American Crafts Studio Blog

Halloween Cards by Nancy Damiano

Today we have a spooktacular pair of Halloween cards created by Nancy Damiano (Blog: Nancy Damiano | Instagram: @nancydamiano | Pinterest: @nancydamiano | Twitter: @DamianoNancy | Facebook: Nancy Damiano)

Supplies: Cardstock (71081) 12x12 White , Halloween (340377) 3” Doily Diecut Spiderweb, Halloween (340370) Prize Ribbons, Halloween (340390) - Buttons, Halloween (340384) - Tags Journaling, , Halloween (340369) Pom Pom Flower Kit, Halloween (340391) Pumpkins on White/Bats on Orange Washi Tape, Black & White Stripe/Orange & Black Star Washi Tape, Halloween (340361), Halloween (340373) - Banner Kit, Halloween (340361) Pumpkins on Black, Halloween (340381) Garland Tassels

How to: To create the Boo card, start with a black cardstock base. Use the gray chevron flag, glittered spiderweb, and circle tag from the banner kit and layer those on the base. Tuck one black fringe from the tassel kit just underneath the flag. Next, use a foam letter "B" and two wooden enamel buttons to create the "Boo" title. Last, add the "Trick or Treat" prize ribbon to the center of the circle tag.

To create the tag card, create a base with white cardstock. Use a typewrite or printer to add text to the lower right hand corner of the card. This reads "I can see right through you." Next, layer three strips of washi tape in different patterns across the top half of the card. Layer a Halloween tag on the washi tape and add a black spiderweb die cut to the top. Add an 'eye' Halloween wooden button to the center of the spiderweb. For a fun touch of texture, use a black and white striped straw to the bound edge of the card.

The giveaway winner will be announced tomorrow - have you entered?!

Fall Cards by Evelyn Yusuf

Our final fall-themed post is a pair of beautiful cards designed by Evelyn Yusuf (Blog: Evelyn Yusuf | Instagram: @geekgalz | Pinterest: @geekgalz | Twitter: @geekgalz | Facebook: Evelyn Yusuf)

Supplies: Cedar Lane Park Place (310059), Cedar Lane Market Square (310050), Cedar Lane Riverside Lane (310060), Cedar Lane Town Square (310051), Cedar Lane Washi Tape Booklet (310068), Cedar Lane Arrow Glittered Gold (310074), Cedar Lane Fabric Tags (310072), Cedar Lane Thickers (310071), Cedar Lane Ephemera (310069)

Designer notes: Fall actually isn’t my thing here in Indonesia. But I don’t mind to show how grateful and thankful I am to the ones that I love. I made two fall cards layout and each card has a positive word such as Grateful and Thank You. It's a perfect time to show your honest feelings using cards.

I did some layering, mixing a fox, acorn, some flowers, and brown embellishments into one card. I do falling in love with fall color combo, they are nice and warm. Those cards that I created are perfect to accompany your fall gifts.

Hope this post inspires you to create some pretty cards!

Under 30 Minutes Cards by Jen Chapin

Check out this trio of cards that Jen Chapin (Blog: Jen Chapin | Instagram: @jenchapin | Pinterest: @jenchapin | Twitter: @chapinjen | Facebook: Jennifer Chapin) made, all in under 30 minutes!

Supplies: DIY Shop 3 (370852) - Vellum White Numbers, DIY Shop 3 (370862) - Black Triangles Cardstock, DIY Shop 3 (370867) - Gold Foil Wordfetti Stickers, DIY Shop 3 (370878) - Cards w/ Envelopes, DIY Shop 3 (370884) - Gold Foil Tape, DIY Shop 3 (370887) - Metal Word Bobbies, DIY Shop 3 (370888) - Gold Enamel Dots, Dear Lizzy Documentary (340199) - Snapshots Phrase Thickers

How to: Grab a few card bases from the DIY Shop card pack. For the Hello card, punch a 2.5” circle from black cardstock and numbers vellum; layer together and adhere. Clip a gold bobbie to the circle and use gold foil tape on the back to hold in place. Add a few enamel dots; adhere sentiment to card with foam adhesive. For the heart card, adhere a piece of gold foil tape to the bottom edge of the card. Add a sentiment using the Wordfetti stickers, then embellish with punched hearts and gold enamel dots. For the love you card, use the Documentary Thickers to add a sentiment to the white card base. Embellish with Wordfetti stickers and gold enamel dots.

