Friday, February 25, 2022

How to Create a Bonus Card with your Craft Banner Scraps

carta bella, fotobella, card making

Chris here, and today I am excited to share how to create this quick and easy Bonus Card with your Craft Banner Scraps. The banner was so fun to create. But I have a serious problem, I CANNOT let scraps go to waste! And since I have recently starting quilting, this card is quilt inspired! So remember when we cut those banners from the Carta Bella Craft & Create 6x6 Paper Pad and I told you to save those cut away triangles? Well now is the time to create with those scraps!

Now, if you didn’t save them or are just getting started you can create your very own scrap triangles! Just grab your favorite prints, and cut the papers into 4x6, and then marking the center on the back and drawing the banner shape. See my image for more details.

Supplies Needed

Scraps from Carta Bella Craft & Create 6x6 Paper Pad

Carta Bella Craft & Create Ephemera

Card Base, Pen

Creating Bonus Card with your Craft Banner Scraps

Start by adhering one triangle scrap to your card base, as shown in image.

Continue adhering your scrap triangles to your card. It is ok if they extend beyond your card as those pieces will be trimmed.

Next, Adhere all of your triangles to the Carta Bella card base. Now, trim the edges to fit the card base. Add some faux stitching with your pen, around the edges of each triangle pieces.

carta bella, fotobella, card making

I thought the bottom corner of the card looked a little bare, so I added additional scraps to the bottom, trimming to fit my card. Now, add some faux stitching to your scrap pieces.

carta bella, fotobella, card making

Finish your scrappy card with your SEW WHAT tag from Carta Bella Craft & Create Ephemera.

I hope you are inspired to get Creative with your FotoBella supplies!

Wednesday, February 23, 2022

Card Tutorial: How to Layer Stickers to Create Dimension

Card made with Simple Vintage Coastal sticker sheet

Hi crafty friends. It’s Kristine and I’m back again today with another tutorial for you. This tutorial will show you how you can use the sticker sheet that comes with your paper collection. If you’re anything like me, you have so many stickers and just don’t know what to do with them! I also have a hard time making anything flat so I struggle to use. my sticker sheets. So, I challenged myself to decorate a card using only the sticker sheet!

For my card, I will be using the stickers from the Simple Stories Simple Vintage Coastal Collection Kit. This kit includes 12 sheets of double sided paper and the sticker sheet. The card base is made from the 12x12 Basics Kit that matches the Collection Kit.

Additional materials include distress ink (blue, green, and brown), a decorative edge die, and basic craft supplies (paper trimmer, scoring tool, scissors, foam squares, and adhesive). This card could easily be made using scraps from your stash!

Simple Vintage Coastal Card

Despite using only stickers to make this card, it is dimensional, too. To achieve this, I pop my stickers up on foam squares. Layering the sticker pieces gives the illusion of dimension, but without the bulk. Also, I added stickers to the inside of my card for a bit of decoration.

Video Tutorial

There is a full video tutorial on my YouTube channel (and below). It will walk you through every step of creating this vibrant coastal-themed card. If you want to craft along with me, check out the FotoBella online store to purchase your Simple Stories Simple Vintage Coastal collection. While you’re there, check out all of the other fabulous paper collections by Simple Stories. With so many great paper collections available, there’s a collection for everyone!

Happy crafting!

~Kristine, FotoBella Design Team Member

Monday, February 21, 2022

Graphic 45 “Fashion Forward” Card & Tag Series: January Tag Tutorial

Our year-long card and tag tutorial series continues featuring the “Fashion Forward” paper collection by Graphic 45. As you remember, the Card making technique for January was “Glitter & Glitz”.

Graphic 45 January tag
January Tag

Hello paper crafters! ReNae here, with the FotoBella Design Team. Each month in 2022 I will feature a different technique for cardmaking. I will create one card and one tag with said technique and post detailed step-by-step tutorials for each.

