Karen Burniston Designer Challenge 83: Sail Away

Welcome to the July Designer Challenge with a theme of Sail Away!

I challenged the team to create a project utilizing our new Boat Pop-up die with or without the new Sailboat Add-ons or Pirate Ship Add-ons.

For my project I'm teaching a rowboat fishing card.

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

My card is a top-fold mini slimline measuring 6" x 3.5" when closed. For the front of the card I used the Short Rectangles - Crosshatch, Circles - Crosshatch, a word from Word Set 6, the fishing hat from Camping Charms and tiny fish made from Border Blends - Party. 

The card opens to reveal a pop-up rowboat with Tiny Gnomes fisherman. 

The seat of the rowboat can be easily converted to hold a rower with the addition of a slot and L-support. 

To make the custom greeting I used partial stamping of the Sail Away Sentiments Clear Stamps and then added with word FISH using our Mini Alphabet and Numbers set. I embossed with white powder to make the stamp and the die cut words resemble each other. I also embossed the word "enjoy" for a weathered look.

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

---

Let's take a look at how our talented Design Team interpreted the SAIL AWAY! challenge. In each case you can click the designer's name to go to their blog or social media post where you'll find additional photos, supply lists and, in some cases, videos! Frances is on sabbatical right now.

Suzanne Smit created a birthday ship using the Pirate Ship Add-ons but converting the colors and theme into a birthday ship instead. I love the addition of the banners to the ship! Check out all the fun details by clicking over to Suzanne's blog.

 

Sandy Diller created a lovely sailboat card using the Sailboat Add-ons with the Boat Pop-up. I especially love how she made a flat version of her sailboat for the front of the card. Brilliant! Be sure to click over to Sandy's blog for a video!

Jen Webster created a bright and happy sailboat card and then created a lighthouse using various shape dies. She animated the lighthouse using the smaller Bam Box. What an absolutely delightful card! Be sure to click over to Jen's blog to see the card front.

Sue Small-Kreider created an incredible pirate card using the Pirate Ship Add-Ons and a treasure map for the card. Sue has created an entire tutorial for this card plus a video on how to make pirates. Be sure to click over for all the treasure!

Lois Bak created a bright ship using the Pirate Ship Add-Ons with the Boat. I just love the striped sails, the ombre water and the happy colors on this. Be sure to click over to Lois's blog to see the card front. Love this!

Ken Chien made an amazing depiction of the move IT including converting the boat into a paper boat and adding the sewer complete with reaching hand using the Stocking Pop-up mechanism. Click to watch a reel of this card . . . if you dare!

Nicky Foden thought way outside the boat for a delightful birthday card featuring a giant frog where the Boat Pop-up creates the mouth. This is such a clever way to get a completely different use out of the Boat Pop-up and Nicky teaches exactly how to do it on her blog post. Amazing!

 

Well we hope you are inspired to try some of these nautical ideas. Join us next month on August 7, 2024 for our next Designer Challenge with a theme of LET THE MUSIC PLAY. We will be featuring the music dies from our new release.

Happy Crafting!

 

Karen Burniston Designer Challenge 58 - Mini Slimline

Welcome to our June Designer Challenge with a theme of "Mini Slimline." I challenged the team to create a Mini Slimline card measuring 3.5" x 6" in the closed position.

For my project and video I wanted to showcase one of the many pop-up dies that will fit in Slimlines and Mini Slimlines. I chose the Explosion Pop-up die set.

Learn the assembly of this card by watching the video below:

My card measures 6" x 3.5" in the closed position. This is a particularly nice size for fitting in those shorter business envelopes you can find at any office supply store. Our Short Rectangles - Crosshatch die set is designed to work with this size card perfectly so I used it on the front of the card along with some Crosshatch Hearts and a butterfly from the Flutter Charms.

Open the card to reveal all the pop-up excitement. The explosion sides were cut with sharp scissors while folded to achieve the lace look. (Similar to cutting a paper snowflake) For the butterflies, I layered bee wings and dragonfly wings with the butterfly to create variety. The greeting is created by combining our Sending Love die set with the Mini Alphabet and Numbers die set. The patterned paper is an older Blue Fern Designs piece from my stash. The explosion sides are cut from origami paper.

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

---

Now let's take a look at what our Design Team came up with for the challenge. In each case, clicking on the designer's name will open a new window to their blog post, where you will find full details about their card.

Sandy Diller modified the lattice in the Flower Pot Pop-up to create a pop-up that really wows! Even better? She has a full video for this card on her blog post. Definitely check out this clever modification of a foundation die to create a completely new slimline-friendly look. Brilliant!

