Two Ways to Make Shaker Cards - Traditional and Tulle

Hi Everyone! Hope you're making it through Hump Day! If you feel like you could use some words of encouragement then you're in the right place. Today's project is a set of clean and simple cards featuring some of the 35 available dies in May's Expressions Plus word release. 

When I saw these dies, I immediately knew I would use the negative space of the words as windows for shaker boxes. In the video I show the traditional shaker box created by making a well for the shaker confetti with foam tape and covering it with an acetate window. The second method uses tulle to create both the window and the pocket to hold the shaker confetti. I'm a big fan of using tulle! It's much quicker, doesn't add additional bulk to your card and doesn't allow the shaker bits to gather at the bottom of the window. The size of the new Expressions Plus dies worked perfectly for either shaker method.

Check out the card set featuring the new Expressions Plus Dies by clicking below:

If you'd like to see more of the Expressions Plus die release, click on the YouTube video link below. See how these new dies compare to the older Expressions dies, ideas on using the two styles together and other thoughts to jump start your crafting imagination.

Thanks for spending some of your valuable time with me today. Have a wonderful Wednesday!

- Janet

Dies used in this project:

Card Recipe:
CottageCutz Expressions Plus Dies Used:
friends, happy, thanks, family, wish, grateful

Card base: A2 (4.25" x 5.5" when folded)
Front card panel: 3.75" x 5.5"
Various party table confetti from Walmart:
balloons, stars, discs
Sequins from my stash
white tulle, glitter patterned tulle
3M foam tape
Scotch ATG adhesive
Tear It adhesive tape
Scotch Quick Dry liquid adhesive
Cuttlebug embossing folders (bee hive and flower patterns)
Office Depot Color Inkjet Transparencies

Colorful Collage Mother's Day Card

Happy Mother's Day! It's my day to post for CottageCutz dies. In honor of Mother's Day I present a colorful card featuring one of the CottageCutz Baby release dies called, Elephants on Parade. I also used the Oval Doily & Frame, Stitched Oval Set, and the Double-Stitched Rectangle Set to make this card. Find all the new baby release dies here.

Card Front

Inside of Card

 I had a ball playing on the idea that in the Indian culture, elephants are honored and revered, just like our Moms are. Although this card focuses on Mother's Day, it could easily be changed into a birthday card too. I've included all the dimensions and supplies needed for this card in the video description.

I hope you have a most wonderful Sunday and for all the Mom's out there, have a happy Mother's Day. It's your day. Enjoy it!

- Janet

Teacher Appreciation Cards

Happy Saturday everyone! Earlier this week, I was challenged with mass producing six cards for my son's teachers. In our district it was Teacher Appreciation week. I'm not sure if that's a national week or if each district chooses their own week but in any case, I want to share with you a teacher thank you card set that worked well for the occasion.

These were relatively easy to put together and it took me about an hour once I figured out what to do. These are 4-Bar sized cards (3.5" x 4 7/8") so they are a little smaller than A2. Part of the reason I chose that size was so that it was a little less work to prepare the card front backgrounds but it was still big enough to fit a Target gift card inside.

For the card front, I cut six pieces of white card stock at 3 1/4" x 4 5/8". Next, I used Tim Holtz Distress ink in four colors by applying Salty Ocean first, then Mustard Seed, then Spiced Marmalade and finally Worn Lipstick. When I applied the Mustard Seed over the Salty Ocean, it created the greenish range you see between the blue and yellow. Once I finished blending the colors over each other, I stamped the school house on each one. Once everything was dry, I sprinkled water droplets over the top. Water and distress ink interact with each other and it lightens all the areas where water touched the ink for a cool effect.

The "Thanks" sentiment is from CottageCutz and I cut six of them out of black card stock and adhered one above each school house image. The final step was spritzing Pewter Shimmer Mist from Tsukineko over each card. I love this mist and it gave the whole background a pretty shimmer.

I completed the cards by stamping, "A+ Well Done" on the inside of the card. All the stamps come from a Close To My Heart set called, School Rocks. This is a retired set but is still available from online sellers per my check as I was writing this. I've used this set a lot as it has some super cute school images in it.

Well, that does it for me today. If you have any questions, just leave me a comment. Don't forget that I now have a YouTube channel you can visit for more ideas. You can find me there at SugarShine's YouTube Channel. I'll be back soon!

- Janet