How to make Shaker cards

It has been a tradition here on my blog that I share a card making tutorial every year during Christmas time. Following the same, this year I am sharing yet another interactive card. It is so easy and liked by people of all ages. I am sure whoever gets a shaker card, you will get to see the inner child in them  at least for a moment while they enjoy the card. Without much ado, let's get to the making.

DIY Invisible Letter Card for Valentine's day

I always wanted to try different interactive cards for all occasions. If you are a regular follower here, you probably might have read my snowman pull up card for Christmas. This time it is an invisible ink letter card. There are many ways to create invisible ink at home and you would have probably tried most of them in your science class. I tried almost all the ways and finally settled with crayon and marker pen to make this card. I will discuss why later in this post. Now let's start with the supplies list.

DIY "pull up" Snowman gift card holder

A good handmade card is always appreciated even though cards have been replaced by e-cards, whatsapp messages and emails.Today I am sharing how to make a cute interactive snowman gift card holder that will sure win many hearts. Lets see how. 

Material required :
Blue Card stock
Co-ordinating scrap book paper
White card stock
Color markers or printer
Brads (Paper fastener)
Craft knife
Double sided tape
Double sided foam stickers
Scissors
Pencil

Step 1: Cut 12" X 3.5" blue card stock and 5" X 3.45" co-ordinating scrap book paper for the front. Measure 5" and fold the card stock lengthwise and fold in the remaining 2" inside to create a pocket for gift card holder. Use double sided tape on side to secure the pocket. Glue the front scrapbook paper using the tape.

Step 2: Draw or print a snowman in card stock . I designed mine using picmonkey and cut it with my electronic die cutting machine but you can make your own and cut it with craft knife if you don't have cutting machine.

You can download this image,print and cut it with craft knife to use in the card.

Step 3: Once the snowman outline is cut, cut the bottom part of the snowman as shown. Trace the bottom part and half of the second circle as shown below. Cut them using scissors or craft knife. Now you will have two bottom pieces, one 2/3 of snowman and half of the second circle.

Step 4: Take one bottom part piece and make a small cut line in the middle for the brads to move up and down while you pull up the snowman.I dint have brads to use in the card so I used a part of snap button instead.So I poked a small hole in the bottom part of the half circle piece.If you are using a brad, poke it in the same place and pass it through the middle cut line and bend it.  

Step 5: Now stick some double sided foam sticker around the bottom part and glue it to the front of the card. Take 2/3 of the snowman and glue it to half circle piece using tape. If you are using snap button like me, the small point in the middle will be poking so I suggest it is better to use a brad. As I did not have one in hand I used a part of snap button. 

Step 6: Use foam stickers only in the bottom part and stick the card stock piece on top.Now your pull up snowman card is ready. Isn't it cute?

You can even make this as normal card and create a scene with three snowman instead one and do this pull up for one of the snowman.It will look cute too. If not for christmas, you can incorporate this idea for any occasion. For example, you can make three tier birthday cake like this and write Happy birthday in the middle like we did for this card. The options are endless as I always say. Try it and let me know how it turned out for you. As always I will be happy to hear from you, so please share your comments below. 

If you want full size card, you can check out last year's Snowman penny slider Christmas card. 

How to make Snowman Penny Slider Christmas Card

This is a special post .Yes!!Ask me what special ? It is my 100th post :) Yay!!I wish to thank all my readers for your continuous support and appreciation. I hope you will be supporting me along my blogging journey to make it a big success. To celebrate it, today I am sharing a cute snowman Christmas card with you all.Now to the card.

When I was planning to make a card for Christmas, I wanted to try the penny slider idea. I brainstormed and came to a conclusion that I wanted a snowman and Christmas tree in my card. I went to the craft store to get supplies for the card. At that time I saw some cute stickers in A.C.Moore(Craft store) that I can't skip from buying. It was just a $1 for some 454 stickers(Isn't it a great deal?) .Not all the 454 stickers were big but each one was cute and different. It had so many snowman but the snowman in the slider caught my attention and I was sure that I am going to use that in my card. So , let us see how I made the card finally.

Materials Used :

A4 size green card stock

1 Christmas themed scrapbook paper

Contrasting color card stock like red, blue , brown. 

Double sided Foam stickers

Snowman stickers (I got mine in A.C.Moore for $1) -If you don't have one , download a snowman from online and print it on a card stock

Xacto knife

Cotton for snow

Double-sided tape

Two pennies

White paint & brush for writing sentiments if the cardstock is dark colour or markers.

The materials listed above can be changed according to your availability and creativity .I have listed what I have used . 

Step 1: Fold the A4 size card stock into half. This is the final card size(A5). Cut a scrapbook paper  little less than the A5 so that you will have a framed look at the front.

Step 2: Now take the cut scrapbook paper and decide where you want to implement the slider. Use the backing of the foam sticker you are going to use between the pennies as a template. Mark the area of slider little larger than the sticker for easy sliding. Don't make it too big or too small.

Step 3: Cut the area with Xacto knife.

Step 4: Now to create the snow decide the area and cover it with double sided tape. Leave a small area around the slider for the easy flow. Take bits of cotton and cover the tape.

