabad will be back next month, so for this month's challenge let me share one of my favorite jack-o-lantern cards from Fran featuring a bunch of our Halloween-themed dies. 

Hopefully we've inspired you for Halloween cards and more. Join us next month on November 8, 2023 for Designer Challenge 75 with a theme of WHAT'S COOKING? We will be showing off our new Oven Pop-up die set.

Also be on the lookout for the Mission Poppable challenge for October. It will go up next week. You still have time to join in the fun of our September Mission Poppable challenge.

Happy Crafting!

 

Karen Burniston Designer Challenge 73: Holiday House

Welcome to our 73rd monthly Designer Challenge with a theme of HOLIDAY HOUSE. I challenged the team to use our Holiday House die set for a card of any holiday/theme. The variety is fabulous!

For my card and video I combined the Holiday House with the Tag Book Pop-up, but in order to use the Holiday House on the pop-up I needed to elongate the Tag Book. 

Watch the video below for a full tutorial:

My card measures 3" x 7.25" in the closed position and can be mailed in a No. 10 Business Envelope (slimline). For the front of the card I repeated the elements and styling from the inside using leftover materials. All patterned paper is Maja Designs "Autumn Poem" collection.

In addition to the Holiday House and Tag Book Pop-up die sets, I used the Tiny Trees Pop-up, Haunted Tiny House Add-ons and Word Set 7 - Autumn to decorate my card.

The diamond glitter colors came from The Paper Cut and were perfect for adding some sparkle to the Holiday House.

Since I was creating an autumn-themed card I kept the trees bare with just a few leaves sprinkled throughout the scene. For a spring or summer card I would have added the foliage pieces to the trees. This is a card that is easily translated into other seasons!

Want to give this card a try? Here are the dies and supplies used:

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Tim to check out the wonderful HOLIDAY HOUSE inspiration from our team. In each case you can click the designer's name to open their blog post in a new window. On their blog posts you'll find additional photos, supply lists and, in some cases, even videos!

Sue Small-Kreider ingeniously combined the Holiday House with the House of Cards die set for this light-up Valentines spectacular! I am swooning over this clever combination of dies for such a unique look. Click over to Sue's blog to see this card in action, including how it lights up. Love it!

Nicky Foden made this wonderful Easter Holiday House card featuring the Tiny Trees Pop-up and animating the house using a Bam Box Pop-up. I adore the pastel spring colors and the styling of this card. Check out Nicky's blog for a full photo tutorial.

Frances Byrne turned the Holiday House into a holiday gingerbread mansion for this lovely Christmas card. I love how she made the house taller and disguised seams with cleverly placed candies. Frances used the mechanism from the Explosion Pop-up to animate the house. So yummy!

Lois Bak made a wonderful Halloween slimline card featuring the Holiday House as a haunted house and the Little Twist Panel Pop-up inside the card. I love how she mixed and matched several of our Halloween dies to bring her scene to life!

Sandy Diller customized a card for her son welcoming his move to Arizona. I love the southwest feel to this card. Because Sandy combined the Holiday House with the House and Fence Pop-up she had more choices for windows and doors. Love it!

Suzanne Smit was feeling groovy when she made this fabulous Twist Flower pop-up featuring the Holiday House. I love the bright fun colors and amazing energy of this card. Peace, love and crafting! 

Jen Webster turned to the House and Fence pop-up for her holiday creation, using her amazing coloring and composition skills on a spoooooky Halloween card. I love everything about it! Be sure to click to Jen's blog to check out the card front. Amazing!

Fran Sabad is off this month so I'm sharing a throwback Fran classic featuring the Holiday House in three color schemes across the front of a slimline card. Fran also used our Long Rectangles Crosshatch and Long Nature Edges on this bright and beautiful card.

Well we hope you feel inspired to try the Holiday House for your next card. Join us next month on Wednesday, October 4, 2023 for our next Designer Challenge with a theme of  JACK-O-LANTERN - we'll be showing off cards using our Halloween dies and incorporating at least one Jack-o-lantern.

