Tuesday, April 12, 2011

From My Heart

Well, apparently I can't stay away for very long! ;) Today's post is for the Moxie Fab World Card Sets Challenge. As you all know, my best friend Elen is spending the next couple of months, and maybe more, on the Greek Island of Rhodes (Rodos) with her parents and caring for her Dad. Elen emailed me to tell me she cries whenever she thinks of her son because she misses him so much. How gut-wrenching that must be! Thank goodness her husband is taking care of everything in Montreal. Anyway, let's get on to why I have 20 photos in this post. Will you stay? LOL I felt like I ran a marathon when I was done so I certainly hope you don't mind. This is a step-by-step post of how I made the feature card and packaged gift set for Elen's parents.

These cards are in the mail along with the Brave Girl card I made for Elen last week. The long card is a 'hello' card for Elen's parents. I thought the cheery colours would be perfect for the season and considering what they're all going through right now. I started by stamping the flowers, die cutting two houses and stamping the sentiment.

I positioned the houses where I wanted them to be an used a pencil to trace the hearts.

Then I applied Scor-Tape over the hearts.

I cut tiny pieces of Honeydew baker's twine from The Twinery and pressed them in to the Scor-Tape.

I added clear rhinestones to the centres of the darker flowers and adhered the houses on to the card base with foam tape. To finish, I stamped three hearts coming out of one house and rounded the bottom left hand corner of the card.

Here are a couple of close ups of the twine showing through the houses.

Next is the gift set I made for Elen's parents. I felt that thank you cards would be the most useful for their situation. I think they will be calling on close family and friends in the coming weeks and months so these cards will come in handy.

I still don't like the way I photograph groups of cards so here's the set from a different angle.

The base of the cards are embossed with Side Two of the In Bloom impression plate. I used the same four colours I used in the house card to tie this entire project together. I stamped the sentiment first on to the frame in turquoise and then again in black on the hands once I knew where I was popping them off the label. I stamped the sentiment in black in the hand to make sure it would be noticeable against the dark pink. I added a Honeydew twine bow on the index fingers as a sort of 'I won't forget what you've done for us in our time of need.'

I don't make a lot of templates since I don't own a printer. Here's how I prefer to package my cards and gifts.

I gathered four envelopes, clear bags and twine. Then I made a label for the gift set and punched a small hole in each of the four points.

I put the envelopes inside the card and slip them into the clear bags. I love these clear bags because they're cheap, super thin, biodegradeable, compostable and they make the cards extremely presentable. ;) My clients receive all their cards this way and some have told me they put the card back in the clear bag for the recipient after writing the card and addressing it. Cool!

Before I tie them together in a bundle, I rotate two of the cards 180 degrees to reduce the bulk.

To cut the proper amount of Lemondrop baker's twine, you will want approximately ten times the length of the card. Wrap your twine around the bundle five times.

Take your piece of twine, open it to its full length, then fold it to halve it. Snip the loop so that you have two pieces of twine and four ends. String the twine behind the label and up through the holes like so.

When you get to the back of the package, I simply bend the twine at 90 degrees. One end will head toward the top of the cards and the other toward the bottom.

Bring the twine around to the front, put the bottom end of the twine through the bottom hole, up behind the label and out the top hole in the label. The twine at the top of the package will meet it. This is where I tied the bow.

You can tie the bow at any of the four points and you don't even have to wrap the twine around all four sides. I prefer it this way so the cards can't slide out.

I really hope you enjoyed this post! I loved playing with Papertrey Ink's Love Lives Here stamp set. Now I really want to make more sets like this but not until I've had some rest. ;) Have a great day everyone!!

Sources for From My Heart card: Gina K Designs 120lb pure luxury white cardstock; Papertrey Ink Love Lives Here & Up, Up & Away; SU Rose Red, Summer Sun, Tempting Turquoise & Old Olive inks; Memento Tuxedo Black ink; SU Basic Rhinestones; Papertrey Ink Love Lives Here Die Collection; QuicKutz Epic Six; The Twinery Honeydew baker's twine; Stampin' Dimensionals

Sources for Thank You set: SU Old Olive cardstock; Gina K Designs 120lb pure luxury white cardstock; Papertrey Ink Love Lives Here & Fillable Frames #4; SU Rose Red, Summer Sun, Tempting Turquoise & Old Olive inks; Memento Tuxedo Black ink; Papertrey Ink In Bloom Impression Plate, Love Lives Here Die Collection & Fillable Frames #4 Die; QuicKutz Epic Six; The Twinery Honeydew & Lemondrop baker's twine; Stampin' Dimensionals; Marvy-Uchida 1/8" long reach circle punch; Clear Bags

52 comments:

Ujjwal said...