Just like the card we made last week, this beautiful January tag shimmers and shines! Using glitter, glitter glue, your own glitter papers, and this tag tutorial, we are able to take an ordinary black tag and turn it into a sparkling work of art!

The Fashion Forward Paper Collection

This collection is one of the most beautiful collections created by Graphic 45. It’s not a new collection, but the gorgeous vintage images of 1920’s fashion, and the brilliant colors in this collection make it a perfect choice for our card and tag.

Graphic 45 Fashion Forward
Graphic 45 Fashion Forward

Supplies for Card & Tag Tutorial Series

First, Here are the supplies and tools you will need to create the cards and tags for the year-long series: Graphic 45 Fashion Forward 12x12 Paper Pack, Die-cut Assortment, Chipboard, Ephemera & Journaling Cards. Stickers, Scor-Tape 1/4" Double-Sided Adhesive by Score Pal, Tape Runner, Extra Strong Wet Glue. Graphic 45 Regular Tags, Graphic 45 Dies, 110 lb. Cardstock (Ivory and Black). Detailing scissors, Paper trimmer, Ink blending tool, various coordinating inks (listed each month), and Dimensional Tape or Pop Dots. You can find almost everything you’ll need on our website at FotoBella.com.

Secondly, Be sure to check your personal stash for buttons, ribbons, feathers and other ephemera you can use to embellish your cards and tags! By doing this, you can personalize your projects, creating your own version of the card or tag.

Fashion Forward Tag Tutorial

Graphic 45 January tag tutorial
January Tag featuring Glitz and Glitter

Supplies Needed for Tag

Graphic 45 regular Tag (Black), Graphic 45 Fashion Forward “January“ sheet of patterned paper, Double Sided Scor-Tape, Extra Strong Wet Glue, Salty Ocean Distress Oxide Ink, Ink blending sponge or tool, various coordinating colors of glitter paper, Graphic 45 policy envelope die, Graphic 45 tag die, coordinating ribbons of your choice, detailing scissors, and glitter glue.

Let’s Make a Tag!

First, select one black tag from the Graphic 45 Regular Tag Album. Set aside. Using the Graphic 45 tag die, cut out a tag shape from light blue glitter paper. With an ink-blending tool, go around the edges of the blue glitter tag die cut using Salty Ocean Distress Ink. Adhere die cut to front of tag. Next, select the tag-shaped die cut of the lady in the purple overcoat. Adhere to purple glitter paper and cut around the tag, leaving a 1/8 inch border. Then adhere tag on top of dark blue glitter paper, leaving a 1/8 border around tag. Finally, adhere layered tag to the top-center of the tag.

From the January patterned paper, select and cut out three images. The first is the strip of pink flowers. The second is the sentiment strip that reads “New Beginnings”. The third is the sentiment that reads “Out with the Old, In with the New” Cut the first from the January sheet and set aside. Cut a tiny frame from dark blue glitter paper using the Graphic 45 policy and decorative dies. Slip the sentiment inside of the glitter frame. Next, adhere the sentiment to the tag directly under the layered tag with dimensional tape or pop dots.

Now, using a detailing scissors, cut out the strip of flowers. Embellish flowers with glitter glue if desired. Remove a flower from each end of the strip, and adhere to tag at the top as shown. Cut a “corner” die cut from gray glitter paper. Set aside. Cut 7 inches of blue ribbon and 6 inches of purple ribbon. Slip the ribbons through the opening at the top of the tag. Tie a loop through the hole. Adhere the gray die cut over the opening centering it above the layered tag as shown.

Cut a large frame from the dark blue glitter paper using the policy and decorative die set. Cut another frame this time from purple glitter paper, cutting off the scrolls and retaining only the rectangle. Adhere the “Out with the Old...” sentiment to the large frame. Turn over the tag and adhere frame to tag. And that’s it! You have completed your card and tag tutorial for January! See you soon!