Also be on the lookout for the Mission Poppable challenge for September. It will go up next week. 

Happy Crafting!

Karen Burniston Designer Challenge 72: Accordions

Welcome to our 72nd monthly Designer Challenge with a theme of ACCORDIONS. I challenged the team to use one of our Accordion die sets to make a card for any theme. Team members could choose our Charm Accordion, Fancy Label Accordion or Landscape Rectangle Accordion.  We also have two new Add-ons sets to fit our Landscape Rectangle Accordion - the Fence Add-ons and the Cupcake Add-ons.

For my card and video I am teaching a mixed Landscape Rectangle Accordion featuring a center Cupcake Add-ons page and two dangling cupcake charms.

Learn how I made this card by watching the full video tutorial here:

My card measures 3.5" x 6" in the closed position and it can be mailed easily in the shorter business envelope. When the card is closed the dangling cupcake charm is backed by a big decorated cupcake. The Short Rectangles - Crosshatch die set made the paper frame and inner crosshatch rectangle. I used the Circles - Crosshatch die set to make the circle frame. The cupcake charm is from our Birthday Charms die set.

When the card is opened the charms dangle in the circle openings and the center page is a row of cupcakes using the Cupcake Add-ons set.

Patterned papers are older ones from my stash. They are a mixture of Photo Play, Echo Park and some old retired Cosmo Cricket. Designer Challenge videos are not paper-specific, however, and are meant to just teach techniques and ideas that can be customized with custom colors and themes. For this card, think beyond birthday to other themes where cupcakes (could they be muffins?) would work. A celebratory or congratulations card, for instance. Combine with our Baking Charms or Coffee Charms for a different look. You'll also find great inspiration from the team below, including cupcake accordions for "you're sweet" and Christmas.

Ready to give this card a try? Here are the dies and supplies:

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Tim to check out the wonderful ACCORDION inspiration from our team. In each case you can click the designer's name to open their blog post in a new window. On their blog posts you'll find additional photos, supply lists and, in some cases, even videos!

Lois Bak made this delightful 3-page mixed accordion with the Landscape and the Fence Add-ons. I love how she added the Backyard Charms for her fairy garden and found the perfect older stamp in her stash for the sentiment. Gorgeous!

Jen Webster made a 3-page Landscape Rectangle Accordion in a Halloween theme and I love the vibrant colors and high creep-value to the embellishments. Notice her cauldron on the third page, made using the pot and cloud from the Good Luck Charms. Wonderful!

Suzanne Smit made a personalized 25th anniversary card using a 4-page Fancy Label Accordion and a ton of flowers from various sets. I love the classy color scheme! Suzanne also made a custom bag to present this gift. See more photos on her blog post.

Fran Sabad made a 2-page Landscape/Fence Accordion and included the Garden Charms. Notice the perfect shading on the watering can and the fun sprinkling of rhinestones throughout the scene. Fabulous!

Sandy Diller made a 3-page mixed Landscape/Cupcake accordion in a You're Sweet theme. I love this use of the cupcakes for a general anytime theme that isn't birthday. The styling on the cupcakes is scrumptious!

Nicky Foden made a beachtopia of a card with a 4-page Fancy Label Accordion decorated in a beach theme using a bunch of pieces from various sets. I love how she inlaid some of the spots in the polka-dot border and the relaxing scene she created. On Nicky's blog is a full photo tutorial for this card. Love it!

Sue Small-Kreider altered the Fancy Label Accordion in a similar way as when using the Landscape add-ons but this time to create a set of reindeer and Santa's sleigh. How clever! Be sure to click to Sue's blog for a full photo tutorial of this amazing card. Such a great idea!

Frances Byrne made a gorgeous 3-page mixed Landscape/Cupcake accordion and decorated it for Christmas. This is another great way to use the cupcakes for themes other than birthday and I absolutely adore the colors and styling on this card. Holly on the cupcakes is a perfect touch. So pretty!

