Missed Birthday Step-Ups T-Shirt Card

This T-Shirt stamp is the largest solid area stamp I own. It's from Stephanie Barnard (The Stamps of Life). The only ink I use when stamping large areas like this is Versafine from Tsukineko. It stamps crisp and bright every time. If I had a Misti Tool, it would have had perfectly even inking and a bit more solid color but this shows how well the ink works on a first stamp (and first try). I left the tiny offset at the top of the shirt so you can see just how crisp the lines stamp (plus I kind of like the slightly imperfect look for handmade cards).

This is the first time using the balloons background. I usually try to use more muted backgrounds so they don't distract from the main image but it was so fun I couldn't resist - perfect for a (belated) birthday card.

Making the Card

Below is a photo of some of the supplies I used on the card. I usually try to pull out the papers I plan to use - and sometimes a few of the embellishments; this makes it so much easier/faster to pull the card together. I didn't really do any coloring for this card but having the papers selected also helps when selecting the colors for the image so they can match perfectly. In this case, I just had to match the shirt ink and the crystals. Of course sometimes I tweak the papers later... this time I ended up switching out the yellow background paper, shown in the photo, for the pink background version I used on the card.

1. Using the main Step-Ups die, die cut the blue cardstock. Use the star side element to cut out each side, centering them within the edges and folds. Use the frame die that fits the star side element to cut two light blue frames; glue them behind the stars (this will be the inside of the card). Fold along the lines as instructed. Die cut pink background birthday paper with decorator die. Adhere as shown.

2. Stamp T-shirt in Satin Red Versafine ink on white cardstock. Note: I recommend heat setting after each stamping. Stamp T-shirt outline over with Onyx Black Versafine ink, then stamp "Oh, Shirt" (optionally, you could mount this inside the outline and stamp at the same time). Die cut. Add Swarovski crystals to T-shirt as shown (you could substitute other rhinestones but these shine so beautifully!).

3. Stamp "I forgot your birthday" on white cardstock with Onyx Black Versafine ink. Use the smaller label die from Sizzix Stamps - Birthday & Frames to cut it out. Doodle lines/dashes/dots around the edge of the frame in a black pen (e.g. Memento Marker, Tuxedo Black).

4. Tie a double length of red/white twine in a bow. Adhere T-shirt with dimensional tape where shown. Use dimensional tape under label but double it up where it will sit on the card base - the single layer will sit on the T-shirt. Cut off the back of the party hat button with wire cutters (sand flat if necessary). Add dimensional tape under the party hat where it will sit on the card. Adhere everything where shown.

Supplies

• Cardstock: Blue, Light Blue, White
• Patterned Paper: 6x6 Pad My Mind's Eye Hootenanny #6X6207
• Sizzix Card, Kind Sentiments - Step-Ups
• Tsukineko Inks: Onyx Black, Satin Red
• Black Pen (e.g. Memento Marker Tuxedo Black)
• Sizzix Stamps - Birthday & Frames
• Stamps of Life: patterns4tshirts, tshirt2stamp, T-Shirt Dies, 
• Hat Button: Buttons Galore & More 4168 Party Hats
• Swarovski Crystals: pink, red, blue, clear
• Hat Confetti, Star Sequins
• Twine: Red/White
• Dimensional Tape

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Oak Tree Stamps - Bear Hugs Step-ups Card

Created for the Oak Tree Stamps Design Team

This is my first post as part of the Oak Tree Stamps Design Team. Yay! Their stamps are so cute! They don't have many sets right now but there are some wonderful designs planned, so be sure to check back with them often! Also, I have a discount code good for 30% off this stamp set just for reading my blog! Use code MDP30. Alternatively, get the entire bundle of 5 sets for $32.50 off (!) using code OAKTREEFANS (only one code may be used).

Making the Card

1. Die cut base card Sizzix Card, Basic Step-Ups from light gray cardstock. Die cut front panel and step decorator pieces from Something Wonderful 6x6 Paper Pad, small heart pattern. Adhere to card base where shown. Using a black pen, doodle around each. Fold as instructed. You could fold first but you may want to flatten before doodling; I kept track of where I wanted the tree and bear to go.

2. From Oak Tree Stamps: Bear Hugs, stamp tree on Save the Date 6x6 Paper Pad floral pattern paper; stamp bear on Coconut Bazzill paper. Color bear as shown with alcohol markers (see list of Copics I used below Supplies). I modified the nose very slightly to look more like a Panda's nose (I suggest practicing on bears stamped on scrap paper first to get the look you want). I also colored outside the ears to make them more furry and added dark neutral grays around the eyes - a few shades down from black so you can still see the eyes. The gel pen really makes them pop - add small lines at the base of the eyes and dots for specular highlights. Add a little shine on his nose as well. Fussy cut around tree and bear leaving a margin. Adhere to card using dimensional tape.

Original stamp (left), middle and right are (ugly) practice bears on scratch paper.

3. Die cut small heart from Coconut Bazzill paper; color to match Panda's feet. Adhere where shown. Stamp "Bear Hugs" sentiment on Coconut Bazzill paper; die cut with banner die. Using black pen, doodle around edge of banner, drawing in 3D curves as shown. Use cross-hatching for subtle shading.