Lois Bak has a wonderful card front for the challenge that combines many of our dies. I love that she's showing the versatility of our die sets by mixing and matching with patterned paper to create a custom scene. Mermazing!

Karen Aicken created an exquisite anniversary card featuring the Heart Collage Pop-up. The colors are so gorgeous and I love her touches of foils for an elegant look. Head over to her blog to watch a video of this card in action. Love it!

Fran Sabad took advantage of the dimensions of our new Landscape Rectangle Accordion, which matches a Mini Slimline size. This three page birthday card is so much fun, partying until the cows come home! Fabulous!

Frances Byrne added our new Long Flap and Closure to a mini slimline size card to be able to add the new Mini Ball Pop-up inside, decorated as a cupcake. Everything about this card is terrific. I love the sweet pink color scheme and the way she styled the cupcake with the borders and candle. Awesome!

Well hopefully the team has inspired you to make some Mini Slimline cards. Join us next month on Wednesday, July 6th, 2022 for our next Designer Challenge with a theme of SPINNERS! The team will be making cards with spinning elements.

PS Last month I promised that I'd issue a new Mission Poppable challenge mid-month. Well, the month of May had other plans, so I apologize. I will issue a Mission Poppable challenge for June. Look for that information in a separate blog post and e-mail on June 15, 2022.

Happy Crafting!

Karen Burniston Designer Challenge 53: Birthday Cake!

Welcome to our January Designer Challenge with a theme of "Birthday Cake." I challenged the team to create a birthday card featuring cake or cupcakes. (Donuts are also acceptable!)

For my project and video I'm teaching how to double and shorten the Twist Panel Pop-up die set to fit in a slimline card.

This is a technique that I first taught as a Zoom class in 2021 and then received requests to create a YouTube tutorial. Learn the technique by watching the video here:

My card measures 8.5" x 3.5" when closed. I took full advantage of the patterned paper, an older design (Abstract Moments) by Vicki Boutin for American Crafts, to fill and decorate the majority of the card. I used our Crosshatch Long Rectangles and Crosshatch Circles and then added streamers cut from our Border Blends - Trims set. The slice of cake is from the Big Birthday Charms and the heart is included in the Twist Panel Pop-up die set.

As the card opens the two Twist Panel mechanisms start to twist and open. The Happy Birthday greeting and the rectangle for signing the card are placed strategically to avoid creating catch points for the mechanisms.

Once open, the two panel sets are popped up and decorated with the Big Birthday Charms. The borders are from the Border Blends - Trims set.

Ready to give this technique a try? Here are links to the dies and supplies used in the video. The papers are from my stash - American Crafts and Echo Park. Cardstock is My Colors.

NOTE: Amazon links are affiliate links where I receive a small commission on the sale at no cost to you. 

---

Now let's take a look at the awesome BIRTHDAY CAKE cards created by our talented design team. For each of these cards there is a full blog post, supply list and, for some of the cards, a video as well. Click the designer's name to visit the blog post, which will open in a new window.

Karen Aicken created an absolutely marvelous Coffee and Cake birthday card. The papers are so bright and happy. The Coffee Cup Pop-up is further embellished with a peeking cupcake and big Happy Birthday greeting. Click over to Karen's blog to see the card front. Stunning!

Sandy Diller cleverly repurposed the Flower Pivot Panels die set to hold her HB2U birthday greeting. I love the way she made a circle-edged card using the Crosshatch Circles die set and the addition of the Big Birthday Charms. Click over to Sandy's blog to see the card front. Super!

Lois Bak made a lovely Circle Tag Book for the challenge with little cupcakes from our original Birthday Charms die set. I love how Lois used the rickrack borders throughout the background and her pops of black. Click over to Lois's blog for a look at the card front with a great tip for how she created it. I also love how she used the cherries from our Tree Fruit die set on the cupcakes. Pretty in pink!

Frances Byrne created a bright and lively Cupcake Pop-up card and also incorporated the new birthday candle from the Big Birthday Charms. This is really the perfect showcase of our brand philosophy to create timeless staple dies with new exciting decorator combinations to give them fresh looks. I love the colors Frances used for this card!

Fran Sabad followed a video tutorial I created for Designer Challenge 9 to make a side fold Cupcake Pop-up window card. I love how Fran was able to incorporate our newest dies for a fresh amped-up version of the card, adding extra pop-up balloons animated with our Mini Pops Pop-up die set. Love it!

Kelly Booth used our Cake Pop-up die set to make a lovely teal birthday card. I love how she incorporated the new Crosshatch Labels and added pops of yellow to the design. Click over to her blog to see the equally fabulous card front.