Well we hope you feel inspired to make a few accordions of your own . Join us next month on Wednesday, September 6, 2023 for our next Designer Challenge with a theme of  HOLIDAY HOUSE - we'll be showing off cards made our Holiday House die set for a variety of occasions.

Also be on the lookout for the Mission Poppable challenge for August. It will go up mid-month. I apologize for not putting up a Mission Poppable for July - I was sick for a couple of weeks and the month got away from me.

Happy Crafting!

Karen Burniston Designer Challenge 71 - Collection Pack Creations

Welcome to our 71st monthly Designer Challenge and this one represents a first. It's the first one that I've had to skip.

I'm under the weather and my voice is a croak. Unfortunately this means I've had to sit this one out.

So this month you get to peruse the wonderful creations of our Design Team with a theme of Collection Pack Creations. I sent each DT member two 12x12 Collection Packs of coordinating papers and sticker sheets and challenged them to use them for a card of any theme also featuring at least one die from our latest release. Their creations are marvelous, as usual!

In each case you can click the designer's name to open their blog post in a new window. On their blog posts you'll find additional photos, supply lists and, in some cases, even videos!

Frances Byrne created a triple Twist Flower slimline card also featuring the new Fun Flowers die set. I just love the way she styled the centers of the big flowers with the white pen detailing and the fun wavy edges to the background. Gorgeous!

Sue Small-Kreider created this marvelous summer themed card featuring the new Small Scenes Bam Box Pop-up plus the Fence, popping it up using the mechanism from the Fireplace. I love how Sue has made perfect use of the stickers in the collection pack to create a festive summery scene.

Nicky Foden created a triple-fold card featuring two Twist Flower mechanisms to animate her summery elements. I love everything about this card, from the delightful collection pack elements to the fun reveal-within-a-reveal. 

Sandy Diller altered the Iron Fence Pop-up to create a pop-up vase and then filled it with the new Fun Flowers die set. What an amazing transformation of that die set into something completely different. Beautiful and clever!

Fran Sabad created a slimline card featuring the Twist Flower mechanism to animate the flamingo stickers. Once again, the collection pack is being used to its optimum, with coordinating elements that are perfect for animation using pop-up dies. Lovely!

Suzanne Smit is celebrating a birthday today. Happy Birthday, Suzanne! This 4-page Charm Accordion is a wonderful mix of colors and elements. I love the use of the ice cream cones form the Sweet Treats charms in these soft colors. Gorgeous!

Jen Webster has an explosion of color and elements in this fun Rockin' Rectangle card. The mix of patterns and colors is perfectly balanced and anyone would smile to get a fun card like this. Wonderful!

Lois Bak shows off the new House of Cards Pop-up to perfection in this amazing summer-themed sculpture. The House of Cards works so well as a generic sculpture in any theme. The addition of stickers to the die cut cards adds pizzazz and fun visuals to this impressive card. Love it!

Well we hope the team has inspired you to look at collection packs and stickers in a new way. Join us next month on Wednesday, August 2, 2023 for our next Designer Challenge with a theme of  ACCORDIONS - we'll be showing off cards made with any of our three accordion die sets.

Also be on the lookout for the Mission Poppable challenge for July. It will go up mid-month. Check out the June Mission Poppable challenge here - you still have time to add your cards to the album to be in the running for website cash!

Happy Crafting!

 

 

Karen Burniston Designer Challenge 70: Baby or Wedding

Welcome to our June Designer Challenge with a theme of Baby or Wedding. The team's cards are, as usual, wonderful creations!

For my card and video I am showing how to style the Iron Fence Pop-up as a rainbow.

Watch the video below to learn how to make this card:

My card measures 5" x 5.5" when closed. The front of the card features rainbows made from the Circles - Crosshatch die. Other dies used on the front include Border Blends - Trims, Baby Charms, clouds from Landscape Scene and Welcome.