Halloween Cards by Paige Evans

Happy first day of October! It'll be 2016 before we know it! We're continuing Halloween Week with a pair of creepy cards by Paige Evans (Blog: Paige Evans | Instagram: @paigetaylorevans | Pinterest: @paigeevans)

 
Supplies: Halloween Ribbon Bows (340374), Halloween Brads (340389), Halloween Wooden Buttons (340390), Halloween Prize Ribbons (340370)

How to: Drop India ink across a white cardstock card base then stitch a "#" across the front using black thread. Place a Halloween-themed embellishment in each section to create a 3x3 grid of fun!

Supplies: Halloween Ribbon Bows (340374), Spider Webs Doilies (340377), Delights 3D Stickers (340378), Spider Brads (340382), Halloween Brads (340389), Wooden Buttons (340390)

How to: Watercolor orange, yellow, and gray across a vanilla cardstock card base and let it dry. Place a spider web doily in the center then embellish with stickers, brads, and buttons. 

Watercolor Card by Heather Leopard

Heather Leopard (Blog: Heather Leopard | Instagram: @heatherleopard | Pinterest: @heatherleopard | Twitter: @heatherleopard) is the talent behind this outstanding card with watercoloring!

Supplies: Finders Keepers collection: (340329) – Token Paper, (340235) – Clear Stickers, (340237) – Puffy Stickers, (340241) – Acrylic Stamps, (340242) – Rubber Words, (340243) – Printed cardstock and acetate shapes with gold foil

How to: Cut a 4x4.5" wide piece of white cardstock or watercolor paper. Paint on your favorite colors with an abstract look. I knew I wanted to stamp this long and narrow image so I made sure to apply my color with enough room on all sides. Leave enough room at the bottom for your sentiment. Set aside to dry. Cut a 9.75x5" card base and cut a 4.5x5" piece of patterned paper. Adhere the patterned paper to the top of the card base. Once the watercolor base is dry, stamp your image over the colors. Stitch your sentiment along the bottom of your watercolor card. Adhere to the patterned paper base and then adhere to the card base. Add additional embellishments.

Instagram Card by Ashley Horton

Here's a fun and clever way to add a photo (yes, a photo!) to a card by Ashley Horton (Blog: Ashley Horton | Instagram: @ashleyhorton75 | Pinterest: @ahorton | Twitter: @ashleymh1675)

Supplies: Finders Keepers (340329) - Token, Finders Keepers (340320) - Field Trip, Finders Keepers (340243) - Printed Cardstock & Acetate Shapes with Gold Foil, Finders Keepers (340256) - Grab Bag

How to: Cut a 4.25x11" card base from white cardstock and fold in half. Cover front of card with Token patterned paper. Machine stitch along some of the stripes on the Token patterned paper. Layer a piece of the patterned paper cut from the Field Trip paper behind your Instagram photo. Add pop dots behind the photo and adhere to the front of the card. Layer the Happy Right Here tag on the right hand side of your photo. Attach two stars from the Printed Cardstock Shapes with a tiny attacher. Add one of the stickers from the Grab Bag to the bottom of your Instagram photo.

Back to School Card by Nicole Samuels

Cards are a great way to send off loved ones to a new year at school! Check out this card created by Nicole Samuels (Blog: Nicole Samuels | Instagram: @nicsamuels | Pinterest: @nsameuls | Twitter: @nicsamuels):

Supplies: Finders Keepers - Patterned Paper, Clues (340334); Stamped Mylar Flair (340246); other - white cardstock

How to: Create a card base using white cardstock. Hand cut 10-12 pencils from the Clues patterned paper and adhere the pencils to the card base as shown. Use a Stamped Mylar Flair as a sentiment.

 

Tomorrow we have a special guest designer so see you again soon! 

Fun in the Sun Cards by Ashley Horton

This pair of "Fun in the Sun" cards was made by the talented Ashley Horton (Blog: Ashley Horton | Instagram: @ashleyhorton75 | Pinterest: @ahorton | Twitter: @ashleymh1675)

Supplies: #Summer (366955) - #Sunglasses, #Summer (366971) - Die Cut Cardstock Shapes, #Summer (366965) - Cork Stickers, #Summer (366963) - Jouranling and Phrase Sticker Book

How to: Cut a white cardstock base at 5.5 x 11" and fold in half. Cut the #Sunglasses patterned paper to 5.25x5.25" and stitch it to the front of your card base. Select a mix of die cut cardstock shapes and place them across the card. Add a cork sticker. Create your sentiment with one of the stickers from the journaling and phrase sticker book then adhere it with pop dots to add dimension to your card.

