Lets Make a Card... HOW-TO (part 1)

Someone told me that I should share my craft IQ/knowledge with others in a HOW-TO post
and I always thought, 'How in the world do I do that when I create off sheer feeling and intuition?' Well, I came up with a card that would be great to do with you...

Please remember this is the first time I ever did a HOW-TO so please bear with me. Also this HOW-TO will be split into 2 posts.

This is my 2 Fold Flap Heart-n-Key Lovers Card.
This was one of the very first cards I ever created, but due to some the difficulty and design of this card I never tried to sell it.

So today I have decided to do this card over
and would love for you to join me.

Now the first thing I usually do is create a sketch of what I want to create. This helps my visualization, and dynamic size and layout concept of the card. Sometimes I color the sketch (not a must) but adding a sketch of the types of embellishments I would like on the card are.

So after I sketch is done I get my supplies together.



From the sketch and idea
you have created, you will know what you need to actually put your card together,
but for this card we will need:

1-Scissors
2-pencil(s)
3-Red LOVE printed Ribbon
4-Paper score and fold tool
5-Outlined shape of heart (unless you have great hand skills to freely draw the heart)

6-Antique Gold Keys
7-Red and Black Dye Based Ink
8-Heart rubber stamps
9-Tacky glue and Glue dots
10-12" Ruler
11-8.5"X11" white card stock paper

Our first step is to start from the ground up. In other words, we must create/construct the foundation which in this case is our white 8.5X11 card stock paper which will be the actual card.

*For this card I used white card stock, but you can use what ever color you like.

Now to give this card 2 flaps that open up from the center, we need to know our measurements and to be equal on all sides like a square.
So we want to take 3" from the width of the paper which will leave us with 5.5"X11".

*I did this because if you divide the paper in half you get
4.25X5.5, and remember we want a square shaped card.
A square has 4 equal sides so 4.25X5.5 is a little off.

After you cut the paper check always check it against a ruler to be sure you have the right height, length and width. Now we can get ready to score our paper equally on both sides...

*Always use your ruler to measure and be sure you are on target.

(NOTE: You do not have to print on your card,
but if you want to print on your card,
you need to understand your printers
page set up to get the print in the center)

We need to score our paper the same amount on both sides. Remember we already cut 3" off the width leaving us with 5.5", so it becomes easier to make the entire card into a square with sides that will measure 5.5"X5.5".

Before we commit to our score,
we must first do some math...

11" minus 5.5" equals 5.5"
This means our flaps should add up to 5.5"
Now we need to figure out what is half of 5.5"? It is 2.75"
Each flap now becomes 2.75" wide by 5.5" high.

So we can score our paper 2.75" on the left and right.

Our next step is to trace and cut out our heart.

*Again paper is your choice, but for this card I used red heart embossed card stock. You may want to match your paper with a different color if you did not use white card stock as I did.

After you have cut out your heart, you want to get ready to cut your red LOVE print grosgrain ribbon. The ribbon you will cut to 5.5" and put on the flap of your choice. This time I have put the ribbon on the right side flap a 1/4" away from the edge of the card. You will use your tacky glue to attach the ribbon.

*PLEASE NOTE, you do not have to use this same ribbon.
You may want to use a different color or texture with print or no print.

Now we are gonna attach our heart to the right side flap. To do this we can use either our tacky glue or glue dots. The glue dots are idealistic to give your heart a 3D affect (it raises the heart above the card stock surface). No matter which you decide to use, remember you are only using half the heart to attach to the card stock. Use the flap edge as a ruler to measure precise split of the heart.


This is how your card should look thus far. -Card should be able to open and close with no problem.
-Heart should be split in half, so it looks like it is on both sides.
-Ribbon should be straight and a 1/4" away from the edge.
-Card should measure 5.5" width and 5.5" long (length).

Thanks for being here with me today!
In my next post we will finish the outside and in side of this card.
So please check back here often to see part 2 of
"LETS MAKE A CARD..."
Please feel free to post comments and questions
and I will try to get to all of them for the next post (part2 of 'Lets Make a Card')

FREE Give-a-way Contest-Come and PLAY! (CLOSED)7/1/08

-The rules, conditions and regulations:

-You must browse my shop on Etsy.com - http://www.lamarlynch.etsy.com/
-You will see all my items and find that one special item
you feel you would just love to have FREE of ALL COST!
-You will then come back to this post and leave a comment, your comment is your entry.
Only one comment per person, duplicate entries will be discarded.
-Your comment should include your name and a way to reach you should you win
(don't be Anonymous!) and the name of the item in my shop-which is http://www.lamarlynch.etsy.com/-
or the URL to it.

Last months Give-a-way was a total blast and there were 2, yes, 2 lucky winners.

Sent by Beat Black on June 10, 2008:

"I just got your card and I LOVE it!
It looks so good and I already know who I'm giving it to on their birthday,
although its going to be tough to let go of. I'm diggin' the new blog
appearance. Its so fresh and makes the colour in your cards really stand out."
Thank you LaMar :)
-Sarah

The second winner had her card sent directly to her Father-in-law,
so we will have to wait to see to what he has to say about it (lets keep our fingers crossed)....

So for this months 'Flowers Bloom in June Give-a-way, I have decided to give-a-way not 1 card, but this entire 4 card set to one lucky blogger...