When the card opens, two rainbows pop up, made by adding strips over the Iron Fence die. Clouds are from the Landscape Scene and Outdoor Scene. The borders are from Border Blends - Trims. 

The baby blocks are from Baby Charms and the stork is made by altering pieces from the Beach Charms. 

As mentioned in the video, I was reminded to try this technique after seeing a clever card by Sandy Diller using the Iron Fence as a vase. The arching mechanism lends itself well to other interpretations - perhaps a wishing well or a bridge. Or try the rainbow styling in other colors and themes.

Ready to give this card a try? Here are the dies used on my card:

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Now let's take a look at the wonderful Baby and Wedding inspiration by our talented Design Team. In each case you can click the designer's name to open their blog post in a new window. On their blog posts you'll find additional photos, supply lists and, in some cases, even videos!

Suzanne Smit chose wedding anniversary for a theme and I love her adorable Tiny Gnome couple in the Adirondack Chair. Using a hippo tutu to make a lacy wedding dress is particularly clever! Be sure to click over to Suzanne's blog to see her second version of this card. Lovely!

Sandy Diller created an exciting Slider Box and stacked Surprise Cube combo as a gender reveal. I love how she also added a Bam Box Pop-up on top of the stack of cubes for even more excitement when the drawer pulls out. Be sure to click over to Sandy's blog to see a video of this card in action. Fabulous!

Sue Small-Kreider cleverly created a pop-up cradle swing by combining dies in unique ways. The cradle itself is made using a Bam Box, so it can be flattened for mailing but will pop into a cradle as soon as the card is opened. Click over to Sue's blog for a photo tutorial of how she made this card. Love it!

Jen Webster stacked Surprise Cubes inside a card to make an exciting baby blocks card. The front of the card is also adorable, so be sure to click over to Jen's blog to see all the details including a video of this card in action. I love the sparkly letters on the alphabet blocks. Adorable!

Lois Bak created a gorgeous 3-page Landscape Rectangle Accordion for a baby girl card. I love how Lois uses Border Blends dies to decorate the outside frames and as shimmery corner details in the center panel. What a precious pink keepsake!

Nicky Foden made a wedding card in non-traditional but beautiful colors. I love this idea of customizing the card to favorite or wedding colors plus the addition of shimmer and embossed elements. As usual, Nicky has included a full photo tutorial for how she created this lovely Little Twist Panel card. Love it!

Frances Byrne has the perfect mix of papers, stamps and dies in this lovely baby girl card using the Paper Frames Pop-up. The addition of the Safari Animals is so sweet and I love her use of a partial label as a place to sign the card. So precious!

Fran Sabad made me go "Awwww" with this super sweet baby card featuring a Mini Ball Lion sitting atop a Surprise Cube. The front of this card is equally awwwdorable, so definitely click over to Fran's blog to see all the photos.

Well hopefully you're inspired to celebrate some new arrivals and new beginnings with these card ideas. Join us next month, on July 5, 2023 for our next Designer Challenge with a theme of COLLECTION PACK CREATIONS. We sent each Design Team member a patterned paper collection pack to incorporate into their challenge card. 

Also be on the lookout for the Mission Poppable challenge for June. It will go up next week. Check out the May Mission Poppable challenge here - you still have a week to add your cards to the album to be in the running for website cash!

Happy Crafting!

Karen Burniston Designer Challenge 69: Bejeweled!

Welcome to our May Designer Challenge with a theme of BEJEWELED! The team is incorporating items that are sparkly and/or shiny into their cards.

For my card and video I am showing a fun window card idea using the old timey TV from our Memory Charms die set.

Watch the video below to learn how to make this card:

My card measures 4.5" x 4" when closed. There is a corner tuck closure and you can glimpse the fast food framed in the TV's.

Untuck the corners and the Bam Box pops up inside the card and lifts up the table.

