Guesting with Fiskars

Today I am excited to share that I am guest posting over on the Fiskars (Fiskateers') blog with a few cards that I created with my Fiskars trimmer, microtip scissors, and a few Fiskars punches.

First up is this card: "YOUR LOVE IS LIFTING ME HIGHER" 

To create this card, I cut some background patterned paper to add to my card base. Next I "drop" misted all over the background paper with Opaque White Studio Calico Mr. Huey's. I used the Fiskars postage stamp punch as the "basket" to my hot air balloon. For the main portion of the balloon I drew a simple pattern out of some left over packaging (really thin parchment-like paper) and cut it up into pieces as show below. 

Then I used the pattern and traced around each piece with the various patterned papers and pieced them together by adhering to another piece of the parchment like paper. I then cut around the perimeter of the ballon paper piecing. (*Note: You could leave out this step and just adhere pieces of the balloon directly to the card, but this technique allowed me to move the balloon around as a whole for better placement instead of having to reposition each piece if it wasn't just the way I wanted it). Then I used my sewing machine and added some stitching for added dimension. 

For the balloon strings, I added hemp cord and adhered it to the back of both the balloon and the basket with washi tape. I added dimension to the balloon & basket by using pop-dots. Next, I punched out two clouds from basic white cardstock and adhered to the card. I used my handwriting to write the card sentiment, stitched around it, and adhered to the base of the card. I placed a small heart (Crate Paper Pier Collection) that I misted with SC Mister Huey's sunset to the "basket." And there ya go. One card done and one to go!

Next up is my "HELLO THERE" card:

For this card, I began by placing the Lily Bee chipboard banners in the pattern shown onto the card base.  Then I cut an "X" through the center of the card base and trimmed back to leave a square shape to make the opening for my sentiment. Then I placed the chipboard banners on the yellow patterned background paper and traced around them leaving a small border. I removed the chipboard banners and cut around my tracing, discarding the center and leaving the remaining yellow patterned background paper. I adhered this to my card, centering it. I then adhered the chipboard banners into place and stitched as shown. I typed my sentiment onto a small scrap of the yellow patterned background paper, stitched around it in a square shape and adhered to the inside of the card, centering it so that the sentiment could be read through the peek window.

I really had fun making these cards! Below is a complete listing of tools and supplies used to create them.

Please feel free to ask any questions you might have regarding them in the comment section below! And be sure to head over to the Fiskateers' blog here! I believe there is a creative challenge and a giveaway involved! ;) Enjoy the rest of your week! Happy crafting!

Suz