Kelly Booth mentioned that once she has a die set out, she'll often make multiple cards, especially for birthday cards. She created two additional Cake Pop-up Cards and while all of her cards follow the same basic measurements and layout, they each have their own personality by swapping out papers and embellishments. Amazing!

Have you had a chance to check out my business partner Tanya Kostynuk's creative ideas on the Stamp and Scrapbook Expo's virtual @home events? She's been showing fabulous projects using our dies. Here is her latest, which works perfectly for the Birthday Cake theme, so I had to include it for the challenge. Tanya has combined the Cupcake Pop-up with Border Blends - Trims, Big Birthday Charms, Crosshatch Ovals, Happy Birthday and Happy Birthday Shadow. You can watch Tanya explain the ease of this card's assembly on Saturday, January 15, 2022 on the SSBE Facebook and YouTube channels at 11:50 am, CST.

Well I hope you feel inspired to make some birthday cake cards of your own. Join us next month on February 2, 2022 for our next Designer Challenge with a theme of MOD VALENTINE'S DAY. We'll be making Valentine's Day cards in unexpected color schemes.

We started our Mission Poppable hashtag way back on Designer Challenge 45 and have been delighted with the projects posted each month. For the December challenge our winner (by random draw) is Gail Jean, who posted several wonderful mod holiday cards using a teal color scheme.

Each challenge will bring a new mission and you have a month to complete it. You are welcome to post more than one card for the mission, which will increase your chances to win by random draw.

Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to make your own card following this month's challenge theme of "BIRTHDAY CAKE" Make sure your card features some sort of cake, cupcake or donut and uses our die(s) heavily. Post your card on Instagram using the hashtag #missionpoppable OR on our Facebook Group Karen Burniston Pop-up Peeps OR both. If posting in the Facebook group, please add it to the photo album for this month's challenge, which you'll find in the Media section of the group. You have until the next Designer Challenge date (February 2, 2022) to complete your mission. This message will not self-destruct because I don't know how to do that.

We will choose a winner by random draw from all the cards for a $25 credit to our website. The winner will be contacted via messenger or e-mail. 

Make sure if you're posting on the Karen Burniston Pop-up Peeps Facebook Group that you follow the rules of the group. Outside product is allowed, but not for the pop-up portion of the card. Cards posted on the group must heavily feature our brand. You can find us on Instagram @karenburnistonbrand and also my personal account @karenburniston

Happy Crafting!

4th of July Tiny Trees Pop-up Card

Here's an idea for a 4th of July card using our Tiny Trees Pop-up die set. 

This card measures 4" x 6.75" when closed and can be mailed in a No. 10 business envelope. For the front of the card I used our Slim Flaps and Frames, Alphabet and stars from the Surprise Ball Pop-up and Paper Frames Pop-up.

Open the card to reveal two Tiny Trees with patriotic styling. The background is created by cutting the smaller crosshatch rectangle from the Long Rectangles - Crosshatch set six times. The banners come from the Slim Flaps and Frames and the letters for USA were taken from the word "Treasured" in our Word Set 11- Treasure set. The labels are from the Paper Frames Pop-up.

To create the "happy 4th" greeting I used the "happy" from Word Set 7 - Autumn plus the Numbers set. To make the Stars and Stripes foliage pieces I first glued white stars (Paper Frames Pop-up) to a piece of blue cardstock and then cut the foliage pieces from it. Similarly, I cut thin strips of white cardstock, glued the strips to red cardstock, and then cut the foliage from the resulting striped cardstock.

Want to give this card a try? Papers and cardstocks are from my stash. Dies and other supplies:

 

Karen Burniston Designer Challenge 45 - NEW!

Happy May! 

This month we're focusing on our April 2021 collection of dies. My video tutorial is the assembly video for our new Slim Flaps and Frames die set. This die set creates the flaps to subdivide a 4x9 slimline into four flaps, suitable for holding several of our pop-ups. In the video I show how to use it with our Upsy Daisy Pop-up die set.

Learn how to make this card by watching the full assembly video:

My card measures 4" x 9" in the closed position. Instead of using magnets to keep the flaps closed I opted for a wrap twine closure where I added a small flap at the bottom and the washers/spacers from the Flap and Closure die set.

Inside I've used the Upsy Daisy Pop-up to make three pop-up scalloped squares. I also used the Garden Charms die set for some of the decorations and our Happy Spring as the greeting.