The card's interior includes the Fast Food Charms on the table and a greeting cut with Word Set 14 - Hugs. An oval charm from the Memory Charms set provides a place to sign the card. There is also a built-in pocket to hold a gift card.

Want to give this card a try? Here are links to the dies and supplies used in the video:

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Now let's take a look at the wonderful BEJEWELED inspiration by our talented Design Team. In each case you can click the designer's name to open their blog post in a new window. On their blog posts you'll find additional photos, supply lists and, in some cases, even videos!

We extend a fond farewell to Karen Aicken with this challenge. Karen has been on my various design teams for a decade and I treasure her friendship in addition to her amazing talents. Karen is freeing up more time to focus on family and travel. We will miss her incredible creations and out-of-the box ideas as an official member of the Design Team, but just like with all former members, we hope to welcome her back from time to time as a guest designer. We love you, Karen, and wish you beautiful vistas, doggy snuggles and plenty of hugs and carefree laughter in all your upcoming adventures!

Karen Aicken created this shimmery slimline anniversary card using the Heart Pivot Panels die set with a shortened front flap to allow the greeting to be viewed with the card closed. I love all the different types of mirrored and shimmer stocks used on this card for a vibrant and elegant feel. Click over to Karen's blog to see a video of this card in action!

Frances Byrne is a pro with teacher thank-you cards and I especially love this mirrored and sparkly slimline. She's used the Little Labels Pop-up and the Bookworm among other dies. I love the bright colors and shimmers plus the addition of jewels for even more sparkle. Perfection!

Nicky Foden made this wonderful shaker card using the Swirls Pattern plate in very unique ways. I love all the layers and the bright colors and all the sparkly bits in the shaker. This is such a clever use for the pattern plate for a vibrant and fun card. Love it!

Fran Sabad created a marvelous fairy garden window card using the Katherine Label Pop-up. I love her stenciled cloud background and all the flecks of shimmery paint in the sky. She also bejeweled the centers of the flowers from the Backyard Charms. Click to her blog post to see the front of this fabulous card.

Lois Bak used the Spinner Square Pop-up to pour a glass of wine on this congratulatory window card. I love how the wine is made from rhinestones! Lois also incorporated a rhinestone flourish on her card. Be sure to click to her blog post to see the front of the card. So cheerful!

Jen Webster creates such dimension on die cut pieces by coloring them with Comic markers. I love this gorgeous Flower Pot Pop-up card with rhinestone sparkle centers to the flowers. Jen also mixed in the Flutter Charms into her sweet bouquet. Click over to her blog to see the rest of this amazing card.

Sue Small-Kreider has this jaw-dropping amazing Mother's Day flower cart that she constructed by repurposing other dies! It's so brilliant that you simply must click over to her blog to see her step-by-step photo instructions. Absolutely incredible!

Sandy Diller created this gorgeous slimline card featuring the Purse Pop-up and Dolled Up Charms, but also a big oval mirror animated with a Bam Box. Click over to Sandy's blog for a video of this card in action. It's such a wonderful example of how our dies build on each other for new looks. So cute and clever!

Suzanne Smit has plenty of shimmery sparkles in this elegant Cupcake Pop-up card. What a wonderful soft and pretty color scheme for this pop-up. I love how she added floral elements as well. Exquisite!

Well we hope you feel inspired to bejewel and bedazzle your next card. Join us next month on Wednesday, June 7, 2023 for our next Designer Challenge with a theme of BABY OR WEDDING. The team has been challenged to make a card featuring either theme.

Also be on the lookout for the Mission Poppable challenge for May. It will go up next week. Check out the April Mission Poppable challenge here - you still have a week to add your cards to the album to be in the running for website cash!

Happy Crafting!

Karen Burniston Designer Challenge 68 - Bunny!

Welcome to our April Designer Challenge with a theme of BUNNY! We're all incorporating bunnies into our cards.

