Thursday, January 15, 2015

2015 CHA Make & Take Exchange "Thank You" Card

Hello friends,

I attended the 2015 CHA MEGA Show in Anaheim, CA this past week.  It was such a wonderful, creative experience and I met so many incredibly talented designers, manufacturers and creative professionals.  One of the workshops I attended was a Make and Take Exchange.  Similar to a Cookie Exchange, we all made 26 Make and Takes and "traded" with other crafters.  Over 30 people attended the workshop.  Below is an image of my Make and Take featuring Chibitronics Circuit Stickers - easy to use stickers that light up!


I also created a Flipagram video showing the various steps outlined in detail below:


Materials:

Directions:

Top Flat Card Prep:
  1. Tie the ribbon to the top of the patterned paper and place at approx. 1/4” from the top of the card.  I usually tie a bow onto the flat ribbon and then use glue dots to wrap the ribbon around the back of the card.

  • Adhere the patterned paper to the “thanks” card with your adhesive tape runner. 
  • Using a 1/8” hole punch, punch a hole through the largest star above “thanks”
  • Temporarily place this flat card on top of the folded card and trace the hole with a pencil.  This is where your Chibitronics circuit sticker will go.
  • Set aside the patterned paper piece.

Adding the Light Sticker:
  • Fold the battery holder in half.  On the inside of this paper, write a “+” on one side and “-” on the other.

  • Glue the “-” down with the “+” flap folded up.  This is where the battery will sit.
  • Using the copper tape, run the tape along one side of the pencil mark (as close to it without covering it) to the “-” on the battery holder.  Tear it once you hit the middle of the battery holder.
  • Using the remaining copper tape, run the tape along the other side of the pencil mark, again as close to it without covering it, to the “+” on the battery holder.  If you need to fold the tape, the best way is to fold away from the direction you want the tape to go, and then fold the tape back on itself.
  • Using washi tape, cover any parts of the “+” tape that might touch the bottom of the battery.
  • On the circuit sticker, you will notice a “+” and “-” side.  The “+” side is wider.  The “-” side is the pointy side.  Place the sticker on the pencil dot so the pointy “-” side touches the copper tape leading to the “-” of the battery holder and the wider “+” side touches the copper tape leading to the “+” of the battery holder. 

  • Add the battery to the battery holder.  Close the flap to test the light.
  • Add foam adhesive to the inside edge of the battery holder, so the battery doesn’t roll into the middle of the card. 
  • Use the remaining foam adhesive and place around the rest of the card to even out the dimension.



Putting it All Together and Storage:
  1. Place the “Thanks” flat card on top of the folded card base.  Be sure to line up the dots so the light shines through the punched hole.
  2. To turn off the lights for storage, you can either take out the battery, or just slide a piece of scrap paper between the battery and the copper tape and pull to remove when you want to use it.
  3. If you remove the battery, just store it away from the copper tape so it doesn’t drain.
Enjoy!  Please leave a comment below if you have any additional questions and I'd be happy to answer them!  Have a great day!


Monday, January 5, 2015

Happy Monday!

For many people, the first Monday of the year means... it's time to go back to work.  Vacation is over. However, it can still be a happy Monday!  Here's a card to brighten your week.  I love the combination of black and gold... it feels so glamorous! And I hope you have a glamorous year!


Materials:
  • White card base: 4.25"W x 11"H, scored at 5.5" mark
  • Black and white chevron patterned paper: 4.25"W x 5.5"H
  • Gold Glittered Paper: 3"W x 5.5"H
  • White Card Stock pre-printed with "New Year": 2.75"W x 5.25"H
  • Mama Elephant Happy Script die
  • Assorted Sequins in Silver and Gold
Directions:
  • I used some of the leftover supplies from the cards I made last week.  I layered the three white card stock "happy" die cuts on top of each other and added a gold glitter paper one on top.  This created a chipboard-like die cut. 
  • As you may remember, I preprinted "New Year" on some white card stock.  This is leftover card stock from that print job.
  • Layer all the pieces together, added the "happy script" across the front.
  • Add sequins for added sparkle.
Enjoy your week!  Hope it's super fun and fantastic!

