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CTMH February SOTM Blog Hop & Tutorial
By Helen | January 31, 2010
It’s a Piece of Cake! LOL…that’s what you’ll say when you see how easy it is to create an Easel Style Card.
Welcome to the February Stamp of the Month (SOTM) Blog Hop. The Piece of Cake stamp set (D1407) contains cakes that would make the Cake Boss envious! Look at all the detail.
Grab a cup of your favorite beverage, sit back and join us on a journey of amazing things you can do with this stamp set. There are over 70 CTMH Consultants joining in on the fun – that’s 70 ideas that YOU can take and duplicate with this fun stamp set. If you arrived here from Jena’s blog, you’re on the right path.
As soon as I saw this stamp set, I thought Mary Englebreit! ME’s style is fun, playful, colorful and includes lots of dots, stripes and pattern. I’ve been wanting to give an easel style card a try. I chose the Midpoint pattern from the Wishes how-to card book (a MUST-HAVE for card makers) and here’s what I came up with.
As I was playing with the stamp set, my mind started wandering and thinking of how different this would look using another color combination. So, I recreated the same card using a totally different color scheme.
Tutorial follows…
For those that want to skip the tutorial, ”hop” on over to my talented friend Haley’s blog to see what she’s created.
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If you get lost on the “hop” or find links that aren’t working, check out this post for a complete list of participating consultants & their blogs.
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Are you inspired by this blog? One of the ways you can help support this blog is by ordering your Close To My Heart products through me. You can order from me 24/7 at: http://heleno.myctmh.com or email me at helen@hookedonstamping.com.
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Tutorial:
For the brightly colored card using Animal Cookies, stamp the three different cakes on White Daisy cardstock using Black ink. Note: Position the left and right cakes partially off the piece, so they look more like gift packages.
To color in the images, I used a fairly dry Waterbrush and my Watercolor Pencils. Here, I’m picking up color right from the tip of the watercolor pencil.
Tip: Use a paper towel and squeeze the Waterbrush to clean it as you go. The paper towel will also help prevent the brush from being too wet.
Another way to use the Watercolor Pencils is to use them directly on the paper to color in a portion of the image, then you can go back over it with the Waterbrush to blend.
Finish coloring in the images as desired.
Note: I’ll now show you how to make the Easel Card from the beginning for the second card.
I want my finished card to be 7″ x 5″. I started with a piece of cardstock 7″ x 10″ and folded it in half, as you would for a standard card. Then…to make the “easel” portion, I folded the front part of the card in half again.
Tip: Bring the edge of the card front to the center seam and use a bone folder to get nice creases.
Add 7″ x 5″ piece of cardstock to make the card front. Note: Only apply adhesive to the side of the front flap that’s furthest away from the fold – this way, the side that’s closest to the fold can stand up creating the easel effect.
For the second card, I chose a completely different color scheme and the Veranda papers. Stamp the images in Timber Brown StazOn on Vanilla Cream cardstock.
Using CTMH Exclusive Inks(TM) markers in Creme Brulee, Sorbet, Juniper and Tulip, I colored in the images.
I used the Wishes Midpoint pattern and added the layers to the front of the card.
To make this into an easel card, I needed to add something to the inside of the card such that when the card is opened, it can stay standing. I wanted to use something that would not only be functional…I wanted something decorative! I pulled out the Pewter Designer Brads and antiqued them using the Timber Brown StazOn ink. I added a strip of patterned paper to add that special touch.
Tip: Press the brad into the StazOn ink, wipe off the excess, then heat set it using a heat gun. Using a pair of tweezers to hold the brad will make it easier to ink and set the ink.
Finish off the card by adding a Cocoa grosgrain ribbon to the cake stand and voila!
Buttons can also be used to finish off the inside of the card and hold up the easel.
Tip: Glue Dots make adding buttons fast, simple & easy!
Oh – the cupcakes! If you mask the cupcakes, they look like a tray of cupcakes – perfect for use on those masculine cards 
Finish this card off with a black grosgrain ribbon.
Materials Used:
- CTMH Animal Cookies Level 2 Paper Pack
- CTMH Veranda Level 2 Paper Pack
- CTMH Waterbrush
- CTMH Watercolor Pencils
- CTMH Exclusive Inks Markers in Creme Brulee, Sorbet, Juniper and Tulip
- StazOn Ink in Timber Brown
- CTMH Black Ink or CTMH Archival Black Ink
- CTMH Black Designer Ribbon Rounds
- CTMH Cocoa Grosgrain Ribbon
Now… ”hop” on over to Haley’s blog to see what she’s created.
Topics: Animal Cookies, Cards, Piece of Cake D1407, Veranda, blog hop | 23 Comments »
January 31st, 2010 at 10:27 pm
I love these easel cards! great job!
January 31st, 2010 at 11:00 pm
This must be the month of the easel card. At least three of us created one using this stamp set. lol
And I really like the way your cards turned out. It is nice to see the same design in completely different colors. Your idea of using the tall cakes (without the stand) as a stack of gifts is very creative.
February 1st, 2010 at 2:16 am
I especially like your Veranda version. Very pretty work! Your tutorial is great!
February 1st, 2010 at 8:27 am
So cute Helen! I’m going to have to try the easel card.
February 1st, 2010 at 9:25 am
awesome — love the easel cards!
February 1st, 2010 at 9:27 am
Very cute – love the really colorful one. I have been wanting to try these too!
February 1st, 2010 at 11:54 am
Love the veranda card!
February 1st, 2010 at 12:05 pm
Wow Helen!!! You never cease to amaze me!! Your artwork is fantastic and I always appreciate your helpful tutorials so much! THANKS for being an inspiration to me!!
February 1st, 2010 at 12:18 pm
Love the easel cards!! I’m addicted to them. Love yours and the tutorial.
February 1st, 2010 at 3:40 pm
Love these easel cards and your coloring skills are absolutely fantastic!!!! Great color combos.
February 1st, 2010 at 4:37 pm
love it Helen- now I will have to try one of those cards for myself!
February 1st, 2010 at 5:07 pm
Helen, you always do such a great job on your tutorials. Looking forward to seeing you in DC this summer
February 1st, 2010 at 5:16 pm
Gorgeous cards! I love how versatile stamping can be so versatile: change your colors and you’ve got a new look. Thanks also for another well-done tutorial. I really have to try one of these, and with your directions I’m sure I can. Thanks!
February 1st, 2010 at 7:20 pm
Absolutely Gorgeous!
I love making the easel card. They are so much fun!!!
February 1st, 2010 at 10:49 pm
Fabulous cards Helen! And great tutorial – easel cards are on my ‘to do’ list!
February 2nd, 2010 at 10:50 am
Love both your cards and your tutorial is fabulous!
February 2nd, 2010 at 10:52 am
[...] CTMH February SOTM Blog Hop & Tutorial [...]
February 3rd, 2010 at 3:13 pm
Helen- those are fabulous! Thanks for the tutorial too!
February 3rd, 2010 at 5:47 pm
Thanks so much for your great tutorials. Love seeing the two different versions of the card.
February 3rd, 2010 at 8:52 pm
Those are really great!! Thank you for the tutorial.
February 4th, 2010 at 6:07 am
so cute! thanks for the directions so I can try this out!
February 4th, 2010 at 6:38 am
Love your ME inspired card! I’m going to have to try the easel card.
February 6th, 2010 at 9:13 pm
Your easel cards are great!! I struggled with getting it to stay up…should have used buttons like you did! Great idea!