Discover and Exoplore ....a Card

I really love engineered cards.  Cards that have doors or windows, cut outs and movement in general.  Today's card has a center cut out and the card is a tri fold.  I wish that I could take credit for the cutting and folding but I can't Hot Off the Press sells these as blank white and already scored ad cut. So, all I have to do is add my papers. 

Materials:

• white card stock base
• coral shimmer paper
• Sizzix embossing folder
• gold shimmer paper
• washi paper
• Frantic Stamper Precision Die (Ornate Table was cut out of silver glossy, Butterfly out of blue foil)
• misc embellishments and tags
• misc rubber stamps

I have this pretty coral shimmer card stock that I embossed for the front and back of my card.  My card started out as an Asian themed card and I think, ended up quite differently.  You would not believe how long it took me to make this card...HOURS....  I had no design in mind ad I think that's what the reason for it was.

Here's a close up of the front of my card.

 

And the back...

Here is another look at the inside...

Thanks for stopping by.
Lis

Key to Happiness Card

 

 

My card today features Yuzen Washi paper from Japan.  This is the black and gold diamond patterned paper in the background.  This paper is not that expensive to get and comes in an incredible array of colors and patterns reflecting Japanese culture.  Art stores in the USA will sell what is called "parent" sheets.  These are the large sheets usually about 25 inches by 38 inches.  That means that you need to cut it down into usable pieces.

 

The online store (from Japan) that I use to get my washi paper is called Jun-Gifts.  Their selection is incredible and they ship quickly and in a tube so there are no creases in your paper when you receive it.

 

 

I added a die cut key from gold glossy and attached two crystals to the handle so they would dangle.

I added the tickets (Graphic 45) and fan (can't remember where I got that) and a brad to finished off my card.

Close Up!
I love adding jewels to my cards. I added these clear crystals to the key using jump rings.

Here is a close up look at the chipboard embellishments from Graphic 45 that I used.

And a peak at my fan.

I hope you enjoyed my card today!
Lis

Feather Pink

I love feathers but haven't used them in cards.   Today is my first!  I love this all over light pink color.  The paper is Yuzen Washi paper and has a background of pin with white and silver cranes. I matted it to some silver paper and added some pink dazzles (too over the top?) and my pink flower with gold accents and two pink feathers.  I added the ribbon as an after thought because I thought the flower needed more grounding. 

Have a great day!
Lis

Four Panel Screen Card Asian Theme

Hi and welcome!  I call today's card a four panel screen card.  it's got four panels and reminds me of one of those separator screens that one sometimes uses in a room (or even one of those Victorian ones that the woman stands behind and undresses in the movies).  Anyway, I found a great way to create these cards EASILY from my Stampin Up Demonstrator France Martin.  Thank you Frenchie!

This is the front of my card.  I started with an 8 1/2 x 11 piece of cardstock.  I made a score line horizontally at 2 3/4, 5 1/2 and 8 1/4.  These will be the fold lines.  Since the panels are rectangles, it's easy to measure and then cut the pieces to decorate. 

The bottom is done with a punch!

 

 

This is the inside of my card. I used a Frantic Stamper word die and dazzles to decorate.  The paper I used was Yuzen Washi paper.

I also punched a design at the top of my panel card (Martha Stewart border punch).  It would be easy to use a steel rule die such as one of the Tim Holtz On the Edge dies.  Since its a steel rule die, just fold the entire card up and cut all at once.

 

Have fun!  These cards are truly addicting to make!

 

Lis

 

Kanji

 

 I have always loved oriental themed cards.  Perhaps it's the mystery of the Orient that draws me in, or maybe the colors.  Either way, this is what inspired me to make today's card. 

I haven't made many Oriental-inspired cards in a while but when I got Frantic Stamper's Fish Scales card Panel die, that's what I thought of.  The die cut was so beautiful, I didn't really want to do too much.  My card started with a black card base with beige star dream card on top.  Underneath the die cut (which was cut out of blue foil card) is a piece of Yuzen Washi paper in red with gold flying cranes.  I die cut a Kanji character and mounted it on some of the same card I used for the main card.  I used some mizuhiki cord in gold and blue behind it.  I also cut out a leafy vine in gold glossy.

 

A simple card but very bold.  I hope you enjoyed it!

 

Thanks for stopping by!

Lis 

 

 

Asian Happiness Card

Hi everyone!

I hope that you enjoyed the Bog Hop earlier this week.  I know that I had too much fun working with Fran's new Precision dies.

Today's card uses the individual squares (1 inch, 1.25 inch and 2.25 inch) in a pattern on the front of my card.
I used:

• ivory linen cardstock base (5x7)
• the background is washi paper & glued to the back of the front of my card

The squares (or diamonds) are actually cut out using three different sizes of the Frantic Stamper Precision dies.  What shows through is my background paper.

Close Up!

I used three differrent sizes of pearls on the corners of the different sized squares.

I edged each square using the gold Dazzles lines.

The asian symbol here stands for Happiness.  I coloered this chipboard in silver distress stain.

I used one of Martha Stewart's new geometric punch around the page punches to make my center border.

I hope that you enjoyed this card as much as I did making it!

Come back tomorrow for more Precision Die inspiration!

Lis

Asian Influence Cards - Panel and Leaf Card

I really like to do panels with washi paper.  Panels seem to evoke an Asian feel to them. 

