Really Reasonable Ribbon August Blog Hop

Welcome to the Really Reasonable Ribbon August Blog Hop! You should be coming to my blog from the Really Reasonable Ribbon Blog. (For the complete blog list, scroll to the bottom of the post.) After visiting me, hop over to the spectacular Ginny's Blog next!

At the end of the hop, comment on the RRR Blog post, answering the question listed, for a chance to win the August Ribbon Club Assortment shown below. (The Design Team appreciates your comments, too!)

The August Ribbon Club Assortment is called Autumn Assortment. This collection conjures up warm, sunny days and crisp nights! I am pretty sure most of us are wishing for cool, autumn temperatures about now! 

It has been hot and humid here in southern California, which is not normal for us! Plus, our really hot weather comes in September and October, when the Santa Ana winds blow. If we get those days on top of these humid days...it could be MONTHS before we get to be cool again! However, I am traveling back east in October...so crisp temperatures may be in my future! 

I created an unusual size card this time. This one is 6" tall and 7" wide. I had already stamped and colored my flower image to match the paper and ribbon, and then realized it was quite LARGE! The flower panel alone is 3 1/2" x 4 1/2". Since I wanted to show the paper and make a big bow...I made a big card! 

I decided to pick the Dandelion Diamond Satin Ribbon and the Crochet Lace from the collection to make my bow. The other ribbons will find there way into a project sooner or later, I have no doubt! They are all so pretty! I created one loopy bow from the satin and another from the lace and glued them to the card. To cover the unsightly knots, I added a stacked button and enamel dot embellishment.

ETA: The button is made from one large, pale peach button, to which I glued a golden-yellow button. Then, I glued a yellow enamel dot to the golden button. Ta-da...stacked button-y goodness! 

Thanks for looking! Now, hop over to Ginny's Blog to see what she has for you!

Here is the RRR Blog Hop Order in case you get lost!

Really Reasonable Ribbon's Ramblings (REMEMBER, LEAVE A COMMENT ON THE RRR BLOG FOR A CHANCE TO WIN!)
Gloria - YOU ARE HERE!

Ginny

Cheryl

Bonnie

Karen

Kathy

Linsey

Shelia

I am entering my card into the Word Art Wednesday Anything Goes Challenge Weeks #346-#347. (Thanks for reminding me, Karen!)

Really Reasonable Ribbon is running a special, limited time offer! 

USA customers who sign up NOW can start their club with BOTH the July and August Clubs for $17.00!!

Trims: Really Reasonable Ribbon August Ribbon Club (Dandelion Diamond Satin Ribbon, Crochet Lace)
Printed paper: Heartfelt Creations Sweet as Honey
Cardstock: WorldWin Papers Brown, Hammermill White
Stamps: Heartfelt Creations Peony Bud and Blossom, Heartfelt Sentiments
Copic markers: YG93, YR12, YR14, YR21, YR27, Y21, Y32, E33, B0000, B000,, BG000, Colorless blender
Ink: Versafine Vintage Sepia
Buttons: stash
Enamel dots: Whimsey Stamps
Pearls: Amazon
Dies: Heartfelt Creations Cut Mat Create 1B, Eyelet Rectangle and Basics
Adhesive: white glue, hot glue, ATG tape

Pop-up Card for Your BFF - Authentique Sea-Maiden Collection

Good morning, Crafters! I have a NEW Authentique Paper project for you. It is HOT and HUMID here in the San Diego area, and I am sure it's the same for most of you! To help keep us cool, I wanted to make a card that felt like summer at the beach.  

I used the Sea-Maiden Collection to make this pop-up style card. The card is a standard note card size when closed (5 1/2" x 4 1/4"). 

I used some netting (or tulle) behind the main image and then added lots of twine, charms, and flowers to decorate the front. I added some glittery enamel dots to make it look like there were water drops on the card.

All of the flowers and decor are on the closure band! The band is held together by magnets at the back of the card.  

The band comes off easily. 

Once you remove the band and begin to open the card, you start to see the "magic happen"! 