I love your long posts, Emily!! They are always so full of creativity. I admire you for being so thoughtful and sending some sunshine to your best friend.

Virginia L. said...

Wowee! You are so talented with the TWINES!! Love this set that came straight from the heart!! Elin will really love this!

Kate said...

What a great set, love the twine in the hearts :0)
Im sure your friend and her parents will love them. Its so difficult to photograph a set isnt it. Im never pleased with how mine come out lol.
Kate x

Kirsty Vittetoe said...

Love the cards set you made for your friend, love the detailed post and photos, love everything about this, take a good rest and make us one more gorgeous set!

Wendy ten Hove said...

Oh, Emily! These are gorgeous! So sweet of you to make these for them and they will love it for sure! Love these Papertrey stamps, this set is so versatile and love the colors you stamped the images in, looks happy! And anyone can use some cheery colors!!! Love what you made & wishing you a wonderful day!!
Hugs, Wendy

Jen W. said...

Awesome tutorial, Emily! These cards are gorgeous and I'm sure Elen's family will be so happy with them. I love the detail of the twine in the hearts on the houses. :)

Lynn said...

Emily, thanks so much for taking us through this step by step...an absolutely wonderful gift...I love how you put the twine behind the hearts. Wonderful and I'm sure your friends parents will love them!

Scrapcollectr said...

Your friend and her parents will know right away how much love you poured into this beautiful project. Thanks for sharing the steps!
*smile*

kasia c. said...

Oh Emily, you are amazing! I LOVE all of those cards. The set, the fabulous long card, the packaging. Amazing, as always. :)

Karen B. said...

Wonderful cards and packaging. You are such a sweet friend, I'm sure she really appreciates just having you to talk to!

Brenda said...

Such a beautiful set of cards made with so much love and care Emily!

Karin said...

What a lovely thoughtful gift and packaged so professionally! Beautiful presentation and a great post :)

Jocelyn Olson said...

WOW! Your friend and her family will love their sets--they are so beautiful and heart-felt. I love the packaging!!

Erin (Homemade Cards by Erin) said...

Wow... I think all of the photos were worth sharing, love how you added the twine behind the houses... and a whole set, what a gift! Hope you win the card set challenge.

~amy~ said...

gorgeous giftie set...wow...so many lovely details!

Jessi Fogan said...

I love the embossing on the card bases...and the whole idea. What a thoughtful gift, Emily!

Paper Crafts & Scrapbooking Editor said...

Hey Emily! Thanks for linking these up to the Card Set Challenge in the Moxie Fab World in celebration of 350 Cards & Gifts Week! Good luck in the random drawing! :)

Jennifer said...

Emily, your cards are always such a treat!!! (= They are awesome!! The first if my favorite. I just adore those sweet little houses and that twine!!! Your packaging is PERFECT!!! (= Have a great day!

farmhouse-story said...

love your post today, emily! full of great ideas! i love the turning every other card to reduce bulk! great uses of the twine, too!

Heather said...

Gorgeous cards, I love the first card, it's so bright and cheery. Your thank you cards are beautiful and it's such a kind thought, I'm sure it will be very much appreciated :)

BabyBokChoy said...

I absolutely adore what you did with the twine behind the heart opening, I will definitely be using that idea, thank you so much for it!!!

Your friend will so appreciate your thoughtfulness :)

Gwen said...

What a wonderful thing to do for your friend's parents. Love your presentation of the gift package!

Emily Keaton said...

Wow, what a super way to package that amazing set of cards. I just love how you attached your label with twine--thanks for the step-by-step. :) And I love that beautiful long card you made to go with this lovely gift. There's so much detail, yet it's still so very CAS. LOVE that--and it takes talent to to it, too. Nice work!

Lindsey said...

What a fabulous set to send to your friend's parents, and the accompanying card for them is wonderful! I really like the line of flowers leading from one home to the other.
Just the other day, we received an invitation in the mail packaged in what looks like one of the clear bags you're using. What a great idea! (And thanks for linking to them in your supply list.) :)

Meg said...