The card that I am sharing today uses three different washi paper patterns.  The background is white cardstock that is embossed and edged in gold.

Close up!

I like adding pearls to Asian designs.  The pearls below are held by two embossed leaves.  I made the leaves by using a set of punch and emboss punches by Nellie Snellen (Frantic Stamper has them: http://www.franticstamper.com/dutchpunch.htm.)  They are pretty interesting. First you punch out your leaf, then you put the leaf in another punch which is actually an embosser.  I lightly sprayed a fine mist on the punched pieces before embossing them to make them easier to emboss.  They turned out really nice, don't you think?

I am working on one final Asian Influence card so stop by again.  I should have it finished  by Friday!

Lis

Asian Influence Cards - Chinese Lantern

Hi everyone!  I hope that you are having a good week!

Today's card features a Chinese knot and lantern charm, and black glitter paper.

I really like the black glitter punched border (it's Martha Stewart's scroll heart punch minus the hearts).

Close up!
I really like this lantern.  I normally don't use the larger brass charms. I do have a few of them.  This was one that worked out very well on this card.

I have one more Asian influence card to go.  Come back tomorrow!

Lis

Asian Influence Cards - Tree and Crane

Hello everyone!  I hope that you are all having a safe and productive week!

I call today's card "Tree and Crane". 

I used a soft flash so that you could see the gold cranes pattern on the paper.  The red background is also very glittery.  It's the kind of "glittery" you might see if you used glitter embossing powder.  It's very fine.  The flowers on the tree are also outlined in gold.

I used another washi paper with a flower pattern in greens and blues for the tree. You may recognize the tree as one of the Tim Holtz dies, and you'd be right!  (I glued the washi paper to white cardstock to make it sturdier before I actually die cut it.)  After I die cut the tree, I glued it to black cardstock (epic black, my favorite!).  I used an xacto blade and cut around the tree to create a border.  I attached the tree to my card with mounting tape.

Close up!
Here is a close up of the bow and pearls.  I added an ivory bow with gold detail.  The pearls make a nice accent.  You can also see the cut edge of the black cardstock.

I hope you enjoyed today's card. Come back for more Asian Influenced cards!

Lis

Asian Influence Cards - Cat and Lily

Hello everyone and Happy Saturday!

You can find yuzen washi papers patterns of cats. One paw is up, and the cat usually symbolizes good luck. I must admit that I like the papers but I find it hard to work with larger patterns and prints.  Today's card has such a cat pattern on it.  Hope you like it!

The ribbon I used is from Mays Arts (I love their ribbons!)  It is orange but goes well with this card.  I think that a lot of the reds that are used in washi papers have a lot of orange in them.  This ribbon seems to go well though!

Close up!

I love brass charms!  This lily is about two inches tall so its larger than what I normally can afford.  But it's SO pretty!  I got this charm from a website called http://www.fancifuls.com/ .  They have a super collection of raw brass charms and the prices are really very good.

You  will also see (on the right side of this picture) that I punched a border pattern out of gold glossy and added that.

 
Hope you liked my card today~!  Stop again because I have more!

Lis

Asian Influence Cards - Asian Card with Pearl Spray

Hello everyone! Today I am excited to share with you a card with wonderful yuzen washi paper in red, black and gold.  The entire paper is covered in a glittery gold.  It's impossible to take a really good picture of this card and paper.  You don't really get to see how rich-looking and color-intense this paper really is.  I hope that what you do see will please you.

Asian Card with Pearl Spray:

The base card is white.  The yuzen washi paper is mounted on black card stock.  I used the Perfect Layers rulers in the smallest border size to create the mat for all three pieces.

This is a much better view of the card.  You can see how I attached the two strips on the left with mounting tape to add dimension.

 Close Up!


I attached the pearl strands between the two strips of mounted paper.  I turned over the top strip and added my mounting tape.  I took off the protective paper from the mounting strip exposing the sticky side.  I trimmed my pearl sprays.  One at a time, I added them to the sticky back of the mounting tape.  Then I attached the top strip to the larger strip.

The delicate ivory organza ribbon I used has a gold edge to it. It complements the gold in the paper nicely.

I hope that you enjoyed today's card.  Come back for more Asian Influence!

Lis

Asian Influence Cards: Lavender Mountain

Hello and welcome to a new week.  This week I will be sharing some beautiful cards with yuzen washi papers.  These handmade papers are breathtaking and beautiful.  Some of the pictures that you will see just won't do these papers justice.  But I hope that you will see some of the beauty of these papers and cards.

Today's card: Lavender Mountain

This first picture is with a flash.  It looked a little washed out but the pink colors in the paper seem to be truer.  You can also see the gold very well.

This photo I took without the flash. Some difference, yes?

You can get a good idea of the dimension of the card.

Close up!

I found this little chinese heart charm and thought it made a cute addition.

The pink organza ribbon has a glittery edge that complements the card.  The top three one inch squares make a nice border.

I hope you liked this sample of cards to come!  Stop on by again tomorrow for a truly fabulous card!

Lis

Asian Card - A Second Look

Sometimes I either redo a card or I modify the design.  I did this with my Asian card.  I like the results.  I hope you do too.

Probably the most remarkable thing I changed was the background color to a nontraditional pink.  I added Chinese coins also. I used a black card base instead of a green one.

As a reminder, this was the original card.

Which one do you like better?