The card "pops" open to reveal an accordion feature suitable for images, journaling, or photos.  

I added a sentiment to the top of the inside panel and a gift card holder to the bottom panel. I used the cut-aparts from the paper to decorate my accordion section. 

I love the colors in this collection, and the images are priceless. However, my favorite paper is the Sea-Maiden Seven sheet...with polka dots on one side and barn wood on the other! Love at first sight! 

I found this sentiment stamp in my stash and it reflects my relationship with a few of my friends. It says: Friends Forever...Mainly because you know too much and you've seen me ugly cry. So funny! 

The bottom panel has a gift card holder that fits a standard-size gift card, or you could put a gift certificate or some cash in there. Or you could use the holder as a pocket for notes or mementos.  

I added a decorative panel to the back of the card just to give it some extra sturdiness.  

Thanks for joining me today! If you need a tutorial for this style of card, I have one on my blog from a few years ago. You can use the same basic directions for this project. See the tutorial HERE. 

Authentique Supplies Used:
Sea-Maiden 12x12 Paper
Sea-Maiden 6x12 Components Die Cuts

Additional Supplies: 
Embellishments: craft supply (beads, charms, shells)
Flowers: Wild Orchid Crafts
Enamel dots: Doodlebug Designs Swimming Pool Glitter Sprinkles, Your Next Stamp White Sugar and Sparkle Gumdrops, Whimsey Stamps
Trims: craft supply (tulle, twine)
Stamps: Reverse Confetti A Friend Like You
Ink: Versafine Smokey Gray, Stampin' Up Sahara Sand
Cardstock: orange, two shades ocean blue, ivory
Dies: My Favorite Things Fishtail Stax and Layers, Tonic Studios Mixed Edge Rectangles, Papertrey Ink gift card pockets
Magnets: Basic Grey
Adhesives: ATG tape, Scor-tape, white glue, hot glue

More July CardMaps!

Fun news, Friends! I will be working with Becky Fleck and the amazing team at...

Each quarter, PageMaps releases their CardMaps and I will be creating card samples for the website. How fun is that?! I have worked with Becky in the past, including recently when Authentique Paper did a team-up with PageMaps (my samples for the Authentique match-up are HERE).

I am not sure how many sketches or cards I will make each quarter, or if I will do other types of sketches...we are just playing it by ear for now. If you have been one of my Followers for a while, you know I never make anything without a sketch! Either I draw my own sketch or I use one from someone else. I have a huge binder of PageMaps sketches going back to the very first one! Crazy, right?!

So, long story longer, I am excited to help Becky with some card samples. I love card making, and sketches, and I love when someone offers things like this for FREE. This is a labor of love for both Becky and her team, and for me. It is a TON of work to do what we do - offer things up to others for no payment other than the JOY of doing it. I enjoy helping  fellow crafters, whether it is getting a challenge blog started, or making samples for a small mom and pop store, or encouraging a new crafter. I get so much joy out of those interactions! 

Now, enough blither blather! For July, CardMaps had a few "orphans," so I made a few cards to fill in the gaps.

I simply loved this sketch. The possibilities for using it are...unlimited! You could go clean and simple, or mixed media, or really busy and ornate!

I pulled out this Photo Play/Julie Nutting paper (French Flea Market) paper pack that I purchased a while ago and had never bothered to open. {Hey, it happens!} I pulled this paper because it has a bicycle sticker...which I ended up not even using!

I decided to use a gray and pink theme with the paper so I got out some trims, cardstock, and a French stamp (Graphic 45 French Country). 

This is the card I made, using the sketch as a guide. Rather than a literal bicycle, I used the image of the bird cages. Rather than a white or plain background like the sketch shows, I used the grey and white background paper. I kept to the sketch fairly closely as to placement and size of the elements. 

My card is a top-fold card that is 5" tall and 7" wide. It is just a little lumpy so it should fit into a standard envelope.

However, I loved that sketch so much that I made another card (this is actually my Really Reasonable Ribbon project that posted on July 13th). 