What a wonderful gift! I'm sure her parents will appreciate having such beautiful cards to send out. I love the twine behind the house hearts, too!

Savannah O'Gwynn said...

OH MY GOOOOODNESS---you are just too amazing. Give you a stamp and some ink and you will knock my socks off every time!! I LOVE it! I love both cards (sets). You are too clever! LOVE that twine behind the hearts....and that hand die/stamp with the string--LOOOOOOVE! So cute.

LOVE LOVE LOVE you! Please let me know when I can take private lessons--I will pay! I want to know everything you know and I want to BE LIKE YOU!!! LOVE it:)

Vicky Hayes said...

Oh no - I didn't realise that she had to make the choice to be with her father or her son. That breaks my heart because obviously she needs both.

Such beautiful, beautiful cards from you as always Emily.

Erin said...

Oh I just love the symbolism of the tie on the finger!!! But I love little details and appreciate the effort... The stamp set seems SO perfect for the occassion. HOME RUN EMILY!!!

Beate said...

Wow! LOVE your card set. It's absolutely gorgeous. Your friend will love it.
Hugs and smiles

scrapsnsuch@gmail.com said...

Someone is very lucky! So creative with the twine and all that embossing looks so good.

Anita Rex said...

Oh no I feel so bad for your friend. I can't imagine how hard it is to be away from your child! :< I hope she can come home soon! I love this set! The twine seen through the houses is such a great touch! :>

Alice said...

love the flower grass and the details are amazing!! fabulous card and such a sweet and thoughtful gift. beautiful work as always. LOVE!!

Sunghee said...

Emily!!! This is sooo gorgeous! You are soooo brilliant! Thanks for sharing how to. Love the packaging, too. What a gift!

Chan said...

So, so lovely, Emily! I love the twine peeking out from the houses, and the card set you created is just beautiful! :o)

Tee said...

So amazing cards and thanks for the wonderful step by step to packaging..I would love to have something like this come to me...
love the cards..the hearts coming out from the house..super super cute!!
My thoughts and prayers are with your friend and her family!

walchowDesign said...

Love all the projects that you made, Emily! You are so creative!

Janna Werner said...

There could never be too many photos on your posts! Love each one, thanks so much for the how-to guide! All the best to you friend! Janna

G Peplow said...

Hi Emily, I made it to the bottom:0) Great post it's wonderful to see how you go about your makes! I love the cards and gift you have made, always individual always caring. Thank you, have fun:0) xxx

Pauline said...

Beautiful, it's nice to see the process you used from start to finish on these wonderful projects.

Smita said...

Lovely cards and set, Emily! I love the twine heart and the packaging. TFS!

I am sure your friend will be glad to see this package from you. Sometimes the thought speaks more than words... and this is one such time for her. God bless the family and give them strength to go through this phase!

Hugs,
SMita

jolande said...

Whow this is a real long post...and it's wonderfull.
Thanks for your comment..I feel blessed..
Jolande

Kary said...

Hi Emily - these are fabulous cards & what a wonderful idea!! I love all the designs. I'm sure Elen's parents will adore them.

Jennifer Roach said...

These are so beautiful. You so totally rock the twine :)

Tiffany Ervin said...

WOWZERS!! Your card is really heartwarming, I may have to lift this idea sometime, love your work!

~Tammy~ said...

I really feel for your friend! This is such a sweet thing for you to do too! Beautiful job!

Tifany said...

These are fabulous!

Best of luck in the MFW Challenge!

-Tifany
http://inkblotsbytrd.blogspot.com

Lisa said...

What a sweet (and thoughtful) set!

Cheryl said...

Oh wow! I don't even know what to say. All of these cards are gorgeous! I love your distinctive, graphic style.

Cristina said...

These are amazing! Perfect little details. Perfect packaging.

Marie-Pierre Capistran said...

me again...I could leave a comment on each of your post; your cards are ALL so LOVELY!!! I'm so happy I found you today. :)

Angie said...

What a great set and packaging! Perfect gifts for the occasion.

Angelica Suarez said...

This is such a gorgeous, elegant, detailed set, Emily! Love the debossing and the twine behind the heart in the house shape. PERFECT in every way!