The two patterned papers I used are older ones from my stash. The large floral/medallion print is SEI. The small blue floral print is Echo Park. This card, however, lends itself well to any colors/patterns/theme. Simply use the video as a template for your own customization. Ready to give it a try? Here are the products I used in the video:

Now let's take a look at the incredible cards made by the Design Team for this month's challenge.

Kelly Booth used the challenge as the inspiration to make a special birthday card for her brother. Kelly demonstrates perfectly how well new dies integrate with previously released dies. She's used the new Tiny Trees Pop-up along with the Tent Pop-up and others. Click her name to visit her blog post and see more photos, including the cute way she hung the Camping Charms lantern from the tree. Also follow her on Instagram @kellybooth

Karen Aicken has featured the new Tiny House Pop-up and Happy Mother's Day greeting in a gorgeous card. You'll want to click her name to see the blog post, which includes a video walkthrough of her card. Karen shows off the way the roof die also stamps a shingle pattern onto the roof - all in one step! Follow Karen on Instagram @karenaicken

Fran Sabad created a whole kingdom in one card featuring the new Waterfall Card die plus all of royalty dies. She used the Flowers Pattern Plate as the card background and created beautiful scenes in each panel of the waterfall. Be sure to click her name to see the rest of the photos and follow her on Instagram @fransabad

Sandy Diller had the perfect stamp set to show off with a horizontal Waterfall Card but the stamps were too large for the panels. Sandy cleverly made larger panels to allow her to still use the mechanism of the die to animate the cake disappearing. How delightful! Make sure you click her name to see the video of this card in action. You can also follow Sandy on Instagram @diller_sandy

Lois Bak knew what she wanted to do for the challenge because the team posts their cards the day before. That made it May the 4th and her love for all things pop culture inspired her choice to decorate with Luke, Chewie and the gang. She's used the Waterfall Card die set in a slimline card. Be sure to click her name to see the rest of the photos on her blog.

Frances Byrne was inspired by a comment from former team member Shelly Hickox musing that the Tiny House Pop-up would work wonderfully as Dorothy's house in Oz. Frances had the perfect stamps to create the idea and used the Slim Flaps and Frames with two flaps joined to create a center flap large enough for the house. She also used the Tiny Trees Pop-up in the bottom flap. Click her name to see more of this card. Also follow her on Instagram @stampowl

ANNOUNCEMENT!

Many of you have been following my blog and monthly challenges all the way back to my licensed artist days with other companies. To reward the members of our mailing list I started doing a "Secret Word Giveaway" every month and any blog comments that incorporated the secret word were entered into a monthly drawing for free dies. This last year we took away the requirement to use the secret word and instead we just draw a name from all blog comments to win a $50 credit to our website. Well we're changing it up!

Starting this month, we're splitting the prize and you can enter (and win) either or both ways. Leave a comment on this blog post to be in the running for a $25 credit to our website. I will announce the winner in the next month's newsletter and by e-mail. 

Your other way to win is by taking on the challenge to make your own challenge card. It can be inspired by my video or by any of the team's cards or it can be your own original take on the challenge theme. We're calling this monthly challenge "Mission Poppable."

Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to make your own card following this month's challenge theme of "New Dies." You must incorporate at least one new die from our  APRIL 2021 RELEASE into your card. Post your card on Instagram using the hashtag #missionpoppable OR on our Facebook Group Karen Burniston Pop-up Peeps OR both. Be sure to use the hashtag so we can find your card. You have until the next Designer Challenge date (June 2, 2021) to complete your mission. This message will not self-destruct because I don't know how to do that.

We will choose a winner by random draw from all the cards for a $25 credit to our website. The winner will be contacted via messenger or e-mail. 

Make sure if you're posting on the Karen Burniston Pop-up Peeps Facebook Group that you follow the rules of the group. Outside product is allowed, but not for the pop-up portion of the card. Cards posted on the group must heavily feature our brand. You can find us on Instagram @karenburnistonbrand and also my personal account @karenburniston

Happy Crafting!

 

Karen Burniston Designer Challenge 44 - Yummy!

Welcome to our April Designer Challenge with a theme of YUMMY! I challenged the team to make cards that feature something delicious.

I chose to make my card as an ode to chocolate. 

This card features two Spinner Squares inside a slimline card, plus a variety of chocolate treats made using our charm sets. Learn how to make this card by watching the full YouTube tutorial:

This card measures 4" x 9" in the closed position and can be mailed in a No. 10 business envelope. The front is meant to look like a big chocolate bar. It's made using a combination of our Long Crosshatch Rectangles, a square from the Spinner Square and our Alphabet set.

As the card opens the two spinner arms start to move.

Once open, the greeting is revealed and a decadent array of chocolate treats are layered on the pop-up squares.

