Wednesday, October 2, 2013

Lock & Key: Free Printable!

So free is good, right? I love free. And easy. But free AND easy? Now that's awesome!


Jac created a fun printable using the Lock & Key collection. The elements on the printable can be used in any way you please, but they are perfect for whipping up a few easy cards. I got to play with the printables last night. Wanna see what I made?

The two larger elements are the perfect size for use on A2 cards (4-1/4 x 5-1/2" finished size). After printing and trimming each of the pieces out, I matted and layered them using papers from the Lock & Key Club Scrap kit.

I colored in the "Love" stamp from the Collection UM using an Aquarelle Watercolor pencil. The metal key charm is a goodie in the Club Scrap kit.



The card above was super-simple. Just a few mattes and pop dots for a little dimension.



For this last one, I grabbed a 4-1/2 x 6-1/4" gatefold card from my stash, a fiber from the Lock & Key Greetings to Go pack and a sentiment from the Collection UM.

So what do you think? I bet you want this printable for yourself, huh? Grab it for FREE here:
Enjoy!

Creatively yours,
Karen

Tuesday, October 1, 2013

Handmade cards for those sad days.

It's nice to make cards for happy occasions like weddings, new babies, and birthdays. But today I need a card for a dear friend who just lost her dad. It makes me sad to think about what she's going through.

Cathy Gray had requested the sympathy quote featured on the Lock & Key Greeting UM sheet, and I was so thankful to have it ready. Sympathy cards are always nice to have on hand, even if you don't really want to have a need for them.

I measured the size of the quote and customized a card formula to accommodate it perfectly. You'll need four sheets of 8.5x11 paper. I used the Lock & Key Teal, Cream, Tan and Light Brown.

  1. Trim each 8.5x11 horizontally at 5.5". Score and fold one 5.5x8.5 piece of each color to form four card bases.
  2. Cut one 5.5x8.5 horizontally at 4". Trim the 4x5.5 horizontally at 5.25".
  3. Trim the 4.5x5.5 horizontally at 4.25 and 2.25". 
  4. Cut the 2.25x4.5 horizontally at 3".
  5. Trim the 2x4.5 horizontally at 2.75".
If you've never done this before . . . the hard work is behind you. Next, sort the cards into piles according to size.


Then, build the cards by sorting them into piles that include a piece of each size, alternating colors as shown.


All that's left is the creative part! Stamp the 2x2.75" panels with the UM quote from the greeting sheet, and finish up the rest of the card with coordinating Lock & Key stamps and embellishments.


I hope you give the formula a try. I'm sure there are many quotes and images that would fit perfectly onto the panels.





Hugs,
Tricia