Bi-fold Card with Instructions - Maja Design - with Giveaway

Giveaway Drawing and Tutorial

I am giving away a collection of Maja Design papers to a lucky reader who leaves a comment on this blog post.  Drawing to be held 8/31/19.  

Today I have a quick template (tutorial) for a bi-fold card you can make in minutes and use for any occasion.   

I have to say Maya Design papers are perfect for this card design because they are always beautiful on both sides.  The hard part is deciding which side of the paper is you will use for the front of the card.  good luck with that difficult decision.  

My card uses the gorgeous, playful and flirty Denim & Girls collection from Maja Design.  Here is the list of papers:

Ripped Jeans (A side, the paisley design, on the back of the card)

  Ripped Jeans (B side, mauve pink used on the front of the card)

Loose Fit - B side

Instructions 

(My friend Billie Frey taught me this card technique  at a retreat.  I do not want to imply this is  my original design.)

Step 1.  Start with a 12x12 sheet of Maja Design paper.  You will see both sides of the paper on this card so make your selection keeping both the A and B sides of the paper.

Step 2.  Cut the paper in half lengthwise.  Trim the paper to 6in x 12in. Yep one 12x12 sheet can make two gorgeous cards.

Step 3. Using the image below,  decide which side of the paper is going to be the front of the card and score accordingly.  The best way to fold scored paper is to fold into the raised side. When paper is scored, it makes a raised side with a ridge and a channel or indented side. In order to keep your paper from cracking, have the ridge side become the inside the fold.

Score your paper at the 4in  and 8 inch marks.  Once scored, cut the corners off each end at the 3in mark.

Here is a shot of how your card should look folded.  Notice I set the corners aside at this stage.  We will be using them next.  

Step 4.  Time to use the corners to decorate the card.  Remember I said to choose paper carefully because you will see both sides of the paper on the card?  Glue the corners to the front flaps of the card to add interest and as a base to decorate.  

Below is an image of what I did with the corners.  

Step 5.   Continue to decorate as you wish.

I decorated my card with some flowers, floral berries, ribbon and a chipboard birdhouse from Creative Embellishments.   The bottom sentiment, "Best Wishes", is a die cut from Spellbinders. 
  

As you can see, the card design is rather simple yet offers a unique way to use both sides of the gorgeous Maja Design papers on the same card.  I know how hard it can be to decide which side of the paper you want to use.  The patterns coordinate so perfectly.  

The sweet sentiment at the bottom is from Spellbinders - Sentiments Die -D-Lites.  I like this sentiment set in particular because it is small and on the delicate side.  You can tuck your sentiment anywhere on the card and not have ti detract from the other embellishments yet not so small that it gets lost on the card. 

Die D-Lites Sentiments One Etched Dies

The other embellishing touch on this card is the little chipboard birdhouse from Creative Embellishments.  

This card shows one side flap open and one closed.  

Thank you for stopping here to visit.  

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Maja Design from Sweden - Denim & Girls

Die D-Lites Sentiments One Etched Dies

Creative Embellishments Birdhouse

Mason Jars and Teddy Bears -Christmas Ornament Shakers

Mason Jar and Teddy Bear Shakers Ornaments 

I missed Christmas in July.  So it's Christmas in August.  

This is the perfect time to start those Christmas projects to avoid the holiday scramble. Time seems to speed up once September starts, whether from the bustle of a new school year or just life in general, time seems to accelerate as days get shorter and the lazy days of summer vanish. That's if you even had lazy summer days.  I did not, but I did have fabulous summer days. 

I've taken some "every day" shaker shapes from Creative Embellishments and turned them into fun shaker ornaments for the tree (or to be used as gift tags).  My images below show the brand new Mason Jar Set  shaker design and the adorable, classic Teddy Bear Shaker Set.

First up - the beloved Teddy Bear Shaker Set.  Too cute for words, this shaker is wonderful for so many occasions.  I'm using mine as "Baby's First Christmas" ornament. 

The craftier side of me appreciates that all shaker sets from Creative Embellishments come with the pre-cut acrylic window piece. No more hunting through the house to find acrylic packaging. No more cutting, fitting and re-cutting acrylic to fit the shaker. Creative Embellishments has taken the stress out of shaker making.  

The chipboard pieces have been painted a light brown and dabbed with cream acrylic paint using a dry sea sponge.  This was done to add texture to the piece.  You can also see in the image below that the edges have also been painted for a finished look.  

I used gold jewelers thread/string to hang the ornament and tied it around one of the layers of the shaker BEFORE it was glued together and completed.   I tied the string to one of the chipboard layers after the paint was dry.    This seemed to be the easiest and cleanest way to attached a string to the shaker for hanging purposes.

You can see the string attached to the middle layer int he image below. 

Filling the Shakers

After the shakers are made, fill them with something fun and eye catching.  I found a product that I'm totally loving and is my latest crafty addiction. Shaker mix from Buttons Galore and More comes in a variety of colors, mix combinations and options - with buttons, beads, traditional round sequins, and custom created shapes.

The mix used inside the Teddy Bear is Sparkletz - Angels Song and has beautiful angel and music note shaped pieces added.  

Buttons Galore  -Sparkletz Angels Song SPK155

For the final embellishing touch, I tied with the traditional red plaid bow and topped with a fun 3D button from Buttons Galore and More - a sweet Holly 3D Button .  It adds a fun holiday touch to the piece. 