Here is a break down of this card set so you know exactly what you are getting:

This 5"x7" card is blank inside and out, and never has been seen before. This is my 'Daisy's -n- My Window', with vellum paper, polyester satin petals and rhinestone attachment, this is a great card for any occasion this Spring/Summer.

-For this card, 'Yellow Daisy's', I used yellow to represent
JOY, Friendship, Care and Promise-as said in
"Morrison Gardens 2006-Color of Roses and Flowers".

-For this card, 'Orange Daisy's', I went orange to show Desire and Enthusiasm....

So both these cards are great friends, and family members..

This card is one of my favorites. 5"x7" blank inside with vellum translucent paper and daisy petal w/rhinestone attachments and the word SMILE on the front...This is a great card for Birthdays and any other special moment of life.

I like it the most because it's motivating;
"No matter what, SMILE..."

What are Friends!

This 5"x7", purple with Augusta Green stamped insert card stock with lime green print layered upon white card stock and matching lime green polyester ribbon, card is great for that friend you always know you can count on and has been there for you when you needed them.













'happiness is having a friend by your side.'

A friend is hard to find
and when you find a great one,
you cherish them because most times
they get lost in the wind.

This card 4"x5" note card has that fabric print look with chocolate/pink 'Dashes Dots and Checks' polyester ribbon and fabric stitched card stock insert that reads,
"a friend is the greatest gift"

And with this last design, you should know that a good friend is more then just a 'gift', a true friend is FOREVER...
Hey what do you think of friends? How much do you appreciate your friend(s)? And do you let them know?

Well now we know what friends are for...
So why let let them know we know and that we care?

And as for me, my best friend is my wife and child...
and I let them know I love them everyday!

Note Cards

Note Cards?
When I think Note Card(s) I think of a small card I can write a note or short message. So I comprised a bunch of great prints (designed card stock paper) and placed them on 4"x5" white card stock with matching polyester ribbon, small card stock inserts with rhinestone attachments and stamped it, 'Thinking of you'.

With just this simple text on the front and a blank inside these Note Cards are great for you to have stashed away in your dresser draw or desk for when those special moments come along...

This collection will soon be available in my shop, 'Handcrafted by LaMar' called the "Note Card Set Collection".

Hugs & Kisses Diva Card Collection

Well here it is...My long anticipated 'Hugs & Kisses' DIVA card!
Great card for that friend, co-worker or family member who is just 'Diva-ish'...

This card was really created back in February 2008 but I was never sure what to do with it. I already had 2 to 3 cards with the same layout, different colors, and birthday or party themes on them, so this one I wanted to make sure was different.

Well one day I was in AC Moore, yes I shop AC Moore and truly love their selection, and found theses purple puff-puff stiletto embellishment's. Long story short I had the card made months ago and was holding onto the embellishment until something came to mind. Then just like that yesterday it hit, "Why not try this...?" So I did and *wham*, this is what I got.

Truth be told I love it!
But hey, what do I know?
So please tell me what do you think?

A New Look...

I am really trying to keep with the daily changes of life and one of the most important things that needed to be changed, was this blog. So now there will be more post which would be just my newest cards posted with a short description, polls about cards and other crafts, and the same o' short thoughts that flutter in this artists mind...

So tell me what you think of the change?

Red Birds in Flight...

This abstract art Note Card was created on a whim with no real direction. It wasn't until laid the final grosgrain ribbon down that I realized what I had in front of me.

I had Abstract Art!
I seen birds flying over a river with the forest beneath them.

Can you see it? Do you see the birds? The river? The red forest?

This 4"x5" design with no pre-theme message, it is great for any and every occasion.
The card is being sold now in my shop, 'Handcrafted by LaMar' as a 10 card set with 10 white envelopes.

Why not have a great set of cards in your desk draw for all the special occasions right at your finger tips with no worry?

the Pumpkin Patch...

Fall is coming!

Yes it is! I know the heat wave has just begun but as always all good things come to an end. And the sun has subsided and returned to its cave to hide, FALL comes out to keep us company for a few months... So 'Handcrafted by LaMar' is getting an early start with, 'the Pumpkin Patch!'

Four great cards made of kraft/cardboard color and Fall brown card stock. These cards are 4"x5" and have squash and pumpkin felt embellishments. They come with off white cream envelopes.

So be prepared for FALL, with these great four cards...
They will be available soon at Handcrafted by LaMar-Your Online Card Shop!

Dadprenuers! Part 2- The Joy of being Home!

This post may and may not be a little off from my norm, but I just wanted to share in my joys of being a stay-at-home DAD! I've been out of...well what do I call it? Now a days I hate to call i work, but...work for just about a year now. I was laid off from my previous employment and never looked back.

My days now consist of waking up to a 2 year old who has a personality all his own.
I have and still am trying my hand at self-employment. For the most part it is interesting, but just not doing anything productive yet, besides keeping me from losing my mind. Everyday I sit in front my computer designing and creating cards and thinking of ways to get my cards further then my bedroom.

Well anyway, as the title says the joy of staying home, is that of being able to be by my child's side every moment of the day. I actually see his development and growth. I see as he learns different concepts and processes everyday. I am never more amazed then I am with him.

Growing up I always heard, "A Mind is a Terrible Thing to Waste!"
but I think it should be more like, 'A Child is a Terrible Thing to Waste!!'
because children for one are the future and just look at what they do (laughs):

Got to love the kids! (smiles)