For my card and video I wanted to show another way to combine the Slider Box and Surprise Cubes by anchoring the Surprise Cubes into the box and decorating them as a tower. My tower is decorated as an Easter Bunny, but you could absolutely swap out the animal and theme to use this technique for any occasion.

Watch the video below to learn how I made this project.

My finished Slider Box measures 2 3/8" x 4 3/8" x 7/8" and can be mailed in a bubble mailer. The Easter Charms chocolate bunny on the front of the Slider Box is cut from brown cardstock with clear packing tape over the cardstock before die cutting. This creates a glossy surface. I also used the packing tape trick for the bunny's nose.

Slide the drawer out and the tower of Surprise Cubes pops up, decorated as an Easter Bunny using ovals from the Slim Frames set, plus pieces and parts from Mini Ball Add-ons 2 and the whiskers from Animal Add-ons 1.

The bow tie comes from the Big Birthday Charms and the eggs from the Easter Charms. The grass is from Nature Edges.

Ready to make your own Surprise Cube tower? Here are the dies and supplies used on my project. The patterned papers are older designs from my stash. The cardstock colors are also from my stash, a mix of My Colors and The Paper Cut.

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Now let's take a look at the wonderful BUNNY inspiration by our talented Design Team. In each case you can click the designer's name to open their blog post in a new window. On their blog posts you'll find additional photos, supply lists and, in some cases, even videos!

Suzanne Smit cleverly created a bunny bottom from shape dies from other sets. I took inspiration from Suzanne's cute bunny feet when I was constructing my bunny's feet. Suzanne has a great how-to on her blog for making this sweet rearview rabbit Woven Basket Box Card. Adorable!

Jen Webster used the Parcel Pop-up to animate a bunny rising out of her Woven Basket on this fun Easter card. I love Jen's signature Copic shading on the die cuts (look at that bow!) and the way she constructs a scene. Lovely card!

Frances Byrne created a 3-page Landscape Rectangle Accordion in bright cheery Easter colors and decorated with a mix of Spring Animals, Easter and Garden Charms. I just love her cloud stenciling and white pen detailing. Stunning!

Sue Small-Kreider made the most adorable Chocolate Bunny farm! I just love how she's combined the Barn Pop-up with the Farm Edges and an extra Bam Box Pop-up to animate a chocolate bunny off of the fold. Click over to her blog for a video of this amazing card in action. Love it!

Fran Sabad is sharing two cards for the challenge. The first is a sweet Little Labels Pop-up decorated with the Spring Animals. Love those peeking bunnies and just-hatched chick!

Fran also shared an Easter-themed Waterfall card. Definitely click over to her blog to see more photos of each waterfall page. Adorable!

Lois Bak made a doublewide Woven Basket Box Card in an Easter theme and I adore her colors and styling on this. The braided border along the edge plus the entire scene inside the basket makes for a wonderful display piece.

Sandy Diller has made a bunny gnome for her adorable Fancy Label accordion card and it is soooo cute and clever! Click over to Sandy's blog for a video on this great combination of the Spring Animals bunny with the Tiny Gnomes. Love it!

Karen Aicken cleverly created a shadow box scene inside the Slider Box for her challenge card. I love all the layers and the entire fun scene created inside the drawer. Click over to Karen's blog for a video of this wonderful card.

Nicky Foden created a wonderful personalized Easter card by combining the Coffee Cup Pop-up with the Woven Basket Box Card. She gives a full photo tutorial of her process on her blog, so be sure to click over for more info. I love this!

Hopefully you feel inspired to craft some bunny cards. Join us next month on Wednesday, May 3, 2023 for our next Designer Challenge  with a theme of BEJEWELED. The team has been challenged to make a card featuring sparkle and bling.

Also be on the lookout for the Mission Poppable challenge for April. It will go up next week. Check out the March Mission Poppable challenge here - you still have a week to add your cards to the album to be in the running for website cash!

Happy Crafting!