Graphic 45 January card and tag
January card & tag

Friday, February 18, 2022

Tag Tutorial: How to Create a Beachy Tropical Tag

Beachy Tag

Hi crafty friends. It’s Kristine and I’m here today with a fun tag tutorial for you! We will be creating a beach themed tag using the Simple Stories Simple Vintage Coastal Collection. For this project, we will be using paper from the Collection Kit along with embellishments from the Foam Stickers, Decorative Brads, and Chipboard Stickers. Additional supplies include chipboard for the card base, texture paste, distress ink, pearls, and ribbon or twine. I also used two grommets at the top of my tag, but this is optional.

Making the Base

For the tag base, cut a piece of chipboard to your desired size. My chipboard measures 4 3/4” x 8 1/2”. Then, I cut the top corners into a tag shape. Next, cover the entire front of the chipboard with texture paste. If you don’t have texture paste, you can make your own at home using glue, paint, baking powder, and glitter. Ink the edges and pierce two holds at the top of the tag for the ribbon or twine.

Then, cut one piece of “On Island Time” for the bottom of the tag. My piece measures 4 3/4” x 1 3/4”. From “Sea You Soon” rip three pieces so that the white core of the paper is showing. Glue these three pieces together so they look like waves. Ink the edges of both pieces.

Next, fussy cut the palm tree and flowers from “Paradise Found” and ink the edges. To achieve a more realistic look, cut the petals of the flowers and the palm leaves so that you can curl and bend them. This will add dimension to your paper elements once they are on the tag.

Fussy cut pieces from the paper

Finally, it is time to start assembling the pieces to the base. Starting with the waves and wooden plank paper, glue to the bottom of the tag. Then, add glue to the flat parts of the palm tree. Be careful not to glue down the leaves at the top of the flowers at the bottom so they will lift up.

Embellishing the Tag

Once the palm tree is adhered to the tag, begin placing the remaining flowers over the flowers around the tree. Make sure to curl the petals up for more dimension and only glue the centers of each flower. Then, add a small pearl to the center of each flower.

Next, add the “Beachy” foam sticker and starfish sticker to the tag base. I tucked my sticker into the flowers. The end of the “y” hangs over the edge so I added some fine glitter to the back to remove the stickiness. You may choose to use paper and fussy cut around the “y” instead of using glitter.

Using two pieces of twine, tie a bow through the grommets at the top of the tag. Then, select one of the decorative brads and glue to the center of the twine bow. Next, add the chipboard sticker and foam flower sticker below the grommets. Using two foam heart stickers, place one just above the palm tree and the other to the right of the tree. I also added “The Beach Life” chipboard sticker to the righthand side, and the “this is paradise” chipboard sticker on top of the palm tree.

To add some extra details, add the small anchor chipboard sticker to the flower cluster, and tuck one decorative brad into the flower at the bottom. Finally, use Stickles to add some sparkle to the flower petals.

Simple Vintage Coastal tag
Dimensional Flowers

I hope you have enjoyed this easy step-by-step tutorial to create your own “Beachy” and beautiful tag! If you haven’t already purchased the Simple Vintage Coastal collection, head over to the FotoBella online store today - you won’t be disappointed!

beach tag
Beachy Tag

Happy scrapping!

~Kristine, FotoBella Design Team Member

Thursday, February 17, 2022

How to Decorate your Craft Space with a Carta Bella Creative Banner

carta bella, fotobella, home decor, banner
0

Greetings! Chris here and today I am Excited to share with you how to Decorate your Craft Space with a Creative Banner! My craft room is a little cramped and I often forget to adorn it with my craft-y creations! But when I saw the Craft & Create line from Carta Bella I knew it was perfect for me! You see I am a general crafter... I scrapbook, I am a card maker, I love to stamp, I crochet (although not very well), I dabble in mixed media and painting, and I sew and quilt! This line covers it all! So let’s get started and Decorate your Craft Space with a Creative Banner !