Step 5: Place one penny on the wrong side of the slider and stick the foam sticker.Now place another penny of the top to create the penny slider.Check whether the pennies can slide along easily.

Step 6: Chose the sticker or anything like balloon or some characters to go on the penny . I pasted my sticker on a cardstock and cut it along the outline and pasted on the penny.You need not do this if you are using a image printed on the cardstock. It is done just to create a strong base .Voila ! We are now done with the slider part.

This is my another favorite snowman.

Step 7: To create a christmas tree , draw one side of the tree by folding a paper into half. Cut it and use a template. Draw and cut a christmas tree on green cardstock and a little base for tree in brown cardstock. Stick it on the side of the scrapbook paper and trim the excess.

Step 8 : Decorate the tree as you desire. I used the small stickers that came along the snowman sticker to decorate the tree and also used a gold leaf pen to draw a ribbon. Also Cut a piece of red cardstock to write your sentiment. Use white marker or white paint to write "Merry Christmas" and stick it with foam stickers. Add some snowflake stickers all over the card to create the snowing effect. . 

Step 9: Use foam stickers all over in the front of the cardstock and stick the scrapbook on it to finish the card.Tada! your card is ready !! How cool and creative is this card ?I really love the snowman sliding part very much. :)

What do you think about this card ? Do you buy cards for christmas ? If so, do you like creative cards like this ?If you like this card, you may also want to make a personalized card like the one below I made for last new year.

Personalized New year pop up card

To all who celebrate "Thanksgiving".Wish you a "Happy Thanksgiving ".Have a great time with your friends and family .

Image Source

DIY Mother's day card

Looking for an easy mother's day card idea? I used magazine cutouts, a plain white card, and a knife to do this. So you don't need any fancy art & craft supplies to make a card for your mom. All you need is love and some time to make this beautiful card. Let's see how.

Scratch off V day card

Who will not like to scratch off ? Even though we are grown up when we see that scratch off  in any of the cards(whether it is a lottery or a prepaid card), we will get excited  ,Hey !!I will do it !! Isn't it ? I saw this scratch off idea in Pinterest and I wanted to give a try for this V-day.After a lot of experimenting ,I finally got the right thing.I have shared my experiment results at the end of the post.Now, Lets see how to do it.

Materials Required:
Red & white card stock
Glue stick
Red Ribbon
White and Red acrylic paint
Paint brush
Dish washing liquid
Color Markers
Packing tape /Clear contact paper
Clear tape
Craft knife

Step 1:Cut a red card stock of required size.I made it as A5(Half of A4).And a white card stock which 0.5 cm lesser than A5 for inside of the card just to add a frame like look.Fold the cards into half.Draw a heart shape in the red card stock and cut out to create the front side of the card.

Step 2:Trace the heart into white card stock and arrange the ribbons (as shown) and secure it with the clear tape.I wanted checks just to add that manly touch to the card.You can add the ribbon one way and leave it as strips or you can skip this step and just leave it plain.I wrote Be Mine below the heart with white acrylic paint.Glue both the card stock together.

Step 3:Now decide the content you want to write it on the inside of the card .As I want it to be interesting and also importantly not disappointing!! I wrote the things which we both like to do together and also some of my little wishes.(Don't write things hat disappoints him/her and spoil your day ,this idea is to make you & your valentine ,enjoy the day & share your love joyfully )
So , decided what to write ??If you don't want some activities to be involved ,keep it simple.Make it as How much I love you? Things I love about you,etc.Create a small slit to hold a coin.

Step 4:Take strips of packing tape and paste it on any of  smooth surface where it can be removed easily.Mix 2 parts of red acrylic paint(Choose you favourite colour) and 1 part of dishwashing liquid together. (I used Ajax.There is no big ratio,but make sure not to mix it too much and create bubbles).Apply 4 to 5 coats(3 coats of paint was not enough :( ) of paint and let it dry for hours in between the coats.To speed up the process you may use hair dryer.(If you are using clear contact paper ,just stick the paper to any surface with masking tape,paint it, trace some hearts and peel the back and stick it on the card).

                                   

Step 5: Once the paint is dry,trace some hearts on the tape and cut it with the craft knife.Stick it in the place where you have written your wishes/tasks however you say it :).Voila !You are done!!I gave my card to my Valentine and He scratched a heart that says "Shall we go to a movie?".And  he said  Yes!!Now our plans for V day is a movie together .So, How excited are you to try this card ?Feel free to share your comments !!

After sticking the heart ,I felt the letters are visible so I applied 4th coat of paint.That is why I am suggesting to apply 4 to 5 coats of paint.If you are using dark colour, 3 might be good!

Final look of the card after scratching a heart.

Some of my experiments results:

1)When I tried it directly on the card stock.It was a total failure.When I tried to scratch off the paint ,only the card stock was getting torn and not the paint.So I recommend you, not to try directly on the card stock.

2)I tested it on a smooth surface .I took a card that came with my kitchen knife.I was just curious to know whether it really scratches off.It worked.I could able to see what was underneath.
                                       

3)Next, I applied a coat of glossy paint and then applied the scratch off paint.It worked but I was not fully satisfied as the result was not clear enough.You can try this in worst case ,if you don't have packing tape or contact paper.

                         

Hope the experiments helps you !! Have fun crafting!! Happy card making !!!