Supplies: #Summer (366985) - #Summer Paper Pad, #Summer (366971) - Die Cut Cardstock Shapes, #Summer (366972) - Screenprinted Clothespins, #Summer (366964) - Wood Veneers, #Summer (366963) - Journaling and Phrase Sticker Book

How to: Cut a white cardstock base to 4.25x11" and fold in half. Cover the bottom half of the card front with a piece of scrap patterned paper. Stitch around the outer edges of your card. Create a sentiment with a die cut cardstock shape. Embellish your card with stickers and wood veneers.

Die Cuts Card by Nicole Samuels

This stellar card with die cuts was made by Design Team Member Nicole Samuels (Blog: Nicole Samuels | Instagram: @nicsamuels | Pinterest: @nsameuls | Twitter: @nicsamuels)

Supplies: DIY Party - Pink and White Straws (369823); Fine and Dandy - Prize Ribbon/Bow Dies (370111), Accent and Phrases Stickers (370091), Foiled Vellum (370081), Foiled Cardstock (370072)

How to: Die cut the ribbon out of patterned paper. Cut small lengths (less than 1 inch) of pink straw and adhere them to a punched circle smaller than the “eat cake” sticker. Once all the straws are adhered in a circle, place the “eat cake” sticker on top. Cover the front of a white card with some patterned vellum. Assemble the ribbon on the card as shown.

Circles Cards by Gillian Nelson

Gillian Nelson (Blog: Gillian Nelson | Instagram: @gnelson05 | Pinterest: @gilliann | Twitter: @GillianNelson05) is here today with a sweet duo of circle-themed cards:

Supplies: Amy Tangerine Rise & Shine (370048) - Wood Mounted Icon Stamps; Thickers (370556) - Eric Foam Letter Stickers; Cardstock (366022) - Kraft A2 Cards & Envelopes; DIY Shop (366900) - Mini Stapler; Punches (KOP63100) - Knock Outs Punch 1.5” Circle; Watercolors - Artist’s Loft, Neocolor; Ink - Versafine

How to: Stamp a number of heart images using the Rise & Shine wood mounted heart stamp. I stamped even more than I intended to use so that I had extras in case I messed any up while coloring them in. Use assorted colors of watercolor paints to fill in the stamped heart shapes. Once dry, punch out each heart with a circle punch. Add a mini staple to the top of each punched circle and then adhere the circles to the front of a kraft card, overlapping them and keeping a roughly circular overall shape. Apply large Thickers spelling out “YOU” across the bottom of the card. Print out or handwrite a journaling strip that reads “a whole bunch”. Add a mini staple to the top of the strip and then adhere it to the bottom of the card, overlapping the Thickers.

Supplies: Dear Lizzy Fine & Dandy (370061) - Fabulous Fun w/ Gold Foiled Paper, (370067) - Stripey Straws Paper, (370067) - Celebrate Paper, (370069) - Make A Wish Paper, (370079) - Elated Paper, (370109) - Metal Rimmed Tags, (370107) - Garland, (370095) - Acrylic Shapes; DIY Shop (366900) - Mini Stapler; Pen (PP05-62321) - Precision Pen .05 Black; Cardstock (BCS8) - Smooth 8.5x11/White; We R Memory Keepers (71277) - Envelope Punch Board; Die Cut Machine - Silhouette Cameo

How to: Cut a total of four 5” circles out of various Fine & Dandy patterned papers using a die cut machine, a circle cutter, or by tracing a circle and cutting by hand. Cut a 4” circle from another piece of patterned paper as well as a 3.5” circle from white cardstock. Place the two large circles that you want to be the front and back of your card face down on the workspace. Cut a strip of white cardstock approximately 1 x 2” and fold the strip in half (short end to short end). Adhere the strip of paper to the wrong sides of the two large circles so that the fold is centered between the circles. Leave approximately 3/16” space between the two circles so that there’s plenty of room to close the card when it’s completed. Adhere the remaining two large circles over the original circles, this time placing them with the patterns you want showing facing up. Adhere the 4” circle to the right side of the open card, centering it within the 5” circle. Follow that with centering and adhering the white cardstock circle. Trim a striped circle from the Fine & Dandy garland and layer it over the white circle, along with a chipboard circle tag and a journaling strip. For the front of the card, trim a gold glittered circle from the garland, layer an acrylic banner shape and a journaling strip over it, and staple all three items to affix them to the card. Finish by drawing a thin line within the border of the card front. Create a custom envelope for your circle card using the We R Memory Keepers envelope punch board. Remember to add extra postage for the special shape if your card will be going in the mail.