My First Tri-fold Shutter Card!

Hello Friends & Followers!  Welcome back!  Today I wanted to show off my new Newton's Nook Designs stamp sets: Sweetheart Tails & Love a la Carte and try something new - my first tri-fold shutter card!  It was a LOT easier than I expected - basically you take a 5 1/2" x 12' piece of cardstock, turn it so the 12" side is horizontal and score at 2", 4", 8" and 10", turn the card 90 degrees, and then connect the 2" scoring line with the 10" scoring line with a ruler & a craft knife 1 1/2" in from each side - VOILA!  Basically, that's it except to embellish the sections you created!  I used the tutorial I found on Splitcoaststampers.com HERE.  I thought it would be a fun way to showcase a lot of the cute images in the two sets, with all the little sections.  (I especially like how I covered the little squirrel with the pink 'You stole my heart' heart when the card is closed).  Here is the front when the card is closed (please ignore the clip on the side, these cards are tricky to keep shut and to photograph):

And here is what it looks like when it is opened up:

Here are some close up shots of some of the other sections:

Originally I left the center section blank for a handwritten greeting, but at the last minute I decided I wanted to stamp the heart border image there instead (I can still write between the 'lines'...).  

All the critters were colored in with Copic markers, fussy cut by hand and adhered individually on the card, except for the cuddling fox & raccoon couple - I masked the fox and stamped the raccoon over her.  Both of these sets are available at Newton's Nook Designs and there is even a color challenge on the blog right now where you can have a chance to win a gift certificate to NND as well, so be sure to check it out!
     Thanks so much for stopping by!  I hope you like my card and have a great week!
~ Crafty Math Chick

Newton's Nook Designs Reveal - Sweetheart Tails

Welcome welcome back for Newton's Nook Designs' second Sneak Peek post. Today we are showcasing Jennifer's new 'Sweetheart Tails' set, filled with whimsical critters perfect for all kinds of adorable creations.  

First I thought I would create something could be easily mass produced for those of you who like to create little treats for your children's classmates.  There are SO many fun & festive pencils out there with valentine designs (and as a math teacher, trust me when I say children are always losing their pencils and asking to borrow mine!), so I picked up a pack at Target's Dollar Spot (isn't that place so dangerous?), grabbed a heart shaped punch and punched out a shape from patterned paper, stamped the cute 'Love Owlways' sentiment, cut two parallel diagonal slits, attached the NND owls that were colored/paper pieced separately and popped the pencil through opening created and  - VOILA!  Easy peasy valentine treats that won't cause tooth decay and are great for all children, regardless of any allergies or medical ailments they might have!  You can paper piece the owl, as I did in this topper:

Or color it in with your favorite medium (I used Copic markers for this one, trying to match the colors in the pencil - this was my favorite pattern - and the patterned paper):

You don't have to stop with pencils either, lollipops and silly straws work great for this quick & easy treat topper as well, and you can use any shape in place of the heart, and simply write in the 'to's and 'from's on the reverse side.  

Since I am a BIG fan of woodland critters I also wanted to make a card using a few more of the images as well:

I really enjoy creating little scenes like this on card, and I think the woodgrain background makes it suitable as a masculine valentine or anniversary card.  These cute little guys were colored with Copic markers as well, though I can't decide if I like the look of the white border around the images or whether I prefer trimming them along the outlines themselves - what do you think?  Do you have a preference?  I'd love it if you shared it in the comment section...

Would you like to win Sweetheart Tails?  
This set will be given away to TWO LUCKY WINNERS!!  
Here's how to win:
Comment on the NND blog and the Design Team blogs (see list below)!  Two winners will be chosen at random from the collective blogs' January release posts.  Make sure to check out each of their blogs and comment for your chance to win.  You will not know which blog has been chosen so the more you comment on  - the better your chances are of winning!  You have until Thursday, January 16th at 9 pm CST to comment -- winners will be announced on the blog post on Friday, January 17th. 
Check out all the blogs of my awesome teammies below to enter:

Newton's Nook Designs
Taheerah Atchia
Christine Drogt
Samantha Mann
Larissa Heskett
Crafty Math-Chick
Danielle Pandeline
Valerie Ward
Tessa Wise

Thanks for stopping by!  Happy Hopping!