Supplies

Carta Bella Craft & Create12x12 Collection Kit

Craft & Create 6x6 Paper Pad

Carta Bella Craft & Create Ephemera

Carta Bella Craft & Create Frames & Tags

Prima Marketing Julie Nutting Doll Stamps - Frames

Other miscellaneous supplies - paper doily, jute, ink, buttons, kraft banners (or cut as desired), burlap banners (or cut to fit), paper punches, flowers

Other supplies you could use to customize your own banners - lace, ribbons, paper punches, stamps

Creating Your Carta Bella Banner

A little note. I choose to create each banner to highlight a specific craft. Feel free to decorate your banner as you desire. I started by matting my burlap banners onto my kraft banners. This served as the base for all my banners.

Start by removing the border strips from 5 pieces of your papers from the Carta Bella Craft & Create 6x6 Paper Pad and then cut papers to 4 x 6.

carta bella, fotobella, home decor, banner

Mark center on back side of papers and draw diagonal line to paper edges to create banner. Cut out. Save those cut away triangles for a bonus Banner Scrap card!

Adhere your banners to your banner bases.

Decorate each banner as desired. I chose to use the border strips across the top of each banner. For my “C” banner I layered punches and tags from the Carta Bella Craft & Create Frames & Tags.

Here is a close up of my “R” Banner.

This is my “A” Banner

Here is my “F” Banner

carta bella, fotobella, home decor, banner

and here is my “T” Banner

carta bella, fotobella, home decor, banner

Finish your banner by stringing it with burlap and display proudly to Decorate your Craft Space with your Creative Banner.

Monday, February 14, 2022

Bright & Cheery Thinking of You Card

graphic 45, fotobella, card making

Now I realize that black is not your usual go to color for a Bright & Cheery Thinking of You Card, but the papers in your Graphic 45 Come One, Come All! 12x12 & 8x8 I REALLY Want It All Bundle from FotoBella make it work! Maybe it’s the adorable red and black polka dot papers! If you haven't checked out all the amazing fun in the Graphic 45 Come One, Come All! 12x12 & 8x8 I REALLY Want It All Bundle, here is what you are missing!

graphic 45, fotobella, card making

This paper crafting kit includes the Come One, Come All! 12"x12" paper pack (2 sheets of 8 double-sided designs and two 6"x12" decorative sticker sheets), 8" x 8" paper pad (3 sheets of 8 double-sided designs), 12"x12" Patterns & Solids paper pad (2 of 8 double-sided designs), decorative chipboard, 4x6 & 3x4 Journaling & Ephemera Cards, Die Cut & Tag embellishments, and exclusive FotoBella paper storage box.

So let’s get creative and make this Bright & Cheery Thinking of You Card.

Supplies needed

Graphic 45 Come One, Come All! 12x12 & 8x8 I REALLY Want It All Bundle from fotobella

Card base, gemstones in circle patterns and individual, Thinking of you stamps and ink

Creating your Card

Cut black papers from your Graphic 45 Come One, Come All! 12x12 & 8x8 I REALLY Want It All Bundle to fit your card base. Cut red and black polka papers to 4 x 4 1/2 and adhere to your card.

Cut black floral to 2 x 4 1/2. Adhere to your card.

Cut a narrow strip ( 3/4 x 4 1/2) from your gold papers. Adhere between your black floral and red polka dot papers.

Grab a Graphic 45 3x4 Journaling & Ephemera Card. You will notice they are 2 sided! We are going adhere one to the top portion of our card journal side up.

Stamp thinking of you sentiment onto your card.

graphic 45, fotobella, card making

Add Flourishes and tag from your Die Cut & Tag embellishments.

graphic 45, fotobella, card making

Embellish your card with gemstones. I chose to add gemstones to each of my flowers and then to add circular bands of gemstones. I hope your enjoyed this bright and cheery card!