I still followed the sketch fairly well. The balloon bouquet on the sketch is represented here by the bow element. The image represents the bicycle on the sketch. I kept the same orientation and sizing as the sketch. 

If you have trouble using a sketch, try printing the sketch at the same size as your card and taking measurements. This can help you know what size to make each element on the card, and help with embellishment placement.

This card is also a top-fold card that is 5" tall and 7" wide. Due to the poufy bow, you may need a padded mailer for this one.

This next sketch is a vertical sketch, which is my go-to style. 

I had about 10 ideas for this bad boy, but had to narrow it down to one card!

This time, I made a vertical top-fold card that is 6" tall and 5" wide. I like this size better than a standard A2 card, but it is harder to find envelopes to fit this size card.

I used an older Authentique collection called Seafarer that I found on sale at the craft store. I love this blue and white theme! Once again, I followed the sketch pretty well, except my image and my sentiment are a bit off center. I used the same scallop frame and element positioning as the sketch. I just have something against centering everything...not sure why. {smile}

I pulled out some older Our Daily Bread Designs stamps and some VERY OLD Spellbinders dies for this card! I also used a ship's wheel charm that I got who knows where! And...some of my favorite twine!

Thanks for stopping by today. I hope you try using a sketch if you have never done so before!

Trims: Really Reasonable Ribbon Natural Burlap String,Capri Blue Taffeta, Yellow and Blue Confetti Dot Grosgrain, Yellow Poppy Print Satin; American Crafts pink velvet
Printed paper: Photo Play/Julie Nutting French Flea Market, Authentique Paper Seafarer, Graphic 45 Home Sweet Home, Carta Bella Country Kitchen, Bo Bunny Family Recipes, Echo Park Happiness is Homemade
Tags: Graphic 45 Home Sweet Home Tags and Pockets

Cardstock: WorldWin Natural; Bazzill Java, Blossom, Nightmist; CutCardStock Basis Gray
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Versafine Onyx Black, Ranger Distress Chipped Sapphire
Stamps: Graphic 45 French Country, Our Daily Bread Designs The Sea, Sentiments Collection 2
Buttons: stash
Pearls: stash
Charms: jewelry supply
Dies: My Favorite Things Fishtail Stax and Layers, Stitch Mini Scallop Stax; Spellbinders Labels Twenty

Punches: Stampin' Up 1 1/4" and 1"
Adhesive: white glue, hot glue, ATG tape, Scor-tape, foam tape

Christmas in July Giant Mini Album

Good morning, Crafters! The Authentique Team is having a Christmas in July celebration, and today it is my turn to share my Christmas in July project! I put my heart and soul into this GIANT Christmas mini album!

I combined the NEW Jingle Collection with last year's Vintage Christmas, Colorful Christmas, and Alpine Collections. 

This big book of Christmas joy measures 9" tall, 4 1/2" wide, and 1 1/2" thick! And it weighs almost 2 pounds! That is a lot of pretty paper! 

The book is a type of tri-fold cover that closes with a simple ribbon tie. Inside are more fold outs, flips, and pockets! This project is the PERFECT December Daily! There is so much space to add your photos and journaling! 

Once you start opening the book, you can see all the lovely papers on display! 

The book keeps opening... 

...until it is approximately 25" wide! That is a lot of space for photos! 

I designed the book to have an inside spine of 3/8" wide.

The outer spine is 1 1/2" wide.  

I made a bit of a mistake with attaching the ribbon. I had wanted the ribbon UNDER the paper, but I totally got caught up in decorating and totally forgot it! I hope my Plan B works! I glued the ribbon down very well, so it should hold!

I used one of the cut-aparts from the Colorful Christmas Collection as my front cover focal point. I added lots of flowers and other Christmas-y lovelies to the cover! I have three bins of Christmas do-dads to pick through when I create holiday projects!  

Here is just a peeky of the cute images that I used for the inside of the book. If you want to see the full walk-through of the project, please click on the VIDEO below. 

This mini has not only ONE waterfall element... 