All of the squares and the lacy frame come included in the Spinner Square die set. For the chocolate treats, I combined pieces from several charm sets, including Treasure, Camping, Love and Fast Food.

This double-opposite-spinner-square-slimline (say that five times fast!) is a very generic technique that can be decorated for any theme. Here are the products used on my version:

---

Now let's take a look at all the delicious inspiration from our talented design team. I encourage you to click their names to visit their blog posts, where you will find supply lists, more photos, explanations and, in some cases, videos!

Karen Aicken's idea of "yummy" is right up my alley! She made a very clever and beautiful gatefold Circle Charm Pop-up in a slimline card and decorated it in a wine theme. The shimmer cardstock adds such a soft elegance to the card. 

Frances Byrne combined fabulous colors for this top-fold slimline featuring the Ice Cream Sundae Pop-up and our Border Blends. It's a very clever design with a shortened card panel, allowing the greeting to be viewed in both the closed and open position. Yummy, indeed!

Fran Sabad celebrated the delicious decadence of fast food in this clever Explosion Pop-up card. Her styling on the Fast Food charms is divine, and I love the two-tone Party Border Blends. The front medallion made with French fries is so eye-catching!

Sandy Diller made a top fold slimline full of pop-up cupcakes and my mouth is watering! She brilliantly combined three Upsy Daisy mechanisms to animate the cupcakes and includes a full video tutorial for how she did it. The colors on this are so vibrant and cheery!

Lois Bak used the Circle Tag Book to make this sweet birthday card. She glued the tag book inside a larger card for more real estate. I love the combination of dies here. It's a great illustration of how the decorator pieces from multiple sets can combine into a custom card.

Kelly Booth finishes us up this month with this stunning Coffee Cup Pop-up card featuring a garland of yummy treats on the front. Everything about this card, from the colors to the shading to the clever mini-cup-on-the-cup styling is awesome!

Well hopefully you're both inspired and hungry!

Join us next month on Wednesday, May 5, 2021 for our next challenge with a theme of NEW DIES! We'll all be making cards featuring our April 2021 release. New dies will be available in stores at the end of next week and on our website starting April 19, 2021.

Happy Crafting!

Karen Burniston Designer Challenge 41: Pompom Slimline Pop-up Card

Happy New Year!

We're kicking off 2021 with a simple challenge theme - Thinking of You. It's more important than ever to check in on your friends and family and the perfect way is with a cheerful card.

For my card and video I was inspired by a class card I designed with a pompom closure. I was also inspired by the Pantone colors of the year. The result is a slimline card with a gatefold opening, pompom closure and Mini Pops pop-up inside. 

Watch the full YouTube tutorial to learn this technique:

The card measures 3.5"x 8.5" when closed. It will fit in a No. 10 business envelope but will require extra postage because of the pompom. I used our Slim Frames, Border Blends - Party and Word Set 10 on the front of the card, along with flowers from the Woven Basket Box Card.

Open the gatefold card and a basket of flowers pops up, attached to one of the angled platforms from the Mini Pops Pop-up die set. 

Because I was working in a small area, I trimmed the Woven Basket to a smaller size. 

The inspiration for this card was one of my recent class cards, featuring the same basic construction.

Want to give this card a try? Here are links to the dies used. For papers I just used stash papers that matched my chosen color scheme.

Now let's take a look at the wonderful creations by our talented Design Team. For each of these cards you can click on the name of the designer to go to their blog post for more photos, supply lists and, in some cases, videos.

Frances Byrne made this absolutely stunning slimline card featuring side-by-side Adirondack chairs. I love how she incorporated the Backyard Charms, including those adorable fairies.

Sandy Diller extended the Triple Flip die set so it has five flips to fit a slimline card. How clever! I love her addition of the Border Blends and the striking color scheme.

Kelly Booth made this impressive double ball Elmo slimline card. I love how she created the hands by using a flower die for fingers! So clever!

 

Karen Aicken created this bright and cheerful slimline card with the Heart Pivot Panels inside. I just love the rainbow of hearts, both in the paper and the pop-up. A card to brighten any mailbox!

Lois Bak created a lovely Katherine Label Pop-up card featuring lovely patterned paper and matching colors. I love the simple elegance of this card.

Fran Sabad made this absolutely darling Heart Pivot Panels card featuring the Snowman. This is such a great combination of dies, colors and styling.

Well hopefully these cards inspire you to send a little bit of happy mail to someone in your thoughts. Join us next month on Wednesday, February 3, 2021 for our next Designer Challenge with a theme of "Hearts!"

Happy Crafting!