4. Adhere buttons as shown using Glue Dots or other very strong adhesive; overlap and add dimensional tape under part of top (black) button as necessary (I used a double layer under the overhanging part). Tie twine in a small bow and adhere as shown. Adhere banner with dimensional tape.

Flattened card fits perfectly in an A2 envelope!

Supplies

• Cardstock: Light Gray
• Patterned Cardstock Paper: Something Wonderful, Save the Date, Both 6x6 Pads by Teresa Collins
• Oak Tree Stamps: Bear Hugs
• Alcohol Marker Friendly Ink: Black (Memento Tuxedo Black)
• Alcohol Marker Friendly Paper (Bazzill Basics Coconut 10-1044)
• Alcohol Markers (Copics)
• White Gel Pen
• Black Pen (Copic Multiliner .5)
• Sizzix Card, Basic Step-Ups 660023
• Banner Die: Lawn Fawn - Lawn Cuts Bannerific LF483
• Heart Die
• Buttons
• Twine: Black and White
• Dimensional Tape, Adhesive, Glue Dots

Copic Markers Used
100 Black, N10, N8, N6, N5, N3, N2, N1, N0
RV32, RV11, RV10

Poker Themed Step-Ups Thank You Card

I made this card for the organizer of an annual board gaming convention. He enjoys card games like Poker and Tichu so I thought I would make a thank you card with that theme. This was also the perfect opportunity to use my new Friends Forever Step-Ups Framelits Card, by Sizzix and Stephanie Barnard.

Making the Card

1. Cut the base card from black cardstock using 660144 Sizzix Framelits Die Set 23PK - Card, Friends Forever Step-Ups; fold as instructed.

2. Use the decorator die to cut black and white striped paper for the front; adhere.

3. Adhere cards in arrangement shown - this is how I used dimensional tape:
10 - one thickness, adhere to back step
J - double thickness, adhere to 10 card
Q - adhere directly to front step
K - double thickness, adhere to Q
A - adhere directly to front of card

4. Cut 4 copies of "thanks" from white cardstock and one from red/orange cardstock. Line up and glue layers together to form a thick stack with the red/orange layer on top. I used Multi-Medium Matte as an adhesive. Adhere across gap in card as shown.

5. Cut poker chip and poker chip stack from white and red/orange cardstock using SVG Cuts Game Night Kit. I resized the colored layer (called green in their file) to 2.5" width (this may vary with software by a small amount - just be sure to line up the base layer with the top layer to check that the widths are correct, i.e. the round poker chip layers should match perfectly.

6. This is the really fun part! If necessary, attach the pointed tip to the Photo Sleeve Fuse tool. Plug in and let warm up for about 10 minutes. Using the medium decorator tag die from 973 Elizabeth Craft Designs Tags Pivot Card, measure out an amount, somewhat larger than the die, of a heavy weight page protector (or pocket page). You will use this to make a shaker tag. Tape down the die at the bottom and carefully trace around all but the bottom end with the Fuse tool. It should cut through the plastic in an outline shape of the tag, sealing the edges. The bottom end will be left open so we can put some shiny stuff inside.

7. Either use a stamp for your sentiment or type one up on your computer then print it out on white cardstock. Be sure to keep the sentiment around 3/4" x 1 3/4" in size so there will be some space around it inside the pocket. Use the tag die to center and cut out the sentiment. Carefully put the tag inside the pocket, then fuse around the tag's hole (top of tag). If the plastic does not stick to itself, use some glue to seal around the edges. Add sequins, star glitter, or whatever small shiny bits you would like inside the pocket. I glued a few to the tag so they wouldn't all float to the bottom. I did this very carefully with tweezers, although you could do this before putting the tag inside the pocket.

8. Carefully fuse the bottom closed using the tag die again (line it up and tape it down from the sides or top to keep it from moving). Thread two pieces of twine through the hole as shown.

9. Adhere tag using a strong glue (I used Glossy Accents; Multi-Medium Matte will probably work as well). Adhere round poker chip with dimensional tape (I actually used fun foam to pop it up, cut in a circle using the poker chip as a template) and the poker chip stack with tape or glue. Adhere sequins and/or glitter where desired to finish the card.

10. Optional: I didn't want the card to open too far so that the cards would line up. To do so, I used a small length of black ribbon adhered to the bottom insides of the card (i.e. I strung the ribbon from card front to card back from the inside).

Supplies

• Cardstock: Black, White, Red/Orange, Black&White Striped
• 660144 Sizzix Framelits Die Set 23PK - Card, Friends Forever Step-Ups
• 973 Elizabeth Craft Designs Tags Pivot Card
• SVG Cuts Game Night
• LF690 Lawn Fawn Scripty Thanks
• Mini Deck of Cards
• Photo Sleeve Fuse, American Crafts
• Heavy Weight Page Protector (Office Supply Store)
• Sequins, Star Glitter (Silver, Gold, Red, Translucent)
• Twine: Red/White, Orange/White
• Dimensional Tape