...it has TWO! Each waterfall can hold 21 photos, 4" x 4" size! That is perfect if you print square photos from Instagram or similar.

Now, zip on over and look at the video walk through. If you are not in the mood for Christmas music, turn your volume down. {smile}

Thanks for watching! I do not have a tutorial as yet for this project. I have a few "bugs" to work out before I turn it into a tutorial.

Thanks for joining me today! 


I am adding this beauty to the Mini Album Makers July Challenge! 

Authentique Supplies Used:

Jingle Collection: 12 x 12 Paper, Elements 12 x 12 Cardstock Die Cuts
Vintage Christmas Collection: 12 x 12 Papers, Details 12 x 12 Cardstock Stickers
Colorful Christmas Collection: 12 x 12 Papers, Details 12 x 12 Cardstock Stickers
Alpine Collection: 12 x 12 Papers, Details 12 x 12 Cardstock Stickers
Spectrum Cardstock: Robin's Egg, Red Licorice, Kelly Green, Antique Lace

Additional Supplies: 

Chipboard: WorldWin Lightweight

Flowers: Wild Orchid Crafts

Christmas embellishments: various

Ribbon: Really Reasonable Ribbon Ivory Taffeta

Doilies: various die cuts

Cardstock: WorldWin Sand and Natural

Magnets: Basic Grey

Mini brads: craft supply

Corner rounder: Kadomaru Pro

Circle punches: Stampin' Up

Adhesives: Scor-tape, ATG tape, foam tape, white glue

PageMaps and Authentique Team-up!

Good morning, Crafters! The Authentique Paper Design Team joined up with PageMaps for July! It is my turn to share my map (sketch) and what I created.

This was the card sketch that I was given. (Since I am not much of a scrapbooker these days, I asked for a CardMap.) I was told I could make anything I wished, in any theme I wished, except I had to keep the design in the horizontal position. Easy peasy!

This is the first card I made, using the Authentique Party Collection. The card is 5" x 7" and is designed as a birthday card! I pretty much followed the sketch exactly for this card.

When I use a sketch, I decide how many prints to use based on how the sketch is drawn. I also decide on the elements I will use, for example, this sketch shows some banners and a scallop border, which I decided to use. However, I did not use the "apples" but instead used a large sentiment strip in place of where the sketch indicated that some large, round embellishments or die cuts could go (i.e., the apples).

I added some sentiments from the Party Components 6x12 Die Cut sheet.

I also like to decorate the inside of my cards. There is space on the inside to add a gift card and a hand written or stamped message.

Now, I loved working with the CardMap so much that...I made a second card!

This time I used the Authentique Frontier Collection. I love this vintage collection and thought it would be fun to use it again. I modified the sketch a little, but kept the same key elements as before.

This time, rather than using the "apples" I used the bow embellishment and also the large image. Rather than the scallop border, I used the denim sticker strip. I used a ticket for the sentiment, but I kept the three banners, only this time, mine are quite small and just peek out from under the main image.

I added a fun burlap bow and a wood button to tie into the country theme. The inside of this card is blank and ready for a sentiment.

There are so many ways to interpret a sketch! I am going to try this sketch again, only I plan to rotate it vertically!

Thanks for joining me today! Make sure you check out what all of our PageMaps sketch projects during the month of July!

Authentique Supplies Used:
Party 12x12 Papers (Two, Three, Four, Five)
Party Components 6x12 Die Cuts
Party Details 12x12 Cardstock Stickers
Frontier 12x12 Papers (One, Two, Four, Five, Six)
Frontier Details 12x12 Cardstock Stickers

Additional Supplies: 
Cardstock: WorldWin Papers Black, Brown, Natural
Burlap ribbon: Really Reasonable Ribbon Center Stitch Red
Twine: red twine source unknown
Button: source unknown
Mini brads: source unknown
Dies: My Favorite Things Fishtail Flag Stax and Layers
Border punch: Fiskars
Circle punches: Stampin' Up
Ink: Ranger Distress Black Soot
Adhesives: ATG tape, foam tape, hot glue