~ Crafty Math Chick

PS - Have any extra valentines?  If so, my friend Winter Sims is having a 'Cards From the Heart' card drive to collect handmade valentine cards to distribute to sick children in hospitals.  

I know I won't be using ALL of the valentine cards I will make this year, so many of the cards I create as my NND sneak peek projects will be going to her.  If you are interested in sending some as well (and did I mention there are sponsors giving away PRIZES to some lucky participants?) please check out the details on her blog here, but don't wait too long, cards need to be received by January 31st to allow for distribution time.  

Newton's Nook Designs Reveal - Love a la Carte

Welcome to my first official Newton's Nook Designs Sneak Peek post as a design team member!  WOO HOO!

Today we are showcasing Jennifer's new 'Love a la Carte' set, filled with whimsical treats and pet names perfect for creations for your favorite special someone.  I really thought all the images in this set were so adorable I wanted to showcase as many as possible, so I decided to create my first ever waterfall card.

Of course, I had to put the pumpkin on the top since it is my hubby's nickname for me (Sorry if that is an overshare, I love it, LOL!).  And for the little 'pull' I stamped 'you're' and 'my' on red cardstock and punched it out with a scalloped heart-shaped punch and added some heart shaped eyelets for some extra reinforcement.  Let me show you some of the other panels in this card:

(seriously, how cute would this be attached to the top of one of those single serving pies tucked into your husband's or child's lunch box?)

(Wouldn't this look adorable stamped on a onesie for a newborn baby?!!)

(you could make your sweetheart some cinnamon rolls, or buy them from the bakery or Cinnabon if you are short on time, LOL, and attach a little tag with this cute image on the top of the box!)  
My hubby travels a lot and I love tucking little notes into his luggage for him to find after he arrives.  That gave me the idea for a compact note using the chili pepper image:

Granted, my hubby doesn't use a compact, he has a different mirror, but this one looks prettier for the sake of the picture, LOL!  But there is no reason you can't stamp this and tape it to your sweetie's mirror so it is the first thing they see in the morning right?  See why I love this set?!!  SOOOOO many terrific gift giving ideas!  And if you can't pick a favorite image, since there are so many from which to choose - use a bunch!  They make adorable background patterned paper sort of collaged together like this:

Would you like to win Love a la Carte?  
This set will be given away to TWO LUCKY WINNERS!!  
Here's how to win:
Comment on the NND blog and the Design Team blogs (see list below)!  Two winners will be chosen at random from the collective blogs' January release posts.  Make sure to check out each of their blogs and comment for your chance to win.  You will not know which blog has been chosen so the more you comment on - the better your chances are of winning!  You have until Thursday, January 16th at 9 pm CST to comment -- winners will be announced on the blog post on Friday, January 17th.
Check out all the blogs of my awesome teammies below to enter:

Newton's Nook Designs
Taheerah Atchia
Christine Drogt
Samantha Mann
Larissa Heskett
Crafty Math-Chick
Danielle Pandeline
Valerie Ward
Tessa Wise

Thanks for stopping by!  Happy Hopping!
~ Crafty Math Chick

PS - Have any extra valentines?  If so, my friend Winter Sims is having a 'Cards From the Heart' card drive to collect handmade valentine cards to distribute to sick children in hospitals.  

I know I won't be using ALL of the valentine cards I will make this year, so many of the cards I create as my NND sneak peek projects will be going to her.  If you are interested in sending some as well (and did I mention there are sponsors giving away PRIZES to some lucky participants?) please check out the details on her blog here, but don't wait too long, cards need to be received by January 31st to allow for distribution time.