Buttons Galore and More - Holly 3D Buttons CM129

This is the second fun shaker made with Creative Embellishments chipboard shaker sets.  There are  so many options one can use to decorate the Mason Jar Set  - but for me, the best mason jar is one filled with candy.  YUM.

I love the detail on the lid of the jar.  It's really spectacular.  Because I find the details on the lid so interesting and perfect, I decided to leave the whole chipboard shaker set "as is' with no treatment and no painting.  I wanted the detailed etching to be very apparent and not to get hidden under any treatments or paint.  

The shaker mix on this card is part of a new collection of shaker embellishments from Buttons Galore called Sprinkletz. These resembles tiny mint candies - with the featured Sprinkletz reminding me of small peppermint candies. 

  Sprinkletz are made from polymer clay and tend to resist static cling.  Static is the shaker card's arch nemesis - often making the shaker mix cling to the acrylic window mercilessly.  Sprinkletz seem to resist static cling.  

The little peppermint Sprinkletz are also great for adding to projects as embellishments. I glued some here and there to enrich the evergreen cluster on the ornament.   They are flat and glue really easily by the way - much easier than sequins.
   

Buttons Galore - Sprinkletz - Very Cherry

In addition to the shaker mix, I added a few other embellishments to the front of the shaker once it was assembled.  I added some 3D candy cane buttons, traditional buttons and some sequins from Buttons Galore Shaker Mix - Deck the Halls

 .  

Buttons Galore and More - Peppermint Twist 3D Buttons CM108

Buttons Galore and More Shaker Mix - Deck the Halls L501

Thanks for stopping here today.  Happy Crafting.  Don't forget to check out all the new shaker mixes at Buttons Galore and More/28 Lilac Lane as well as the newly released chipboard shaker sets from Creative Embellishments.  Shop Here ******************************************************************* Creative Embellishments - Teddy Bear Shaker Set Buttons Galore  -Sparkletz Angels Song SPK155 Buttons Galore and More - Holly 3D Buttons CM129

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Creative Embellishments Chipboard Mason Jar

Buttons Galore- Peppermint Twist 3D Buttons CM108

Buttons Galore - Sprinkletz - Very Cherry

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Creative Embellishments - Shaker Set

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Love and Rainbows - Shaker Cards

Rainbows, Love and Shaker Cards

Today I am presenting cards full of love.  The two cards don't match in style but the theme is the same...hearts, love, and Creative Embellishments fabulously fun shakers. 

My cards featured today were created using the following chipboard shaker designs from Creative Embellishments: 

Creative Embellishments - Heart Shaker Set

Creative Embellishments - Love Shaker Set

The first card uses the versatile Heart Shaker Set simply painted white.  I try to keep the shaker sets less complex so the shaker becomes the star and not the technique used on the chipboard. 

In this angled view, you can also see I have painted the inside edges of the chipboard as well.  I like to do this to create a clean look.  

How to fill your shaker card? 

Shakers are so much fun to create and filling them is every bit as fun.  I used fabulous shaker mix from Buttons Galore and More/28 Lilac Lane.   The fillers come in a variety of colors and mixes with sequins, dew drops, shapes, beads, buttons and so much more. 

This particular shaker is filled with newly released and super fun shaker mix from Buttons Galore and More: Buttons Galore -Sprinkletz Candy Hearts.  These are sweet polymer clay hearts that look a lot like those favorite candy hearts.

They are easy to use and tend not to react to static inside the shaker as much as glitter and sequins.
.

In addition to the bold bright shaker mix, the paper is equally bold and cheerful.  It's Sunny Studio  -SUMMER SPLASH  paper.
The summer designs and bright colors make me smile. 

Sunny Studio  -SUMMER SPLASH  paper SSPP-11

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This is the second card - very different with a romantic vibe.  

This shaker was made using Creative Embellishments - Love Shaker Set in it's natural kraft chipboard state.  No treatments needed to be done to the chipboard because it matches well with the paper.  

Here is the side view.  The LOVE shaker is such a smart and beautiful design. 

The shaker mix on this card is also from Buttons Galore and More/28 Lilac Lane.  It's a rich gold blend of traditional round sequins, fun stars and hearts shaped sequins and a coordinating collection of beads.  

28 Lilac Lane - Metallic Mix LL611

My paper choice for this card is from Graphic 45 LOVE NOTES 8 x 8 Paper Pad 4501825.  The 8x8 paper pad is rich and filled with the perfect blend of black, red and cream.  I love that color combination.   Graphic 45 LOVE NOTES 8 x 8 Paper Pad 4501825 Thanks for stopping here today.  Happy Crafting.  Don't forget to check out all the new shaker mixes at Buttons Galore and More/28 Lilac Lane as well as the newly released chipboard shaker designs at Creative Embellishments.   Shop Here ********************************************************************* Graphic 45 LOVE NOTES 8 x 8 Paper Pad 4501825 28 Lilac Lane - Metallic Mix LL611 Graphic 45 Love paper collection

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Sunny Studio  -SUMMER SPLASH  paper SSPP-11

Creative Embellishments Heart Shaker Set

Buttons Galore -Sprinkletz Candy Hearts NK110

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Creative Embellishments - Shaker Set

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