Friday, January 2, 2015

A Chibitronics New Year Greeting!

Greetings, everyone!  I am so excited to bring you another electrifying Chibitronics card.  We are gearing up for the CHA (Craft and Hobby Association) MEGA Show in Anaheim next weekend.  So... stay tuned for some behind the scenes shots!


I made a video that highlights the steps for making this card. I also included directions below.
Materials:
  • Black card base: 4.25"W x 11"H, scored at 5.5" mark
  • White card insert: 4"W x 5.25"H
  • Cuttlebug Embossing Folder - Retro Stars
  • Gold Glitter Paper - 1"W x 3.25"H
  • Black Paper Strip - 1.25"W x 3.5"H
  • My Favorite Things Bright Lights Numbers Die-namics Set
  • Sizzix Dies from Triple Circle Flipits Die Set (Scalloped and Pierced Circles)
  • Paper Source Labels - 1.25" Circle Labels
  • Chibitronics White LED lights
  • Chibitronics Copper Tape
  • Battery (CR2032)
  • Battery Holder - black paper cut to 1"Wx 2"H

Directions:

  • Use the embossing folder and emboss the white card stock
  • Die cut the numbers 2, 0, 1, 5 from black paper
  • Cut a fish tail (a "v") from the bottoms of the gold glitter and black strips of paper.  
  • Temporarily place the die cut numbers on the gold glittered paper and mark the placements of the LED lights accordingly.  I chose random placements, but you could keep them all in the same spot if you'd like (i.e. top most dot on each number).
  • Punch holes through the gold, black and white embossed papers to match the LED placements.
  • Mark the holes on the black card base.

  • Layout the copper tape, battery holder and LED stickers according to the design below.  The LED stickers match the pencil marks for the holes.

  • Add foam tape around the edges of the card to provide dimension and even out the battery section.  
  • Layer all the pieces of paper on the white card stock.  Make sure the holes line up and the light shine through.
  • Print "happy new year" onto a circle label.  Die cut the pierced circle and scalloped circle from the gold and black pieces of paper.  Layer together and adhere to front of the card with foam adhesive.

Happy New Year!  Hope it's super and bright!

Thursday, January 1, 2015

Happy New Year! Three Cheers!

Happy New Year, everyone!  I hope you had a fun holiday break and enjoyed spending quality time with family and friends.  It's hard to believe it's 2015 already!  Our local radio station stopped playing Christmas music and soon it will be business as usual... but there's still a weekend ahead of us!

So... I'd like to share a few new card designs to ring in the 2015!  I will also have a few other goodies to report this month, so check back often!


For these cards, I used the same materials and made three different layouts.  They're related, yet unique.  This is a great way to stretch your supplies too!

Materials:

  • Kraft card stock base - 4.25"W x 11"H, scored at 5.5" mark
  • Blue card stock base - 4.25"W x 11"H, scored at 5.5" mark
  • White card stock base - 5.5"W x 8.5"H, scored at 4.25" mark
  • Three white card fronts - 4"W x 5.25"H
  • Strips of patterned patterned paper in varying sizes
  • Strips of purple and kraft paper to balance out the patterned paper
  • Mama Elephant Happy Script die cut
  • Sequins
  • Ribbon
  • Adhesive Tape Runner
  • Glue Dots (Micro)
Directions:
  • I did not have a "new year" stamp, so I printed "NEW YEAR" on some white card stock and cut it down to size
  • Cut the "happy" die cut from three pieces of patterned paper and the three pieces of white card stock pre-printed with "new year"
  • Insert the patterned paper "happy" into the white card insert and add back the white loops and holes from the letters (i.e. the loops in the 'h' and 'y') to fill the negative space.
  • Cut the patterned paper strips to fit the width or height of the card, depending on your layout.  Frame with the solid paper (purple or craft).
  • Add ribbon to enhance the strips of paper.
  • Adhere everything to the card base.
  • Sprinkle sequins and adhere with glue dots
Super fast, simple and easy!  Happy New Year!  May your 2015 be filled with fun, laughter, good health and good times!